US2060049A - Combination spring drawbar and spring bumper - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 10, 1936. G. E. EDMUNDS n COMBINATI-ON SPRING DRAWBAR AND SPRING BUMPER" Filed March l25, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. l0, 1936. G. E. EDMUNDS 2,060,049

COMBINATION SPRING DRAWBAR AND SPRING BUMPER Filed March 25, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l Patented Nov. 10, 1936 COMBINATION SPRING DRAWBAR AND SPRING BUMTER Glenn E. Edmunds, Columbus, Ohio, assignor t'o The Bonney-Floyd Company, Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 23,

53 Claims.

The present invention relates to a combination spring draw bar and spring bumper adapted to be secured to a car end with all its parts, with the possible exception vof the car attachment means, exterior of the car frame or body. The spring means is common to both the bumper and draw bar, compression springs being utilized and being subjected to compression by both draft and impact forces. new device may be constituted by castings, or by shapes and bars, or both.

Two practical embodiments of the invention are shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 being a plan View, with parts broken away to reveal others, of the new device as constituted by castings,

Figure 2, a front elevation of the device of Figure 1, parts again being broken away,

Figure 3 a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure '4, a section on line. 4 4 of Figure l,

Figure 5, a section on line 5-5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6, a plan view of the device asvfabricated, and i Figure '7 being a section on line 1 1 of Figure 6. Y

Referring rst to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, reference numeral I0 designates a cast bracket, housing, or support adapted to extend across a car end to serve as an end sill,

the bracket having integral rearwardly extending arms II and I2 adapted to be secured to the longitudinal car sills or other structural portions.

The bracket has a rectilinearly extending upright rear wall I3 and a horizontal forwardly or outwardly extending bottom wall I4 at right angles to the rear wall. 'Adjacent its ends the bracket has a pair of abutment portions I5 and `II hav'- ing faces I5a,.I5b, IGa and I6b spaced forwardly of the wall I3, faces I5b and I6b being stepped somewhat forwardly of faces I5a and I6a, respectively, all the faces being substantially perpendicular to the wall I4. 'Ihese abutment portions are integral with the wall I4 and have integral web connections I'I and I8 with the ends of wall I3 and merged with the latter adjacent arms II and I2.

. Spaced somewhat inwardly of abutment portions I5 and I6 are a pair of -webs I9 and 20 normal to the walls I3 and I4. Webs I9 and 20 are expanded at their tops and provided inwardly wlth opposed parallel horizontal grooves 2I and 22 and outwardly with ledge portions 23 and 24, whose toplfaccs lie in the planes of the top faces 'Ihe main elements of thev 1931, Serial No. 524,737

(Cl. Z13- 9) of web portions I'I and I8 and define the bottoms of under-cut recesses 25 and 26.

The draw bar is generally indicated by reference numeral 2l and comprises top and rear walls 28 and 29 angularly related and connected o by reinforcing Webs as at 30. The top wail, which constitutes a bitching portion, terminates laterally in ribs 3l and 32 slidably guided in grooves 2I and 22. Forwardly and centrally, wall 28 is provided with an upwardly extending 10 boss 33 provided with a vertical aperture 34. A tongue 35 has a 'bottom plate 36 secured to plate 26 of .the draw bar and provided with a recess to receive boss 33. Cast integral with plate 36 are a pair of risersv 31 and 38 which support an inte- 15 gral plate 39 in parallel relation to plate 36, plate 39 being provided with an aperture 4U registering with aperture 34.

The bumper, generally indicated at 4I, comprises a curvilinear bar 42 reinforced by longio y tudinally extending ribs and provided adjacent its ends with integral parallel flanges 43 and 44 having outwardly angularly offset ends 45 and 46 adapted to engage behind abutment portions I5 and I6. At their extremities the offset ends 25 have forwardly offset portions 45a and 46a. The bumper, hereinafter also referred to as bufferv or bufllng means, head or beam, has at least, as here shown, a central bumng plate portion projecting outwardly of the housing for the direct 30\ receptiony of buff.

In assembling the elements the draw vbar is f' first of all slid between webs I9 and 20 with ribs 3| and 32 guided in recesses 2| and 22 until its rear wall or follower plate portion 29 abuts the 35 l rear wall I3 of the bracket. Thebumper anges 43 and 44 are now introduced by a downward movement between abutment portionsf|5 and I6 and webs i9 and 20 to bring the offset portions` of the flanges behind the abutment portions of 40 the bracket, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 5, with the flanges slidably supported on bottom wall I4. Compression springs 41 andy48 are now inserted through apertures 49 vand 50 in the bottom wall I4 of thebracket and their ends seated 45A of its offset flange portions and 45a with abutment surfaces I5a and i5b respectively, and through abutment of its offset flange portions 46 and 46a with abutment portions i6a and i6b respectively. l

Outward movement of the draw bar is limited through engagement of the front edge of its top wall 28 with the inner upper margins of the bumper and inward movement of the bumper is limited by abutment of the same parts, by abutment of offset flange portions 45 and 46 with the rear wall i3 of the bracket, and also by abutment of portions 55 and 56 with the outer edges of webs I9 and 20, the forward edges of the webs proper being set back somewhat from the forward extremities of their upper guide portions, as indicated in Figure 3.

It will thus be evident that springs 41 and 48 are 'compressed to absorb the shock of draft forces exerted on the draw bar and also to absorb the shock of impact forces exerted on the bumper, the springs being compressed in each instance.

To complete the structure and prevent the bumper from riding upwardly, top or cover plates 51 and 58 are secured to the top surfaces of web portions I1 and i8. the plates having bevelled marginal portions 51a and 58a overlying ledges 23 and 24 and engaged in recesses 26 and 26.

It will be seen that the housing together with the draft and buffer devices is entirely self-contained, the housing, more specifically, constituting an end sill so that a very simple and compact arrangement is afforded. Draft is transmitted from the drawA bar through the springs and buffer beam to the end sill through the strong transmission means constituted by the abutment provisions between the end portions of the buffer beam and the end sill. The buffer element under buff may move bodily rearwardly, or may pivot about either of the abutment surfaces |5a and I5b as fulcra.

According to Figure 6, the end sill bracket 60 is constituted by a channel bar having angle clips 6i and 62, for attachment purposes, secured to its rear face adjacent its ends. The

draw bar is constituted by a channel 63 nested within channel centrally thereof in the manner shown in Figure 7, and having secured to its top web 64 a forwardly extending plate 65 having a vertical aperture 66. A tongue 61, also secured to web 64, comprises a plate 68 above and parallel to plate 65, and provided with an aperture 69 registering with aperture 66. The top web of channel 60 has a centrally cutout portion to receive the rear end of the tongue so as to permit the rear face of channel 63 to abut the front face of channel 60.

The bumper is constituted by a curvilinear channel 10.

Passed through aligned apertures in channels 60, 63 and 10 are a pair of bolts 1I and 12 whose heads 13 and 14 are engaged in countersinks in bar, as shown in Figure 6. A bottom plate 65 is secured to the lower web of channel 80.

From the above description it will be evident that springs 15 and 16 are compressible to absorb both draft and impact shocks, draft forces being transmitted to the bracket through the draw bar,

the springs, the bumper and the bolts, and impact forces being transmitted to the bracket directly by the springs in substantially the same manner as in the embodiment first described.

In both of the described embodiments, draft is applied to the draft members in a plane above the plane of the springs and, consequently, under draft these members tend to tip forwardly and downwardly. In the -first embodiment, such stresses are taken by the guide groove flanges. In the second embodiment, these stresses are taken by the buffer member 10 on which the horizontal hitching portion 65 is adapted to ride and to be directly guided, the buffer member in turn being securely held up by plate 65.

While I have shown and described two practical embodiments of the invention, it will be understoood that the invention ,is not limited to the details shown and described, and that for this reason I do not limit myself except as in the following claims.

I claim:

1."In a device of the class described, a bracket for attachment to a car end, a bumper and a draw bar slidably mounted in said bracket, a pair of parallel webs in said bracket, the draw bar being positioned between the Webs and the bumper having parallel supporting anges positioned to the outside of the webs, the webs serving to guide the draw bar Wainst lateral displacement and a compreion spring interposed between the bumper and draw bar, the bracket including abutment portions for both the bumper and draw bar for limiting movement of the bumper and draw bar away from each other.

2. In a device of the class described, a bracket for attachment to a car end, said bracket comprising a rear wall and spaced outwardly projecting webs perpendicular to the rear wall, the opposed faces of said webs being provided with parallel horizontal grooves, a draw bar having ribs slidable in said grooves, a bumper having parallel supporting flanges positioned outside of the webs, and a compression spring interposed between the bumper and draw bar, the rear wall of the bracket serving to linut movement of the draw bar under the action of said spring, the

4.bracket including abutment means for limiting iavement of the bumper under the action of said spring.

3. In a device of the class described, a bracket for attachment to a car end, said bracket comprising a rear wall, spaced outwardly projecting webs perpendicular to the rear wall, and bottom wall portions outwardly of said webs the opposed faces of said webs being provided with parallel horizontal grooves, a draw bar having ribs slidable in said grooves, a bumper having parallel supporting flanges positioned outside of the webs and slidably supported on said bottom wall portions, and a compression spring interposed between the bumper and draw bar, the rear wall of the bracket serving to limit movement of the draw bar under the action of said spring, the bracket including abutment means for limiting movement of the bumper under the action of said spring.

4. In a device of the class described, a bracket for attachment to a car end', said bracket comprising a rear wall, a pair of abutment portions spaced forwardly of the rear wall, and bottom wall portions adjacent said abutment portions,

a bumper having a pair'of flanges slidably guided 4spaced'forwardly of the rear wall, and bottom wall portions adjacent said abutment portions, a bumper having a pair of flanges slidably guided by the opposed faces of said abutment portions, said anges having angularly offset ends engaged behind said abutment portions, said flanges being slidably supported on the bottom wall portions of the bracket, a compression spring interposed between the rear wall of the bracket and the bumper, and top plates removably secured tothe bracket and extending over the ends vof the flanges.

6. In a device of the class described, a' bracket.

for attachment to a car end, said bracket comprising a rear wall, a pair of abutment portions spaced forwardly of the rear wall, a pair of webs between said abutment portions, vand bottom Wall portions extending between said abutment portions and adjacent web, a bumper having a pair of iianges extending between said abutment portions and adjacent webs to be slidably guided thereby, said iianges having angularly offset ends engaged behind said abutment portions, said flanges being slidably supported on the bottom wall portions of the bracket, and a compression spring interposed between the bumper and the rear wall of the bracket.

7. In a device of the class described, a bracket for attachemnt to a car end, said `bracket comprising a rear wall, a pair of abutment portions spaced forwardly of the rear wall, a pair of webs between said abutment portions, and

bottom wall portions extending between said abutment portions and adjacent Webs, a bumper having a pair of flanges extending between said abutment portions and adjacent webs to be slidably guided thereby, said flanges having angularly offset ends engaged behind said abutment portions, said flanges being slidably supported on the bottom wall portions of the bracket, a compression spring interposed be-` tween the bumper and the rear wall of the bracket, and top plates removably secured to the bracket and extending over the ends of the anges.

8. 'In a device of the class described, a bracket for attachemnt to a car end, said bracket comprising a rear wall, a pair of abutment portions spaced forwardly of the rear wall, a pair of webs between said abutment portions, and bottom wall portions extending between said abutment portions and a bumper havinga pair of flanges extending between said abutment portions and adjacent webs to be slidably guided thereby, said flanges having angularly offset ends engage-d behind said abutment4 portions, said flanges being slidably supported on the bottom wall portions of the bracket, a compression spring interposed between the bumper and the rear wall of theibracket, and top plates removably secured to the bracket and extending over the'ends of the flanges, each of said webs having -an angularly projecting portion beneath which an edge of one of the plates -is engaged.

9. In a device of theclass described, a bracket for attachment to a car end, said bracket comprising a pair of parallel vertical webs 'having opposed horizontal grooves therein', a drawbar having ribs slidable in said grooves, and means yieldingly acting on the draw bar in av direction vcounter to the draft direction.

10. In a device of the class described, a bracket for attachment to a car end, said bracket com-l prising a pair of parallel vertical webs having opposed-horizontal grooves therein, 1. draw bar having ribs slidable in said grooves and a depending portion betweenthe ribs, and means yieldingly lengaging said depending portion to act on thei draw bar in a direction counter to the draft direction.

11. Structure-according to claim 4 wherein the bracket components are .parts of an integral casting, the abutment portions rising from the bottom walll portions and having web connections with .the rear Wall.

12. Structure according to claim 4 wherein the bracket components are parts of. an integral casting, the abutment portions rising from thebottom wall portionsA and having web connections with the rear wall, the bracket also having integral arms for attachment to a car frame, the arms being in substantial alignment with the webs.

for attachment to a car end, a bumper, a plurality of bolts connecting the bumper and bracket for limited movement of the former toward and away from the latter, a draw bar slidable on said bolts intermediate the bumper and bracket, and a compression spring between the bumper and draw bar.

14. In a device of the class described, a bracket for attachment to a car end, a bumper, a plurality of bolts connecting the bumper and bracket for limited movement of the former toward and away from the latter, a draw `bar slidable on said bolts intermediate the bumper and bracket, and compression springs surrounding said bolts between the bumper and draw bar. l.

15. A self-contained unit comprising, in cornbination, a bracket securable to a lcar end,

13. In a device of the class described, a bracketv bumper means slidably supported by said bracket,

a draw bar slidably supported by said bracket, compression spring means between the draw bar and bumpermeans, transversely spaced abutment means on the bracket and on the bumper means cooperating to limit outward movement of the bumper means relative to the bracket under the4 iniiuenceof said spring means, and abutment means on the bracketxto limit rearward movement of the draw bar relative thereto under the influence of said spring means, said first-named abutment means beingdisengageable to permit removal of the bumper means from the bracket whereby removal of the draw bar is'also permitted.

16. A self-contained unit comprising, in combination, a bracket securable to a car end, means on said bracket defining a pair of transversely spaced outwardly faced pockets, a bumper having a pair of rearwardly extending arms slidably receivedrespectively in said pockets, abutment means in said pockets engaged by said .arms to limit movement of the bumper away from the bracket, a draw bar slidably supported by the bracket rearwardly of the bumper; the drawbar and bracket having cooperating abutment por-l tions limiting rearward movement of the former relative to the latter, and compression spring means between the draw bar and bumper.

17. A self-contained unit comprising, in combination, a bracketfsvecurable to a car end, means on said bracket defining a pair of transversely spaced outwardly faced pockets, a bumper having a pair of rearwardly extending arms slidably received respectively in said pockets, abutment means in said pockets engaged by said arms to limit movement of the bumper away from the bracket, a draw bar slidably supported by the bracket rearwardly of the bumper, the draw bar and bracket having cooperating abutment portions limiting rearward movement of the former relative to the latter, and compression spring means between the draw bar and bumper, draft applied to the draw bar being transmitted through said spring means, the bumper, the bumper arms and cooperating abutment means, to the bracket.

18. A self-contained unit comprising, in com- K bination, a bracket securable to a car end, bumper means comprising horizontally spaced portions guided in said bracket for movement toward and away from the latter, cooperating abutment means on the bracket and bumper means for limiting movement of the latter away from the former, outwardly directed parallel guide flanges on the bracket between said bumper portions, a draw bar having a portion guided between said flanges for movement toward and away from the bracket, the bracket and draw bar having portions cooperating to limit movement of the latter toward the former, and compression spring means between the bumper means and draw bar.

19. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a bracket securable to a car end to extend substantially from side to side of the car, an elongated bumper extending in front of the bracket and having rearward portions slidably supported by said bracket to permit movement of the bumper toward and away from the bracket, cooperating abutment means on the bracket and bumper to limit movement of the latter away from the former, outwardly projecting parallel guide flanges on the bracket rearwardly of the front portion of the bumper and under which said rearward portions of the bumper are movable, a draw bar. comprising a portion guided between said flanges, said draw bar portion being movable over said rear rearward portions of the bumper and the latter being movable under the former, said draw bar also comprising a downwardly extending portion behind the bump-f the bumper toward and away from the bracket,

cooperating abutment means on the bracket and bumper to limit movement of the latter away from' the former, outwardly projecting parallel guide flanges on the bracket rearwardly of the front portion of the bumper and under which said rearward portions of the bumper are movable, a draw bar comprising a portion guided between said flanges, said draw bar portion being movable over said rearward portionsV of the bumper and the latter being movable under the former, said draw bar also comprising a downwardly extending portion behind the bumper, compression spring means between said downwardly extending portion and the bumper, and abutment means on the bracket for limiting movement of the draw bar toward the bracket.

2l. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a bracket securable to a car end to extend substantially from side to side of the car, a horizontally extending web projecting outwardly from the lower portion of the bracket, a pair of horizontally extending and spaced webs projecting outwardly of the bracket above said lower web, an elongated bumper extending in front of the bracket and having rearward portions slidably supported by said bracket to permit movement of the bumper toward and away from the bracket, means between the lower and upper webs, respectively, engaged by said rearward portions to limit movement of the bumper away from the bracket, outwardly projecting parallel guide flanges at the inner ends of the upper webs, a draw bar having a portion guided between said flanges for movement toward and away from said bracket, compression spring means between the bumper and draw bar, and means limiting movement of the draw bar toward the bracket.

22. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a bracket securable to a car end to extend substantially from side to side of the car, a horizontally extending web projecting outwardly from the lower portion of the bracket, a pair of horizontally extending and spaced webs projecting outwardly of the bracket above said lower web, an elongated bumper extending in front of the bracket and having rearward portions slidably supported by said bracket to permit movement of the bumper toward and away from the bracket, means between the lower and upper webs, respectively, engaged by said rearward portions to limit movement of the bumper away from the bracket, outwardly projecting parallel guide flanges at the inner ends of the upper webs, a draw bar having a portion guided between said flanges for movement toward and away from said bracket, said draw bar having a depending portion behind the bumper, compression spring means between said depending portion and the bumper, and means limiting movement of the draw bar toward the bracket.

23. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bracket securable to a car end in transversely extending relation thereto, said bracket comprising vertically spaced horizontally extending webs, a bumper extending in front of said bracket and having rearward portions disposed between said vertically spaced webs for sliding movement toward and away from the bracket, abutment means between said vertically spaced webs engaged by said rearward portions to limit movement of the bumper away from the bracket, said abutment means being arranged relative to said rearward portions to permit translational movement of the bumper toward and away from the bracket and swinging movements of the bumper relative to said bracket about either of the abutment means as a pivot, a movable draft member including a portion in said bracket behind the bumper, abutment means in the bracket limiting movement of said draft member portion away from the bumper, and compression spring means between said draft member portion and said bumper and forcing the two apart, the action of said spring means on said bumper being limited solely by said abutment means.

24. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bracket securable to a car end in transversely extending relation thereto, said bracket comprising vertically spaced horizontally extending webs, a bumper extending in front of said bracket land having rearward portions disposed between said -vertically spaced webs for sliding movement toward and away from the bracket,abutment means between said vertically spaced webs engaged by said rearward portions to limit movement ofthe bumper away from the bracket, said abutment means being arranged relative to said rearward portions to permit translational movement of the bumper toward and away from the bracketv and swinging movements of the `bumper relative to said bracket about either of the abutment means as a pivot, spring means behind the bumper urging the latter away from the bracket, the action of said spring meansA on said bumper being limited solely by said abutment means, and draft means arranged to transmit draft through said spring means to the bumper 'and through said abutment means to said bracket.

25. In a draft rigging for cars, the combination with supporting means secured to the end of the car; of a draft member movable outwardly with respect to said supporting means, said draft member including a vertically disposed follower section and forwardly projecting, horizontally disposed, spaced arms above said follower section adapted to receive a coupling link therebetween, said arms having 4vertically aligned openings adapted to receive a coupling pin; a bumng head slidable inwardly with respect to said draft member on said supporting means; means at opposite sides of the supporting means for limiting outward movement of the builng head; and cushioning means interposed between the buiilng head and follower section of the draft member and having its front and rear ends bearing respectively on'the inner side of said bufllng head an-:l on the forward side of said follower section.

26. In a draft rigging for cars, the combination with a support fixed to outer end of the car,

' said support ,having a bottom wall; of a draft member slidable lengthwise of the car. said draft member having a vertically disposed follower plate section and forwardly projecting, horizontal spaced arms at the top of said follower plate section adapted to receive a coupling link therebetween, said arms having vertically aligned openings adapted to receive a coupling pin; a fixed vertical abutment engageable by said follower plate section to limit inward movement of the draft member; a bumng head slidable inwardly with respect to said draft member, said' head being guided on said bottom wall of the support, said bufng head projecting outwardly beyond the draft member when the latter is in its inner- -most position; means for limiting outward movement of the bumng head; and spring means embraced between the bufiing head and follower plate section of the draft member and having its inner and outer ends bearing respectively on sai-l follower plate section and the inner side of the bulng head.

27. In combination, a vehicle end sill, outwardly exposed buffer means slidably supported by the end sill, a draft member slidably supported by the end sill behind said buffer means, said draft member including a hitching portion movable in the direction of draft independently of the buffer means, yieldable means urging the buffer means and draft member apart and providing for cushioned draft and buff, and means carried entirely by the end sill for limiting movement of the buffer means and draft member apart, the whole being self-contained.

28. In combination, a vehicle end sill including a rear wall portion and top and bottom horizontal flanges forming an integral housing, buffer means and a draft member slidable toward each other in said housing, the buffer means projecting outwardly beyond said flanges and said draft member including a bitching portion movable in the direction of draft independently of the buffer -means, yieldable means urging the buffer means and draft member apart and providing for cushioned draft and buff, said rear Wall portion limiting movement of the draft member away from the bufilng means, and abutment means in the housing and carried entirely thereby for limiting movement of the bumng means away from the draft member, the whole being self-contained.

29. In combination, a vehicle end sill including a rear wall portion and top and bottom horizontal flanges forming an integral housing, buffer means and a draft member slidable toward each other in said housing, the buffer means projecting outwardly beyond said flanges and said draft member including a hitching portion movableA in the direction of draft independently of the buffer means, yieldable means urging the buffer means and draft member apart and providing for cushioned draft and buff, said rear Wall portion limiting movement of the draft member away from the bufllng means, and abutment means in the housing and carried entirely thereby for limiting movement of the buiing means away from the draft member, said abutment means .comprising a pair of elements engaged by the side portions of the bufling means, the bufling means under buff being bodily movable away from said elements and swingable about either of them, the

said draft member including a hitching portion movable in the direction of draft independently of the buffer means, means yieldingly urging said buffer means and draft member apart and providing for cushioned draft and buff, and abutment provisions in the housing and carried entirely thereby for limiting movement of the buffer means and draft member apart, the whole being lself-contained.

31. In combination, a vehicle end sill in the form of an integral housing having a forward opening, slidable buffer means partly in the housing and partly projectingV therefrom, a draft member in the housing behind said buffer means,` said draft member including a hitching portion movable in the direction of draft independently of the buffer means, means yieldingly urging said buffer means and draft member apart, and abutment provisions in the housing and carried entirely thereby for limiting movement of the buffer means and draft member apart and providing for cushioned draft and bui, thel buffer means being in the form of an elongated beam whose side portions engage its associated abutment pro-v visions, the beam under buff being bodily movable inwardly of the housing and inwardly swingable about said last-named abutment provisions .as fulcra, the whole being self-contained.

32. In combination, a vehicle end sill, an outwardly exposed builer beam slidably supported by said sill, a draft member slidably supported by said sill behind the buer beam, said draft member including a hitching portion movable in the direction ofdraft independently of the buffer means, yieldable means urging the buffer beam having an upright inner wall and top and bottom horizontal flanges, buffer means disposed in part between said flanges and in partvprojecting outwardly thereof ,and slidably supported on said bottom horizontal flange, a draft member slidably disposed between said buffer means and said inner wall, said draft member including a hitching portion movable in the direction of draft independently of the bulng means, means yieldingly urging said buffer means and draft member apart and providing for cushioned draft and Y buff, inward movement of the draft member being limited by said-inner wall, and abutments carried entirely by said sill and extending between said top and bottom flanges and engaged by the buffer means to limit outward movement of the latter, the whole being self-contained.

34. In combination, a unitary vehicle end sill having an upright inner wall and top and bottom horizontal flanges, buffer means disposed in part between said flanges and in part projecting outwardly thereof and slidably supported on said bottom horizontal flange, a draft member slidably disposed between said buffer means and said inner wall, said draft member including a hitching portion movable in the direction of draft independently of the buier means, means yieldingly urging said buffer means and draft member apart and providing for cushioned draft and buff, inward movement of the draft member being limited by said inner wall, and abutments carried entirely by said sill and extending between said top and bottom flanges and engaged by the buffer means to limit outward movement of the latter, said abutments serving as fulcra about which the buffer means may swing under buff, the whole being self-contained.

35. In combination, a support comprising an upright wall and projecting top and bottom horizontal flanges slidable buffer means disposed in part between said flanges and in part projecting outwardly thereof, a draft member slidably disposed between said buifer means and said upright wall, means yieldingly urging said buffer means and draft member apart and providing for cushioned draft and buff, inward movement of the draft member being limited by said upright wall, and abutments between said top and bottom flanges and-engaged by the buffer means to limit outward movement of the latter, said draft member having a horizontal portion and one of said flanges having a recess in which said horizontal portion is guided.

36. In combination, a vehicle end sill, draft and bumng means including a buffer beam slidably supported by said sill and having a laterally elongated projectingbuffer face, means in the sill yieldingly urging the buffer beam outwardly, and a pair of abutments carried by the sill and engaged by the side portions of the buffer beam for limiting outward movement of the latter relative to the sill, the buffer beam under bun being bodily movably away from said abutments and swingable about either of them, the whole being self-contained.

37. Structure according to claim 27 wherein the limiting means for the buffer means is constituted by tension bolts connecting the bui'fer meansand sill, wherein the draft member is slidable' on said bolts, and wherein the yieldable means is constituted by coil springs surrounding said bolts.

35. In combination, a support, outwardly exposed buifer means and a draft member carried by said support and movable relative to each other, yieldable means urging the buffer means and draft member apart and providing for cushioned draft and buff, and means limiting movement of the buffer means and draft member apart, the draft member having a horizontal hitching portion adapted to ride directly on the buffer means and the support having a horizontal portion which underlies the buffer means in all positions of the latter, the support also providing guide means cooperating with said horizontal portion for guiding the latter substantially rectilinearly,

39. In combination, a support, outwardly exposed buffer means and a draft member carried by said support and movable relative to each other, the draft member comprising a follower portion behind the buffer member and a hori- -zontal hitchingv portion at the top of said follower portion adapted to ride directly on the top surface of the buffer means, said support having a horizontal portion which underlies the buffer means in all positions of the latter, yieldable means between the buffer means and the follower portion of the draft member and acting on the latter below the line of draft, said yieldable means urging the buffer means and draft member apart and providing for cushioned draft and buff, and means limiting movement of the buffer means and draft member apart.

40. In combination, a support, outwardly exposed buffer means and a draft member carried by said support and movable relative to each other, the draft member comprising a follower portion behind the buffer member and a horizontal hitching portion adapted to ride directly on the buffer means, said support having a horizontal portion which underlies the buffer means in all positions of the latter and also providing guide means cooperating with said horizontal portion for guiding the latter substantially rectilinearly, yieldable means between the buffer means and the follower portion of the draft member and acting on the latter below the line of draft, said yieldable means urging the buffer means and draft member apart and providing for cushioning draft and bui, and m'eans limiting movement of the buffer means and draft member apart.

4l. In combination, a vehicle end sill, outwardly exposed buffer means and a draft member carried by said sill and movable relative to each other, said draft member including a hitching portion movable in the direction of draft independently of the buffer means, means yieldingly urging the buffer means and draft member apart, the sill having a. portion behind said draft m'em.

berlimiting toward movement of the draft member, and a pair of bolts connected to the sill and engaging the buffer means at horizontally spaced points for limiting movement of the buffer means away from the sill.

42. In combination, a housinghaving an upright wall and horizontal top and bottom walls.

projecting from said upright wall, the top wall having a recess providing parallel guide edges substantially perpendicular to said upright wall, a movable draft member including a follower Iportion in said housing and a horizontal bitching portion guided in said recess, andmeans normally yieldingly pressing said follower portion against .said upright wall.

43. In combination, a-vehicle end sill comnris- ,at horizontally spaced points to limit movement of the buffer means away from said-upright wall,

`and yieldable means between said buffer means and draft device and urging the same to limit positions.

44. In combination, a'vehicle end sill comprising an upright wall and forwardly projecting top and bottom walls, the top wall having a recess providing parallel guide edges substantially perpendicular to said upright wall, a movable draft member having a follower portion betweensaid top and bottom walls and a horizontal hitching their portion guided in said recess, said upright wall limiting toward movement of said draft member, movable buffer means in front of said follower portion. and normally partly projecting' beyond said top andbottom walls, bolts in connection with atleast one of said walls and engaging thebuffer means at horizontally spaced points to limit the projection of said buffer means, and yieldable means between the buffer means and said follower portion and urging the same to their limit positions.

45. In combination, a vehicle end sill comprising an upright wall and forwardly projecting top and bottom walls, the top wall having a recess providingparallel guide edges substantialyperpendicular to said upright wall, a movable draft member having a follower portion between said top and bottom walls and a horizontal bitching portion guided in said recess, said upright wall limiting toward movement of said draft member, movable buffer means "in front of said followerportion and normally partly projecting beyond said top and bottom walls, bolts in connectionwith at least one of said walls and engaging the buier means at horizontally spaced points to limit the projection of said buffer means, said hitching portion being adapted to ride directly on said bu-ier means, and yieldable means between the buffer means and'said follower portion and urging the buffer means projecting outwardly beyond said housing-and said draft means including a hitching portion movable in the direction of draft independently of the buffer means, and means yieldingly urging said buffer and draft means apart to limit positions, the limit positions being determined by a wall of the housing behind the draft means and by abutmentmeans. carried entirely by the housing and cooperating with the buifer means, the whole being self-contained.

, 4'7. In combination, an end sill comprising an upright wall and a forwardly projecting horizontal wall, buffer means and a draft member movable relative-to each other, the buffer means being slidably supported on top of said wall and projecting outwardly therebeyond, -said draft member including a bitching ,portion movable in the directionvof draft'independently of the buffer means, said hitching portionbeing in guided re'lation to said buffer means, and means yieldingly urging the buffer means and draft member apart to limit positions, the limit positions being determined by a wall of th'e housing behind the draft means and by abutment means carried .entirely by the housing and .cooperating with the buffer means, the whole being self-contained.

48. In combination, a vehicle end sill structure including a hollow box-likehousing having a rear wall, draft and buflng devices finsaid housing; said devices including a buffer beam having a central bufling plate portionI projecting outward of said housing, a' draft member withinthe housing and having a lcentral vertical web portion behind the buffer beam', compression spring means interposedbetween the buffer beam and the web portion for yieldingly holding the buffer beam and draftmember away from one another,

the rear wall of the housing constituting abut-` ment means engageable by said web portion for limiting movement of'` the draft member away from the buffer beam, and second abutment means including transversely spaced elements on the housing for engaging the buffer beam near its ends for limiting'movement of the buffer beam away from the draft member, said second abutment means being disengageable to permit re-V moval of the buffer beam from said housing whereby removal of the draft member is also permitted.

` 49. In combination, a vehicle end sill structure including a hollow box-like housing providing a supporting means, a draft member in said housing movable outwardly with respect to said supporting means and including a vertically-disposed follower section and forwardly-projecting horizontally-disposed and vertically-spaced arms adapted to receive a coupling link therebetween, said arms having vertically aligned4 openings adapted to receive a coupling pin; a buiiing head slidable inwardly into the housing with respect to said draft member; means on 'opposite sides of the supporting means and adjacent the ends of the bufling head for limiting outward movement'of the bufling head; and cushioningspring means interposed between the buiing head and the follower section of the draft member and having its `front and rear ends bearing respectively on the inner side of saidbufflng head and on the forward side of said follower section.

50. Ina draft rigging for cars the combination of a car end sill having an outwardly projecting bottom wall, a draft member slidable lengthwise of the car, said draft member having a vertically disposed follower plate section and a forwardly projecting horizontal hitching pirtion, said end sill having a` vertical wall engageable by said follower plate section to limit inward movement of the draft member, a buflng head slidable inwardly with respect to said draft member, said head being guided on said bottom wall of said end sill, said bufllng head projecting ing a forwardly projecting horizontal wall, aA

buffer member supported by and having slidable engagement with the top of said wall, a draft member slidably supported behind said buffer member, said buffer member projecting outwardly beyond said wall and said draft member including a bitching portion movable in the direction of draft independently of the buffer member, yieldable means urging the buffer member and draft member apart and providing for cushioned draft and buff. and means carried by the end sill for limiting movement of the buffer member and draft member apart, said last named means including a pair of abutments cooperating with the side portions of the buffer member, the buffer member underbuif being bodily movable away from said abutments and swlngable about either of them, the Awhole being self-contained.

52. In combination, a Vehicle end sill comprising a forwardly projecting horizontal wall. a buffer member supported by and having slidable engagement with the top of said wall, a draft member slidably supported behind said buffer member, said buffer member projecting outwardly beyond said wall and said draft member including a hitching portion movable in the direction of draft independently of the buffer member, the sill including a portion behind said draft member limiting toward movement of the draft member, and a pair of bolts connected to the sill and engaging the buier member sat horizontally spaced y points for limiting movement of the buffer member away from the sill.

53. In combination, a vehicle end sill comprising an upright wall and forwardly projecting top and bottom walls, a buffer member disposed between said top and bottom walls and supported by and having slidable engagement with said bottom wall, a draft member slidably supported behind said buer member, the buffer member projecting outwardly beyond said walls and said draft member including a bitching portion movable in the direction of draft independently of the buffer member, said upright wall limiting toward movement of said draft member, bolts in connection with at least one of said walls and engaging the buffer member at horizontally spaced points to limit movement of the buffer member away from said upright wall, and yieldable means between said buffer member and draft member and urging the same to their limit positions.

GLENN E. EDMUNDS.

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