Automatic coupler

Claim 1

IN A RAILWAY COUPLER ASSEMBLY MECHANICALLY COUPLABLE TO A MATING ASSEMBLY, AN ELECTRIC COUPLER COMPRISING A HOUSING, A STATIONARY INSULATOR BLOCK IN A FRONT END OF SAID HOUSING, A MOVABLE INSULATOR BLOCK IN SAID HOUSING REARWARD OF AND RECIPROCABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID STATIONARY BLOCK, A PLURALITY OF CONTACTS SHIFTABLE AXIALLY AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID BLOCKS AND INDIVIDUALLY CONNECTED REARWARDLY THEREOF TO CORRESPONDING ELECTRIC LINES, SPRING MEANS FOR YIELDABLY PROJECTING EACH OF SAID CONTACTS FORWARDLY FROM SAID STATIONARY BLOCK FOR END CONTACT IN ELECTRIC COUPLING POSITION WITH A CORRESPONDING CONTACT OF AN ELECTRIC COUPLER OF SAID MATING ASSEMBLY, CERTAIN OF SAID FIRST-NAMED CONTACTS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID MOVABLE BLOCK FOR RETRACTION AND PROJECTION THEREBY FROM AND TO SAID COUPLING POSITION, SPRING MEANS IN SAID HOUSING AND ACTING THROUGH SAID MOVABLE BLOCK FOR YIELDABLY HOLDING SAID CERTAIN CONTACTS IN RETRACTED POSITION, AND FLUID-ACTUATED MEANS IN SAID HOUSING AND ACTING THROUGH SAID MOVABLE BLOCK AND AGAINST SAID SPRING MEANS FOR PROJECTING SAID CERTAIN CONTACTS TO SAID COUPLING POSITION AFTER MECHANICAL COUPLING OF SAID ASSEMBLIES.