Improvements in Automatic Couplings for Railway and like Vehicles
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Couplings for Railway and like Vehicles
DAVID MORGAN MURROW, Estate Agent, 2, Finsbury Square, E.C., do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It consists of two iron coupling plates of suitable strength & dimentions-
each fitted with gravity hook and receiving slot. When coming in contact
with each other the projecting ends of hooks strike opposite plates causing
hooks to turn over & catch in slots.
To uncouple, iron rod is attached to end of truck or car with ends turned
to right angles to form levers-in centre of rod a short iron arm is fixed at
right angles with chain attached to hooks-by turning rod the action at once
releases couplings.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Couplings for Railway and like Vehicles
I, DAVID MORGAN MURROW, of 2, Finsbury Square, in the County of London,
Estate Agent, 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:-
This invention relates to automatic couplings for railway cars, trucks, and
like vehicles, its object being to provide a coupling which will automatically
couple two vehicles by their contact, and which can be readily uncoupled from
the sides of the vehicle. A device is also provided for locking the coupling
so as to render the same inoperative when desired.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is an end view,
Figure 2 a plan, and
Figure 3 a side view of an automatic coupling according to this invention
arranged on the end of a railway truck.
Figures 4 and 5 are side views of the coupling hook in uncoupled and coupled
positions respectively.
Figure 6 shows an alternative construction of coupling.
Like letters indicate like parts in all figures.
Projecting from the end of the truck, on which it is fixed in a convenient
manner, say by a flange A¹ and bolt As, is a plate A, having two arms forming
[Price 8d1

page_text: a central slot or opening A³. The free ends of the arms are enlarged to form
bearings for a pin A, on to which is pivotted a hook B. The hook B is formed
with a tail piece B¹, and is so shaped that when thrown backwards it rests against
the end of the slot A³ and the tail piece is presented in front of and at a slightly
lower level than the plate A.
The hook B is connected by a chain B2 to a short arm C carried on a rod C
extending across the end of the truck, and having arms C2 formed with or fixed
on it, one at each side of the truck. The rod C may be conveniently carried in
a central bearing C³ and end plates C.
Pivotally secured on each of the plates Ct is a hook C³ for a purpose herein-
after explained.
A striking plate 1) with a hole D¹ adapted to readily receive the hook B
is secured on the end of a second truck in such a position that when the two
vehicles are brought into contact on one line of rails the free end of the plate D,
which is preferably formed with a dependent lip D2, as shown plainly in Figure 5,
will come in contact with the tail piece B of the hook B.
The plate D may be secured to the truck by a flange D³, and bolts 1)*, as shown
in Figure 5. If desired a spring device may be arranged between the flange 13
and the frame of the truck. A similar arrangement may be employed with the
plate A. Instead of being formed with flanges the plates A and D may be con-
structed so as to be attached to the usual draw bar.
Although a single coupling as described above may be employed, preferably
a double coupling is provided a plate A and its hook and a plate D being placed
side by side on the end of each vehicle as shown in Figures 1 and 2. This
renders the vehicles interchangeable the couplings acting whichever ends of
the vehicles come in contact with each other. If desired, as an alternative
form of construction the plates A and D may be formed in one, the slot A³ and
the hole D' being placed side by side in a single plate such as G in Figure 6.
The coupling operates as follows:-
-
The normal position of the hook B, when uncoupled, is resting on the plate A
as shown in full lines in Figure 4, the arm C' being in a horizontal position
and the handles or arms C2 hanging down.
On the trucks being brought into contact the lip of the plate D striking
against the tail piece of the hook throws the latter over, so as to catch in the
hole D¹, taking the position shown in full lines in Figure 5.
In order to uncouple, the handles (2 are thrown up into the position shown
in dotted lines in Figures 2 and 3 raising the arm into a vertical position,
its chain drawing the hook into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 4.
This brings its centre of gravity over the pivotal point 1*, so that on the
arms C being lowered the hook resumes its normal position resting on the
plate A.
If it be desired to prevent the coupling from operating one or other of the
hooks C is made to engage the corresponding arm C³, holding it in the posi-
tion shown in dotted lines in Figure 3; the hook B being thus held by the
arm C and the chain B2 in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 4,
and prevented from movement in any direction.
Although a hook C5 is described for this purpose, it is evident that any con-
venient form of catch may be substituted say for instance a movable pin readily
engaged with and disengaged from the plate C*.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is―
1. In an automatic coupling for railway and similar vehicles and in com-
bination a pivotted hook with a tail piece such as B¹ on the end of one vehicle,
a striking plate such as D with a hole D¹ on the end of a second vehicle,
adapted to engage the tail piece and throw the hook into the hole D¹, and an

page_text: arm such as C operative from the side of the vehicle and connected with the
hook to release it from the hole substantially as described.
2. The combination with a railway or similar vehicle of a pivotted hook
such as B B₁ an arm such as C¹ and a flexible connection between the arm
and the hook the whole constituted and operating substantially as and for
the purpose described.
3. In an automatic coupling such as described the combination with the
arm C¹ of a device such for example as the hook C for the purpose of holding
the arm C¹ in its raised position to prevent the hook B engaging the striking
plate of another vehicle.
4. The combination with a railway or similar vehicle of a plate such as G
having a slot and a hole placed side by side, a hook such as B B₁ pivotted
within the slot an arm such as C¹ and a flexible connection between the arm
and the hook the whole constituted and operating substantially as and for the
purpose described, or as illustrated in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.
5. The complete automatic coupling substantially as described or illustrated
in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
TUAN
day
UL
Beptember
D. M. MURROW.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.