US1501157A - Electric coupling for cars - Google Patents

Description

. H. F. WOERNLEY ELEQTRIG GOUPLING FOR CARS ruled July ,6, 1919 s sheets-sheer 1 9 r/lll/11111111111111111111 H. F. WOERNLEY ELECTRIC couPLINe FOR CARS Fneq ,July 5, 1919 5 sheets-sheet .2

H. F. WOERNLEY ELECTRIC COUPLING FOR CARS July 15 1924; 1,501,157

Filed July 5, `1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 15, i924,

HARRY F. WOEBNLEY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA,` ASSIGNOR TO THE WEST- INGHOUSE AIR BRAKE COMPANY, OF WILMERDJNG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC COUPLING FOR CARS.

Application i'led July 5,

To all whum it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY F. WOERNLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Couplings for Cars, of which improvement the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for coupling electric circuits between the cars of a train, and more particularly in couplings of this character having a movable member provided with a plurality of electric contacts connected to the respective circuits,

and adapted to be projected forward to engage the contacts of a counterpart coupler on the adjoining car.

In order to compensate for slight variations in dimensions fand other inaccuracies of manufacture in couplers of this type, it is desirable that the electric contacts of the counterpart couplers should be yieldinglj,7 held together with a certain pressure when in the coupled position, and one of the features of my present invention is to provide improved means for this purpose. Another feature comprises an improved form of connection between the contacts mounted on the carrier and the respective train line circuits, whereby any one may be independently disconnected, if desired. Another feature comprises improved means for automatically operating the shutter or cover for protecting the electric contacts.

This invention is alsor in the nature of an improvement on that of my prior application Serial No. 243,497, filed July 5, 1918.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a horizontal section of the improved electric coupling taken substantially in the plane of the operating lever andv piston the contact carrier being omitted for the sake of clearness; Fig. 2, a central longitudinal section; Fig. 3, a horizontal section showing the parts in coupled position; Fig. 4, a transverse section; Fig. 5, a side elevation, partly inv section and showing the cover orA shutter is the partially Open posities;

1919. Serial No. 308,844.

Fig. 6, a diagrammatic sectional view illustrating the connections of the fluid passages.

As set forth in my prior application above referred to, the improved electric coupler is designed to be attached to the car coupler, which may be of the well known rigid lock type having a body, 4, with a hook-shaped projection, 5, adapted to interlock with the corresponding projection of a counterpart coupler and be rigidly clamped thereto by the pivoted locking lever, 6, actuated by spring, 9, and releasing piston, 7, in cylinder, 8, as indicated in Fig. 6. The electric coupling, which is preferably suspended beneath the car coupler, comprises a casing, 10, in which is slidably mounted the contact carrier, 11, having a plurality of butt contacts, l2, adapted to engage the contacts of a counterpart coupling on the adjoining car when the cars are coupled together and the carriers are projected forward to their coupled position.

The contact carrier 11, comprises a frame containing a block of Vinsulating material, in which the electric contacts, 12, are mounted, these being arranged in pairs, with the contacts of each pair located upon opposite sides of the centre line, and connected together, and to the respective car line circuits.l vln this way each circuit'is divided into two branches at the coupling, with the contacts at opposite sides of the centre, in order to make the proper electrical connections at either end of the car, it being understood, however, that those circuits having contacts located on the centre line require only a single contact., As shown in the drawings, there are three horizontal rows of cont-acts, l2, extending through the block of insulating material, the rear ends of each, or oneof each pair, beingy connected to the respective train line Wires, 13, which extend out through an opening in the rear ofthe casing.

According to one of the features of my improvement, the tra-in line wires,`13, are enclosed in a sleeve er tuba 3Q; which is Preti 1 of the latter,.is removed, and at this-point each wire comprises an independent flexible portion having a detachable plug connection,

31, with the respective contacts, 12',- on the" Contact carrier. By this means any one of the circuits may be indepeideii'tly' oliisconnected Whenever desired. Thisconstrulction Salse'geweint-lay @Ver *ppn-eenen, fb referred' to, butl is` not claimed' thei-`e1n1l .Aceordingto another feature of my pi es"` entinveition, thereis provided paintimpr'oved meavnsfor projecting"theeontact carrier for! Ward Vtohenga'g'e7 the contactsl of counterpart coupler With dire-et abutting action, and to hold said contactsipressed together Witha certain pressure vvlien in the coupled. position, and this' comprisesa lever, l8,c'onv nected by a ylinl`,'1f9', to'zthe contact carrier, 11,l and'` also connected'l to al piston, 16, mounted in the cylinder, 1I. -The actuating lever, 1S, is pivotedlat `end upon afulcrum block, 26, carried a rodhl, sli'd'ably supported yin -an abutment, 20'," on tlieside of they casing, thefrodv havii'ig anadjustable nut, and a ca'rryin j a" sping`,28, between the abutmenta'nd saidA nut.'v l The nut is avdj usted to impart a certain amount of initial compression tol the spring,l 28, and normally hold the ful'eru'm block, 26', against the abutment, 20. l o Y In order holdthe Contact carrier in its forward coupledy position', they lever 1,8., is

. provided with a .pivotedv spring"A latch,v or

locking lever, 2l, having a notch adapted to engage a `pin, Q2-, in ythe,coupled position. For releasing said'vlocliing levervivheii it is desired to Withdraw Ithe, contact/,carmen there is a small piston, y23, mountedinin cylinder, 11,k and having astem, 25', engaging said latch, 21. vAL spring,,27,opposes the foruiardrnovement of the lever land: actsy to' return the same andthe Contact carrier i'vhe" llesilis A Passage 01". conduit, 35, @6.111% munieates with the cylinder ofthe actuating piston. 1,6, and also leas mi esta @para ii'ivg,` 3G, at the yfa tlie'ico'upler for communication with the` Corresponding passage in the counteiipL rt coupled] whereby vbot'li pistons ,may be operated froiij either car. Anotlrery Lassage lconduit', 417,: communi- Cates Witi the chamber of the feleasi'ngy piston, 29% and with the opening, 18,\at the faee of thev coupling. branch' or conduit, .f9`,,l'eacls" froI i the pass'ge, 47, t'o the' unlocliiiig cylinder, 8, of' the car coupler, all ./S shown diagrammatically in Fig. 6. A valve, L16, may be employed for cutting off the supply of fluid from conduit, 47, to the conduit, 49, when for any reason it is desired to release the contact carriers Without unlocking the car couplers. y

Forthe purpose of protecting the exposed ends of the contacts, 12, from dirt, dust, and moisture, there is a vertically swinging shutter or cover, 37, adapted to close the open front end of the casing, whenthe carrier is Withdrawn, said shutter having side arms, 38',- pivoted at 39, to the casing. A spring, 40, operates upon the shutter to normally holdY the sameL closed, as indicated in Fig. 2. For opening the shutter, there is atappet,

' 14C, adapted to., be depressedby engagement rvitlrthe counterpart coupler, and having a puro]ection",` AIl, for operating an arm',

connecteidtlo a crank,\43,"o'n` one of the pivots" operating portions or surfaces', lll, and 45',

whereby when the shutter vhas' been partially opened by the movemeiit of the tappet, 1'l,`it` may then be ino'vedt'o a full open posi'- tion by the action of the' carrier in' being projected5 forward toits coupled position,` as indicated in F ig. 5.

"Whenthe ends of the twocars are brought together inl the ac t ofv coupling, the car couplers' engage' each other and are coupled inthe usualV Way by means of the locking levers, ,6, and' springs, 9, as will be readily understood. At the' same time, the tappets,

lil', engage the opposite'v couplers, beingvdepressed thereby, and act through the arms',

dovvnvard to4 the partially open position, sho'ivn in Fig. 5. Fluid under pressure, suchv as compressed air,l is then admitted to the passage or conduit, 35, from which it passes to cylinders, 17, of both couplers and forces out theV pistons, 1,6', and' levers, 18, which turn' on' fulcr'ui'ns, 26', and projects the Contact carrier, 1:1', forward until the contacts, 12, engage each other-` During this movement, the shutters',I 37, are' engaged by tlierca'r'riers and moved tothe full open position, as before described. The dimensions of the moving parts are so arranged' thatthe contacts, 12, are 4adapted to meet a'nd butt together before the a'ctr'iating pistons and levers have vmade their Y full travel. The further movement of the piston then operates to shift the fulcrui'n of lever, 1S.y `from pi'vohw, to the pivot on' link, 19. of the carri`eran`d' to' turn' the lever about this latter pivot, thereby drawing the-block', 26, ei'ivziy from the abutment, 20, andi compressthe spring, 28'," as' shivn in Fig. 3. is the piston completes its travel, the latch, 21,

4Q, and cranks', 18', to swing the shutters llO engages the locking pin, 22, and holds the contact carrier in its forward coupled position with the springs, 27, and 2S, compressed. By means of this construction, the last part of the forward movement serves to transfer t-he pressure of the spring, 28, to the contact carrier, and it then continues to act to press the contacts, l2, together withI a substantially constant and uniform pressure as long as the couplers remain in the coupled position. The fluid may then be released from cylinder, 17, and passage, 35, as the latch, 2l holds the parts in the coupled position.

When it is desired to uncouple, fluid under pressure is admitted to the passage or conduit, 47, from which it flows into chamber, 24, on each coupler, and actuates the piston, 23, to trip the latch lever, 21, whereupon the release spring, 27, returns the carrier and other moving parts to the unco-upled position shown in Figs. l and 2. Fluid also iiows through conduit 49, to the unlocking cylinder, 8, of the car coupler on each car, thereby actuating the pistons, 7, to release the coupler locks, o, and allow the cars to be pullel apart. As the couplers separate, the spring, 40, returns the shutter, 37, to its closed position, and the tappet, 14, is again extended as shown in Fig. 2. Any suitable or well lmown form of valve means operated either manually or automatically may be employed for controlling the supply of fluid to the passages or conduits, 35, and 47.

It will now be seen that the supplemental springs, 28, the pressure of which is transferred to the Contact carriers during the last part of the forward movement of the pistons after the contacts are brought into engagement with each other, will, operate to hold said contacts together with a substantially constant and uniform pressure regardless of slight variations due to wear or inaccurate construction, thereby preserving good electric contact and also holding the gaskets, 50, of the carriers closely together to exclude dirt and moisture when the parts are coupled together,

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

l. In an electric coupling for cars, the combination with a movable carrier having a plurality of electric butt cont-acts connected to respective circuits, of a lever, means for operatively connecting said lever to said carrier, a movable fulcrum member connected to said lever, a spring acting on and compressible by the movement of said fulcrum member, and means for actuating said lever to project said carrier forward to engage the contacts of a counterpartcontact carrier with said fulcrum member as a ralorum cooperating with the means connecting the lever with the contact carrier for actuating said lever and fulcrum member to compress said spring.

2. In an electric coupling for cars, the combination with a movable carrier having a plurality of electric but-t contacts connected to respective circuits, of a lever, means for operatively connecting said lever to said carrier, a movable member connected to said lever, a spring compressible by the movement of said member, and means for actuating said lever to project said carrier forward to engage the contacts of a counterpart Contact carrier, the contact carrier then acting as a fulcrum for said lever in cooperation with the means connecting said lever with said contact carrier upon a further movement of the lever by said lever actuating means to cause the lever to operate said movable member and thereby compress said spring.

3. In an electric coupling for cars, the combination of a movable carrier having a plurality of electric butt contacts connected to the respective circuits, a piston and connections actuated by uid pressure for projecting said carrier forward to engage the contacts of a counterpart coupler on the adjoining car, a spring, and means operated by the forward movement of the piston to compress said spring and transmit its pressure to said carrier to hold the contracts together.

4. In an electric coupling for cars, the combination of a movable carrier having a plurality of butt contacts connected to the respective circuits, a lever connected to said carrier, a piston' for actuating the lever to project said carrier forward to engage the contacts of a counterpart coupler on the adjoining car, a lock for holding the carrier in its projected position, a spring acting on said lever and means operated by the movement of the piston after the contacts are brought together for transmitting` the prfssure of said spring to said carrier.

5. In an electric coupling for cars, the combination of a movable carrier having a plurality of butt contacts connected to the respective circuits, a lever pivotally connected to said carrier, a piston for actuating the lever to project said carrier forward to engage the contacts of a counterpart coupler on the adjoining car, a fulcrum for the lever, and a spring for holding the fulcrum of the lever during the forward movement to bring the contacts together, and. means for permitting the piston to make a further forward movement to turn said lever upon the carrier as a fulcrum.

6. In an electric coupling, the combination of a casing open at its front end, a contact carrier movably @minted therein and havingv it plurality ofelectric contacts, means for projecting said carrier' through the open end of the casing for making electrical connection lwith the corresponding Circuits of another coupler, a cover adapted to` swing vertically over the liront end of the casing for protecting the contacts, means operated by the coming together of the couplers in the act of coupling for swinging said cover downward, 10

seid carrier having a portion adapted to engage :1 corresponding portion of the cover in the partially open position ,and coact therewith to move the cover to its full open position.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand. Y

HARRY F. VVOERNLEY.

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