Abstract: A railway car coupler includes a shank, a head connected to a head end portion of the shank, a knuckle pivoted to the head having closed and open positions, and a lock axially movable within a chamber formed in the shank between a knuckle engaged position for maintaining the knuckle in the closed position and a knuckle disengaged position for enabling the knuckle to be pivoted to the open position. A thrower is pivotally connected to the lock and has an arm disposed to one side of the pivot for engaging the knuckle to rotate the knuckle to its open position. An actuating mechanism is connected to the thrower-lock assembly and is axially movable within the chamber. The actuating mechanism functions to axially move the lock towards its knuckle disengaged position, with continued movement of the actuating mechanism in the same direction pivoting the thrower and consequentially the knuckle to its open position after the lock has obtained its knuckle disengaged position.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a safety interlock for rail car couplers wherein a detent positioned by the rail car compressed air braking system prevents the rail car couplers from being unlocked as long as the rail car brake system is supplied with compressed air. An expansible motor operated detent functions to selectively permit or prevent translation of the coupler pin controlling pivoting of the coupler knuckle.