Railway Coupler Shank Keyslot Contour

Abstract

The keyslot of a railway coupler shank is modified to eliminate the interference between the coupler shank and draft key during conditions of buff or draft during vertical curve negotiation of the cars when traversing uneven track. The upper and lower walls of the keyslot diverge from the rear bearing surface of the keyslot adjacent the butt of the coupler shank. Thus the keyslot opening is wider in the front portion than at the rear portion.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a railway coupler shank having a longitudinal axis extending the length of said shank from front to rear, the improvement comprising; a substantially horizontal keyslot in the rear portion of said shank extending between the vertical sides and through said shank perpendicular to said longitudinal axis for receiving a key attaching said shank to a draft gear yoke and extending through a slot in the sides of a striker casing; said keyslot having spaced upper and lower surfaces, said upper surface being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said coupler shank and said lower surface diverging downwardly and forwardly away from said upper surface, said upper and lower surfaces merging with forward and rear bearing surfaces. .Iadd.2. In a railway coupler shank having a longitudinal axis extending the length of said shank from front to rear, the improvement comprising; a substantially horizontal keyslot in the rear portion of said shank extending between the vertical sides and through said shank perpendicular to said longitudinal axis for receiving a key attaching said shank to a draft gear yoke and extending through a slot in the sides of a striker assembly; said keyslot having spaced upper and lower surfaces, said upper surface having a portion substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said coupler shank merging with a rear bearing surface and said lower surface having a diverging portion diverging downwardly and forwardly away from said upper surface merging with a forward bearing surface. .Iaddend. .Iadd.3. In a railway coupler shank having a longitudinal axis extending the length of said shank from front to rear, the improvement comprising a substantially horizontal keyslot in the rear portion of said shank extending between the vertical sides and through said shank perpendicular to said longitudinal axis for receiving a key attaching said shank to a draft gear yoke and extending through a slot in the sides of a striker assembly; said keyslot having spaced upper and lower surfaces each with a rear portion substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said coupler and merging with rear bearing surface and a forward portion of at least one of said surfaces diverging from the longitudinal axis forwardly from said parallel rear portions and connected to a forward bearing surface. .Iaddend.