US1408351A - Pipe-coupling attachment for car couplings - Google Patents

Description

J.H.FUNK. PIPE COUPLING ATTACHMENT FOR CAR COUPLINGS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9,1921- 1,408,351 Patented Feb. 28, 1922.

INVENTOR.

AITTORNEKS emrao starts JOHN H. norm, or sr. nours rrrssoonr,

PIPE-COUPLING ATTAcHMEnT FDR can moraines.

Application filed March 9, 1321. Serial No. 450,866.

To all it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jenn H. Form, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pipe-Coupliug Attachments for Car Oouplings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full. clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable otihers skilled the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to pipe coupling attachments for car couplers of the general type disclosed in United States patent to Herbert, No. 1.363.973, patented Decemher 28th. 1920.

An object of this invention is to improve the cooperating connecting means between a car coupler head and a block or shoe sustaining compression pipe couplings adapted to automatically couple with a companion set of compression couplings of similar character when two cars are coupled.

The invention consists in the particular combination of elements described in the s iecification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings. and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts throughout the several views;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a car coupler embodying my inprovement;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2- -2 of Figure '1;

Figure is a perspective View of the under portion of a car coupler and a fragment of the pipe coupling block or shoe shown in detached position.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 is a coupler head; 2 a draw bar; 3 a coupling pin by which the head is pivotal' ly conncctedto drawibargg 4 is a rigid coupling hook or lug projecting from the front face of the coupler head and designed for con pling with a standard M. C. B. coupler. 5 is a knuckle pivoted at 6 and adapted to move in a slot or way between the top and bottom faces of the lug 4, the said knuckle 5 being adapted to engage with an interlocking abutment of a companion coupler head. 7 is a releasing lever operating through an opening 7 in the side of the coupler head and adapted to engage the knuckle 5 of a mating coupler in order to release it and the opposite knuckle, a'llftsubstantially as disclosed iii-said priorpatent. 1.; V

8 is a guiding attachment fitted to the normally open front side of a 'coupier head and detachably secured place by a pin 9, said detachable member 8 being adapted to guide into interlocking engagement with the "lug 4 the knuckleof a standard coupler, as more fully described in my co-pending application Serial No. 450,865, filed March The rnechanism iar described forms no of the present invention but constitates a coupler head which is adapted to interlock rigidly with an M. C. B. coupler; or to interlock with a companion head of similar character, when the member 8 is detached, the two similar coupler heads forming a rigid unyielding mass, but flexibly united to thedraw bars, and particularly adapted for use with automatic compression coupling'eleviees now-to be described. 'On't he ander faee of the coitpler head 1 are two oppositely disposed guides 10, prefera'bty cast integral with the'coapling head. Said guides have flanges l1. overhanging the base of the coupler, forming guideways 12 between the overhanging flanges and the flat under face of the coupler.

Formed transversely on the under side of the coupler head, rearward of the rear ends of the guides 10, is a transverse abutment lug '13 adapted to serve as a positioning 51:0 for thecoupler'blockor shoe to be do scribed. It will be observed that the transverse lug. 13 is set back an appreciable distance rearwardof the guides "10 for a double purpose to be now stated. (1) In order that a snug and neat fit may be provided for the pipe coupler block it is desirable that the ways and thesurface of the head between the ways carefully machined. By steamer th fact thatthe'lu'g 1'3 is set back of the end cf theguid'es fil' it is possible to machine accurately the space between said lugs 13 and the ways 10. The space between the guides 10 may be planed by a tool moved relatively lengthwise of the coupler, and the space between the rear end of the guides 10 and the lug 13 may be machined by relative movements of a tool crosswise of the coupler. (2) The block or shoe may be pinned in place by a pin inserted through it rearward of and in contact with the guides 10 and forward of the lug 13, so that when the block :or shoe is forced to place it cannot move from the position in which it is set. N y 7 The said guides 10 form a wedge shaped seat and it is designed that the matingpart of the pipe couphng'block or shoe shall be machined to an exactfit so that when the blockor shoe is seated it will be wedged tightly to its seat and free. from any lost motion that might render the joint between the compression couplings defective. The coupler block or shoe is shown at 14. The said block or shoe 14 and the compression coupling devices 15, 16 and 17 carried thereby are substantially of the construction shown in my application for'patent Serial No. 404,725, .filed August 20th, 1920, and are no art of my present invention, insofar as tie body of the block and the form of compression couplings is concerned. The base of the block 14 is flanged as indicated at 18, the flan es projecting on both sides and forward From said block. The Side flanges 19 are tapered at theexact angle of the ways 12 in the under face of the coupler 1 so that when said block is lfittedztothe coupler the sidefla cs 19 will fit snugly in ways 12 between the ides 16, the portions 11 overlying the si e flanges 19. The rear end of the base of the block 14 is intended torfit snugly against thelug 13 when said block is in position on the coupler 1. Perforations 20 are formed in the block 14 just. above the flanges 19 and at a point directly in the rear of the rear end of the guides 10 when said block is in place and seated against the abutment 13. Through said holes 20, when the coupler block is engaged with the coupler head 1, is passed a pin 21 to prevent said coupler blocks from moving forward. By means of said pin 21, therefore, the block 14 is lockedin place with its rear end snugly abutting against the abutment lug 13 and the side flanges wedged between guides 10 so that said blocks cannot move.

It will be apparent that the spacing of the abutment 13 rearward of the rear ends of the guides 10 renders the face of the coupler head and the corners of the ways and abutment lug susceptible of being readily machined as is essential to secure the accurate fit necessary to provide for accurate coupling of the compressor couplings.

It. will batman apparent that. the seat thus formed on the coupler 1 will retain the block in the position in which it was originally fitted without danger of material wear such as might destroy the accuracy of the coupling and "render it thereby ineflicient. in Patent No. 1,363,973, referred to, and also in my prior pending application aforesaid, *the rear end of the block is seated against the end of the coupler pin. In this prior construction the coupler pin, constantly moving during 0 oration, tends to wear away the surface 0 the pin and the corzesponding surface of the block. It will be apparent that it does not take a great deal of wear of this sort to destroy the accuracy of fit of the coupling faces of a compression coupling to the extent that pressure will leak when two couplers are united. The practical value of the construction forming the subject of this application will be clear when it is considered how little movement is required to impair the accuracy of compression couplings of the general type shown.

Having described my invention in such manner as to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination, of a coupler head having guiding means for a pipe coupler block formed on its under side, and an abutment lug spaced rearward of said guiding means; with a pipe coupler block adapted to .engage said uiding means with its rear face seated against said abutment lug.

2. The combination, of a coupler head having a pair of guides formed on its under surface and an abutment lug spaced rearward of the guides; with a pipe coupling block engaged between said guides and seated against the abutment lug, and means engaging said block and the rear of said guides for securing said block in place.

3. The combination of a coupler head having a pair of converging guides formed on its under face and an abutment lug space-d rearward of the'lrear ends of said guides; with a pipe (oupling block engaged between said guides and having its rear side engaging said abutment lug. i

In testimony whereof I affix my si nature.

JOHN H, F NK.

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