IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK."
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Caleb Barker, of Hall Farm, Taverham, in the County of
Norfolk, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COUPLING
AND UNCOUPLING RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Caleb Barker at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd October 1879.
CALEB BARKER, of Hall Farm, Taverham, in the County of Norfolk. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING RAILWAY ROLLING
STOCK."
.
This Invention relates to improvements in that class of apparatus for coupling
and uncoupling railway rolling stock, in which the operation of coupling is
automatically effected by the simple bringing or pushing together of the carriages,
and which does not require the presence of a person between the two vehicles for
coupling and uncoupling, the latter operation being effected from either side of the
vehicle in a simple aud expeditious manner.
In carrying out my improvements each end of the carriage, truck, or other vehicle
is provided with a flat-sided, spear-headed drawbar, each of such drawbars being
situated where one of the usual coupling chains is placed or thereabouts, the place
of the other coupling chain being occupied by a bell mouthed cylinder or tube, such
bell mouthed tubes being formed with rectangular or other shaped slots on their
peripheries, in which work clutches or jaws, which are kept in their normal position
by means of springs or otherwise. The said cylinders and draw bars are connected
by jointed rods to counterweighted levers fixed on the ends of the carriages, trucks,
cr other vehicles.
By this construction of apparatus, if the parts be in their normal position, it will
be understood that if two carriages or trucks be brought together the spear shaped
heads of the drawbar will enter the corresponding bell-mouthed cylinders or tubes,
and the inclined sides of the spear head pressing against the hereinbefore described
clutches or jaws will raise and pass them, and the clutches will then fall back into

page_text: their normal position, and will prevent the drawbars being withdrawn from the
cylinders, as the shoulders on the drawbar will bear against the said clutches, while
at the same time the telescopic arrangement will allow of sufficient motion for the
action of the buffers when buffers are used.
The uncoupling is effected by simply depressing either of the hereinbefore
described levers, whereby the drawbar and cylinder connected therewith are partly
rotated, so as to bring the flat side of the drawbar parallel to the inner ends of the
clutches, and allow the carriages to be drawn asunder, and the lever being released
the parts will automatically recover their normal positions.
Catches are provided for holding the said levers raised in cases where it is desired
that the carriages or trucks should remain unfastened, the catches for the two levers
being connected and operating together so as to allow of the levers being released
from either side of the carriage or truck.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Caleb Barker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd April 1880.
CALEB BARKER, of Hall Farm, Taverham, in the County of Norfolk. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING RAILWAY ROLLING
STOCK."
This Invention relates to improvements in that class of apparatus for coupling
and uncoupling railway rolling stock, in which the operation of coupling is
automatically effected by the simple bringing or pushing together of the carriages,
and which does not require the presence of a person between the two vehicles for
coupling and uncoupling, the latter operation being effected from either side of the
vehicle in a simple and expeditious manner, thus preventing the danger which
arises where a man has to go. between the two carriages for coupling or uncoupling
them, and also effecting a saving of time by the automatic action of the coupling.
In carrying out my improvements each end of the carriage, truck, or other
vehicle is provided with a flat sided spear headed draw bar and a bell mouthed
cylinder or tube placed side by side, such bell mouthed tubes being formed with
rectangular or other shaped slots on their peripheries, in which work clutches or
jaws, which are kept in their normal position by means of springs or otherwise.
The said cylinders and drawbars at their ends next the trucks to which they are
attached are placed between two plates which, bolted together, hold them in their
proper position, and allow them to revolve. The said two plates can be attached
to the draw bar now in use, so that the present couplings can be used if occasion
should require.
The said cylinder and draw bar are connected by jointed rods to levers fixed on
the ends of the carriages, trucks, or other vehicles, such levers being used for
uncoupling.

page_text: By this construction of apparatus, if the parts be in their normal position, it will
be understood that if two carriages or trucks be brought together the spear shaped
head of the drawbar on the one carriage or truck will enter the corresponding bell
mouthed cylinder or tube of the other carriage or truck, and the inclined sides of
the spear head pressing against the hereinbefore described clutches or jaws will
raise and pass them, and the clutches will then fall back into their normal position
and will prevent the drawbars being withdrawn from the cylinders, as the shoulders
of the spear headed drawbar will bear against the said clutches, while at the same
time the clutches or jaws are so placed that by partly rotating either the cylinder
or spear head they will allow them to be drawn apart, and the telescopic arrange-
ment will allow of sufficient motion for the action of the buffers where spring buffers
are used.
The uncoupling is effected by simply depressing either of the hereinbefore
described levers, whereby the drawbar and cylinder connected therewith are partly
rotated so as to bring the flat side of the draw-bar parallel to the inner ends of the
clutches, and allow the carriages to be drawn asunder, and the levers being released
the parts will automatically recover their normal position.
Catches are provided for holding the said levers in position when the couplings
are either fastened or unfastened, the catches for the levers being connected and
operating together so as to allow of the levers being released from either side of the
carriage or truck.
But in order to enable my Invention to be better understood I will proceed to
describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1
is a plan shewing the ends of two railway trucks provided with my improved
couplings; the two trucks being shewn just pushed together to effect the coupling;
Figure 2 is an end view of one of the trucks with the coupling applied thereto, the
parts being in their normal position; Figure 3 is a similar view, shewing the
coupling unlocked; Figures 4 to 8, detached details. Similar letters in all the Figures
represent similar parts.
a, a, are the spear headed drawbars, one on each truck, and shewn in detached
plan and side view at Figure 4, and b, b, are the bell mouthed cylinders or tubes;
c, c, are the clutches or jaws in the bell mouthed cylinders, one of which is shewn
in detached sectional view in Figure 5, and also in Figure 6; the clutches or jaws c.
work in slots d in the peripheries of the bell mouthed cylinders b; e, e, are the springs
placed around the clutches or jaws c for keeping them in their normal position
within the slots d; ff, are the plates, one of which is shewn in detached plan and
side views at Figures 7 and 8) for fixing and holding the spear head and bell
mouthed cylinder, the said plates fitting over the usual draw bar g. These plates
are formed with slots h and i, which pass over projections j, k, on the spear head
and cylinder respectively, and the plates being bolted together will firmly secure
the spear head and cylinder, and allow of their being partly rotated or turned; I, I,
are levers connecting the spear head and bell mouthed cylinder to the connecting
rod m, jointed to another rod n, jointed to the hand lever o; p is a spring for
bringing and keeping the parts in their normal position, shewn in Figures 1 and 2 ;
q is a rod working in bearings on the end of the truck, and provided with a handle
or catch r, and with a catch spring 8.
From this construction it will be understood that if two trucks with the parts of
the coupling, in the position shewn in Figure 2, be pushed or brought together the
spear heads a, a, entering the bell mouthed cylinders, the inclined surfaces of the spear
heads will press against and force outwards the clutches c, c, as shewn in Figure 6,
until the shoulders of the spear heads have passed the clutches or jaws c, c, when
the clutches will be brought back by their springs e, e, so as to prevent the draw-
bars being withdrawn.
When however it is desired to uncouple the trucks the hand lever o of either
truck is pulled down, as shewn in Figure 3, so as to partly rotate (by means of
the levers and rods l, m, n,) the spear head and bell mouthed cylinders, so as to
bring the shoulders of the spear heads free of the jaws or clutches, and allow of

page_text: the trucks being drawn apart; and if it be desired to keep them uncoupled the
catch is placed in the notch t of the hand lever o so as to keep the parts in their
open position, as shewn in Figure 3. When the trucks are coupled together the
spring catch.8 serves to keep the hand lever fixed.
It will be observed by reference to the Drawing that the rod 7 extends across
the end of each truck, so as to allow of the parts when in the position shewn in
Figure 3 being freed from either side.
Although in the Drawing I have shewn the parts for operating my improved
coupling placed above the buffers, it will be evident that they may be placed below
the buffers.
Having thus described my Invention, and the manner of performing the same, I
wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein
laid down and shewn in the Drawing, as the same may be varied without departing
from the peculiar character of my Invention; but what I do claim is,-
Firstly. The general arrangement and construction of the improved apparatus
for coupling and uncoupling railway rolling stock, substantially as hereinbefore
described and represented in the accompanying Drawing, or any mere modification
thereof.
Secondly. In a coupling for railway rolling stock the combination of flat sided
spear headed draw bars a, a, with bell mouthed cylinders or tubes b, b, having
clutches or jaws c, c, the whole arranged and operating substantially in the manner
and for the purposes hereinbefore described and represented in the accompanying
Drawing.
Thirdly. The method of uncoupling railway rolling stock by partially turning
the parts forming the coupling from either side of the carriages, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
Fourthly. The combination with the berein before described coupling of the catches
for holding the parts in their coupled or uncoupled position, such catches acting in
conjunction from either side of a truck or other vehicle.
In witness whereof, J, the said Caleb Barker, have hereto set my hand and
seal, this Twentieth day of April, in the year of Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty.
CALEB BARKER. (I..S.)