Car Couplings.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 28th Sept., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Car Couplings.
I, ISAAC KLING, of Louisville, County of Jefferson, and State of Kentucky, U.S.A.,
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 is an improvement in twin-jaw car couplings wherein a swinging
hook or jaw is pivoted to the draw bar, and has an arm adapted to enter the throat
of the draw-bar and engage a locking device therein to hold the hook when coupled,
and the objects of my present invention are to improve the construction of the parts
whereby a very short arm will serve in locking the hook thus enabling the hook to be
swung out of the way and retained so that when it is desired to couple the draw-bar
to a link and pin coupling; to relieve the hinge pin of the hook from strain when
during the coupling operation the cars are forcibly brought together, to simplify the
locking device and ensure its positive action with the hook and also utilize it in auto-
matically coupling with a link and pin; and to so hinge the hook on the drawbar
that it will automatically swing open when the locking device is released. The inven-
consists in the novel construction of the coupling hook, the locking tumbler and its
hinge, and in certain other novel details of construction and arrangement of parts
whereby the foregoing objects are effected, all of which will be understood from the
following description in connection with the drawings: in which-Figure 1, is a plan
view of the coupler. Figure 2, is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view
through the same looking toward the hook. Figure 3, is a horizontal sectional view
of the same showing the locking tumbler and hook in plan view. Figure 4, is an end
view of a car showing the coupling and the uncoupling devices. Figure 5, is a detail
sectional view showing the locking tumblor lifting key. Figures 6 & 7, aro detail
views of the hook hinge. Figures 8 & 9, are detail views of the uncoupling devices.
Figure 10, is a bottom view of the hook, and Figure 11, is a top view of the hinge.
Figure 12, is a detail view of the hook hinge.
Referring to the drawings by letters-A, designates a draw-bar having a curved
guide arm B on one side of its month and an off-set outwardly extending pair of
ears C, C, on the opposite of its mouth, being in plan view similar to the ordinary
form of draw-bars of the twin jaw type. D designates a swinging hook having a
curved engaging portion d, and a shank E which lies between the ears C, C, of the
draw-bar and is hinged thereto by a pin F passing vertically through openings in
said ears and shank so that the hook can swing laterally. The lower ear C, has a
notch in its upper face at the side of the draw-bar and a shoulder c¹ in its front
face, and C indicates an inclined or cut away portion leading from the shoulder c¹ to
the mouth of the draw-bar, as shown. e, designates a depending lug or incline
formed at the junction of portion d, and shank E at the lower inner face of the book,
and designates a short stud on the face of the shank E adapted to engage shoulder cl
or notch c. When the coupling hook is in engaging position the stud e engages
shoulder and prevents its swinging further open, and the incline e engages the
incline C or the front edge of the draw-bar, and when the hook is turned inward
causes the same to ride upwards as is evident from the drawings. When the locking
devices are disengaged from the hook the latter will swing open by gravity, owing
to the said incline, until it is stopped by the stud e', abutting against the shoulder c
By lifting the hook sufficiently to engage said shoulder it can be swung backward
until the stud engages notch c as indicated in figure 1, in which position the
portion d is out of the way and the draw-bar can be readily connected to a
link and pin coupling without danger of the bumpers striking and injuring the hook.
An annular collar E is formed on the top of the shank E, which collar enters an

page_text: annular recess (" in the upper ear C and in part relieves pin F from draft strain when
the hook is coupled. G designates an angular off-set on the inner face of shank E,
which off-set is about at right angles to portion d, as shown, and said off-set is formed
at the point where the arm is usually connected to the shank in this class of couplings.
H designates a short tooth projecting from the corner of off-set G at about right
angles to portion &, said tooth being lower than the off-set in height; and the latter is
cut away or shouldered as at g above the tooth. When the hook is turned inward
tooth His caused to enter a shouldered recess in the side wall of the draw bar as
shown in figure 3, the tooth entering the recess snugly so that when the hook is
pushed directly inward the tooth will engage the recess and relieve the pin from
strain. is a strengthening web between the inner face of the tooth and the off-set.
I represents a locking tumbler pivoted in the throat of the draw-bar in the rear of
pin openings a, a, upon a transverse rod i, as shown, so that it can oscillate freely
thereon. The rod passes through the rear end of the tumbler so that the forward
end thereof drops down by gravity, but is kept out of contact with the floor of
the draw-bar but in close proximity thereto by reason of its upturned rear end 1
which strikes against the roof of the draw-bar and prevents further dropping of the
front end of the tumbler, without hindering its raising. The roof of the draw-bar is
chambered as shown to permit the tumbler to be rocked on its pivot and lifted
sufficiently to permit the tooth or stud H of offset G to pass beneath. J designates a
finger projecting from the edge of the tumbler at the side adjoining pin.F. Said
finger extends forward sufficiently to close the side of recess h so that should stud H
be in suid recess it will be retained therein and the hook locked. The finger is
rounded on its lower and front edge as shown to enable it to ride smoothly over
stud H and offset G as the latter is turned thereunder. After the offset and stud H
move past finger J the tumbler drops in position and effectually prevents opening of
the hook by engaging said offset and stud. The roof of the draw-bar is chambered
to accommodate the finger J when the tumbler is lifted, as shown at J and the finger
when pressed laterally by the study, when the strain is on the hook, abuts against
shoulder at the side of said recess as shown in figures 5, & 7, thus transferring
strain directly to the draw bar. The roof of the draw-bar is also cut-away or reduced
in thickness as at 6 to accommodate the offset G in the closing of the hook, since the
latter rises with the shank in closing and would otherwise bind against the roof. The
front face of the tumbler is rounded, and its bottom convexed as shown to bite a link
when inserted thereunder. If a pin be inserted in the upper opening a, when the
tumbler is down, it will impinge against the edge of the latter and be upheld thereby
until the tumbler is elevated by the passage of a link thereunder, then the pin drops
engaging the link. K designates a lifting key for the tumbler playing through an
opening in the bottom of the draw bar, this opening is made with diametrically
opposite channels J, L, in its sides extending entirely through the floor of the draw-
bar and with a pair of diametrically opposite notches 1, 1, at its upper end extending
partly through the draw-bar floor. M represents a key having an eye N on its lower
end and a pair of diametrically opposite flanges or ears m on its upper end. The
key is inserted through the opening its flanges passing through channels L, L, and is
then given a quarter turn so as to engage its flanges with notches 1, 1, by which the
key is suspended in position. The tumbler is next put in place. The key cannot
then be lifted sufficiently to disengage the flanges from the notches, as the tumbler
strikes the roof of the draw bar. The eye N of the key is engaged by an arm n on
an L-shaped rod that is hinged to suitable straps below the draw-bar, and its arm
is connected by a link P with the short arm p projecting from a horizontal shaft Q
secured on the front of the car as shown, by brackets RR, its ends being bent down
into handles as shown. By lifting these handles rod O is turned, and arm n, the
key, and tumbler are lifted, thus disengaging the hook. In order to keep the hook
uncoupled I may allow rod Q a certain play in its bearings and provide each bracket R
with an offset lug beveled as shown, upon which the handles 7 may be supported
as indicated in the drawings thus upholding the rod and key as is evident.
place of lugs may employ the pivoted blocks S which have enlarged ends s and
In

page_text: aro secured by screws s¹ beside handles q, and when one of the latter is lifted
the block can be turned thereunder to uphold it, the weight of the handle being
sufficient to retain the block in this position: when the handle is lifted the block will
drop by gravity.
To permit the hook to be swung out of the way I cut away the corners of portion 1)
adjoining the shank as shown. In some instances a small opening is made in the
upper car beside pin F and in this opening a short pin is placed that rests upon
When the
the top of shank E and is retained by the head of pin F as indicated.
hook is closed pin f¹ is raised with the shank and lifts pin F and when released even
if the hook bites pin F as is frequently the case, it will swing open since the pin will
drop with the hook. This device is useful where a close fit is made between the pin
and hook shank, but if pin F fits loosely in the ears and shank, pin f', can be dispensed
with.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a car coupling the combination of the swinging hook formed with a shank
upon which is a tooth, substantially as described, with a tumbler pivoted in the
throat of the draw-bar and having a finger adapted to engage said tooth, and lock the
hook, substantially as described.
2. The combination of the draw-bar having a pair of ears on one side and a shoulder
or recess in its side wall in rear of said ears; with a swinging hook hinged between
said ears, and having a tooth on its shank adapted to enter said recess when the hook
is closed, and a pivoted locking tumbler engaging said tooth, all substantially as
specified.
3. The combination of the draw bar the swinging hook hinged thereto having a
tooth on its shank adapted to enter the throat of the draw bar when the hook is
closed with a locking tumbler pivoted in the throat of the draw-bar and having
forwardly projecting finger adapted to engage said tooth, and a key for lifting
said tumbler passing through the floor of the draw-bar, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination of the draw-bar having a pair of ears at one side, the lower
one of which is notched on its upper face, and the upper one annularly recessed; with
a swinging hook having a shank hinged between said cars, said shank having a
depending stud e¹ adapted to engage the notches in the lower ear, and a beveled lug e
on its lower end, and an annular collar on its upper end engaging the recess in the
upper ear, and an offset G, substantially as described.
5. The combination of the draw-bar having a channeled and notched opening in its
floor substantially as described, and a tumbler pivoted in the throat of the draw-bar
above said opening; with a key playing through said opening to lift the tumbler,
having side flanges engaging the notches of the opening, substantially as described.
6. The combination of the draw-bar and swinging hook binged thereto substantially
as described; with the locking tumbler for said hook pivoted in the throat of the draw-
bar and having its rear end upturned to strike the roof of the draw-bar and prevent
the front end of the tumbler resting on the floor thereof substantially as specified.
7. The combination of the draw-bar and the swinging hook; with a bolt playing
through an opening in the upper ear beside the pin and confined between the head of
the pin and shank, substantially as specified.
8. The combination of the draw-bar, the swinging hook hinged thereto and having
a tooth on its shank adapted to enter the throat of the draw-bar when the hook is
closed with a locking tumbler pivoted in the throat of the draw-bar and having a
forwardly projecting finger to engage said tooth when the hook is closed, and also to
engage a shoulder in the roof of the draw bar to transfer strain to the latter, and the
devices for operating said tumbler, all substantially as described.
9. The combination of the draw-bar, the swinging hook and locking tumbler in
said draw-bar with the vertically movable key playing through the floor of the draw-
bar, and engaging the bottom of said tumbler, the arm engaging said key mounted

page_text: on a hinged rod below the draw-bar, and the shaft and link connections for operating
said arm to lift the key substantially as described.
10. The combination with the uncoupling or releasing key and its operating arm
and rods; of the horizontal bar mounted on the front of the car, the handles thereof,
and the devices substantially as described for sustaining these handles to keep the
locking devices released, all substantially as specified.
11. The combination of the draw bar, the swinging hook hinged thereto having a
lifting bevel e, and an offset G provided with a tooth H; with the locking tumbler
pivoted in the throat of the draw-bar having a forwardly inclined finger J, and the
key passing through the floor of the draw bar and engaging said tumbler, and the
operating devices for said key, all constructed and arranged to operate as and for
the purpose specified.
Dated this 22nd day of July 1980
ISAAC KLING,
Inventor.