AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



d9 



Lapham ^ Burns'' Automatic Car Coupling. 

 C. A. Durgin, 335 Broadway, N. Y. 



The engraving gives a vertical section. 

 A represents the bumpers, which are ar- 

 ranged so as to receive the hook and lever. 

 B is the link. C is a tilting hook, which 

 has its fulcrum at a, and is so shaped as to 

 readily admit the coupling link with the 

 proper play, while the lower part projects 

 back far enough to be struck by the knee of 

 the lever D, at the point c, when it is raised. 

 D is a crooked weighted lever having its 

 fulcrum at 6, one end of which,/, supports 

 and retains the hook securely when the link 

 is inserted. The projecting lug, E, made 

 on the bumper, prevents the hook C from 

 backward motion beyond the proper point 

 by force of the link during the coupling. 



One side is shown as coupled, and the 

 other in the act of coupling. The link, B, 

 slides up the bell mouth until it strikes 

 against the part of the hook g, which being 

 above the fulcrum, is readily thrown back 

 against the bumper, when the lever D drops 

 by its gravity, and securely holds the hook 

 in position. To uncouple or release the 

 link, the lever D is raised (by means of the 

 cord or other device) until the knee, A, 

 strikes against the part of the hook c, which 

 tilts the hook and releases the link. The 

 link is held in proper position to couple by 

 the friction of the parts e and / and the 

 gravity of the lever D, as shown in the 

 right hand bumper. 



It is applicable to any car, with no other 

 alteration than the bumper, and the ordi- 

 nary link is used. 



[^ diploma awarded. 



