Abstract: The drag pattern and the cope pattern for a standard AAR coupler yoke are each mounted on a pattern plate to form an oblique angle of about 1.degree. between the mounting surface of the pattern plate and a plane parallel to a longitudinal center plane of the pattern. The patterns each include core print surfaces for establishing the position of one unitary core which is used in a sand mold to form surfaces in the coupler yoke at the front end portion thereof. The drag pattern includes pattern surfaces to mold sand to form the surfaces surrounding the draft gear pocket on the upper and lower straps and the rear draft gear seat at the rear end portion of the yoke. The draft gear seat is generally planar and perpendicular with each inside wall of top and bottom straps.

Abstract: A knuckle casting for a railroad coupler is carried by a conveyor to successively-disposed stations. At a first station, the knuckle casting is positioned relative to reaming tools at opposite sides of the conveyor. Position control arms carry conical members to engage with a pivot pin opening in the knuckle casting and hold-down arms support the casting while the pivot pin opening is reamed to a desired size. Thereafter, the knuckle casting is moved to a rough-grinding station where it is engaged by pin members, one of which extends into the reamed pin hole opening. The knuckle casting is raised to a position above the conveyor where it is rotated for contact with a grinding wheel. The position of the grinding wheel is controlled by a cam driven by an arbor shaft used to support the casting. A cam follower moves a frame that supports the grinding wheel to position the grinding wheel according to a desired contour.

Abstract: A novel core assembly is used in a sand mold for casting a hollow section in a coupler head extending beyond a horn line into a coupler shank of a coupler for a railway vehicle. The core assembly includes head and shank core members having face surfaces each including a recess surface and a projected surface arranged such that the recess surface in the head core receives the projected surface in the shank core. In a similar way, the recess surface in the shank core receives the projected surface in the head core to maintain the head and shank cores in an aligned abutting relation while supported in the sand mold. The face surfaces extend transversely to the coupler shank along a parting line spaced rearwardly of the plane containing the horn line of the coupler. The face surfaces are further characterized by a conically-shaped projection extending from one core member into a conically-shaped opening in the other core member to mechanically interconnect and align the two core members.

Abstract: The drag pattern for a standard AAR coupler is modified to increase the thickness of the bottom wall of a coupler casting forwardly and rearwardly of a plane containing the horn line. The increased thickness is achieved by forming a substantially planar bottom wall surface for a distance of at least two inches at either side of a plane containing the horn line. Head and shank pattern parts are interchangeable and releasably secured onto a pattern plate for molding foundry sand in the drag portion of a foundry mold to produce E, E/F and F-types of coupler castings.

Abstract: In a railway vehicle coupler, the lock includes a leg portion depending from an upper lock body which is solid. The rear part of the upper lock body has a substantially vertical planar surface or stepped planar surfaces across the most rearwardly-extending surface. A beveled and substantially planar rear face or stepped planar rear faces commence at the lower edge of the vertical planar surface and extends downwardly and forwardly to the lock ledge at the guard-arm side of the lock. Above the vertical planar surface, there is a beveled rear surface with or without a step extending downwardly and forwardly from the rear guide at the knuckle side of the lock to the guard-arm side. This surface extends arcuately and commences at the upper edge of the vertical planar surface and extends to the top of the lock.