Improvements in Car Couplings.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 27th Oct., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Car Couplings.
I, CHARLES ALBERT GOULD, President, of 120 Broadway, New York City,
in the County and State of New York, 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 —
"
This invention relates to certain improvements in car couplings of the class
known as "twin jaw' car couplings, in which a horizontally rotating coupling
arm of bifurcated form is employed; this coupling hook has two arms or members
one of which, ordinarily called the tongue or knuckle, is arranged to engage the
locking mechanism, and the other of which, ordinarily called the coupling arm,
arranged to engage the coupling arm of a similar coupler on an opposing car.
is
My invention relates to features of construction by which the efficiency and
certainty of operation of a car coupler of this class, is greatly improved, and the
automatic action of the various parts is made certain and positive under the
varying conditions of use. In carrying out my invention, 1 employ two modes of
operating the locking mechanism of the coupler, and these will be hereafter fully
described.
Referring to the drawings,
Fig. 1, is a perspective view of a car coupler embodying my improvements and
showing the coupler in its closed position, and Fig. 2, is a similar view, differing
only in that the operating mechanism for the locking catch is of different
construction, and the coupler is shown in its open position.
Fig. 3, is a cross-section of the coupler shown in Fig. 1, illustrating only the
operating parts in the draw-head, and Fig. 4, is a similar section of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5, is a horizontal section of the coupler shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 6, is a
similar view of Fig. 2.
Referring to Figs. 1, 3 and 5, my improved coupling consists of a draw-head A,
which is secured in the usual manner in the car frame, and provided with the usual
draft rigging; this draw-head terminates at its outer end in what may be termed a
bifurcated front, and is provided with a recess or cavity B, in which the operating
parts of the coupler are housed. These operating parts comprise a locking catch C,
pivoted at one end and adapted to swing and ride up and down on its pivot C¹,
when operated by means of the pull chain D, which extends to a suitable lever on
the car; the rocking lever E, is arranged in the cavity of the draw-head in a
horizontal position, and is provided with a long arm F, and at the other end with
a short arm G; the long arm F, extends normally in a vertical position, and the
short arm G, extends normally in a horizontal position. This rocking lever is
journalled in bearings H, H', in the drawhead, and turns freely on its bearings
when motion is imparted to it. The rotating hook of the coupler comprises two
members or parts, viz.: the tongue I, aud the coupling arm J; these are in one
piece and centrally pivoted at one side of the front of the drawhead. The two
parts I, J, of the rotary hook project at an angle to each other, taking the pivot as
the centre. The rotary hook is supported in horizontal bearings, K, K', of the
drawhead, by means of a pivot pin L, extending vertically through these bearings
and the hook; the lower bearing K, is bevelled or inclined at M, the bevel or
incline commencing from the inner face and extending outwardly; the lower face
of the rotary hook which comes in contact with this incline M, is provided with a
similar incline reversely arranged, these two inclines serving to cause the hook to
automatically assume by gravity its open position.

page_text: The operation of my invention is as follows, viz. :
In the closed position of the coupler, the tongue I, of the rotary hook is engaged
by the locking catch C, and securely held in its coupled position, the opposing
coupler engaging with the coupling arm J, by means of a corresponding coupling
arm; to uncouple or open the coupler the locking catch C, is raised by means of
the pull chain D, (and its operating lever) until it clears the tongue I, of the
rotary hook, striking against the horizontal arm G, of the rocking lever E, as it
moves upwardly, and rotating said rocking lever in its bearings so as to project the
vertical arin F, outwardly; when this operation takes place, the locking catch is
disengaged from the tongue I, of the rotating hook, and the latter is free to move
to its open or uncoupled position, (see Fig. 2), and this movement of the rotating
hook in my improvements is accomplished by the double action of gravity and the
outward thrusting of the arm F, of the rocking lever E. It will be observed that
when the rotating hook is free to move on its bearings, that it will naturally move
outwardly by its own weight on the inclined bearing M, and the reversely arranged
bearing on the coupling arm J, co-acting therewith. The function, therefore, of
the outward thrusting action of the arm F, of the rocking lever E, is to increase
the rapidity and make more certain the outward rotation of the hook, so that this
outward rotation can be quickly accomplished under all conditions of use of a car
coupler. The locking catch C, in its upward and downward movement in the
drawhead, under the operation of the pull chain D, rides on the pivot pin C', which
extends through the drawhead and through one end of the locking catch; to facilitate
the upward and rearward movement of the locking catch and its downward and
forward movement as it swings in each case on its pivot, suitable inclined bearing
faces may be arranged in the drawhead to serve as guides.
It will be seen from the foregoing description considered in connection with the
drawings illustrating my invention, that the operation of my improved coupler is
automatic in all respects, and as the operating lever connected to the pull chain
can be located at the side of the car, there is no necessity for the brakeman or
switchman to go between the cars, or bring any part of his body between the cars,
in order to effect the coupling or uncoupling operations.
In the modification of my invention illustrated in Figs. 2, 4 and 6, of the
drawings, the operation is precisely the same in all respects as that herein before
described, the only difference in construction being that instead of the pull chain
for manipulating the locking catch, I employ a lever N, arranged underneath the
drawhead and carrying a shaft N¹, secured in the bracket bearings O, O'; this
shaft N', is provided with a projecting finger P, arranged to travel in a slot Q, in
the bottom of the drawhead, and is adapted to bear against the under side of the
locking catch C; the free end of the lever N, has attached thereto a chain R,
which is connected to the usual operating lever on the car. When it is desired to
raise the locking catch to automatically open the coupler as heretofore described,
the chain R, is pulled upwardly by means of its lever, thereby raising the lever N,
which in turn rotates the shaft N₁, and causes the projecting finger P, to move
upwardly in slot Q, thus moving the locking catch upwardly and out of engagement
with the tongue 1, of the rotating hook, and operating the rocking lever E, and its
arm F, in the manner described.
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 :-
1. In a car coupler provided with a rotating coupling hook composed of a tongue
and a coupling arm arranged at an angle to each other, and centrally pivoted in
horizontal bearing, the combination of inclined faces on the lower. horizontal
bearing, a rocking lever journalled in the drawhead and a locking catch arranged
in the drawhead, with means substantially such as described for raising the locking
catch to disengage the tongue of the rotary hook, and rotate the rocking lever,

page_text: whereby the rotary hook is moved to its open or uncoupled position automatically,
substantially as described.
2. In a car coupler comprising a drawhead having its outer end in the form of a
bifurcate, and provided with a recess, the combination of a rotary hook, the locking
catch and a rocking lever having a horizontal arm and a vertical arm, with means
such as a pull chain or lever shaft and projecting finger, whereby the rotary hook
can be operated in the manner and for the purposes described.
Dated this 17th day of September 1894.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.