USRE14873E - robinson - Google Patents

Description

J, v ROBINSON. AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE CONNECTOR.

APPLICA'lfI'DiN mwpcr a1. 1919.: 'Reissued June 1,1920.

14,873. 4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

1.. v. ROBINSON. AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE CONNECTOR APPLICATION HLEDOCT 31.1919.

Reissued J une 1, 1920.

To all whom it may concern HEISSUED UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CONNECTOR COMPANY, OF OF DELAWARE.

' JOSEPH V. ROBINSON, OF SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE ROBINSON WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A CORPORATION AUTOMATIC TRAIN-r121: coNNEc'roR;

Specification of Bei'ssued Letters Patent. flissued J 9 1, 192() Original lie-1,245,784, dated November 6, 1917, Serial No. 781,194, filed July 25, 1913. Application for reissue filed October 31, 1919'. Serial No. 334,880.

Be it known that I, JOSEPH V. ROBINSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Santa Monica, county of Los Angeles, State of California, formerly residing at Chevy Chase, Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Train-Pipe Connectors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic train pipe connectors and aims to improve certain features'of the tram p pe connectors described in my earlier applica tions. l

One of the objects of the invention is to support the connector head and the body on 1ts base, or supporting bracket, so that I. there will be the minimum of resistance to free universal movement of the head when connected; to a mating head, thus insuring a perfect connection between the heads and preventing them from opening up or rocklng one upontthe other under the sharp whipping motion of service as when the cars round a curve or run over uneven track.

Another object of my invention is to support the connector head with the minimum resistance to universal movement as aforesaid, and project it longitudinally of the car by a force the resistance oi' which to such longitudinal movement will increase in greater progress than the extent of such movement of the head, thus effectually avoiding undue shocks and strains upon the head.

Still other objects and novel features of my invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is aside elevation of the connector;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same with the pipe connection turned partially to show in section 5 lfiig. 3 is a hori /,ontal longitud nal sect1on of the same, the parts on a mating connector being shown in plan; I

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the connector;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the same.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a han er or part which is permanently connectar to the car, coupler of the car. A

bracket .or base 11 is bolted to the part 10 nector extends.

and comprises two similar halves which and 14, which constitute a. partial flange at the rear of the body or member' A. will be noted that the upper flange 13 is longer than the lower one. This; is in order to render the resistance of the supports in the vertical plane uniform when one car is higher than the adjacent one. In'coupling under vertical disalinement, the-higher connector is required to liftthe lowcr'one and the Weight of the head of the higher connector tends to force it downward, whereas the Weight of the head on the lower connector tends to hold it down. Thisicanses the higher connector to drop more than the lower one raises when coupling under these conditions, and consequently the heads tend to jam or .cramp. To overcome this objection, the upper flange 13 is made of greater length than the lower one, so that the higher connector is stiffened against movement downwardly in the verti- .cal plane sufliciently to equal the resistance 18 passing through the holes in the hub 1.7 is

for the purpose of attaching the shank .19 to the body," the shank being constructed so asto fit into the hub ITandbeing provided with holes to receive the pin 18. This arrangement produces a construction in which vthe connector head 13 and the shank 19 with its nipple 20 may be'rea-dily removed from the-hub 17. The head offlie connector comprises a fitting or nipple 20 to which the shank 19 is integrally connected, the forward end of the, fitting 20 havinga. port opening 21 therein which is provided with a suitable gasketwhich-projects slightly beyond the face of the connector head; Th-- fitting 20 leads out to thepside of the connector head and is provided with threads 22 to attach other fittings, pipes, or hoseconne'ctions to lead air or steam from the,

train line to the fitting. I v

To bringthe corresponding ports of two mating. connector heads into register, gathering means are mounted at the forward end 23 of the fitting 20. In the present instance, I have disclosed the pin and funnel'type of gathering device, but it is to be understood the connector. The pin and funnel device comprises two separate castings, the pin 24 being formed with two ears 26 at its inner end while the funnel is also a separate casting and formed with two ears 27 at oppositesides of its inner 'end, the two castings having cooperating recesses on their abutting faces and between the cars so that when the castings are secured together at the ears, the recesses form a circular opening to re-- cei'ye and clamp the end 23 of the fitting20, which end 23 extends through said opening and flush with the face of the connector 3 head. There is also a groove formed at the interior otthe circular opening to receive the bead 23 on "the fitting 20, whereby the gathering pin and funnel members are s'ecured to the forward end. of the connector in -a convenient manner and a gathering de-' vice is provided which may be read1ly re= moved and parts replaced if one or the other of the members comprising the same breaks or is worn out. The pins 23, of unequal diameters, fit into corresponding holes ,in the gathering pin and tunnel member and prevent incorrect assembly of these latter 1 parts on the end 23 of the fitting 20.

- The pin 24 comprises a curved arm sub- '45 stantially-L-shaped as shown infig. 3'and' is provided with a head'2S at its outer end to fit a recess 29 at the apex of the funnel 25.

I ()n the side of the pin24 nearest the connector body and extending from the head28 and to the base of the pin, there isa rein forcing web 30 which iseidapted to register with and fit a corresponding groove 31 extending longitudinally of the inclined wall of the funnel and located between the recess 29 and the port opening 21. Ordina rily in the gathering device tl e strains are local, being confined to as where the head of the pin 28'engages the recess 29 of the funnel. By providing one memberwith a long groove and thecooperating member on the mating head with a long rib to fit the groove,'localization of strains at the interlocking sections of the pin and funnel are avoided and any strains tending to produce angular movement betweerhthe heads are distributed through the full length of the interlock formed by theweb and groove, thereby preventing damage to the pin where the .same interlocks with the apex of the 1 funnel. i a 7 The oppositely disposed slots 33 and in the connector'body A extend from the rear edge of. thehub 1'7 to the forward faces,

of the projections 13 and 14. The slots 35 and 36 in the body start at the rear edge of thehub and taper rearwardly of the body to' s'lightly beyond the partial flange formed bytheprojectionsl3 and 14.' Y The rearendof the body A'beyondthe fl'angeformed" by the projections '13 and 14, is provided with a neck 36; and where the neck, joins the projections 13 and 14 there is an annular "seat-37, for the base end of a conical spring 38, which- 'is coiled" of a tapered bar, The spring tapers rearwardly 35 and the bar comprising the same is of smaller diameter at its rear end, where it bears against a seat or shoulder 89 on ad- 'ustable nut 40, than itis at its larger end.

his construction produces means: for resisting'longitudinal' movement of the connector head with a force which increases in greater proportion than the extent of such movement since each coil of the spring will yield and offer a resistance in proportion to 9 5 its thickness, the lighter coils yielding firstand the larger ones following. The nut 40 isinterhallythreaded to receive the threads 41 on the outer en' of a rod or member 42 which at its forward end 'has a-longit'udinal flattened," part 43; The flattened part 43 has a transverse oblong ,opening 44 extending therethrough, the

opening 44 having'a curved or cylindrical inner wall 44' to form a seat to fit a com plement'ary bearing facefon the flattened section 45 locatedintermediate the ends 46 of a pivot device or bar 47 as shown.

The ends 46 of the pivot'bar are bent out of'line with the sction'45" and are rounded "on their rear faces to fit bearings 48in the base 11 on diametrically'opposite sides of the openingnl2 therein. One of said bearings is formed in each of the halves comthe spring when properly adjusted will normally hold the ih nge against therear face of the base and thusjsustain the connector at the limit-roof its forward movement in a comparatively rigid and normally horizontal position but's to permit-a vertical and lateral movement in all directions when the head B engages a mating connecto The rod 42 it will be noted-is adapted to rotate universally as respects the base 11, but only in the horizontal lane as res cts 'the pivot bar 47 while the plvot bar 47 Itself is adapted to rotate in the vertical plane only as. respects the base 11.

In assembling the connector the head end of the rod 42 is passed through the neck 36 ofthe body A and the yoke or pivot bar 47 is then" inserted from either side throu h the larger end of the tapering slot 35 in the body until the flat section. 45 of the pivot bar fits the oblong opening 44 whereupon. the rod 42 is drawn rearwardly and the halves of the base 11 are bolted about the body with the ends 46 of the pivot'bar 47 fitting in the bearings 48 of the base 11.

The conical sprin 38 is then passed around the rod 42 and tie nut 40 is fitted on the rod 42 to. suitably tension the spring and form an abutment for -its outer end. The

resistance of the spring and its normal compression are determined by the weight of the connector head, plus an additional resistance'siaificient to preventundue swinging of an uncoupled head when the ears are in motion.

It will be observed that by drawingup on the nut the, resistance of the spring against the body of. the connector is varied and the movement of the connector head from its normal position is proportionately resisted, but the body and head are normally supportedin a substantially horizontal position. 'The nut 40 is locked against rearward movement from the adjusted position by a pin 50 which passes through a slot 51 in the threaded end of the rod 42 The operation of the connector will be clear from the foregoing description.

\Yhen two cars equipped with the connector are moved into engagement the pin and funnel gathering devices on the connectors will guide the ports of the connector heads into register and any tendency for the con-'- nector heads to part angularly or rock one upon the other will be prevented by means of the rib on the pin which engages the groove in the funnel, and by reason of the interlocking connections between the members 28 and the recesses 29. The connector is so sup mrted that it may be freel moved in any direction so as to bring t e ports therein into register with the ports of oppgming connectors andmay be readily assembled and adjusted to suit varying conditions of service. l ndue rotation of the connector head B about its longitudinal axis is prevented by the pivot 'bar 47 engaging-the walls of the slots 35 and 36. It will be noted that the pivot bearing connection between the pivot bar 47 and the rod 42 is in the same plane as the pivot connection between the pivot bar 4:? and .the base 11,*th ese' two pivot connections'ofgcourse bein at right angles as illustrated in Fig. l 3. This facilitates the vertical movement of the heads in the act of coupling and renders, itunnecessary to have a wide slot in the member A.

It will be clear that various changes may bemade in the construction without departing from the spirit of the inventio'n, and therefore I do not wish to be limited to the exact details as shown and described. Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In an automatic train pipe coupling, the combination of a coupling head, a base, a member passing through the base and carr ing. at one end a laterally diverging flui conduit which extends through said head,- a projection near the other end of said member, and means'for normally maintain ing said projection in engagement with said Easel to yieldiilgly support said coupling ea 2. In aniiutomatic train pipe connector, the combination of a base, a bpdy extending through the base and provided at one side of said base with a flange, a head attached tothe body on the opposite side of the base, and means for yieldingly sustaining said head and body, said means comprising a member pivotally mounted on the base at 95 one side of said'body and extending rear-' wardlyof it's bearings, and a spring attached to the rear end of said member and bearing against said flange on said body.

3. In an automatic train pipe connector, the combination of a base having an opening therethrough, a connector. head and body, said body extending through the opening and having an enlargement at the rear side of said opening, said enlargement forming a shoulder to abut against the base, means for. maintaining the said shoulder in its abutting relation, said means'comprising a bar extending across said opening and pivoted in the base, a stem extending rearwardly from said bar, and a spring confined between the rear end of said stem and the said enlargement on the body. I

4. In an automatic train pipe connector, the combination of a base having an open- 115 ing therethrough, a body having a shoulder abutting'against the rear face of said base, and means tending to hold the shoulder in abutting relation with said rear face of the base, said means comprising a bar pivoted 120 on the base,ra rstem connected to the bar, and a spring confined between the free end of said stem and the shouldered part of saidbody.

5. In an automatic train pipe connector, 125 the combination of a base having an openingexteudmg therethrough, a hollow body having openings or opposite sides thereof. .saidbodyrextendin 1 through said opening in the base and haung a shoulder abutting 130 e o y-J against the rear tace of ,saidbase, a bar extending tlnrougl said opposltely arranged openings in the said body iand imounted in bearings-in said base, a stem connected to -sa1d bar and extending rearwardly of the base, and a spring confined between the rear end of the stem and the'snouldered part of 6. In an automatic train pipe connector,

the combination of a base having an open-' ingextending therethrough, a hollow body having an opening atopposite sides thereof,

" said body extending through the opening in 'against the' rear face of said. base, and

' through said opening'in the sides of said j body and supported 1n bearings-1n sa d base, astem'exte'ndlng rearwardly irom sald yoke and having an opening through which the combination o'f'a base having an'opening extending therethrough, a hollow body said base and being provided with a shoulder near its rear end which abuts means for' sustaining said shoulder in its abutting relation and thereby maintaining said connector body andhead in a predeter'mined position; said ineans'comprising a yoke having the ends thereof extending said yoke extends, and a conical spring c'onfined between the rear end of said stem' and the shouldered v [7 part of said body and having itsbase' bearing on said body.

7. 111 an auto'matictrain pipe connector,

having openings "on the opposite sides thereof, a hub' at the forward end of the body, said body extending through said opening, and having a shoulderine ar its rear end which is adapted to abut against the rear face of said base, a connector head seend thereof through which 'said yo'ke excur'ed' to the hub'on body, and means for maintaining the shoulder on said body in abutting relation with the base, said means comprising a yoke having the ends thereof extending through said opengngs the body and pivoted in bearings in t e base, a stem having an opening in the head tends, an abutment at'the other end of said stem, and aconical spring confined'between said abutment and-the shouldered and of 'a radially extending portion adapted to been against the rear face ofthe base, a sp ment with the base, and a coupling h said. body, substantially as described.

, 8. In an automatic train pipeconnector, the combination with a base, of a connectorbody extending through the'base and having acting to hold the connector body in .eng

sad

' having a conduitthat extends through said "head and to one-side-thereof and which is' provided with a shank that extends into a socket at the forward end of the connector body. r i I In" an automatic train pipe connector,

' ithe 'combination with a base, of a connector body extending through the base and proi vided with a surfaceadapted t o contact with j the base to limit movement of the body. through the base'in one direction, a spring actingto maintain said surface in contact with the base, a stem extending through the spring and provided with an abutment for one end thereof, and a bar connected to said stem and extending through the body into seats provided therefor in the base, for

the purpose described.

10. In "ana'uton atic train' pip'e' coupling,

the combination-of a coupling head, a base provided with an opening, a member extending rearwardly through said opening and provided with a projection, a spring acting against the member and tending nor- -mally to hold the projection against'said base, a' pivot device extending across the opening in the base and movably mounted in the wallsof the latter, and a stem pivotally connected to said pivotdevice and extending rea'rwardly through said spring for maintaining the spring in position under compression.

11. In an automatic train pipe coupling, the combination of a-coupling head,- a base provided in its wall with a bearing, a member extending rearwardly from' thehead '12. In an automatic train pipe coupling,

the combination of acoupling head, a base, a member extending from the head rearwardly through the base and, provided in .its side with an elongated slot, a projection on said member having an annular seat, a pivot device extending from within the memberthroughsaid slotinto engage- "ment with the wall-of the base for movement relative to'the latter, a stem connected with said pivot device, aspring mounted in said seat and 'surrounding said stem, and means on the stem for holding said spring in position toforce the projection against said base and for varying the pressure. of

said spring against the base.'. 13. In an automatic train pipe coupling, the combination of a coupling head, a member extending from said head, a two-piece base secured about said member, one piece of the base being provided with a bearing,

a pivot device extending from said member. into said bearing, a stem connected. to said pivot device, and a spring-confined between the rearendof said stem and said member for projecting the latter forwardly of said base;

14. In an automatic train pipe coupling,

the combination of a coupling head, a base, a member extending from said head through a stem provided with a head having an integralcylindrical portion mounted in said seat, and means on said stem for maintaining said spring under compression.

l5. In'an automatic train pipe coupling, the combination of a coupling head, a base provided with bearings, a member extendmg from saidhead through said base and provided with a projection, a spring acting upon said member to hold said projection against said base, 'a stem provided with a perforated head and having an integral cylindrical portion lying within said perforation, a pivot device having a seat and extending through the perforation of said stem into the bearings of said base with said cylindrical portion mounted in said seat, and means on said stem for maintaining said.

spring under compression.

16. In an automatic-train plpe connector,

the combination of a head, abase having op- 'positely disposed bearings, a device mount ed in said bearings for movement about an axis, a member ,pivotally mounted on said device for movement in a plane substantially at a right angle to the axis aboutwhich said device moves, means extending from said headrearwardly to the rear of said base and carrying thereat a projection, and a spring acting to hold said projection in engagement with said base, said projection and base being so related as to approximately equalize the force required to move said head downwardly from normal uncoupled position with that required to move it upwardly from such position.

17 In an automatic train pipe connector,

the combination of a head, a base having oppositely disposed bearings, a device mounted in said bearings for movement about an axis, a member pivotally mounted on said device for movement in a lane substantially at a right angle to t e axis about which said device moves, means extending from said head rearwardly to the rear of said base and carrying thereat a projection which extends above and below the longitudinal center line of said means, and a spring acting to holds-aid projection in engagement with said base, that part of said projection which extends above said center line being of greater length than the part which extends below said line, for the purpose described.

18. In an automatic train pipe connector, the combination of a head, a base having oppositely disposed bearings, a device mounted in said bearings for movement about an axis, a member pivotally mounted on said device for movement in a plane substantially at a right angle to the axis about which sa d device moves, an means coiiperating with said device and said member to support said head yieldingly against movement, said .meansoffering a resistance which increases bracket, a rod or member movable-in a plane at right angles to the axis of the pivot bar,

a spring surrounding said rod or member, and a part rigid with the head and normally held in contact with the bracket by said spring.

20. In a train pipe connector the combination witha dependin bracket and a coupling head of means or yieldingly sustaining the head forward of the bracket com-' prising a pivot bar extending across an opening of the bracket, a rod or member movable in a plane at right angles to the axis of the pivot bar, a spring surrounding said rod or member, and a part rigid with the head and normally held in contact with the bracket by said spring.

21. In a train pipe connector the combination with a depending bracket and a 'coupling ,headof means for ieldingly sustaining the head forward of the bracket comprising a'pivot bar turningon a horizontal axis and having its ends journaledin the bracket, a rod or member movable in a plane at right angles to the axisof the pivot bar, a spring surroundingsaid rod or member, and

a part rigid with the'head and normally held in contact with the bracket by said spring.

22. In a train 'pipe connector the combination with adependin bracket and a. conpling head of'means or ieldingly sustain- 11o ing the head forward of the bracket comprising a pivot bar, bearings in thebracket to'receivc the pivot bar, a memberhmovable in a plane at right angles to the axis of-the pivot bar, and a spring surrounding said member and exerting tension to hold the pivot bar seated in its bearings.

23. In a train pipe connector the combina tion with a dependin bracket and a coupling head of means or ,yieldingly sustain.-

ing the head forward of the bracket ,comprising a.-fa'ce at the rear of the bracket, :1

pivot bar mounted in .bearings in the sides of the bracket, a flange connected to and movable with the head, and a spring constantly tending to press the pivot bar against its bearings and to press said flange against the rear face of the bracket.

i 24. In a train pipe connector the combination with a depending bracket and a coupling head of means for yieldingly sustaining the head forward of the bracket comprising a pivot bar extending transversely of'the bracket and journaled in the sides thereof, said pivot bar having a transverse bearing midway of its ends, a spring abut.-

ment device seated in said transverse bear ing, a flange connected to the coupling head, and a spring-bearing on said abutment device andpressing said, flange-against the rear face of the bracket.

25. In an automatic train pipe connector, the combination with a bracket having a rear face and an opening, of a pivot bar journaled in the bracket and extending transversely of the opening, a rod or mem ber movable in a plane at right angles to the axis of the-pivot bar, a head, a part cooperagainst said face.

ating with the face to sustain the head, and a spring arranged about said rod or member and adapted to yieldingly pres s said part 26.111 an automatic train pipe-connector, the combination of a base having a rear face, a coupling head, a fluid conduit diverging laterally of said head and connected therewith and carrying a member which extendsrearwardiy of said head and to the rear of said base, a radially extending proj'e ction on said member and resting'normallyagainst the rear face of said base, a device carried by said base and having 'a cylindrically formed bearing surface located substantially on the vertically centerline of said base, a member having at one end an opening through which said device extends, the forward inner wall of said member being cylindrically formed and mounted on said bearing surface of said device, an abutment at the other. end ofsaid member and to the rear of. said projection, and a spring confined between said abutment and said projection for normally extending said coupling head with said projection pressed against saidbase... 1 V i 7 27. In an automatic train pipe connector, the combination of a base having a rear face, a couplinghead, a fluid -conduit diverging laterally of said head and connected there- 'with and carrying a member which extends rearwardly of said head and to the rear said base, a radially extending perforated projection, on said member andrestingnormally against the rear face of said base, a device carried .by said .base' and having a cylindrieally formed bearing surface located substantially on the vertical center; line of said base, a rod extending through said perforation and havingat-one end anopening through which said device extends,

the forward inner wall 'ofsaid'rodbeing cylindrically formed and mounted on'ls'aid bearing surface of, said device, for, ;.ln io?ve inent in theghorizontal' andverticalf planes relative. tosaid baseyanflahutment atftlle other end of said rod and to the rear of said projection, and a spring confined betweensaid abutment and said projection for base, a member extending through said per-.

foration and having an eye through which said pivot device extends, said eye having a cyhndrically formed bearing surface on its "forward wall which normally rests on the seat of said pivot device and is adapted to V oscillate thereon relative to said base, an

adjustable abutment on that end of said member which extends through said perforation and to the rear thereof, and a,

- spring confined between said abutment and. said projection for extending sa1d head with said base, 7

'29. In an automatic trainpipe connector, the combination of a base having a rear face oand a bearing, a radially extending projection at the rear side of said base, a fluid conduit in front of said base, means connects'aid projection .normally resting against ing said conduit with said radially extending projection, a device pivotally mounted in thebearing on said base for movement relative to said base only, a member pivotally mounted on said device and carrying a seat to receive a spring which member and seat are adapted to m'ove relative to said device only in a predetermined plane, a cow pling head on said conduit, and a spring seatj' e e ed on the seat carried by said'member and actingto support said head with said rad ially extending' projection pressing against said'rear face of said base.

30. In an'automatic train pipe connector, the combination of a base having anopening and oppositely disposed. bearings, a radiallyextending projection at the rear of .said base, a fluid conduit, a coupling head mounted onsiiid conduit, a member connecting said conduit and said radially'extending projection, a device extendinglaterally of a spring for extending said head and placing it under pressure, a support for said spring pivotally connected with said'device, and a means for varying the pressure of said spring upon said support.

v; -31. In an automatic train pi e connector, :the combination of a couplingj ead, a fluid conduit connected with saidhea d, a member said member into the bearings'in said base,

on said conduit and extending rearwardly thereof and carrying at its rear end a radially extending projection, a base having walls which extend from above said member to either side thereof and carry bearings, a device extending transversely of said member into said bearings, said device being also provided with abearing, theseat for a spring pivotally mounted in a bearing on said device, a sp g mounted on said seat and acting to .nd said headwith said projection pressi against said base, and means for maintaining said spring in position.

in an automatic train pipe connector,

the combination of a coupling head, a base 1 having an. opening therein, a fluidconduit connected with said head, a radially extending projection at the rear of said base and normally bearing against the base, means extending through said base and connecting said projection with said fluid conduit, a device extending across the opening in said base and terminating at'either side thereof in cylindrically formed bearing ends which are pivotally mounted in the walls of said base wherebysaid device may rotate relative to said base, a seat on said device, a-

member mounted on' said seat and adapted to rotate thereon, and a spring acting to maintain said member properly positioned in said seat and to extend said head with said projection normally resting against the rear face of said base. v

In an automatic train pipe connector, the combination of a coupling head, a base having an opening therein, a fluid conduit connected with said head, a radially extending projection at the rear of said base-and normally bearingagainst the base, a device extending across the opening in said base and terminating at either side thereof in cylindrically formed bearing ends which are pivotally mounted in the walls of said base whereby said device may rotate relatii e to said base, means connedting said conduit with said projection and cooperating with said device to prevent undue rotation of said coupling hea'dabout its longitudinal axis.

34. In a train pipe connector the combination with a depending bracket having laterally spaced bearings and a coupling head,

of means for yieldingly sustaining the head forward of the bracket comprising a pivot bar having its ends mounted in said bearings, .said pivot bar being ofl'set rearwardly and having a central bearing surface in line with its end bearings, a member having at one end a bearing cooperating with said central bearing surface and at its upper end an abutment for the rear end of a spring, a spring surrounding said member and a flange connected with the coupling head against which the forward end of said spring bears, said flange cooperating with the bracket to sustain the coupling head in coupling position.

JOSEPH V. ROBINSON.

Witnesses: I

JAMES A. Wa'rsoN, ROBERT C. WATSON.

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