Improvements in Car Couplings.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 16th Apr., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Car Couplings.
I, HANS BEIER LEDEL, of Minnesota, in the County of Lyon, and State of
Minnesota, United States of America, Gentleman, 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 :-
This invention relates to car-couplings, more particularly of the pin-and-link
type and the object of the same is to provide an improved car-coupling of that.
character.
To this end, the invention consists of the details of construction more particularly
hereinafter described and claimed, and as illustrated on the sheet of drawings,
wherein―
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the end of the car, showing my form of a pin-.
lifter and draw-head.
Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the draw-head and pin with the latter
raised.
Fig. 3 is a similar section showing the pin as dropped through the link.
In
Referring to the said drawings, the letter C designates a car, and D is the draw-
head, supported by and beneath the car in any suitable or well-known manner.
the construction illustrated P is a pin moving vertically through the draw-head and
through eyes I carried by the car, between which it has a stationary collar or
enlargement E to prevent its dislocation.
O is an operating-lever pivoted at P1, to the end of the car and having a handle H
standing at the side of the car. V is a vertical rod passing through eyes i, in the
end of the car and having a handle at the top of the car, and C are chains
connecting the inner and lower ends, respectively, of the lever and rod with the
upper end of the pin P.
Although I have not shown it, it will be understood that there can be another
lever O leading to the other side of the car and of a construction similar to the one
shown. It will thus be seen that the operator is able to raise the pin P from the
top of the car or when standing at either side of the track, and said pin again seeks
its operative position by gravity.
Within the draw-head is located a practically U-shaped plate U, which is pivoted
at its upper ends in the sides of the draw-head near its top, and normally hangs in the
position seen in Fig. 2. Thus when the pin P is raised the plate U swings beneath
it and the pin is held in elevated position, although the lever O or rod V may
return to its normal position and the chain C¹ may be slack. When a link
approaches, its free end strikes the plate U and drives the same to the rear,
swinging it about its pivots, and thus the pin P is allowed to drop through the link,
as seen in Fig. 3. The device thus becomes an automatic coupler. When the pin
is raised and the link is again withdrawn, the plate U follows the link and swings
beneath the pin, so as to hold it in elevated position ready for future use.
The outer end of the draw-head carries a horizontal frame-work F having guides
or grooves G therein. Within this frame-work is a plate P3 which is of half the
length of the frame-work, and this plate has tongues moving loosely in said
grooves.
V₁ is a vertical pin passing through the frame-work at such point as to hold the
plate P at either end thereof desired. Thus when the plate is moved to the left, as
seen in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, the draw-head D is exposed, as shown
in this figure; but when the pin V₁ is raised, the plate moved to the right, and the
pin re-inserted the mouth of this draw-head is closed by the plate. Rigidly secured
to and projecting from said plate is a link L' approximately of the construction

page_text: shown, and when the plate is moved in alignment with the draw-head (which, it will
be understood, is beneath the centre of the car) this link will be in proper position
to couple with the draw-head of another car. By this construction the draw-head
is changeable from a male to a female construction, and although considerable
change may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit
of my invention I consider the general idea highly advantageous for reasons which
will be obvious.
Although I prefer the form of pin-support and pin-lifter above described,
obviously other forms might be adopted which would operate successfully with the
draw-head, and 1 therefore reserve the right to use them, if preferred.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
"
1. The herein described draw-head for car-couplings, the same consisting of a
draw-head having an open mouth, a frame-work projecting laterally therefrom and
having grooves or ways, a plate moving in the grooves thereof, a rigid link
projecting from the plate, and means for holding the latter at either end of the
frame-work, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.
2. The hercin described draw-lead for car-couplings, the same consisting of a
draw-head having an open mouth, a pin-support within said draw-head, a grooved
frame-work projecting laterally from the mouth of the draw-head, a plate half the
length of said frame-work and moving in the grooves thereof, a link projecting
from the centre of said plate, and means for holding the plate removable at either
end of the frame-work, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set
forth.
3. The herein described draw-head for car-couplings, the same consisting of a
draw-head having an open mouth, a frame-work projecting laterally therefrom and
having grooves or ways, a plate moving in the grooves thereof, a rigid link
projecting from the plate, and a vertical pin removably inserted through the centre
of the frame-work for holding the plate at either end thereof, substantially as and
for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.
Dated this 11th day of February 1892.