Railcar Coupling Aid and Method of Using the Same

Abstract

A railcar coupling aid is provided to link a sequentially aligned pair of railcars having unactuated couplers so that such couplers may become engaged on a portion of rail more conducive to their actuation or so that such couplers may be serviced at a more convenient location along the rail. It may comprise a first and second length of rugged and flexible material spaced apart by a first and second crossed portion of such material. The crossed portions define a space configured to receive both of a pair of opposing coupler draw heads therethrough. When the net is draped over the opposing draw heads, each of the first and second lengths may be secured to themselves around one each of the coupler's draw shafts. Thus, each railcar may be at least temporarily linked to one another in a manner that avoids risking injury to railworker limbs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A railcar coupling aid, comprising:
 a first and a second length of rugged and flexible material spaced apart by a first and second crossed portion of rugged and flexible material, each crossed portion securely attached to said first and second lengths; and   means for releasably securing each of the first and second lengths to themselves respectively;   wherein the first and second crossed portions define a space sized to receive both of a pair of opposing draw heads comprising a railcar coupler therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . The railcar coupling aid of  claim 1 , wherein the rugged and flexible material is selected from woven para aramid fibers, high modulus polyetherlyne, and industrial polyester, nylon, rayon, and polypropylene yarns. 
     
     
         3 . The railcar coupling aid of  claim 1 , wherein the means for releasably securing each of the first and second lengths to themselves comprise hook and loop fasteners. 
     
     
         4 . The railcar coupling aid of  claim 3 , wherein the loop fasteners are secured to one side of each length and the hook fasteners are secured to an opposite side of each length such that the hook and loop fasteners are operative to secure a portion of each length to itself as a ring. 
     
     
         5 . A method of linking a pair of sequentially aligned railcars having unactuated couplers, comprising:
 draping a railcar coupling aid over both of a pair of opposing coupler draw heads such that the pair of opposing coupler draw heads is received through a portion of the railcar coupling aid; and   securing a portion of the railcar coupling to itself around one each of a pair of opposing coupler draw shafts.   
     
     
         6 . The method of linking a pair of sequentially aligned railcars having unactuated couplers of  claim 5 , wherein the railcar coupling aid comprises
 a first and a second length of rugged and flexible material spaced apart by a first and second crossed portion of rugged and flexible material, each crossed portion securely attached to said first and second lengths; and   means for releasably securing each of the first and second lengths to themselves around one each of the opposing coupler draw shafts.