An Automatic Coupling for Air Brakes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 17th Feb.,
1900
An Automatic Coupling for Air Brakes.
We, THOMAS HENRY PATCHING, of Cooper Street, Strathfield, in the Colony of
New South Wales, Tailor, and ROBERT HOSKINS FINCH, of Woodside Avenue,
Burwood, in the Colony of New South Wales, Builder, 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:-
Our invention consists of an automatic coupling for air brakes for use on railway
rolling stock, and its object is to provide à means whereby the air brakes can
be connected and disconnected without the necessity of the operator going between
the carriages.
Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate the
same parts in all the figures:-
Figure 1 is an elevation showing the invention complete. The position of the
coupling indicated in this drawing is the first point of contact between the two
parts (hereinafter called the male and female portions), before pressure has been
applied to drive them home.
Figure 2 shows a vertical section through the female connection with the male
connection partly in elevation, the positions being the same as in Figure 1.
Figure 3 shows a partial section of the female connection.
Figure is an elevation of the male connection.
Figure 3 is an end view of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is an elevation of hollow piston which works inside the cylinder of
female connection as hereinafter described.
Figure 7 is end view of Figure 6.
In Figure 1 (a) and (a) are the ends of the two vehicles, the portions shown
representing the sole plates in section.
(b) is a round tube which forms a part of the male portion of the coupling.
This tube passes through the sole plate () as shown, being supported by a
bracket (c), in which it moves freely.
The bracket (c), a portion of which also passes through a tapered hole in the
sole plate, is attached thereto by means of a knuckle joint (d), and is provided
with a heel (e) for the purpose of maintaining the coupling in a horizontal posi-
tion, and keeping it at right angles to the sole plate. On the other side of the
sole plate, that is underneath the vehicle, the tube (b) passes through a collar (f);
which is attached to the sole plate by means of the stays (h) (h).
(A) is a strong spiral spring which surrounds the tube (), as shown, being
confined at the one end by the collar (f), and at the other by the loose disc or
washer (), which is held in position by the pin (m). This spring is provided for
the purpose of keeping the male connection (r) pressed forward into the required
position, and of allowing for the backward and forward play of the carriages
when connected and in motion.
(n) is the air supply pipe.
(61) is a square metal bar, which forms the part of the female portion of the
L

page_text: through the sole-plate (¹) in a manner similar to that in which the round tube (b)
passes through the sole plate (a), excepting that the passage-way through the
bracket (c) must necessarily correspond to the section of the bar (6). The spiral
spring (4) and the attachments (f), (h³), (l¹) and (m³) correspond exactly to the
similar parts already described in the male portion.
(P) is bell-shaped orifice of female connection as hereinafter described.
17) is air pipe.
In Figure 2 (r) is the male connection attached to tube (b), and consists of a
hollow cylinder ending in a tapered nozzle (r) as hereinafter described.
(s) is one of two tapered gripping lugs, the other being on the opposite side of
the cylinder (as shown clearly in Figure 5).
()() are two longitudinal guide-pieces lying along the cylinder (r) as shown
clearly in Figures 4 and 5.
(u) is one of a pair of pins projecting on either side of the male connection,
both of which are clearly shown in Figure 5.
() is a guide collar consisting of a dise surrounding the cylinder (r) (also
clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5). The internal area of the female connection
consists of two cylinders of unequal diameter, the first (w) being of the same
diameter as the inner end of the bell-shaped orifice (), the other (c) some-
what smaller, so as to form a shoulder (2) for the purpose hereinafter described.
(r) is a hollow piston which slides in the smaller cylinder (¹), having a
collar (l) fitting the larger cylinder () as shown.
() is an air-pipe connection fitted into the piston (e) at right angles thereto.
Attached to the collar (¹) are a pair of grips (y) (y) for the purpose of locking
the lugs (s) (s), as hereinafter described (see also Figures 6 and 7);
The mouth of the hollow piston (r), into which the nozzle piece (1) of the
male connection intrudes, is fitted with a tapered rubber ring or washer (2) for
the purpose of ensuring an air-tight joint between the male and female portions.
(o) is a spiral spring acting on the closed end of piston (r), for the purpose of
pressing the latter forward into the position necessary to establish and maintain
a connection with the male portion.
In Figure 3, which shows female connection partially in section (¹) is one of a
pair of right-handed helical slots or channels into which the projecting pins (u) (u)
on the male connection fit, and by means of which the latter is partially rotated
for the purpose of locking the connection as hereinafter described.
(3) is a left-handed helical opening in the under portion of the cylinder (w¹)
of the same pitch as the helical slots (¹) (¹).
The method by which our brake operates is as follows:—
When the carriages are detached the male and female portions of the coupling
stand out in horizontal positions, in which it is essential that they should be
maintained by the brackets (e) and (c). It is also essential that in the male
connection the projecting pins () () should be in a horizontal position. It will
probably be found in practice that the weight of the supply pipe (#) will be
sufficient to maintain this latter position in the male connection, but should it
be deemed advisable a weighted lever may be attached to the under portion of
tube (b)..
On the vehicles being run together the male connection enters the orifice of
the female connection, the said orifice being made bell shaped, so as to ensure
entry should one of the vehicles be more heavily loaded than the other, or should
the coupling take place on a curve, the tapered holes in the sole plates allowing
for the necessary play in all directions. The horizontal cross pins (2) (u) enter
the helical slots (') ('), (the points of entrance to which are also horizontally
set) at the same time that the conical nozzle (r) enters the mouth of the hollow
piston (). The connection being thus established, and the air channel com-
pleted through tubes (b) and (9), this continued pressure of the two vehicles
coming together causes the cross pins (u) (u) to travel along the helical chan-
nela (u¹) (u), thus causing the male connection to revolve in one direction, while

page_text: the forward pressure of the male connection (r) forces the sliding piston (r) back-
ward along the cylinder (e), the spring (o) being somewhat weaker than the main
spiral springs (k) (). This backward movement of piston (r) carrying the pipe
connection (2) along the left-handed helical opening (2) causes the piston (r) to
rotate in the opposite direction.
These two opposite rotary movements of the separate parts as described forces
the tapered lugs (*) (*) under the grips (y) (y), thus securely locking the connec-
tion, which cannot become unlocked till the vehicles are separated, when the mere
act of withdrawal reverses the action above described, and releases the connection.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The combination in an automatic air brake coupling of the tube (b); the
tube (r) having a nozzle piece (r), taper lugs (*) (*), horizontal guide pieces (t) (f),
disc (r), cross pins (u) (u), the whole being secured to the sole plate of the vehicle,
and controlled by the spring (k); the bracket (c) fitted with the knuckle-joint (d),
and heel (c), for the purposes set forth and as illustrated in the drawings.
2. The combination in an automatic air brake coupling of the cylinder (w)
provided with the helical channels (¹) (¹), and having a bell-shaped mouth; the
cylinder (r), having the helical opening (2); the sliding piston (r) with the pipe
connection () set at right angles thereto, provided with a tapered rubber mouth
piece (), the shoulder (r) grip pieces (y) (y); the bar (¹); and the spring (o)
for the purposes set forth and as illustrated in the drawings.
3. In an automatic air brake coupling the combination and arrangement of a
male portion such as shown in Figure 4, provided with horizontal cross pins (") (u),
with a hollow cylinder such as (c), provided with helical channels (u) (u), for
the purpose herein set forth substantially as described and as illustrated.
Dated the 20th day of Inovat 1899
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.