IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO COUPLINGS AND DRAW-BARS FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltino, Lake & Co. Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings London in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare
the nature of said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO COUPLINGS AND
DRAW-BARS FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES" and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This Invention relates to the construction of continuous draw bars for railway
vehicles, which draw bars are provided at their ends with means for securing the
links by which the adjacent vehicles are coupled, and which are extended under
the whole length of the car.
The said Invention consists in the peculiar means for supporting such draw-bars
and in the construction and combination of parts, as more fully hereinafter
described.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the centre of a draw bar and
its coupling ends.
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing one of the pieces of timber with means
attached thereto for supporting the draw bar, there being two such pieces of
timber, one on either side of the draw-bar, secured to the bottom of the vehicle,
and provided with means for supporting the draw bar.
Figure 3 is a vertical cross soction on the line X X Figure 2.
A indicates a hook coupling bar, the hook a being adapted to engage with a
coupling link B, after the latter has entered the flaring mouth 6 of the metallic
box C, which encloses the hook end of the draw-bar, and guides the entering link
into the chamber c, through the contracted mouth & leading thereto.
Upon the draw bar A is a follower plate D, and the buffer spring E surrounds
the draw bar in rear of the said plate D. Another follower plato F is arranged
at the rear of the said spring.
G G indicate three sided boxes provided with flanges 6, by means of which, and
suitable bolts f, tho said boxes are secured within recesses g in the timbers H,
11

page_text: The upper and lower sides h of each box G are cut away for about half thoir
length, as shown in Figure 2, and the box is of sufficient length to allow of the
free movement of the follower plates D, F, therein, without compressing tho
spring E. The follower plato F fits within the two sides h of the box, in such
manner as not to interfere with its free reciprocating motion, but so that it is held
rigidly in position against any other than a reciprocating motion. The follower
plate D has a similar motion in that portion of the box wherein the sides are cut
away, but must have a slight vertical radial movement as the front end of the
draw bar is lifted or depressed for the purpose of coupling or uncoupling, the
follower plate F forming the fulcrum for such movement:
'
To the rear end of the draw-bar the centre section I is secured by means of a
swivel joint and key i. The enclosing box C, above the flaring mouth, presents a
solid face, and its rear end is pivotally secured to the section A of the draw bar
by the bolt. The opposite end of the section I of the draw bar is connected by a
similar swivel and key to a section of the draw bar similar to the section A, and
provided with similar followers and spring, such followers being supported in
boxes G, in the adjacent portions of the timber.
The whole of the parts are so constructed, and operate in such a manner, that
the followers F form fulcrums for the draw bar and allow the necessary movements
of the outer ends of the same for the purposes of coupling or uncoupling. The
front and projecting ond of the enclosing box C is supported, by means of a
swinging bracket J, in such manner as not to interfere with the retraction or
projection of the draw bar, within the limits of the compression or expansion of
the buffer spring E.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to bo performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. The boxes G for supporting the fulcrums of a continuous draw-bar,
composed of two end coupling sections and an intermediate connecting section, the
ends of such outer sections having a vertical radial movement for the purpose of
coupling or uncoupling, the said boxes being let into, and secured to, the coincident
faces of the supporting timbers, whereby the said fulcrums are rigidly prevented
from any motion except a horizontal reciprocating one, substantially as described.
Second. In combination with a continuous draw bar consisting of three sections
as described, the followers D, F, enclosing between them the buffer-spring E, and
the boxes G, constructed substantially as described, the said parts being arranged
and operating substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
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Dated this 24th day of March 1884