US2951597A - Car coupler - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 6, 1960 2,951,597

W. J. METZGER CAR COUPLER if 4 y( 7 INVENTOR. W/LL/AM J METZGER 9 A 'r'roRA/EY Sept. 6, 1960 w. J. METZGER CAR COUPLER Filed Nov. 18, 1957 W. J. METZGER CAR COUPLER sept. 6, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 18, 1957 INVENTOR.

M//LL/AM J /l/.sTzE/r BY rroRN/z Y v1,201,665 and 1,614,515, issued to John Willison.

Unite j CAR ocurran Filed Nov. 18, 1957, Ser. No. 697,244

13 claims. (ci. 213-100) This invention relates to car couplers of a rigid-jawed type, such as shown in the United States patents, Nos. In particular, it relates to lock-setting mechanism in a coupler of this type having a reciprocable lock member.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a coupler of the type characterized by a pair of transversely spaced, relatively rigid jaws with a lock-setting mechanism of simple, trouble-free design, and particu- `larly to apply lock-setting mechanism to that type of oulpler utilizing a spring-loaded horizontally reciprocable A further object is to provide a lock-setting mechanism for a coupler of theabove-mentioned type which may be manually tripped off of the lock-setting position without the separation of the coupled couplers in which such mechanism is embodied.

Another object is to provide lock-setting mechanism adapted for use in a conventional double-jawed type of coupler with minor modification thereof. Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the invention is described hereinbelow.

The invention, in brief, resides in mechanism for setting the lock of a fixed-jaw type coupler in an uncoupling position in opposition to a spring, other resilient member, or gravity tending to urge the lock to its coupler-locking position. Such mechanism comprises, in essence, a lever or other detent means pivotally connected with the lock for reciprocation therewith, and a pawl having a rearward-facing surface for engaging the lever and holding it and, consequently, the lock in a position permitting the uncoupling of two couplers. The coupler has a transverse wall connecting the jaws and providing an opening through which the pawl may move forwardly to engage the surface of another coupler brought into proximity of the wall, In the coupler head is provided a stop limiting the rearward movement of the pawl and acting, under certain circumstances, as a guide for lateral movement of the pawl, and a surface for camming or shifting the pawl in a lateral direction out of engagement with the lever as the pawl advances forwardly following the withdrawal of another coupler from the recess be tween the coupler jaws. The pawl and lever are further provided with interengaging cam and cam-following surfaces adapted to displace the pawl in the above-mentioned lateral direction so that the portion of the lever which engages the rearward surface may be shifted along with the lock to their respective lock-setting positions;

In the drawing with respect to which the invention is described:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view, with portions broken away and in section, showing a coupler embodying the finvention with its parts arranged as when coupled with another similar coupler;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section and `with parts broken away, of the coupler arranged as illustrated in Fig. 1;

States Patent O Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section, K

rifice 2 of the coupler shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in the lock-set condition; V

Fig. 4 illustrates in fragmentary partially sectioned elevation, the arrangement of the coupler as shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation in section, omitting the lock and showing primarily a pawl and a lever of the lock-setting mechanism in lock-set position;

Fig. 6 is 'a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, showing the parts of Fig. 5 at one stage of operation;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the internal moving parts of the coupler shown in the previous figures; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation in section, showing lock-setting mechanism embodying a modified pawl.

As is illustrated in Figs. 1-4, a coupler 4 embodying the present invention 'comprises a shank 5 and a head portion 6 having jaws 7 and 8 which are transversely spaced and connected by a buiiing wall 9 to form a cavity 10. The head 6 also has attached thereto a lateral guard arm 11 of which its forward surface 12 is adapted for engagement with the forward surface 14 of a similar opposed coupler to align horizontally misaligned couplers during coupling operations.

The jaw 8 and a lock 1.5 mounted in adjacent reciprocable sliding relationship therewith are adapted to be positioned in the cavity 10 of another similar coupler and are trapped therein when the lock 15 and the corresponding lock of the other coupler are in their `forward positions.

As more clearly shown in Fig. 7, the lock 15 comprises a stem 16, having a bifurcate portion forming the legs 17 and 18 and an opening 19 provided for a purpose hereinafter discussed. In the normal orientation of the coupler, the stem of the lock extends horizontally rearwardly within the head 6 through the guide opening 13 of a lug 20. The lock is urged forwardly by a spring 21 conned between the forward surface of the lug 20 and a shoulder formed on the lock by the juncture of the legs 17 and 18 with the cylindrical portion of the stem. The forward portion of the lock is supported and guided in a horizontal ambit in a conventional manner by a guide lug 24 protruding from the inner surface of the jaw 8 shown in dotted outline in Fig. 2., centered at a level approximately that of the axis of the stem 16. The surface :of the lock adjacent the jaw 8 has a groove or recess 2S of which the vertical width is only slightly greater than that of the lug 24. Thus, the forward portion of the lock is supported in horizontal movement such as a pin 27, which extends through a bore in a horizontal direction formed in the upper part of the head. The lever comprises a handle 28 which protrudes upwardly out of the head sufficiently to provide accessibility for manual operation. The lower leg 29 of the lever 26 extends downwardly in a radial direction from the pin 27 and then branches in laterally opposite directions as extensions 30 and 31. The leg extension 31 extends through the opening 19 of the lock 15 toward `the guard arm side of the coupler head, and terminates outboardly of the lock in a lug 31A projecting downwardly from the horizontal cylindrical portion of the extension.

As couplers are designed for long periods of service during a large part of which the parts may have become worn to a degree allowing a great deal of sloppiness or play, the purpose of the lug 31A is to provide an additional surface 31B, assuring that the lever 26 will engage its forward stop 24, regardless of wear, and that the lower end of the lever will not be likely to accidentally be withdrawn from the opening 19 with consequent loss vof the lock or non-operation thereof.

The leg extension 31 and the opening 19 ,are interrelated in size so that the lock and the lever are in reciprocal driving and following relationship. That is to say, the lever or the lock may be driven by each other in reciprocal movements. Of course, the opening 19 is large enough to accommodate the rise and fall of the extension 31 as it travels along an arc about the axis of the pin 27 With the exception of the lug 31A and the extension 30, just discussed, the foregoing discussion 'relates to structure of the prior art. The essential improvement provided by the present invention is a lock-setting mechanism for a coupler, such as just described, comprising the extension 30 of the lever 26, a pawl 32 swingably mounted on the pin 27, and certain portions of the coupler head structure hereinafter to be described in detail.

AAs shown, the projection 30 extends from the main portion of the leg 29 toward the pawl 32 in a direction approximately parallel to the axis of the pin 27 and away from the lock 15.

The pawl 32 has an operative ambit in which it is both pivotable and capable of radial movement relative to the axis of pin 27 transversely of the longitudinal direction of the coupler by provision of a slot or oblong opening 33 (upwardly elongated at the rearward position of the pawl) through which extends the pin 27. Thus, as the pawl swings forwardly about the pin 27, in response to the thrust exerted on its surface 44 by the extension 30, and reaches its maximum forward position, as shown in Fig. 6, the pawl is forced upwardly by sliding contact of the pawl leg 34 on an inclined cam surface 35 of a ridge 39 of the head and thus shifted longitudinally in a direction normal to the axis of the pin 27 to the extent allowed by the length of the opening 33. Thus, the construction just described limits the movement of the pawl 32 generally to a vertical longitudinal plane of the coupler.

Preferably, the length of this opening is less than that which will allow either the forward leg 37 or the rear leg 34 of the pawl to pass over the top of the ridge 39. Thus, at the forwardmost position of the pawl, as seen in Fig. 6, the forward surface 34a of the rear leg overlaps, to a small extent, the rear surface 35 of the ridge 39. At this position the bottom of the opening 33 has engaged the pin 27. As optional or additional means for stopping the forward motion of the pawl 32, a convex wall corner surface 40 and a front concave corner surface 46 may be adapted to engage at the desired forwardmost position of the pawl. The essential requirement is that the rear pawl leg 34 remains on the surface 35 so that the pawl will settle by gravity, back to the position shown in Figs. 7 and 2, and to avoid the situation in which, if the leg 34 passed over the edge 41, the pawl would settle forwardly of the ridge 39 and require special or emergency manipulation.

The side of the pawl 32 facing toward the lever 26 is notched to provide a downwardly-facing, rearwardly inclined surface 43, shown in Fig. 7, overhanging the lever extension 30. The lower side of the notch is formed by a relatively narrow surface indicated by the dotted lines 42. The lock 15, as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 7, occupies its normally forward position for locking the coupler in coupled relation with another similar coupler. However, to use the lock-setting mechanism, it is necessary to shift the lock to a rearward position in which it is held by the mechanism.

The lever extension 30 extends from a lateral direction,

'as shown, into the ambit of the pawl, particularly, that portion of `the pawl overhanging the notch 52. In

setting the lock, the lever 26 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction (as Viewed in the figures) to carry the extension 30 rearwardly into engagement with the overhanging cam surface 43 of the pawl. Because of the rearward inclination of this surface, and the elongation of the pawl opening 33, the pawl is forced upwardly as the extension 30 travels along an arc at a fixed radial distance from the pin 27. At the instant the extension 30 passes to the rear of the surface 43, the pawl drops by gravity in front of the extension 30, which then engages a rear surface 44 of the pawl, as shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 4 is also illustrative of this position and shows the lock in its rearwardmost position.

During the rearward movement of the lever extension 30, the pawl tends to be forced rearwardly, causing the rear surface 36 of the forward leg of the pawl to engage the forward surface 3S of the ridge 39 which, of course, limits the rearward movement of the pawl. However, when the extension 30 becomes latched behind thepawl, i.e., in engagement with surface 44 and the manual force overcoming the spring 21 is discontinued, the pawl will swing forward if not held. It should be especially noted that the pawl, in order to render the lock-setting mechanism operative, is held in the position shown in Figs. 3, 4 and`5 by the jaw 8 of another coupler in engagement with the pawl surface 46, as seen in Fig. 1.

In the position typified by Figs. l, 3, 4 and 5, the pawl is held in the lock-set position by a portion 47 of another coupler (see Fig. 1) positioned in the cavity 10 against the front-facing surface 45 of the pawl. In this position, pressure exerted on the lock by the spring 21 will shift the movable parts of the coupler to the position shown in Fig. 6, if the pawl 32 is not held from swingingout of approximate abutment of its forward leg 37 with the ridge 39.

Rearward retention of the pawl is effected by the bufng jaw 8 of the other coupler 4, outlined in dot-dash in Fig. 1. However, as the other coupler moves away from the bufiing wall 48, as shown in Fig. 6, the pawl follows the jaw 8 and is cammed upwardly by the surface 35, thereby causing the extension 30 to move downwardly along the surface 44 and around the corner 49 defining its lower edge. Thereafter, the extension is disposed in the notch 52 along the rear side (as observed in Fig. 7) of the pawl, and the lever and the lock are free to move to their forwardmost positions while the pawl is free to settle to its rearmost position, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 7.

Through inadvertent operation, it is occasionally desirable to restore the coupler to a coupling-locked position from the lock-set position without separating the cars on which the couplers have been lock-set. All that is necessary in this case is to (referring now to Figs. 4 and 5) move the pawl upwardly until its surface 44 is raised above the lever extension 3l?. The lock is then thrust forwardly by the spring 21 to its Ilocking position and the lock-setting mechanism thereupon snaps back to the position as shown in' Figs. 1, 2 and 7. For operating the pawl in this manner, a handle 519 is attached to the upper end `of the pawl and exposed above the top surface of the coupler head for accessibility in manual operation.

Fig. 8 illustrates a modified pawl 32A and a moditied coupler head 6A. In modifying the pawl 32A from the form shown in the earlier figures, the double leg construction of the pawl has been eliminated and supplanted by a downwardly extending tooth 53. The coupler head construction of the 1wrevious embodiment illustrated the previous figures has been modified by eliminating the cam ridge 39 and substituting in lieu thereof an opening 54 defined by a stop surface 55 and a cam surface 56 which function in place of the stop surface 38 and the inclined surface 35 of the ridge 39, respectively. In a like manner, the forward surface 58 and the rear perpendicular surface 59 of the tooth 53 on the pawl are substituted for the inclined rear leg front surface 34a -and the front leg rear surface 36 of the pawl 32, respectively, of the earlier described embodiment. The lower boundary 62 of the notch 61 in the side of the pawl toward the lever is spaced sufficiently from the upper boundary 63 to permit free travel of the extension 30 through the notch 61 in both forward and rearward strokes.

In operation, the pawl 32A functions in a manner entirely analogous to that of the pawl 32 of the earlier described embodiment. During coupled relationship, the pawl 32A of one coupler is retained in its rearward lockset position (as shown in Fig. 8) by the jaw of another coupler. lf the jaw of the latter coupler then moves out of the cavity provided therefor by the coupler having the pawl 32A, the pawl follows the jaw of the other coupler and, in so doing, is both pivoted about the pin 27 and cammed upwardly as a result of the surface 58 sliding forwardly and upwardly over the surface 56. Meanwhile, the lever extension 30, in response tov urging of lever by the spring 21 in a clockwise movement, passes forwardly and around the corner 64 and through the notch 61. Thus released, the pawl 32A, irnpelled by gravity, settles downwardly and backwardly into the position illustrated by `guidance provided by contact of the periphery of the opening 54 with the tooth 53. In the lock-setting operation, the lever 26 is forced counterclockwise to cam the pawl 32A upwardly by engagement `of the extension 30, as the latter moves rearwardly, with the upper, downwardly-facing surface 63 of the notch 61. Meanwhile, the rear tooth surface 59 slidably engages the rear surface 55 of the opening to ensure the upward movement of the pawl 67 by preventing it from swinging backwardly.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A car coupler comprising: a pair of relatively fixed transversely spaced jaws disposed at the forward end of the coupler; a lock movable relative to the jaws between a forward locking position between the jaws and a rearward unlocking position; means urging the lock forwardly relative to the jaws; detent means pivotally connected with said lock for reciprocation therewith; a pawl having a rearward facing abutment surface; means for movably supporting the pawl within the coupler with the movement thereof limited generally to a longitudinal vertical plane; said abutment surface being aligned with the detent means in a longitudinal direction of the coupler; said pawl being movable forwardly and rearwardly in response to movements of another coupler into and out of coupled relation with the first named coupler; at a rearward position of the pawl corresponding to coupled relationship of said couplers, said abutment surface engaging said detent means and disposing the detent means in a rearward position placing the lock in said unlocking position.

2. In a car coupler having -a pair of transversely spaced jaws disposed at the forward end of the coupler and a lock supported in the coupler in forward to rearward reciprocable adjacent relation with one of the jaws for movement from a forward locking position between the jaws to a rearward unlocking position; a lock-setting mechanism comprising: resilient means urging the lock forwardly into said locking position; detent means pivotally connected with said lock for reciprocation therewith; a pawl having a rearward facing surface for engaging the detent means, and a forward facing surface; means for movably supporting the pawl within the coupler generally limiting the movement thereof to a longitudinal vertical plane; said rearward facing surface being aligned in a longitudinal direction of the coupler with a portion of the detent means for engagement therewith; said forward facing surface being engageable with an opposing surface of another coupler similar to said coupler; said pawl, when engaged with said other coupler through said forwardly-facing surface, being movable forwardly and rearwardly in response to movements of said other coupler into and out of coupled relation with the iirst named coupler; said pawl, at a rearward position thereof corresponding to coupled relationship of said couplers, engaging said detent means through said rearward facing surface, and disposing Vthe detent means in a rearward position placing the lock. in said unlocking position, said resilient means acting through the lock and the detent means to urge the pawl forwardly; and cam means in ixed relation with the jaws for acting 0n the pawl to shift it out of engagement with the detent means during forward movement of the pawl.

3. In a car coupler having a pair of transversely spaced jaws disposed at the forward end of the coupler and a lock supported in the coupler in forward to rearward reciprocable adjacent relation with one of the jaws for movement from a forward locking position between the jaws to a rearward unlocking position, `and a transverse wall connecting rearward portions of said jaws; a locksetting mechanism comprising: resilient means urging the lock into said locking position; detent means pivotally connected on said lock for reciprocation therewith; a pawl having a rearward surface for engaging the detent means and -a forward facing surface for engaging the surface of another coupler in proximity with said wall; means supporting the pawl for movement within the coupler limited generally to a longitudinal vertical plane; said pawl being v engageable with said other coupler through said forward facing surface for following movements of said other coupler into and out of coupled relation. with the iirstnamed coupler; said pawl, at a rearward position thereof corresponding to coupled relationship of said couplers, engaging said detent means through said rearward facing surface and disposing the detent means in a rearward position placing the lock in said unlocking position; and cam means in fixed relation with the jaws for engaging the pawl during movement forwardly from its rearward position to shift it out of engagement with said rearwardly facing surface.

4. In a car coupler having a pair of transversely spaced jaws `disposed at the forward end of the coupler and a lock supported in forward to rearward reciprocable adjacent relation with one of the jaws for movement from a `forward locking position between the jaws to a rearward unlocking position; the jaws having opposed facing surfaces of which the rearward ends are connected by a transverse wall; a lock-setting mechanism comprising: resilient means urging the look into said locking position; detent means pivotally connected on said lock for reciprocation therewith; la pawl having a rearward facing surface for engaging the detent means, and a forward facing surface for engaging the surface of another coupler in proximity with said wall; means for movably supporting the pawl in the coupler with the movement thereof limited generally to an operative ambit within a longitudinal vertical plane, said ambit extending forwardly through an opening in said w-all; said rearward facing surface being aligned in a longitudinal direction of the coupler with ia portion of the detent means for engagement therewith; said pawl being movable forwardly and rearwardly with its forward facing surface engaged with said other couplerV in response to movements of said other coupler into and out of coupled relation with the first-named coupler; said pawl, at a rearward position thereof cor-responding to coupled relationship of said couplers, engaging said detent means through said rearward facing surface, and disposing the detent means in a rearward position placing the lock in said unlocking position; cam means in iixed relation with the jaws for engaging the pawl as it moves forwardly in said ambit to shift it vertically out of engagement with the detent means; stop means in fixed relation with the jaws for limiting the rearward movement of the pawl to approximately said rearward position thereof; interengaging cam and cam following surfaces on said detent means and the pawl for shifting the pawl upwardly to an elevation permitting passage of the detent means under the lower end of said rearward facing surface as the detent means is forced rearwardly to a position of engagement with said rearward surface.

5. In a car coupler having a pair of horizontally transversely spaced jaws disposed at the forward end of the coupler of which the opposed facing surfaces are connected at their rearward ends by a transverse wall, and a lock supported for rec-iprocation in the longitudinal direction of the coupler adjacent one of said surfaces; a locksetting mechanism comprising: resilient means urging the lock forwardly into a position between the jaws for interlocking the coupler with another similar coupler; a lever pivotally supported by a coupler portion in fixed relation with the jaws along a pivotal axis in horizontal transverse relation to the coupler length, said lever being connected by fa portion thereof spaced from said pivotal axis in loose pivotal connection with the lock connecting said lock and lever in reciprocative driving and following relationship; a pawl in swingable and reciprocable guide relation with supporting means at the pivotal axis of the lever land having an 1operative ambit disposed generally within a plane normal to said yaxis and extending through an opening in said wall; the lever having an extension projecting into said ambit; the pawl having a rearwardfacing surface for engaging said extension and a forward facing surface for engaging the surface of another coupler in proximity with said wall; and cam means in fixed relation with the jaws Vfor guiding the pawl in a generally upward direction during forward swinging movements to an elevation effecting disengagement of the rearward facing surface from said extension.

6. -The car coupler of claim 5 wherein: the pawl is `acted upon by gravity to return it to a lower position as occupied in locked and lock-set conditions of the coupler; and the coupler comprises stop means providing an upwardly-extending forwardly-facing gu-ide surface Ifor limiting the rearward movement of the pawl; said extension and the pawl have interengaging cam and cam following surfaces for shifting the pawl upwardly to an elevation allowing passage of the pawl under the lower end of said rearward facing surface as the lever is swung rearwardly to a position of engagement with said rearward facing surface; said pawl remaining in slidable engagement with said guide surface until passage of the lever under the lower end of said rearward facing surface.

7. In a car coupler having a head comprising: a pair of transversely spaced jaws of which the opposed facing surfaces are vertical and are connected at their rearward ends by a transverse wall having an opening therethrough, and a lock supported for reciprocation in the longitudinal direction of the coupler adjacent one of said surfaces; Ia lock-setting mechanism comprising: resilient means urging the lock forwardly to one end of its reciprocal ambit, said lock having a transverse opening; axle means having an axis fixed with respect to the head extending approximately horizontally and transversely relative to the coupler length; a pawl having an opening through which the axle means extends, said pawl opening being elongated in an upward direction norm-al to said axis and lengthwise of the pawl for transverse movement of the pawl relative to the axle means, said pawl being supported on the axle means at a point rearwardly of the opening for swinging along an ain-bit extending through the wall opening; a lever pivotally supported by the axle means with a leg portion extending between the lock and the pawl, an extension of the leg extending in one lateral direction into said lock opening and another extension of the leg extending in an opposite lateral direction into the `ainbit of the pawl; the pawl having a rearward-facing surface for engaging said other extension and a forwardfacing surface for engaging the surface of another coupler in proximity to said wall; stop means in fixed relation with the head providing an upwardly extending guide surface for limiting the rearward movement of the pawl; and cam means in Ifixed relation with the head acting on the pawl during forward swinging movements thereof about said axis for shifting the pawl in a lateral direction relative to the axle means to disengage its rearward-facing surface from said other extension.

8. The coupler of claim 7 wherein: said pawl has a downward-facing cam surface extending rearwardly and downwardly -along the side of the pawl facing the lever and terminating at the lower end of said rearward-facing surface; said cam surface being spaced from said axis, at the lowest position of the pawl, for engagement with said other extension.

9. The coupler of claim 7 wherein: said pawl has a .front leg yand :a rear leg forming an intermedia-te notch and the head provides :a saw-tooth ridge extending upwardly into said notch; the front surface of the ridge adapted for engaging the `rear surface `of the 'fron-t leg and constituting said stop means; the rear surface of the ridge lbeing inclined forwardly .and upwardly and in combination with the forward surface of `the rear leg constituting said cam means.

l0. The coupler of `claim 9 wherein: said pawl has a downward-facing cam .surface extending rearwardly and downwardly along the side of the pawl facing the lever `and terminating at the lower end of said rearwardfacing surface, said cam surface being spaced from said axis at lthe lowest position of the pawl, for engagement with said other extension.

l1. The co-upler of claim 7 wherein: the head is provided with a recess immediately under the pawl; and the bottom of the pawl comprises an inverted saw-tooth portion adapted to t in the recess; the rear surface of said recess constituting said stop means; the forward sur-J face of the saw-tooth portion being inclined upwardly and forwardly and in combination with the forward surface of the recess constituting said cam means.

12. The coupler of claim ll, wherein: said pawl has a downwardly-facing cam surface extending rearwardly Iand downwardly along the side of the pawl facing the lever :and terminating at the lower end of said rearwardfacing surface, said cam surface being spaced from said axis, at the lowest position of the pawl, `for engagement with said other extension.

13. The coupler of claim 7 comprising: ya handle attached to the upper end of the pawl and extending to a manually accessible region exteriorly of the head.

References Cited in the tile of this patent l UNITED STATES rATENTs 2,591,275 Metzger Apr. 1, 19152

Images