Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Oct., 1891-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1891
The object of my invention is to produce a car-coupler capable of connecting
automatically with one of its own kind, or, by the use of the ordinary link, with
the draw-heads in general use in the United States, and regardless of the height of
the cars to which they are attached.
The invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts,
as hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.
In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this Specification,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pair of couplers embodying my invention.
Figure 2 is a central, longitudinal section of the same.
Figure 3 is a plan of a link applicable to my coupler.
Figure 4 is a plan of the device for uncoupling.
Figure 5 is a plan of a modified form of link.
Figure 6 is a central longitudinal section of a modified form of draw-head
and dog.
Figure 7 is a view in perspective of the modified dog and its cap, and
Figure 8 is a transverse section through the dog and draw-head, showing the dog
with a cap or head integral therewith.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Referring to the drawing, A A represent the adjoining ends of two common
freight cars, having the usual "dead-woods " B B. To the cars are attached the
draw-heads C C in the usual way.
The draw-heads in Fig. 1 are exactly alike, they being designed for the standard
height of cars. In adapting the draw-head to cars of different heights, however,
the shape of the draw-head should be modified in the manner indicated in Fig. 6.
In this it will be noticed that the mouth of the draw-head is relatively lower than
the centre of the draw-bar (the body of the casting back of the draw-head). This
kind of a draw-head is therefore adapted to a high car.
For a low car the draw-
head should be offset on the upper side, in a manner so simple as to require no
illustration. To compensate for this offset the material of the draw-head should
be thickened at the offset, so as to preserve the requisite strength.
Referring now to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the draw-head is of a common type
in that it couples with its fellow by a link and pin. Instead of using a pin however,
I provide the draw-head with a dog D attached to a pivot d by a suitable pin a.
The upper part of the draw-head mouth has a cavity large enough to receive the
dog when turned back, as indicated by the dotted lines. In the lower part of the
mouth is a shoulder to catch the lower end of the dog when in locking position.
It will be seen that the back side of the dog is curved toward the lower end, and
extends well back of a vertical line drawn through the centre of the pivot d.
The object of this construction is to limit the backward throw of the dog in
uncoupling and thus correspondingly limit the "slack,” or space between the draw-
heads when coupled.
Behind the dog at a considerable distance is a pin F which passes through a
hole e in the rear end of the link E, and serves to permanently connect the link
with the draw-head. As one of these links is attached to each draw-head, it will

page_text: be evident that when two of them are coupled two links are used, the dog in each
draw-head connecting with the link in the other one, thus making a double con-
nection of the two, so that in the event of one of the dogs or links giving way,
the other holds, and prevents accidental uncoupling of the cars. In coupling with
a common draw-head, the attached link is used instead of the loose one commonly
employed.
In the construction of the link it is desirable to make the portion of it that lies
in the draw-head to which it is permanently attached, heavier than the part that
extends outside, so as to keep the link normally in a horizontal position to enable
it to readily enter the mouth of the opposite draw-head. In Fig. 3 is shown a
link suitable for this purpose. In this link the portion provided with the hole e
is made solid to give the requisite weight. A further improvement in the con-
struction of the link is the use of a transverse bar e' to truss the sides of the link,
and the better prevent the spreading and crushing of the same in case of acci-
dental shock to the end thereof. This bar also serves as an additional protection
against accidental uncoupling. It will be seen that the dog D passes through the
hole e. Now in the event that the shoulder c should be broken, the dog might
be drawn forward, and its forward, hooked portion catch on the bar and by simple
leverage hold the parts in connection sufficiently to prevent serious accidents.
To facilitate the entering of the link in the mouth of the other draw-head its
outer end should be rounded or tapered horizontally, and also in vertical section.
So constructed the links present to each other but a thin angle or edge, and there
is no liability of their abutting squarely, but in meeting they pass each other readily,
and enter the mouths of the respective draw-heads. In so doing they carry the
dog backwardly and upwardly, and when past, it drops into coupling position by
its own gravity.
The link shown in Fig. 5 is simply a common link contracted at E¹ to form the
eye e for the pin F.
For uncoupling I provide the end of the car with rock-shaft G having a hand-
lever G at each end and near the sides of the car, and another lever G which is
connected with the crank d¹ by a suitable chain f. The action of the lever is
shown in Fig. 1, the full outline showing the position of the parts when the cars
are coupled, and the dotted lines the position when uncoupled. In both positions
the hand-lever is thrown past the centre of gravity, so that it remains in either
position when so placed, held in one position by the end of the car, against which
it leans, and in the other by the chain and the connected crank-shaft and dog,
or the dead-wood as indicated. To increase the weight of the hand-lever it may
be provided with a ball g. When the lever is thrown forward its weight serves to
hold the dog in the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, so that the
cars may be pushed about the yard in making up trains, as it is often necessary
to do.
To admit of a connection with the coupling-bar of a locomotive pilot, or other
device not adapted to enter the main mouth of the draw-head sufficiently to engage
with the dog, I provide the draw-head with a supplemental mouth C¹, and this
with a pin H, which should be permanently connected with the bar by a chain h.
This also serves for connection with draw-heads which are so extremely high as
not readily to connect with the link E.
Since the links to be used in this coupler are necessarily longer than those in
common use, from end to end, they are better adapted to enter the mouths of
draw-heads higher or lower than those with which they are connected, by being
tilted up or down so much as may be required. In all ordinary cases, however, it
is only necessary to keep the link horizontal and in line with the draw-head in order
to couple automatically.
To lock the hand-lover forward so that the jar of the cars will not throw it
back and thus drop the dog, one of the boxes 6 may be provided with a shoulder 6*
Fig. 4, to engage with the back side of the lever by slipping the rock-shaft
endwise.

page_text: It will of course be understood that both cars can only be uncoupled by throwing
both levers, as indicated in Fig. 1.
In practice the form of dog shown in Fig. 6 is preferred, since it admits of very
close coupling of the draw-heads, with but little slack." It will be seen that the
inner face of this dog is the segment of a circle of which the pivot d is the centre.
It is therefore evident that a very slight slackening of the strain on the links will
liberate the dog, and on the other hand, the link needs to pass but slightly beyond
the position shown in Fig. 2 to admit of the dog dropping into the coupling position
by its own gravity.
To permit the necessary movement of the dog the upper part of the draw-head
should be slotted as shown. The upper portion of the dog may thus lie above
the top of the draw-head and connect with the device for raising it. For this
purpose the upper part of the dog has a slotted extension D" which engages with
a rod connecting with the rock-shaft and its crank G". The slot in the upper
part of the dog admits of the rod being easily disengaged from it when desired.
To exclude rain, snow. cinders, etc., from the slot in the upper part of the draw-
head, I provide the dog with a cap I or I', which extends beyond the slot, as shown.
This cap may be separate from the dog, but is preferably an integral part thereof,
as in Fig. 8. So made it serves as an additional bearing for the dog, and the
shoulder c in the mouth of the draw-head might even be dispensed with.
To facilitate the escape of water and the like from the top of the draw-head I
make it crowning in the middle, as shown in Fig. 8.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :
1. In a car-coupler, the combination of the draw-head C, having a shoulder c in
the lower part of the mouth thereof, the dog D pivoted in the upper part of the
mouth thereof, and with a lever connected with or forming a part of its pivot d,
the link Ę having a hole e through its inner end, the pin F connecting the link
permanently with the draw-head, and a hole e" through the outer end of the link
to admit the dog of a corresponding draw-head, and means substantially as described
for raising the dog to uncouple.
2. In a car-coupler, the combination of the herein described draw-head having
the dog D pivoted in the principal mouth thereof, a shoulder in said mouth to hold
the lower end of the dog, and a supplemental mouth above said principal mouth
with a pin therein, whereby the draw-head is adapted to couple with draw-bars or
links too short to admit the dog, and the link E having the hole e at the inner end
and a hole at the outer end to admit the dog, and the pin F passing through the
hole e and connecting it permanently with the draw-head.
3. In a car-coupler, the combination of the dog D, pivot or axis d having
crank d, chain, and the rock-shaft G having crank G and hand-lever_G', the
said rock-shaft being mounted so that the hand-lever when thrown forward passes
the centre of gravity, and holds the dog out of coupling position.
4. In a car-coupler, the herein described link, having a solid portion for counter-
weight inside the draw-head, and with a hole therein for a connecting pin, and
an open, outwardly extended portion, with one or more transverse bars connecting
the sides, and a pointed or tapered end to prevent two links from abutting each
other.
5. In a car-coupler, the combination of a draw-head made crowning in the
middle as described, and having a slot to receive a coupling dog, and a dog
mounted pivotally in said slot, and having a cap attached to or forming a part
thereof, to cover said slot, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6. The combination of the herein described draw-head having a slot to receive
the coupling dog and inclined on the upper side each way from said slot, and
having a suitable extension to cover the slot when down, and a link permanently

page_text: secured in the draw-head by a pin back of the dog, and adapted to couple by
engaging a similar dog in the abutting draw-head.
7. The combination with a draw-head subst: ntially as described, of a dog
pivoted in a slot in the upper part thereof, said dog having a slotted upper
extension to engage with tilting mechanism, and means substantially as described
for tilting the same.
Dated this 12th day of September 1891.
J. C. CHAPMAN, C.P.A.,
70, Chancery Lane, London, Sub-agent for Applicant.