APPARATUS FOR UNCOUPLING RAILROAD CARS

• US 3,682,325 A
• Filed: 07/02/1970
• Issued: 08/08/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation (Rio Tinto Limited)
• Original Assignee: Ralph W. Crosser Jr, Thomas D Peterson
• Inventors: Peterson, Thomas D., Crosser, Ralph W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoffman, Drayton E.
• Application Number:
  US05/052,023
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 213/75R,75A,211,212,219,166
• US Class Current: 213/211
• CPC Class Codes: B61G 7/04 Coupling or uncoupling by means of trackside apparatus

Abstract

An elongate arm is pivotally connected at one end to supporting means adapted to be mounted adjacent a railroad track. Drive means are provided for pivoting the arm away from the supporting means so as to engage and actuate an uncoupling lever attached to a standard railroad car coupling, thereby opening the coupling. The apparatus can be automated, and can be employed in combination with a train positioner. Appropriate sensing means, such as limit switches and valves, can be used to indicate when the coupling is open and to control the pressure exerted by the pivoting arm on the uncoupling lever. Jogging means can be utilized to jog the cars in order to loosen tight couplings.

Claims

1. Apparatus for uncoupling stationary railroad cars which are provided with standard couplings having pivoted uncoupling levers extending downwardly along the sides thereof, comprising in combination:

support means disposed adjacent to and laterally of a railroad track;

an elongate arm pivotally mounted on said support means and adapted to swing upwardly from a generally horizontal rest position with sufficient force to engage and actuate an uncoupling lever of a coupling between two stationary cars on the track; and

drive means connected to the said arm for forcibly swinging it upwardly from its said rest position to actuate said uncoupling lever and for returning it to its said rest position.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the elongate arm pivots about a horizontal axis.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the support means comprises a horizontal bar rotatably attached by brackets to a base plate disposed adjacent the track, said horizontal bar being connected at one end to the elongate arm and at the other end to a downwardly extending lever attached to the drive means.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the drive means comprises in combination:

a fluid cylinder having a longitudinally displaceable rod extending from one end thereof, said rod being operationally connected at its free end to the downwardly-extending lever and actuated by changes in the direction of fluid pressure within the cylinder;

a fluid pump for pumping fluid through fluid lines to and from the cylinder; and

switching means for changing the direction of fluid pressure in the cylinder.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the drive means has means for regulating the pressure applied to the pivoting of the elongate arm.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including means for jogging the cars to loosen the coupling.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including signaling means to signal the opening of the coupling.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the elongate arm has a rotatable cylinder transversely mounted on the free end of the arm, said rotatable cylinder adapted to engage the pivotable coupling lever.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including a wheel scissors clamp for holding at least one of the two cars stationary on the track with respect to the elongate arm.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including means for separating the two cars after the coupling has been opened.