Improvements in Couplings for Electric Railway Vehicles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1890-Accepted, 20th Sept., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Couplings for Electric Railway Vehicles.
1, LOUIS PFINGST, of Bartlett Street Cor. Washington Street, Boston, County of
Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, U.S.A. Master Mechanic, West end Street Railway
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:-
My invention relates especially to couplings for electric street railway vehicles the
object being to overcome lost motion usual in couplings of this class and jar on the tow
cars incidental to stopping and starting the train.
The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood by all con-
versant with such matters from the following explanation.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of two cars showing my improvement applied
thereto.
Figure 2 a top plan view of the link.
Figure 3 a sectional elevation showing details of construction; and,
Figure 4a front elevation of the hanger.
Like letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different
figures of the drawings.
A B represent the cars of a train provided with my improved coupler.
Two parallel braces b, d are secured centrally and longitudinally on the bottoms of
the cars.
On the body of the car above the ends of these braces a metallic buffer D, is secured
as shown in Figures 3 and 4.
Pendant from the ends of the braces and secured thereto by bolts and nuts there
is a metallic loop or hanger C having a horizontal bottom g.
Secured to the bottoms of the car bodies between the trucks and braces bd, there
are metallic spring boxes h. These boxes are open on their bottoms at i, and at ; in
their rear ends (see Figure 3).
The draw bar H is fitted to slide longitudinally through said boxes, and is provided
with a horizontally slotted head k, after the manner of the ordinary link and pin
draw-bar.
A rectangular plate m, (see Figure 3) is disposed loosely on the draw-bar and is
fitted to slide in the box h. Shoulders p, on said bar engage the plate and force it
inward in the box on the rearward movement of said bar.
A similar plate q, is loosely disposed on the draw-bar at the opposite end of the
box, said plate engaging a vertical shoulder or danger on the box bottom near the
opening j.
Secured on the draw bar between the plate. q, and the inner end t of the box there
is a block or ring v.
A stiff coiled spring ; is disposed around the draw bar within the box h, the ends of
said spring being secured on studs w, on the plates, in, q respectively.
A horizontally arranged supplemental draw bar K, rests centrally on the bottom g,
of the hanger and has one end secured in the head k of the draw bar H by means
of a pin 15 said pin being secured therein by a key or pin 16.
The link P, consists of a box rectangular in cross section, provided with a horizontal
chamber 17, extending inward from each end and adapted to receive the free end of
the bar K.
Each end of the link is provided with a vertical pin opening extending across said
chambers and adapted to receive coupling pins.

page_text: An eye 19 is formed on the link and chains 20, connect each
eye.
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The supplemental draw-bars K, have pin openings in their outer or free ends
adapted to register with the corresponding openings in the link.
In the use of my improvement, the link is secured by a pin 18, to the draw-bar K 5
of the motor car.
The draw-bars of the train cars being sustained in the same
horizontal plane by the hanger C, when the motor car is backed against said train cars
to shackle them, the train car draw-bar may readily be directed into the open end of
the link and secured by a pin 18.
The shock resultant from the coupling of the cars is cushioned by the spring J.
The plate m met by shoulders p, p, on the draw bar H, is driven into the box h, and
said spring compressed.
The pins 15, and 18, having no play in the pin holes of the draw-bars or link when
the train is started, the bar H, is drawn outward through the box, its block v, engaging
the plate g compressing the spring and relieving the check on the tow cars. By the use
of my improvement the momentum of the tow car which ordinarily tends to drive it
forcibly against the motor car in stopping is sufficiently overcome to prevent
jarring.
By means of the supplemental draw-bar pivotted at its inner end to the main bar H,
by pin 15, sufficient lateral movement is allowed to permit the cars to readily pass
around curves in the track.
The coupling proper as thus arranged on each car has no longitudinal play
independent from that on the adjacent car and such joint movement is cushioned on
the spring J.
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
First. In a car coupler a spring cushioned draw-bar a supplemental draw-bar
pivoted to swing laterally thereon; a link comprising a rectangular box chambered to
receive an end of said supplemental bar; and a pin for securing it thereto, substantially
as described.
Second. In a car coupler a spring box secured to the car body; a main draw-bar
fitted to slide in said box; a spring for cushioning said bar; a supplemental draw-bar
pivoted to said main bar; and a link comprising a box chambered to receive an end
of said supplemental bar adapted to be secured therein by a coupling pin substantially
as described.
Third. In a car coupling a link comprising a bar chambered longitudinally at each
end to receive a draw bar and provided with openings for coupling pins substantially
as described.
Fourth. In a car coupling the link P provided with chambers 17, for receiving a
draw-bar and openings extending across said chambers for the coupling pins substan
tially as set forth.
Fifth. In a car coupling the combination of a box secured to the car body; a
spring cushioned main draw bar sliding longitudinally therein; a supplemental draw
bar detachably pivoted to the head of said main bar, a hanger on the car provide
with a horizontal bottom for supporting said supplemental bar; and a link chambere
to receive the outer end of said bar and provided with openings for a coupling pi
whereby it may be secured therein substantially as described.
Sixth. In a car coupling the combination of a spring cushioned draw bar slidin
longitudinally on the car body, with a supplemental draw bar pivoted thereto an
supported by a hanger on the car; a link comprising a box or bar chambered
receive one end of said supplemental bar and coupling pins for detachably securin
said bar therein, the pin openings being arranged to prevent longitudinal play of th
link and bar substantially as described.
Seventh. In a car coupling the spring cushioned bar H, provided with the head
1
3

page_text: in combination with the bar K, secured thereto by the pin 15, the hanger C; the
link P, chambered at 17, and the pins 18, arranged to operate substantially as
described.
Dated this 21st day of July 1800
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.