Improvements in Apparatus for Coupling and Uncoupling Railway Rolling-stock.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 30th Sept., 1890-Accepted, 1st Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Coupling and Uncoupling Railway
Rolling-stock.
EMIL HOLLANDERS, Chronometer & Watch Maker, 3 Queen's Buildings, Osborne
Road, Southsea, and CHARLES JAMES LEATHER, North Grounds Villa, Portsmouth,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A travelling frame actuated in such manners from the outside or the vehicle that,
when coupling, it places the outer link of the chain on the book of the next vehicle, in
any position within reach, after which it can be withdrawn. In uncoupling, the said
frame is again attached to the link, which it lifts off the hook and returns to its initial
positions. The object is to obviate the necessity for going between the vehicles to
couple and uncouple them.
The frame is suspended under the body of the vehicle and is forked at the outer
ends. The farthest link of the coupling chain has two studs attached, which project
outwards one from each side of it. These studs are arranged to fit the forked ends of
the frame, which engage them and so actuate the link. The longitudinal vertical
and transverse movements, of the forked ends of the frame, are made by levers, rack,
chain & connecting rods. The manual power being transmitted through shafts from
levers at the side of the vehicle.
EMIL HOLLANDERS.
C. J. LEATHER.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Coupling and Uncoupling Railway
Rolling-stock.
We, EMIL HOLLANDERS, of 3 Queen's Buildings, Osborne Road, Southsea, in the
County of Hants, Chronometer & Watch Maker, and CHARLES JAMES LEATHER,
of North Grounds Villa, Portsmouth, also in the County of Hants, Engineer &
Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The object of this invention is to provide means for coupling and uncoupling
railway vehicles from the side thus obviating the necessity for going between the ends
of the vehicles for this purpose.
In order that our invention may be well understood and carried into practice we
will describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which similar
letters are used to indicate the same or corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figures 1 and 2 are respectively side and end elevations, and Figure 3 is an inverted
plan of part of a railway vehicle fitted with our invention. Figure 4 is a perspective
view of the apparatus detached from the vehicle, and Figures 5 to 7 shew details of
construction.
Two tranverse shafts B and C are journalled in brackets A A secured to the under-
frame of the vehicle, and are respectively rotated by handles D and E at each end of
the shafts B and C, so that the coupling apparatus may be operated from either side of
the vehicle as found convenient. To the shaft C is rigidly attached one end of a lever
arm F, the other end of which is pivoted at H to two parallel connecting rods GG.
These two connecting rods G are pivoted at J to a guide rod K working longitudinally
in suitable guides L secured to the underframe (see Figure 3). To the guide rod K
the forked travelling frame M N is rigidly attached. This travelling frame extends to

page_text: the front or rear of the vehicle, as the case may be, and vertical arms are attached
to or formed on the extremities. The said arms O have curved slots P arranged to
engage pins, studs, or trunnions QQ on the sides of the end link of the coupling
chain. Figure 5 shews in perspective a part of the travelling frame M N with the
vertical arms O, and Figure 6 shews the end coupling link with the pins, studs, or
trunnions Q, brazed, welded, or otherwise rigidly affixed thereto. By rotating the
handle E in the direction of the arrow at its end as shewn in Figures 1 and 4, the
shaft C is rotated, thereby lowering the pivoted end H of the lever arm F, thus pulling
forward the connecting rods G G and guide rod K. As it moves forward the rod K
carries with it the travelling frames M N. The position of the vertical arms is so
arranged that the curved slots P are immediately behind the pins, studs, or
trunnions on the end coupling link, so that as the said vertical arms move forward,
the said slots P will engage the said pins, studs, or trunnions Q and will carry the
end coupling link forward horizontally.
The second transverse shaft B provides for vertical motion of the end coupling link.
To the said shaft B the ends of two similar lever arms R are rigidly attached. To the
other end of each lever arm R is securely fastened a frame S carrying two friction
rollers T. One of the frames S with rollers T is shewn separately in front and side
elevation in Figure 7. Between each pair of friction rollers T the sides M and N of
the forked travelling frame are passed as shewn in Figures 1 and 4. By rotating the
handle D it is obvious that the lever arms R will be raised or lowered and with them
the frames S and rollers T and the forked travelling frame M N.
In some cases when the ends of two vehicles are close together ready for coupling,
it is found that the two draw hooks are not exactly opposite each other.
We provide
for this by allowing end play to the bottom shaft B, so that it may be adjusted
transversely in the brackets A by pulling on the handle D at either side, suitable
collars being provided to limit this transverse motion.
The operation of coupling is effected in the following manner :-When the vehicles
are sufficiently close together, the lower shaft B is rotated causing the frame M N to
travel upwards and lift the outer link of the chain over its own hook. The shaft Cis
then rotated, causing the frame to travel forward horizontally, until the outer end of
the chain link is over the hook of the next vehicle. The shaft B is then rotated in the
opposite direction, thus lowering the frame and leaving the link on the opposite hook.
The frame is then withdrawn by rotating the shaft. C, to its normal position under the
vehicle as shewn in Figure 1. in this position it is prevented from moving outwards
by the position of the lever H and the connecting links G G and by a catch or
shoulder on the under side of the frame acting against the shaft B or by other suitable
retaining means. To uncouple the mechanism is operated until the curved slots P
again engage the pins, studs, or trunnions QQ, when the travelling frame is first
raised by rotating the shaft B thus disengaging the link from the hook, the shaft C is
then actuated and the travelling frame and coupling chain drawn back, and the
mechanism stowed away under the vehicle as before.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
(1.) The apparatus hereinbefore described for coupling and uncoupling railway
rolling stock consisting of a frame engaging pins, studs, or trunnions, on the end
coupling link and caused to travel horizontally and vertically by actuating two
transverse shafts from the sides of the vehicle operating substantially in the manner
set forth and illustrated.
(2.) In combination with a coupling link having studs, pins, or trunnions QQ
affixed to the sides thereof, the travelling frame M N secured to the connecting rod K
sliding in guides L on the underframe of the vehicle, the said rod K being pivoted
to two other parallel connecting rods G G pivoted at H to a lever arm Frigidly
affixed to a transverse shaft C; the said frame M N passing between rollers T in
frames S carried by lever arms R rigidly secured to a second transverse shaft B, the

page_text: two shafts B and C being carried in brackets A affixed to the underframe of the vehicle
and operating from the sides of the vehicle by handles D and E or their equivalents,
substantially in the manner described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings
and for the purpose stated.-
Dated this 30th day of September 1890.
CASTLE SMITH,
Per F. W. Golby,
"Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicants.