US3753504A

US3753504A - Uncoupling linkage mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3753504A
Application number: US00068268A
Authority: US
Inventors: F Adler
Original assignee: Pullman Transport Leasing Co
Current assignee: PULLMAN LEASING Co A DE CORP; Pullman Transport Leasing Co
Priority date: 1970-08-31
Filing date: 1970-08-31
Publication date: 1973-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 1990-08-21

Abstract

An uncoupling linkage mechanism including an auxiliary operating lever extending downward from the side of the railway vehicle and accessible therefrom, aid lever rotatable about an upper pivot and including an inwardly extending finger in contact with a pivoted rack bar of the uncoupling device. The lever is rotatable by pulley a specified number of degrees which results in approximately twice that amount of rotation by the rack bar which in turn rotates and raises an uncoupling rod which raises and lowers the coupler rotor to uncouple the railway car. The uncoupling device includes sliding elements enabling the device to remain operative during lengthwise and angular movement of the coupler.

Description

O Umted States Patent 1 1 [1 1 3,753,504 Adler Aug. 21, 1973 [5 UNCOUPLING LINKAGE MECHANISM 3,294,253 12/1966 Manyek 213/166 [75] lnventor: Franklin P. Adler, Michigan City, 3,159,285 12/1964 Adler 213/219 [73] Assignee: Pullman Transport Leasing Company, Chicago, "L Primary Exa mmer-Drayton E. Hoffman Attorney-H1lm0nd O. Vogel [22] F1led: Aug. 31, 1979 21 Appl. No.2 68,268 [571 ABSTRACT An uncoupling linkage mechanism including an auxiliary operating lever extending downward from the side 2? 213/166 213/ 3 53 of the railway vehicle and accessible therefrom, aid i g lever rotatable about an upper pivot and including an e 0 ea c inwardly extending finger in contact with a pivoted rack bar of the uncoupling device. The lever is rotat- [56] Re'erences Cited able by pulley a specified number of degrees which re- UNITED STATES PATENTS sults in approximately twice that amount of rotation by 3,167,189 1/1965 Cisco 213/166 the rack bar which in turn rotates and raises an uncou .572518 3/1971 Wisler 2l3/166 pling rod which raises and lowers the coupler rotor to 1'602316 10/1926 Y aim 213/166 uncouple the railway car. The uncoupling device infiz gy eludes sliding elements enabling the device to remain 3:232:444 2,1966 Halon 213/166 otrlaerat vel during lengthwlse and angular movement of 3,232,445 2/1966 ClSCO 213/166 t e 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENIEDAUGZI ms 3.753.504 sum 1 or 3 INVEN TOR FRANKLIN P ADLER ATT'Y.

PATENTEU M182] 1973 saw 2 or 3 mm Lww PAIENIEDMJB21 ms SHEU 3 OF 3 UNCOUPLING LINKAGE MECHANISM SUMMARY The present invention relates to an improved uncoupling device for use in railway vehicles. An independently pivoted operating lever is attached above the rack bars of the uncoupling device and includes a finger in sliding contact with the rack bar assembly. Rotation of the operating lever in a given amount results in sliding contact between the finger and the rack bars and produces approximately twice that amount of rotation in the rack bar. This increased rotation allows relative ease of operating the uncoupling mechanism since a single movement, namely, pulling the operating lever, is sufficient to operate the uncoupling device. Prior designs have required an initial pulling on the operating handle and subsequent raising of the lever since approximately 90" of rotation is required of the rack bars to uncouple the coupler. In the present invention an auxiliary pivoted lever includes an inwardly extending finger and a lower handle portion. The finger transmits operator forces to a vertical portion of the rack bar and is in sliding engagement with the vertical portion so as to rotate the rack bar with rapid initial rotation of the auxiliary lever followed by slower rotation of the rack bar accompanied by a multiplication of operator forces to throw the knuckle of the coupler.

A purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved uncoupling linkage mechanism wherein lifting movement is eliminated and thereby results in a mechanism which may be operated less strenuously than prior designs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an uncoupling mechanism which may be quickly operated to uncouple railway vehicles.

A further object of the present design is to provide an improved uncoupling mechanism which accommodates lengthwise and angular movement of the coupler and may be readily adapted to present railway vehicles with a minimum of modifications and which results in an improved more reliable uncoupling device.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from reference to the following description, attached drawings and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an end of a railway vehicle employing the uncoupling device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial side elevational view of the end of a railway vehicle employing the uncoupling device of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the mechanism illustrated in FIG. 2 with the coupler removed for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevational view of the end of a railway vehicle showing the uncoupling mechanism of the present invention in the fully operated position; and

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the mechanism illustrated in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1 there is illustrated the end of a railway vehicle and the associated end sill 12 along with a coupler l4 and its associated draft sill assembly 16. The draft sill assembly 16 is generally of a welded plate assembly and includes striker plates 18, a top cover plate 20, side plates 22, and a bottom or lower cover plate 24. The coupler 14 includesthe coupler portion 26 and a longitudinally extending shank portion 28 which is pivotally mounted to a draft gear or cushioning device (not shown) and the coupler pivot pin 30. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the side plates 22 of the draft sill assembly 16 open outwardly towards the mouth of the draft sill to thereby accommodate pivoting movement of the coupier and provide clearance for the coupler shank 28 as when the railway vehicle is pulled around a curve.

The coupler 14 includes a depending portion 32 through which the uncoupler rod 34 is fixedly secured to the coupler to prevent its inadvertent removal after assembly of the uncoupling device. A coupler rotor element 36 is pivotally attached to the depending portion 32 and includes a cutout portion through which the uncoupler rod 34 is attached. The rotor element 36 moves in a substantially vertical direction into an opening in the coupler head 26 to thereby unlock the coupler.

The uncoupling linkage of the present invention includes an uncoupler rod 34 pivotally secured to the rotor element 36 through the hooked portion 38. As best illustrated in FIG. 3, in the unoperated position the uncoupler rod 34 extends transversely in a substantially horizontal direction until the rod is clear of the draft sill assembly 16 at which point a bend occurs designated generally by the numeral 40. Extending outward and upward from the bend 40 is a section which terminates at a loop member 42 which has a rounded configuration and moves along the top or upper bar 44 of the rack bar assembly 46. The loop member 42 includes a closed rounded portion which fits loosely around the bar 44 and also includes a downwardly extending finger portion 48 which contacts the bottom or lower bar 50 of the rack bar assembly 46.

The rack bar assembly 46 is essentially a closed rectangular shaped bar unit pivotally attached to the railway vehicle by the

bearing bracket members

52,54. The rack bar assembly 46 includes inner and outer

vertical members

56,57 respectively. As best illustrated in FIG. 1, the rack bar assembly extends away from the end sill 12 in an angled direction being spaced away from the end sill 12 by the spacing bracket member 58.

Referring now in particular to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be noted that an auxiliary operating lever 60 is pivotally attached at 62 to the car end sill l2 and extends downward therefrom along the outside margin of the rack bar assembly 46 terminating with a hand grip portion 64. The rack bar includes a horizontally extending finger member 66 extending inwardly of the car and adjacent the vertical portion 57 of the rack bar assembly 46.

THE OPERATION To uncouple the railway vehicle it is necessary to rotate the rack bar assembly 46 approximately from the vertical position illustrated in FIG. 2. By utilizing the operating lever 60 of the present invention in combination with the rack bar assembly 46 it is possible to obtain the required rotation of the rack bar assembly with approximately one-half that amount of rotation by the operating lever 60. The operating lever 60 can be moved its required amount by a simple pulling motion by an attendant at trackside. Thus there is no lifting to operate the uncoupling device as is required by the prior designs. The finger portion 48 of the uncoupler rod 34 is in contact with the lower bar 50 of the rack bar 46. Thus by rotating the rack bar assembly 46 the uncoupler rod 34 is rotated and may be rotated regardless of the angular displacement of the coupler 14 from the true center line of the railway vehicle. During car operation, when the coupler moves to the positions shown in phantom in FIG. 1, the uncoupler rod 34 moves along the rack bar assembly 46 to accommodate the angular and longitudinal movement of the coupler 14. The sliding movement of the uncoupler rod 34 allows the car to be uncoupled when the coupler has been displaced from its normal operation position illustrated by the solid lines of FIG. 1. Rapid operation of the uncoupling linkage is also afforded by the operating lever of the present invention since the operating lever need only be rotated approximately one-half the amount of rotation previously required to uncouple the railway vehicle.

Because the lever finger 66 is in contact with the vertical member 57 of the rack bar assembly 46 and transmits forces from the operating lever 60 to the rack bar assembly 46 at a point close to the pivot point of the rack bar assembly 46 through a short moment arm, slight angular displacement or movement of the lever 60 produces a proportionately greater rotation of the rack bar assembly 46 which in turn raises and rotates the uncoupler rod 34 to open the coupler 14 and uncouple the railway vehicle. Operator forces applied to the auxiliary operating lever 60 are gradually multiplied so that the maximum force increase and the largest force transmitting moment arm is present when the mechanism throws the knuckle of the coupler 14.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, when the mechanism is in the fully operated position the rack bar assembly 46 is in an approximately horizontal position and is restrained from further rotation since the rotor element has seated in the coupler 14 thus preventing further rotation of the uncoupler rod 34. Also, at this fully operated position the operating lever 60 is blocked from further rotation due to contact between the lever finger 66 and the rack bar member 57; since the rack bar assembly 46 can rotate no further it prevents the operating lever 60 from rotating further than the position illustrated in FIG. 4 and thereby preventing the operating lever 60 from disengaging the rack bar assembly 46.

The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention and the invention is not limited thereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a railway vehicle, an operating mechanism for use with the car coupler, said mechanism including:

an uncoupler rod for use in unlocking the coupler by rotation of said rod,

an operating lever pivotally mounted outwardly of the uncoupler rod and on said railway vehicle,

a rack bar means pivotally mounted on said railway vehicle intermediate the uncoupler rod and the operating lever and having a vertically extending portion in sliding engagement with said lever and having horizontally disposed means in sliding engagement with said uncoupler rod,

said uncoupler rod having an inner end operatively connected to said coupler and having an outer end including a loop portion and a finger portion slidingly positioned on said rack means and operatively connected thereto to transmit rotation of the rack means to the uncoupler rod,

said operating lever having a pivot above said rack bar means and having a laterally and horizontally extending finger member engaging the vertically extending portion of the pivoted rack means and said finger member positioned outwardly of the rack bar means and operatively engaging said rack bar means to thereby effect rapid initial rotation of same followed by a slowed rotation accompanied by an increased force multiplication between the uncoupler rod and the coupler to effect uncoupling of the vehicle.

2. The invention according to claim 1, and:

said operating lever including a handle portion disposed below said finger member for rotation of the lever.

3. In a railway vehicle having couplers at both ends,

an uncoupling mechanism for use in operating the vehicle coupler unlocking means, said uncoupling mechanism comprising:

an uncoupler rod means including a loop portion and a finger portion,

a pivotally mounted rack bar means having upper and lower bars and inner and outer vertical bar members connecting said upper and lower bars,

an operating lever pivotally connected to said railway vehicle above said rack bar means and including an inwardly extending finger member slidably engaging said outer vertical bars of said rack means, and having a handle portion extending below said rack bar means,

said finger member positioned outwardly of the rack bar means and initially operatively engaging an upper portion of said outer vertical bar of said rack bar means to thereby effect rapid initial rotation of same followed by a slowed rotation as said finger member slides along said outer vertical bar accompanied by an increased force multiplication between the operating lever and the rack bar means to effect uncoupling of the vehicle,

said rack bar means positioned at an angle relative to the coupler to accommodate operation of the uncoupler mechanism when the coupler has been displaced from its normal operation position,

said rack bar means comprising a generally rectangular shaped bar unit including an upper bar portion which accommodates sliding movement of said uncoupler rod and a horizontally extending lower bar portion engaging the finger portion of said loop portion for rotation of the uncoupler rod when the rack bar means is rotated.

0 4' l t t

Claims

1. In a railway vehicle, an operating mechanism for use with the car coupler, said mechanism including: an uncoupler rod for use in unlocking the coupler by rotation of said rod, an operating lever pivotally mounted outwardly of the uncoupler rod and on said railway vehicle, a rack bar means pivotally mounted on said railway vehicle intermediate the uncoupler rod and the operating lever and having a vertically extending portion in sliding engagement with said lever and having horizontally disposed means in sliding engagement with said uncoupler rod, said uncoupler rod having an inner end operatively connected to said coupler and having an outer end including a loop portion and a finger portion slidingly positioned on said rack means and operatively connected thereto to transmit rotation of the rack means to the uncoupler rod, said operating lever having a pivot above said rack bar means and having a laterally and horizontally extending finger member engaging the vertically extending portion of the pivoted rack means and said finger member positioned outwardly of the rack bar means and operatively engaGing said rack bar means to thereby effect rapid initial rotation of same followed by a slowed rotation accompanied by an increased force multiplication between the uncoupler rod and the coupler to effect uncoupling of the vehicle.

2. The invention according to claim 1, and: said operating lever including a handle portion disposed below said finger member for rotation of the lever.

3. In a railway vehicle having couplers at both ends, an uncoupling mechanism for use in operating the vehicle coupler unlocking means, said uncoupling mechanism comprising: an uncoupler rod means including a loop portion and a finger portion, a pivotally mounted rack bar means having upper and lower bars and inner and outer vertical bar members connecting said upper and lower bars, an operating lever pivotally connected to said railway vehicle above said rack bar means and including an inwardly extending finger member slidably engaging said outer vertical bars of said rack means, and having a handle portion extending below said rack bar means, said finger member positioned outwardly of the rack bar means and initially operatively engaging an upper portion of said outer vertical bar of said rack bar means to thereby effect rapid initial rotation of same followed by a slowed rotation as said finger member slides along said outer vertical bar accompanied by an increased force multiplication between the operating lever and the rack bar means to effect uncoupling of the vehicle, said rack bar means positioned at an angle relative to the coupler to accommodate operation of the uncoupler mechanism when the coupler has been displaced from its normal operation position, said rack bar means comprising a generally rectangular shaped bar unit including an upper bar portion which accommodates sliding movement of said uncoupler rod and a horizontally extending lower bar portion engaging the finger portion of said loop portion for rotation of the uncoupler rod when the rack bar means is rotated.