Automatic actuator for coupler knuckle-assembly of a railway passenger car
First Claim
1. In a railway car comprising a main car frame, a coupler comprising a coupler head and a knuckle assembly for coupling the railway car to another railway car, a shank connecting the coupler to the main car frame, said shank having a distal end connected to said coupler head, and linkage-actuation means for actuating the knuckle assembly for moving the knuckle assembly into one of a lock-set position and fully open position, said coupler head having an upper surface, wherein the improvement comprises:
- said linkage-actuation means being mounted on said coupler head, whereby accommodation of space constraints is possible;
said linkage-actuation means comprising a pivotal plate having a first end portion and a second end portion, means for pivotally mounting said first end portion to said coupler head, power means mounted on said coupler head between said first and second end portions for pivoting said plate about said means for pivotally mounting between a raised and lowered position;
said knuckle assembly comprising a rotatable operating rod, and means coupling said second end portion of said plate to said rotatable operating rod for rotating said operating rod when said plate is pivoted by said power means, to thereby move said knuckle assembly into its lock-set and fully open positions;
said means coupling said second end portion of said plate comprising an eccentric cam connected to said operating rod for conjoint rotation therewith, and a connector connecting said second end portion of said plate to said eccentric cam, said connector having a first end affixed to a portion of said eccentric cam and a second end affixed to said second end portion of said plate, whereby when said plate is pivoted, said eccentric cam is caused to rotate to thus cause said operating rod to rotate; and
spring-biassing means for urging said plate into the lowered position when said power means is not actuated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A linkage-actuator for the coupler knuckle-assembly of a railway passenger car which is mounted on the coupler head directly adjacent to the knuckle-assembly, which linkage-actuator does not extend along the shank connecting the knuckle-assembly to the car proper, thereby saving considerably on space and weight. The linkage-actuator allows for both manual and pneumatic actuation of the knuckle-assembly. The linkage-actuator for the knuckle-assembly is mounted directly on the coupler head. The rotatable operating rod for placing the knuckle into its lock-set or fully open position is actuated by a pivotal plate mounted on top of the coupler head. One end of the plate is urged into its non-actuated, horizontal position by a spring, while the other end of the plate is connected to an eccentric cam that is coupled to the rotatable actuating rod of the knuckle-assembly. An air-bellows lifts the end of the plate coupled to the eccentric cam which, in turn, rotates the actuating rod, to thereby place the knuckle into its lock-set or fully thrown position.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. In a railway car comprising a main car frame, a coupler comprising a coupler head and a knuckle assembly for coupling the railway car to another railway car, a shank connecting the coupler to the main car frame, said shank having a distal end connected to said coupler head, and linkage-actuation means for actuating the knuckle assembly for moving the knuckle assembly into one of a lock-set position and fully open position, said coupler head having an upper surface, wherein the improvement comprises:
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said linkage-actuation means being mounted on said coupler head, whereby accommodation of space constraints is possible; said linkage-actuation means comprising a pivotal plate having a first end portion and a second end portion, means for pivotally mounting said first end portion to said coupler head, power means mounted on said coupler head between said first and second end portions for pivoting said plate about said means for pivotally mounting between a raised and lowered position;
said knuckle assembly comprising a rotatable operating rod, and means coupling said second end portion of said plate to said rotatable operating rod for rotating said operating rod when said plate is pivoted by said power means, to thereby move said knuckle assembly into its lock-set and fully open positions;said means coupling said second end portion of said plate comprising an eccentric cam connected to said operating rod for conjoint rotation therewith, and a connector connecting said second end portion of said plate to said eccentric cam, said connector having a first end affixed to a portion of said eccentric cam and a second end affixed to said second end portion of said plate, whereby when said plate is pivoted, said eccentric cam is caused to rotate to thus cause said operating rod to rotate; and
spring-biassing means for urging said plate into the lowered position when said power means is not actuated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A linkage-actuator assembly for a railway car coupler knuckle assembly for actuating a knuckle assembly of the railway car for moving the knuckle assembly into one of a lock-set position and fully open position, comprising:
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a pivotal plate having a first end portion and a second end portion, means for pivotally mounting said first end portion to a coupler head of a railway car, power means for pivoting said plate about said means for pivotally mounting between a raised and lowered position; and
means coupling said second end portion of said plate to a rotatable operating rod of a knuckle-assembly for rotating the operating rod when said plate is pivoted by said power means;said means coupling said second end portion comprising an eccentric cam connectable to an operating rod for conjoint rotation therewith, and a connector connecting said second end portion of said plate to said eccentric cam, said connector having a first end affixed to a portion of said eccentric cam and a second end affixed to said second end portion of said plate, whereby when said plate is pivoted, said eccentric cam is caused to rotate to thus cause said operating rod to rotate; and
spring-biassing means for urging said plate into the lowered position when said power means is not actuated;said eccentric cam comprising a curved outer edge surface, and a channel formed in said curved outer edge surface, said first end of said connector being affixed to a portion of said outer edge surface of said eccentric cam, said connector comprising a lower section originating at said first end of said connector that is received within said channel. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A linkage-actuator assembly for a railway car coupler knuckle assembly for actuating a knuckle assembly of the railway car for moving the knuckle assembly into one of a lockset position and fully open position, comprising:
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a pivotal plate having a first end portion and a second end portion, means for pivotally mounting said first end portion to a coupler head of a railway car, power means for pivoting said plate about said means for pivotally mounting between a raised and lowered position; and
means coupling said second end portion of said plate to a rotatable operating rod of a knuckle-assembly for rotating the operating rod when said plate is pivoted by said power means;said power means comprising an air bellows, and pneumatic-supply means for supplying pressurized air to said air bellows, said air bellows having an upper extensible portion connected to an undersurface portion of said plate for lifting and lowering said second end portion of said plate; and an annular outer shield at least partially surrounding said air bellows and having an upper edge surface secured to a portion of said plate, so that, when said plate is in the lowered position, said annular outer shield elevates said plate above the upper portion of said air bellows.
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Specification