US648781A - Automatic coupling for air-brakes. - Google Patents

Description

J Patented may I, moo.

- T H PATCHING &. R H EINCH AU TOIIIM'IC COUPLING FOB AIR BRAKES. (Application filed Sept. 25, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-She6t I.

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A770 EYS No. 648,78l.

T. H. PATCHING &, R. H. FINGH. AUTOMATIOBOUPLING FOB AIR BRAKES.

(Application filed Sept. 25, 1899.) (No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

llllllllllflll Patented May I, WM.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE THOMAS nanny PATCHING, OFSTBATHFIELD, AND ROBERT HOSKINS FINCII, on BURWOOD, NEW SOUTH WALES.

AUTOMATIC COUPLING FOR AIR-BRAKES.

sencIFIcATIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 648,781, dated Ma 1, 1906.

' Application filed September 25,1899. Serial ms. 781,698. on model.)

, and exact description ofsaid invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it most nearly appertains to-make, use, and practice the same.

Our invention consists of an automatic coupling for air-brakes for use on railway rolling-stock; and its object is to providea means whereby the air-brakes can be connected and disconnected without the necessity-of the operator going between the carriages.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate the same sole-plates in section.

parts in all the views, Figure l is' an elevation showing the invention complete. The position of the coupling indicated in this drawing is the first point of contact between the two parts (hereinafter called the male and female portions) before pressure has been applied to drive them home. Fig.2 shows a vertical section through the female connection with the male connection partly in elevation, the positions being'the same as in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a. partial section of the female connect-ion. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the male connection. Fig. 5 is an end view of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an elevation of hollow piston which works inside the cylinder of female connection, as hereinafter described. 111g. 7 is an end view of Fig. 6.

In Fig. 1, a and a are the ends of the two vehicles, the portions shown representing the Z) is a round tube which forms a part of the male portion of the coupling. Thi's tube passes through the sole-plate a, as shown, being supported by a bracket 0, in which it moves freely. The bracket 0, a portion of which also passes through a tapered hole in the sole-plate, is attached thereto by means of a knuckle-joint d and is provided w1th.a heel e for the purpose of maintaining the coupling in a horizontal position and keepin g it at right angles to the soleplate. On the the cylinder, as shown clearly in Fig. 5.

other side of the sole-plate-thzit is, tinder neath the vehicle-the tube 11 passes through a collar f, which-is attached to the sole-plate by means of the stays h 71 k is a strong spiral spring which surrounds the tube 1), as shown, being confined at the one end by the collar f and at the other by the loose disk or washerl which is held in position by the pin m. This spring is provided for the purpose of keeping the male connection 1* pressed forward into the required position and of allowing for the backward and forward play of the carriages when connected and in motion. n is the air-supply pipe. 12 is a square metal bar which forms the part of the female portion of the coupling corresponding to the tube 1) of the male portion. This bar passes through the sole-plate a. in a manner similar to that in which the round tube b passes through the sole-plate a, excepting that the passage-way through the bracket 0 must necessarily correspond to the section of the bar I). The spiral spring k and the attachments f, 71-, 7, and m correspond exactly to the similar parts already described in the male portion. p is the bell-shaped orifice of female connection, as hereinafter described. q is an air-pipe.

In Fig. 2, r is the male connection, attached to tube b, and consists of a hollow cylinder endnig in a tapered nozzle as hereinafter described. sis one of two tapered grippinglugs, the other being on the opposite side of t t are two longitudinal guide-pieces lyingalong the cylinder 2', as showrz clearly in Figs. 4

and 5. 'u is one or a pair of pins projecting on either side of the male connection, both of which arev clearly shown in Fig. 5. 'u is a guide-collar consisting of a disk surrounding the cylinder 0'. (Also clearly shown in Figs. & and 5.) The internal area of the female connection consists pf two cylinders of un-. equa'l diameter, the first, '10, being of the same diameter asthe inner end of the bell-shaped orifice p, the other, 11", somewhat smaller, so as to form a shoulder 11' for the purpose here inafter described. a. is a hollow piston which slides in the smaller cylinder to, having a collar :0 fittin g the larger cylinder ugas shown, m is an air-pipe connection fitted into the or washer z for the purpose of insuring an .7 with the male portion.

air-tight joint between the male and female portions. o is a spiral spring acting on the closed end of piston or: for the purpose of pressing the latter forward into the position'ne'cessary to establish and maintain a connection I In Fig. 3, which shows female connection partially in section, R is one of a pair of righthanded helical slots or channels into which the projecting pins u a on the male connection fit and by means of which the latter is dotted lines in Fig. 1.

partially rotated for the purpose of locking the connection, as hereinafter described. Q is a left-handed helical opening in the under portion of the cylinderw' of the same pitch as the helical slots. R R.

The method by which our brake operates is as follows: When the carriages are detached, the male and female portions of the coupling stand out in horizontal positions, in which it is essential that they should be maintained by the brackets c and o. It is also essential that in the male connection the projectingpins to u should bein a horizontal position. It will probably be found impractice that the weight of thesupply-pipe n will be sufficient to maintain this latter position in the male connection; but should it be deemed advisable a weighted lever b may be attached to the under portion 'of tube 1), as indicated by On the vehicles being run together the male connection enters the orifice of the female connection, the said orifice being made bell-shaped, so as to insureentry should one of the vehicles be more heavily loaded than the other or shouldthe coupling take place on a curve, the tapered holes in the sole-plates allowing for the necessary play in all directions. The horizontal cross-pins u u enter the helical slots R R (the points of entrance to which are also horizontally set) at the same time that the conical nozzle 1" enters the mouth of the hollow piston 00. The connection being thus established and the air-channel completed through tubes 5 and q, the continued pressure of the two vehicles coming together causes the crosspins 10 u to travel along the helical channels R R, thus causing the male connection to revolve in one direction, while the forward pressure of the male connection 4 forces the sliding piston arbackward along the cylinder w, the springo being somewhat weaker than the main spiral springs 7c. 'lhisbackward movement of piston :20, carrying the pipe connection m along the left-handed helical opening Q, causes thepiston a; to rotate in the opposite direction. These two opposite rotary movements of theseparate parts,as described,

forces the tapered lugs s .9 under the grips y ,y, thus securely locking theconnection, which cannot become unlocked till the vehicles are separated, when the mere act of withdrawal reverses the action above described and releases the connection.

Having now particularly described and ascerta'ined the nature of our said invention and in what manner thesamejs to be performed, we declare that what we claim is- '1. The combination in an automatic air-- brake coupling of the tube 1); the tube having a nozzle-piece r, taper-lugs s s, horizontal guide-pieces t t, disk o, cross-pins u u, the whole being secured to the sole-plate of the vehicle, and controlled by the spring is; the bracket 0 fitted with the knuckle-joint d, and heel e, for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination in an automatic airbrake coupling of the cylinder w provided with the helical channels R, R, and having a bell-shaped mouth; the cylinger w, having the helical opening Q; the sliding piston :12 with the pipe connection as set at right angles thereto, provided with a tapered rubber mouthpiece z, the shoulder as grip-pieces y 1 the bar I); and the spring 0 for set forth.

,3. In an automatic air-brake coupling, the combination, with a male portion secure to one car and provided with cross-pins, of a female portion secured to another car and comthe purposes prising a hollow cylinder provided with helical channels adapted to receive said crosspins, and connecting devices located on the male portion and the female portion respectively and adapted to be brought into engagement with each other through the cooperation of the pins on the male portion with the helical channels of the female portion.

4. In an automatic air-brake coupling, the combination, with a male portion mounted to turn on one car and provided with projections upon its outer surface, of a female portion secured to another car non-rotatably' and pro-' vided with helical channels adapted to receive said projections, and connecting devices 10- cated on the male portion and the female portion respectively and adapted to be brought into engagement with each other through the cooperation of the pins on the male portion with the helical channels of the female por tion. 5. In an automatic air-brake coupling, the

combination, with a male portion mounted to turn on one car and provided with projections upon its outer. surface, of a female portion secured to another car non-rotatably and provided with helical channels adapted to receive said projections, and with a helical opening located in the rear of said channels, a hollow piston mounted to slide and turn in said female portion and having an air-pipe connection passing through and engaging said helical opening, and connecting devices located. respectively on said piston and' on the male portion of the coupling and adapted to be brought into engagement with each other the coupling members, and springs for throw- :6 through the cooperation of the said pins and ing said members forward in the brackets.

channels. In witness whereof we have hereunto set 6. A coupling, comprising a tubular male our hands in the presence of two witnesses.

member, a tubular female member having a THOMAS HENRY PATOHING.

flaringmouth, brackets in which said coup- ROBERT IIOSKINS FIN OH.

ling members are adapted to slide and piv- Witnesses:

oted to the respective ears about horizontal NVALTER SIGMONT,

axes, means for eo1meeting the free ends of F. ALLEN.

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