The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 14, 1999
Filed:
Oct. 30, 1998
Curtiss A Grau, Duncan, SC (US);
Steven C Rumsey, Greer, SC (US);
Westinghouse Air Brake Company, Wilmerding, PA (US);
Abstract
An uncoupling cam is incorporated into a hook-type coupler. Couplers of this variety are typically found on railway transit vehicles, one hook-type coupler being fixed to each end of each transit vehicle. Moving two transit vehicles toward each other so that their ends come together will eventually cause their respective hook-type couplers to couple together automatically. It is in this manner that a passenger transit train is formed with each of its vehicles being mechanically linked to an adjacent vehicle. Each hook-type coupler has a pivotally mounted hook member that can be pivoted between a latch position and an unlatch position. A biasing means inside the hook-type coupler is used to keep the hook member normally biased to the latch position. The uncoupling cam features a solid body and a roller. The body of the cam has a uniform polygonal cross-section to an edge of which the roller is rotatably secured. The roller is adapted to rollably engage a surface of the hook member. Consequently, when the uncoupling cam is activated through a partial rotation, the hook member is forcibly pivoted to the unlatch position without significant sliding frictional engagement between the uncoupling cam and the hook member.