Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Sept.; 1886.
Complete Left, 6th June, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 8th July, 1887.
I, MARK HENRY BLANCHARD, Junior, of Bishops Waltham, in the County of
Hants, Terra Cotta, Brick, and Tile Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows :-
The object of my invention is to effect improvements in the construction of
couplings, and in the method of working the same, the use of which is calculated to
save the loss of many lives and limbs annually.
To the ordinary hook which is fitted to railway rolling stock, I fit a link of an
U form, by means of a rivet or bolt passing through the open ends of the link and
hook respectively.
On each side of the link I fit a lever or crank, by operating upon which the link
can be raised or lowered from a vertical to a horizontal position.
These cranks are connected to other levers, the ends of which reach to the sides of
the vehicles, or thereabouts.
When two trucks are brought near together, an attendant can, by moving one of
the levers, on either side, lower or raise the link, and thereby couple or uncouple the
vehicles as desired, without the necessity of going between them.
In adapting my invention to locomotive engines and other vehicles where it is
desirable to manipulate the coupling from the platform or other position, the levers
are modified so that the operation is carried out without the necessity of the attendant
leaving such position.
My invention is applicable to locomotive engines, carriages, waggons, trolleys, and
trucks of all kinds which require coupling together.
RICHARD JORDAN,
120, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for Mark Henry Blanchard, Junior.

page_text: I, MARK HENRY BLANCHARD, Junior, of Bishop's Waltham, in the County of
Hants, Terra Cotta, Brick and Tile Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my
said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to effect improvements in the construction of
couplings, and in the method of working the same, the use of which is calculated to
save the loss of may lives and limbs annually.
To the ordinary hook which is fitted to railway rolling stock, I fit a link of an
U form, by means of a rivet or bolt passing through the open ends of the link and
hook respectively.
On each side of the link I fit a lever or crank, by operating upon which the link
can be raised or lowered from a vertical to a horizontal position.
These cranks are connected to other levers, the ends of which reach to the sides of
the vehicles, or thereabouts.
When two trucks are brought near together, an attendant can, by moving one of
the levers, on either side, lower or raise the link, and thereby couple or uncouple the
vehicles as desired, without the necessity of going between them.
In adapting my invention to locomotive engines and other vehicles where it is
desirable to manipulate the coupling from the platform or other position, the levers
are modified so that the operation is carried out without the necessity of the attendant
leaving such position.
My invention is applicable to locomotive engines, carriages, wagons, trollies and
trucks of all kinds which require coupling together.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is an end view of a railway truck fitted with my invention, the links being
shewn raised, and consequently uncoupled.
Fig. 2 is a side view of the same (partly in section) shewing the links down, and
coupled, and Fig. 3 is a side view (also partly in section) shewing the same coupling
raised, as in Fig. 1.
a a are the ordinary coupling hooks, 6 b¹ are two links hinged together, as shewn.
cc are two cranks or levers having handles d d for moving the same by hand. e is
a forked connecting rod, connecting the bolt f with the link b. The bolt / has a deep
notch at g formed therein, in which the inner ends of the levers c c engage. his a
spring which presses the bolt f forward. k is a casing bolted to the truck, which acts
as a guide to the bolt f and levers c c.
When the coupling apparatus is in the position shewn in Figs. 1 and 3 the links 6 6¹
are raised, and are held in that position by the upper end f¹ of the bolt f resting upon

page_text: the opening at the top of the case k, the spring / pressing the bolt forward for that
purpose. The truck is then ready for coupling.
To lower the links to the position shewn in Fig. 2 one of the handles d d is pressed
inwards so as to disengage the end f¹ from the case k. Then the handle is moved to
the position shewn by dotted lines in Fig. 1, when the links fall into the position
shewn in Fig. 2, and the trucks are securely coupled.
Uncoupling is effected by reversing the above described operations.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The manufacture and use of coupling apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore
described and shewn on the drawings.
2. The method of coupling and uncoupling as aforesaid by means of the levers c c
operating upon the bolt f and forked connecting rod e for the purpose of raising and
lowering the links 6 6 substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn on the
drawings.
3. The general construction, arrangement and combination of the several and
respective parts, together forming my improvements in railway couplings, substantially
as hereinbefore described and shewn on the drawings.
RICHARD JORDAN,
120, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for Mark Henry Blanchard, Junior.
BOOK ON DO
RICHARD JORDAN,
120, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for Mark Henry Blanchard, Junior.