US626937A - Pipe-coupling - Google Patents

Description

No. 626,937. Patented lune I3,.l899. C. B. SMITH & H. F. LISLE.

P IPE GUUPLING. (Application filed Jan. 3l, 1898.)

(No Model.)

5mm/Wow:

@lk/komma :is co. PHoTaLmio,.wAsHlNG-on n c UNITED STATES CHARLES R. SMITH AND HARRY F. LISLE, CF BLOOINIINGTON, ILLINOIS.

'PATENT CFFICE.

PIPE-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 626,937, dated June 13, 1899.

Application filed January 31,1898. Serial No. 668,602. (No model.)

To @ZZ wil/0m it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES R. SMITH and HARRY F. LISLE, citizens of the United States, residing at Bloomington, in the county of McLean and State of Illinois, have invented certai n new and useful Improvements in Pipe- Couplings; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to improvements in iiexible pi pe-couplin gs; and the objects of our invention are to produce a pipe-coupling of this class that will be of simple and durable construction, that is specifically adapted for use in air-brake systems for railways, (though which may be employed in any fluid-pressure system,) and that is capable of automatically connecting up and disconnecting or coupling and uncoupling, and by such is adapted to automatically interrupt or cut off the Huidpressure at such'uncoupling and immediately reestablish the same upon coupling.

' IVith these main and other minor objects in View (not necessary here to detail) the inv'ention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of elements hereinafter described, and more particularlypointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of two pipe-couplings constructed in accordance with our invention, the same being shown in their coupled or operative position, and therefore in the position they occupy when the train is made up and the entire system of fluid-pressure is operating. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the receiving end of the coupler. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Like numerals indicate like parts in all thev figures of the drawings.

Our improved pipe-coupler comprises two branches, which we will designate as the male branch 1 and the female branch 2, it being understood that such a coupler is located at the opposite ends of a railway-car, the two couplers being connected by an intermediate connection, hereinafter described.

'The male member of the coupler consists of a pipe 3, of suitable length, the same terminating at its outer or front end in an externally-tapered or entering point 4, that projects somewhat beyond the end of the car (not shown) and is designed to become forced and wedged into the funnel-shaped end 5 of the opposing female member 2.

The female member 2 hasits funnel-shaped mouth located at the front end of a pipe 6 of less length than the pipe 1 and may be interiorly threaded at its rear or inner end to accommodate a coupling-sleeve 7 by means of Whichit may be connected to a cylinder-pipe 8, between the ends of the latter, whereby the cylinder-pipe 8 at its front end terminates about midway the pipe 6. The front end of the cylinder-pipe 8 is provided with lugs 9, the functions of which will hereinafter appear.Y Connected to the rear or inner end of the cylinder-pipe 8 is the front branch 10 of a T-couplin g l1, which within its rear branch 12, and therefore back of its intermediate branch 13, may be provided with an internal valve-seat 14. The rear branch 12 of the T- coupling 1l terminates in a guide 15, that is concentric with the valve-seat 14 and the bore of the cylinder-pipe 8. Located for reciprocation in these alining openings just mentioned and extending beyond the guide 15 at one end and the cylinder-pipe 8 is a valverod 16, the same having its front end provided with a presser head or disk 17, that may be perforated and adapted to close against the lugs 9, whereby it is prevented from closing the front end of the cylinder-pipe, and which rod between its guide-eye 15 and the valveseat 111 carries a tapered valve-plug 18. The distance between the valve-plug 18 and the presser head or disk 17 exceeds that between the valve-seat and front end of the cylinderpipe, so that when the valve is in its seat the presser-head is away from its seat at the front end of the cylinder-pipe, and vice versa. A light coiled spring 19 may be mounted on the valve-rod between the valve-plug and guideeye 15, the tendency of the spring being to normally close the valve-plug against its seat and force the presser-head forward away from its seat.

Between the adjacent ends 12 of the T- couplings of two sets of couplers is located an intermediate connecting-pipe 20, the ends of the same being connected to the branches 12 of the T-couplings by means of fiexible pipes IOO y the female member of the other.

iereinafter described.

cated an elbow connection or coupling 22, the inner branch of which is connected to the branch 13 of the T-eoupling 11 by means ofi a transverse connecting-pipe 23. This pipe has projecting rearwardly therefrom a stud g 24, the same being located some distance from and in line with a corresponding stud 25, lo-

cated on the front ota buffer-block 26 or;

other fixed support. A heavy coiled spring 27 eucircles the two studs and is interposed between the buffer-block and pipe 23,whereby the pipe -coiipler as a whole is yieldingly pressed forward and the shocl; or impact caused by the couplers uniting is absorbed.

In order to secure a Huid-tight joint between the male and female members, we may provide the latter with an internal lining 28 of rubber.

At suitable points the two members coinprising the pipe-coupling are supported for reciprocation in hangers 28, as shown by dotted lines, Fig. 1.A I

The operation of our invention will be undoubtedly understood fromI the foregoing description. Two coaches coming together, the male member of each will be caused to enter By this the reduced pipes 3 are brought into contact with and caused to force inward the presser-heads 17, forcing the valve-rods 16 to the rear and therefore the valve-plugs away from their seats, thus establishing communication throughout the system. Vhen the coaches are uncoupled, the pipe-couplings automatically disconnect, and upon so doing the springs 1S) automatically close the valve-plugs against their seats. A

Having described our invention, what we claim is- 1. The combination of opposite pipe-couplings, each consisting of a tubular male member and female member, the former comprising the reduced pipe, and the latter comprising the pipe 6, flared at its front end to receive the male member of an opposing coupler, the cylinder-pipe 8 connected to the pipe 6 and terminating within the same at which point it is provided with openings, guideslo- V"perniitting of a longitudinal movent upon the part of the pipe-couplings,as;

At the inner or rear end of the pipe 3 is located in the cylinder-pipe a rear pipe having a valve-seat alining with the guides of the pipe 8 and connected to said latter pipe, a valve-rod of less diameter than the pipe 8, mounted in the guides thereof and extending beyond the front end of the latter and the said valve-seat, a valve-plug on the rear end of said rod, a head on the front end of the rod, a vspring for. normally pressing the rod to the front so as to close said valve, and a connection between the two members and with 'the train system.

2. The combination of opposite pipe-couplings,each consisting of the tubular male inember, 1, and female member, 2, the former comprising the reduced pipe, 3, and elbow connect-ion, 22, and -the other member comprising the pipe, 6, flared as at 5, the cylinderpipe, 8, connected thereto, the T- shaped coupling, 11, having the branches, 10, 12, and 13, said coupling having the guide-eye, 15, and valve-seat, 14E, the valve-rod, 16, located in the cylinder-pipe and guide eye, the presser-head at the front end of the rod, the valve-plug on the rod, the coiled spring, 10,

between the plug and eye, and the connecting-pipe, 23, between the T and elbow couplings.

3. The combination of opposite pipe-couplings,each consistingofthe tubular male member, 1, and female member, 2, the formercomprisiug the reduced pipe, 3, and elbow connection, 22, and the other member comprising the pipe, 6, iiared as at 5, the cylinderpipe, 8, connected thereto, the T -shaped coupling, 1l, having the branches 10, 12, and 13, said coupling having the guide-eye, 15, and valve-seat, 14, the valve-rod, 16, located in the cylinder-pipe and guide eye, the presser-head at the front end of the rod, the

valve-plug on the rod, the coiled spring, 19,

` between the plug and eye, and the connectf ing-pipe, 23, between the T and elbow coupl lings, the buffer, 26, the studs, 24 and 25, the coiled spring, 27', and connecting-pipes, 20

and 2l.

CHARLES R. SMITH. HARRY F. LISLE.

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