Car-Couplings
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd June, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 22nd July, 1887,
I, JOSEPH ALFRED RICHARD, of St. Louis in the county of Gratiot and State of
Michigan, United States of America, Model maker, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in Car-Couplings,
of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, reference
being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference
marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.
This invention relates to car-couplings which automatically couple the cars when
run together, and can be actuated to uncouple the cars at pleasure from the top, sides,
or any convenient point without the necessity of the brakeman going between the cars
for the purpose.
The object of the invention is to simplify the construction of such devices, and to
devise a simple arrangement for counterbalancing the link and controlling its position
by the coupling-pin and to contrive a means for guiding the coupling-pin in its
movements and holding the same in an elevated position by a latch adapted to fold
within the guide, and which latch is adapted to be struck by the link when the same
is inserted therein for permitting the coupling-pin to drop.
The improvement consists in having the draw-head provided with one long opening
through the upper side, extending into the throat, and two openings through the
lower side thereof, which likewise extend into the throat and are directly opposite the
long opening and located at each end thereof, and in having the coupling-pin, which
is adapted to pass through the long opening and the forward opening of the two
openings, provided with a guide adapted to work through the long opening and the
rear opening of the two openings, said guide being provided with a latch which is
designed to hold the coupling-pin elevated till struck by a link, when the pin will fall.
The weight of the pin holds the link in a horizontal position, and when the pin is

page_text: slightly elevated the link will incline to a horizontal plane for lowering its outer end
in case the draw-head of the car to be coupled is lower.
In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the end of the car provided with
my improved coupler. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the draw-head on the line a
of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section, parts broken away, on the line y y
of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3, showing the coupling-pin in a different
position.
The draw-bar A is secured to the car in any desired manner, and is provided
with the usual throat, a, from which extends the opening b through the upper side
and the openings and through the under side thereof. The openings and b²
are directly in line with the openings b, and are located opposite each end thereof and
have the imperforate portion 6ª between them. The portion 63 is in a horizontal
plane but the portion of the draw-head in advance thereof, and through which the
opening b¹ extends, inclines outwardly and downwardly, as shown.
The coupling-pin D is adapted to work through the front end of the opening b
and through the opening 61, and is directed in its movements by the guide E, parallel
therewith and working through the rear end of the opening b and through the
opening b². The guide and coupling-pin are united by the head F, which has a
flange, f, near its top, for overlapping the sides of the opening b and preventing the
pin dropping through the draw-head. That portion f¹ of the head below the flange f
is of a width to enter and fit within the opening b, and its lower side extends some
distance within the throat, so as to rest upon the link and hold the same in a horizontal
plane. The guide is much longer than the coupling-pin, and has a stop or pin, E, at
its lower end to limit the upward movement of it and the coupling-pin.
The latch is-shaped, and is fitted in a groove, e, of corresponding shape, formed
in the under side of the head and in the forward side of the guide, and is pivoted at
its forward end, g, within the head. The lower front corner is cut away, forming a
shoulder, g', which is pointed, and a projecting end or stop, g². The tendency of the
latch is to swing outward and when the coupling-pin is elevated the shoulder g
thereof will spring forward of the opening 62 and engage a notch, b, in the portion 63.
The projecting end or stop g², striking against the front side of the opening 62, limits
the forward movement of the latch. In practice the link H strikes the latch and
disengages the shoulder thereof from the draw-bar, and allows the pin to fall and
engage the link, the inner end of which fits between the pin and guide and is held
down by the head bearing thereon.
The coupling-pin, it will be observed, acts as a counterbalance for the link, and
holds the same in a horizontal plane. If the outer end of the link should be too high,
it can be lowered by elevating the coupling-pin, which will permit the link to incline,
as will be readily understood.
The pin can be elevated in any desired manner, and for this purpose I have shown
the rock-shaft I, journalled in suitable bearings to the front of the car, the arm i at
its inner end, which arm is connected at its outer end with the head F of the coupling-
pin by the chain or cable 2, and the hand-lever I' at the outer end of the shaft.
To prevent coupling, the rock-shaft has a reversible arm, to be operated to hold the
coupling-pin up and prevent the coupling when desired. This is done by throwing
the end of the rock-shaft the coupling-pin is attached to up in position. Then reverse
the reversible handle, throwing the rock-shaft in the shape of the letter Z, with the
reversible end down on the end of the car. Put the end of reversible handle of rock-
shaft over the staple-pin that is on the end of car, to prevent accidents. In this
position the coupling is prevented. The reversing of movements liberates the
coupling-pin for self-coupling.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination, with the draw-head having a long opening through its upper
side and two openings through its lower side, of the coupling-pin, the guide, and the
head F, uniting the pin and guide and having a portion adapted to fit in the long

page_text: opening and bear upon the link and a flange extended from the sides of the head for
resting upon the draw-head and overlapping the joint between the sides of said head F
and the sides of the opening, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination, with the coupling-pin, the guide, and the head, of the 7-shaped
latch, pivoted at its upper end between the pin and guide, substantially as described.
3. The combination, with the coupling-pin, the guide, and the head, of the -shaped
latch fitted in a groove in the head and guide and pivoted at its forward end to the
head, substantially as shown and described.
4. The combination, with the draw-head having a long opening in its upper side
and two openings in its lower side and an imperforate portion between the lower
openings, of the coupling-pin, the guide, the head, and the latch having its lower
forward corner cut away, forming a shoulder and stop, substantially as described, and
for the purpose specified.
5. The combination, with the coupling-pin and the rock-shaft connected therewith,
of the reversible lever, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of June 1887.
HORN & SON,
Agents
on behalf of Applicant.
HORN & SON,
Agents on behalf of Applicant.