Automatic coupler to connect convertible rail-highway vehicles end to end

In a coupler to releasably couple vehicles end to end including a rear sill structure having a generally horizontal female slot opening therethrough, a male member extending from the front of the vehicle adapted to enter the female slot of a forward vehicle;

• means to automatically lock said male member in said female slot in response to complete insertion of said male member in said female slot, said locking means including a vertical hole through said male member, a vertical bore in said rear sill structure opening into said female slot, a sensing pin slidably mounted horizontally in said rear sill structure and extending into said female slot in a position opposite its opening through the rear sill structure, a vertical locking pin slidable in said vertical bore, a first bell crank having a pair of arms extending from a corner and mounted at its corner for rotation on said rear sill structure, link means pivotally interconnecting one arm and said vertical locking pin, spring means urging said first bell crank in a counter-clockwise direction and said vertical locking pin upwardly into said female slot, a sensing lever having upper and lower ends and mounted for rotation intermediate its ends, said upper end bearing against said sensing pin, spring means urging said sensing lever into a clockwise direction so that said sensing pin is forced into said female slot, and a second bell crank including upper and lower legs extending from a corner and mounted for rotation at its corner, cam means on said upper leg of said second bell crank engaging said lower end of said sensing lever, a releasable latch notch on said lower leg of second bell crank, and spring means urging said second bell crank in a counter-clockwise direction so that said latch notch engages the other arm of said first bell crank when said vertical locking pin is fully retracted, said sensing lever acting via said cam means on said second bell crank to rotate it in a clockwise direction and release said other arm of said first bell crank from said latch notch when said male coupler member has engaged and pushed said sensing pin outwardly to clear said female slot.