US777520A - Car-coupling. - Google Patents

Description

No. 777,520. PATENTED DEC. 13, 1904. W. S. LEE.

GAR COUPLING.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 25. 1904.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHBETSBHEET 1.

awvemtoz No. 777,520. PATENTED DEC. 13, 1904.

W. 3. LEE.

GAR COUPLING.

APPLIOATION'FILED AUG. 25, 1904.

N0 MODEL. 2 sums-slum 2.

40 F J v .149

,kfiu 1 J 42 fig M Q WW Z amnion Patented December 13, 1904.

ATEN rFIcE.

WILLIAM SHERMAN LEE, OF lllYtilllC, lOl'VA.

GAR QDOUPLIING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 777,520, dated December 13, 1904. Application filed August 25, 1904. Serial No. 222,138. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

.Be it known that I, 'WILLIMI SHERMAN Le a, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mystic, in the county of Appanoosa and State 01" Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in (Jar-Couplers; and I do declare the following to be a iull, 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.

This invention relates to improvements in car-couplers.

The object of the invention is to provide a car-coupler having means whereby the locking-block when raised will be temporarily supported in an elevated position and from which position the same is automatically knocked onto the shank end of the knuckle when the same is uncoupled and from which it automatically drops into position to lock said knuckle when the same is in coupled position.

Another object is to provide means whereby the locking-block is held against casual upward movement, thereby preventing the accidental uncoupling of the train.

A further object is to provide a coupler of this character which will be simple, strong, and durable in construction, efficient, reliable, and automatic in operation.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel featuresolt' construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view through a coupler embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken immediately in front of the lockingblock and showing the same in position for locking the knuckle in coupled position. Fig. 1 is a similar view showing the locking-block raised and supported. in position to permit the knuckle to be uncoupled, and Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the locking-block resting on the shank of the knuckle when the same is in an uncoupled position.

Referring more particularly to the draw ings, 1 denotes the coupler, consisting of a draw-head 2 and a draw-bar 3. In the drawhead 2 is formed a horizontally-disposed chamber 4 and a 'vertically-disposed chamber said cl'iambers being in communication with each other. the chamber 5 opening through the lower side of the draw-head, and over said opening is adapted to be placed a cover-plate 6. Said cover-plate is cut away at one side to form a contracted opening 7.

Iivotally mounted within the chamber at is a swinging knuckle 8, having formed on its rear side an inwardly-projecting curved shank 9. In the chamber 5 is slidably mounted a locking-block 10, on the lower end of which is formed a downwardly-projecting linger 12. In the upper end oi the locking-block 10 is formed a slot or recess 13, the lower wall of which is inclined downward, as shown at 1 1-. The upper end of the block 10 is inclined or beveled upwardly at one side, as shown at 15. On the side of the block opposite the upwardly-projecting portion 15 is arranged a transversely-disposed pin or bolt 16, which crosses the slot 13, formed in the upper end of said block.

In the upper wall of the chamber 5 is formed a small opening 17, through which projects the stem 18 of a lifting-hook 19, the lower end or bill of which is adapted to projectinto the slotted upper end of the block '10 and to engage the pin or bolt 16, arranged therein. On the lower end of the hook 19 is formed a laterally-projecting head 20, which when said block is in its lowered position is adapted to engage a recess 21, formed in one of the side walls of the vertical chamber 5. ()n the 0pposite wall of said chamber 5 immediately above the chamber 4 is formed an inwardlyprojecting ledge 22.

In operation to release the knuckle 8 to permit the draw-head to be uncoupled the locking-block 10 is raised by the lifting-hook 19 until the upwardly-inclined upper end of the block strikes the upper wall of the chamber 5, when owing to the beveled or inclined shape of said upper end of the block the same will be thrown or rocked laterally on the hook 19, thereby causing the lower end of the block to engage the ledge 22, formed on the side walls of said chamber 5, thus supporting said block in an elevated position and permitting the knuckle to be swung outwardly to an uncoupled position. As soon as the knuckle 8 begins to swing to an uncoupled position the shank 9 of the same will strike the downwardly-projecting finger 12 on the lower end of said locking-block, which will knock said block from off the ledge 22 and cause the same to drop upon said shank, by which said block will be supported while the knuckle is in an uncoupled position. When the knuckle has been swung back to its coupled position, the block will be caused to drop from off the shank 9 into the lower end of the chamber 5, thereby locking said knuckle in its coupled position. When the locking block 10 is dropped to the lower end of the chamber 5, the finger 12 of said block will projectthrough the opening 7 in the cover-plate 6, thus firmly securing the lower end of the block against lateral movement. As soon as the block 10 reaches its lowermost position within the chamber 5 the hook 19 will slide down the inclined lower wall of the slot 13 in the upper end of said block, and the head 20 of said hook will slide into the recess 21, formed in the side wall of the chamber 5, and will thereby hold said locking-block against casual upward movement, thus preventing the knuckle from being accidentally uncoupled. The head 20 and the upper wall of the recess 21 are so shaped that when the hook 19 is drawn or pulled at its upper end the same will be disengaged i'rom said recess and the bill of the hook will engage upon the pin or bolt 16 in said locking-block, thus drawing or lifting the same upwardly in the chamber 5, as herein before described.

Any suitable operating mechanism (not shownlmay be mounted upon the end of the car to draw the hook 19 upwardly and lift said locking-plate to permit the knuckle to assume an uncoupled position.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a car-coupler the combination with a draw-head having horizontal and verticallydis posed chambers, said vertical chamber having a laterally-formed recess, of a swinging knuckle mounted in said draw-head, a locking-block slidably mounted in said vertical chamber, having a curved upper end and a finger at its lower end, a lifting-hook having a sliding connection with the upper end of said locking-block, and a laterally-projecting head formed on said hook to engage the laterally-formed recess in the chamber, said head thereby preventing said locking-block from being casually raised and thus accidentally releasing said knuckle, substantially as described.

2. In a car-coupler the combination with a draw-head having horizontally and vertically disposed chambers, of a swinging knuckle pivotally mounted in said draw-head,a curved shank formed on said knuckle to work in said horizontal chamber, a ledge formed in said vertical chamber, a locking-block slidably mounted in said vertical chamber, said block having an inclined or beveled and slotted upper end, whereby when the same is raised into engagement with the upper wall of said vertical chamber the lower end of said block will engage the ledge formed in said chamber, thereby supporting said block, and permitting said knuckle to swing outwardly, means whereby said block is knocked off from said ledge and supported in position to drop and lock said knuckle when the same is brought to a coupled position, and means whereby said locking-block is raised, substantially as described.

3. In a car-coupler the combination with a draw-head having horizontally and vertically disposed chambers, of a swinging knuckle pivotally mounted in said draw-head, a curved shank formed on said knuckle to work in said horizontal chamber, a ledge formed in said vertical chamber, a locking-block slidably mounted in said vertical chamber, said block having an inclined or beveled and slotted upper end, whereby when the same is raised into engagement with the upper wall of said vertical chamber the lower end of said block will engage the ledge formed in said chamber, thereby supporting said block and permitting said knuckle to swing outwardly, a downwardly-projecting finger formed on the lower end of said locking-block, in position to be engaged by the shank of said knuckle when moved to an uncoupled position thereby knocking said block off said ledge and onto said shank and a lifting-hook having a sliding connection with the upper end of said block whereby said block is raised, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM SHERMAN LEE.

WVitnesses DUNCAN TAYLOR, WM. TAYLOR.

IIO

Images