US3774777A

US3774777A - Manual latch retriever assembly for a railway car coupler

Info

Publication number: US3774777A
Application number: US00189941A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Monzi
Original assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
Current assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Co
Priority date: 1971-10-18
Filing date: 1971-10-18
Publication date: 1973-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 1990-11-27
Also published as: JPS5143646B2; JPS4857313A

Abstract

A manual latch retriever for use with automatic railway car couplers of the type wherein a latch member, upon coupling action, is moved into engagement with a coupling pin for locking the couplers in coupled relation, and wherein power-operated means are employed for disengaging the latch member for permitting uncoupling of the cars, said latch retriever comprising manually operable lever means connected to said latch member and being disposed externally of the coupler so as to be accessible for manual manipulation in withdrawing and thereby effecting disengagement of the latch member in the event of failure of the power-operated means.

Description

United States Patent 1 Monzi MANUAL LATCH RETRIEVER ASSEMBLY FOR A RAILWAY CAR COUPLER [75] Inventor: Ronald F. Monzi, Lower Burrell, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation,

Wilmerding, Pa.

22] Filed: Oct. 18, 1971 21 App1.No.: 189,941

[ Nov. 27, 1973 6/1960 Metzger 213/100 W 4/1933 Robinson 212/100 W [57 ABSTRACT A manual latch retriever for use with automatic railway car couplers of the type wherein a latch member, upon coupling action, is moved into engagement with a coupling pin for locking the couplers in coupled relation, and wherein power-operated means are employed for disengaging the latch member for permitting uncoupling of the cars, said latch retriever comprising manually operable lever means connected to said latch member and being disposed externally of the coupler so as to be accessible for manual manipulation in withdrawing and thereby efiecting disengagement of the latch member in the event of failure of the power-operated means.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDuuvzv I973 sum 10F 2 1 NVE N TOR. RONALD F MONZI ATTORNEY 1 MANUAL LATCH RETRIEVER ASSEMBLY FOR A RAILW Y CAR COUPLER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the type of automatic car coupler above referred to, each of the mating heads carries a coupling pin that is engaged by the latch member on the other mating head when coupling action takes place. Each of the coupling pins has a notch formed thereon and into which respective latch members are biased for securing the mating heads in a coupled relation. Each of the mating heads also carries a power-operated device, such as a fluid pressure operated piston device, which, when actuated in anticipation of uncoupling action, delivers a hammer blow to the respective latch member for dislodging said latch member from the notch on the pin and then holding the latch member in such disengaged status against the biasing action thereon until the cars are moved apart.

On occasion, the power-operated devices have been known to fail to operate, or in some instances, the hammer blow delivered thereby to the latch member is not heavy enough to effect dislodgement of the latch member.

One solution for the problems above described has been to provide a screw member having a free end extending externally of the Coupler casing by being threaded through a complementarily threaded bushing fixed in the casing wall, the other end of said screw member being rotatably secured inthe latch member co-axially with the line of movement thereof. In the event of failure in dislodging the latch member from the coupling pin notch, said latch member may be withdrawn manually by applying a wrench to the free end of the screw member and turning the screw member in the fixed bushing, thereby effecting withdrawal and dislodgement of the latch member and consequent freeing of the coupler pin for uncoupling action.

'It should be evident, however, that the solution above discussed has certain undesirable disadvantages such as being time consuming and necessitating the person manipulating the latch withdrawing screw member to occupy a'dangerous position between the cars for an extended period of time. Moreover, the end of the screw member might become so worn as to make the applicationof a wrench thereto difficult if not impossible. A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention, therefore, seeks to provide means for use with automatic car couplers of the type wherein the coupling pin is secured in a coupled condition by a latch member biased into engagement therewith and released therefrom by power-operated means, whereby said latch member may be retrieved from said engagement with the coupling pin in a minimum of time and by a single manual motion.

The invention comprises a rod member having an inner end fixed to the latch member of the automatic coupler and extending axially therefrom so that the other or outer end of said rod member is situated beyond the exterior limits of the coupler casing, said outer end being pivotally connected between the ends of a lever which is fulcrumed at one end against the side of the casing and provided with a hand grip at the other end. In the event the power-operated means provided for dislodging the latch member from the, coupler pin fails, said latch member may be positively disengaged,

with a minimum of time, by a single pull of the lever to cause rotation thereof about the fulcrumed end and, thereby, axial movement of the rod member which moves the latch member with it out of engagement with the coupling pin. To permit straight-line displacement of the rod member, the fulcrumed end of the lever is not fixed to the side of the casing but slides thereagainst as the lever rotates. Stop means are provided to limit rotation of the lever to less than 90 and therefore prevent movement of the fulcrumed end thereof over the dead center point.

In the single-sheet drawing,

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view, in section, of a mating head of an automatic car coupler embodying the invention looking toward the rear thereof when in its suspended position on the car;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view, in outline, of certain components of the mating head shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the left thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view, in outline of the components shown in FIG. 2 with certain modifications;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view, mostly in section, showing the components shown in FIG. 2 in an operated position and as viewed in FIG. 1, and,

.FIG. 5 is a partially sectioned plan view of the mating head shown in FIG. 1, as viewed from the bottom thereof, in coupled relationship with a counterpart mating head.

DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION Referring to FIG. 1, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a fragmentary portion of a mating head which with a counterpart mating head 1 comprises an automatic car coupler, said mating heads each comprising a casing 2 by which the mating head is suspended, by suitable means not shown, at the end of a draft gear of a railway vehicle, neither of which is shown. Each of the mating heads also comprises-a coupling pin 33 (see FIG. 5) projecting horizontally therefrom parallel to the longitudinal axis of the car and offset to one side of the vertical center line of the mating head. As the mating heads move into. coupled relation,

in which they are shown in FIG. 5, the respective couplingpins are. engaged by theoppositerespective matingheads. Since both mating heads are identical in structure, any operational description set forth hereinafter will be described in connection with one mating head only, it being understood that the other mating head functions in similar manner. Thus, the coupling pin 33 carried by one mating head 1 is engaged by the other mating head 1 by entering an aligned opening 3 in the facing side of said mating head 1. The leading end or nose of the'coupling pin 33 is tapered so that,

upon entering the opening 3, the tapered surface of the 'the coupling pin 33 in its locking position, a notch 34 (see FIG. 5) formed therein is in alignment with the spur 4, thereby enabling the latch member 5 to be moved rightwardly, as viewed in the drawing, to a latching position by a spring 8 compressed between the bottom of the cup-like portion 6 and a coaxially disposed spring seat 9 fixed on the inner side of an outer side wall 10 of casing 2, until the spur 4 is firmly engaged in said notch. A similar action occurs when the coupling pin 33 carried by the other mating head 1 enters the counterpart mating head, so that the two mating heads comprising the coupler are now locked in a coupled relation, as shown in FIG. 5.

In anticipation of uncoupling operation, the coupling pins 33 and, therefore, the mating heads'are unlatched by respective power-operated piston devices. A poweroperated piston device 1 l is mounted in the casing 2 in axial alignment with the latch member 5 and comprises a cylinder portion 12 in which a fluid pressure responsive piston 13 is reciprocably operable (see FIG. 1). A hollow cylindrical striking member l4 is secured to and extends coaxially from a non-pressure side of piston 13 so as to be disposed in axial alignment between said piston and the outer side of the bottom of cup-like portion 6 of the latch member 5. Thus, when piston 13 is subjected to a sudden burst of fluid pressure on a pressure side (not shown) opposite the non-pressure side 15, said piston is moved leftwardly out of a normal position, as viewed in the drawing, with such rapidity and force as to cause the striking member 14 to come into contact with the bottom of cup-like portion 6 of the latch member 5 and thereby deliver thereto a hammerlike blow for effecting movement thereof in a leftwardly direction to an unlatching position in which spur 4 is dislodged from the notch 34 in the coupling pin 33. The piston device 11 is provided with a choked release valve (not shown) for maintaining the effect of fluid pressure acting on the pressure side of piston 13 and therefore maintaining the latch member 5 in its unlatching position relative to the coupling pin 33 for a certain period of time considered sufficient for completing the uncoupling movement of the cars. When the fluid pressure acting on the pressure side of piston 13 has been dissipated through the choked release valve (not shown), a spring 16 compressed between the-bottom of cup-like portion 6 and the non-pressure side 15 of piston 13, serves to restore said piston to its normal position in which striking member 14 is out of contact with said cup-like portion, and spring 8 acts to restore latch member 5 to a normal position coinciding with its latching position when engaged with the locking pin 33.

In the event that the piston device 11' fails to operate or if the hammer blow delivered thereby to the latch member 5 fails to cause dislodgement of spur 4 from the notch of the coupling pin 33, manually operable means, in accordance with the invention, are provided to effect said dislodgement of said spur from the coupling pin.

According to the invention, a rod 17 has an inner end secured concentrically to a retaining member 18 resting against the 'outer side of the bottom of cup-like portion 6 of the latch member 5 said retaining member having a flange portion against which the adjacent end of spring 16 rests for exerting a biasing effect therethrough on said latch member, as above noted. Rod 17 extends coaxially from retaining member 18 through a concentric opening 19 in the bottom of cup-like portion 6, through the cup-like portion, through the spring seat 9, and through an opening 20 formed in the side wall 10 of casing 2 with the other or outer end of said rod disposed exteriorly of said casing. As may be seen in both FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer end of rod 17 is pivotally secured by a pin 21 between two free ends of a lever 22. One end of lever 22 has a finger pull or grip 23 formed thereon, while an opposite end 24 of said lever acts as a fulcrum in a manner to be hereinafter set forth. The biasing effect of spring 8 in a rightwardly direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, on latch member 8 and consequently on rod 17 normally holds lever 22 snugly against the outer surface of sidewall 10.

Thus, in the event the power-operated piston device 1 1 fails to operate the latch member 5 to its unlatching position, as above described, the operator simply grasps the finger pull 23 of lever 22 and causes said lever to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, about the pin 21 and against the fulcrum end 24, which,- as is evident, slides upwardly alongthe outer surface of side wall 10. Such counterclockwise rotation of lever 22 causes leftward axial movement of rod 17 to an extended position out of casing 2 and consequently corresponding axial movement of latch member 5 to its unlatching position, above described, to permit separation of the mating heads 1 from each other. Each mating head is provided with the manual latch retrieving mechanism embodying the invention that may be used in the event of failure of the power-operated piston device on either of the mating heads.

As may be seen in FIG. 2, the lower portion of lever 22 is in the form of a yolk 25 to accommodate rod 17 therein as said lever is rotated and said rod is extended out of casing 2. In order to prevent rotation of the lever 22 and, therefore, fulcrum end 24 over the dead center point, a cross member 26 is'fixed across the arms of the yolk 25 adjacent said fulcrum end. As lever 22 is rotated counterclockwise to the proximity of of rotation relative'to rod 17, the cross member 26 comes into contact with said rod, as best seen in FIG. 4, to prevent rotation of the lever through the 90 angle and, therefore, prevent fulcrum end 24 from sliding through the dead center point lying in the axis of rod 17.

It should be noted that when the latch member 5 is operated to its unlatching position by the striking member 14 of the power-operated piston device 11, spring 16 is further compressed between piston 13 and cuplike portion 6, and rod 17, by virtue of spring 16 acting thereon through the retaining member 18, is also carried along with said latch member so as to cause said rod to be moved axially, with a sudden motion, out of casing 2. Although such movement of rod 17, with the attendant movement of lever 22, may be observed as an indication that the power-operated piston device 11 has operated successfully for unlocking the coupler pin, such bouncing action of the rod and lever may not be desired during power operation of latch member 5 to its unlatching position.

Since the retaining member 18, to which the adjacent end of rod '17 is secured, merely rests against the outer side of the bottom of cup-like portion 6 of latch member 5 and is not fixed thereto, said latch member, therefore, when moving leftwardly to its unlatching position, is capable of axial movement relative to said rod if the rod is restrained from movement therewith. This characteristic may be used to advantage in eliminating the bouncing action of rod 17 and lever 22 above discussed.

7 As shown in FIG. 3, a hasp 27 is hinged at one end to the side wall by a pin 28 inserted transversely through aligned holes formed in said one end of said hasp and in a hinge member 29 secured to said side wall. In order to immobilize rod 17 and lever 22 against bouncing action during power operation of latch member 5, hasp 27 is secured in a restraining position by rotating the hasp about its hinged end so that it extends transversely across the front of said lever and may be secured in said restraining position by a pin 30 inserted transversely through aligned holes formed in bifurcated end 31 of said hasp opposite said'hinged end and in a staple member 32 conveniently positionally secured on the side wall 10 so as to be straddled by the bifurcated end of the hasp. Pin 30, of course, may be removed to allow movement of the hasp out of its restraining position to an inoperative position in which lever 22 may then be manually operated, as above described for releasing latch member 5.

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

l. A manually operable latch retriever assembly for use with an automatic railway car coupler of the type having a coupling pin carried on one mating head of the coupler and engageable by a counterpart mating head in a locked relation for locking the mating heads in coupled relation, and power-operated means for effecting unlocking of the mating heads prior to uncoupling thereof, said manually operable latch retriever assembly comprising the combination of:

a. a coupler casing mounted on the one mating head;

b. a coupling pin carried by the counterpart mating head and movable relative to and into said casing;

c. a latch member disposed in said casing and including spring means for axially biasing the latch member in one direction into a latching position in which said coupling pin is engaged and locked against movement relative to said casing;

d. a rod member secured at one end to said latch member and extending coaxially therefrom with the other end disposed exteriorly of the casing, said rod member normally occupying a normal position in which said latch member is in its said latching position; and

e. a lever member connected to said other end of said rod member and being operable out of a normal position, in which said rod member is in its said normal position, for-manually effecting axial movement of said rod member and consequently of said latch member in a direction opposite to said one direction to an unlatching position in which said coupling pin is unlocked and free for movement relative to said casing.

2. The combination, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said other end of said rod member is pivotally connected to said lever member between the ends of the lever member, and said lever member has formed at one end thereof a hand grip for manually rotating said lever member about the end of said rod member with the other end of the lever member serving as a fulcrum resting against the casing.

3. The combination, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the fulcrum end of said lever member is free to slide against the exterior of the casing during manual rotation of the lever member.

4. The combination, as set forth in claim 3, further characterized by fluid pressure operable means for operating said latch member to its said unlatching position independently of said manually operable means, said rod member normally being movable along with said latch member in said direction opposite to said one direction incidentally to operation of the latch member to its said unlatching position by the fluid pressure operable means.

5. The combination, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said latch member is yieldingly movable relative to said rod member during movement of the latch member to its said unlatching position when effected by the fluid pressure operable means.

6. The combination, as set forth in claim 5, further characterized by means operable in one position for restraining movement of said rod and lever members out of their respective normal positions, notwithstanding operation of said latch member to its said unlatching position by said fluid pressure operable means, and being operable out of said one position to a different position in which such restraint of movement of said rod and lever members is removed.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (IERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3 774, 777 DATED Nov. 27, 1973 |N\/ENTOR(5) Ronald Monzi It is certified that error appears in the aboveidentified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Change the assignee from "Westinghouse Electric Corporation" to --Westinghouse Air Brake Company-.

Signed and Scaled this [SEAL] A ttesr:

RUTH C. MASON Arresting Officer C. MARSHALL DANN (mnml'ssrmrvr uflatenrx and Trademarks

Claims

1. A manually operable latch retriever assembly for use with an automatic railway car coupler of the type having a coupling pin carried on one mating head of the coupler and engageable by a counterpart mating head in a locked relation for locking the mating heads in coupled relation, and power-operated means for effecting unlocking of the mating heads prior to uncoupling thereof, said manually operable latch retriever assembly comprising the combination of: a. a coupler casing mounted on the one mating head; b. a coupling pin carried by the counterpart mating head and movable relative to and into said casing; c. a latch member disposed in said casing and including spring means for axially biasing the latch member in one direction into a latching position in which said coupling pin is engaged and locked against movement relative to said casing; d. a rod member secured at one end to said latch member and extending coaxially therefrom with the other end disposed exteriorly of the casing, said rod member normally occupying a normal position in which said latch member is in its said latching position; and e. a lever member connected to said other end of said rod member and being operable out of a normal position, in which said rod member is in its said normal position, for manually effecting axial movement of said rod member and consequently of said latch member in a direction opposite to said one direction to an unlatching position in which said coupling pin is unlocked and free for movement relative to said casing.