Improvements in Railway Vehicle Couplings.
Year: 1896

page_text: I, PHILIP BOGLER of Alamosa, County of Conejos, State of Colorado, U.S.A.,
Mechanist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a coupling of the drop pin and link type adapted to
effect an automatic coupled connection with a similar coupling and permitting
the detachment of two couplings from, the sides of the vehicles. The draw head
and draw bar are cast in one piece. Within the draw head is pivotted a gravity
block so as to have a limited rocking movement. Said block is formed with a recess
for the reception of the end of a coupling link. The upper end of the gravity
block is formed with a forwardly extending flange. When the link enters the
draw head it strikes the gravity block, turning it on its pivot to a position in
which the link pin will drop through a perforation in the top of the draw head
then through a perforation in the flange of the gravity block, then through the
link and finally through a perforation in the bottom of the draw head. From
this coupled position the link pin may be lifted up to the uncoupled position by
means of a cranked rod extending across the end of the vehicle and in connection
with the link pin through a chain. A stop chain connecting the link pin to the
draw head prevents said pin being drawn too high.
Dated this 2nd day of November 1896
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Railway Vehicle Couplings.
1, PHILIP BOGLER of Alamosa, County of Conejos, State of Colorado, U.S.A.,
Mechanist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
5 the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
This invention relates to railway vehicle couplings of the drop pin and link
type, and has for object to adapt the same for automatic coupling and for
uncoupling from the sides of the carriages.

page_text: In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a sectional side view of the improved
coupling, shewing parts thereof adjusted to support an uncoupled link and
coupling pin. Fig. 2 is a sectional side view of the parts shewn in Fig. 1, the
pin dropped and the link coupled to the drawhead. Fig. 3 is a front end view
of the coupling drawhead broken away, a dropped pin in the drawhead and a pin
lifting device mounted on the end of a vehicle.
The drawhead 10 and draw bar 11 are in one piece adapted for attachment to
a vehicle A. The draw head 10 is chambered as at a and has an inclined
mouth for the convenient insertion of an elongated coupling link 12.
An essential feature of the invention is the peculiarly shaped gravity block 13
which is pivotted at c so as to have a limited rocking movement within the
chamber a. This block has a forwardly projecting toe d at the rear of which is
a recess e into which the end of an inserted link 12 will pass (Fig. 1) when the
block is rocked forward, the lower part of the swell e¹ then assisting to hold the
link level.
From the upper end of the gravity block extends a horizontal flange g the
front edge of which, when the block is in its forward or normal position, contacts
with the top flange of the mouth b.
The draw head is apertured at f, f', for the loose insertion of a coupling pin 14
provided with a head to which is secured one end of a flexible connection 15 the
other end being attached to the end of a rocking arm 16 projecting from a
rocking shaft 17 mounted in bearings fixed to the end of a vehicle. The rocking
shaft slightly exceeds in length the width of the vehicle A and is provided with
a handle i at each end for working it.
The flange has an aperture gl for the passage of the pin 14 when the gravity
block is tilted backward by a forcible insertion of the link 12 (Fig. 2), the pin
having previously rested upon the solid part of the flange g. f is a hole at the
bottom of the draw head to permit the escape of snow or water.
Owing to the tendency of the gravity block to incline forward, the back edge
of the aperture gl bears on the dropped pin 12 and thus prevents it from being
jarred out of position.
18 is a guard chain attached at one end to the draw head and at the other
end to the head of the pin 14 and of such a length as will permit the proper
elevation of the pin whilst preventing its withdrawal from the draw head.
From the foregoing it will be clear that the elevation of the pin 14 by operating
the rocking shaft 17 will allow the gravity block 13 to automatically tilt forward
until its front edge strikes the top flange of the mouth thereby arresting the
block and affording a table on the flange g for the pin to rest on.
When two vehicles are to be coupled by a link 12 the latter may either be
placed in one draw head and left uncoupled (Fig. 1) or be coupled by dropping
the pin (Fig. 2). In either case the link will be held projected by the gravity
block 13 to enter and tilt a similar block in a like draw head, and which has been
adjusted to support a pin 12 on a table flange g the backward movement of which
drops the coupling pin and effects an automatic coupling.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
The combination with a chambered draw head that is perforated in its top and
bottom near the front end, and an elongated coupling link, of a gravity block
pivotted in the chamber of the draw head near the lower edge of the block, said
block having a forwardly extending toe, a transverse open recess immediately
above the toe, a forwardly projecting swell above the recess affording an over-
hanging wall that contacts with the end of the link when the latter occupies the
recess, the block being further provided with a forwardly projecting table flange,
that is perforated to drop a pin when the block is rearwardly tilted, and adapted

page_text: to sustain said pin at the rear of the perforation when the block is tilted forwards,
substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 3rd day of August 1897.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.