US1901917A - Train pipe coupling - Google Patents

Description

March 21, i933. J. C. McCUNE TRAIN PIPE COUPLING Filed March 25, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTO NEY March 21, 1933. J. c. MccuNE TRAIN PIPE COUPLING Filed Mdmh` l 25, 1929 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR Jgfsx-:PH C. McCUNE ATTO NEY Patented Mar. 21, 1933 n rss JOSEPH C. MCNE, 0F EEGEWGB, EENNSYLVANM, ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTINGHOUSE j BRAKE COMEX-Hill?, OF "WLLEERDNG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATON 0F ENNSYLVANIA TRN PIPE COUPLING Applicatien )filed March 25, 1929. Serial No. 349,540.

This invention relates to train pipe couplings, such as are used with car couplers for coupling the il lid conduits between railway cars.

An object of the invention is to provide a train pipe coupling which is lapted to be manually coupled to a counterpart coupling, and which will automatically uncouple when the car couplers are uncoupled, the coupling operation being eiiected by operating means located at the side of the car so that a trainman is not compelled to enter between two cars being coupled together in order to connect the train pipe sections,

Another object oi the invention is to pr vide improved means for connecting train pipe couplings.

Another object of the invention is to provide a train pipe coupling oi' the character mentioned which is simple in construction, and reliable and exact in function under all conditions oi service.

rlhe invention also comprises certain new and useful improvements in the construction, arrangement and combination of the several parts or" which it is composed, as will be hereinafter more fully descr'bed and claimed.

In the accompanying rawings; Figui is a side elevation of a train pipe coupling constructed according to the invention, sh wing the same coupled to a counterpart coupling; 2 is a side view of the coupling in uncoupled position; and Fig. 3 is a iront view.

Reterrng to the drawings, the train pipe coupling may comprise a body or head 11 which is provided with a plurality of openings 12, each for receiving a train pipe conduit, in the present instance three conduits being shown, as indicated at 13, 14 and 15.

t the iront face ot the coupling head, each conduit is provided with a gasket 16 adapted to abut the corresponding gasket on a coun terpart coupling head, while at the rear end, each conduit is attached to the end of a flexible hose, as indicated at 17, 18 and 19.

he coupling head 11 is suspended from the car coupler 21 by means of a single coil spring 20, and in order to limit to some eX- tent the lateral swinging of the coupling head 11 relative tothe car coupler 21, the latterl is provided with depending plates 22 and 23, which are arranged on opposite sides of the coupling head in the manner shown in F ig. 3. rEhe extremity of the plate 22 is formed with an outwardly projecting nose 2e, while the extremity of the plate 23 is provided with a similarly formed nose 25. 'ihe purpose of the noses 24 and 25 will be hereinafter more fully described.

On one side, the coupling head 11 is formed with a centering member 2G, which projects beyond the front ace of the coupling head in the manner shown in Fig. 2, while on the opposite side, the front `face ot' the coupling head is formed with a recess 27. The disposition of the member 26 and recess 27 is such that when counterpart couplings are brought together for coupling up, the centering member 26 of one coupling enters the recess 27 or the adjoining coupling head, and thus the abutting train pipe conduit gaskets 16 are properly registered.

For the purpose. of locking the coupling head 11 to a counterpart coupling head, a suitable latch is provided. As shown, the latch may comprise a substantially Y-shaped member which is pivotally mounted on the side of the coupling head by means of a pin 28. rl`he latch has a forwardly projecting arm 29, terminating in a suitable hookshaped nose 30. Projecting rearwardly is an arm 31, which is bent upwardly at the end, so as to project above the nose 24 heretofore` referred to. The third arm 32 of the latch extends downwardly and is connected to one end of a coil spring 33, the opposite end of the spring being connected to a bracket 34 on the side of the coupling head 11. Above the latch, the side of the coupling head 11 is formed with a iiXed arm 35 for limiting the swinging of the latch, as will be herein after more fully described. As shown in Fig. 3, there is also a liXed arm 36 on the ther side of the coupling head, and beneath this arm, the side of the coupling head is formed with an outwardly projectingv lug 37, adapted to receive. the nose 30 of a counterpart coupling latch member, in the manner shown by Fig. l.

lVhen the cars are uncoupled the coupling head 11 will be suspended beneath the car coupler 21 with the front face of the train pipe coupling head slightly to the rear of the center line of the car coupler knuckle, as shown in Fig. 2. In this position the spring 20 will be substantially vertically disposed, and the fixed arm 35 of the coupling head 11 will contact with the nose 24 of the bracket 22.

The coupling heads 11 of adjacent cars will remain in this rearward position after the cars have been brought together for cou pling up. By the present invention, means are provided for positively moving the coupling head of one car into position with the counterpart train pipe coupling of an adjacent car so that the latch members of the two coupling heads can engage the lugs 37 and connect the train pipe couplings together.

For this purpose, a link 3S has one end pivotally connected to the coupling head 11 by means of a pin 39, the other end of said link being slotted, as at 40, for receiving a pin 41 carried on the ends of links 42 and 43. The opposite end of the link 42 is connected by a pin 44 to a. link 45 fixed to an operating lever 46, journalled in a bracket 47 carried by the car, while the opposite end of the link 43 is connected to the bracket 47 by means of a pin 48.

In operation, when the cars are being coupled up, the car couplers 21 are interlocked in the usual manner from the impact of the two cars coming together. The train pipe coupling heads ll will be separated, and in order to couple the adjoining train pipe sections, the lever 46 of one train pipe coupling is moved in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2. This action will buckle Jthe links 42 and 45 on the hinge provided by the pin 44, and the lower end of the link 42 will be forced to the left.

When the cars are uncoupled the pin 41 will be disposed near the upper end of the slot 40 in the link 38. Therefore, the movement to the left of the link 42 will be transmitted through the pin 41 to force the link 38 also to the left.

In this way the coupling head 11 will be movel towards the counterpart train pipe coupling on the end of the adjacent car, the spring 20 permitting this transitory movement of the coupling head 11 longitudinally of the car.

When the front face of the coupling head l1 is moved toward the corresponding face of the counterpart coupling head, the centering member 26 of each coupling head enters the recess 27 of the other coupling head, thereby registering the adjacent train pipe conduit gaskets 16.

The movement of the lever 46 is continued until the abutting train pipe gaskets 16 are compressed sufhciently to permit the nose 30 of each of the latch members to engage the lug 37 of the other coupling head in the manner shown in Fig. 1 to lock the coupling heads 11 together.

t will be noted that when the coupling head 11 is moved into engagement with the coupling head of a counterpart coupling, that the latter head will be prevented from moving rearwardly because the fixed arms 35 and 36 thereof will be in engagement with the noses 24 and 25 of the brackets 22 and 23 respectively.

Referring to Fig. l, when the train pipe coupling heads 11 are connected together in the manner just described, the spring 20 of the coupling head which has been moved into engagement with the counterpart coupling head, will be extended. Therefore when the lever 46 is released at the completion of the coupling operation, the extended spring 2() will retract, and in so doing, both coupling heads will be moved to a position in which the abutting coupling head faces will be disposed in a vertical plane correspcnding substantially to the center line of the ear coupler knuckles. In this position both springs 2O will be under tension, and such springs will be disposed at an angle, the lower ends of the springs being closer together than the upper ends thereof. Therefore, when the coupling heads 11 are unlatched, the tension of the springs 20 will be relieved, and the springs will, in retracting, draw the coupling heads rearwardly away from each other, to a position in which the front faces of tne train pipe coupling heads will be disposed in a plane to the rear of the center line of the car coupler knuckle, as shown in Fig. 3.

From the foregoing it will be noticed that the lever 46 and links 38, 42, 43, and 45 which are connected thereto in the manner shown and described, provide means for positively connecting the adjoining ends of a plurality of train pipe sections. The handles on each end of the levers 46 may be disposed at the side of the car so that a trainman or other operator can operate the apparatus without entering between the cars.

lVhile the train pipe coupling heads 11 are adapted to be manually connected together, such coupling heads are adapted to be automatically uncoupled.

lVhen the car couplers 21 are uncoupled in the usual manner to separate one section of train from another, the train pipe cou` plings will remain coupled together until the car couplers have receded from each other a distance suliicient to bring the noses 24 and 25 Iinto engagement with the upwardly extending arms 31 of the train pipe coupling latch members. Continued'movement of the car couplers relative to the coupled train pipe coupling heads Will cause the. noses to trip the latch arms 3l, thereby disconnecting the noses of the latches from the lugs 37. The movement of the car couplers 2l relative to the coupled train pine coupling heads, will extend the springs 20, and When the latches are disconnected, the springs Will contract, thereby returning each train pipe coupling head to the uncoupled position shown in Fig. 3.

vWhile the present invention 'has been shown and described, for illustrative purposes only, Iin connection with couplings provided with a plurality of train pipe conduits, it is to be understood that the invention can be also used with various vother types of connecting members, such for instance as the Well known coupling members carr ino' electrical conductors. and the coupling members having combined fluid and electrical conductors.

While one illustrative embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, it is not my intention to limit its scope to that embodiment or otherwise than by the terms oi the appended claims.

` Having now described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. The combination with a car coupler, of a Vtrain pipe coupling movably mounted relatively to the car coupler and spaced from a counterpart coupling when the car coupler is coupled to a counterpart car coupler, and manually operated means for positively moving the train pipe coupling to coupleA the same With a. counterpart coupling after the car couplers are coupled.

2. The combination With a car coupler, a bracket depending from the car coupler, a

train pipe coupling, means for locking the Y train pipe coupling with a counterpart coupling, and mea-ns carried by said bracket for unlocking the train pipe coupling When the car coupler moves relatively to the train pipe coupling.

3. The combination with a car coupler, oi' a train pipe coupling movable relatively to the car coupler and spaced from a counterpart coupling when the car coupler is coupled to a counterpart coupler, manually operated means for connecting the train pipe coupling to acounterpart coupling subsequent to the coupling of two car couplers together, and means for automatically unlocking the train pipe couplings.

4l. The combination with a car coupler, of a train pipe coupling movable relatively to the car coupler, manually operated means for connecting the train pipe coupling to a counterpart coupling subsequent to the coupling of two car couplers together, and means for automatically unlocking the train coupling, and means movable relatively to the coupling for disconnecting the coupling fromA the counterpart coupling.

6. A train pipe coupling comprising a body provided with a train pipe conduit,

means for flexibly supporting the body,-

means for positively moving the body longitudinally of the car, means for limiting the movement of the body in the opposite direction, means for centering the body with the body of a counterpart coupling, a latch for connecting the body to the body of a counterpart coupling,'and means carried by the latch for engaging said limiting means to disconnect the body from the body of a counterpart coupling. u

7. The combination with a car coupler, of a train pipe coupling carried by the car coupler and so positioned relatively to the car coupler that the train pipe coupling will be spaced from a counterpart coupling with the car coupler coupled to a counterpart car coupler, and manually operated means for shifting the train pipe coupling into engagement with the counterpart coupling. i

8. rlhe combination with a car coupler, of a train pipe coupling provided With means for locking said coupling to a counterpart coupling and positioned relatively to the car coupler so that the train pipe coupling Will not engage the counterpart coupling When the car coupler is coupled to the counterpart coupler, and manually operated means for shifting the train pipe coupling into engagement With the counterpart coupling.

9. The combination with a car coupler, of a train pipe coupling carried by said car coupling and movable longitudinally, the coupling face of the train pipe coupling being disposed at the rear of the coupling plane of the car coupler, and manually op.- erated means for moving said train pipe coupling into engagement with a counterpart coupling after the car coupler has been coupled to a counterpart coupler.

l0. The combination Withy a car coupler, of a train pipe coupling mounted for longitudinal movement on said carl coupler and provided With means :tor locking said coupling intoy engagement With a counterpart coupling, a member carried by said car coupler, and an element carried by said train pipe coupling and adapted to engage said member with the coupling in its uncoupled y of a train pipe coupling mounted for longitudinal movement on said car coupler and provided with means for locking said coupling into engagement with a counterpart coupling, a member carried by said car coupler, and means for operating said locking means and adapted to be automatically operated by engagement with said member upon a movement of said car coupler relative to the train pipe coupling.

12. The combination with a car coupler, of a train pipe coupling mounted for longitudinal movement on said car coupler and provided with means for locking said coupling into engagement with a counterpart coupling, a member carried by said car coupler, an element carried by said train pipe coupling and adapted to engage said member to limit longitudinal movement of said train pipe coupling relative to said car coupler iu one direction, and means operated by said member for automatically releasing said locking means upon relative longitudinal movement of said train pipe coupling in thel opposite direction.

13. The combination with a car coupler,

of a train pipe coupling mounted for longitudinal movement relative to the car coupler, the coupling face of the train pipe coupling being disposed in a plane to the rear of the coupling plane of the car coupler when the cars are coupled and the train pipe couplings are uncoupled, means for moving the train pipe coupling across the plane of the coupled car couplers and into coupling position with a counterpart train pipe coupling, and means for locking the train pipe coupling to the counterpart coupling when the faces of said couplings are brought together.

body to the body of a counterpart coupling, and'means carried by the latch for engaging said limiting means to disconnect the body from the body of a counterpart coupling. c

16. The combination with a car coupler, of a train pipe coupling carried by the car coupler and so positioned relatively to the car coupler that the train pipe coupling Will be s aced from a counterpart conductor coup ing when the car coupler is coupled to a counterpart car coupler, and manually operated means for moving` the train pipe coupling into engagement with the counterpart coupling.

17. The combination With a car coupler, of a conductor coupling mounted for longitudinal movement relative to the car coupler, the coupling face of said conductor coupling being disposed in a plane to the A rear of the coupling plane of the car coupler when the cars are coupled and the conductor couplings are uncoupled, manually operated means, for moving the conductor coupling across the planeof the coupled car couplers and into coupling position With a counterpart coupling, and means for locking the conductor coupling to the counterpart coupling when the faces of said couplings are brought together.

In testimony whereof I havehereunto set my hand, this 21st day of March. 1929.

JOSEPH C. MCCUNE.

14. The combination with a car coupler,

of a train pipe coupling mounted for-longitudinal movement relativeto the car coupler, the coupling face of the train pipe coupling being disposed in a plane to the rear of the coupling plane of the car coupler when the cars are coupled and the train pipe couplings areuncoupled, means for limiting the movement of the trainr pipe coupling in one direction, means for moving the train pipe coupling in the other direction across the plane of the coupled car couplers and into coupling position with a counterpart train pipe coupling, and means for locking the train pipe coupling to the counterpart coupling.

15. A coupling comprising a body, means for flexibly supporting the body, means for moving the body longitudinallyy of the car, means for limiting the movement of the body in the opposite direction, means for g centering the body with the body of ay counterpart coupling, a latch for connect-ing the

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