US418564A - Half to hiram a - Google Patents

Description

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R. HENRY. GAR COUPLING.

No. 418,664. PatentedDec. 31, 188-9.

i. a J I NITEI); STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT THOMPSON HENRY, OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO HIRAM A. SIMS, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-COUPLlNG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 418,564, dated December 31, 1889.

Application filed June 19, 1889. Serial No. 314,801. (No model.)

T aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT THOMPSON HENRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Roanoke, in the county of Roanoke and btate of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to car-couplings; and it has for its object to provide a simple and improved device of this character which will be automatic in its operation, and, furthermore, possess advantages in point of simplicity, durability, and general efficiency.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top or plan View of a draw-head and a portion of a car embodying my improved coupling. Fig. 2 is a bottom or inverted planview of the same. F g. 3 is alongitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 4 1s an end elevation. Fig. 5 is a detailed perspective view of the coupling, showing the special features of novelty thereof.

Corresponding parts in the figures are denoted by the same letters of reference.

In the organization of my invention I employ a suitably spring-cushioned draw-head A, the same being held between timbers Cb a, under the platform I) and resting upon a bottom cross-plate c, bolted to the under side of said timbers. Also secured to the timbers ct a, lengthwise of the car or platform, are parallel plates Ct at in a recess a In each timbe'r between said plates to a and the upper surfaces of said recesses is arranged an edgewise-disposed end plate d, bearing against the rear end walls of said recesses. A similar plate 01' is also arranged in said recesses a but so as to normally stand at the front end walls of said recesses, and extending from the drawhead through said plates d d is a rod 6, encircled by a spring 6' between said plates. The draw-head A carries within it a link-retaining bevel ended device or holder B, which is so arranged as to have a limited upwardly-yielding movement, having a retaining pin or bolt f passing through it, which is encircled by a spring f.

0 is a rightangled lever, which has its lower horizontal arm pivoted upon the under side of the cross-plate c. To one end of the lever O is connected a right-angled bar g, its

vertical or upturned'portion engaging orhaving the rod 6 passing through it, and therefore receiving the pressure of the inner or 4 forward plate cl, whereby when the drawhead is moved inward the bar 9 will in like manner be affected, and thus throw the lever O forward at its upper end. The upper end of the lever 0 stands nearly flush with the top of the platform, and is preferablylbeveled, for the purpose presently seen.

E is a hand or gravity lever having at the inner edge of its pendent handled portion a notch h, engaging the beveled upper edge of the lever 0 when the pin is in its uncoupled position. The lever E has acrank-shaft portion E, which is jonrnaled or has its bearing in the platform, while one arm thereof has connected to it a crank-arm t', which carries the coupling-pin D, arranged to stand in its elevated position in an openingin the holder B within the draw-bar. The crank-armt'has its upper pivoted end engaging a stop Q1 on the outer end of the arm of the crank-shaft portion of the lever E, to limit the upward movement of the coupling in, the event of the rebound action thereof. A stop in the form of a plate j, bolted to the platform and hav inga notch in its upwardly deflected or in clined end in alignment with the lever E, prevents the vertical displacement of the latter. It will be seen that as two draw-heads come together the latter will move inward and trip the lever C, as above intimated, moving it out of engagement with the coupling-pin-retaining lever E, and thus causing the dropping of the pin, and consequently the automatic coupling of the cars. The coupling-pin can be readily withdrawn from the couplinglink of the opposite car by simply raising the lever B until engaged by the lever 0. Connection can be effected between the pin-operating lever O and the top of a house-car by suitable means (not shown) to permit of the actuation of said lever from that point. A

plate 70, arranged directly below the linkholder B, limits the insertion of the link, while the spring-pressure of the holder holds the link in position, it (the holder) first yielding upward to permit the passage of the link beneath it.

I claim as my invention 1. In a car-coupling, the combination, with spring-cushioned or inwardly-movable drawhead, of the right-angled lever connected to the latter and having its free end engaginga second lever connecting with or carrying the coupling-pin, substantially as set forth.

2. The herein-described car-coupling, comprising the yielding draw-head provided with a spring-held link-support, apin-hfting lever, and automatic trip mechanism adapted to retain the pin in elevated position and release the same by the rearward yielding of the draw-head, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The car-coupling comprising the inwardly-movable draw-head, the right-angled lever having a right-angled bar connected to a rod or extension of the draw-head, the upper end of said lever being beveled, and the hand or gravity lever having a notch engaging the beveled end of the aforesaid lever and formed with a crank -shaft carrying the coupling-pin, substantially as set forth.

4. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a yielding draw-head, of a pin-lifting lever, and automatic trip mechanism adapted to retain the pin in elevated position and release the same by the rearward yielding'of the draw-head, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT THOMPSON HENRY. \Vitnesses:

M. C. THOMAS, M. TURNER.

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