US1876816A - Car coupler - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 13; 1932. R, J. WITTMER 1,876,816

CAR COUPLER Filed Aug. 5, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ei-vvvmtoz @51 MA @M'ome a Sapfit, 155,, i932. R. J.YWITTMER 1,876,816

CAR COUPLER Filed Au 5, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 fjwue/wto c 35 40 0 WOW .Sept. 13,, 1932. R. J. WITTMERI 1, 7

CAR COUPLER Filed Aug. 5, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 avwemtoz @513 il 'attovm LMGEH 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 13, 1932 R. J. WIT'II'MER CAR COUPLER Filed Aug. 5, 1926 Patented Sept. 13, 1932 UNET srss I new OF ICE 1 l nussnnr. J. wrrrivrnn, or EAST CLEVELAND, onr nssronon ro NATIONAL MAL'LEm BLE AND s'rnnr. oes'rrnss COMPANY, or C EVELAND,- onro, A CORPORATION or OHIO CAR oournnn Application filed August 5, 1926. Serial n5. 127,259.

The following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in. which:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal section of a car coupler embodying my invention and showing the transition mechanism in operative position; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section similar to Fig. 1, but with the transition mechanism in nonoperative position; and Fig. 4 is front elevation of my improved coupler with the operating parts removed.

My invention relates to car couplers, par ticularly of the Master Car Builders type, intended for use in a transition service. It has been extremely difficult on roads, espe cially in foreign countries, which are partly but not fully equipped with'couplers of the Master Car Builders type to effect coupling.

with cars equipped with couplers of other types, and particularly to arrange the transi tional coupling mechanism in a position measurably near the longitudinal center line of the M. C. B. coupler without interfering substantially with the construction and operation of the M. C. B. coupler. In my improved coupler I have been able to locate the transitional coupling near the center line of the coupler, and at the same time have been able to operate fering with the strength of its construction or its operativeness. My invention also comprises various features which I shall here-. inafter describe and claim.

Referring to the drawings, 2 indicates a coupler of the Master Car Builders type which is of the general character shown in patents of Arthur J. Bazeley, Nos. 1,518,299 and 1,518,300, dated December 9, 1924:, in which the coupler has been built out on the pivot pin side to form an enlarged cavity 3. The knuckle i is so shaped that when in locked position its tail 5, as is shown in Fig. 3, is almost wholly outside a longitudinal vertical plane taken through the axis of the pivot pin 6. The locking and opening piece which straddles the knuckle tail, lies wholly on the pivot pin side of the coupler, and

the coupler without interthe knuckle pin, so that a long1tudinally .ver-

ticalplane; passing through the axis-of the pin intersects the engaging surfaces of the locking face Sand the knuckle tail. The exterior contour of the lmuckle is carried around to the point 9, so that when the knuckle is open the contour of the knuckle Will project into the path of the opposing knuckle to an extent suificient to ensure closure of the knuckle.

-The purpose of moving the operating mechanism and of changing the shape'of the knuckle is to permit the location of the transition mechanism as near the longitudinal center line of'the coupler as possible. The transition mechanism is mounted in a longitudinally extending slot 10 which extends up from, the bottom through thefront'facell and the floor of the coupler, and is suspended therein by the bolt 12, which extendsacross the slot 10, supports the'transition mechanism thereon, and is secured to the coupler head in such a way as to reinforce it to compensate for the slotting of the head. The transitional mechanism may be of the usual character, such as the shackles 13 and 14: mounted on the screw rod 15 operated by the handle 16. The slot 10 is flared slightly toward its forward endso as to permit the transitional mechanism to angle laterally.

It will be seen, as is shown in Fig. 1, that the transitional device may be used without interfering with the knuckle or lock by placing the knuckle in unlocked or knucklethrown position, and that, as is shown in Fig. 3, when it is desired to use the coupler as an M..C. B. coupler the transitional mechanism hangs 'vertically in such a way as not to interfere with the coupling operations with'a like coupler. I

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any mechanical equivalents of the features shown and described, or portions thereof, .but recognize that various structural modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. Obviously, my invention may be used with types of couplers other than that here shown.

What I claim is:

1. An automatic coupler comprising a head, a pivoted knuckle and a lock capable of effecting normal coupling operations with a like coupler and having a transitional coupling member mounted therein adjacent the central horizontal plane of the coupler and adapted without interference with the normal coupler parts to be rotated into and out of operative position by movement'about a horizontal axis and being adapted when in operative position to extend forwardly beyond the bufling face of the coupler and be held between the guard arm and knuckle so as to permit a pull substantially along the longitudinal axis of the coupler, the said coupler being operable either as an automatic coupler or as a transitional coupler without the automatic coupler parts interfering with the transitional parts or Vice versa.

2. A coupler head adapted to couple with like and unlike couplers having a knuckle and a vertically movable lock, the lock engaging face of the knuckle moving from a diagonally rearward position when the knuckle is locked to a position substantially parallel to the line of draft, a transitional device 'pivotally mounted adjacent the longitudinal axis of said coupler disposed when in operative position to couple with an unlike coupler and when in non-operative position being removed to a non-interfering position with the first mentioned elements and when in said last named position extending downwardly through a slot in the coupler head.

7 3. A coupler head having a slot through the bufiing face of the head for the reception of a transitional coupling member, a pivoted knuckle and a vertically movable lock, the lock engaging the locking face of the knuckle directly to the rear of the knuckle pin, substantially the whole knuckle, when the knuckle swings to open position, being on one side of the longitudinal center line of the head and clear of the slot, and means on the knuckle which when the knuckle is in open position extends'in front of the buffing face of the head and toward the guard arm to ensure the closing of the knuckle in subsequent coupling operations, said means projecting forward of the bufiing face of the head when the knuckle is locked. RUSSELL J. WITTMER.

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