Improvements in Railway Couplings.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 4th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 5th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Railway Couplings.
I, GEORGE FOX Barnsley Road, Sheffield in the County of York, Railway
Tyre Maker, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention is for improvements in railway couplings and the mechanism for
working same, the object being to enable the operation of coupling and uncoupling
to be effected without having to pass between the carriages or wagons, thus.
avoiding a source of great danger.
propose to use three links of chain, one of which is coupled in the form of a
shackle, to the hook of the drawbar in the usual manner.
The end link is a long one, and is made with a solid pin or stud projecting from
cach side at a distance of about one third or thereabouts of its entire length, from
the back end.
These pins or studs fit into corresponding holes in the ends of jointed arms by
which the chain is raised and lowered.
The jointed arms are secured at their opposite ends upon a shaft supported upon
bearings and passing under the carriage or wagon body from side to side; the
shaft has a central pivotted bearing, and can move laterally in the two outside
bearings, it can also be partially rotated in the said bearings by means of hand
levers fixed on each end of the shaft outside the carriage or wagon, and preferably..
weighted to aid the movement by acting as a balance weight.
When uncoupled the links of the coupling chain hang down vertically; but
when the hand lever is pressed down the jointed arin pushes out the end link, and
raises it towards the hook of the next wagon; by a twist of the lever, the shaft is
caused to turn in its centre bearing, bringing the front link, or coupling link; on
one side of the hook, instead of directly under it.
The link is then raised to its full height the shaft turned back to its original.
position and the link dropped over the hook; the reverse movements uncouple it:
Although I have described the improvements as applied to the drawbar hooks
only, I may also apply the same system to the spare chains on each side of the
screw couplings, either separately or to act simultaneously.
Dated the 3rd February 1891.
ROBT. F. DRURY, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant..
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Railway Couplings.
I, GEORGE Fox Barnsley Road, Sheffield in the County of York, Railway
Tyre Maker do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
-
This invention is for improvements in railway coupling appliances, and in the
mechanism for working or operating same, the object being to enable the said
operation of uncoupling and of coupling to be effected, without having to pass
between the carriages or wagons, and thus avoiding a source of great danger to the
porters, and shunters.
I have illustrated my invention in the annexed sheets of drawings, in order that
the Specification may be clearly understood, and in which similar letters of
reference indicate similar parts in both figures.

page_text: Fig. 1, is a side elevation of the apparatus with the front buffer blocks removed.
Fig. 2 is a plan of samen into practice, I use three links of chain A, B, and C,
In carrying my
one of which marked C, is attached to the hook of the drawbar D, either in the
manner shown, or it may be made in the form of a shackle, and be secured by a pin
and cotter.
The end link A, is made longer than B, and C, and is constructed with a solid
pin or stud E, projecting outwardly from each side, at a distance of about two
thirds of its length from its free end.
These pins or studs E, form the means by which the coupling chain is raised or
lowered, and they therefore fit into corresponding holes, made in the end links of
jointed arms hereafter described.
The jointed arms F; and G, are made in two parts which are connected at the
joint H, and are firmly secured at their rear ends upon a cross shaft I, which passes
under the body of the carriage or wagon, being supported in bearings constructed
to enable the shaft to be partially rotated, and also to be moved radially upon its
centre at Jor instead of a radial action as described, the shaft I, may be made to
move laterally by means of screwthreaded bearings, or other equivalent means.
Either of the above described movements of the shaft, whether radial or directly
lateral, is required both when coupling and uncoupling to enable the link A, to
pass at the side of the drawbar hook D.
When out of use the links hang vertically as seen in Fig. 1, but when the hand
lever K, is pressed down, the jointed arm pushes out the end link A, and raises it
towards the hook of the next wagon or carriage; the shaft I, is then turned upon
its centre, or caused to traverse laterally as the case may be, which moves the front
or end link on one side of the hook, sufficient to clear it in its further upward
movement.
When the link is sufficiently high, the shaft is turned or otherwise brought back
into its original position, when the link can be dropped over the hook.
The reverse niovements are necessary to uncouple it.
Although I have described the invention in connection with the central drawbar
hooks, it is obvious that the system may be applied to the spare chains on each side
of the central drawbar, either to act separately or in combination.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same may be carried into practice, I declare that
what I claim is :-
A railway coupling apparatus, consisting of the chain links A, B, C, jointed
arms F and G, secured at one end upon a cross shaft I, and engaging with pro-
jecting pins E, upon the front link A, at the other end, the said cross shaft having
either a radial, or a directly lateral movement to enable the link A to clear the
hook substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
Dated the 3rd day of November 1891.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Agent for Applicant.