US2091446A - Railway draft appliance - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 31, 1937. s. L. JOINER 2,091,446

RAILWAY DRAFT APPLIANCE I Filed July 9, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor 74 Q fizmaarfia M m i Attorneys Aug. 31, 1937. s. JOINER RAILWAY DRAFT APPLIANCE Filed July 9, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sylves/er Z jz 2; er

Attorneys Patented Aug. 31, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT or ies 2 Claims.

The present invention appertains to new and useful improvements in railway draft appliances and more particularly to couplers of the rotary operating type.

In this type of coupler the lock is operated by a rotary release rigging which extends laterally to one side of the car, and this serves to operate a lock lift lever on the coupler proper, which in turn is connected to the lock of the coupler by a toggle. When the lock of this type of coupler is in released or elevated position, it is supported by a ledge thereof resting on the usual knuckle thrower.

While this type of coupler has proven very efficient in use over long periods of time, the same is nevertheless susceptible of one troublesome occurrence, and that is, that frequently the lock hangs on the knuckle thrower when the coupling impact is effected, with the result that the lock does not drop into locking position.

The extra operations the trainmen must perform and the resulting delay in time proves cost- 1y, so it is, therefore, the object of the present invention to rectify this defect by providing a small weighted pendant on the toggle, so that the impact in coupling the cars will cause the toggle to swing in a direction insuring a complete removal of the look from the knuckle thrower.

In the drawings:--

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a coupler showing the lock in released position.

Figure 2 represents a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the lock in looking position.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the toggle showing the weighted pendant.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the improved toggle.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the rotary lock lift lever, toggle and lock assembly.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that the numeral 5 represents the body of the con-- pling on which is mounted the knuckle 6 supported by the knuckle pin 1. The body 5 is hollow and has the lock generally referred to by numeral 8 mounted therein and the coupling illustrated is adapted to accommodate a top lock lifter (not shown) the opening through which the same operates being shown capped as at 9.

The lock 8 is provided with the head l0 which is constructed to define a shoulder II. The lock is furthermore provided with a depending shank I 2 which is provided with a slanting slot I3 at its lower end above which the said shank is provided with the ledge l4 under which the knuckle thrower 15 engages as shown in Figure 1 to retain the lock 8 in elevated or released position. 5

Numeral l6 generally refers to the rotary lock lifting lever which is provided with the saddle ll at one end resting on the fulcrum pin 13 while its opposite end is provided with an opening to receive the lower pintle IS on the toggle 10 26, which toggle is provided with a lateral pintle 2! at its upper end for disposition through the slanting slot [3 in the lock 8. The lateral finger on the rod of the usual rotary release rigging (not shown) engages the lock lift lever l3 by being 15 disposed downwardly through an opening in the intermediate portion of said lever.

In carrying out the present invention, a pendant generally referred to by numeral 22 is provided on the toggle 20. The conventional toggle terminates at the lower pintle 19, while the improvement, namely, this pendant consists of the depending arm or shank 23 provided with the weighted ball or enlargement 24 on its lower end.

The mechanism of the coupler as shown in Figure 2 is in coupler locking position and to release the lock 8, the release rigging (not shown) is rotated with its hook end engaged with the lever I6 so as to effect an upward movement of the lock 8 to the end that the ledge I4 of the lock will rest upon the knuckle thrower I 5 in the manner shown in Figure 1. Thus the coupler is set in released position.

In coupling cars, the coupler assemblies are brought together by impact, but frequently the lock 8 will remain in released position, that is, in the elevated position shown in Figure 1 due to the failure of the lock 8 and knuckle thrower to separate. However, due to the provision of the weighted member 24 depending below the toggle 20 and attached thereto, the toggle using its lower pin I9 as a fulcrum will swing so that its upper end will move the lower end of the lock 8 to the left in Figure 1, thus causing it to drop off of the knuckle thrower I5 and insure the proper placement of the lock 8 in coupler locking position as shown in Figure 2.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

What is claimed is:

1. In a coupler, a coupling knuckle, a knuckle 10 toggle.

2. In a coupler, a coupling knuckle, a knuckle thrower, a. lock for said knuckle, said knuckle thrower being adapted to retain the lock in coupler released position, a rotary lock lift lever and toggle for actuating the lock to lock released position, said toggle being provided with 2. depending shank rigidly carried thereby and having a weighted construction thereon.

SYLVESTER L. JOINER.

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