US701087A - Thill-coupling. - Google Patents

Description

Patented May 27, I902.

B. n. BAPP.

THILL COUPLING.

(Appl t nfildFb 6 1902) (No Model.)

UNirnn STATES PATENT- OFFICE.

BARNET R. RAPP, OF WESTCHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 701,087, dated May 27, 1902. Application filed February 6, 1902. Serial No. 92,808. (No modcL) To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BARNET R. RAPP, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Westchester, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Thill-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to thill-couplings of the character shown and described in my former patents, Nos. 94,912, September 14, 1869; 124,159, February 27, 1872, and 142,274, August 26, 1873.

The object of my present invention is to provide a suitable coupling of this general character that may be combined with any form of shackle now in common use and which will not necessitate the fitting of a special shackle to accommodate the coupling-bar.

My invention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved thill-coupling. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the coupling-bar; and Fig. 4 is a side elevation, on a reduced scale, illustrating a detail of my invention.

In the forms of thill-couplings shown and described in my former patents it was necessary to employ a special shackle, for the reason that the coupling-bar had an elongated portion and provided for the passage of one of the bolts of the shackle entirely through such elongated portion. In the present form of coupling, however, the usual shackle to be found upon the axles of all carriages and wagons is utilized, and to this I apply my special form of coupling-bar, which is secured to the shackle and axle by means of the usual nuts.

In the drawings, 1 represents my improved form of coupling-bar, which is secured to the shackle 2, passing over the axle 3, by means of suitable nuts 4. The coupling-bar may be strengthened by the rib 1, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

As in all ordinary forms of shackles, the shackle I have shown herewith has the clips or ears 5, between which the thill-eye 6 is held and secured by the usual bolt 7. Carried by the end of the coupling-bar 1 and pivotally mounted thereto at 8 is the camyoke 9, having the ears 10. Said yoke is adapted to be brought to the position shown fthethill-eye.

in Figs-1 and 2, so that its ears 10 will lie against the ears 5 of the shackles and retain the securing-pin 7 in place. Between the base of this yoke-piece 9 and the rounded surface of the thill-eye I place a rubber pad 11,

which is preferably inclosed or held by a metallic box 12, which latter is positioned by aid of the yoke-piece and coupling-bar so that the pad will always maintain its proper position with relation to the thill-eye. The box 12 is practically inclosed on all four sides and has a portion extending up into the space between the clips of the shackle, the sides of such box being cut away in semicircular form for the purpose of permitting the contact of the rubber only with the thill-eye. WVhen using rubber pads of this character, the constant wear and friction of the thill-eye upon the same causes the pad to leave its positive contact with the thill-eye, and consequently the latter will be inposition to rattle considerably. To obviate this, I arrange a springplate 13 within the box 12 beneath the rubber pad 11. To act on this plate to raise the pad, I tap a set-screw 14 through the bottom of this box, which screw bears against one side of the spring-plate. To provide for this screw, I preferably thicken a portion of the bottom of the box, as shown at 15, and to accommodate this extra metal the base of the yoke-piece is cut out, as shown at 16. This arrangement helps to position the box carrying the rubber pad within the said yoke-piece. It will be noted that the screw bears against one edge only'of the spring-plate, and hence the side opposite said screw becomes a fulcrum whenthe screw is adjusted, and the pad will be raised at its rear, where the greatest amountof material is placed to bear upon As afurther means of insuring the adjustment of the box 12 I recess the back of' the same at 17, so that it may lie against a portion of the coupling-bar 1 and one of its securing-nuts 4, and-I also recess the base of' the yoke-piece at 18 between the ears of the same to receive the base of the box 12.

I To prevent too great wear upon the rubber pad and-also to insure the firm holdingand easy movement of the thill-eye, I may provide the curved spring-plate 19, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, arranged between the rubber pad and said thill-eye. This plate has the turned ends 20 and 21, the former lying between the box 12 and the face of the shackle, while the vent the accidental removal of the box carrying the rubber pad, and said yoke-piece also has a socket 23 for the reception of the end of a suitable lever, which may be employed to open the coupling. In Fig. 4 I have shown a View of such lever 24. When the Wagon is not in use, the lever will be in the position shown by full lines, holding up the shaft.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a thill-coupling, the combination of the shackle, the coupling-bar for securing said shackle to the axle, means for connecting the same, clips carried by the shackle, a thill-eye held thereto, means for connecting these parts, a yoke-piece having arms for holding the connecting means of the thilleye in place, means for cushioning the thilleye arranged between the latter and the yokepiece, and an arm carried by the couplingbar to which said yoke-piece is pivoted, said arm extending from the center of the coupling-bar and curved so as to engage the yokepiece in proper position, such construction permitting the use of an ordinary shackle with its usual bolts and securing means.

2. The combination in a thill-coupling of the character described, of the shackle having clips carrying the thill-eye, a couplingbar having a projecting arm, a yoke piece pivoted to the projecting arm of the couplingbar and having side arms to retain the coup- 4 ling-pin in place, said-yoke-piece having a depression between its side arms, a rubber pad for the thill-eye, and a box for carrying said pad, said box having a depression in the rear fitting the coupling-bar, and a projection in the bottom which fits the depression in the yoke piece, all of said parts coacting and serving to position the box carrying the pad with relation to the thill-eye.

3. The combination in a thill-coupling, of the shackle, a thill-eye secured therein, a rubber pad carried by the shackle, said shackle having a projecting portion,'an inclosing and supporting cup for said pad, said cup being recessed at the rear for the reception of the projecting portion of the shackle whereby the latter serves to position said cup, and a loose spring-plate interposed between said pad and the thilLeye, said plate having projections at the front and rear which extend over and engage the cup carrying the rubber pad, the cup being recessed at the rear to receive the rear projection of the plate.

l. In a thill-conpling, the combination of a rubber pad to cushion the thill-eye, a cup or box in which said pad is mounted, an arched spring-plate carried in said cup beneath the pad, and means for adjusting said springplate from one side of the same.

5. The combination in a thill-coupling, of

the shackle, the thill-eye secured thereto, av

couplingbar, a yoke-piece carried by said bar, a rubber pad interposed between said yoke-piece and the thill-eye, a box carrying said pad, an arched spring-plate in said box supporting the pad, and an adjusting-screw tapped into said box and set so as to act upon one side of the spring-plate to cause thelatter to raise the pad at the rear.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two'subscribing Witnesses.

BARNET R. RAPP.

Witnesses:

MARY E. RUPERT, WALTER C. MUNSHOWER.

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