IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES." A
communication from abroad by James Billings Safford, of Buffalo, Now
York. United States of America.
Sealed the 4th July 1879, and dated the 13th January 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION loft by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th January 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLING APPARATUS FOR
RAILWAY CARRIAGES." [A communication from abroad by James Billings Safford,
of Buffalo, New York, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to improvements in coupling apparatus for railway
carriages, whereby the link is securely held in any desired position for coupling
with equal facility high or low vehicles having draw bars with narrow or wide
mouths as will be hereinafter described.
In carrying the said Invention into practice a weighted pallet is arranged in the
drawbar in such manner that the link on entering the mouth of the drawbar
pushes the pallet back, so as to allow the coupling pin to descend when the said
pallet bears against the link. The bottom or lower side of a cavity in the drawbar
is made highest at the mouth, and inclining backwardly in such manner, that the
link when resting upon the bottom of the said cavity will with its outer end be in
line with the middle of the mouth of the drawbar to be coupled, when both draw-
bars are arranged at the same level. A weighted pallet is arranged in the rear
portion of the said cavity and pivoted to the lower portion of the head in such
manner that it will incline forwardly when the link is not inserted and support a
coupling pin. The said pivot is arranged in the rear of the body of the pallet, so
that the weight of the same is applied to the best advantage. The recess in the
lower part of the draw head in which the said pallet is arranged is so formed as to
hold the pallet in the proper position for supporting the pin.
When the link is not inserted the said pallet rests in its foremost position and
supports the said coupling pin. As the link enters the cavity of the draw bar the

page_text: pallet is pushed back, and the pin descends and couples the parts together. The
pallet remains in contact with the link and presses the inner end thereof against
the coupling pin, and as the link is also supported at the mouth of the draw bar,
the link is held securely against accidental displacement in any position in which it
may be placed. The said pallet is made of sufficient width and weight to exert a
considerable pressure upon the link.
When two draw bars constructed as above described are to be coupled together,
the link is placed upon the bottom of the aforesaid cavity, when the outer end of
the link will be in the proper position to enter the mouth of the opposite draw bar,
assuming that both draw bars are on the same level. The said improved coupling
differs in this respect from a bell-mouthed draw bar in which the outer end of the
link always drops down, and must be raised by hand in order to introduce it into
the mouth of the opposite draw bar. If the draw bar to be coupled happens to be
lower than the one containing the link, the outer end of the link is readily
depressed to correspond with the height of the opposite draw bar, the link being
beld in this position by the said pallet. This provides means for the said improved
draw bar to be coupled with the same facility and safety to lower draw bars having
a narrow mouth, as to draw bars of the same construction and height.
The said improved coupling is cheaply constructed and very durable, and not
liable to get out of order.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
July 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLING APPARATUS FOR
RAILWAY CARRIAGES." A communication from abroad by James Billings Safford,
of Buffalo, New York. United States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in coupling apparatus for railway
carriages or waggons, which apparatus has a weighted pallet arranged in the draw
bar in such manner that the link on entering the mouth of the draw bar pushes
the pallet back to allow a coupling pin to descend when the said pallet bears
against the link.
The said Invention comprises a peculiar construction of the said apparatus or
device, whereby the link is securely held in any desired position for coupling with
equal facility either high or low vehicles having draw bars with narrow or wide
mouths, as will be hereinafter fully set forth.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a portion of a railway vehicle provided with
the said improved coupling apparatus.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the said improved coupling apparatus
showing the two drawheads arranged at the same height.
Figure 3 is a similar section shewing a drawhead provided with these improve-
ments in position for coupling with a head of ordinary construction having a
narrow mouth, and standing at a lower level than the said draw head.
Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 3.
Figures 2, 3, 4, are drawn to an enlarged scale.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the Drawing.
A represents the body of the draw bar; B, the head; C, the cavity; and D, the
mouth thereof; E, the coupling pin; and F, the link. The bottom or lower side g
of the cavity C of the draw bar is made highest at the mouth, and inclines
backwardly in such manner that the said link when resting upon the bottom g of
the cavity of one draw bar, as shewn in Figure 2, will with its outer end be in
line with the middle of the mouth of the other draw bar to be coupled, when both
draw bars are arranged at the same level; H is the weighted pallet arranged in
the rear portion of the cavity C, and pivoted at h to the lower portion of the head B,
in such manner that it will incline forwardly when the link is not inserted, and
support the coupling pin E as shown in Figure 2. The pivot h is arranged in the
rear of the body of the pallet so that the weight of the same is applied in the most
advantageous manner. The recess in the lower part of the draw-head in which the
pallet H is arranged is so formed as to hold the pallet in the proper position for
supporting the pin, as shown in Figure 2.
When the said link F is not inserted, the pallet H rests in its foremost position
and supports the coupling pin E. As the link enters the cavity of the draw bar
the pallet is pushed back, and the pin E descending, couples the parts. The afore-
said pallet remains in contact with the link and presses the inner end thereof
against the coupling pin, and as the link is also supported at the mouth of the draw
bar, the link is held securely against accidental displacement in any position in
which it may be placed. As shewn in Figure 4, the pallet H is made of sufficient
width and weight to exert a considerable pressure upon the link.
When two of the above described improved draw bars are to be coupled or
connected as shown in Figure 2, the link is placed upon the bottom g of the cavity
C in one draw head, when the outer end of the link will be in the proper position
to enter the mouth of the opposite draw head, assuming that both draw bars are at
the same level. The said improved coupling differs in this respect from a bell-

page_text: mouthed draw bar in which the outer end of the link always drops down, and must
be raised by hand to introduce it into the mouth of the opposito draw bar.
When
two drawbars provided with these improvements are to be coupled, if the one without
a link happens to be lower than the one containing the link, the outer end of the
link is readily depressed to correspond with the height of the opposite draw bar,
the said link being held in this position by the pallet H. The said improved draw
bar can then be coupled with the same facility and safety with a lower draw bar,
having a narrow mouth, as with a drawbar of the same construction and height as
clearly shown in Figure 3.
This improved coupling apparatus is cheaply constructed, very durable, and not
liable to disarrangement.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. In combination with a draw bar, the pallet having a practically straight
bearing face, and having its pivoted end projecting rearward, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
Second. The pallet having its pivot arranged in the rear of its body, and con-
structed to press the aforesaid link against the coupling pin in all positions of
the link in combination with a draw bar having its mouth contracted to support
the link when in contact with the said pin, whereby the said link is held against
accidental displacement in any position in which it may be placed, and may couple
or connect high or low vehicles, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.