Improvements in Car Couplings.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1899-Accepted, 29th July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Car Couplings.
I, JAMES TIMMS, of Columbus, in the County of Franklin, State of Ohio,
United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 to improvements in car couplings and it consists in the
parts and combinations of parts as will be more fully described and pointed out
in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in horizontal section of a
coupling embodying my invention. Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on the
lines 11 of Figure 1 looking to the front. Figure is a view in perspective
of the knuckle and locking pin and block. Figure 4 is a view in side elevation
of the pin and block. Figure 5 is a view in cross section on the line 2-2 of
Figure 4 looking down, and Figure 6 is a view in section on the line 3-3 of
Figure 4, looking up.
A represents the draw-bar of the coupling, 3 the draw-head, C the guard arm
and 1) the knuckle pivoted to the head by the pin D. The inner end or tongue 12
of the knuckle operates in the chamber of the draw-head, and is provided on its
rear face or side with an extension or projection the upper face of which latter
is inclined downwardly toward its rear end forming an inclined surface bon
which the locking block rides in coupling and uncoupling. When the knuckle
is open I prefer to have the free end of the extension a rest under the block,
and as the knuckle moves to a closed position the locking block will be elevated
by the inclined face b, sufficiently high to permit the tongue 2 to pass under the
block. The front edge of the tongue D2 is provided with an incline c which
extends upwardly from a point adjacent to the front edge of the tongue 12.
The reverse inclines and c are separated by a plane surface on which the
block rides during a portion of the movement of the tongue of the knuckle and
operates to prevent the hook on the pin, which will be more fully described later
on, from reingaging its support during the act of coupling or uncoupling.
the
The draw-head B is provided in its top and bottom faces with angular openings
for the passage of the angular pin F. This pin is angular in cross section and is
provided at its upper end with an opening f for the attachment of a lifting
lever or chain, and at a point below the opening with a flange g
which latter is adapted to rest on the flange gl surrounding
opening in the upper face of the head and limit the downward movement of the
pin. The upper section G of the pin is cut away as at forming a hook h¹ which
latter is adapted to engage the flange g¹ at one side of the pin opening, for holding
the pin in its elevated position. The portion G¹ of the pin below the hook h¹ is
cut away on two adjacent sides as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, thus reducing
the diameter of the pin below the shoulder, which latter is formed by cutting
away the two sides of the pin as shown.
The reduced portion G¹ of the pin F is adapted to receive the block I which
letter vasts and maros within the throat of the coupling hood The book I

page_text: is secured on the pin by a key I which latter holds the block solidly against
the shoulder h³ and absolutely prevents any independent movement of the
block on the pin and as the pin is angular in cross section, and the pin holes in
the coupling head of the same shape, it follows that the block has no movement
whatever independently of the pin.
The locking pin F closely fits the pin hole in the coupling head, but when the
pin is raised, as will be hereinafter described, to its highest position, the portion h
thereof cut away to form the hook h¹, rests in line with the top wall of the
coupling head and thus permits the pin to move laterally so as to bring the
hook over the side flange gl, and when in this position the pin holds the block
in its elevated position to permit the unrestricted forward movement of the
tongue D of the knuckle D.
The block I is approximately rectangular in cross section, its longest diameter
being from front to rear. This block rests in a seat or guide-way formed in
the coupling head and in addition to being guided in its vertical movements by
the inner side walls of the head, it is provided on its rear side with a projecting
rib which latter bears against a shoulder within the throat of the coupling
head and assists in preventing lateral movement of the block.
The base of the throat of the draw-head is also provided with a scat clearly
shown in Figure 2, which latter receives the lower end of the block and sustains
and supports same when the pressure of the tongue of the knuckle is against the
block, as it is, when the coupling is in its locked position. The front face of the
block is cut away at its lower front and inner edge to form shoulders J and J
which are preferably somewhat rounded and inclined, against which the rear end
of the tongue makes contact when the knuckle is turned from its open or unlocked
position to a closed or locked position and vice versa. The end of projection a
may be of such length that it never passes completely from under the inclined
surface, hence when the knuckle is open the block rests upon the end a of the
knuckle, and as the inclined face of the projection on the tongue of the knuckle
is in contact with the shoulder J of the block, it follows that a closing movement
of the knuckle operates to elevate the block and pin carried thereby, sufficiently
high for the tongue of the knuckle to pass thereunder, and after they have passed
the block falls to its closed position, as shown in Figure 2, in front of the knuckle
and locks the knuckle securely in position.
The tongue is provided on its edge with a rib K which latter, when the knuckle
is in its closed position, aligns with a groove K¹ in the block I hence when the
block falls, to lock the knuckle, this rib enters the groove in the block and
operates as a stop against outward movement of the knuckle in the event the
pivot pin should break, or in other words it holds the knuckle against displace-
ment irrespective of the pivot pin.
To open the knuckle the locking pin is first elevated and if it is desired to hold
it elevated, as is frequently the case while shifting cars, it can be tilted so as to
bring the hook over the flange g', as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2.
This holds the pin and block elevated and leaves the knuckle free to open as soon
as the car which is pushing same slacks its speed. While the block is in its
elevated position the lower face of the cut away portion of the block rests on
and in advance of the forward incline c of the tongue, hence as the tongue moves
forwardly under the block, the incline c engages the shoulder J of the block,
lifts and tilts the same and the coupling pin carried thereby, and carries the hook
from off the flange g¹, thus leaving the pin and block free to fall.
As the tongue
moves forwardly, the block descends and as before stated rests on the rear inclined
end 6 of the tongue. In coupling the cars, the block is elevated by the movement
of the inclined tongue under the same, and the instant the front of the tongue
passes the block the latter falls and locks the knuckle in its closed position.
The inclines b and c are separated by the plane surface d on which the block
rides while one incline has passed from under the block and the other is moving
toward the blook. This plane surface simply holds the block steady and in an

page_text: upright position after the hook on the locking pin lias been released from the
flange, and prevents it from rebounding and again engaging the flange.
If the pin and block be held elevated by the engagement of the hook on the pin
with the flange on the head, the rear incline b on the rear extension of the tongue
of the knuckle, will by its engagement with the shoulder J on the block tilt the
pin and block, thus disengaging the hook and permitting the block to fall in front
of the tongue.
The block is provided with the rib i before referred to, and also with the rib 2.
These ribs are located on opposite sides of the pin hole in the block, and are
adapted when the block is in its lowest position to pass through slots in the lower
face of the coupling. A key passed through a slot in the pin and bearing
against these ribs locks the block solidly on the pin.
From the foregoing it will be seen that if the knuckle be open and the locking
block down, the inward movement of the knuckle elevates the block, and after
the knuckle has reached its closed position the block falls and locks it solidly in
place. To release the knuckle the pin and block are elevated and if it be
desired to hold the block elevated, as is frequently the case in making flying
switches, the outward or opening movement of the tongue of the knuckle operates
to release the block and allow same to fall behind the tongue ready to be elevated
by the inward movement of the tongue on the knuckle. If on the other hand the
block be elevated while the knuckle is open the tongue of the latter will, as
before described, while moving to a closed position trip the block thus causing
same to fall in front of the tongue and cock the knuckle.
It is evident that changes in the construction and relative arrangement of the
several parts might be made without avoiding my invention and hence I would
have it understood that I do not restrict myself to the particular construction and
arrangement of parts shown and described, but:-
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In a car coupling of the vertical plane type, the combination with a head
and a knuckle the tongue of the latter having a vertical face adapted to engage
the locking block and reverse inclines on its upper surface of a vertically sliding
locking block having an undercut portion adapted to be engaged by the inclines
on the tongue whereby the block is elevated by engagement with one incline
and adapted when supported in an elevated position to be released by the other
incline..
2. In a car coupling of the vertical plane type, the combination with a head and
a knuckle, the latter provided with reverse inclines on its tongue, of a vertically
sliding block suitably supported within the head and provided on its lower inner
edge with a shoulder, the said locking block adapted to be elevated by the engage-
ment of one inclined surface on the tongue with the shoulder on the block and
adapted when supported in an elevated position to be tripped by the other incline
on the tongue.
3. A knuckle for car couplings having a tongue provided on its upper free
end with reverse inclines and a smooth flat surface between and connecting the
inclines.
4. In a car coupling of the vertical plane type, the combination with a head and
a knuckle the latter provided with an incline on its rear end, of a locking pin
carrying a locking block and having a bearing in the upper and lower faces
of the head, the block having a shoulder at its front inner edge, the said shoulder
adapted to be engaged by the incline on the knuckle for elevating the block,
and means for temporarily holding the pin and block elevated in a position to be
engaged and released by the knuckle passing under same.
5. In a car coupling of the vertical plane type, the combination with a head
and a knuckle the latter having a tongue with a cam shaped end, of a locking pin

page_text: having bearings in the upper and lower faces of the head, a locking block
removably secured on said pin, and a key secured to the pin below the block.
6. In a car coupling the combination with a head and a knuckle, the latter
having a tongue with reverse inclines thereon and a plane surface between the
inclines, of a vertically sliding locking pin, a block carried by said pin and cut
away at its lower inner edge, and means for securing said block to the pin.
7. In a car coupling, the combination with a coupling head and knuckle, the
tongue of the latter being provided on its rear side edge with an upwardly and
rearwardly inclined surface, of a pin constructed to have a tilting movement
transversely to the draw-head, and provided with a hook adapted when the pin is
raised to engage the upper wall of the draw-head and to be upheld thereby, and a
block carried by the pin, said block being provided with an inclined shoulder
which is engaged by the knuckle when swung into its closed position, whereby the
pin when in its raised position is elevated and tilted into a position to drop and
lock the knuckle when the latter is swung into its closed position, substantially
as set forth.
8. In a car coupling, the combination with a coupling head and knuckle the
tongue of the latter being provided on its front side edge with an inclined
surface, of a pin constructed to have a tilting movement transversely to the
draw-head and provided with a hook adapted when the pin is raised to hook over
a raised projection on the upper wall of the draw-head and to be upheld thereby,
and a block carried by the pin, said block being provided with an inclined shoulder
which is engaged by the knuckle when swung from its closed to its open position,
whereby the pin when in its raised position is elevated and tilted into a position
to drop, when the knuckle is swung into its open position, substantially as set
forth
9. In a car coupling, the combination with a draw-head and knuckle, the
tongue of which is provided with a vertical lip or rib, of a locking pin and block
carried thereby, the block being provided with a vertical groove within which the
lip on the tongue interlocks when the knuckle is in its closed and locked
position, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 9th day of May 1800
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., London.