Railroad Coupler Knuckle with External Weight Reducing Features

Abstract

A railroad coupler knuckle includes a knuckle body having a tail, a pin hole extending along a pivot axis and a front face configured to transmits the buff forces of the train; a pair of external weight saving pockets on the front face of the knuckle body extending into the knuckle body; an intervening support ridge on the front face of the knuckle body between the pair of weight saving pockets, and wherein the intervening support rib extends along a rib defining plane perpendicular to the pivot access, and wherein the rib defining plane extends through the tail of the body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A coupler knuckle comprising:
 A knuckle body having a tail, a pin hole extending along a pivot axis and a front face configured to transmits the buff forces of the train;   A pair of external weight saving pockets on the front face of the knuckle body extending into the knuckle body;   An intervening support ridge on the front face of the knuckle body between the pair of weight saving pockets, wherein the improvement comprises   Wherein the intervening support ridge extends along a rib defining plane perpendicular to the pivot access, and wherein the rib defining plane extends through the tail of the body.   
     
     
         2 . The coupler knuckle according to  claim 1 , wherein the intervening support ridge has a width measured generally along the pivot axis and perpendicular to the rib defining plane, wherein the intervening support ridge has a substantially uniform width along the rib defining plane. 
     
     
         3 . The E-type coupler knuckle according to  claim 2  wherein the intervening support ridge extends horizontally across the front face. 
     
     
         4 . The E-type coupler knuckle according to  claim 2  wherein the pockets have a width measured generally along the pivot axis and perpendicular to the rib defining plane, and wherein the width of each pocket decreases moving in a direction away from the pivot axis.. 
     
     
         5 . The E-type coupler knuckle according to  claim 4  wherein the a rate of decrease of the width of each pocket is less on a flag hole side of the pivot axis than the opposing side. 
     
     
         6 . The E-type coupler knuckle according to  claim 2  further including a tail positioned weight saving pocket on the tail of the knuckle. 
     
     
         7 . The E-type coupler knuckle according to  claim 6  wherein the tail positioned weight saving pocket extends along the rib defining plane. 
     
     
         8 . The E-type coupler knuckle according to  claim 6  wherein the tail positioned weight saving pocket extends horizontally across the tail. 
     
     
         9 . The E-type coupler knuckle according to  claim 6  wherein the tail positioned weight saving pocket has a width measured generally along the pivot axis and perpendicular to the rib defining plane, wherein the tail positioned weight saving pocket is substantially uniform width along the rib defining plane. 
     
     
         10 . The E-type coupler knuckle according to  claim 1  wherein the coupler knuckle is forged. 
     
     
         11 . The E-type coupler knuckle according to  claim 1  wherein the coupler knuckle weighs less than 90 lbs. 
     
     
         12 . A coupler knuckle comprising:
 A knuckle body having a tail, a pin hole extending along a pivot axis and a front face configured to transmits the buff forces of the train;   A pair of external weight saving pockets on the front face of the knuckle body extending into the knuckle body;   An intervening support ridge on the front face of the knuckle body between the pair of weight saving pockets extending along a rib defining plane; and   a tail positioned weight saving pocket on a tail of the knuckle extending along the rib defining plane.   
     
     
         13 . The E-type coupler knuckle according to  claim 12  wherein the coupler knuckle is forged. 
     
     
         14 . The E-type coupler knuckle according to  claim 12  wherein the coupler knuckle weighs less than 90 lbs. 
     
     
         15 . The coupler knuckle according to  claim 12 , wherein the intervening support ridge has a width measured generally along the pivot axis and perpendicular to the rib defining plane, wherein the intervening support ridge has a substantially uniform width along the rib defining plane. 
     
     
         16 . The E-type coupler knuckle according to  claim 15  wherein the intervening support ridge extends horizontally across the front face. 
     
     
         17 . The E-type coupler knuckle according to  claim 15  wherein the pockets have a width measured generally along the pivot axis and perpendicular to the rib defining plane, and wherein the width of each pocket decreases moving in a direction away from the pivot axis.. 
     
     
         18 . The E-type coupler knuckle according to  claim 17  wherein the a rate of decrease of the width of each pocket is less on a flag hole side of the pivot axis than the opposing side. 
     
     
         19 . The E-type coupler knuckle according to  claim 12  wherein the tail positioned weight saving pocket extends horizontally across the tail. 
     
     
         20 . The E-type coupler knuckle according to  claim 12  wherein the tail positioned weight saving pocket has a width measured generally along the pivot axis and perpendicular to the rib defining plane, wherein the tail positioned weight saving pocket is substantially uniform width along the rib defining plane.