IMPROVEMENT IN CAR COUPLINGS
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I S. LLOYD WIEGAND of 759 North 40th Street in the 24th Ward of the City of
Philadelphia, in the County of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, United
States of America, Mechanical Draftsman and Engineer do hereby declare the
nature of this invention for "IMPROVEMENT IN CAR COUPLINGS" 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 that class of couplings wherein the cars of a railway
may be brought together and secured to each other without exposing the train
hands to injury from crushing between the cars and has for its object the
simplification and reduction of cost of such mechanism so as to adapt it to the safe
and convenient use of the class of persons usually employed as train men, and also
to enable it to be applied and used without alteration or change in the construction
of the cars and without dispensing with or preventing the use of the ordinary
couplings, whereby cars of different construction and heights can be easily linked
together.
To effect these ends the nature of this invention consists of a pair of hooks
having an open or expanded jaw adapted to interlock and embrace each other and
to disengage themselves when not held lengthwise and a pin which being placed
between the hooks holds them together by preventing either lateral or longitudinal
motion between the hooks, also in an arrangement of funnel shaped guides to
facilitate the introduction of the pin and of springs whereby the hooks may be
automatically engaged and disengaged when the pin is removed.
I will now proceed to particularly describe the mode of making and using the
said invention referring in so doing to the drawing annexed in which
Figure 1. shows a top view.
Figure 2 a side view and
Figures 3. 3 3b 8° 3d views of the several parts as detached and the remaining
Figures show modifications thereof.
The same letters of reference apply to the same parts in the several figures.
A, represents hooks having eyes B, formed in them, through each of which the
usual pins C, of railway freight car draw-heads D, may be passed and by which it
is held in such draw head; E is a flaring jaw formed in one piece with each of the
hooks A.

page_text: The draw heads D, and the pins C, are drawn in dotted lines so as not to
obscure the form of the hooks and the hooks are line shaded in figures 1 and 4. in
different directions so as to readily distinguish one from the other.
When the books A are engaged there is a cylindric opening between, into which
a pin F fits, the pin F is provided with a collar F and a ring handle F' and
chain F3 for the purpose of lifting it.
Springs G are attached to each of the hooks A, the free ends of which springs
resting against the side of the opening in each draw head, serve to disengage the
hooks when the cars are separated.
In the form shown in Figures 1. 2. and 3 there is a conical cup H, formed in
two halves, one half H¹, being formed as part of each of the hooks A., which serves
to facilitate the introduction of the pin F, into the opening between the hooks A.
In the form shown in Figure 4, this is omitted.
As shown in Figure 5. the springs G, are dispensed with, and the draw heads D,
are not used but instead thereof, the hooks A, are attached to elastic draw bolts or
rods J, which by their elasticity serve to open or separate the hooks when the
pin F, is removed, and the hooks A, drawn apart in the line of the motion of
the cars.
From the shape of the hooks A, the parts marked A³ touching and resting in
the converging parts marked A, raise the hooks A to horizontal position, and to
proper allignment, even though the hooks A fit so loosely in the drawhead as to
droop.
The form of the hooks A, permits a limited vertical motion between them
without risk of disengaging them and adapts the coupling to unite cars of different
height of draw heads; and from its mode of attachment preserves the flexibility
incident to the ordinary link and pin coupling.
By resting the collar F' of the pin F on the rim of the funnel or hopper H, when
the cars are forced together, the hooks A, engage and the pin F, falls into its place
leaving the cars coupled-to uncouple the cars the pin F, is simply lifted out by
the chain or ring.
Instead of the pin F, for locking or holding the hooks together a block or
blocks K may be substituted which blocks K, may be hinged to or arranged to
slide in recesses formed in the hooks A as shown in Figure 6. said blocks K,
moving horizontally and being forced into position by springs K¹ and retracted by
projecting links or eyes K passing through the sides of the hooks A, to which
links or eyes K² cords or chains may be attached for convenience of retracting the
blocks K, by persons standing at the side of the car or upon the platform, this
form of construction of the invention is more expensive than the form using the
cylindric pin F but by reason of dispensing with the funnel H, renders the coupling
more readily applicable to passenger service where it is desirable to have an
unobstructed passage from car to car throughout the train.
To facilitate uncoupling in this form of the invention, it is convenient to have
one of the blocks K, retracted for which purpose a hole K³ is made through the
stem or shank of the link K' through which a pin being passed, holds the connected
block K, and spring K' and relieves the brakeman, when uncoupling, of any other
work than retracting the block K, in the opposite hook A.
This coupling from its cheapness is particularly applicable to freight cars being
readily applied or removed, and not requiring any alteration of the ordinary
couplings but leaving them intact a feature of first importance where cars belonging
to different roads are to be coupled in the same train and where the use of freight
cars without self couplers is prohibited by Statute.
•
I am aware that car couplings have been made wherein the draw heads of
similar form, each provided with a mortise and tenon fitted one within the other
and were secured together by a cylindric pin fitting in grooves formed in the
contiguous sides of the tenons.
* Also that car couplings have been made consisting of two similar rectangular
hooks each formed on the end of a draw bar, on each car and pressed toward each

page_text: other by springs, to effect automatic engagement in which position they were
secured by a pin fitting in a groove, cut in the rear wall of each hook, the first of
these is objectionable on account of necessitating nearly equal level of the draw
bars and also the side strain in the mortises and tenons resulting from the pressure
of the pin in the grooves and the latter is objectionable because of necessitating
the presence of an attendant at the coupling when the cars are to be drawn apart
and by reason of depending on the pin to prevent lateral motion between the
hooks are liable to soon become loose from wear neither of these do I claim but
Having described this invention and the mode of operating the same what
I claim is
First. A car coupling consisting of two interlocking hooks A each provided with
a flaring jaw E adapted by its form to receive the end of the opposing hook A
and guide and hold the same into proper allignment, in combination with the pin
or key F the whole so constructed as to hold the end of each hook A in the
convergence of the opposing jaw E and hook A, when the pin F is placed between
the hooks A substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Second. A car coupling consisting of two similar hooks A each having a flaring
jaw E adapted to allign each other and provided with a tapering guide for
supporting and guiding a central pin to a position for locking said hooks together
substantially as set forth.
Third. In a car coupling the combination of the hooks A of the form described
and shown and provided with converging jaws E with a bolt or pin F substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. In a car coupling the combination of two similar hooks having flaring
jaws and adapted to be flexibly connected to the ordinary draw heads of railway
cars and by their form allign themselves when forced together with a pin or key
adapted to secure them together substantially as shewn and described.
Fifth. The combination of two similar hooks having flaring jaws and adapted by
their form to allign themselves when forced together and susceptible of unrestricted
vertical motion in each other with a pin or other interposed body for securing the
same together substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The combination of two similar hooks A having flaring jaws E adapted
to engage and allign themselves when pressed together and be locked by an
interposed pin F with a spring or springs G arranged to disengage the same
when retracted and present the hooks in position for re-engagement substantially
as set forth.