US436954A - Car-coupling - Google Patents

Description

J. GODSBY.

R COUPLING,

No. 436,954. Patented Sept. 23, 1890.

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WILLIAM J. GODSEY, OF CLEBURNE, TEXAS.

CAR-COUPLlNG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,954, dated September 23, 1890.

Application filed July 14, 1890.

T0 on whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. GonsEY,a citizen of the United States, residing at Oleburne, in the county of Johnson and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Car-Couplings; andldohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as Will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of the invention is to provide means for setting or supporting the pin and link of the ordinary car-coupler, so that cars will be automatically coupled when brought together; and it consists in a frame or holder for the coupling-pin and a frame or holder for the coupling-link and in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter described and particularly pointed out.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevw tion showing a link in locked position. Fig.

2 is a plan of same. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of same. Fig. 4. is a left-hand side elevation with the link-frame in raised position. Fig. 5 is a plan of same. Fig. 6 is a bottom view of same. Fig. 7 is a perspective of a detail.

Numeral 1 denotes the pin, 2 the link, and 3 the draw-head, of a coupler. I

To the draw-bar 4 is loosely secured a plate 5, similar to the spring-holding plate 6. On the under side of plate 5 is attached the pinsupporting frame 7, preferably by means of a staple 8. Each side member of the frame 7 has a hinge-connection with the plate or with the staple or other part connected to the draw-bar, substantiallyas indicated, and from the hinge each member extends laterally to the side of the draw-bar frame 9 and then forward to the head, over which it passes and connects with the opposite member near the pin-hole in the draw-head. Aloop or slot 10 for the reception of the coupling-pin is formed at that point. 11 11 are spring-brackets pivoted in the draw-bar frame to support the pin-holding frame when the latter is set to hold the pin for automatic coupling. The frame 7 ,having been raised above these brackets by the compression of the bracket-springs, will rest upon their upper ends until such time as the parts 7 7 of the frame have been Serial No. 353636. (No model.)

pushed back-andtheoutwardlybentor notched parts 7 2 7 are brought opposite said brackets, whereupon the frame falls by gravity to the position indicated in Fig. 1. This will occur when the draw-heads of two cars collide, and such collision automatically drops and guides the pin into its hole in the head. To set the frame 7 and the pin for this operation it is only necessary to raise it about its hinged or pivoted connection with plate 5 until the side members rest on the brackets 11.

The link supporting or setting frame 12 has a sliding connection with frame 7 by means of the sleeves or rings 12 12. Forward of these sleeves and in position to be engaged with the transverse portions 7 7 3 of the pin-frame are provided rack teeth or projections 13, the purpose of which is to hold frame 12 in fixed relation vertically with the pin-frame and the draw-head. The link-frame extends around the front of the head when set for supporting the link for coupling, substantially as indicated in the drawings. When so set, the link is inv position to be entered in an opposing head, and will be so entered by a collision of draw-heads, which also drops the pin and couples the cars. The several slots formed by the teeth 13 provide for supporting the link-frame at different elevations to suit cars or draw-heads of different altitudes.

14 indicates a guide or guard attached to the link-frame, which insures the falling of the link-frame when the draw-heads approach each other, and thus prevents the link-frame being caught between them.

It will of course be understood that the link-frame is set upon one car and the pinframe upon another that is to be coupled with y it, both ends of each car preferably being provided with both frames. hen not set, the front end of the pin-frame rests on the drawhead and the front end of the link-frame drops below the same.

The particular forms of the frames or their mode of connection with the draw-bar or with each other is not of the essence of the invention except in so far as they are necessary to the operation set forth. The pin-frame may be pivoted to the draw-bar in any convenient manner, and the pin loop or slot 10 can be formed in the frame-bar or in an offset therefrom, and other variations may be made by mechanical skill without departing from the invention.

The advantages of the simple device above described for automatically coupling cars and thus saving the limbs and lives of brakemen are obvious.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The pin-supporting frame hinged or pivoted to the draw-bar, the spring-bracket and the pin-holding loop in said frame, in combination with the draw-head and pin, whereby the pin can be set for automatically coupling, substantially as set forth.

2. The link-supportingframe provided with a sleeved or sliding connection with the pinframe and having projections to engage said pin-frame and extending around in front of the draw-head, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a pin supporting frame hinged to the draw-bar with a linkholding frame sleeved upon said frame and provided with supporting-teeth to engage the pin-frame, substantially as set forth.

4. The" combination of a pin-supporting frame hinged to the draw-bar with springbrackets, and a link-holding frame sleeved upon said pin-frame and provided with supporting-teeth to engage the pin-frame, substantially as set forth.

5. Alink-holding frame pivotally supported at its rear, combined with a guide or guard attached to its front and with supporting-teeth, whereby when the teeth are disengaged the frame is guided under the draw-head to avoid nipping the same between the draw-heads, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J. GODSEY. Witnesses:

E. J. BROWN, T. W. FLENNIKEN.

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