Coupler
AssigneeBuckeye International, Inc.
InventorLeslie N. Roberts
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved type "E" railway coupler with a top and bottom shelf is provided for reducing the possibility of derailments of railroad cars caused by accidental disengagement of interlocking couplers. The improved coupler has a top planar surface for fixedly carrying the top shelf and has a bottom planar surface for fixedly carrying the bottom shelf. The top shelf includes an upper abutment surface limiting the upward vertical movement of a mating coupler and has a set of downwardly-extending coplanar pads seated upon the top planar surface. The bottom shelf includes a lower abutment surface limiting the bottom vertical movement of a mating coupler and has a set of upwardly-extending coplanar pads positioned against the bottom planar surface.
Claims4
A railway coupler assembly including a top hooded shelf member for limiting vertical movement of a second coupler in engagement therewith, the improvement comprising, in combination, a Type E coupler having an irregularly contoured upper surface including a horizontal flat rearward upper surface and an irregular sloping forward upper surface, said Type E coupler being modified by having front upper rib means added to the top of the coupler to modify the irregular contour thereof at the location of the top shelf, said upper rib means defining a horizontal planar coupler top surface which is coplanar with said flat rearward upper surface, a hooded top shelf formed with a plurality of downwardly projecting top shelf pads formed on the underside thereof, said top shelf pads having flat coplanar bottom surfaces, said top shelf being positioned with certain of said pads seated against said horizontal planar coupler top surface defined by said upper rib means and at least one other of said pads being seated against said flat rearward upper surface of said coupler, and said top shelf being welded to said coupler top surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.