US1831084A - Draft gear - Google Patents

Description

H. E. TUCKER Nov. 10, 1931.

DRAFT GEAR original Filed July 9. 1927I @QN @www hh. w n ,www @k V BWMM'Q Nm m A e f' .l

Patented Nov. 10, 1931 -UNITED STATES OFFICE `N PATENfITl HERBERT E, TUCKER, or SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AsseNoR To, UNrv ERsAL DRAFT GEAR ATTACHMENT Cc., A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS DRAFT GEAR Original application led July 9, 1927, Serial No. 204,618. Divided and this application led July 9, 1928. Serial No. 291,241.

This applicationv is a division of my application for patent on improvements in draft gear led July 9, 1927, Serial No. 204,618.

The invention relates to that type of draft V gear in which asystem of wedging and friction elements are enclosed within a chambered follower or casing, which also house springs cooperating with such elements, a plate follower constituting the opposite end wof the gear and thewhole being enclosed within a yoke or equivalent device. The object of the invention is to provide `an improved system of. wedging and friction elements in gears of this type by means of which the capacity of the gears is increased,

certainty and smoothness of action is obtained on release, and in which provision is made for taking up the slack incident to wear and maintaining the eiiiciency of the gear. r i f In the accompanyingdrawings showing a preferred embodiment of, the invention Fig. 1- is a longitudinal, central, vertical section of the gear enclosed withina yoke shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of various of the elements of the gear;

Fig. 3 is a detail section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are views in perspective of certain of the wedging elements.

v The enclosing yoke, which may of course be of any desired form, is shown at 53. The chambered follower or casing 46 is seated against the inner end of the yoke, the forward end of the casing being open, and a cooperating plate follower 47 within its forward end.

Two groups of intercalated friction plates are housed within the forward end of the casing. The plates 48 forming one set of each group are anchored to the casing by means of laterally extending lugs 51 which slidinglyiit within channels formed across the faces of the top and bottom walls of the casing, whereby while having no longitudinal'movement with reference to the casing, tney are capable of transverse movement.

The plates 49 of the other set of each group are longer than .the plates 48, normally projecting beyond each end thereof,andare free i to move both laterally and longitudinally eX- cept as restrainedby friction. At least one of the plates of each group, als the plate 55 is tapered toward its outerlend, constituting a wedge for cooperating with the other ele1nents`in increasing the friction between the parts and also contributing to the certainty and smoothness' of action on release.

Frictionally engaging the inner plate of each group is awedging shoe 56 having upon its inner side a pair of forwardly and inwardly inclined wedging surfaces 57 58, one adjacent each end of the shoe.

`A centrally disposedthrustelement 65 is seated against the plate follower 47 and has a stem 65a vprojecting into the' casing 46, its lateral faces being flat and parallel, and having a pair of laterally projecting lugs 68, 68, the inner faces of which take the form of flat shoulders 62. The inne-r face of the base portion of the element 65 is also provided with a similar pair of shoulders 63. Wedge blocks 61, 59, substantially triangular in form, are seated respectively on each of the shoulders 63 and the forwardly facing shoulders 62 of the lugs 68 and'iit loosely between longitudinal flanges rojecting from the inner'faces of the shoes 56, one of their faces as conforming to the inclination of and engaging one of the wedging faces 57, 58 of a friction shoe 56.

Each of the blocks 59, 61 is preferably provided with a backwardly extending stem as 83 which normally seats against a Viiat surface of the friction shoe. The third face of each of the triangular blocks is inclined at a som-ewhat more obtuse angle than the face 50 and cooperates with a corresponding faceas 71, 72 formed on blocks 66, 67 which, but for the inclined face named, may as shown be approximately square in cross section and which are seated againstthe side faces of the stem l n 65a. The elements 66, 67 at each side of the gear are preferably united at their ends by and a spring seat 79 which bears upon the elements 66 and is chambered to receive the stem a of the thrust element, the chamber being of suiiicient depth to avoid contact therewith. Spring seats 73', 74 engage the inner ends of the friction' plates` 49 of each group and the friction shoe 56 associated therewith, these seats being integrally united at their ends to form a unitary s ructure. Helical springs 75, 76, which are preferably four in number, react between the seats 7 3, 74 and the inner end of the casing 46.

With view to lightness, the plate engaging faces of the seats 73, 74 may be lribbed as shown at 78.

The parts named as being enclosed within the casing having been assembled, a retaining key 82 is inserted through suitably elongated openings in the side walls of the casing, passing through the stem 65a. Midway of the ends of the key a recess 86 is formed for the reception of a lug projecting forwardly and centrally from the bottom of the recess in the spring seat 79, the end of the stem 65a being apertured for its accommodation, thereby preventing the withdrawal of the key and securing the parts in assembled relation before the installation of the gear.

In the released position of the gear, the spring seats 7 3, 74 are in contact with the inner ends of the plates 49 and of the friction shoes 56, and the outer ends of the plates 49 are out of contact with the plate follower 47.

Upon the compression of the gear, as in buff, the plate 47 moves backwardly carrying with it the thrust element 65 thereby advancing the wedge elements59, 61 and exert-ing a compressive. action on the friction plates, which is augmented bythe wedging Vaction of the apering plates 55 as the friction shoes are carried forwardly against the resistance of the springs 75, 76. There is a movement of the wedge elements 59, 61 toward the axis of the gear and because of the comparatively acute angle of their faces 71 to this axis, the elements, 66, 67 are advanced against the resistance of the spring 81. it the commencement of the compression of the gear, the spring seats 7 3, 74 are moved away from the friction plates 49. When the follower 47 comes into contact with the'plates 49, the latter carried forwardly against the resistance of the friction developed between their surfaces and the surfaces of the plates 48 which latter of course remain stationary.

The frictional resistance-builds up as the compression of the gear progresses because of the tapering formA of the plates 55. The limit of compression is reached when the follower 47 comes into engagement with the end of the casing 46.

TJpon release, the central elements of the gear including the friction shoes arey moved -bac-kwardly substantially as a unit by the li action of the springs, the tapering'form of the plates 55 facilitating this action, carrying with them the follower 47. The plates 49 remain at rest until the spring seats 73, 74 make contact with their vinner ends, whereupon they are alsomoved backwardly. "The action of the gear "in draft is substantially the same as in buff, but in the reverse direction. Y

Theelements 66 and 67 lcompensate for any wear of the parts by being advanced along the parallel faces of the stem 65a by the pressure of the'spring 81 thereby forcing the elements 59, 61 laterally outward and thus taking up all of the slack. This action, while slightly decreasing the strength of the spring 81, although to a'negligible extent, has no weakening effec-t on the springs 75, 7 6. j

The gear may be changed in various of its details without departing from the scope of the invention'.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a draft gear in combination, a chambered follower, a plate follower, two groups of intercalated friction plates within the casing, one set of plates of each group being anchored to the casing against longitudinal movement, the other set being floating and normally projecting beyond the casing, a pusher element seated against the plate follower and projecting into the casing be-- tween the groups of plates'and having' a plurality of forwardly facing shoulders on each side, a friction shoe engaging the inner plate of each group and having a plu-V rality of inwardly and forwardly inclined wedging faces on its inner side, wedges seated on the pusher shoulders and cooperating with the wedge faces of the shoes, the inner faces ofV suoli wedges being backwardly inclined, a spring reaction between the closed end of the chambered follower and a central spring seat, spring seats bearing on the inner ends of the shoes and engageable with the floating plates, springs reacting between the last named seats and the closed end of the chambered follower, and wear compensating elements interposed between the first named spring seat and the wedges and having sliding engagement with the lateral walls of the pusher element.

2. In a draft gear in combination, a chambered follower, a plate follower, two groups of intercalated friction plates within the casing, one plate of each group being tapered toward its outer end, one set of plates of each group being anchored to the casing againstV longitudinal movement, the other set being ioating and normally projecting beyond the casing, a pusher element seated against the plate follower and projecting into-the casing between the groups of plates and having a plurality of forwardly facing shoulders on each side, a friction shoe engaging the inner plate'of each group'and'havinga plurality of inwardly and forwandlyinclined wedging faces on its inner side, wedges slidably seated 0n the pusher shoulders and cooperating with the wedge faces of the shoes, means tending to urge such wedges laterally outward, a spring reacting between the closed end of the chambered follower and the wedges, integrally united spring seats bearing on the inner ends of the shoes and n, engageable with the floating plates, and Springs reacting between the last named seats and the closed end of the chambered follower. Y In testimony whereof I alliX my signature. 15 HERBERT E. TUCKER.

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