Patent GB-190902502-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Automatic Couplings for Railway Wagons and other Vehicles.
Inventor: MOYET JEAN BAPTISTE
IPC: B61G1/08
Filed: 1909-02-02
Granted: 1909-06-17
Abstract: 2502. Moyet, J. B., and Bouvier, H. July 15, 1908, [Convention date]. Couplings, automatic; draw-gear. - Automatic couplings of the type in which each half-apparatus consists of a pair of oppositely-turned hooks are arranged, principally by means of a spring connexion between the two elements, to allow the coupling of wagons the draw-bars of which are at different heights, whether on straight or curved tracks ; and the position of the working parts of the coupling is shown by indicators. Each half-coupling comprises an ordinary hook a and a coupling - member b of hook form, both pivoted on a spindle c passing through the eye of the draw-bar and also through guide-rods d having nuts e, which form safety stops in case the draw - bar breaks. The coupling is maintained in an horizontal position by lugs c<3> abutting against bolts c' with counterweights c<2>. The member b consists of a cope, widening from top to bottom and towards its free extremity, having cheeks b<1>, b<2> connected by an inclined transverse beak b<3>. The elements a, b are flexibly connected together, as shown in Fig. 5, by the cross-bar a<1> and a rod a<3> with a cottar a<4>. The rod a<3> slides in a tube b<5> surrounded by a spring g. When two wagons come in contact, the hook a of one wagon slides up the beak b<3> of the other wagon, so compressing the springs g, until the hooks a pass over the tops of the beaks, whereupon the springs force them down within the copes of the members b. The spring g also compels the half-coupling to lift when only one of the elements is raised, as when two wagons have their draw-bars at different heights, as shown in Fig. 10; as the hook a on the lower coupling slides up the opposing beak b<3>, it raises the coupling-member b on the lower coupling so that complete engagement may take place. Each member b has a pivoted flap f, which may be raised to force the hook a out of engagement to uncouple. The flap is actuated through linkage comprising a link f<2>, a bell-crank lever f<3>, and a system of rods f<4>, f<5>, f<6>. The link f<6> is attached to the carriage of a screw-winch with automatic release, as described in Specification 4339/07. The control of the carriage is effected by one of the two hand-wheels h<1> at the sides of the frame through gearing, the carriage being released from the nut h<6> when its hooks strike the inclines h<7>, and the weights of the rods then drawing the carriage towards its normal position. If the rotation of the wheel is stopped when the flap f is raised to the level of the highest part of the beak b<3>, coupling becomes impossible, and the couplings are placed in the free position for shunting and sorting. All the parts for the operation of the flap f are arranged below the level of the buffers. In order to lower the couplings from the horizontal position, to permit the use of the ordinary couplings, each of the sockets of the elements a, b carries a lug c<4>, and the two lugs of each half-coupling are connected together by a stirrup i, to which is attached a chain j. The chain passes over a pulley k and is attached to the crank-pin of a small cranked shaft l. The two cranks of this shaft are cut in the shape of a cam m, and the cams, on rotation of the shaft l, bear under and raise a link n connected by a link o to the bolts c<1>. The parts are so dimensioned that when the shaft l is rotated through the lever l<1> the chain is first tightened to raise the coupling slightly and so free the lugs c<3> from the bolt c<1>, and then the cam m meets the lever n and causes the bolt c<1> to drop, Fig. 12, thus enabling the coupling to be lowered by further rotation of the shaft l. To raise the coupling, the shaft l is rotated until the lugs c<3> slide past the bolts c<1>, whereupon engagement takes place. The raised or lowered position of the couplings is indicated by the position of the lever l<1>. Couplings, applications of indicators to.-To indicate whether the couplings are ready for coupling or for shunting, a lever q, Fig. 8, pivoted to the framing, is pivoted also to a nut p which traverses a screwed part of the shaft h<2> of the hand-wheel h<1>. The lever carries a colonred disk r, which projects from the wagon-side to a variable extent dependent upon the position of the coupling.