IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING RAILWAY AND TRAMWAY WAGONS, TRUCKS, CARRIAGES, AND ENGINES."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Tom Gibson Massicks, of the Oaks, in the Parish of
Millom, in the County of Cumberland, Solicitor's Articled Olerk, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR
COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING RAILWAY AND TRAMWAY WAGONS, TRUCKS,
CARRIAGES, AND ENGINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Tom Gibson Massicks at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th June. 1880.
TOM GIBSON MASSICKS, of the Oaks, in the Parish of Millom, in the County of
Cumberland, Solicitor's Articled Clerk. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF
AND APPARATUS FOR COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING RAILWAY AND TRAMWAY
WAGONS, TRUCKS, CARRIAGES, AND ENGINES."
My Invention has for its object improvement in the method of coupling and
uncoupling railway and tramway wagous, trucks, carriages, and engines, so that
the operator may couple and uncouple them without having to pass between the
wagons, trucks, carriages, or engines.
In performing my Invention I fix to the end link of the coupling attached to
each wagon, carriage, or locomotive a stirrup, the shank of which is passed through
a loop or hole at the end of a lover, and is retained in its place by a pin or
otherwise. In this lever is a slot extending lengthwise a sufficient distance to
allow the lever to be moved freely to couple or uncouple the coupling and to raise
it on to a hook or catch when not in use. The lever is supported by a stud on a
bracket fixed to the end of the wagon or carriage, which stud passes through the
slot in the lever, and with the bracket forms the fulcrum for the lever which slides
freely upon it, so that the operator can, by means of the lever, readily couple or
uncouple the carriages without getting between them. The lever may be fastened
to a link of the coupling without the stirrup, or a universal or other joint may be
used instead of the slot.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Tom Gibson Massicks in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th
December 1880.
TOM GIBSON MASSICKS, of the Oaks, in the Parish of Millom, in the County of
Cumberland, Solicitor's Articled Clerk. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND
APPARATUS FOR COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING RAILWAY AND TRAMWAY WAGGONS,
TRUCKS, CARRIAGES, AND ENGINES."
My Invention has for its object improvement in the method of coupling and

page_text: uncoupling railway and tramway wagons, trucks, carriages, and engines so that
the operator may couple and uncouple them without having to pass between the
wagons, trucks, carriages, or engines.
In performing my Invention I fix to the end link of the coupling attached to
each end of the wagon, carriage, or locomotive, a stirrup on which I form a hook,
or I form a shank which is passed through a loop or hole at the end of a lever, and
is retained in its place by a pin or otherwisc. I use a lever in which is a slot
extending lengthwise a sufficient distance to allow the lever to be moved freely to
couple or uncouple the coupling and to raise it on to a hook or catch when not in
use. The lever is supported by a stud on a bracket fixed to the end of the wagon
or carriage, which stud passes through the slot in the levor, and with the bracket
forms the fulcrun for the lever which slides freely upon it, so that the operator
can readily couple or uncouple the carriages without getting between them. Tho
lever may be fastened to a link of the coupling without the stirrup, or I form a
hook on the end of the lever and do not attach it to the coupling; a universal or
other joint may be used instead of the slot in the lever. And in order that my
Invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect I will describe
the accompanying Drawing, reference being had to the letters marked thereon.
g is part of a railway wagon to which my Invention is applied; a is a bracket
fixed on the end of the wagon; b is a slotted lever, on one end of which is a
projection and a hook, this lever works on the pin a' on the bracket a; c is the
stirrup on the coupling, this stirrup is provided with a hook so that it may be
conveniently raised by the lover 6 and placed on the coupling hook of the next
wagon. There are two slotted lovers on each waggon, one at each end and at opposite
cross corners (at the right hand corner looking from the end of the wagon), so that
when the wagons have to be coupled there is always one lever within reach of the
operator; d is a hook on which the lover rests when not in uso. To couple the
wagons the hook at the end of the lever is placed under the hook on the stirrup c,
and the link to which the stirrup is fixed is lifted on to the coupling hook of the
next wagon; the projection near the hook on the lever prevents the hook on the
stirrup from slipping up the lever. The lever is used in a similar way to uncouple
the wagons.
Instead of a slot in the lever working on a pin, a lever working in
an eyebolt may be used, in which case there must be collars or projections on the
lever to prevent it passing completely through the eye; or a universal or other joint
may be used instead of the slot or eye. If desired the end of the lever may
be connected to the stirrup c, but I prefer to use it as shown. I have shewn my
improved lever applied to a railway wagon, but it may be applied to locomotives
or carriages and to tram cars.
Having stated the nature of my Invention and described the manner of
performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the
exact details given, as they may be varied or inodified, but what I claim is,-
The lever connected to the bracket a or other fulcrum fixed to the end of the
wagon or carriage, substantially as shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, tho said Tom Gibson Massicks, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Kourteenth day of December. One thousand eight hundred