US181947A - Improvement in car-couplings - Google Patents

Description

R. A. KELLY.

CAR-COUPLING. 31,947 j l i, Patented. Sept.5,1876.

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- ATTORNEYS.

N.FETERS. PHDTO LITHOGRAFNERI WASHINGTON, D c,

UNITED STATES PATENLQFFIGE.

RICHARD A. KELLY, OF I MANCHESTER, 'IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 181,947, dated September 5, 1876; application filed July 25, 1876.

of Manchester, in the county of Delaware and I State of Iowa, have invented a new and Improved Oar-Ooupling; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention belongs to the class of antomatic car-couplings, and is more particularly an improvement in the same line as the coupling described in the patent based upon application A, filed simultaneously with this, and to which reference is made for fuller statement of the general construction, function, and operation of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a front elevation of the coupling devices as applied to a car, and in position for engaging with corresponding devices attached to another car.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus complete, showing the respective parts engaged. Fig. 3 is a detail view, showing the lever supported upon the catch or bracket.

In this instance I employ arrow-head coupling-bars A and draw-heads B, the latter having a scoop-shaped mouth, which is cut away on the upper side, and provided with a vertical notch or open slot, at, leading into an enlarged cavity or chamber, b, Fig. 2, the latter being designed to receive the heads of the said bars A.

The barsand draw-heads are suspended free at the front end from the levers 0, and their shanks 0 pass through eyes formed on the ends of an evener or vibrating bar, D, pivoted in rear of the ordinary buffers E, and are encircled by spiral springs F, which serve to relieve the shock due to sudden application of traction by the locomotive.

In passing around curves the evener B will assume a greater or less angle to the shanks c of the coupling-bars and draw-heads, thus subjecting the springs F to unequal pressure on their respective inner and outer sides. To provide a bearing for the said springs which shall remain at right angles to the shanks c, whatever may be the inclination of the evener thereto, I provide weighted washers G, having an angle-shaped back and flat or plain face. The object of weighting the washers is to cause them to maintain a vertical position,

for if the angle of the back were to assume a horizontal position, it is obvious the face of the washers would then be inclined at the same angle as the evener, and, consequently, fail of performance of their function.

The levers O are pivoted at their middle to the ends of the car, directly above the ordinary bufl'ers E, and the ends of the same which project beyond the sides of the car are enlarged or broadened, and will, in practice, be painted white, or with some other easilydistinguished color, in orderthat the operator may the more readily discover when any one of the levers is out of line with the others,- and thereby know when any one of the several couplings of a train is not properly made.

I also attach handles d to these broadened ends, to facilitate the operation of the levers by an operator standing at the side of the car. The levers 0 may also be operated from the platform or top of a box-car by meansot' a sliding and rotating rod, 1, having a hook or arm, 6, at its lower end to raise the lever, and a flange or wing, f, to displace it from the bracket or support K. The latter has a shoulder, g, and hook h, the one to support the lever, and the other to prevent it being raised too high. A spring, L, serves to hold the lever supported on the shoulder of the bracket.

When the lever is horizontal the draw-head and coupling-bar supported therefrom'are also held horizontal, and in position for coupling with those of another car.

When the lever is detached from the bracket K the weight of the draw-head overba l ances the coupling-bar, and. efl'ects the uncoupling of the cars, the draw-head-in such case dropping, and the coupling-bars rising and freeing themselves from the open slots 0. in the same.

When two cars come together the arrowheads of the coupling-bars are centered by the large concavity of the draw-heads, and also guided to their place, so as to engage with the shoulders of the open slot or.

What I claim is- 1. The combination, ofthe Weighted anglebacked washers with the springs, evener, and

- coupling-bars and draw-heads, as 'shown and described, for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of the levers O, the

, coupling-bars and draw-head supported therefrom, the sliding and rotating rod I, having arm e and wing f, and the bracket K, con-

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