IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLINGS FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES
Year: 1885

page_text: JOHN CRABTREE Gentleman South Park Lincoln (In Railway Service) do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLINGS
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:-
Each Wagon or Truck is fitted at both ends with two Links and a pendant
Hook attached, forming a Coupling chain, which chain is secured in the ordinary
way to the Drawbar now in use in place of the present three (or four) Link chain
Coupling, and leaving the present Drawbar Hook available for use when required
in connection with an ordinary Coupling on another Wagon. The top Link fulls
back against a projection, or Block, under the Drawbar at the end of the Wagon,
which Block forms a rest and prevents the Link dropping beyond an angle of
about 55 degrees below the horizontal position.
The second Link, with Hook attached hangs perpendicularly from the top Link
when not in use. This arrangement brings the Coupling parts between any two
Wagons much nearer together, and in a convenient position for attaching below
the level of the Buffers, and all that is necessary to effect the Coupling or
uncoupling is to lift, from the side of a Truck by means of a short Hand Stick,
or Shunters Pole, the Coupling Hook of one chain so that it will drop on or off the
top Link or Shackle of a similar Coupling chain. Each Hook has a slotted
shoulder, or arm, which allows the Hook to slide several inches backwards or
forwards on its own Link; thus the dropping of the Hook over the top Link of an
opposite Coupling when attaching, and the clearing of the Hook when released is
simplified.
The Links and Hooks are made sufficiently strong to avoid the necessity for
double Coupling, which however can if necessary be effected without difficulty.
When coupled singly in the usual way the other Coupling Hook not in use
remains hanging on its own Link, and acts as a balance weight which tends to
make the Coupling more secure. There is ample play between the parts and the
IDin 077

page_text: shape of the Coupling Hook, and the mode of Coupling is designed with a view to
avoid any fouling, or sticking, of the parts when spring Buffers are pressed hard
in, or of the Wagons becoming uncoupled except in the way provided.
The Coupling when not in use will hang down from 25 to 30 inches below the
level of the Drawbar. The full length of the Coupling between the Wagons when
pulling will be from 36 to 40 inches from end to end.
The Links for this Coupling are all made of one uniform size, adapted for any
description of Railway Wagons or Trucks, whether with spring or Dead Buffers,
but the arm of the Hook on Coupling chains attached to Wagons with "Dead," (or
short) Buffers is shorter than on those attached to Wagons or Trucks with spring
Buffers.
I prefer to let the Coupling Chain into the hole in Drawbar without a shackle.
The Deambe. Hook mov eventually he dispensed with.
Figure 1 gives a side elevation of the ends of two adjoining Wagons, partly in 1
section, illustrating the position of Couplings when hanging down out of use.
The position of the Couplings when attached one to the other is indicated by
dotted lines. "F" is the Block, or rest, which keeps the top Link or Shackle in an
inclined position for receiving Coupling Hook.
"
Figure 2. gives an end elevation of a Wagon with Coupling hanging down.
Figures 3 & 4 shew a side & a front view of the Coupling chain and Hook.
A. is a Link measuring (inside measurement) about 10 inches long & 2 inches
wide, which Link is let in to the end of the Drawbar just behind the Drawbar
Hook in the same manner as the ordinary Coupling chain at present in use.
B. is a wider Link, about 8 inches long and 6 inches wide, and is attached
outside Link "A" by means of a strong bolt (D) which bolt passes through the
holes provided leaving space for the reception of the Hook of the adjoining
Coupling.
C. is a Hook hung on Link "B" by means of a slotted shoulder, or arm, (C C)
which slot allows of several inches play between the two, and therefore of the
Hook moving freely in any direction.
"
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The total length of the span or reach of this Hook & arm combined, is 8 inches
in the case of Dead or short Buffers, & 12 inches in the case of spring Buffered
Wagons.
The Hook itself (E) is shaped to form almost a complete circle leaving an
opening only sufficient for it to slip on to the centre of the bolt between
Links A. & B on a corresponding Coupling, and in such a position as not to
allow of the Hook becoming detached by any movement of the Wagonsor of the
Coupling chain itself.
All the parts forming the Coupling are 11 inch diameter, except the bolt & the
head of Hook which are made stronger.
I wish it to be understood that I make no claim to novelty for the employment
of Links and of Hooks pure-et-simple for Coupling Railway Vehicles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. The design of the pendant Coupling Hook with the slot in the arm, or
shoulder, which allows it to be lengthened or shortened on its own chain and also
considerable play laterally.
Secondly. The combination of the two Links and pendant Hook in the manner
described, for the purpose of a centre Coupling chain for Railway Wagons or other
Vehicles

page_text: Thirdly. The general arrangement, which is non automatic & requires no
Mechanical Levers, as adapted for Coupling together, or uncoupling Railway
Wagons, or other Vehicles, simply by the attaching or detaching of a Hook at the
end of a short Coupling chain on the Drawbar to or from the top Link, or shackle,
of a similar Coupling chain on an adjoining Wagon at an angle below the level of
the Wagon Buffers by means of a short hand Stick, or Shunters Pole, operated from
the side of the Wagon, for which purpose one end of the Pole is inserted in the
small hole in the Hook or in the slot, or in the round head of the Coupling Hook
as may be found most convenient.
Dated this fifteenth day of December 1905