US1798464A - Device for operating car couplers - Google Patents

Description

March 31, 1931. G, G.. P.N 1,798,464

DEVICE FOR OPERATING CAR COUPLERS Filed April 3. 1929 2 Sheets-Shae! l I 12 0612 for Garth G. Gil in.

March 31, 1931., G G|LP|N 1,798,464

DEVICE FOR OPERATING CAR GOUPLERS Filed April 3. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 33 FWD/7 z 11 Inventor E914 E 1 Garth G. G1! 1'11 Afforney Patented Mar. 31, 1931 srrss FFICE GARTI-I G. GILIIN, OF RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNION'METAL PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE DEVICE FOR OPERATING CAR COUPLERS Application filed April 3, 1929.

This invention relates to devices for operating railway car couplers, having a pivoted knuckle provided with a tail engageable with a knuckle lock to which such device is operatively connected. The invention relates specifically to a railway car coupler having an anti-creep feature which is so formed that the lock can be raised to an unlocked position by the operating device, but cannot beraised by the creeping action of the lock due to the service movements of the car. Some of such couplers are provided with a member mounted upon the underside of the coupler head for transmitting operating movements to the lock. V

An object of the invention is to provide an operating rod for such couplers having a shank which is so formed and associated with parts of the car or preferably a bracket mounted on the car so as to stabilize the rod by gravity against a rotative movement there of which would release the coupler anticreep feature.

This objectionable swinging movement of the handle is caused by the irregular movements of the train in service, particularly the quick variations in the speed of the train.

In the drawings: v

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show a typical application of my device to a railway car coupler.

Figs. 4 to 18 inclusive show modified forms of the device.

The car coupler 2 is resiliently mounted on the carand arranged to move longitudinally and laterally of the car to accommodate the service movements thereof. For description of the operation and component parts of an ordinary coupler, reference is made to Patent No. 1,639,300 of August 16, 1927, which coupler is not only typical as showing the relation of the knuckle and the look, but also shows the member 3 rotatably mounted on the coupler for transmitting the operating movements to the lock which comprises a substantially horizontally disposed eye 4 for re- Serial No. 352,126.

ception of a hook 5 on the operating rod 6 whereby rotation of the rod rotates the rotor member and operates the coupler.

The coupler shown in Patent N 0. 1,639,300 of August 16, 1927, also illustrates a typical coupler anti-creep feature wherein the lower part of the knuckle lock is provided with an obliquely positioned slot which is engaged by the operating mechanism. The coupler head is provided with a projection which is so positioned that a part of the operating mechanism engages it and prevents the look from creeping upwardly. When the operating rod is rotated the same part of the operating mechanism moves upwardly until it engages the upper part of the obliquely positioned slot, in which position it is free to pass the projection on the coupler head and raise the coupler lock.

In the preferred form of my device shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the operating rod shank 6 rests uponv a bracket 7 which is disposed upon the car body 8 and is provided with a portion or shelf 9 and retaining lugs 10 for the operating rod. The operating rod is provided with a depending handle 11 adjacent the side of the car for easy operation by the trainmen. The operating rod is also provided with a projection or laterally extending eccentric part 13 extending toward the car and also preferably formed with a projection or laterally extending eccentric part 14 projecting away from the car, which elements are normally in engagement with the shelf 9 when the coupler is in locked position so as to stabilize the rod by gravity against a ro tative movement. These same eccentric elements tend to prevent the handle from swinging by its inertia and thereby rotating the rod. hen the handle 11 is swung outwardly by the trainman to operate the car coupler the weight of the outer portion of the rod (15) is shifted entirely to one of parts (13- 14) and to a bearing upon the bracket 7 whereby as soon as the operater releases the handle the gravitational force of the rod tends to return it to its normal position so that the abilized gainst a rotative movement. The inertia or gravitational force of the rod also tends to prevent the rod from being raised by a swinging movement of the handle. If the handle was permitted to swing in one direction it would develop an inertia force which would swing the handle in the opposite direction, therefore, it is preferable to provioe means to stabilize the rod in either direction.

The retaining lugs 10, the handle 11 and the eccentric parts 13ll are so positioned as to permi 'al and longitudinal movements of the coupler in seivice.

F l, and 6 show modification of the device wherein the operating rod shank 6 is flattened (90) to provide the eccentric parts, and further to show a construction wherein the shelf 21 of the bracket is comparatively narrow and the eccentric parts (20) on the rod are relatively long as to permit lateral movement of the coupler in service without disengaging the eccentric parts from the shelf. The retaining bolt 22 is positioned high above the shelf to permit the flattened portion 29 to rotate.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show a modified form wherein an eccentric element is provided by offsetting the shank 6 of the rod and positioning the offset portion behind the retaining lug 26. In this modification the operating rod has an outwardly extending portion 27 resting upon the part 9.

10, 11 and 12 show a modified construction of Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive wherein the bracket 7 provided with a depending flange to engage the verticaldepending handle 11 to further tend to restrict the inward swinging movement of the handle.

Figs. 13, 14: and 15 show a modified form wherein the eccentric elements 3233 are provided by bending the shank of the rod. The longitudinal axis of the shank 6 of the operrod is eccentric from the portion engaging the outer retaining bracket.

Figs. 16, 17 and 18 show a modified construction wherein the bracket is provided with a vertically disposed wall 38 and the shank G of the rod is provideo with an up wardly extending eccentric portion 39. The retaining device 40 is provided with an upwirdly inclined surface ll for supporting the operating rod. ll hen the handle 11 is swung to rotate the rod the upper part of the eccentric portion 39 engages the wall 38 of the bracket and forces the operating rod up the inclined surface ll of the retaining means, thereby aising or elevating the rod so that gravitational force the outer portion of the operating rod added to the gravitational force of the handle, both tending to force the operating handle to a normal position.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form of the invention, though it to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that various modifications thereof within the scope of the claims will occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a railway car, an operating means for use with a coupler mounted upon the car so as to move longitudinally and laterally thereof in service, and having a member mounted upon the coupler to move therewith and arranged to operate said coupler upon rotation thereof, comprising an operating rod comprising a shank having its inner end operatively connected to said member and provided with a handle adjacent its outer end, said. shank provided with a part eccentric from the axis of the shank, a bracket mounted upon the car positioned to support said shank, said bracket provided with a bearing adjacent said part so that upon rotation of the operating rod the weight of the outer portion of the rod is shifted entirely to said part and to the bearing of said bracket whereby upon release, the operating rod returns to normal position by gravity so that the rod is stabilized against a rotative movement.

2. In a railway car, an operating means for use with a coupler mounted upon the car so as to move longitudinally and laterally thereof in service, and having a member mounted upon the coupler to move therewith and arranged to operate said coupler upon rotation thereof, comprising an operating rod comprising a shank having its inner end operatively connected to said member and provided with a handle adjacent its outer end, said shank provided with parts eccen' tric from the axis of the shank and positioned on opposite sides thereof, a bracket mounted upon the car positioned to support said shank, said bracket provided with bearings adjacent said parts so that upon rotation of the operating rod the weight of the outer portion of the rod is shifted entirely to one of said parts and to one of said bearings of the bracket whereby upon release, the operating rod returns to normal position by gravity so that the rod is stabilized against a rotative movement in either direction.

3. In a railway car, an operating means for use with a coupler mounted upon the car so as to move longitudinally and laterally thereof in service, and having a member mounted upon the coupler to move therewith and arranged to operate said coupler upon rotation thereof, comprising an operating rod comprising a shank having its inner end operatively connected to said member and provided with a handle adjacent its outer end, said shank provided with a part eccentric from the axis of the shank, a bracket Eli-3 mounted upon the car positioned to support said shank, said bracket provided with a bearing adjacent said part so that upon rotation of the operating rod the weight of the outer portion of the rod is shifted entirely to said part and to the bearing of said bracket whereby upon release, the operating rod returns to normal position by gravity so that the rod is stabilized against a rotative movement, the portion of said bracket in engagement with said eccentric part being relatively narrow and the said eccentric part being relatively long, whereby the eccentric part is in engagement with the bracket during any service movement of the coupler.

GARTH G. GILPIN.

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