Improvements in Car-couplers.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 10th June, 1899
Improvements in Car-couplers.
We, ALONZO KELLY, Manager, of 1130, Wallace Street; JOSEPII CANNAN SMITH,
Secretary and Superintendent, of 1417, N. Front Street; WENDELL FACKLER,
Agent, of 1429, Market Street; and WILLIAM DANIEL BLOCK, Sanitary Officer,
of 1235, Chestnut Street, all of Harrisburg, in the County of Dauphin and State
of Pennsylvania, United States of America, 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:
Our invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in car-couplers;
and we do declare the following to be a full, clear and exact description of the
invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to
make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and
to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.
Our object is to provide an automatic car-coupler having improved means
whereby uncoupling will be automatically accomplished should a draw-bar
accidentally pull out.
A further object is the provision of novel devices adapted to permit twisting of
the couplers on their longitudinal axes and also to allow them to yield laterally
when the cars are going around a curve.
A still further object is to provide a draw-head and knuckle both of such
improved construction that the strain will be divided between the pivot of the
knuckle and the draw-head.
Another object is the provision of uncoupling mechanism of novel construction
whereby uncoupling can be accomplished from the side of the car and the couplers
can be prevented from coupling.
Having the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of a car-
coupler and uncoupling mechanism comprising certain improved features and com-
binations of parts appearing more fully hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the end of a car
equipped with my improved car-coupler and uncoupling mechanism. Figs. 2
and 3 are detail views of the improved bearings for the uncoupling-lever; Fig. 4
a plan view, partially in section Fig. 5, a side elevation, also partly in section;
and Figs. 6 and 7 are views showing the improved knuckle and draw-head and
illustrating the different positions of the knuckle pivot-pin.
The draw-heads are shown at 1, and being duplicates one only will be described.
The draw-head consists of two parts, which are pivoted together at 2, so that they
may spread or expand under lateral strain, as when the cars are going around a
curve A leaf-spring 3, secured to the draw-bar 4, has its free end bearing against
the side of the pivoted section of the draw-head and keeps the latter normally
closed. The tail-bolt 5, has a round head 6, which is received in a chamber 7
in the rear end of the draw-bar 4, this chamber being closed at the top by a cap 8,
held in position by bolts 9 and 10. This construction permits of the easy connection
of the draw-bar and tail-bolt, and a strong swiveled connection is thereby had,

page_text: :
so that when the coupler is in use it can turn somewhat on its longitudinal axis,
and hence more perfectly accommodate itself to the movements of the car.
The numeral 12 designates the knuckle, having the usual means for coupling
it to a link-coupler, if the occasion for so doing arises. This knuckle has a pivot-
pin opening or slot 12 extending therethrough from top to bottom, which is of
substantially right angular shape, being composed of the portions or branches 13
and 14. The tail of the knuckle is provided with are-shaped ribs 15 and 16 on
opposite sides, which are adapted for reception in corresponding grooves 17 and 18
in the pivoted section of the draw-head. The pivot-pin for the knuckle is shown
at 19, the same passing through the opening 121, heretofore described.
The numeral 20 designates a ribbon-spring secured to the pivoted section of
the draw-head and having both ends of its bearing on the knuckle. A coil-
spring 21, seated in the draw-head, bears against the tail of the knuckle and
constantly tends to open the latter.
A
A locking bar or latch 22 extends vertically within the draw-head, being pivoted
thereto at 23 and having its lower end adapted for engagement with the tail of
the knuckle. The upper end of the latch is bent or inclined toward the car.
coupling-box 37 is fitted over and secured to the squared lower end of the latch 22,
being provided with a hook 38. A coil-spring 24 is horizontally disposed within
the draw-head for holding the lower end of the latch in locking position, one end
of the spring being seated on a block 25, fixed in the draw-head, and the other
end surrounding hook 38 and bearing against box 37. A horizontal link 26 is
engaged with hook 38 and extends through the coil-spring, its opposite end being
provided with an eye 27, adapted for the reception of a vertical pin 28. The
upper portion of this pin passes through a hole 29 in the top of the draw-bar 4,
this hole being large enough to allow the lower portion of the pin to swing in
an elongated slot 30 in the lower portion of the draw-bar, so that by throwing the
lower end of the pin backward the latch will be retracted and the knuckle freed.
This operation of the pin is automatically performed by the usual yoke 31, which
supports the draw-head, for it will be observed that should the draw-head pull
out this yoke will come in contact with the lower end of the pin and pull it back-
ward, thereby drawing on the lower end of the latch through the medium of the
link and uncoupling the parts.
Within the draw-head is a longitudinally-disposed bar 32, provided with an
clongated slot 33, through which the upper portion of the pin 28 passes. Con-
nected to the forward end of the bar 32 is a transverse link 34, which is pivoted
to one section of the draw-head at 35 and connected to the other section thereof
by a slot and pin connection 36. This bar and link limits the spread of the
sections of the draw-head, and should any of the parts attached to them break
they will be suspended and prevented from falling on the track.
Our improved uncoupling-lever 42 has an arm 39 at its inner end, which ter-
minates in a trip 43, disposed in the same plane with the inclined upper end of
the latch 22, said lever extending horizontally to the side of the car, where it is
provided with a crank-handle, and being journaled in bearings 44 and 45, con-
nected to the car. Box 44 has a horizontally-disposed flat opening 46, adapted to
receive a flat locking lug or member 47 on the lever when the latter is turned and
pulled in the direction of its longitudinal axis, whereby the lever may be locked
and the latch 22 held retracted, so that the knuckle in the draw-head will be freed
and coupling prevented. The bearing 45 has a bearing-block 48, kept continually
in contact with the lever by a coil-spring 49, which bears against the car, so that
turning of the lever by the jolting of the car is prevented. When the uncoupling-
lever is in its normal position, the arm at its inner end lies against the side of
the car, with the wiper-head back of the inclined upper end of the latch. Upon
turning the crank the arm is raised and the head 43 engages and moves the
upper end of the latch, causing its lower end to disengage the tail of the knuckle
and allowing the parts to uncouple. The lever can then be locked, as before
described. When the lever is returned to normal position, the spring 24 will

page_text: throw the latch into locking position. These operations can be accomplished with
safety from the side of the car.
The peculiar connections between the knuckle and the draw-head constitute
valuable features of the present invention. When the knuckle is open, the pivot-
pin 19 is located in the end of branch slot 13, where it is held by the action of the
longer portion of the ribbon-spring 20. When the tail of the knuckle is struck
during the coupling operation, the movement of the knuckle causes the pin to
assume a position at the angle of the branch slots, and when coupling is finally
accomplished the pull exerted on the knuckle causes the pin to pass. into slot 14.
When the knuckle is struck by the companion coupler, the ribs on said knuckle
enter the grooves in the draw-head. Consequently upon the knuckle becoming
locked the strain is divided between the ribs and grooves and the pivot-pin, so
that liability of breakage of the latter is considerably lessened and lateral move-
ment of the knuckle is also prevented.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. In a car-coupler, the combination with a draw-head, of a knuckle having a
continuous pivot-pin slot or opening composed of two communicating branch slots
disposed at an angle to each other, and a pivot-pin passing through the draw-
head and the slot of aforesaid, and adapted for movement in the branch slots
relatively of the knuckle, caused by the movement of the latter, substantially as
described.
2. In a car-coupler, the combination with a draw-head, of a knuckle having a
continuous pivot-pin slot or opening composed of two communicating branch slots,
a pivot-pin passing through the draw-head and slot, and adapted for movement in
the branch slots relatively of the knuckle, and a spring cooperating with the
knuckle to maintain the pin in proper position in the branch slots when the
knuckle is in its different positions.
3. In a car-coupler, the combination with a draw-head, of a knuckle having a
pivot-pin slot composed of communicating branch slots disposed substantially at
right angles to each other, a pivot-pin passing through said slot, an arc-shaped
rib on the knuckle, and an arc-shaped groove in the draw-head adapted to receive
said rib, substantially as described.
4. In a car-coupler, the combination with a draw-head composed of sections
pivoted together and adapted to expand, of external means for keeping said sections
normally closed, and a link pivoted to one section extending through the mouth
of the coupler and connected to the other section by a slot and pin connection,
substantially as described.
5. In a car-coupler, the combination with a draw-head composed of two sections
pivoted together of means for keeping the sections normally closed, a link adjust-
ably connecting the sections together and a bar connected to said link and also con-
nected to one of the sections, substantially as described.
or
6. In a car-coupler; the combination with a draw-head having a recess
chamber, of a tail-bolt having a rounded head free to turn in said chamber a cap
for said chamber and a fastening for the cap, substantially as described.
7. In a car-coupler, the combination with a draw-head, of a coupling mechanism,
a movable latch for locking the coupling mechanism, a coil-spring having one
end seated in the draw-head and the other end bearing against the latch, a pin
having one end loosely pivoted and its other end movable in a slot in the draw-
head, a link connecting the latch with the pin and passing through the coil-spring,
and a trip adapted to engage the free end of the pin when the draw-head becomes
detached, substantially as described.
8. In a car-coupler, the combination with a draw-head, of coupling mechanism,
a releasable latch for securing the coupling mechanism, a pin passed loosely
through the draw-head, a link connecting the pin to the latch, a spring for actuat-

page_text: ing the latch and pin, and a draw-head supporting yoke adapted to engage the pin
and release the latch when the draw-head becomes detached, substantially as
described.
9. The combination with a draw-head and coupling mechanism carried thereby,
of a latch for said coupling mechanism, a rockable uncoupling-lever having a
wiper-arm adapted to engage the latch, a spring-pressed bearing for said lever
which acts as a brake therefor, and means for locking the lever in uncoupling
position, substantially as described.
For the Applicants,
J. G. LORRAIN, M.I.E.E., M.I: Mech. E.,,
Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.