Improvements in and in Additions to Automatic Couplings for Railway Carriages and Engines and other Wheeled Vehicles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 4th July, 1891-Accepted, 15th Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in Additions to Automatic Couplings for
Railway Carriages and Engines and other Wheeled Vehicles.
I, JOHN TAYLOR, of 38 Harford Street in the City of Birmingham Licensed
Victualer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in automatic couplings, for railway car-
riages and other wheeled vehicles, as hereinafter described, and my said invention
has for its object, the coupling together of the said carriages, in a simpler and more
efficient manner than has heretofore been accomplished.
According to my improvements, the simple bringing together of the carriages
automatically couples them, and which coupling is released by a side lever or levers,
which when operated, withdraws the coupling means, and hence the carriages are
disengaged one from another, without the necessity of a man having to get between
and under the buffers, on the compression of them.
I will first describe my invention in connection with railway carriages and
engines.
In one form of my invention, I provide an end of one carriage with a he-coupling,
and the adjacent end of another carriage with a she-coupling, the former consisting
of an outstanding bracket, disposed at the lower bottom part of the end of the body
of the same, and with an outstanding tongue or ring-like extension, which is adapted
to take horizontally between the branches, or the top and bottom sides of a she-
coupling made in the form of a fork, and centrally disposed like a he-coupling at
the middle and bottom of the end of a carriage.
The horizontal branches of the she-coupling, which are mouthed to make a lead
for the tongue, are pierced about their middles, and come coincident with the all-
through holes in the tongue of the he-part, when the same is placed within the
she-coupling, which has directed upon its top side, and above the holes as aforesaid,
a hollow upright or pillar, wherein a bolt or cottar, vertically slides, and is held out
of action, by a catcli in the form of a slide, pressed into its intercepting position by
a spring.
The fore part of this slide, extends to a short distance beyond the she-coupling,
and is pushed home, by a snug or raised part, rear of the tongue of the he-coupling,
so that the coming together of the carriages, releases the vertically sliding bolt,
which is being held up, by the slide.
Connected to the upper end of the bolt, is the inner end of a chain, which passes
over a pulley carried by the pillar, and has its outer end connected to a jointed arm
or lever, which is worked by a transversely directed rod, with handles at its end,
and secured to the end of the carriage carrying the she-coupling.
Assuming that two railway carriages are separated, and the locking bolt being
held up by the slide coming under it, the coming together of the said carriages,
causes the snug releaser of the he-coupling, to impinge upon the extended end of
the slide of the she part, thereby compressing the slide spring, and allowing the
locking bolt to fall by the force of gravity, and pass through the coincident holes
or eyes of both he and she parts, thereby automatically coupling the carriages
together.
The disconnection of the carriages, is effected by a linesman pulling the handles
when the cross bar is turned, which turns the jointed and rocking arm, and pulls
outwardly the chain, when the same rides over the pulley, and raises vertically the
bolt, which is lifted beyond the branches of both couplings, and is held upwardly,
by the spring slide snapping beneath it.

page_text: This form of my invention, is applicable to carriages having ordinary spring
buffers, or carriages and trucks not having buffers.
In carrying out another form of my invention, the he and she-couplings, are
carried by, or at the outer extremities of, slides, or combined couplings and buffers,
which consist of slides, working at the middles of the ends of the carriages, and
taking within guides and leads, formed or disposed under the carriages, and with
coiled or other buffer or cushioning springs, disposed between or around parts of the
said slides, and fixed abutments, so that the couplings in this form of my invention,
both connect together the carriages, and cushion or buffer them.
The combined he-coupling and buffer, is alike in construction to that described
in the first arrangement, and so also is the she-coupling, other than that I prefer to
fit the top of the bolt pillar, with two pulleys, mounted in opposite directions, and
with the middle of a chain, cord, or the like, connected to the top end of the bolt,
and then passed outwardly over the pulleys and connected by its ends to the short
arms of levers, mounted and fitted to the ends or sides of the carriage, so that by
operating the lever or levers, the bolt is picked up from its locking position, and
then held up by the spring slide or catch, which is automatically released, on the
coming together of the carriages as aforesaid.
The application of my invention to the coupling of other wheeled vehicles, differs
in no essential respect from its application to railway carriages and engines as
hereinbefore described.
Dated this 6th day of November 1890
JOHN TAYLOR.
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in Additions to Automatic Couplings for
Railway Carriages and Engines and other Wheeled Vehicles.
I, JOHN TAYLOR, of 38 Harford Street in the City of Birmingham, Licensed
Victualer, 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 relates to improvements in automatic couplings, for railway car-
riages and other wheeled vehicles, as hereinafter described, and my said invention
has for its object, the coupling together of the said carriages, in a simpler and more
efficient manner than has heretofore been accomplished.
According to my improvements, the simple bringing together of the carriages,
automatically couples them, and which coupling is released by a side lever or levers,
or by pull chains, which when operated, withdraws the coupling means, hence the
carriages are disengaged one from another, without the necessity of a man, having
to get between the carriages, and under the buffers, on the compression of the latter.
I will first describe my invention in connection with railway carriages, and engines.
In one form of my invention, I provide an end of one carriage, with a he-coupling,
and the adjacent end of another carriage, with a she-coupling, the former consisting
of an outstanding bracket, disposed at the lower bottom part of the end of the body
of the same, and with a tongue or ring-like extension, which is adapted to take
horizontally between the branches or the top, and bottom sides of, a she-coupling,
made in the form of a fork, and centrally disposed like a he-coupling at the middle
and bottom of the end of a carriage.
The horizontal branches of the she-coupling, which are mouthed to make a lead
for the tongue, are pierced about their middles, and come coincident with an all-
through hole in the tongue, of the he-part, when the same is placed within the she-
coupling, which has directed upon its top side, and above the holes as aforesaid, a

page_text: hollow upright or pillar, wherein a bolt or cottar, vertically slides, and is held out
of action, by a catch or releaser in the form of a slide, pressed into its intercepting
position, by a spring.
The fore part of this slide, has a pusher which extends to a short distance beyond
the she-coupling and is pressed home, by a shoulder sung, or raised part, rear of the
tongue, of the he-coupling, impinging against it, so that the coming together of the
carriages, releases the said vertically sliding bolt, which is being held up by the
slide, when the carriages were uncoupled.
Connected to the upper end of the bolt, is the inner end of a chain which passes
over a pulley carried by the pillar, and has its outer end, connected to a jointed arm
or lever, which may be worked by a transversely directed rod, with handles at its
end, and secured to the end of the carriage, carrying the she-coupling.
This form of my invention, is applicable to carriages having ordinary spring
buffers, or carriages and trucks without buffers.
In carrying out another form of my invention, the he and she-couplings, are
carried by or at the outer extremities of slides, or combined couplings and buffers
which consist of slides, working at the middles of the ends of the carriages, and
taking within guides and leads, formed or disposed under the carriages, and with
coiled or other cushioning springs disposed between and around parts of the said
slides, and fixed abutments, so that the couplings in this form of my invention, both
connect together the carriages, and cushion or buffer them.
The application of my invention to the coupling of other wheeled vehicles, differs
in no essential respect from its application to railway carriages, and engines as
hereinbefore described.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, represents in side elevation, a tender and
carriage coupled together, by means constructed, arranged, and worked according
to my said invention.
The rear of the tender is only shown, and so also the fore part of the carriage.
Figure 2 represents partly in elevation, and partly in longitudinal vertical section,
the said means and its cognate parts, upon an enlarged scale.
The said means consists of combined automatic couplings and buffers, arranged
with the former mounted upon the extremities of draw bars in connection with the
latter, so that the couplings means of the carriages, are as one with the buffer
appliances.
The said Figure 2 represents two carriages connected together, and the drop bolt
or cotter in position, and released by means as hereinafter described.
Figure 3 represents the he and she parts of the coupling separated, and with the
drop bolt or cotter, supported in its raised position, or in the position which it
assumes, when the coaches, or the tender and carriages, are disconnected.
Figure 4 represents an underside plan, partly in horizontal section, of the com-
bined couplings and buffing appliances, and their connections, (upon the same scale),
as represented at Figure 2.
In this said figure, the buffing appliances are shown in duplicate upon the end of
one carriage, and single upon the end of the adjacent one, whilst the coupling, which
is shown in section, represents the releaser of the drop bolt or cotter, and how the
said bolt or cottar, is automatically released, by the coming together of the
carriages.
Figure 5 represents a top side plan of a coupling means, shown disconnected.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in Figures 1 to 5.
a is a railway carriage or coach, and 6 is a tender of an engine, respectively pro-
vided with buffing appliances c and d, having connected with them, an automatic
coupling e.
The buffer c, consists of a draw bar c², reduced inner end c³, stop c, and fore
part provided with a he-coupling f, consisting of a tongue or ring-like exten-
Sion f, having a hole f³, directed through it.
The said he-coupling has leads f, and cross heads f, and shoulder f, against
which the releaser, hereinafter described, impinges or strikes, for releasing the drop

page_text: bolt, whilst the reduced part ³, of the draw bar of the coupling part, is encircled
by a powerful ribbon coiled spring g, enclosed within a casing g, and abutting
against a cross bar g³, at one end, and a shoulder c, at the other end.
The framing of the carriage or tender, carries a guide c', wherein the draw
bar 2, slides.
The buffing appliance upon the carriage d, is alike unto that upon the tender or
carriage b, other than having two draw bars, and accessory connections. Thus,
d2 are draw bars, having a reduced inner end d³, encircled by powerful springs g,
with casings g, and impinging upon cross bar g³, and shoulder respectively.
The inner ends of the draw bars, carry a she-coupling, h, consisting of
a forked part 2, having an all-through hole ³, through them, leads ', and cross
heads h³.
The upper branch of the fork, carries a releaser i, and is adapted to intercept
and release the drop-bolt or cotter, enclosed within a hollow pillar k, and fitted at
its
upper end with a head, carrying roller j³, over which the pull-chain 1, of a
outside pull, takes.
The chain outlets, upon the two opposite sides of the pillar, are fitted with
runners or pulleys L³.
The releaser consists of a sliding and rectangular shaped frame, with a pusher 2,
hollow middle part ³, rear stalk, and coiled spring, and which releaser works
within a recess hº.
OPERATION FOR COUPLING.
Assuming the parts of the couplings to be in the positions which they respectively
assume when in Figure 3, the bringing together of the carriages,causes the he-coupling
to come between the branches of the she-couplings, and the buffer springs to be
compressed, and on the holes or openings f³, h, of the respective parts of the said
couplings becoming coincident, the pusher end 12, of the releaser, impinges upon the
shoulder of the he-part of the said coupling, hence the freeing of the said releaser
inwards, compressing its spring, and bringing the open middle part 3, under the
bolt, when the same drops by gravity, and passes through the said coincident
holes 3, 3, of the respective coupling parts.
The bolt, when in its locking position, is prevented from falling too far, by the
collar of the head j.
To disconnect the coupling, pull one or other of the pull chains 1, 12, when the
drop bolt j, is raised above the eye or hole of the top branch of the she-coupling,
when the releaser, by the action of its spring, is forced outwards, with the solid
portion of the framing, coming under the bolt, hence the bolts interception.
This done, the parts of the compling can be disconnected, as represented in
Figure 5.
Figure 6 represents another form of coupling, constructed according to my
invention, in which the driver of an engine, is capable of disconnecting the same
from the carriages, without getting down from his engine, onto the permanent way.
a is the carriage, and the tender or engine, e is the coupling, c², d² draw-bars,
carrying respectively he and she-couplings f, h, connected together by a drop bolt j,
which is released by a releaser i. is a chain, leading to the engine, and passing
over pulleys, k³, the latter being connected to the bolt, and the former to the
pillar k.
The chain releasing means, has at the inner end, a pull 12, for the releasing of the
said coupling, not from the engine.
Thus, by the pulling of the chain by the engine driver, or his attendant, the bolt j,
is raised above the eyes or holes in the he and she-coupling parts, hence the
releasing of the engine from the carriages, and the suspension of the bolt, by the
passing under it of the releaser.
Figure 7 represents the application of my new or improved coupling, to a carriage
provided with ordinary spring buffers.

page_text: cand d are the buffers, and e, the coupling, having the same parts, and marked
with the same letters of reference as the preceding figures.
Figure 8 is a modified form of coupling, in which the drop bolt is raised or
elevated, through the intervention of a lever, instead of by a chain.
e is the coupling, consisting of he and she coupling parts f, h, drop bolt j, releaser i,
lever 1, which extends itself outwardly upon the end of an axis 12, carrying an arm 13,
which takes under a roller j', of the bolt j, which is guided vertically by studs on
the said bolt, taking and working within vertical slots 2, formed within the sides of
the pillar k.
The releaser engages with the bolt, by taking within the cross-cut slot j¹, so that
the traverse of the bolt is reduced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First A railway, tramway and other carriage coupling, consisting of a he-
coupling part, and a she-coupling part, connected together by a drop-bolt or cotter,
which is automatically released for coupling, by means of a releaser, substantially
as described and set forth in the several figures of the drawings.
Secondly-A railway, tramway and other carriage coupling, consisting of he
and she-coupling parts, carried by brackets, and having coincident holes through
them, wherethrough a drop bolt or cotter passes, and which bolt is raised by a
chain or other equivalent device, while it is retained in its raised position, and
automatically liberated for coupling, by a releaser, substantially as described and
set forth.
Thirdly-In the releasing and supporting mechanism of the bolts, cotters or
securing means, of railway and other carriage couplings, providing one of the parts of
the coupling, with a releaser in the form of a slide i, 2, 3, and 4, which intercepts
and holds back the bolt or cotter when raised, and automatically releases the same
on the carriages coming together as set forth.
Fourthly The combination with the releaser i, of the one part, of an impinge-
ment or other shoulder or part shoulder, of the other part of the coupling, as set
forth.
:-
Fifthly The combination with a railway carriage coupling, of buffing apparatus,
as set forth.
Sixthly The general construction and arrangement of the parts of automatic
coupling devices, for railway, tramway and other carriages, as described and set
forth.
:-
Seventhly In combined railway carriage buffers and couplings, constructed,
arranged and combined substantially as described in the several figures of the
drawings.
Dated this 3rd day of July 1891.
Dated this 3rd day of July 1891.
JOHN TAYLOR.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.