US141756A - Improvement in car-couplimgs - Google Patents

Description

Nrrnn STATES "i ATENT QFFIGE.

IMPROVEMENT iN CARHCDUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 14L756, dated August 12, 1873 application filed March 21, 1873.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RICHARD B. BUCKNER, of Gilroy, Santa Clara county, State of California, have invented an Improved (lar-Goupling; and I do hereby declare the following description and accompanying drawings are sufficient tov enable any person skilled in the art or science to which it most nearly appertains to make and use my said invention or improvement without further invention or experiment.

My invention relates to an improved selfacting coupling for railroad cars, which will also serve as an automatic uncoupler in case of accident to a train,by which one of the cars leaves the track.

In order to properly explain my invention so that others will understand its construction and operation, reference is had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a bottom View of my coupling attachment to the car-frame. Fig. 2 is an enlarged bottom view of the coupling. Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation in section. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of one bumper, showing the method of holding the head of the drawbar in place.

Let A A represent the frame of the bottom of a railway car. The bumpers B B are secured between the longitudinal timbers G C ot' each car, between which they have a backand-forth motion, being kept in place by springs, either metal or India rubber. The bumper B carries the draw-bar D, while the opposite bumper B receives and holds the end of the draw-bar whenthe two bumpers come together. The bumper B has an arm, c, projecting outward from each side, which enters grooves in the opposite sides of the timbers C so as to form slides. Springs fare placed in these grooves back of the arms of the bumper so as to press the bumper forward. A casting, E, is secured between vthe timbers C G back of the bumper, which also has an arm extending to each side. These arms enter the slots in the timbers C back of the springs j' and extend backward a short distance in the rear of the casting, as shown.

. The springs f receive the force of the concussion when the cars come together, and allow the bumper to give in opposite directions. The under side of both bumpers is open. The draw-bar D is suspended between the timbers C C of the trucks upon a crank-shaft, g, which bears in the rearward extension of the opposite arms of the bumper, the point ot' suspension thus provided being between the middle and rear end of the draw-bar, so that the forward end will project through the bumper B and to the required distance in front of it. A round head, t', is formed on this projecting extremity of the draw-bar with which the opposite or female bumper `engages when the cars come together. Thus the pull of the cars will come upon the springs f, against which the armsV of the casting are drawn. A weight, j, is secured upon the rear end of the draw-bar, which serves to overbalance the opposite or engaging end and keep it raised. The opposite or female bumper B has a semicircular aring mouth with inclined sides, the lower middle portion o of which is cut away so as to form a slot through which the draw-bar will pass when the head is engaged on the inside of the bumper. Now, when the cars come together the head t' of the draw-bar will strike the flaring mouth of the bumper B and be guided by the inclined sides of the mouth downward until it passes below the lower edge of the mouth, when, the weight j will cause it to rise in the openin g back of the circular mouth so as to bring the draw-bar into the slot or opening o. A circular cavity or socket, s, on the opposite or inside face of the bumper, then receives the head i, and in which it re mains until uncoupled. A crank-shaft, t, passes below the rear end of the draw-bar D, preferably in the rear of the weight j. This shaft is operated by lever a from the outside or top of the car, and when it is desired to disconnect the cars this lever is turned or lifted so as to cause the crank to lift the rear end of the draw-bar. This lifting of the rear end of the draw-bar causes it rst to swing forward on its supporting crank-shaft, g, so as to release the head or hook t' from its socket or link, and then the subsequent lifting of the rear end lowers the head t so that the bumper B can move off clear of the coupling. Y'

In some instances I shall employ a hook on the engaging end of the draw-bar, which Will engage with a link or partial link on the op posite bumper instead of the head and socket arrangement, and in either ease I shall usually employ an angular guide-bar or inclined piece of metal in front of the head or hook, Whichever is used for directing it downward, in case it might be elevated too high to strike inside of the flaring mouth.

In cases of accident upon the road, such as the jumping oil the track by one of the cars, the unusual motion or lift of the car as it leaves the track will disconnect it from the remainder of the train, and in this Way much damage Will be prevented.

By this means I provide an exceedingly simple self-acting car-co11pling,which is also a safety-coupling. It is cheaply constructed, not liable to get out of order, and is easily handled.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s v 1. The bumper B With its suspended drawbar D, having` the en gaging-head z' and weight j, in combination With the bumper B with its semicircular slotted mouth having inclined slides and slot o, the reverse side of which lL. si

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