Patent ID: 7562781

Claim:
An automatic cut lever apparatus engageable with a lock lift assembly of a railroad freight car coupler for actuating such lock lift assembly to automatically at least one of lock and unlock a coupler knuckle of such railroad freight car coupler, said automatic cut lever apparatus comprising: (a) a cylinder member having a piston disposed for reciprocal movement therein; (b) a bracket member attachable to such railroad freight car coupler for supporting said cylinder member; (c) a linkage member connected to said piston of said cylinder member and such lock lift assembly for converting a lateral motion of said piston to a curvilinear motion of such lock lift assembly to such at least one of lock and unlock such coupler knuckle, said linkage member including a first link attached to said piston, a second link pivotally connected mediate its end to a distal end of said first link, a third link having one end thereof pivotally connected to one end of said second link and a forth link having one end thereof pivotally connected to an opposed end of said second link; and (d) a valve member connected to said cylinder member for at least one of communicating a pressurized fluid to said cylinder member when a predetermined signal is sent to said valve member and preventing such pressurized fluid from entering said cylinder member in an absence of said predetermined signal, such pressurized fluid in said cylinder member is vented to atmosphere when said valve member shuts off supply of such pressurized fluid thereto.