Patent GB-190223173-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Automatic Car Couplings.
Inventor: KOENYVES-TOTH MICHAEL VON
Filed: 1902-10-23
Granted: 1903-01-22
Abstract: 23,173. T¾th, M. von K÷nyves-. Oct. 23. Couplings, automatic.- In the arrangement shown in Fig. 5, a screwed spindle 46, capable of sliding freely in a bush 42, engages a nut 21 in the opposite part, and is kept in the coupled position by being drawn forwards by the recoil, so that its shoulder 47, formed with flats, engages a similarlyshaped part in the bush 42 and prevents it from rotating. The nut 21 is also capable of sliding freely in a bush 17, which can only rotate in another bush 16 fixed to the box 15. A spring 23 presses the nut outwards, the movement being limited by a shoulder. This shoulder is provided with lateral flats, which engage similar flats in the bush 17 and prevent the nut from rotating relatively to the bush. During the coupling, the nut 21 is prevented from rotating by brake blocks 29 attached to a steel ribbon 30 and fitted in recesses in the bush 16 so as to bear against the bush 17. The ends of the steel ribbon are formed into broad jaws 31, shown clearly in Fig. 8, which are connected by a bolt 33 having nuts at each end, thus allowing the ribbon to be tightened or loosened from either or both sides. Sliding pawls 38, acted on by flat springs, engage with a ratchet-wheel on the nuts, and prevent them from slackening back. To release the coupling, the nuts are loosened by a wrench 35, which is formed so as to push the sliding pawls 38 back out of the way. Guides may be placed at the buffer boxes to facilitate the introduction of the wrench. The hush 42 of the spindle 46 forms part of a telescopic arrangement of bushes 40, 41, 42 fixed to the box of the corresponding head. Springs 45 press the bushes 41, 42 outwards, and flats on their shoulders 43 prevent them from rotating. At the moment of impact, the spindle 46 is first caught by the funnelshaped guide 24 on the nut 21, then pushed back against the end of the bush 42, and finally screws itself into the nut. During this movement, the bushes 41, 42 are pushed telescopically into the bush 40, and the nut into the bush 17. After impact, the various parts are pressed outwards partly by the springs 23,45 and partly by the buffers. During this return movement, the shoulder 47 of the spindle is pulled forwards, so as to lie in the front end of the bush 42, and is thereby prevented from rotating. In a modification for preventing the spindle from rotating, its shoulder is formed with a roughened or toothed conical face, which lies against a similar face on a ring in the bush. Two coupling-heads are placed side by side at each end of the carriage, as shown in Fig. 1. Each head is connected by an eye and pin with a transverse plate, which is pivoted at the middle to a fork 5, thus permitting a horizontal movement. The other end of the fork is connected to a fork 7 on the draw-bar 8, and is thus enabled to move vertically. An arm 9 projects downwards from the fork 5 and rests against a small buffer. By these means, the heads are kept in a horizontal position. A spring 12, attached to the fork 5 and bent into a loop with the sides bearing against projections 13 on the boxes 15, keeps the heads in line with the length of the carriage. In addition, the heads are connected to each other by eyes 14, Fig. 8, and a pin 53. By placmg a longer bolt in the fork of the draw-bar, the ordinary double-screw coupling may be attached. In this case, the pin 53 of the eyes 14 is removed, and the coupling-heads are turned at right-angles to their former positions. A spring bolt is fitted to keep each head in its new position. By removing the bolt of the fork 5, the transverse plate and the coupling-heads can be removed and the eye of an ordinary coupling attached.