Improvements in Railway Couplings.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th June, 1899 -Accepted, 9th Sept., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Railway Couplings.
I, CHARLES HAMBLIN HEWER, of High Street, Cricklade, in the County of
Wilts, Carriage Proprietor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
-
My invention relates particularly to an automatic railway coupling which is
both simple in construction and efficient in action and whereby the coupling up
and uncoupling of the vehicles may be effected without danger of injury to the
railway servants, the uncoupling mechanism being also applicable in connection
with a non-automatic coupling either for the purpose of uncoupling in the usual
way or for the purposes of a slip coupling.
The automatic coupling consists essentially, on the one hand, of a pivoted
draw-link normally supported in a nearly horizontal position so as to be adapted
to engage with a draw-hook constructed as hereafter described and, on the other
hand, of a pivoted draw-hook having an inclined cam-like nose adapted, when
struck by the bow end of said link in coupling, to throw the link upwards and
cause it to become engaged upon the said hook, there being combined with the
drawhook a locking and releasing mechanism whereby the draw-hook is normally
locked rigidly in position for engagement with the draw-link but may, when it
is required to uncouple the vehicle, be released and permitted to turn on its pivot
so as to present no resistance to the pull of the draw-hook which consequently
becomes disengaged from it, this releasing gear being adapted to be operated from
either side of the vehicle.
The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings
forming part of this specification wherein Figure 1 is a side view (partly in
section) shewing the two parts of the coupling as applied to a fixed and a spring
draw-bar respectively Figure 2 is a corresponding plan. Figure 3 is an end
elevation of a wagon (partly in section). Figures 4, 5, 6, are side, end, and top
views of the draw-hook. Figure 7 is a side view and Figure 8 an end view of
the draw hook,drawn to a larger scale. Figure 9 is a cross-section and Figure 10
a half sectional plan, shewing the locking bolt of the draw hook. Figure 11 is
a part plan and Figure 12 a corresponding side elevation of the hook-releasing
mechanism. The same letters of reference denote like parts in all the figures.
The coupling comprises a long U-shaped link A whose limbs are pivoted to
swing upon a horizontal axis at a carried by a draw-head or bracket B which may
either be bolted to the buffer plank or end sill of the wagon, as at the right
hand side of Figure 1, or may be attached to a longitudinally-sliding draw-
rod C connected to a draw-spring at D, as at the left-hand side of said figure.
The heel ends a¹ of the limbs of the link A take under the drawhead bracket B
or other abutment, so that the link A will be normally supported in a forwardly-
projecting, upwardly-inclined position as shewn in Figure 1 so as to adapt it to
enter into engagement with the draw-hook of an adjacent vehicle to which it is
to be counled.

page_text: Between the cheeks of the draw-head bracket B is pivoted the draw-hook E
forming the other part of the coupling, the said hook being pivoted on a hori-
zontal axis at e and being formed at its front or hook end with a rearwardly and
upwardly inclined cam surface e' which projects beyond the bracket B so as to
cause the bow end of the link A (on the vehicle which is to be coupled thereto)
on striking the said inclined surface, to ride up the same and fall into engagement
with the hook E. The hook E is normally retained in position for being so
engaged by its preponderating rear or body portion resting on a cross stud b
(Figures 4, 5, and 7) fixed in the cheeks of the bracket B, and it is normally
prevented from turning over on its axis under the pull of the link A in hauling,
by its rear end engaging beneath a latch bolt F fitted to slide in a tubular
guide f, the latch bolt being provided with laterally projecting lugs f¹ work-
ing in slots in the sides of the said guide f (see Figure 7).
To the end of the wagon-body above the draw-hook is fixed a guard spring G
whose downwardly projecting free end extends above the draw-hook in such
position as to prevent the bow end of the draw-link A being thrown too far
upwards in the act of coupling and ensure it falling into engagement with the
draw-hook, the guard spring also serving to prevent the link A being accidentally
disengaged from the draw-hook should the bow end of the link be caused to rise
in consequence of the compression of the buffer springs. This guard spring G
may be made in one with a jaw spring g adapted to grip the sides of the U-shaped
draw-link and retain it in the raised and rearwardly inclined position against
the end of its own vehicle when such draw-link is not in use, as shewn at A¹
in Figure 1.
The operation of uncoupling is performed by retracting the latch bolt F so as
to release the heel end of the draw-hook E and so permit it to swing upon its
pivot under the pull of the link A against the nose of the hook which being thus
turned forwards and downwards will allow the link A to slip out of engagement
as the vehicles are separated, whereupon the heel end or body portion of the
draw-hook being considerably heavier than the hook portion, the hook will right
itself and may be again locked by a reverse movement of the latch bolt F, in
readiness for coupling again when required.
The maintenance of the latch bolt in operative engagement and the release
of the draw-hook therefrom is effected through the medium of a cross-shaft H
having a crank arm h jointed to the rear end of bolt F or to a rod J connected
thereto according as the cross shaft H is mounted near to, or at a distance from,
the end of the vehicle. Upon each end of the cross shaft H is loosely pivoted a
weighted tumbler lever K adapted to play in a notch in a disc L (Figures 11
and 12) fixed to the shaft H and to engage with the one or other shoulder termi-
nating said notch, the notch being of such angular extent as to permit sufficient
lost motion to allow of the tumbler lever being moved idly through about a
quarter of a circle so that the tumbler lever moves through a half circle and
remains horizontal at either end of its stroke and therefore in the most effective
position for maintaining by its weight the latch bolt F in or out of position of
operative engagement with the draw-hook E.
When the releasing mechanism is used for the purpose of a slip coupling the
tumbler lever by which the rock shaft is operated would be so mounted as to be
accessible from within the vehicle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
:―
1. An automatic railway coupling consisting in the combination with a draw-
link of substantially U-shape pivoted and normally supported as described in
position to engage with the draw-hook on an adjacent vehicle, of a draw-hook
pivoted and weighted as described and presenting an inclined nose to the draw-
link to be engaged therewith, and of a sliding locking bolt engaging with the

page_text: draw-hook so as to normally prevent it yielding under the hauling strain sub-
stantially as described.
2. The combination with an automatic coupling comprising a pivoted draw-
hook and a pivoted draw-link constructed and adapted to enter into engagement
substantially as described and provided with a locking bolt adapted to engage
with and lock the draw-hook, of retaining and releasing mechanism for said bolt
consisting of a rock shaft having a crank connected with the locking bolt, and of
weighted tumbler mechanism in engagement with the cross shaft so as to operate
substantially as described.
3. A releasing gear for uncoupling railway couplings, consisting in the com-
bination of a pivoted draw-hook, a locking bolt adapted to engage with the rear
end of the draw-hook, and of retaining and releasing mechanism for said bolt,
consisting of a rock shaft having a crank connected with the bolt, and of weighted
tumbler mechanism connected with the rock shaft for operation substantially
as described.
TEL: 0141 day of Tune 1900.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.