US1618605A - Uncoupling mechanism for railway cars - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 22, 1927.

, w. c. ROCKENSTiRE UNCOUPLING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed March 28, 1925 INVENTOR 7 m 61 m ATTO NEY the maximum rise of the lifter Patented Feb. 22, i927.

Uhll'iED rates are WALTER C. RGGKENSTIR-E, OF WATERVLIET, NEW YORK.

UNCOUPLING MECHANISM FOR RAILVJAY CARS.

Application filed March 28, 1925.

Fig. 1 is a plan of a car coupler attached to the end sill of a railway vehicle to which my invention has been applied; 2 is a front elevation thereof; and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the coupler, with the uncoupling mechanism partly in section.

My invention relates to uncoupling mechanism for car couplers, and provides a mechanism which applies a proper leverage to the coupler lock lift and thereby beneficially effects the operation of the coupler in such manner that it will ensure uncoupling of the coupler or throwing the knuckle into full open position ready for coupling. My invention also provides adequate protection for the uncoupling mechanism from the weather, and by reason of the improvement in the operation of the coupler safer work conditions for operatives. My invention also comprises various features which I shall hereinafter describe and claim.

Referring to the drawings, the coupler 2, which may be of any welldrnown type, such as the A. R. A. standard D-coupler, is secured to the railway vehicle 3 in the usual manner. Projecting upwardly from the top of the coupler 2 is the top lock lift 4: (shown in full lines in knuckle-thrown position and in dotted lines in locked position) by which the well known internal mechanism of the coupler is operated. Pivoted' at each end of the end sill 5 of the car is a lever 6 which has a hand hold 7 at its upper end and a foot pedal 8 at its lower end. Opposite ends of a steel cable or wire rope 9v are attached to the levers 6 near their upper ends. Intermediate its ends the cable 9 is contained in a tube 10 which extends across the end sill 5; The tube 10 has a i -shaped central portion l0 connecting, with a forwardly and upwardly extending portion 10 in the vertical middle plane of the vehicle, which carries a loop 9 of the cable 9, which at its center is passed through the eye i of the lifter 4. Suilicient slack is provided so that the lifter 4 may be raised from either side without disturbing the lever 6 at the opposite side of the'vehicle. v

The lifter 4 and the stop hole of the coupler throughwhich it operates are protected by a hood 11 mounted onthe coupler head of sufficient height to afford clearance for 4-. At its upper end the hood is narrowed into a sleeve 11 which enters the downwardly curved end 10 of the tube and forms a ball Serial Ho. 18,980.

joint 12 therewith to permit the coupler to move longitudinally or laterally without restraint from the uncoupling mechanism. The central V-shaped portion 1O? and the curved forwardly extending portion 10 of the tube 10 act as sheaves for the cable and minimize friction so that the leverage applied at either lever 6 is sufiicient to raise the lifter l readily. The tubes 10 may be attached by any suitable means to the end sill as by brackets or electric welding if the end sill is made of metal.

The hood 11 is supported from the ball joint 12 and as it is not attached to the con pler head, but merely rests upon it, it permits the coupler to move laterally and longitudinally without disturbance to it." Stops 6 and 6 are provided to limit the travel of the lever 6. i

My improved uncoupling mechanism may be operated by either hand or foot from positions on the cars not possible with other clevices. Because of the flexibility of the operating connection and of the increased leverage employed. it is very much less apt to become inoperable than existing mechanisms, which frequently fail to open the knuckles fully and thus require them to be opened by hand. Hence, it is obvious that the use of my improved mechanism results in increased safety to the operatives.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and ,l' have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any mechanical equivalents of the features shown and described, or portions thereof, but recognized that various structural modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

hat I claim is:

1. In uncoupling mechanism for car couplers, the combination of a car coupler; a lifter for the coupler operating parts; a.

railway vehicle; an operating lever mounted on the vehicle; a flexible connect-ion between operating lever and lifter; and a conduit attached to the end of the vehicle within which the flexible connection operates, said conduit comprising means for guiding and protecting said connection.

2. in uncoupling mechanism for car couplers, the combination of a car coupler; a litter 'forrthe coupler operating parts; a railway vehicle; an operating lever mounted on the vehicle a conduit extending from the operating lever to the litter; and a flexible member operating in the conduit and connecting the lifter and the operating lever, said conduit forming a guiding and proteeting means for the flexible member.

3. In uncoupling mechanism for car couplers, the combination of a car coupler; a lifter for the coupler operating parts; a railway vehicle; operating levers mounted on either side of the end of such vehicle; a conduit extending across the front oi. the vehicle and having a forward projection to the lifter, said conduit forming a guiding and protecting channel for a connection between such levers, said connection having a bearing intermediate its ends upon the lifter so disposed that upon actuation of either lever the said connection will lift the lifter and thereby operate the coupler.

4. In uncoupling mechanism for car couplers, the combination of a car coupler; a litter for the coupler operating parts having an eye in its upper end; a railway vehicle; operating, levers mounted on either side of the vehicle; a flexible connection between the levers looped through the eye of the lifter so disposed that upon actuation of either lever the connection will lift the litter and thereby operate the coupler, and a conduit extending across the trout of the vehicl: and having a for ard n'ojeclion over the coupler, said conduit ilorining, a guiding and protecting means for the said connection.

5. In IlllUOllPllllQ incchai'iisni for car coui'ilors the combination of a car coupler; a railway vehicle; coilpler actuating mechanism supported on the vehicle and connected to a movable part of said car coupler; and protecting and guiding; means for said actuating mechanisnn part of" said protecting and guiding means being supported on the couple" and part on the vehicle.

6. In uncoupling mechanism for car couplers, the combination of a car coupler; a railway vehicle; coupler actuating mechanism supported on the vehicle and connected to a movable part of said car coupler; protecting and guiding means for said actuating mechanism, part of said protecting and guiding n'ieans being supported on the coupler and part on the vehicle; and a flexible connection between such parts.

\VALTER C. ROCKENSTIRE.

Images