US1488473A - Automatic car, train pipe, and electric coupler - Google Patents

Description

Aprirl, 1924.- A 'Y T. R. BROWN AUTOMATIC CAR,i TRAIN PIPE, AND ELECTRIC COUPLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 6/, 191'?! T. Rf BROWN 2 She'evts-Sheet 2 April 1' 1924.

AUTOMATIC CAR, TRAIN PIPE AND ELECTRIC COUPLER IIIIIIIIIIIA Patented Apr. 1, 1924.

' UNITED `sra'rlazs 'rnoMAs n. BROWN,

PATENTv OFFICE.

AIR BRAKE COMPANY, OF WILMERDING, PENNSYLVANIA, A. CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC CAIR,` TRAIN PIPE, AND ELECTRIC COUPLER.

Application filed Karol! 6, 1917. Serial No. 152,695.

To all whom it may concer/n.'

Be it known that I, THOMAS R. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sparkill, in the county of Rockland and State of NewA York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Car, Train-Pipe, and Electric Couplers, of which improvement the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to couplers for cars, andin which means are also rovided for making the train ipe connections, and for coupling the electric train wires between the carsI of the train. I have heretofore designed various forms of couplers for this purpose, and in which each coupler is formedof a body or casing having a mov.- ableflock for engaging acounterparthcoupler head, and also provided with one or more eopassages having gasket openings for con- -necting .with corresponding openings 1n a counterpart coupler for fluid pressure conduits.'` These couplers have also been provided with electric portions, usually in the for-m of a casing secured to the bottom of the coupler body, and containing a plurality of electric contacts connected to the respective car line circuits, and a movable contact carrier or slide having corresponding contacts and adapted to be projected into the corresponding casing of a counterpart coupler for establishing electrical connection between the corresponding circuits of the respective cars.

Fluid pressure means have been employed for releasing the coupler locks, for operating the valves in the fluid ressure train pipe conduits, and for projectlng the contact carrier or slide of the electric portion, these devices being controlled by a manually operated valve usually located in the cab at the end of the car.

There are certain relations which should be preserved between the operations of these devices, for-instance, the contact carrier or slide of one of the couplers should not be projected until the coupler heads are securely locked together, as otherwise breakage or damage to said slide is liable to result, and one of the objects of my present improvement is to provide for ensuring the locking of the couplers before the sllde can be projected.

In the electric portions as heretofore designed, the slide has been so located as to be projected against the slide in the counterpart coupler -and force the' same inward against a spring tothe coupled position, and inreleasing, the spring operates to return both slides to their normal positions, each within its respective casing. Accordlng to my present improvement, however, each slide or contact carrier is located back of the car circuit contacts, and is not moved by the slide of the other coupler when projected into its casing for making the electr1c connections. dependently of the other by its respective piston in both the projecting and withdrawing movements, and no springs are required in the operation. pling action, the slides are held in their retracted position by fluid pressure controlled py 1ahe position and movement of the coupler oc s. i

Another feature of my present improvement relates more articularly to the type of coupler in which) the counterpart heads approach eachother, in a lateral or diagonal direction, and comprises the location lof the electric portion and slides so that they are projected in a line with the diagonal direction of approach of the couplers,where by in case of an accidental ullng apart of the couplers before the s ide is Withdrawn, the same will not be damaged or broken, as it will be drawn out of the oppositc casing in line with its usual move-- ment and without injury.

Still another feature of my invention coniprises improved covers, or shutters for cov ering and protecting the contact carrier or slide, and for closing the opening in the casing when the slide is in the retracted position and the couplers are separated.

Another object is to provide an improved form of closing valve for the train pipe passages, and means for effecting their closing operation at the same time as releasing the coupler locks and withdrawing the slide.

These land other objects will now more fully appear from the following description of a preferred form 'of constructions, and the novel features will be set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional View showing the various portions of two couplers em- Each slide is actuated in- During the coubodying my improvements, cou led' together; Fig. 2, a plan of same; ug. 3, a plan showing, in detail, the adjoining ends of the slidesof the two couplers; Fig. 4, a verticalsection of the electric portion showing the shutters closed; and Fig. 45, a transverse section of the electric portlon taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

According to the construction shown, my improvement is applied in Vconnectlon w1t a coupler of the rlgid lock type, that 1s, one in which the counterpart couplers are each provided with projecting portions having vertical plane surfaces arranged 1n an 1nclined or diagonal direction, whereb the couplers en agel each other with a re ative longitudine and lateral movement during the coupling action, and each coupler also having a pivoted lock or cam lever adapted to be automatically clamped against a corresponding surface on the counterpart couler. p These locking levers, 6, are normally pressed outward by the springs, 7 acting on the pistons, 8, mounted in cylinders, 9, andconnected by rods, 10, with the ivoted locks for releasing the same with uid pressure, admitted to said cylinders. The b'ody portion, 11, of the coupler contains the passages for the iuid pressure conduits, such as the reservoir line connection, 12, and the train' brake pipe passage, 13, said passages being formed in a diagonal direction in line with the approach movement of the coupler heads and provided with suitable gaskets at the meetlng face of the coupler located at right angles to said passages. In the main reservoir passage are placed the valves, 14, having stems, 15, extending out through the gasket openings and adapted to engage each other and thereby open the valves inthe two cou 1ers when the same are -brought toget er. The train brake pipe passa es are controlled by the piston valves, 16, aving springs, 17, for normally closing said valves against their seats, the pressure 1n the chamber back of each piston valve being governed by a small valve, 18, having a stem, 18", actuated by a piston, 19, in chamber, 20, for controlling the port, 21, communicating with a pipe, 22, ewhich may be connected with a manually `operated valve. A supply port, 23, leads :from the main reservoir passage to the piston chamber, 20.

The electric portion of the coupler comprises a casing, 24, adapted to be bolted or otherwise secured to the bottom of the coupler body and positioned in a laterally inclined 'or diagonal direction parallel with the direction of approachl of the coupler heads, as shown partlcularly in Fi 2, said casings containing a plurality o electric contacts, 25, connected tothe respective car circuit wires, 26, and provided with a contact carrier or slide, 27, having correspond- Leeaeae *the same are brought together for coupling,

and throu h which openings the .contact slide of eit er one of said couplers is adaptedl to be projected for the purpose of establishing electrical connection between the corresponding car line circuits upon the adjacent cars.

According to one' of the features of my present improvement, the normal release position of the contact slide, 27, is in the rear of the fixed electric contacts, 25, as

shown at, the right in Fig. 1, so 'that theslide which is projected through the openings to bridge over the space and make electrical connection between lthe couplers does not move the slide of the other coupler which remains in its retracted position, but simply moves far enough for its electrical contact bars to engage the sets of stationary contacts in the two casings, as shown in Fig. 1. In this form of construction the slide is projected by admitting fluid to one side of lts actuating piston, and is retracted by admitting Huid to the reverse side-of said piston, there being no springs to oppose the movement in either direction, and the piston .and slide simply remaining in either position by inertia and the friction of the parts.

Another feature of my improvement comprises improved covers or shutters, 31, `for protecting the electric portion and slide against the weather when the slide is in its normal retracted position within the casing. These shutters or covers which enclose the electric contacts. and slide are formed in upper and lower halves, similar to a clam she l, and swing on pivots. 32. so as to meet at their front edges and completely close the openin in the casing. The covers are provided with projections or bosses, 33, upon their innerw surfaces, for engagement with inclined surfaces upon the slide when in its `retracted position for the purpose of causing an opening of the shutters or covers on one coupler by the preliminary movementI of the sllde of the same coupler. In order to open the shutters of the other coupler each slide is provided with a wedge shaped projection, 34, at vone side, and a corresponding notch Eat the'other side, as shown par icularly 1n Fig. 3. These wedge shaped projections and notches are made right and left so that the projection of one slide may pass within the notch on the opposing slide at the extreme projected positions, as will be readily understood.

In order to close certain circuits upon a car when it is at the end of a train or operated as a single car, oneof the swinging covers or shutters, 31, ma. be rovided with a contact bar, 35, adapte to c ose such local circuit by connectin contact fingers, 36, when the covers are c osed, but also adapted ,to open said circuit when the covers are moved to the open position, as when one of the slides is projected. It will be seen that when the couplers are separated and the sllde withdrawn, the covers completely surround the electric contacts and slide, and close thel the outer end of the cylinder for withdraw# ing the slide, it also flows through passages, 39, and hollow tappets, 39a, to the corresponding end of the c linder, 30, on the adjacent coupler, where' y both slides will be heldin their retracted Ipositions.

According to another feature of my improvement, the movement) of the coupler lock controls a supply of fluid to the cylinders, 30, for holding the slides in the retracted position until the coupler locks have sprung into their locked positions. Ona form of valve means for this purpose is shown as comprising a casing, 40, containing valve, 41, having a stem, 42, actuated by a projection, 43, on the rod, 10, of the lock releasing piston, 8. A spring, 44, tends to hold the valve seated, and the casing is connected to a supply pi e, 45, and an outlet pipe, 46. The manual y operated valve, 50, for controlling the various parts-of the coupler may be located in the cab at the end of each car,- and has a casing, 51, attached to the pipes, 37, and 22, and also a supply pipe, 52. In the normal intermediate or neutral position of the valve, 50, as shown, the pipes, 37 land 22, are both open to exhaust to the atmosphere, the valve being turned in one direction to supply Huid from pipe, 52, to the pipe, 22, and vin the opposite direction to supply iuid to the pipe, 3 A double check valve device,` 53, containing valve, 54, and spring, 55,. is connected between the pipes, 22, 38, and 46, for permitting the passage of fluid from either pipe. 22 or 46, tothe pipe, 38, but preventing back flow to either pipe, 22 or 46, when Huid is being supplied through the other.

The operation of my improved device isv as follows: When the couplers are brought together in the act of coupling, the stems, 15, of the valves, 14, in the main reservoir line passage engage each other and cause an unseating of the valves, 14, and permits air from the main reservoir pipe to iiow the y through the coupling and equalize on the two cars. At the same timev airl ows through the port, 23, into the chamber, 20, forcing the piston, 19,'against the stem, 18, to unseat the'smal-l vent valve, 18, thereb releasing air under pressure from the bac of the piston valve, 16, in the brake pipe passage, 13, and causing said brake pipe valve to open by the pressure from the brake pipe passage acting upon its opposite face. This valve is thus forced back against'its spring, 17, until it seats against a gasket ring, as indicated, thereby preventing leakage around' the valve, and holding the same in the full open position. The space back of pistons, 16, and. 19, is then in communication with the atmosphere through' the port, 21, pipe, 22, and exhaust ports of Ithevalve, 50.

-During the coupling action, as the oou- -plers approach each other, the projecting portion of one coupler head engages the pivoted lock, 6, of the other coupler, and depresses the same in the Well known man- `ner. This movement operates through the rod, 10, and piston,l8, to partially compress the spring, 7, and by moving the pro'ection, 43, against the stem, 42, of the valve, 41, opens the same to permit air from the supply pipe, 45, to How to pipe, 46, to check valve, 53, where it acts on the valve, 54,

to close the outlet to pipe, 22, and then sure can accumulate in the releasing cylinders, 9, but the pressure at the outer ends of 4cyhnders, 30, on pistons, 29, insures that these pistons and their slides will be in the retracted position during the coupling action.

As soon as the couplers reach 'the full coupled position, the spring, 7, forces the lever, 6, into itslocked position against the counterpart coupler, and moves the rod, 10, and projection, 43, away from the stem, 42, to allow the valve, 41, to close by means of its spring, 44. This cuts off the supply of air to the pipes, 46 and 38, and cylinder, 30, and permits the exhaust of such air to the atmosphere through the grooves in the stem, 42. A similar operation occurs on the opposite coupler, and completes the cou-A pling up of the car, and the air connections, and the automatic opening of. the valves in' the latter passages. It will also be apparent that neither slide .can be projected until bath of the @oupifer locks' have "inovea Ato their proper positions and the couplers are securely locked together. f

The electric ortions of the couplers are then facing each) register, and the covers closed with the s des in the retracted position, as above described. The connection of the electric circuits throughpthe coupler is then made by manually turning one of the valves,`50, to the coupling positiongfor admitting air from the supply, 52, to the pipe, 37, leading to the inner end of one cylinder, 30, causing the piston,29, therein, to move outward and project its slide through the opening into thefcasing of the otherY coupler to such position that the contacts, 28, establish electrical connection between the contacts, 25, of the two couplers and the corresponding train line circuits, `16, the contacts, 28, being properly cross-connected as before explained. Only one of the slides, 27, is thus projected, as the other slide is not moved but remains in its retracted position, shown. During the outward movement of the slide, it operates to open the respective sets `of covers 'or shutters, 31, vas above described, and as the covers are swung open upon their pivots, the local circuits at the contacts, 35 and, 36, are broken. The slide then remainsin its projected position with the electric circuits connected during the running period, although the manual valve, 50, is turned back to its neutral position, and the air from Ic linder, 30, and pipe, 37, is exhausted to t evatmosphere.

When it is desired to uncouple the cars, the valve, 50, upon one of the cars is turned to the uncoupling position, in which air is supplied from pipe, 52, to the pipe, 22, communicatin with'cylinders, 9 and 20, and

- through c eck valve device, 53, and pipe,

YAir also ilows through passages, 39, an

` passage.

38, with the outer end of cylinder, 30.

connecting tappets, 39, to the corres onding parts of the other coupler.A The s ide, 27 which. was projected, is thereby withdrawn by its piston, 29, and the shutters, 31, are automatically closed as the slide is moved to its retracted position. If desired, springs, 56, may be em loyed to assist in the closing movement of t e shutters. The contact, 35, also closes the local circuit at points, 36, 'when the shutters reach the closed position. At the same time, the air passing into the unlocking cylinder, 9, forces the piston, 8, outward and releases the coupler lock, 6. As

vthe air also Hows through the port or passage, 21, and into the chamber back of the closing valve piston, 16, the pressure equal-v izes thereon and the spring forces the valve to its seat and closes the train brake pipe As similar operations are performed on both couplers, due to the air connection through the hollow tappets, the unother with their opeings in agira .f

coupling action is complete, and the couplers may then be pulled apart. When this oc-Y curs, the lmain reservoir line valves automatically close and air escapes from chamber outward in releasing the coupler locks, the

valve, 41 willv also be opened, which will incidentally permit an additional supply of air under pressure to assist in the releasing action and help oset any leakage between the tap ets, 39, although this supply is not essentia to the o eration of the device.

In the event o an accidental parting of will not close immediately, as there is only atinos heric pressure back of the valve, and it wi remain in its open position until the bra-ke` pipe pressure acting on the face of the valve has diminished below the force of the spring, 17. This reduction in brake pi e pressure, during this period ottime, w1 l be suicient to cause a full application of the automatic brakes.

-Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. 1n a coupler, the combination with a casing, and` a movable lock operated automatically upon the coming ytogether of the counterpart couplers to lock the same togcther, of electric contacts connected to the respective car line circuits, a movable contact carrier, a fluid pressure device for operating said carrier, and means governed by the movement of the coupler lock for supplying Huid to said device to prevent the outd ward movement of the carrier.

2. In a coupler, the combination with a casing, and a movable f lock operated automatically uponthe coming together of the counterpart couplers to lock the same togcther, of electric contacts connected to the respective'car line circuits, a rmovable contact carrier, a piston for actuating said carrier, and a valve controlled by the movement of the coupler lock for supplying fluid to said piston to prevent outward movement of the carrier.

3. In a coupler, the combination with a casing, a' movable lock, and a device for releasing said lock, of electric contacts connected to the respective train line circuits, a movable contact carrier adapted to be prorojecting said carrier, and means governed iis y the movement of said lock for controlling 85 i the couplers, the valve, 16, in the brake pipe, p

a supply of fluid pressure to hold the carrier in its retracted position.

4. In a coupler, the combination with a casing, a movable lock, and a device for releasing said lock, of electric contacts connected to the respective train line circuits, a movable contact carrier adapted to be projected into av counterpart coupler for establishing electrical connections Withk the corresponding contacts therein, a piston for retracting said carrier, and a valve governed by the movement of the lock for controlling a supply of fluid to said iston for holding the carrier in its retracted) position.

5. In a coupler, the combination with a casing, and a movable lock operated automatically upon the coming together of the counterpart couplers to lock the same together, of electrlc contacts connected to the respective car line circuits, a movable con tact carrier, a iston for retracting said carrier, a .manual y o erated valve for controlling a supply of uid to said piston, and a valve governed by the movement of the coupler lock for also supplying iluid to said piston.

6. In a coupler,.the combination witlr a casing, and a movable lock operated automatically upon the coming together of the counterpart couplers to lock the same together, of electric contacts connected to the respective car line circuits, a movable contact carrier, a pistonvfor retracting said carrier, a manually operated valve for controlling a supply of luld to said piston, a valve overned by the movement of the coupler.v ook :for also sup lying fluid to said 4iston, and a check valve ocated between sais controlling valves and said piston.

7. In a coupler, the combination with a casing, and a movable lock operated' automatically upon the coming together of the couplers to lock the same together; of electric contacts connected to the respective train line circuits, a movable contact carrier, a. piston vfor actuating ksaid contact carrier and a valve governed by the movement of the lock for controlling a supply of fluid to, and an exhaust from, one side of said piston.

8. The combination with a vertical plane coupler in which the counter art coupler heads approach each other in a ateral or diagonal dlrection in the act of coupling', of an electric portion having contacts' connected to the respective car line circuits, a contact carrier, and means for projecting said carrier in a direction paralle with the diagonal approach movement of the coupler heads to electrically connect ythe corresponding contacts of the counterpart couplers.

9. The combination with a vertical plane coupler in which the counter art coupler heads approach each other in a ateral or diagonal direction in the act of coupling, of an electric lportion having contacts connected to the respective car line circuits, a contact carrier, and a piston for actuating said carrier, said piston and carrier bein so located as tomove in a direction paralle with the diagonal approach movement of the coupler heads.

10. In a coupler, the combination of a casing containing electric contacts connected to the respective car line circuits, a movable contact carrier, and a pair of pivoted covers for enclosing said contacts and the carrier and closing the opening in the casing, said contact carrier havin a wedge shaped projection for opening t e pivoted covers of a counterpart coupler.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS R. BROWN'.

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