Patent GB-191300060-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Automatic Couplings for Railway Vehicles.
Inventor: SOKOLOWSKI WITOLD
IPC: B61G3/16
Filed: 1913-01-01
Granted: 1914-01-01
Abstract: 60. Sokolowski, W., and Morzycki, W. Jan. 1. Couplings, automatic.-Each coupling-head 1 is so connected by a chain 6 to the ordinary draw-hook that, when set for coupling, the chains are kept rigid to take the buffing stress upon impact of the vehicles, but the chains are capable of bending when coupling has taken place. The head 1 is carried by two slotted arms 2, 3 which slide over the ends of a pin 5 at the inner end of the chain, the pin being supported in the opening of the draw-hook H. The outermost link 7 of the chain passes through holes 9, 10 in the head 1 and through a slot 14, Fig. 10, in a transverse bolt 11 adapted to slide in a square-section recess 21 in the head 1, and an enlargement 8 at the end of the link is held in engagement with one or other of two recesses 12, 13, in the bolt by a spring 38. The head 1 is formed at one side with bridge-pieces 24 and stops 23, and at the other side carries a forward projection 15 provided with inclined ribs 26 adapted to pass above and below the bridgepieces 24 on the opposing head and to engage grooves 17 in the bolt 11. A U-shaped frame 33, pivoted to the draw-hook H and supported from the pin 5 by hooks 35, carries a bevelled projection 34 adapted to engage the bevelled head 19 of a pin 18 carried by the bolt 11 so as to hold the chain 6 rigid in the set-forcoupling position, Fig. 3. When, upon impact, the slight pressure of the spring 38 is overcome, and the bolt 11 is slid transversely by the engagement of the ribs 26 with the grooves 17, the head 19 moves out of engagement with the projection 34, and the frame 33 no longer holds the chain 6 rigid. To uncouple, the heads 1 are pushed apart by a coupling-pole, and, upon separation of the vehicles, the head 19 re-engages with the projection 34. In a modification, Figs. 14, 15, and 19, the frame 33 and the arms 2, 3 are dispensed with, and provision is made for a second locking of the coupling-parts when the vehicles are further buffed together. The coupling-bolt 11<1> is provided with four recesses a, b, c, d, and the outer link 7<1> of the chain has two corresponding projections e, f. Two rods 41, mounted by slots on the pins 5<1>, 5<11> of the chain, carry a common tongue 54 which cooperates with a bar 40 pivoted to the underside of the coupling-head 1<1>. When set for coupling, and also in the first coupling position, when the projections c, f engage the recesses b, c respectively, the two-link chain is held rigid by the engagement of a thin portion n of the arm 40 beneath the projection 54. When the vehicles are further buffed together, each bolt 11<1> has a further transverse movement so that the projections e, f engage the recesses c, d respectively and the arm 40 is moved out of engagement with the projection 54 by a member carried by the bolt so that the chain is no longer rigid. To uncouple, the vehicles are pushed apart until the two links of each chain are in line, as shown in Fig. 14, and the coupling- heads are pushed apart by a pole, whereupon each bolt 11<1> moves transversely and actuates the arm 40, of which a thicker portion m pushes back the projection 54. The rods 41 are thereby slid rearwardly so that projections 55 upon their inner ends engage projections 49 upon links 46 mounted by slots on a pin 37<1> carried bv the draw-hook to support the coupling-head. The links 46 are connected to the pin 5' by links 47, and are connected together by a link 51 passing beneath the draw-hook H. Couplings, automatic, convertible to non- automatic.-To allow the use of the draw-hook H, for non-automatic coupling, the automatic coupling-head, Fig. 3, may be supported by the hooks 35 in the position shown in broken lines; the automatic coupling-head shown in Figs. 14 and 15 may be hung vertically from the pin 37<1>.