US167454A - Improvement in car-couplings - Google Patents

Description

E. LEWIS.

"Gar-Coupling.

No, 167,454, Patented Sept. 7,1875.

Wdf/MLYJ 6J dMAM/Mu mmm/ 75 @66 x 75 EDWARD LEWIS, or novnn, DELAWARE, 7

IMPRQVEMENTIN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 161415 1, dated Septemberj, 1575; application filed r July 30,1875. .v

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD Lnwrs, of Dover, in the county of Kent and State of Delaware, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Oar Couplings; and that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 represents my car-coupling in perspective. Fig. 2 represents the same in longitndinal vertical section, with the couplingpin in position for coupling. Fig. 3 represents two of my car-couplings in longitudinal vertical section, with the coupling-pin. in different positions. Fig. 4 represents a transverse vertical section through the car-coupling.

Similar letters of reference, where they occur, denote like parts in all the figures.

My invention relates to the mannerin which the coupling-pin is guided in its motions up or down by small pins or projections attached to, or formed on,tw0 ot'its sides near its top, slidinto grooves cut in the interior of the bufferhead, said grooves and coupling-pins being of a peculiar form, so as to allow the car-con plin g to be self coupling when it is so desired, and to prevent the coupling-pin riding up and out of the link when the cars are in motion;

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, Iwill proceed to describe the same with reference to the drawings.

A represents the frame of a bufi'er-head containing my improvements. It is extended upward atA,so as to incase and guide the coupling'pin B. This pin is made rectangular in form, with its point forming an obtuse V, so as to ride easily over the link 0 when the latter is introduced through the funnel'opening 0 of the draw-head Ainto the chamber (1 formed in the draw-head to receive the link 0. The chamber (1 is enlarged in the rear more than at the entrance, so as to accommodate the link 0 of cars of difierent heights. The coupling-pin B is provided with pins or projections b that enter grooves a recessed out of the groove 6 formed in the middle of the draw-head to allow the coupling-pin B to operate. This coupling-pin has at its upper end a staple or hole, at Which point is attached a rope or chain, f, that extends so as to be easily operated by the brakeman from the platform, or from the roof of he car, or from the side of the car, by a pivoted lever, to one end of which the rope f can be attached. The groove a is formed so that its front edge is vertical, or nearly so, but the upper portion is enlarged in the rear, so as to form a shoulder, g, to receive the pin b, and support the coupling-pin B in proper position to be operated by the link 0. The opening 0, inclosing the coupling-pin B, is pr tly closed by a plate or bars, h, bolted or riveted on the -top of the draw -head, so that the coupling-pin cannot be easily removed or lost; but, it it should get broken, a new one could be introduced by using ordinary tools for the purpose. The forward part of the groove 6 is cut verticallyin two parallel planes, but with an angle or curve at @130 prevent the coupling-pin B riding up and out of the coupling-link 0 when the cars are in motion. The groove 0 is cut back of the vertical grooves a a suflicient distance to allow the couplingpin B, when down, to revolve one-quarter of a circle, so that if a car carrying a coupling-link, as shown on the right side of Fig. 3, should be backed against another having its couplingpin down, the coupling-pin will swing up out of the way of the coupling-link, and not latch with it, the concussion being borne by the butter-heads.

When it is desired to couple two cars together, (one of them carrying the coupling-link,) the coupling-pin B of the other 'bein g raised by means of the rope or chainf until the pins b rest on the shoulders g of the grooves a, the rope or chain, and with it the head of the emailing-pin B, being drawn slightly backward, as shown in Fig. 2, the coupling-link, in entering the chamber 01, strikes the beveled end of the pin B, and throws its supportingpins b off the shoulders g, allowing it to de scend inside of the coupling-link, and retain it fast to the draw-head. When it is desired to unconple the cars, the coupling-pin is raised, by means of the rope or chain, to the position shown in Fig. 2, where it will generally remain after the removal of the link.

By making the angular projection is movable in the form of a triangular bolt connected with the draw-head, and retained in position by a spring, k, as shown by dotted lines int-be drawings, the chamber ecan be enlarged at the will of the brakeman, so as to allow the pin B to be coupled with the link 0 even after the latter has entered the chamber 01.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination of the grooves a and shoulders g, formed into an elevated extension,

A, of the draw-head A, with the pins b of the coupling-pin B, and plate h to retain the coupling-pin in position, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination of the groove 6, having its forward end recessed at i, and itsrear por-

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