Patent GB-190615453-A (GB)
Title: Improved Means of Coupling and Uncoupling Railway Vehicles.
Inventor: LOWRY WILLIAM
Filed: 1906-07-07
Granted: 1906-11-29
Abstract: 15,453. Lowry, W. July 7. Couplings, non- automatic.-The links of an ordinary Gedge chain coupling are mounted in a cradle of special construction which may be rotated, so as to operate the coupling, by handlevers placed at each side of the vehicle on a transverse shaft. The cradle 10, which carries the links 7, 8, 9, is pivoted to the vehicle at 12 and is operated from levers 20 at the ends of a shaft 14 through links 16, 17. The outer end of the cradle is cut away on the underside to receive the link 8 and carries an extension 21, pivoted at 23 and having a weighted rod 24 extending rearwards. When the chain is in the inoperative position, as at the right-hand side of Fig. 4, the weighted rod 24 is prevented from overbalancing by a strut 34, which is connected to the link 17 and bears against a stirrup 31 provided under the portion 21 for supporting the link 8. As the chain is operated for coupling, the rod 24 is kept horizontal by the engagement of a a guide 29 secured thereto with a pin 27 at the end of an arm 28 on the shaft 14, as shown at the left-hand side of Fig. 4. As the chain is raised further, the outer link 9 meets the opposing hook 4 and becomes inclined, together with the piece 21 and rod 24, as shown in Fig. 5. Upon further rotation, the link 9 passes the hook 4 and is swung into the position shown in Fig. 6, by the descent of the weighted arm 24, the guide 29 on which again engages with the pin 27. The chain is then coupled by an opposite rotation of the shaft 14. For uncoupling, the chain is first raised higher than the position shown in Fig. 6, until the pin 27 is disengaged from the end 30 of the guide 29, when the weighted rod 24 descends and swings the link 9 over against extensions 33 of the cradle 10, so that, when the chain is again lowered, the link 9 escapes the hook 4. As the parts descend, they are brought back to the normal inoperative position by the engagement of a roller 25 at the end of the arm 24 with a fixed guide 26. When in the position shown in Fig. 6, the link 9 is prevented from sliding downwards by inward projections 32, Fig. 2, formed on the portion 21 of the cradle. To prevent the chain from being rotated beyond the position shown in Fig. 6 when it is not desired to uncouple, tappets 36 fixed to the shaft 14 are adapted to engage with a transverse bar 35, Fig. 2, which is hung by rods 38 pivoted at 39 and passing through brackets 43. To allow for the further rotation of the chain during uncoupling, notches 41 are formed in the bar 35, which is moved laterally by handles 42 until one of the notches comes in line with one of the tappets 36. In a modification which allows of uncoupling when adjacent vehicles are buffed close together, the extensions 33 of the cradle 10, instead of forming a stop for the link 9, are sufficiently wide apart to allow the link to be swung right over, the link 8 being also arranged so as to slide down on to the hook 4 of the same vehicle, whereby the chain is shortened so as to escape the hook on the opposing vehicle, when lowered.