Means to connect coupler shank to cushion unit

• US 3,994,402 A
• Filed: 06/12/1975
• Issued: 11/30/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc. (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: ACF Industries Holding Corporation (Icahn Associates Holding LLC)
• Inventors: Young, Terry G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reeves, Robert B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shannon, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/586,331
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 213/50.5, 213/69, 213/69 S, 213/67 R, 213/67 A, 213/54, 213/64, 85/5 N, 85/7, 403/378, 403/379, 403/318, 403/324
• US Class Current: 213/50.5
• CPC Class Codes: B61G 7/10 Mounting of the couplings on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B61G 9/08 with fluid springs or fluid shock-absorbers; Combinations thereof

Abstract

An "E" type coupler for a railway car has a key connecting the coupler shank to an end-of-car cushioning unit. The cushioning unit has a slidable end cap housing assembly receiving the coupler shank and a slot extending through the shank and one side of that housing assembly to receive and mount the coupler key. An inner recess in the other opposed side of the housing assembly recess receives the key in abutting relation to such other side and a retainer on the other side contacts and retains the key in the housing assembly.

Claims

1. In a railroad car having a center sill, an end-of-the car cushioning unit within the center sill including a cylinder and an open ended housing of a rectangular cross section secured at one end to the cylinder, a coupler received within the open ended housing, and a horizontally extending key of a generally rectangular uniform cross section connecting said coupler shank and said housing, an improvement comprising:

a. an elongated slot through one side of said open ended housing to receive and pass said key,

b. an inner recess in the other opposed side of said open ended housing in opposed relation to said slot to receive an end portion of said key in abutting relation to said other side, said inner recess having an elongated shape corresponding to the generally rectangular cross section of said key,

c. an exterior recess in said one side adjacent said elongated slot,

d. a retainer member rigidly mounted in said exterior recess to contact and retain said key in place in said open ended housing and said shank, and

e. a fastener securing the retainer member to the housing within said exterior recess,

f. said exterior recess being at least deep enough to enclose both said retainer member and said fastener such that said retainer member and said fastener do not protrude past the exterior surface of that side of said open ended housing.

2. The improvement of claim 1, wherein:

said key has a notch receiving said retainer member and extending from a center portion of said key to an end edge portion thereof at one end of the generally rectangular cross section thereof.

3. In a railway end-of-car cushioning unit for mounting within the center sill of a railway car and having a cylinder, an open ended housing of a rectangular cross section secured at one end to the cylinder, a coupler shank received within the open ended housing, and a horizontally extending key of a generally rectangular uniform cross section connecting said coupler shank and said housing, an improvement comprising:

a. an elongated slot through one side of said open ended housing to receive and pass said key,

b. an inner recess in the other opposed side of said open ended housing in opposed relation to said slot to receive an end portion of said elongate key in abutting relation to said other side,

c. an exterior recess in said one side adjacent said elongated slot,

d. a retainer member within said exterior recess contacting said key in place in said housing and said shank, and

e. fastener means to secure said retainer member to said housing within said recess,

f. said inner recess having a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of said key,

g. said exterior recess being at least deep enough to enclose said retainer member such that it does not protrude past the exterior surface of the adjacent side of said open ended housing.

4. The improvement of claim 3 wherein:

said elongate key has a notch in an outer portion thereof to receive said retainer member, said notch extending from a center portion of said key to an edge portion thereof.