Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Aug., 1886.
Complete Left, 31st Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 1st Feb., 1887.
RICHARD HILL of 4 Roe Street, Heywood in the County of Lancaster Mechanist
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to new and useful mechanical devices for automatically
coupling railway wagons and other vehicles together. Instead of the usual draw hook,
I provido a special projecting and rather heavily constructed and pivoted draw bar,
having at its end a special shaped horizontally placed cross catch bar pivoted in the
centre to the draw bar. At one end of the catch bar is pivoted a coupling head or hook,
so shaped, that when two wagons come together the coupling hook slides over or under
(according to the relative height in relation to the other wagon) the catch bar of this
other wagon. The coupling hook or catch bar of the latter sliding over and catching
or hooking on to the catch bar of the other wagon, so that consequently the
wagons are held together by two coupling hooks, because immediately the coupling
hooks slide over the catch bars, they cannot become released except by the special
cranked rod and chain-which allows the shunter and without danger, to lift the
coupling hooks free from catch bars; The special shaped square shoulder of the
coupling hooks, prevents them from falling too low-the upper end of pivoted part of
catch hooks, is attached to the chain and crank bar, by which the coupling hooks can
be lifted out of the sphere of action when the trucks are not required to be coupled.
The cross catch bar is turned up at one of its ends or the other and opposite end to
which the coupling hook is pivoted-it has sufficient play at the pivot, to allow for
angular pulling direction. In another modification of my invention, instead of the
solid draw bar, already described, I use a loop shaped draw link having projecting from
its end, upwards and downwards, anchor shaped hooked projections, placed on one side
of the centre of loop, in such a way, that when two wagons come into contact with
each other, the anchor shaped hooks slide over the opposite draw links. The draw
links are pivoted to ends of carriages with shoulder joints which allow them to be lifted
up but not to fall below a horizontal and suitable position for their purpose. I lift the
draw links out of action by means of a cranked bar and chain-similar to the manner
described in the other modification of my Invention.
.By the use of my Invention the wagons or cars of a train are unfailingly and
automatically coupled-from safe and accessible positions, consequently the great and
often fatal danger connected with the work of shunting and coupling is avoided.

page_text: RICHARD HILL of 4 Rose Street Heywood in the County of Lancaster 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 :-
My Invention relates to new and useful mechanical devices for automatically coupling
Failway wagons and other vehicles together and partly relates to improvements in a
form of anchor shackle hook invented by me and exhibited at the Darlington Coupling
Trials in the year 1882.
Referring to the three sheets of drawings which accompany and are intended to form
part of this specification Figures 1 to 8 in sheet 1 and Figures 14 to 22 in sheet 2 and
figures 23 to 26 in sheet 3 of drawings represent my novel form of coupling.
Before referring in detail to the above figures, I will briefly describe the nature of
this novel part of my Invention.
Instead of the usual draw bar hook, I provide a specially formed and strongly
constructed and pivoted draw bar terminal piece, attached by a coupling piece to the
ordinary draw bar. I pivot to this terminal piece a whipple tree or catch bar either
straight for solid buffers or cranked for cushioned buffers.
At one end of the catch bar, is pivoted a coupling hook, or an S shaped shaft with
a specially hammer-shaped hooked end, so curved, as to grip the catch bar of another
wagon, but only when in tension, and in such a way as not to be detachable, excepting
the wagons are shunted together.
The other end of catch bar, to that carrying the hook, is slightly turned up in a
peculiar manner, to retain hook on catch bar and divert it thereon passing round
curves. The pivoted end of hook on catch bar, has a square shoulder which rests
against the back of joint, maintaining the hook in a position nearly if not quite
horizontal. When two wagons come together the hooks cross over or pass under the
opposite catch bar, and as the catch bar is pivoted, the arrangement adapts itself to
curvilinear traction.
When the wagons are passing around curves, there is no more tendency than with
ordinary coupling chains for my couplings to pull the wagons off the rails.
In order to lift the hooks out of action, I employ the following simple arrangement,
along side the end of the car I place a cranked bar actuated from the two sides of the
wagon of from the 6 feet way. The cranked part of the bar I connect with the
coupling hook by means of a link chain or other flexible attachment, by simply turning
the actuating bar, the cranked part lifts the hook out of action and the weight of the
hook pulls the actuating lever or handle against the end of wagon and is practically
and automatically locked.
To allow the ordinary link chain to be attached, I adopt the following arrangement,
through the centre of the terminal draw bar piece, I fix a central pin, on which swings
a double pivoted or fork shaped hook, the hook itself when thrown over or under falls
in front of the terminal draw bar piece, to this the links of the ordinary coupling

page_text: piece, to which I attach a shackle.
Referring to drawings-Sheets 12 and >>
Figure 1 shews a side elevation of my novel coupling arrangement when ready for
action.
Figure 2 is a side elevation shewing coupling when lifted out of action.
Figure 3 is a front elevation-shewing the cranked bar for lifting the hooks out of
nction:
Figure 4 shews the coupling arrangement in action-or two couplings together and
in tension or pulling action.
Figure 5 and 6 are plans shewing the coupling ready for action.
Figure 7 shews the hooks in action when applied to cushioned buffers or to
cars.
passenger
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a wagon shewing an end view of the complete
arrangement.
Referring to Figure 1 to 18 which shew my Invention applied to solid buffer
wagons and it may here be mentioned that reference numerals to figures wherever
repeated refer to the same respective parts.
1 is the end of the ordinary wagon draw bar, to this I attach the projecting terminal
draw bar piece 2 of my own arrangement, the part 3 is square in section at the end of
the projecting terminal piece which I purposely make heavy in construction, is the
pin 4 on which turns the whipple tree or catch bar 5, and having at one end the
special shaped catch hook 6.
The hooked or pick shaped head of catch hook is sufficiently long to allow for the
deflection of the springs of carriages carrying different loads.
In the centre and projecting from the end of catch bar I provide a lug 7 to which
I attach the shackle 8 for coupling to ordinary chain couplings.
The catch hook 6 has on its shank a ring and lug 9 to which I attach the chain 10
to actuating crank bar 10' which is mounted on bearings 11 and having levers 12 at
each side of the wagons by which I can lift the catch hook out of the sphere of action
us shewn in figure 2.
One end of catch bar is turned up in a peculiar manner as
shewn at 12³.
Referring now to sheet of drawings 2-shewing the modification of
coupling arrangement for cushioned buffer wagons.
my novel
Figure 14 is a side elevation shewing position of coupling hooks when buffers are
compressed to their full Board of Trade limit-and shewing the special couplings to
attach to ordinary draw bars.
Figures 15 & 16 shew the coupling hooks lifted out of action.
Figure 17 is a plan of the hooks in action or coupled, shewing the peculiar cranked
form of catch bars 5.
Figures 18 & 19 shew the coupling hooks ready for action.
Figure 20 is an end elevation of a wagon shewing the complete arrangement.
Figures 21 & 22 shew the side elevation and plan of straight catch bars, ready for
action and with the movable hooks 20 to attach to ordinary link chain couplings."
Sheet of drawings 3 shew in figures 23 to 26 my Invention when applied to tip
wagons or those with end doors.
The other modification of my Invention-based on an arrangement devised by
me and which I term my anchor hook arrangement, and which I exhibited at
the Darlington Coupling trials in the year 1882, is shewn in its improved form by
figures 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 on sheet of drawings 1, and is as follows:-
Instead of the catch bar and jointed hook I use a loop or shackle shaped draw link,
having anchor shaped hook projections placed on one side of the centre of the loop in
plan, in such a way that when two wagons come into contact with each other the anchor
shaped hooks pass over the opposite draw links or shackles.
The draw shackle is pivoted to the ordinary hook or preferably to a draw bar
terminal piece, with shoulder joints which allow the shackle to be lifted up out of
action, but not to fall below a horizontal level or thereabouts.

page_text: In my original Invention I did not provide for the horizontal or side to side move-
ment of the shackle to allow for curvilinear traction,-in my present Invention I
connect the shackle to a centrally pivoted bar, similar to my other arrangement, and I
also lift the shackle out of the sphere of action in a similar manner to that used in my
other novel arrangement.
To attach to ordinary chain couplings I provide a shackle hanging from coupling
joint pins on pivoted bar. I may make use of a double fanged hook instead of the
shackle for coupling to ordinary chain couplings-or I may provide a lug projection
to end of draw bar terminal piece similar to the manner described for my other
modification.
Figures 9 and 10 shew a plan of my Anchor hook coupling ready for action.
Figure 11 shews the anchor hook coupling in action.
Figures 12 & 13 shew side elevations of my anchor hook couplings, lifted out of the
sphere of action.
Referring to above figures illustrating my Anchor hook arrangement of coupling-
13 is the draw bar terminal piece-14 is the pivoted cross bar having at each end the
joints of the shackle 15.
The anchor hook projections are shewn at 16 placed on one side of the centre of the
shackle so that they cannot come into contact with the anchor hook of the opposite
shackles.
The end of the shackle 17 is angular shaped in section, the upper side sloping and
curved, so as to facilitate the mounting of the anchor hook of opposite shackle over it.
The outside or contact edges of anchor hooks 16, have the peculiar configuration
shewn, to facilitate the mounting and grip of edge of shackle by hook.
The shackle is lifted out of the sphere of action by means of the chain 17-and
cranked bar 18.
To attach to ordinary coupling chains I provide a special shackle 19-attached to
swivel or centrally pivoted bar 14-by means of the same pins 21 that hold the
shackle 15.
This arrangement allows for a tractional curvilinear pulling movement of the wagons.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same may be performed I wish it to be understood that
claim
1st. The coupling arrangement substantially as herein shewn and described in
figures 1 to 8 on sheet 1 of drawings and 14 to 22 in sheet 2 of drawings and 23 to 29
in sheet 3 of drawings.
my
2nd. The horizontal cranking or bending of catch bar to allow the use of Inven-
tion for cushioned buffer wagons, as shewn in figures 14 to 22 on sheet 2 of drawings
and in figures 23 to 26 in sheet 3 of drawings.
3rd. The arrangement of hooks and shackles as attached to my. Invention
substantially as herein shewn and described in its various modifications for coupling to
ordinary chain couplings.
4th. The cranked bar arrangement as fixed above the couplings for the purpose of
my Invention for lifting the coupling hooks out of action substantially as herein shewn
and described.
5th. The peculiar form of hooks substantially as herein shewn and described.
6th. The swivel arrangement to allow for the horizontal movement of anchor hook
to 13 in sheet 1 of
couplings substantially as herein shewn and described in figures
drawings.
7th. The arrangement for lifting the coupling hooks out of action substantially as
shewn on figures 23 to 26 in sheet 3 of drawings.