US2812072A - Draft rigging - Google Patents

Description

3 Sheets-.Sheet l DRAFT RIGGING E. H. BLATTN ER FIC-3.1

Nov. 5, 1957 Filed March 18, 1952 Inventor:

Emil H. Blatner'r his Attorney FIG. 3

ff/l

Nov. 5, 1957 E. H. BLATTNER DRAFT RIGGING 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 18. 1952 FIG. 4

FIG. 5

NIII%\\ Inventor: Emil, H. Blattn er his AHorney Nov. 5, 1957 E. H. BLATTNER DRAFT RIGGING 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 18. 1952 l Inve nto Emil H. Blattner is Atorney n 2,812,072 IC Patented Nov.l 5, 1957 DRAFT RIGGING Emil H. Blattner, Williamsville, N. Y., assigner to The Symington-Gould Corporation, Depew, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland s This invention relates to draft rigging for railway Vehicles and, in subject-matter, is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No; 141,332, filed January 30, 1950, now Patent No. 2,720,987. v

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved draft rigging wherein a coupler is pivotally connected to a follower member and restricted in movement relative thereto, whereby an associated draft mechanism is enabled to yieldably resist pivotal movement of the coupler over a predetermined portion of its total range of movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved draft rigging whereby a coupler of the universally pivoted type is applied to a floating center sill and associated cushioning means are employed to restrict the free movement of the coupler.

A further object of the invention is to provide an im- 4 proved draft rigging making use of a coupler of the interlocking universally pivoting type, wherein a draft gear is employed to cushion the transmission of both draft and buing forces to the sill and to yieldably restrain a predetermined portion of the permissive range of pivotal movement of the coupler through a follower member pivoted directly to the coupler.

. An additional object of the invention is to provide in a draft rigging an improved construction of universally angling coupler and follower whereby the coupler, while limited in a portion of its relative angling movement, is enabled to maintain surface bearing with the follower.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereafter in the detaileddescription, be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and be illustrated vin the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary plan view partly in section of a preferred form of draft rigging embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. l with the `coupler shown at one of the limits of its horizontal movement to illustrate the inter-play of the several parts in restraining such movement;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view,`partly in vertical section, of the draft rigging of Fig. 1;

Y Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section and longitudinal section to more clearly illustrate certain of the` details of construction. v-

Referring now in detail to the drawings reference characters designate like parts, theimproved draft rigging of the present invention includes acoupler 1 ofY the pivotally, swivelly orfswingably mountedtype, a

in which like so-called tight lock or interlocking coupler which is mounted for universal, or both horizontal and vertical pivoting, swinging or swivelling, and is known as A. A. R. type F, having been selected for purposes of illustration.

In place of a rigid underframe to which this type of coupler is usually applied, the illustrated coupler 1 is mounted in an underframe or center sill 2 of the floating type which is suspended beneath the body (not shown) of a railway vehicle or car and is movable longitudinally relative thereto in buff and draft. As in the conventional Duryea underframe, the center sill 2 is comprised of a pair of transversely spaced side or sill members 3 of Z or other suitable shape, connected at their upper edges by a top plate 4. This sill extends the length of the body and incorporates or includes, intermediate its ends, a cushioning or draft mechanism 5.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1-3, only an end portion of the draft rigging is shown, the remainder being conventional and similar in detail to a floating underframe such as illustrated in U. S. Patent No. 2,284,268. To the end of the underframe, between the sill members 3 is secured, as by riveting, an end or striking casting or striker 6. This casting is of box shape and has a top web 7, side webs 8, and a bottom section 9 which together define a substantially rectangular opening 10 through which the coupler 1 extends. For supporting the forepart of the shank 11 of the coupler during vertical swinging, the bottom section 9 of the striking casting is provided with a housing 12 for springs 13 on which a coupler carrier 14 is resiliently supported, the latter directly engaging the underside of the shank 11 of the coupler, rearwardly of the coupler head 15. For permitting the full horizontal swing of the coupler, some five inches toward either side, as measured at the coupling line, the side webs 8 are ared adjacent their front ends. If desired, key slots 16 may be formed in the side webs to adapt the draft rigging to take a non-interlocking form of coupler, should this prove necessary. However, for the universally swingable or pivotal coupler illustrated, such key slots are Vfor emergency operation and have no purpose in normal service.

In the conventional type F coupler bufing forces are transmitted to the cushioning mechanism through a detached follower block and the same block is employed as a reactance in draft. However, in both forms of the draft rigging of the present invention, the follower is not detached but is connected directly to the coupler. In both forms, as Well, the coupler is restricted in its free swing to the central portion of its permissive range of horizontal swinging movement and is yieldably restrained or resisted in movement therebeyond by the associated draft mechanism. In the form shown in Figs. 1 3 the draft mechanism 5 of the floating sill is employed for this purpose, while in that of Figures 6 and 7 a separate draft gear is used. f

Referring'iirst to the embodiment of Figures l-3, the follower member is a follower or coupler butt casting 17 formed of a body portion or follower block or plate 18 and a pair of integral vertically spaced armsy 19 projectingforwardly therefrom. The follower block 18 extends transversely of the underframe 2 and at `eithertransverse end has clearance .with thecorresponding faces of the sill'members 3. Longitudinallyof the sill, the follower block ridesI or slides between a casing 210 iixed to the underfrarnevandhousing the spring 21'of itscushioning mechanism 5 :and a pair of front draft lugs or stops 22 which are formed integrally with and denne the rearextremities of the strik-y' ingv casting l6. i Therebetween, the follower block is constantly urgedy forward bylthe pressure against its rear face of the spring vr21 exerted througha head 23 of a linkY 24 encircled bythespring and forming part of the Cujs'hj ioning mechanism 5.r *"-fv For transmitting bulling and draft forces to the body portion 18 of the follower 17 and, therethrough, to the underframe 2 in the manner just described, the forwardly extending arms 19 of thevfollower are adapted to receive therebetween the shank `1'1 of the coupler and to beconnected thereto through a vertically disposed cylindrical pivot pin 25. This pin extends through vertically aligned cylindrical openings 26 in the arms and a vertically ldisposed recess, aperture or opening 27 in the shank. VFor supporting the follower 17 in the underframe, thearms 19 are designed to extend into and be housed in the rear part of the striking casting 6, between the draft lugs 22 and are supported therein on a support plate 28, which eX- tends between the side webs 8 of the lcasting and also serves as the `rest for `the lower end ofthe pivot lpin 25. Since the portion of the `striking casting, above the pivot pin, is normally open, there is secured over the top of the casting in this area, a retaining plate 29 which overlies the upper end of the pin and prevents its accidental removal.

The pivot pin is intended to transmit draft forces to the follower 17 but to `relieve the pin of excessive stresses, bufng forces are transmitted directly from the coupler to the body portion 18 of the follower. At the `same time, it is necessary that the engaging surfaces of the coupler, pin and follower block be of such conformation as to permit universal swinging or pivotal movement of the coupler. Horizontal swinging of the coupler relative to the arms 19 presents no problem in view of the vertical pivot. For vertical swinging of these members, the upper and lower faces 30 of the coupler are tapered inwardly on either side of the pivot pin and the inner, confronting or abutting faces 31 of the arms are oppositely or outwardly tapered, the relative angularity of the taper being determined by the limits of vertical movement required of the coupler. The same vertical swinging movement or angling of the coupler relative to the pivot pin 25 is made possible, forwardly of the pin, by forwardly tapering the front wall 32 of the pin-receiving recess 27 in the shank 11, above and below the vertical mid-point of the shank. Rearwardly, the pivot pin is spaced from the rear wall 33 of the recess 27 by a bearing block 34 having a cylindrical slot 35 in its front face in which the pin lits and a convex, partly spherical rear face 36, concentric with the center of movement of the coupler, `and engaging the concave correspondingly spherical rear wall 33 of the recess.

For transmitting the buing forces directly to the body portion 18 of the follower 17 over the range of angling movement of the coupler, the butt 37 of the coupler has a convexly spherical intermediate or central surface or protuberance 38 concentric with the center of angling movement of the coupler, which engages a `co-radial concentric concavely spherical bearing face or socket 39 in the body portion 18 of the follower.

Were the engaging surfaces entirely spherical, the coupler would be limited in its swinging movement only by its engagementwith the arms 19 and the sides of the striking casting 6. Although the coupler must have the prescribed full range `of horizontal swing, it has been found that if a coupler swings freely over the outer portion of this movement the resultant lateral forces under certain conditions, and particularly in buff, will cause cars to run out of line. It is therefore intended that the coupler and follower be restricted in relative horizontal movement to limit the free swing of the coupler at the coupling line to some two inches on each side of the center.

In the conventional draft rigging for the type F coupler, in which the coupler butt bears against a detached follower block, free horizontal movement of the coupler is limited by the provision of cylindrical shoulders on the coupler butt and corresponding cylindrical pockets on the follower block, the cylindrical surfaces intersecting and being disposed on either side of the mating spherical surn faces forming the central portions of the butt and block.

4 With this construction, the included angle between the mating cylindrical surfaces on each side determines the extent of free horizontal movement of the coupler. In the conventional rigging, this angle is obtained by inclining the axes of the shoulders forwardly and those of the pockets rearwardly of a norm to the longitudinal axis of the coupler, the axes of the shoulders, as well as those of the pockets, thus being disposed obliquely to each other. The cylindrical limiting surfaces were adopted on the theory that they would have surface bearing during vertical angling of the coupler beyond the limits of free movement. However, it has now been found that such surface bearing is not obtained, even theoretically, with consequent excessive wear of the limiting surfaces and impairment of the action of the coupler.

While the draft rigging of the present invention also makes use of mating surfaces to limit the free angling movement of the coupler, these surfaces are of such configuration and so disposed as to ensure the desired surface bearing during vertical angling. The theoretical basis for this feature of the invention is that, if the coupler is to have true vertical movement during contact of its limiting surfaces, the surfaces on the coupler must be surfaces of revolution struck about a horizontal line passing through the center of angling movement of the coupler and normal to its longitudinal axis. On this basis, the limiting surfaces on the butt 37 of the coupler may be cylindrical, conical or frusto-conical, or of torus-shape with the prescribed normal line serving as their axes; or they may be spherical, in which case their centers would fall on that line to the corresponding side of the center of movement of the coupler. ln each case, the concave surfaces on the follower are correspondingly formed and, on intertting, are coradial and coaxial or concentric with their mating surfaces on the coupler, the axes of the follower surfaces or the lines about which they are struck, thus intersecting those of the coupler surfaces at the center of angling movement of the coupler. By use of one or the other of the permissive variants, it is possible to incline, slope or tilt the limiting surfaces on the coupler forward or back or hold them normal to the longitudinal axis of the coupler, with the limitations that they must normally be free of or separated from the mating surfaces on the follower and must be interttable therewith at the limits of free movement of the coupler. With these limitations, any form of limiting surface on the coupler which on any vertical section parallel to a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the coupler, will form an arc of a circle struck about the intersection of that section with the aforesaid normal line, will sufiice.

In the form of limiting surfaces used in the disclosed embodiments of the invention and shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5, the convex spherical surface 38 forming the central portion of the coupler butt 37, is intersected or delimited on either side by a convex cylindrical shoulder or abutment 40, the shoulders being coaxial and their common axis being the prescribed horizontal line, here designated at As, which is normal to the longitudinal axis of the coupler and passes through its center of pivotal or angling movement. The central concave spherical surface 39 onthe follower is likewise delimited or intersected by concave cylindrical pockets or stops 41, having horizontal axes, Ap, and coradial with the shoulders 40. However, the pockets are not coaxial but have obliquely disposed axes, which intersect at the center of angling movement of the coupler and are inclined rearwardly of ci diverge outwardly from the axis of the shoulders. The

degree of this inclination, as measured by the angle a' included between the axis of the shoulders and the axis of each of the pockets, is the determinant of the limits of free horizontal movement of the coupler. As previously mentioned, this movement is preferably 2 at the coupling line on either side of center.

With the relative horizontal movement of the coupler 1 and the pivotally connected follower 17 limited in the above manner, the follower is picked up by the coupler` and will move or swing with it over the outer portion of the total range of movement. However, since the follower is constantly urged forward by the link 24 of the cushioning mechanism 5, any tilting of the body portion 18 will be resisted by the cushioning mechanism,

thus effectively limiting the free swing of the coupler to its limits of movement relative to the follower. The transverse clearance betweenthe follower block 18 and the side sill members 3 of the underframe, previously mentioned, is provided to permit the necessary tilting of the follower. Although not shown, it may be desirable under certain circumstances to round the outer corners of the body portion to eliminate any possibility of jamming of the block.

In the second embodiment of the draft rigging of the present invention, that shown in Figures 6 and 7, draft and bung forces are transmitted to the underframe 2 through a draft gear 42 seated in a draft pocket 43 between the sill members 3, the pocket being defined forwardly by the front draft lugs 22 formed in the striking casting 6 and rearwardly by back stops or rear draft lugs 44 riveted or welded to each of the sill members 3. Similar in the form of its draft gear and in the use of that gear to restrict the free horizontal swing of the rcoupler to the draft rigging of my Patent No. 2,720,987, the draft rigging of this second embodiment is identical to that of the first embodiment in its striking casting l6 and in the direct universal pivotal connection of the coupler 1 to a follower and the construction and conformation of the engaging or confronting surfaces of the several elements involved in this connection. However here, as befits the use of a draft gear to transmit the forces from the coupler 1 to the underframe 2, the follower or follower member is a vertical yoke 45. This yoke is comprised of a body portion 46 which engages the butt 37 of the coupler in the same manner as did the the body portion 18 of the follower 17 of the first embodiment. Its integral vertically spaced arms 47, however, not only extend forwardly to straddle the shank 11 of the coupler, but project rearwardly of the body portion and are joined therebeyond by an integral vertical rear wall or web 48.

In the form of vdraft gear illustrated, the space or opening defined by the body portion 46, rear web 48 and arms 47 is occupied by a follewer plate 49 of U or channel shape which straddles the body portion 46 and has legs 50, which in draft bear against the front draft lugs 22. Also within this opening is the front or draft cushion 51 of the draft gear'42. The rear or bufiing cushion 52 of the draft gear is interposed between the rear web 48 of the yoke 45 and a rear buing block 53 which bears against the rear draft lugs 44. The draft and bufling cushions or components 51 and 52 are preferably formed of -a plurality of rubber pads 54, certain of which are bonded to metal plates 55 and others of which have separation plates 56 loosely interposed therebetween.

As with the follower 17 of the first embodiment, the yoke here is picked up by the coupler 1 at the end of the free swing of the latter and turns or angles with the coupler. To afford space for such angling or cocking transverse clearance is provided between the rear web 48 of the yoke 45 and the sill members 3. The operation of the yoke in restraining movement is similar to that of the follower 17. Thus, angling or cocking of the yoke in buff distorts the rear or bufling cushion 52, setting up a yieldable resistance which tends to restore the yoke to normal position. In draft the resistance is provided by the front cushion 5l. The two cushions then perform the functions of the spring 21 of the first embodiment, which moves the follower 17 toward normal position in both buff and draft. Thus, by pivotally connecting the follower member directly to the coupler and limiting the relative movement of these two members, the cushioning mechanism or draft gear, depending on the embodiment, is enabled to restore the follower member to normal position on release of the cocking forces and, at the same time, swings the coupler toward normal position, a function usually requiring a separate centering device.

In describing the draft riggings ofthe two embodiments, it has been mentioned that the embodiment'of Figures l-3 employs the conventional Duryea floating underframe, for the details of which reference was made tol U. S. Patent No. 2,284,268. The embodiment of Figures 6 and 7 also employs a form of Duryea underframe and supplements the cushioning action of the latter by the draft gear 42. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the floating underframe 1 of either embodiment will usually project through the body bolster 57 adjacent each end of the car (not shown) above the center plate or filler 58. However, since this embodiment employs its draft gear to yieldably resist horizontal angling of the coupler, the cushioning mechanism with its long travel springs (not shown) may be disposed between the body bolsters, to each'of which one end ofthe mechanism may be anchored by a link 59.

From the above detailed description, it will be apparent that there has been provided an improved draft rigging wherein a coupler having universal angling movement is applied to a floating center sill and the cushioning mechanism of the sill or a draft gear mounted in the sill is employed,'through limiting surfaces on the coupler and a pivotally connected follower, to limit the free horizontal angling of the coupler, the limiting surfaces being of such configuration as to insure surface bearing during vertical angling. It should be understood that the described and disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention and that all modifications are intended to be included which do not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

.Having now described my invention, what I claim l. Draft rigging for railway vehicles comprising a center sill movable longitudinally relative to a vehicle body, a follower carried by and movable relative to said sill, a coupler universally connected to said follower member and movable universally relative thereto and to said sill, means on said coupler and follower for limiting said relative movement therebetween in one direction and causing movement in unison thereof over the outer limits of movement of said coupler in said direction relative to said sill, and cushioning means associated with said sill acting on said follower member for yieldably resisting said movement in unison.

2. Draft rigging for railway vehicles comprising a center sill movable' longitudinally relative to a vehicle body, a follower carried by and movable relative to said sill, a coupler universally connected to said follower and movable universally relative thereto and to said sill, means on said coupler and follower for limiting said relative movement therebetween in a horizontal direction and Vcausing movement in unison thereof over the outer limits of horizontal movement of said coupler relative to said sill, and cushioning means associated with said sill and acting on said follower for yieldably resisting said movement in unison.

3. Draft rigging for railway vehicles comprising a center sill movable longitudinally relative to a vehicle body, a follower carried by and movable relativeto said sill, a coupler universally connected to said follower and movable universally relative thereto and to said sill, means on said coupler and follower for limiting said relative movement therebetween in a horizontal direction and causing movement in unison thereof over the outer limits of horizontal movement of said coupler relative to said sill, and mechanism for cushioning said longitudinal movement ofsaid sill, said mechanism acting against said follower and yieldably resisting angling movement thereof in unison with said coupler.

4. Draft rigging for railway vehicles comprising a center sill movable longitudinally relative to a vehicle body, a follower carried by and movable relative to said sill,

a coupler universally connected to said follower and movable universally relative thereto and to said sill, means ron said coupler and follower for limiting said relative movement therebetween in a horizontal direction and causing movement in unison thereof over the outer limits of horizontal movement of said coupler relative to said sill, and a draft gear carried by said sill and acting on said follower for transmitting forces therefrom to said sill and yieldably resisting said movement in unison of said follower member and coupler.

5. In a draft rigging for railway vehicles, the combination with a center sill movable longitudinally relative to a vehicle body, of a follower member carried by and movable relative to said sill, a coupler pivotally connected to said follower member and pivotally movable relative to said sill, means on said follower member and coupler for confining the relative pivotal movement thereof to a portion of the range of pivotal movement of said coupler relative to said sill, and cushioning means associated with said sill and acting through said follower member for yieldably resisting movement of said coupler beyond said portion.

6. In a draft rigging for railway vehicles, the combination with a center sill movable longitudinally relative to a vehicle body, cushioning mechanism for yieldably resisting said movement and a coupler swingable relative to said sill, of a follower member swingably connected to said coupler, and means on said follower member and coupler for causing swinging in unison thereof over a portion of said swing of said coupler relative to said sill, said cushioning mechanism acting on said follower member and yieldably resisting swinging of said coupler over said portion.

7. ln a draft rigging for railway vehicles, the combination with a center sill movable longitudinally relative to a vehicle body, cushioning means carried by said sill and a coupler swingable relative to said sill, of a follower member swingably connected to said coupler, an element on said member spaced transversely from said sill and movable between longitudinally spaced stop means thereon for transmitting forces from said coupler to said cushioning means, and means on said coupler and follower member for limiting the `relative swinging thereof and `through said element and cushioning means yieldably restraining a portion of said swinging movement of said coupler relative to said sill.

8. In a draft rigging for railway Vehicles, the combination with a center sill movable longitudinally relative to a vehicle body, cushioning means carried by said sill and a coupler swingable relative to said sill,rof a follower member swingably connected to said coupler, an element on said member carried by and angleable relative to said sill and restricted in longitudinal movement relative thereto, and means on said coupler and follower member for limiting the relative swinging thereof and through said element and cushioning means yieldably restraining a portion of said swinging movement of said coupler relative to said sill.

9. In a draft rigging, the combination with a center sill movably longitudinally of a car body, a coupler carried by and universally pivotal relative to said sill and cushioning means associated with said sill, of a follower member pivotaily connected to said coupler forwardly of a butt thereof, mating spherical surfaces on said coupler butt and follower member for permitting universal pivotal movement therebetween, and limiting surfaces on opposite sides of said spherical surfaces on each of said butt and follower member and engageablc on predetermined pivoting of said coupler in one direction, said limiting surfaces cooperating with said cushioning means for yieldably resisting further pivoting of said coupler in said direction while permitting pivoting thereof in a direction substantiallynormal to said first direction,

l0. In a draft rigging for railway vehicles having a center sill movable longitudinally relative to a vehicle body, cushioning mechanism for cushioning said movement and a coupler universally swingable relative to said sill, the combination of a yoke pivoted directly to said coupler, draft gear kcarried by said sill and having draft and bufng components 'alternately compressible by said yoke, and means on said yoke and coupler for restricting pivoting thereof in one direction to a portion of the swinging movement of said coupler relative to said sill and causing movement in unison therebeyond, said movement in unison being yieldably resisted alternately by said draft and bufling components of said draft gear.

ll. In a draft rigging for railway vehicles, the combination of a coupler and a follower, said coupler having a central convex spherical surface intersected by spaced convexshoulders, said shoulders being surfaces of revolution struck about a line passing through the center of said spherical surface and normal to the longitudinal axis of said coupler, a concave spherical surface on said follower coradial and concentric with said convex spherical surface, and a pair of spaced concave pockets on said follower intersecting said concave spherical surface, said pockets being surfaces of revolution struck about obliquely disposed lines intersecting at the center of said spherical surface and coplanar with said line of said shoulders, and said shoulders normally being spaced from said pockets and alternately intertting with the confronting surfaces thereof for limiting angling movement of said coupler in one direction relative to said follower while having surface bearing during relative angling of said coupler in a direction substantially normal to said one direction.

l2. In a draft rigging for railway vehicles, the combination of a follower member, a coupler member universally angleable relative thereto, mating spherical surfaces on `said members, and normally separated limiting surfaces on said members and interttable on angling of said coupler member in one direction, said limiting surfaces on said coupler member being convex surfaces of revolution struck about a line extending in said one direction and passing through the center of said spherical surfaces normal to the longitudinal axis of said coupler member, and said limiting surfaces on said follower member being concave surfaces of revolution identical to said convex surfaces and each struck about a line extending in said one direction and intersecting at said center of said spherical surfaces, said lines of said concave surfaces being obliquely disposed, and said surfaces on interfitting having surface contact during relative angling of said coupler member in a direction substantially normal to said one direction.

13. In a draft rigging for railway vehicles, the combination of a follower, a coupler member connected directly and angleable universally relative to said follower member, mating spherical surfaces on said members, and spaced surfaces on said members and interiittable on angling of said coupler member in one direction, said limiting surfaces on said coupler member being convex surfaces of revolution struck about a line extending in said one direction and passing through the center of said spherical surfaces normal to the longitudinal axis of said coupler member, and said limiting surfaces on said follower member being concave surfaces of revolution identical to said convex surfaces and each struck about a line extending in said one direction and intersecting at said center of said spherical surfaces, said lines of said concave surfaces being obliquely disposed, and said surfaces on iuterfitting having surface contact during relative angling of said coupler member in a direction substantially normal to said one direction.

ld. ln a draft rigging for railway vehicles, the combination of a follower member, a coupler member universally angleable through mating spherical surfaces relative to said follower member, and limiting surfaces on said members and interiitting on a predetermined relative angling of said coupler member in one direction, said` limiting surfaces on said coupler member being convex surfaces of revolution having 'a common axis extending in said one direction and passing through the center of said spherical surfaces normal to the longitudinal axis of said coupler member, and said limiting surfaces on said follower member being concave surfaces of revolution identical to said convex surfaces and having obliquely disposed axes extending in said one direction and intersecting said common axis at said center of said spherical surfaces.

15. In a draft rigging for railway vehicles, the combination of a follower member, a coupler member universally angleable through mating spherical surfaces relative to said follower member, and limiting surfaces on said members and engageable on a predetermined angling of said coupler member in one direction, said limiting surfaces on said coupler member being convex surfaces of revolution having a common axis extending in said one direction and passing through the said center of said spherical surface on said coupler member normal to the longitudinal axis thereof.

16. In a draft rigging for railway vehicles the combination with a center sill land associated cushioning mechanism, of a follower member carried by and movable relatively to said sill, a coupler member universally angleable relative to said follower member through mating spherical surfaces, normally separated limiting surfaces on said members and engageable on predetermined angling of said coupler member in one direction for causing said members to move in unison beyond said predetermined angling, said surfaces -on said coupler member being convex surfaces of revolution spaced by said coupler spherical surface and struck about a common line extending in said direction and passing through the center of said spherical surfaces normal to the longitudinal axis of said coupler member, said surfaces on said follower member being concave surfaces of revolution identical with said convex surfaces and struck about a line coplanar with and intersecting said common line at said center and obliquely disposed relative thereto, said follower member engaging said cushioning mechanism for yieldably resisting said angling movement in unison of said members, and confronting lof said limiting surfaces maintaining surface contact during said movement in unison on angling of Said coupler member in a direction substantially normal to said one direction.

l7. In a draft rigging for railway vehicles the combination with a center sill, of a follower member carried by said sill, a coupler member angleable universally relative to said follower member throught mating spherical surfaces, limiting surfaces on said members and interiittable on a predetermined angling of said coupler member in one direction, said surfaces on said coupler member being cylindrically convex and having a common axis extending in said one direction and passing through the center of said coupler spherical surface normal to the longitudinal axis of said coupler member, said surfaces on said follower member being cylindrically concave and coradial on interfitting with the confronting of said coupler surfaces, and cushioning means associated with said sill and acting on said follower member for yieldably resisting angling of said coupler member in said one direction beyond said predetermined angling.

18. In a draft rigging for railway vehicles the combination with a center sill movable longitudinally relative to a vehicle body, of a follower member carried by said sill, a coupler member connected directly to said follower member and universally angleable relative thereto through mating spherical surfaces, limiting surfaces on said members and interttable on a predteermined angling of said coupler member in one direction, said surfaces on said coupler member being cylindrically convex and having a common axis extending in said one direction and passin`g through the center of said coupler spherical surface normal to the longitudinal axis of said coupler member, said surfaces on said follower member being cylindrically concave and coradial on intertting with the confronting of said coupler surfaces, and cushioning means associated with said sill and acting on said follower member for yieldably resisting angling of said coupler member in said one direction beyond said predetermined angling.

19. In a draft rigging for railway vehicles, the combination of a follower member, a coupler member connected and universally angleable through mating spherical surfaces relative to said follower member, and limiting surfaces on said members an'd engageable on a predetermined angling of said coupler member in one direction, said limiting surfaces on said coupler member being convex surfaces of revolution having a common axis extending in said one ldirection and passing through lthe center of said spherical surface on said coupler member normal to the longitudinal axis thereof.

20. In a draft rigging for railway vehicles, the combination with a center sill, cushioning means associated with said sill and a coupler swingable relative to said sill, of a follower member connected and swingable relative Ito said coupler, and means on said follower member and coupler for causing swinging in unison thereof over a portion of said swing of said coupler relative to said sill, said cushioning means acting on said follower member and yieldably resisting swinging of said coupler over said portion.

21. In a draft rigging for railway vehicles, the combination with a center sill, cushioning means associated with said sill and a coupler movable universally relative to said sill, of a follower carried by and movable relative to said sill, said follower being universally connected to said coupler, and means on said coupler and follower for limiting relative universal movement therebetween in one direction and causing movement in unison thereof over the outer limits of movement of said coupler in said one direction relative to said sill, said cushioning means acting on said follower for yieldably resisting said movement in unison.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,968,706 Regan July 31, 1934 2,055,473 Barrows Sept. 29, 1936 2,454,514 Kayler Nov. 23, 1948 2,568,831 Simonson Sept. 25, 1951 2,589,264 Kinne Mar. 18, 1952 2,590,868 Kayler Apr. l, 1952 2,604,215 Kayler July 22, 1952

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