US1990887A - Car coupler - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 12, 1935.

R. J. WITTMER ET AL CAR COUPLER Filed June 28, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 THEIR A T ORNEY Feb. 12, 1935. J wlTTMER ET AL 1,990,887

CAR COUPLER Filed Juhe 28, 19:52 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 THEIR A TT RNEY Feb. 12, 1935. R J, wrr r AL 1,990,887

CAR COUPLER Filed June 28, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet IN VEN TORS Mae]! J m'tlmer and By Tim &msma.szer

, mm ATTQRNEY Feb. 12, 1935. R, J. WITTMER ET AL 1,990,887

CAR COUPLER I Filed June 28, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TORS A m5!!! Jm'zibner and BY 77'? Zz'nfsmasfer THEIR A TT GENE Y Patented Feb. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES CAR COUPLER,

Russell J. Wittmer, Cleveland Heights, and Tim Zintsmaster, East Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to National Malleable and Steel Castings Company, Cleveland, Ohio, 2:, corporation'of Ohio Application June 28, 1932, Serial No. 619,69'li 30 Claims. (01. 213-100) This invention relates .to car couplers of the rigid jawed type, such as shown in United States Letters Patent No. 1,201,665 of John Willison, dated October 17, 1916. More particularly, the invention comprises novel means for lock-setting the lock. The invention in this connection provides lock-setting means capable of functioning effectively despite extreme vertical displacement of one coupler with respect to the other. A further feature of the invention is the provision of lock-setting means not only eflicient in operation but also capable of participating in thereceipt of buffing stresses from an adjoining coupler. The lock setting device provided by the invention further enables the lock to slide readily to locked. position upon separation of the coupler from the adjoining coupler, without any opposition-by said device. Also, the invention provides a lock setting means free from the possibility of improper operation by relative vertical displacement of cars. Other features of the invention will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation, partly in vertical section, showing a. coupler equipped with an embodiment of our invention, the coupler lock being shown in its extreme forward or locked position. a

Fig. 2 is a view .similar to Fig. l but showing the lock-setelements in a different position.

Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing the cooperation between the lock and lock-set parts with the lock in lock-set position. 7

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view showing the position of the coupler and associated parts at an intermediate stage in the operation of coupling with an oppqsing coupler.

Figure 5 is .a. view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the coupler coupled with the opposing coupler, the lock of the coupler being in lock-set position.

Figures 6 and '7 are detail perspective views of the lock-set parts.

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional View showin opposing couplers coupled and with locks thereof in locked position.

Referring to the drawings the coupler head 2 has the usual bufling jaw 3, pulling jaw 4, and a cavity 5 extending rearwardly from the buiiing and guiding face 6 into the body of the coupler head. Within the cavity are the operating parts, which comprise the lock 7, the operating cam 8, and the lock- set elements 9, 10. The cam 8 has a surface 11 which contacts with a surface 12 of the lock to withdraw the latter upon operation of the cam by uncoupling mechanism'of any suitable or conventional type connected to the rotatable'bolt or shaft 13 on which said cam is mounted. I I

The lockset member 9 is formed with an upper hooked portion l whereby it is pivotally mounted on the trunnion projection 15 of the coupler head. Said member Qalso has. a projection 16 engageable with a shoulder 17 of thelo'ck' 7as the latter moves into lock-set position (Fig.3) Below the projection 16 the member 9 is provided with a surface 18 and below the latter with a downwardly extending leg portion 19. V

The lockset member is slidable in the coupler head and an elongated slot 20 through which passes. the bolt 13. The forward portion of said member has an extension 21 projecting laterally therefrom and receivable in a cavity 22 extending laterallyfrom cavity 5' in the coupler head. The lowerrearward surface 23 of member ,10 cooperates with downwardly extending portion19 of member 9 to swing the latter about its pivot as member 10 is moved rearwardly. V H

The bolt 13 passes not only through slot in member 10 but also through an elongated slot 37 in the lock 7. An opening in the cam 8, which opening is square except for a rounded portion 25, receives a correspondingly shaped portion of the bolt 13. The rounded portion of said opening assures the correct positioning of the bolt. A pin 26 cooperates with a groove 27 in said bolt to hold the latter in assembled position.

During the coupling of the coupler 2 to an opposing coupler 2', the jaw 3' of the latter engages the lateral projection .21 of member 10 (as shown in Fig. 4) and moves said member rearwardly. When the couplers are completely interengaged said member 10 occupies the positions shown in Figures 2,5, and 8. During a'portion of the rearward movement of said. member its surface 23 cooperates with leg 19 of member 9 to swing the latter rearwardly about the pivot 15, and as rearward movement of memberlO continues the member 9 is swung further .rearwardly through the cooperation of surface 24 of member 10 with surface 18 of said member 9. Member 10 is held in its rearward position by the engagement of its portion 21 with jaw 3 of the opposing coupler, and, in turn, holds member 9 in rearwardly rocked position, as shown in Figure 2; shoulder 24 of member 10 at this time engaginglsurface 18.0f member 9. I

In Figure 8, wherein the couplers 2 and 2' are shown fully interengaged and locked in coupled relation, it will be noted thatthe respective locks dot-dash lines in Fig.3).

' The front face 31 of saidextension 21 is flush 7,, 7 are in their forward or locked positions; that the jaw 3' of 'coupler 2' is in contact with projection 21 of member 10, maintaining the latter in a rearward position; and that,'similarly, jaw 3 of coupler 2, through its contact with projection 21' of member 10' of coupler 2', maintains said member in a'rearward position. It will at the same time be noted that each member 10, 10' can be moved still further rearwardly in the corresponding coupler head under bufling blows.

To place the lock on lock-set the lock is retracted through operation of the cam 8, and during its rearward movement the surface 28 thereof engages the projection 16 of member 9, causing the latter to move vertically (as shown in When the lock nears the end of its rearward travel, said surface 28 passes beneath the projection 16 and allows the member 9 to drop down so that said projection lies in front of the shoulder 17. While the member 9 tends to swing forwardly and thereby disengage the portions 16 and '17, the surface 18 of said member 9 is at this time in engagement with shoulder 24 of member 10; and since the latter cannot move forwardly, due to its contact with the opposingcoupler, the member 9 is held in its rearward position and maintains'the lock in lock-set position- As-the couplers separate the jaw 3 of the opposing coupler moves forwardly from the portion 21 of'the lock-set member 10 and permits the latter to slide to its forward position, thereby freeing member 9 to swing forwardly with resultant disengagement of shoulder 17 fromprojection 16, whereby thelock is freed to slide forwardly and downwardly to locked, position. V Q

If the look shouldbefplacedon lock-set. inad vertently, and it is desired to release the lock, the operator can push upwardly on the leg 19 of member 9, which leg, as shownin Figures 2 and 3, extends downwardly through a slot in the bottom, of the coupler head. By-pushing upwardly on said leg .19 the projection 16 is disengaged from the shoulder 17 of the look. A fin 28 depends from the lock and is movable in a slot 29 in the bottom of the coupler head to guide the lock during its movements. V

From Figure 5 it will beclearly seen that the rear wall 30 of the cavity 22 is engaged by the rear face of .the extension 21 of the lock-set member 10 when said member isbuffed rearwardly.

with the buffing face 6 of the coupler head when the rear face of said extension 21 is in engagement with said wall 30. Thus, it will be apparent that buffing shocks may be transmitted through extension 21 of member 10 directly to the coupler head, whereby the mounting of our locksetting means in the coupler head is attained without sacrifice of the area of the head for receiving bufling stresses. It will also be seen that the construction above described is especially advantageous in that, during the operation of coupling, the entire lateral extent of the surface 31 may be engaged by the opposing jaw. 3' and receive therefrom the particularly severe jblows frequently occurring in coupling operations. Extension 21', moreover, is of such vertical extent that the jaw 3' of the opposing coupler will contact with said extension when the couplers are displaced vertically the maximum amount in either direction. In other words, said jaw and extension contact until such point is reached as would permit the couplers touncouple if 'further vertical movement therebetween took place.

It will be noted that with the arrangement herein disclosed there is no possibility that during coupling the lock-set member 10 will move forwardly in such way as to bring the corner 33 thereof into overlapping relation with the portion of the opposing coupler adjacent surface 34 of the, jaw 3. jaw 3' from moving laterally sufficiently to per mit the couplers to separate. The present construction thereby avoids a difficulty in this respect which occurredin certain prior arangements. i r

Furthermore, our invention provides effectively for preventing the inner corner 37 of the lockset member 10 from overlapping the outer corner 38 of the jaw 3. In this connection it should be noted that as long as the cam 8 is in its normal unretracted position shown in Figures 1 and 2 its front surface 39 is in the path of surface 40 of the lock and cooperates therewith to limit the extent of rearward travel of the look under the impact of an-opposing coupler. The portion 39 of said cam 8, in other words, provides a preliminary stop, preventing rearward movement of the look beyond a predetermined amount during coupling operations; and the relation of said stop 39 to the surface 40 of the lock is such that said lock is precluded, during coupling, from moving rearwardly to such extent as to, lie rearwardly of the surface 31. The jaw 3' is thus prevented during the operation of coupling from pushing the lock 7 rearwardlyso far as to enable corner 38 of said jaw to overlap corner 37 of the member 10. Not only is overlapping between said portions 37 and 38, and consequentjamming of the jaw 3 -in the lock cavity, prevented asaforesaid; but furthe'rmorethe cam 8' is maintained in a simple and effective manner in position for providing said preliminary stop, despite rearward movement of the lock. It will be seen in this connection that as the lock moves rearwardly during coupling the surface 41' of said lock slides along the surface 42 on the underside of the cam 8 and that the friction developed between these surfaces tends to rotate said cam in a clockwise direction, maintaining the latter in such position that the preliminary stop is operative. Our construction, in short, provides that during coupling the rearward movement of the lock itself assists the preliminary stop to remain in effective position; in conthe. preliminary stop effective.

. It will further be noted that in the present Such overlap tends to prevent invention the lock is free to move to locked position'as soon as the coupler is uncoupled from the Opposing coupler, and is not compelled to rotate the lock-set member 9. Moreiparticularly, the center of gravity of the member!) is disposed sufficiently rearwardly of the pivotal axis of said member when the latter is in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 as to cause said member to tend to swing forwardly to such extent as .to remove projection 16 from the path of the loci; shoulder In other words, as will be clear from a comparison of Figures 1, 2, and 3,'the lock-set member 9 normally tends to assume a position which will permit surface 16 to be disengaged from shoulder 17, and offers no resistance to forward movement of the look when the coupler is uncoupled from the opposing coupler. As a consequence, a particularly smooth action of the lock is attained.

It will be obvious that when desired the portion 44 of the lock (Fig. 3) directly forward of the projection 16 of the member 9 may be so arranged with respect to said projection that, in addition to retaining the lock in lock-set position through engagement with shoulder 17, said projection 16 through surface 16, during forwarding swinging of the member 9 pursuant to disengagement of the mating coupler, would strike a portion of the lock and impart a forward impulse thereto, thereby assisting the lock in returning to projected position. Member 9 may, of course, be weighted to any extent desired to increase the torque urging it to swing forwardly about the pivot member 15 to effect this'action.

It will also be seen' that with our lock setting means it is possible to place the lock on lock-set even though the member 10 is buffed rearwardly against the surface 30, the member 9 being'operable to retain the lock in lock-set position whether or not the member 10 be held against movement. The projection 43 on member 9 is adapted, in cooperation with the rear wall of the coupler head, to prevent member 9 from moving rearwardly out of engageable relation to pivot 15 when said member 9 is raised, as when the lock is tripped manually from lock-set.

t may be noted that the lock-set member 10 substantially fills the cavity in the front of the coupler provided to receive it, and thereby practically prevents entry of dirt and grime into the coupler. Also, it may be further observed that in prior arrangements relative vertical movement between two opposing couplers during movement of the cars along a track after one of the couplers has been placed in lock-set condition, sometimes caused the lock-set means to move vertically and release the look. This is not possible in the present arrangement.

The cooperative surfaces 16 and 17, as will be clear from Figure 3, are inclined downwardly and rearwardly, whereas the surfaces 13 and 24 slope in the opposite direction. When the coupler is coupled to an opposing coupler the member 10 cannot move forwardly, due to its contact with jaw 3', and the sloping surfaces aforesaid will prevent the member 9 from creeping upwardly and releasing the lock. In order for member 9 to creep upwardly it would be necessary to draw the lock rearwardly, not only sufficiently to overcome the overlap between surfaces 16 and 1'7 but also to such extent as to overcome the overlap between surfaces 18 and 24. Thus raising of member 9 with the parts in the position shown in Figure 3 necessitates a rearward movement of said member 9, together with the look, by virtue of the inclination of the engaged surfaces 18 and 2e, and, further, owing to the inclination of the surfaces 16 and 17, requires an additional rearward movement of the lock, before said member 9 is disengaged from said lock. In short, since the surfaces 16 and 17 slope in one direction, and the surfaces 18 and 24 in the opposite direction, it is necessary to overcome the combined overlap caused by these oppositely sloping surfaces before the member 9 can be moved upwardiy sumciently to release the lock.

Zhe coupler 2 is shown provided with wings 35, 36 for mounting the coupler on the draw hook commonly employed with European cars. However, it will be apparent that any suitable type of shank may be employed with the coupler, as, for example, a shank of the type shown in the United States Patent No. 1,689,116, August 7, 1928.

The terms and expressions which we have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and we have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but recognize that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

We claim:

1. In a rigid jawed coupler head having a lock adapted to reciprocate in a cavity thereof, a locksetting mechanism in said cavity for maintaining the lock in elevated position for lock-setting, said mechanism comprising a member adapted to extend through said head for operation by a portion of an opposing coupler and an abutment for said member so constructed and arranged as to transmit buffing stresses from said opposing coupler to said head upon engagement of the abutment by said member.

2. In a rigid jawed coupler head having a lock adapted to reciprocate in a cavity thereof, a locksetting mechanism in said cavity for maintaining the lock in elevated position for lock-setting, said mechanism comprising a member adapted to extend through said head for operation by a portion of an opposing coupler, and provided with a latral projection engageable by said opposing coupler, said head having a cavity offset laterally from the first mentioned cavity for receiving said projection, the portion of said head at the rear of the second mentioned cavity being engageable by said projections for receiving buffing stresses.

3. In a rigid jawed coupler head having a lock adapted to reciprocate in a cavity thereof, a lock-setting mechanism in said cavity for maintaining the lock in elevated position for locksetting, said mechanism comprising a member adapted to extend through said head for operation by a portion of an opposing coupler, and provided with a lateral projection engageable by said opposing coupler, said head having a cavity offset laterally from the first mentioned cavity for receiving said projection, the pomion of said head at the rear of th second mentioned cavity being engageable by said projection for receiving buffing stresses, and the forward face of said projection being flush with the bufiing face of said head when said projection is in engagement with the portion of the head at the rear of said second mentioned cavity.

4.. In a rigid jawed coupler head having a lock adapted to reciprocate therein, a lock-setting mechanism in said head. for maintaining the lock in elevated position for lock setting, said mechanism comprising a member adapted to extend through an opening in said head for operation by a portion of an opposing coupler and an element mounted independently of but movable to a given position by said member and provided with means for engaging. said look when said member is in said given position to retain said lock in lock-set position.

5. In a rigid jawed coupler head having a lock adapted to reciprocate therein, a lock-setting mechanism in said head for maintaining the lock in elevated position for lock-setting, said mecha-. nism comprising an element suspended in said head and engageabie with said lock to retain the latter in lock-set position, and a member mounted forward and independently of said element and adapted in cooperation with an opposing coupler to tend to prevent said element from releasing said lock.

6.. In. a rigid jawed coupler head having a lock adapted to reciprocate therein, a lock-setting mechanism in said head for maintaining the lock in elevated position for lock setting, said mechanism comprising an element pivotally mounted in said head and engageable with said lock to retain the latter in look set position, and a slidably mounted member forward of said element through engagement with an opposing coupler to prevent the first element from releasing said lock in the absence of actuation of said first element by an exterior source. a

8. In a rigid jawed coupler head having a lock adapted to reciprocate therein, a lock-setting mechanism in said head for maintaining the lock in elevated position for lock setting, said mechanism comprising an element pivoted in said head and engageable with said lock to retain the latter in look set position, the center of gravity of said element being so located with respect to the pivot thereof as to cause said element to tend to swing in a direction to release said lock, and means within the confines of the head and adapted in cooperation with an opposing coupler to prevent said element from releasing said lock in the absence of'actuation of said element by an exterior source. 7 y

9. In a rigid jawed coupler head having a lock adapted to reciprocate therein, a lock-setting mechanism in said head for maintaining the lock in elevated position for lock setting, said mechanism comprising an element suspended in said head and engageable with said lock to retain the latter in look set position, and a member forward of said element and adapted in cooperation with an opposing, coupler to tend to. prevent said element from releasing said lock, said element being so constructed and arranged as to be manipulable to release the lock independently'of said member.

10. In a rigid jawed coupler head having a lock adapted to reciprocate therein, a lock-setting mechanism in said head for maintaining the lock in elevated position for lock setting, said mechanism comprising an element suspended in said head and engageable with said look by a gen-- erally vertical movement of said element with respect to said lock to retain the latter inlock set position, and'a' member forward of said element and adapted in cooperation with an opposing coupler to tend to prevent said element from releasing said lock, said element being 7 shiftable vertically with respect to said member through said slot, means rotatable with said shaft for retracting said lock to lock-set position, an

element mounted in said head and engageable with said lock for holding the latter in lockset position, and amember forwardly of said element and adapted in cooperation with an opposing coupler to tend to prevent said element from releasing said lock, said member having a slot through which said shaft extends.

. 12. In a rigid jawed coupler head having a lock adapted to reciprocate therein, a lock-setting mechanism in said head for maintaining the lock in elevated position for lock setting, said meoha- 13, In a rigid jawed coupler head having a lock' adapted to reciprocate therein, a lock-setting mechanism in said head for maintaining the lock in elevated position for lock setting, said mechanism comprising an element havingan-upper hook-shaped portion, a pivot in said-head engaged by said hoop-shaped portion, said element having below said pivot a projectionengageable with said lock for holding the latter in lock-set position, anda member slidable in said head forwardly of said element and adapted in cooperation with an opposing coupler to tend to prevent said element from releasing said lock, said element having below said projection a portion engageable by said member for blocking movement oi said element in a given direction.

14. In a rigid jawed coupler head having a 1 a lock adapted to reciprocate therein, a lock-setting mechanism in said head for maintaining the lock in elevated position for lock setting, said mechanism comprising an element having an upper hook-shaped portion, a pivot in said head engaged by said hook-shapedportion, said element having below said pivot a projection engageable with said lock for holding the latter in lock-set position, and a member slidable in said head forwardly of said member and adapted in cooperation with an opposing coupler to tend to prevent said element from releasing said lock, said element having below said projection a portion engageable by said member for blocking movement of said element in a given direction and a portion extending through the bottom of said head for manipulation to release the lock independently of said member.

15. Ina rigid jawed coupler head having a lock adapted to reciprocate therein, a lock-setting mechanism in said head for maintaining the lock in elevated position for lock setting, said mechanism comprising a member adapted to extend through an opening in said head for operation by a portion of an opposing coupler and an element engageable by said member for lock setting and provided with means for engaging said lock to retain the latter in look set position, said member being so constructed and arranged as to transmit bufiing stresses from said opposing coupler to said head.

l6. In a rigid jawed coupler head having a lock adapted to reciprocate therein, a lock-setting mechanism in said head for maintaining the lock in elevated position for lock, setting, said mechanism comprising a member adapted to extend through an opening in said head for operation by a portion of an opposing coupler and an element engageable by said member for lock setting and provided with means for engaging said lock to retain the latter in look set position, said member having a lateral projection engageable by said opposing coupler, said head having a cavity therein receiving said projection, the portion of said head at the rear of said cavity being engageable by said projection for receiving buffing stresses and the forward face of said projection being flush with the buffing face of said head when said projection, is in engagement with the portion of the head at the rear of said cavity.

17. In a rigid jawed coupler head having a lock adapted to reciprocate therein, a lock-setting mechanism in said head for maintainirs the lock in elevated position for lock. setting, said mechanism comprising a pivoted element and a slidably mounted element, one engageable with the lock for holding the latter in lock set position and the other engageable by the first and adapted through engagement with an opposing coupler to prevent the first element from moving ina given path to release said lock, the element engageable by said opposing coupler being so constructed and arranged as to transmit buffing stresses therefrom to said head.

18. In a rigid jawed coupler head having a lock adapted to reciprocate in a cavity thereof, a locksetting mechanism in said cavity for maintaining the lock in elevated position for lock-setting, said mechanism comprising a member adapted to extend through said head for operation by a portion of an opposing coupler, and provided with a projection of such lateral extent as to be always engageable by a jaw of a mating coupler in uncoupling operations, said head having a cavity ofiset laterally from the first mentioned cavity for receiving said projection, the portion of said head at the rear of the second mentioned cavity being engageable by said projection for receiving bumng stresses.

19. In a rigid jawed coupler head having a lock adapted to reciprocate therein, a lock-setting mechanism in said head for maintaining the lock in elevated position for lock setting, said mechanism comprising a member adapted to extend through an opening in said head for operation by a portion of an opposing coupler and an element engageable by said member for lock setting and provided with means for engaging said lock to retain the latter in lockset position, said member and element having surfaces adapted to cooperate during a portion of the movement of said member by an opposing coupler to move said element in a given direction and having other surfaces cooperating to move said element further in said direction in a subsequent portion of the movement of said member.

20. In a rigid jawed coupler head, a lock adapted to reciprocate in a cavity thereof, and an element in said head providing a preliminary stop for the lock during coupling operations, the parts being so constructed and arranged that rearward movement of said look from its locked position assists continuously in maintaining said element in position for stopping the lock.

21. In a rigid jawed coupler head, a lock adapted to reciprocate in a cavity thereof, and an element in said head providing a preliminary stop for the lock during coupling operations, said lock having a portion continuously engaging said element during rearward movement of the look from locked position for maintaining said element in position for stopping the lock.

22. In a rigid jawed coupler head, a look adapted to reciprocate in a cavity thereof, and an element movable in said head for retracting lock, said element having a portion providing a preliminary stop for the lock during coupling operations, said lock having a surface cooperating with said element continuously during rearward movement of the look from locked position in coupling operations for applying to said element a force tending to maintain said element in position for stopping said lock.

23. In a rigid jawed coupler head, a lock adapted to reciprocate in a cavity thereof, and an element rotatable in a given direction for retracting said lock, said element providing a preliminary stop for the lock during coupling operations,

said lock having a surface engaging said element during rearward movement of said lock in coupling operations for applying to said element a forcetending. to rotate said element in a direction opposite to the first mentioned direction for maintaining said element in a position to act as a preliminary stop.

24. In a rigid jawed coupler head having a lock adapted to reciprocate therein, a lock-setting mechanism in said head for maintaining the lock in elevated position for locksetting, said mechanism comprising a member adapted to extend through an opening in said head for operation by a portion of an opposing coupler and an element engageable by said member for lock setting and provided with means for engaging said lock to retain the latter in lockset position, said element having an open jawed portion engaging a pivot in thecoupler head and being adapted to be raised with respect to said pivot to release the lock, and a projection on said element engageable with a portion of the coupler head for preventing movement of said element out of engageable relation to said pivot when said element is raised. I

25. In a rigid jawed coupler head, a lock adapted to reciprocate therein, an element movably mounted in said head and provided with means for engaging said lock to retain the latter in lookset position, a member adapted to extend through an opening in said head for cooperation with a portion of an opposing coupler and engageable with said element by virtue of such cooperation for maintaining the latter in look retaining position and means on said lock and said member cooperating with said element for preventing creeping of the latter out of lock retaining position.

26. In a rigid jawed coupler head, a lock adapted to reciprocate therein, an element movably mounted in said head and provided with means for engaging said lock to retain the latter in lookset position, a member adapted to extend through an opening in said head for cooperation with a portion of an opposing coupler and engageable with said element by virtue of such cooperation for maintaining the latter in lock-retaining position, said member having an inclined surface engaging a correspondingly inclined surface on said element in the lock retaining position of the latter, and said lock having a surface inclined in a direction opposite to the direction of inclination of the first mentioned surface and engageable by a correspondingly inclined surface on said element.

27. In a rigid jawed coupler head, a lock adapted to reciprocate therein, an element movably mounted in said head andprovided with means for engaging said lock to retain the latter in lookset position, a member adapted to extend through anopening in said head for cooperation with a portion of an opposing'coupler and engageable with said element by virtue of such cooperation forretaining the latter in lock-retaining position, said' element being pivotally mounted and normally urged independently of said lock to swing forwardly about its pivot.

28. In a rigid jawed coupler head, a lock adapted toreciprocate therein, an element pivotally mounted within said head and provided with means for engaging said lock to retain the latter in lock-set position, said element being normally urged to swing forwardly out QflOck-retaining position.

29. In a rigid jawed coupler head,- a lock adapt: ed to reciprocate therein, an element pivotally mounted in said head and provided with. means for engaging said lock to retain the latter in lockset position, said element being normally urged I to swing forwarcfly' out of lock-retaining position such relation to said opposing coupler as to be engageableby said coupler and remain in substantially the same longitudinal position in all.

positions of relative vertical displacement in which said coupler, and the first mentioned coupler may be coupled together.

RUSSELL J. WITTMERQ TIM ZIN'ISMASTER.

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