US1836244A - Pivotal yoke and coupler connection - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 15, 1931. s. B. HASELTINE 1,836,244

PIVOTAL YOKE AND COU PL ER CONNECTION Filed Feb. 25, 1929 V 3 7 4 ///%/7/// fl////32 2i l 11 v I 51/ if WW5 V vertical end member of the yoke, not shown. The shock absorbing mechanism is compressed between the end member of the yoke and the front follower 20 in the usual manner during a draft action or outward movement of the coupler and yoke and is compressed between the follower 20 and the usual rear stop lugs, not shown, of the draft sills up on inward movement of the coupler in buff.

Thecoupler shank is provided with a transverse coupler key receiving opening 25 of special design. As shown, the coupler key receiving opening 25 has the front end wall thereof provided with a concave bearingseat or surface 26 extending transversely of the coupler shank. The rear end wall of the opening 25 is preferably straight transversely but curved vertically in the usual manner.

As more clearly shown in Figure 2, the bearing surface of the front end wall 26 of the coupler key receiving opening is also curved or of convex formation in a vertical direction. The coupler shank is also provided with a vertical pin receiving opening 27 which intersects the rear portion of the key receiving opening of the coupler shank. The bottom wall of the hood of the yoke is also provided with a vertical opening 28 of larger diameter than the pin receiving opening 27 of the coupler shank.

The coupler key G, which is employed to connect the coupler shank and yoke and guide the parts for longitudinal movement, extends through the key receiving opening 25 of the shank, the openings 2424 of the yoke and the key receiving openings 13-13 of the draft sills. As most clearly shown in Figure 1, the forward edge portion of the coupler key G is provided with a curved enlargement 29 forming a bearing member cooperating with the seat 26. The enlargement 29 has a transverse convex surface formation which is also vertically curved so as to properly cooperate with the seat 26. At the rear edge,

.' midway between the opposite ends of the key, the same is provided witha curved seat or opening 30 adapted to cooperate withthe pivot pm D. The pivot, pin D serves as a pivotal connection between the coupler shank andrthe key C during both the draft and buliing action of the mechanism, and serves as means for transmitting the pulling forces from the coupler shank to the coupler key and yoke during outward movement of the coupler in draft.

The pin D is of substantially cylindrical form and is mounted in the vertical pin receiving opening 27 of the coupler shank and extends through the bearing opening or seat 30 at the rear edge of the key C, the curved outer surface of the pin fitting the seat 30 so as to provide true pivotal swinging movement between the pin and the coupler key. As will be evident, the coupler is thus mounted for pivotal swinging movement with respect to the key and the yoke, the pin at the same time holding the bearing projection 25) of the key in cooperating relation with the bearing seat 26 on the front end wall of the key receiving opening of the coupler shank, thereby preventing endwise removal of the coupler key. By providing the pivot pin connection just described, no additional retaining means is necessary for preventing removal of the coupler key.

In assembling the par-ts after insertion of the coupler key C through the openings of the coupler shan-k,'the yoke and the draft sills, the pin receiving opening 27 is brought into alignment with the opening 28 in the bottom wall of the hood and the pin inserted through the opening 28 into the opening 27 of the shank. After the pin has been applied, the same is held against. dropping through the opening 28 by a supporting plate 31 which overlies the opening and engages the bottom end of the pin D. As most clearly illustrated in Figure 2, the plate has a downturned flange 32 at the outer end thereof, adapted to abut the front edge of the bottom wall of the hood and is secured in position by a cotter pin 33 extending through the bottom wall of the hood and the plate 31.

During a bulfing action, the cou ler A will be forced inwardly, carrying t' e follower 20 therewith and compressing the shock absorbing mechanism directly. During this action, when the key has been moved inwardly with respect to the yoke, the same will be free to swing with the coupler, but in theevent of either one or both ends of the key engaging the front end walls of the slots of the yoke, swinging movement of the coupler with respect to the yoke .and key C is accommodated by the pivot pin D. In this connection, it is pointed out that .the inner surfaces of the side walls of the hood are flared outwardly in the usual manner to permit the necessary lateral movement of the coupler shank when cars are being operated on curved track.

When a draft action is applied to the coupler A, the pin D is pulled outwardly therewith, and, inasmuch as the pin directly engages the key G, the latter is carried forwardly therewith and, by engagement with the front end walls of the key openings 24 of the side members of the yoke, pulls the yoke outwardly and effects compression of the shock absorbing mechanism in the usual manner. As will .be evident, pivotal swinging movement-of the coupler with respect to the key is permitted by the pivotal connection between the pin D and the rear edge of the key,

the bearing projection at the front end of the key and the cooperating bearing seat 26 of the couplershank allowing the pivotal movement about the center of the pin without danger of disengagement of the coupler shank and key.

An important advantage is obtained by providing the pivotal connection rearwardly of the coupler key by means of the pivot pin,

in that the amount of rocking movement of the coupler butt on the follower 20 is reduced to a minimum.

While I have herein shownand described what I consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications which come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a railway draft rigging, the combination with a coupler having a shank member provided with a transverse key receiving opening, the front wall of the opening being provided with a bearing seat; of a yoke member having aligned coupler key receiving openings; a coupler key extending through the openings of the shank and yoke, said key having a bearing enlargement rigid therewith at the forward edge adapted to en- "age within the, bearing seat, saidcoupler key having a curved bearing seat at the rear edge thereof; a pivot member mounted in the coupler shank extendin transversely of the key and having a curve bearing portion engaging within the seat of the key holding said bearing enlargement of the key seated in the 7 seat of the key receiving opening and pre-' venting endwise removal of the key.

2. In a railway draft rigging, the combination with a coupler having a shank member provided with a transverse key receiving opening, said opening having a transversely extending concave seat on the front wall thereof, and a pivot pin receiving opening interseoting the inner end of the key receiving opening; ofayoke having aligned coupler key receiving openings; a coupler keyhaving an integral convex bearing projection at the forward side thereof, engaged within the concave bearing seat and a pivot pin receiving opening at the rear side, said key extending through the opening of the coupler shank and the aligned openings of the yoke; a pivot pin mounted in the pivot pin opening of the Y coupler shank and extending through the pivot opening of the coupler key and holding the bearing projection of the key in said seat, thereby preventing endwise removal of the key and means for maintaining the pivot pin assembled with the coupler shank.

3. A pivotal yoke and coupler connection for railway draft riggings including: A yoke member having a hood defined by spaced top and bottom and spaced side walls, said side Walls having aligned coupler key receiving openings; a coupler having a shank provided with a horizontal transverse key receiving opening having a curved bearing seat on the ipterior front wall of the opening; a key connecting the coupler shank and yoke, extending through said key receiving openings of the shank and yoke, said key having a curved bearing projection cooperating with the v curved bearing seat and a concave bearing face on the rear side thereof; and a pin connecting the coupler shank and key for pivotal movement, said pin extending vertically through the coupler shank and pivotally enaging said concave bearing surface of the

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