Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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RAILWAY CAR COUPLER .;
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Abstract of the Disclosure ~
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In a railwa:y car coupler of the knuckle type which en~bodies mean~ for .
automatic unlocking and opening of the knuckle Iduring an uncoupling operation, . .
an improved lever member having roller contact with an as sociated cam ele- . '~
nent is utilized to improve the functioning of the knuckle unlocking and .
opening means . . . ~ '.
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Background of the Invention ' -: .
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In K. L. DePenti U. S. Patent No, 3, 717, 261 is~ued Februaxy 20, :-
r- 1973, there is shown a- railway car couplèr of the knuckle type in which the
locked knuckle thereo automatically . open~ during uncoupling- of coupled -~ :
couplers. i En'èrgized means in the form of a spring is ernployèd to effect ---- - ~: :
o~?ening of the knuckle. .As the coupler parts such as the knuckle, lock, .'
knuckle thrower-j and-the-associated elements-which-serve to automatically~ '
unlock the knuckle and pivot it to open position are not lubricated, it is im--.
portant that-frictional resistaI}ce behveen-moving part3 be kept to a minimu n-. ''
The present invention'relates to a coupler-of-construction'~imilar-to that- '
'shown in the aforementioned patent and concerns-novel means.~or reduc~g ~- - " ' ~::
the friction between ~ovlng' parts- ther~of. . . "
- Summary of the. Invention ' , '
One broad aspect of the invention provides a lever member for
use in a car coupler-to actuate an a~sociated cam element-in the
coupler, said member comprising a hub portion.:for receiving pin
means for pivotally mounting the member, first arm means extending .
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from said hub providing bearing means îor an associated sprin~
seat, second ar~n means extending ;erom said hub on tlle same side
thereof as said first arm means and llaving roller means for
engagement with said cam element and third arm means extending
from saia hub in a direction oppos ite from said first and second
arm means, said t~ird ann means having trunnion means Eor
operative engagement with an associiated plunger member in the
coupler.
The foregoing a~d other feature~ of the inventionwill be apparent from
10 the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. ~-
Brief Description of the Drawing
Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional:view of a car coupler embodying the in-
vention, -the coupler knùckle being closed and locked. ~ `
Fig. -2 is a side elevational view partly in section of car coupler e~n-
bodying the invention, the coupler parts being shown~in-position corresponding `
to the coupled condition of the coupler.
Fig. 3 is--a transvers~ vertical sectional-view taken along line 3-3
of Fig. 2.
Figo 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the coupler parts in
the same- position as in Fig. 2.
Fig. 4a;is a fraglnentary view taken along liDe 4a-4a of Fig. 4.
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Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the lev~r member in
- position in which its roller element is in initial contact with the ca~n surface
of the cam element.
Fig. 6 is a view s~milar t~ Fi~. 5 but showing the position of the parts
when the knuckle has been fully opened. ~ -
Fig. 7 is an end view of the lever ~le~mber shown in the previous ' :
figures. .
Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the lever member shs)wn in Fig, 70
Fig. 9 is a sectional plan view of the coupler shown in the previous
10 figures shown in coupled relation with a mating couple.r.
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Detaile d -De s cription ~ ~
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Referring to the drawingj thbre i~ shown a car coupler having a head .
10, and a knuckle' 12 'p~voted-to the.head-by~-a ve~tical pivot pin 14.= The heaèl .
is ch~-nbered ais at 16 to receive a lock l8 and-.the~tail-20 of the knuckle.. In ~
Figs. 1 and ~ the~:knuckle is shown in closed-position; with lock 18 in opposed ,
relation to knuckle-tail 20 to lock-the-knuckle.agaînst movement to open
position. Lock- 18 has a depending leg portion .22 to which î~ connected a lock '; ~ : 9:
lifter link 24 by ~neans. of a trunnion 26 which extends into elongated s~ot 28 ,' ~
în the lock leg. The lower end~of link~24.. îs p'votally connected to a-rotor : ~ '
0'- leve.-30 which is pivotally'.atta'ched:.to the-under~ide~-of-the couple~ hea~-by a~
rotor. shaft-32.: The rotor shaft comprîses an-~eya-portîon 34. to whîch ~àn~
uncoupling rod 36-i~ attached. Manual rotatîon of rotor shaft 32.by :~neans of `
rod 36 results in actuatîon of rotor lever 30 and-lifting of lock 18 by l-illk 24 ' .. ~.
to the upper end of chamber 16 wherein -it is out-of locking relation wît~ ,,
knuckle tail 20. Furthe ^ actuation of the~rotor lever results in rearward , ~
movement of the lock leg 22 whîch forces arm 38a of knuckle thrower 38 to
swing rearwardly, which causes- another arm 38b on the thrower to engage -
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the knuckle tail pad 20a and pivot the knuc~le to open po~ition. The afore--
mentioned coupler parts are those of the Associatio~ of Alnerican Railroads :
Alternate Standard F Interlocking coupler whose construction and operation
a~e well known and understood in the art. - :~
The aforementioned ope~ation of unlocking and opening of the knuckle
12 is also effected through the provision in the coupler of automatic mean~ ;
- for actuating rotor lever 30. This auto~natic means is carried within the :
coupler head but i~ inactive except during the uncoupling of a pair of coupled
couplers. When two cars are to be uncoupled, one of the coupled couplers :~
O ! is placed in lock-set position by actuation of the uncoupling rod 36 in the .
usual manner, but the mating coupler knuckle re:mains in locked condition.
- In lock-set position of coupler the lock i~; raised out of locking relation with
its knuckle- so that the latter, upon the application of a-pulling orce to the ..
couplers, will be -caused.to pivot to open position bv the. opposing knuc~le .
which i8 in locked condition. .However,- as .the couplers begin to separate,.
the automatic means of tXe locked coupler beconles operative to open the `- ~
knuckle . . . ~:
The autc~natic means. for op~ning the knuckle comprises a cam ele- :
ment 40 secured to rotor shaft 32 for:rotation therewith, a lever-4-2-~or--- ~
'O ; actuating the- ca~L element, - spring m~eans. 44 orractuating -lever- 42- and a-. -. `:
horizont~l~y disposed plu}iger 46 -operatvely -connected-to the .upper e.~d ~of --- . ~.
lever .42. . As-will be hereinafter--explained, the autamati~ means. functi~s to . .
. - rotate shaft 32 to effect unlockng and opening- of .the knuckle in a manner .~
similar to that when shaft 32 is manually o~serated by means-~ uIIcoupling rod . 1.
36. .
The coupler heacl 10 has spaced apart depending lugs lOa and lOb which ..
have openings fo~ receiving rotor shaft 32 for pivotally mounting the shaft
thereto. Extending laterally frcrn-lug-lOb is a-hub-portion IOcwhich receive~ .
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aft 32 and provide~ added support therefor. The portion of sha~t 3Z which
extends between lUg9 lOa and lOb is provided with a flattene~ key portion 32a
which receives the hooked portion 30h of rotor lever 30 to key the latter to theshaft. The end portion of shaft 3Z which extends laterally beyond th0 side of
hub lOc is formed with a pair of nat surfaces 32b and 32c adjoining the cir-
cular surfaces of the shaft. Cam element 40 has an opening through its hub
40a which is complemelltaryl in configuration to the end of shaft 32 whereby
the element is keyed to the slaft. Element 40 and the shaft are apertured
to receive a bolt ~0 to secure the element to the shaft. A lock nut 5~ on ;
o bolt 50 is tighteIled against element 40 to protect against l0s3 of the bolt aml ;
the element.
-- Cam element 40 is provided with an arm 40b having a convex cam I
surface 40c which is in a generally vertical position when the-coupler is in ~ ;
knuckle closed a~d locked condition, as in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. Pivotally ;
mounted in chamber 54 in the guard arm 56 of the coupler head is lever 42.
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Lever 42 pivots about a horizontal pin 60 whose axiæ is disposed above and ~
forwardly of the axis of rotor shaft 32. It will be noted that chamber 54 i8 : :
open at the bottom side of the coupler head to facilitate assembly and in8pec-
tion of the mechanism.
Lever 42 comprises a hub ~ortion 61 for receiving pivot pin 60 and i5
provided with a roller arm 62 extending from the hub. Arm 62 is disposed l
laterally of the longitudinal~vertical centerplane of the coupler the same ! : ;
distance as cam arm 40b as seen in Fig. 3. The outer end of arm 62 is
bifurcated as at 62a, 62a, A roller 64 is disposed within the bifurcation and
is pivoted thereto by a horizontai pin b6. ~oller 64 is spaced a substantial ,distance forwardly of car~ surface 40c when t~e coupler i5 in knuckle closed ,l
position as in Figs. 2 and 4, and is adapted to be moved into engagement with
surface 40c when lever 42 is actuated, as will be here inafter explained.
Lever 42 also has a pair of spaced ~rms 70 which are disposed t
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laterally outwardly of roller arm 62 and generally on the same
side of hub 61 as arm 62. ~rms 70 are each formed with U-shaped 1'
bearing portions 70a at their outer ends for pivotally supporting
a rear spring seat member 74 about a horizontal axis. Séat mem-
ber 74 has trunnions 74a which extend laterally from the sides ;
thereof and are recei~ed in bearing portions 70a. A forward ~
spring seat member 76 is pivotally mounted,in the coupler head. .
Spring means 44, shown in dot-dash, is disposed between seat' mem-
bers 74 and 76 and is under a predetermined amount of initial
compression. . Seat member 76 is provided with a longitudinally :
extending shaft or steam 76a which projects through a central
opening in seat member 74. Steam 76a is in'slidable relationship ~;
with member 74 and assures that the ends of spring means 44 will ;:
remain in.place against its respective.seats and-that--the spring ,
wilI compress and expand without.bowing---or distorting-during ;
operation of~thë mechanism.~ , ........................................ ~
Lever'42~;h'as~,an-arm 82--extending.-from--hub--61 in'.'the op-~ :
posi~e direction ~rom--arms ,62'ànd--70.~. Arm.-82-''is.operatively:'con- ~
nected at.. its.upper end~.to.hor.i.zont-all!y.movable.plunger.46-by ~ ,
means of a horizontal trunnion;82a~-which-'-i-s-received=in-U--shaped . ..
slQt 46a at-.the rearward end~~Q the.plunger. .At~its forward end ~
plunger--46 is provided--with~a~verticall~ extending en~.-.sur.face .
'. 46b which-is-adapted:--for engagement.with-,the-knuckle-=of-an op- ~
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posing coupler-during--coupl-ing~operations.-- Prior,to a coupler~ .
--- ..- operation plunger~46-.~-i-s--disposed-~:in its~orwar~mos~--positio~- wherein its.-surface.46b-is-.a subs-tantial amount:-forward-of--the
, buffing face.lOd~of-the-coupl:,e -head. Dur,ing.-.a coupler.. operation
: the opposing knuckle of a matin~ coupler will engage surface 46b .,:
' of the plunger and-urge the-plunger-rearwardly of the coupler
30-- until in the fully coupled.position of the couplers surface 46b
is approximately-in line with-buffing-face lOd. Moreover, inward
movement of plunger.46 has cause~ lever arm 82 to -
swing rearwardly-about pin-60-:to the-position shown in Figs. :' ;
2, 4 and 9, thereby further compressing spring'means 44.
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It will be noted in Figs. Z and 4 that lever arm 6Z i9 disposed in such a
position that roller 64 4paced a substantial distance forwardly of cam surface
40c. This spacing of Ioller 64 from cam surface 40c is necessary becau~e
oi the free slack which usually e~cists between coupled freight car couplers,
and assures that unintentional uncoupling of the couplers will not occur,. ;~ .
Thus when coupled couplers are in pulled condition, the knuckle of each
coupler will be spaced forwardly of the buffiLng face of the opposing coupler
head, which will allow plunger 46 to move forwardly by a corresponding
amount. This will-result in roller 64 being moved inwardly toward cam . .
10 ,.~. surface 40c but it will still be spaced therefrom. . ... `~
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It will be :observed that when the coupler i9 in coupled relation with :~
- another coupler, p~unger 46 through .its-engagement-with-trunnion 8Za main-
tains` lever.42 in the position shown in Figs.- 4 and 4a.~ In that position. spring - :~
- . means 44 is under maximum compression-so that. the. expansive force- thereof ~`~
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:: is available--during the knuclde unlocking-and opening operation.~ Re~erring :~ :
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particularly to-~ig. 4a, the portion '~" of trunnion 82a i~nmediately adjacent ~ .~
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arm 82 and in engagement with the- opposing sur~ace 46c-nf the plungel is
reinforced-by-portion. !Iyll on the opposite- side -of the--trunnion. Thus .trunnio~ -
82a is of- increased cross sectional- area at its juncture with arm-8i~-to provide
20~-- added protectio~-again~t-:shearing- a.nd bending-loads -applied to.~ runni~ --. . ~.
by-the plunger.. - . ~
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. When-coupled couplers are -to be uncoupled the lock of one coupler -- .. -
is placed in lock-set- position.by nleans :of-uncoupl~ng.rod 36j ..as-is well known
- in the art.- This~ unlocks the knuckle of the lock-set coupler so tha~ it can --~
swing to open positionwhen-a pulling-force is applied-to the couplers.--: .
Referring to-Fig. 9 itwill be assumed.that coupler "A~'will be.placed ill
lock-set condition, coupler "B "- remaining in locked condition. - As .the coup-
le~rs begin to separate in response ts~ a pu~ling-force, the~-knuckle:-12~-of - .
coupler "A " which had been holding plunger 46 in the position shown in Fig. 9
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begin~ to pivot toward open position and move3 away from the plunger. As
this occurs, the plunger is moved outwardly of the coupler by the expansion
- of spring means 44 whic~ pivots lever 42 in a counterclockwise direction a~
viewed in Fig. 2. This swings arm 6Z rear~irardly and brings roller 64 into
- engagement with the upper end of cam surface 40c as seen in Figo 5~ As :
separation of the couplers progresses, plunger 46 continues its nnovement
outwardly of the coupier under the action of spring means 44 a~d as ar~n 62
moves rearwardly, roller 64 rolls downwardly along surface 40c, the~eby
effecting rotation of cam element 40 in a clockwise direction. This action (i
10 - results in actuation of rotor lever 30 as though.it were being actuated by
means of uncoupling rod 36. Continued separation of the couplers cause~ ;
roller 64 to roll along surface 40c to the position shown in-Fig. 6, wherein .
cam element-40 has.bee~-~pivoted the amount necessary to fully open- the- -- ~:
knuckle 12.;--- It w.ill-be appreciated that at the. end.of the -uncoupling operation -
the knuckles of both-coupl~rs will be in open position.---Moreover,--:at the- ..
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conclu~ion of a coupling operation, with ~he knuckles:-.closed-and locked,-: the . $;
coupler parts`~vill return to the-positions.shown in Figs. 1, 2 and.-3.~
rolling-.action of roller.-64-along surace 40c~:avoids the.. frictional-resistance 1:
thatwouldbe created~i ~liding:engagementwere.to-occur-between-t:he--ena-
20- . of -lever-arm.62-and-sur:Eace~LOc,.-asin the-~aforementioned-patent.. 3, 717, 261.
It assures that smoother_as well as more.positiYe .unlockin~ and o.pening ~
the -knuckle will-occur..- - Roller - 64-and .pin- 66- may.. be made of material-such . . .
as stainless.steel.to resist corrosion and to increase..the effect~ve se~vice
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life of those parts.-.. - ,.:
Referring to Fig,. ~i which shows the initial engagement between roller
64 and cam surface 40c at the start of the knuckle unlocking and opening ,.
operation, the e~fective force exerted by the roller to rotate caIn element 40 i~
acts at a. moment arm m ' relati~e to axis o rotor - shaft 32. When 1~e part~
~re in position corresponding to that in which the knuckle is fully open, as i~
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Fig. 6, the force of the roller acts at a moment arm m" relative to the axi~
- of rotor shaft 32. Moment arm m" is abou~ 30% longer than arm m~, ~o that
while the force exerted by spring means 9~4 decreases during the uncoupl~ng
operation, this reductio~ i9 offset by the increased length of the moment arm
i:~ at which the spring force is exerted. This assures that adequate torque is
available for fully opening the knuckle. -
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