US2013277325A1PendingUtilityA1

Knuckle pin for railway car coupler

36
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Apr 23, 2012Filed: Apr 22, 2013Published: Oct 24, 2013
Est. expiryApr 23, 2032(~5.7 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:John Hanaway
B61G 3/04
36
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

An improved knuckle pin for use in a railway car coupling is illustrated and described. In one example, the pin comprises a shank extending along a longitudinal axis and having a first end. A head is positioned on the first end of the shank, and includes an abutment surface and a top surface opposite the abutment surface. At least one lug extends from the top surface of the head along the longitudinal axis to provide a point of engagement for a hand or hand tool to allow rotation of the pin about the longitudinal axis.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A knuckle pin for use in a railway car coupling, the pin comprising:
 a shank extending along a longitudinal axis and having a first end;   a head positioned on the first end of the shank, the head having an abutment surface and a top surface opposite the abutment surface; and   at least one lug extending upwardly from the top surface of the head along the longitudinal axis and adapted to be engaged for rotation of the pin about the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         2 . The knuckle pin of  claim 1  wherein the at least one lug comprises a pair of lugs extending upwardly from the top surface to define a recess between the lugs and positioned above the top surface of the head, the lugs positioned and adapted for receipt of a tool in the recess to engage the pin for rotation about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The knuckle pin of  claim 2  wherein the lugs are diametrically opposed from one another about the top surface. 
     
     
         4 . The knuckle pin of  claim 2  wherein the lugs each define an engagement surface transverse to the top surface engageable for rotation of the pin about the longitudinal axis when the tool is received in the recess. 
     
     
         5 . The knuckle pin of  claim 1  wherein the at least one lug comprises a single lug extending upwardly from the top surface to define at least two outboard engagement surfaces oriented transverse to the top surface and engageable for rotation of the pin about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         6 . The knuckle pin of  claim 5  wherein the lug extends centrally across a width of the top surface to define the at least two outboard engagement surfaces. 
     
     
         7 . The knuckle pin of  claim 6  wherein the at least two outboard engagement surfaces comprise a pair of opposing outboard engagement surfaces extending across the width of the top surface. 
     
     
         8 . The knuckle pin of  claim 5  wherein the at least two outboard engagement surfaces comprise a plurality of pairs of diametrically opposed engagement surfaces, each of the pairs oriented angularly apart about the longitudinal axis and engageable for rotation of the pin about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         9 . The knuckle pin of  claim 1  wherein the top surface of the head has a generally domed profile and the least one lug extends upwardly from the top surface beyond the domed profile. 
     
     
         10 . A method of rotating a knuckle pin having a longitudinal axis and pivotally connecting a knuckle and a coupler body in a railway car knuckle coupler, the pin having a head with an abutment surface abutting a surface of the coupler body and a top surface opposite the abutment surface, the method of rotating comprising the steps of:
 engaging at least one lug extending upwardly from the top surface of the head and adapted to be engaged for rotation of the pin within the aperture about the longitudinal axis; and   rotating the pin about the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the step of engaging further comprises:
 receiving a tool within a recess defined between a pair of lugs extending upwardly from the top surface; and 
 engaging the tool with respective engagement surfaces defined by the pair of lugs. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of engaging further comprises receiving the tool within a recess defined between a pair of lugs extending upwardly from the top surface that are diametrically opposed from one another about the top surface. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the step of engaging further comprises engaging at least two outboard engagement surfaces defined by the at least one lug. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of engaging further comprises engaging at least two outboard engagement surfaces defined by the at least one lug that comprise a pair of opposing outboard engagement surfaces extending across a width of the top surface. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of engaging further comprises engaging at least two outboard engagement surfaces defined by the at least one lug that comprise a plurality of pairs of diametrically opposed engagement surfaces each oriented angularly apart about the longitudinal axis and engageable for rotation of the pin about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 reorienting a retaining member located at an end of the pin opposite the head and protruding from the coupler body. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 removing the retaining member from the end of the pin. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 removing the knuckle pin from the railway car knuckle coupler. 
 
     
     
         19 . A knuckle pin for extending through an aperture formed between a knuckle and a coupler body in a railway car knuckle coupler to pivotally connect the knuckle to the coupler body, the knuckle pin comprising:
 an elongate shank having a shank diameter smaller than a diameter of the aperture and a head positioned at a first end, the head including an abutment surface radially projecting from the shank for abutting a surface of the coupler body, a top surface opposite the abutment surface, and at least two engagement surfaces projecting transversely from the top surface and adapted to be engaged by a hand or a hand tool for rotation of the pin within the through aperture.   
     
     
         20 . The knuckle pin of  claim 17  wherein the shank diameter is approximately 1⅝ inches. 
     
     
         21 . The knuckle pin of  claim 17  wherein the shank has a length of approximately 13⅜ inches.

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