US311730A - Car-coupling - Google Patents

Description

{ (No Model) y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

B. H. DOWNER 81; G. A. BEACH.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 311,730. Patented Feb. 3, 1885,

VII/A a a x g x 7 e W e v e 1A -ele" 1 ATTE5T .INVENTUR MQLQL- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN H. DOVVNER, OF BUFFALO, AND CHARLES A. BEACH, OF ALBANY,

' NEW YORK.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 311,730, dated February 3, 1885.

Application filed August 15, 1884. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that we, BENJAMIN H. DOWNER,

bany, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplings, of which the following, taken in connection with the accom panying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to that class of carcouplingsin which hooks connected to the ends of the cars are arranged to interlock with each other. Heretofore said coupling-hooks were arranged in a horizontal plane, so as to project from the side of the coupling-bar, and the latter was arranged to vibrate laterally or sidewise. Such couplings, however, are defective and objectionable in several respects-via, the pivotal connection of the coupling bar or hook with the car does not possess the required stability and durability; to effect the automatic coupling of the hooks requires heavy springs to resist the side thrust of the hooks, and in case one of said springs is broken the utility of the coupling is destroyed. Furthermore, coupling-hooks which are disposed in a horizontal plane and interlock sidewise are liable to be thrown out of engagement by a sudden side sway or lurch of the car, and aside from these defects such car-couplers are complicated and expensive.

The object of this invention is to provide an automatic car-coupling which shall be simple and comparatively inexpensive in construc tion, efficient, safe, and durable in'operation, capable of coupling cars of different heights, and possess the requisite strength for resisting the strain it is subjected to, and also the convenience of readily removing the coupling-bar from the draw-bar, when desired, for repairs and renewal or exchange for others; and the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter fully explained, and specifically set forth in the claims.

Figures I and 1 are longitudinal sections of our improved car-coupling, showing the same in an uncoupled and a coupled position and with the draw-bar in line with each other.

Figs. I and II are side views of the same, illustrating its capability for coupling cars of dif ferent heights. Fig. III is a plan view of one of the draw-bars provided with our coupling. Fig. IV is an end View. Fig. Visa. detached isometric view of the coupling-bar, and Fig. VI is an isometric view of a modification of the coupling-bar adapted to be used in con nection with the ordinary coupling link and pm.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents the draw-bar or bumper, connected to the car in any suitable and wellknown manner. The outer end or head of the draw-bar is formed with two vertical jaws, B B, which have on their inner side vertical grooves a a, closed at their lower end by a stop, b.

C denotes the coupling-bar, formed with hooks a n, which are disposed in a vertical plane, and preferably harpoon-shaped. The sides of the coupling-bar are provided with cheek-pieces 0 c, fitted to slide in the grooves a a of the jaws B B. The coupling-bar thus has a secure hold on the draw-bar, and while braced in a horizontal position, so as to effectually prevent vertical oscillation of said couplingbar, at the same time is allowed .to slide freely vertically to accommodate itself to the eleva- 8o tion of the coupling-bar of the approaching car to be coupled.

In the operation of coupling the cars the hook end of one couplingbar slides over the top of the beveled end of the other couplingbar, and-is thus lifted until the hooked portions or a thereof become interlocked, as illustrated in Fig. II of the drawings, in which position they are retained by the gravity of the overlying coupling-bar.

In order to make ample allowance for the variations in the heights of the cars we make the projections of the cheek-pieces 0 above and below the coupling-bar of unequal heights, so

that by reversing the coupling-bar in its con- 5 nection with the draw-bar the former becomes supported at a greater or less elevation, and thus adapted to couple with the coupling-bar of a car of greater or less height.

To guard against the thrust of the coupling- ICC) bar out of the draw-bar we secure to the top of the draw-bar a spring-plate, s, which has its free end extending o\-'er t he coupling-bar, and in order to admit of removing the coupling-bar from the draw-bar when required we fasten the spring-plate slby bolts 0, passing through a longitudinal slot, d, in the springplate, so that by loosening the: bolt said plate can be shifted to liberate the couplingbar.

To the top of the coupling-bar we attach a. yoke, f, and the latter we connect with a lever, L, pivoted on the end of the car, asshownin Fig. IV of the drawings, by means of which lever the coupling-bar can be lifted to effect the uncoupling. Said lever is extended across the car, so as to be accessible from either side of the car, and thus obviate the necessity of thetrain-man enteringbetween the cars,

When it becomes necessary to use our improved car-coupling in connection with the ordinary coupling pin and link, we substitute lor the har'poonshaped coupling-bar a perforated plate provided with the cheek-pieces c c, as illustrated in Fig. VI of the drawings.

We do not claim, broadly, a car-coupling composed of interlocking coupling-hooks, as we are aware the same is not' new; but

We do claim specifically as our improvements- 1. The combination, with the draw-bar or bumper, of a coupling-hookdisposed in avertical plane, and connected with the draw-bar to slide vertically thereon, and braced in a horizontal position, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination ofthe draw-bar provided with vertical grooves and the coupling-hook disposed in avertical plane, as shown, provided with cheek-pieces adapted to slide in said grooves, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination oi'the draw-bar provided with vertical grooves, the coupling-bar formed with cheek-pieces adapted to slide in said I ling-bar G, formed with cheek-pieces c, fitted movably in the grooves a, said coupling-bar having harpoon-shaped coupling-hooks standing in a vertical plane, and the spring 8, se-

cured to thetop of the draw-bar, and having its free end extended over the space between thejaws B B, substautiallyas described and shown. V f r 5. In combination witl the draw-bar A.provided with the vertical-jaws B B, and the coupling-hook C, sliding vertically between said jaws, the spring 8, applied to the top of the draw-bar, and provided with the slot (1, and the bolt-e, passing through said slot, whereby the spring can be shifted to release the coupling-hook, substantially as set forth.

In testimony wher eot, we have hereunto signed our names andfaffixed our seals, in the presence of two attesting witnesses, at Buffalo and Syracuse, respectively. in the counties of Erie and Onondaga, in the State of New York, this 24th day of July, 1884, and this 29th day of July. 1884.

BENJAMIN H. DOWVNER. [L8,]- GHARLES A. BEACH. [L. s]

W'itnesses for Benjamin H. Downer:

\VM. 0. RAYMOND, N. Or'rnnor. \Vitnesses for Charles A. Beach:

F. H. GIBBs, Gno. H. Wants.

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