Patent ID: 8770265

Claim:
A casting and rigging apparatus for casting a railcar coupler, the railcar coupler including a shank portion and a head portion, the casting apparatus comprising: cope and drag portions that define an external shape of the coupler; one or more cores that define an interior of the shank portion; and a head core with an exterior that defines exterior surface features of the head portion that include surfaces of a lock chamber, a guard arm side portion, and a knuckle side of the head portion, wherein the head core comprises at least one portion exterior to a front face of the head portion and extending between the guard arm side portion and knuckle side of the head that defines a front face gating system that includes a channel that runs in a generally vertical direction through a center of the at least one portion exterior to a front face of the head portion and extending between the guard arm side portion and knuckle side of the head and at least one in-gate configured to direct molten material to top and bottom regions of the head portion to define the lock chamber, guard arm side portion, and knuckle side of the head.