IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLINGS FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES, WAGGONS, TRUCKS, AND SUCH LIKE VEHICLES."
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward King, of Southampton, in the County of
Hants, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLINGS FOR RAILWAY
CARRIAGES, WAGGONS, TRUCKS, AND SUCH LIKE VEHICLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward King at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd March 1874.
I, EDWARD KING, of Southampton, in the County of Hants, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLINGS
FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES, WAGGONS, TRUCKS, AND SUCH LIKE VEHICLES," to be as
follows:-
The objects of this Invention are to provide means of coupling for
railway and other carriages or vehicles whereby a system of automatically
coupling when carriages or vehicles are brought together is obtained,
the arrangements being such that upon being brought together coupling
can be effected without the necessity, as by the present system, of the

page_text: railway attendant having to go between the carriages or vehicles to
couple or uncouple the same.
Also by my improvements means are applied by which the driver may
disconnect his engine from the carriages or vehicles, or the guard may
disconnect his carriage from the train while in motion.
To carry out the objects of my Invention I adopt the following
mechanical arrangements:-To the end of each carriage or vehicle a
draw bar is attached, secured in the usual way (and, say, for the present
rolling stock about three inches from the draw hook), and to the end of
such draw bar a draw-bar hook is fitted into a slot at the end of the
draw bar and secured by a pin rivetted on the bottom side, the head of
the pin having a hole through which a smaller pin is put and secured to
a lug opposite; this forms the fulcrum on which the lever for discon-
necting is worked. The bottom end of such lever has a square flat
surface, and is put into a slot between the lug and hook-pin head.
In operating the lever the bottom end of the lever slides up the whole
length of the back of the hook and the whole thickness of the draw bar
end and throws the hook in and out of gear.
A shackle is also provided at the end of each carriage, with one end
longer than the other, with a piece of chain welded or secured into an
eye at the end of the shackle. Two cross-eye plates are bolted to cross
timber, to which the shackle is secured by a pin passing through the two
eye plates. A round weight with hook is passed through a hole in one
of the cross-eye plates and hooked on to the chain, thus balancing the
shackle and keeping it always in a line with the draw-bar hook.
The draw bar and hook for engine and guard's van may be modified
thus;
that is, it is the same as the other draw bar with the exception
that the fulcrum of the lever is on the bottom side of the draw bar
instead of the top, thus allowing the lever to be at the same angle as
the one in the carriage or vehicle next to the engine. This will allow
the engine driver or guard to pull both levers towards him and instantly
free the engine or guard's van from the train. Of course all the levers
can be fitted in the same way if desired.
All the levers have a piece of chain welded or firmly secured into the
ends and if thought necessary a small weight can be used, but I do not

page_text: consider it to be needed as the levers can rest at any angle and the
chain can be hooked on to the draw bar or side of carriage, or other
convenient position; and it is impossible for the hook to leave the
shackle or in any way to be disconnected without lifting the lever.
Indeed according to varying circumstances the details above mentioned
may be so arranged as to accomplish the objects desired.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward King in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 2nd September 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
KING, of Southampton, in the County of Hants, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Edward King, Her special licence that
I, the said Edward King, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Edward King, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLINGS FOR RAILWAY
CARRIAGES, WAGGONS, TRUCKS, AND SUCH LIKE VEHICLES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Edward King, my executors or
administrators, by an nstrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and; eals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of tho said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward King, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The objects of this Invention are to provide means of coupling for
railway and other carriages or vehicles whereby a system of automatically
coupling when carriages or vehicles are brought together is obtained,
the arrangements being such that upon being brought together coupling
can be effected without the necessity (as by the present system) of the
railway attendant having to go between the carriages or vehicles to
couple or uncouple the same.
And it is my intention to obtain a coupling that will work perfectly:
on the sharpest curve and the steepest gradient, and by which the
carriages or waggons may be disconnected at cither side, and so that all
vehicles may be at different heights and admit of being reversed, double
security being provided to prevent any serious accident likely to occur
through the breaking of the coupling. To effectuate these objects a 1
draw bar, hook, bracket, and shackle is fitted to each vehicle. The
draw bar is secured in the usual way and about five inches from the
centre of the waggon; or it can be placed in the centre, in which
case it may be made shorter, and the bracket longer. A small shaft is
fitted between the buffers, or it can be extended to the outside with a
lever at each end for throwing the hook out of gear; this can be fitted
above or below the draw bar; if the former, a small balance weight will
be required, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings.
The foregoing statements particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and indicate in what manner the same is to be
performed; and I will now in further compliance with the condition in
the said Letters Patent contained proceed to more fully and particularly
describe and ascertain in what manner the same is to be performed or
carried out in practice by referring to the Drawings accompanying these
Presents.

page_text: Fig. 16, plan of waggons with draw-bar hook in centre of waggon,
the shaft for uncoupling extending outside of buffers; Fig. 17, elevation
of Fig. 16.
In these Figures A is draw bar; B, hook fitted into a slot at end and
secured by a pin with a screw nut, or rivetted; this pin has a hole in
the head through which another pin is passed, forming the fulcrum on
which the hook lever (K) is worked; this lever works in a slot and slides
up the whole back of hook; C is shackle, with a piece of chain, which
works through a thimble-shaped hole in the bracket; D is bracket bolted
through top and bottom or in front of cross timber, and to which the
shackle (C) is secured; E is weight with a hooked rod which is passed
through a hole in bracket and hooked on to chain, thus balancing
shackle and keeping it always in line with draw-bar hook. This weight
may be dispensed with, if desired, and a spring used for the same purpose,
either a flat or spiral-shaped spring will answer the purpose. F is a shaft,
worked through brackets (H), the ends of such shaft being provided
with levers or handles G, which are worked backward or forward for
purpose of engaging or disengaging the coupling; H, brackets carrying
shaft F, as before explained; I, connecting rod, which is connected to
shaft F, and when the levers G are actuated motion is conveyed to
connecting rod (I) which releases or secures the hook B; K is hook
lever which slides up and down behind the hook B, as before explained;
M, balance weight attached to shaft F to keep same in position; Lis
hook pin which forms the fulcrum on which the hook (B) works.
Figs. 16 and 17 show the draw-bar hook in the centre of waggon and
the shaft F extended to the outside of buffers terminating in levers G by
which the coupling is worked. In this case when the coupling takes
place the shackles are pushed on one side by the edge of the hook until
they pass the point when they drop into the bite of the hook by the
action of the weight or springs and no pressure from within or without

page_text: can displace them until the lever G has been pulled and the hooks
thrown out of gear. The draw-bar hook can be made solid, and the
shackle to pull out of gear, which would do for goods' waggons as they
are not required to be held so tightly and closely together as the
passenger carriages are.
"
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or
carried out in practice, I hereby declare that I claim the Invention of
Improvements in Couplings for Railway Carriages, Waggons, Trucks,
and such like Vehicles," as herein-before described and illustrated by
the accompanying Drawings, it being understood that I lay no claim to
the constituent parts per se and apart from the purposes of my said
Invention; nor do I confine myself to the use of precisely such details
as hercin-before stated.
In witness whercof, I, the said Edward King, have hereunto set
Witness,
T. MORGAN,
Secretary.
Inventors' Patent Right Ass"., Limited,
21, Cockspur Street,
S.W.
EDWARD KING. (L.S.)