US1095462A - Car-coupling. - Google Patents

Description

1 J. KELSO.

GAR COUPLING.`

APPLIOATION FILED DBO. 3, 1913. v 1,095,462. Patented May 5, 1914 y 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J.- KELSO.

OAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED 1320.3, 1913.

. 1 095 462 Patented Maya 1914n 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

6 il A 4 l@ f i l Il 1 4 l H/Q 1 j 4 i7" E/ J. KELSO.

GAR GOUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED DBG. a. 1913.

1,095,462, Patented May 5, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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JOSEPH KELSO, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO MCCONWAY & TORLEY COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-CGUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 5, 1914.

Application filed December 3, 1913. Serial No. 804,377.

To all whom 11M/my concern.'

Be it known that I, JOSEPH KnLso, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable-others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to vertical plane type car couplers for railway cars and preferably to those couplers which are provided with a vertically movable lock and a knuckle opening lever, and consists in so forming and locating the said lever that a limited movement of the operating mechanism therefor will cause a complete opening movement of said knuckle.

To this end the main features of my invention generally stated, consist in pivoting beneath the oor of the coupler head a knuckle opening lever, and in connecting to the lower portion of the lock operating means for said lever, and so locating the said lever that one arm thereof will Contact with the rear face of the knuckle tail in all positions of said tail.

As a result of locating the knuckle opening lever beneath the floor of the coupler head, the weight and vertical height of the head may be decreased, thus increasing the strength of the coupler head. Another advantage which results from the location of the knuckle opening mechanism is that such location permits the use on passenger cars of a knuckle opening couplerin which the locking pin extends through the upper wall of the coupler head, such form of coupler being rendered capable of practical use owing to the increased clearance space made available between the top of the coupler and the lower side of the platform or butler.

There are other features of my invention `as will appear from a more detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the scope of said invention being pointed out in the claims.

The type of coupler head chosen for the purpose of illustrating one application of my invention is shown and described in the patent to William Kelso, No. 950,485, patented March l, 1910, and it is to be expressly understood that my invention is not limited to the form of pivoted coupler head shown thereinl but may be used with other and widely different types.

Throughout the specification and drawings like numerals designate like parts.

Figure 1 is a top plan view, parts being broken away to more clearly show my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a partial horizontal section on the line H of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the operating mechanism for the knuckle opening lever. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the coupler head and stem or drawbar, showing in section the buffer beam, buffer plate and carry iron. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4E but showing a slightly modied construction, and, Fig. 8 is a vertical section on the line 8-8, of Fig. 7, lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Referring rst to the preferred form shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, the coupler head is generally designated by the reference numeral 1. It is provided with the usual pivoted knuckle 2, a rigid guard arm 3 and pivot bearings by which the head may be connected to the coupler stem or drawbar. The knuckle 2 is preferably pivoted to the coupler head by the pin 5, and may be provided with a rearwardly extending arm or tail portion 6 having an outwardly directed hook 7. The numeral 8 designates the vertically movable locking pin, which may be provided with a locking portion 9 and a downwardly directed stem 10. Loosely connected to the top of the locking portion 9, as for example by pivot lugs 11a, is a link l1, said link serving as a means to connect the locking pin to the operating mechanism 11b (see Fig. 6). A bar or member 12 is connected to the lower end of the stem l0, as for example by providing an opening 13 in the bar 12 and passing the end of the stem l0 therethrough, the bar being retained in its position by passing a cotter pin 14 through registering openings in said bar and stem. The bar l2 extends transversely of the coupler head and at its outer end 15 is provided with an upwardly directed portion terminating in a bearing surface 16. Beneath the floor 17 of the coupler head is a pivot pin or bearing -18 for the knuckle opening lever 19, said pin or bearing being preferably united to the coupler head by being cast in place therein. The pin 18, as shown, preferably extends at an angle to both the longitudinal and transverse axes of the coupler head.

rIhe knuckle opening lever 19 is preferably of L-shape and is pivotally mounted at one end on the pin 1S. In the normal position of said lever its opposite end portion 19a extends upward through an opening 19C in the floor of the head and lies in the recess formed by theV rear face of the knuckle tail 6 and the forward face of the hook 7 of the knuckle 2. Downwardly projecting from said lever 19 and opposite the arm 19a is a projection 19h, said projection being adapted to be contacted by the bearing surface 16 of the bar 12 to operate said lever. Downwardly projecting vertical guide flanges 21, 21 may be provided upon the bottom of the coupler head adjacent the outer end of the bar 12 for guiding the latter in its movements, said flanges being spaced apart laterally and extending inwardly and being preferably integral with a vertical flange or wall 22.

In Fig. 6 is shown a buifer beam 23, a buffer plate 24, a foot plate 25, a carry-iron 26 and a coupler stem or drawbar 1a to which the coupler head 1 is pivotally connected by the pivot pin 1a. There is also shown the outer end of an uncoupling mechanism designated by the reference character 11b. Since these parts form no part of the invention as claimed no further detailed description of them is deemed necessary.

In Figs. 7 and 8 is shown a slightly modified construction. In these figures the knuckle opening lever pivot pin 18C is shown as separate from and separably attached to the coupler head beneath the floor thereof, one end of said pin being seated in a recess 1SEL in said head and the opposite end of said pin being seated in a recess formed by a downwardly projecting bracket or lug 18". A cotter pin 2T which preferably extends downwardly through openings in said bracket 1Sb and pin 18C retains said pin in position. In place of the parallel, spaced, vertical guiding flanges shown at 21, 21 in the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, I may provide a vertical and outwardly directed wall 28 upon one side of the bar or member 12a and provide on the opposite side of said bar or member a parallel guide flange or member 29 consisting of a vertical flange 30 and a beveled reinforcing rib 31.

The operation of my device is as follows: An upward movement of the locking member 8 to unlocked position will bring the surface 16 of the bar 12 into contact with the projection 19b of the knuckle opening lever 19 and will cause the said lever to rotate so as to bring the arm 19a thereof into contact with the rear wall of the knuckle tail 6. A further movement of the locking member S will now cause a movement of said knuckle opening lever 19 and owing to the position of the point of contact of the actuating means 12 with said lever, and also to the shape of said lever, a relatively small upward movement of the locking member S from unlocked position will cause a complete movement of the knuckle opening lever 19. It will be noted that owing to its location said lever 19 follows the knuckle tail and remains in contact therewith during the whole range of movement of said tail from closed to full open position.

Having now described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a coupler head, of a knuckle pivoted thereon, a lock for said knuckle, a pivoted knuckle opening lever having an arm which extends through the licor of the coupler head, actuating means for said lever, said means including a transversely extending member on the knuckle side of said head, and guiding means for said member arranged beneath the floor of said coupler head.

2. The combination with a coupler head, of a knuckle pivoted to said head, a lock for said knuckle, a knuckle opening lever pivoted beneath the floor of said head and provided with an arm extending through said floor, the pivot of said lever being intermediate the knuckle side of said head and said lock, actuating means for said lever, said means including a transversely extending arm, and guiding means for said arm.

3. The combination with a coupler head, of a knuckle pivoted thereon, a lock for said knuckle, a knuckle opening lever, said lever being pivoted beneath the floor of said head and on the knuckle side thereof, an arm on said lever for contacting with the rear face of the knuckle tail, actuating means for said lever, said means including a transversely extending member rigidly connected to said lock, and guiding means for said member.

4. The combination with a coupler head, of a knuckle pivoted thereon, a lock for said knuckle, a knuckle opening lever pivoted beneath the door of said head and provided with an arm extending through said floor, said arm being adapted to contact with the rear face of the knuckle tail, actuating means for said lever, said means including a bar connected to said lock and being adapted to operate said lever after a predetermined movement of said lock, and downwardly projecting guides for said bar.

5. The combination with a coupler head, of a knuckle pivoted thereon, a lock for said knuckle, a knuckle opening lever which is pivoted beneath the floor of the said head between the lock and the knuckle side of the lll@ head and which is movable in a plane formlever being on the same side of the pivot of ing an angle with both the longitudinal and said lever as said arm. 10 transverse axes of said head and which is In testimony Whereof affix my signature, also provided with an arm to one side of said in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses. pivot, and actuating means for Said lever, JOSEPH KELSO.

said means including a member connected Vitnesses:

to and movable by said lock, the point of J. W. HARTLEY,

Contact between the said means and said F. D. ECKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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