Offset coupling

Claim 2

A railway coupler construction for use with a railway car having a horizontally oriented deck, said coupler construction comprising a head having a horizontal center line at a predetermined height, a shank extending from said head with a horizontal center line below that of the head and at least as low as the deck, and means securing said shank to the car in pulling relation thereto.

Claim 3

A railway coupler according to claim 1 wherein said shank has a main portion constituting the greater length thereof, the center line of said main portion constituting said horizontal center line of said shank, and wherein said shank includes an upwardly inclined diagonal portion extending from said main portion thereof and connected with said head.

Claim 4

A railway coupler according to claim 2 wherein said shank includes a segment substantially shorter than said main portion and having a horizontal center line below the center line of said main portion, said segment being secured to the car.

Claim 5

A railway coupler according to claim 3 wherein said head defines an inwardly directed horn face above said diagonal portion, said car construction including a striker having an outwardly directed striker face, said faces being in alignment and adapted for engagement upon sufficient movement of said head inwardly, and said securing means accommodating such movement.

Claim 6

A railway coupler construction according to claim 4 wherein said striker has a circumferential portion surrounding said shank and including a carrier on which said shank is adapted to rest.

Claim 7

A railway coupler arrangement comprising a housing portion adapted to be supported by an associated railway car and a coupling portion supported by said housing portion for limited movement relative thereto, said coupling portion including a head at a first elevation and a shank at a second different elevation.

Claim 8

A railway coupler arrangement comprising a housing portion adapted to be supported by an associated railway car and a coupling portion supported by said housing portion for limited movement relative thereto, said coupling portion including a head at a first elevation and a shank at a second different elevation.

Claim 9

The invention according to claim 6 wherein said head and shank are integral with said first elevation being higher than said second elevation,

Claim 10

The invention according to claim 7 wherein said housing portion and head are engageable for limiting said relative movement in one direction.

Claim 11

The invention according to claim 7 wherein said housing portion and shank are engageable for limiting said relative movement in at least one direction.

Claim 12

The invention according to claim 8 wherein said portions define longitudinal horizontal axes, and wherein said housing portion and head are engageable for limiting said relative movement in the longitudinal horizontal direction.

Claim 13

The invention according to claim 10 wherein said housing portion and shank are engageable for limiting said relative movement in the transverse horizontal direction.

Claim 14

The invention according to claim 11 wherein said housing portion and shank are engageable for limiting said relative movement in the vertical direction.

Claim 15

A railway coupler construction for use with a railway car having a horizontally oriented deck comprising: a head having a horizontal center line at a predetermined height, a shank having a main portion constituting the greater length thereof, said shank having a horizontal center line below that of the head and at least as low as the deck, said shank also having an upwardly inclined diagonal portion extending from said main portion thereof and connecting with said head; a striker assembly adapted for mounting in a railway car, said striker assembly including a striker shell having an inner surface which extends generally in the direction of the upper inclined surface of said diagonal portion of said shank and is capable of receiving said diagonal portion upon inward longitudinal movement of said head.

Claim 16

A railway coupler construction for use with a railway car having a horizontally oriented deck comprising: a head having a horizontal center line at a predetermined height, a shank having a main portion constituting the greater length thereof, said shank having a horizontal center line below that of the head and at least as low as the deck, said shank also having an upwardly inclined diagonal portion extending from said main portion thereof and connecting with said head; a striker assembly adapted for mounting in a railway car, said striker assembly including a striker shell having an inner surface which extends generally in the direction of the upper inclined surface of said diagonal portion of said shank and is capable of receiving said diagonal portion upon inward longitudinal movement of said head.

Claim 17

A coupler for a railway car comprising a shank, a head extending from one end of said shank, said shank being formed with a downwardly offset portion at the Free end thereof so that the horizontal longitudinal axis of said offset portion is disposed below the horizontal longitudinal axis of said head.

Claim 18

A coupler for a railway car comprising a shank, a head extending from one end of said shank, said shank being formed with a downwardly offset portion at the Free end thereof so that the horizontal longitudinal axis of said offset portion is disposed below the horizontal longitudinal axis of said head.

Claim 19

The coupler as defined in claim 14 wherein said shank is formed with an intermediate shank portion having a horizontal longitudinal axis disposed between the horizontal longitudinal axes of said offset portion and said head.

Claim 20

The coupler as defined in claim 15 wherein said intermediate shank portion is connected to said head by an inclined transition section.

Claim 21

The coupler as defined in claim 16 wherein said inclined section is connected to said head to provide an upright surface on said head projecting upwardly from said shank.