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Show A FIXE IXVEXTI0X. The 3Iolc;s Being Made at the Sim Foundry. Automatic Car Coupler, the Genius of a EVlan at Nephi. While at the Sun Foundry yesterday, The Dispatch representative was shown the model of an automatic car coupler, which is probably the finest invention of its kind yet brought ba-fore ba-fore the public, and seeing that it is the result of the brain-work of a resident resi-dent of Utah, the invention cnlla forth more than usual interest. Condeusely described, the invention consists of a bifurcated drawhead, . and a U-shaped frame pivoted therein. The frame is provided on its outer under end with a wedge-shaped block, with inner shoulders constituting a hook, said block or hook being provided with an opening. The drawliead is secured between blocks or supports attached to the under side of the car, near one end, the rear end of said bar passing through an opening in a plate located in recesses in these blocks, the forward plate bearing against a shoulder on the draw-bar. and being presswd normally forward by a spring, holding the draw-bar with it. Tiie forward end of the draw-bar is bifurcated, that is to say, forked, or dividing into two branches, and has pivoted between its ends a frame, which, at its forward end, is provided with a hook, which is turned downward. This hook is on the under side of the frame, and is the means, in connection with a similar frame and hook on the car to be attached, at-tached, whereby the cars may be coupled.- The hook is wedge-shaped, that is to say, it tapers from the point back to the shoulder, the shoulder constituting the hook proper. The ends of the hooks being pointed or we ige-Miaped. it follows that when two cars are brought into contact one hook will slip over another and automatically engage with its shoulder the link or frame, thus coupling the two cars. The outer eud of the hook is provided with an opening, wliicti is to be employed in connection with an ordinary coupling pin, whereby this automatic coupling may be united to a car provided with an ordinary pia-and-link draw-head. The forward end of the draw -bar pass over a cross-bar, which is secured to hangers depending from the car, the said cross-bar forming form-ing a support for the draw-bar and its pivoted lrame, preventing the latter from dropping too low, and holding the hooks in pioper position for the engagement. To either end of the car Ts pivoted" a laver, to the inner end of which is secured one end of a chain, the other end of which is secured to the pivoted frame, whereby the frame may be elevated to uncouple the cars without passing between them. A rod, extending ex-tending to the top of the car and connected con-nected with the coupler, enables the brakeman to uncouple from the top of thecar, without having to dismount all the time. The operation of this invention will be readily perceived. When the cars come together, the beveled ends of the hooks ride pass each other, and the hooks automatically connect, coupling the cars. To uncouple the cars it is only necessary to eleyale the upper frame by means of either the lever or vertical red. This invention is the work of J. Colby Clay, of Nephi, Utah, He is engaged in the service of the U. P., as assistant agent at that place. He is an old railroad hand, and hence understands under-stands just what he is about. The manner in which he made the discovery is most peculiar. One day. not having much to do. he got two pieces of smooth wood, and carved out a pair of naules' shoes. lie was playing with them carelessly, when the toe piecea slipped over each other and gave him the idea 1 upon which he went to work and invented in-vented his automatic coupler. The invention has been patented, and railroad rail-road men look to see it used on the road. We understand that they are to be placed on the Sanpete Valley branch of the U. P., and that arrangements are pending whereby they will be adopted on all the lines of this division of the U. P. system. |