Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, May, 1887.
Complete Left, 14th
Complete Accepted, 14th-1887.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, M.I.M.E.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The salient features of this invention are a hook having an inclined face presented
to the opposing vehicle. A link pivotted in the body of the hook the hole being
preferably elongated in a horizontal direction to give free play and the link or pivot
being connected by a chain or otherwise with an arm projecting from a cross bar which
extends across the vehicle the ends being bent into or provided with handles. A
certain amount of longitudinal play is allowed to the cross bar so that the supporting
arm may be so located as to rest upon either one of two or more (usually two)
supports. The action is as follows:-If it is desired that the vehicles when run
together should couple themselves automatically the arm which supports the link is
placed on a low support and the link then lies in a horizontal plane or thereabouts
projecting forwards from the end of the vehicle and as the two vehicles come together
this link runs up the inclined face of the hook upon the second vehicle until it reaches
and falls into the hook or recess prepared for it. The link upon the second vehicle
meantime has been held out of the way by reason of the arm being rested upon a
higher support than that of the first vehicle; or the link having been thrown back or
dropped down altogether out of the way, or if both links be left down, whichever

page_text: happens to be the lower one will raise the upper one and throw it back. The apparatus
upon both vehicles is the same and the uncoupling is effected by turning the cross bar
by one of its handles raising the arm and link to which it is connected.
The link may be a simple straight link, but it is preferred to use a link with a joint
at or near its centre. This joint is preferably provided with a stop or shoulder and if
desired the stop or stops may act in both directions so as to limit the play of the free
end of the link. Instead of the joint being formed in the link itself a shorter link
may be used connected with the hook by a pair of straight side links, the action being
the same in both cases.
Dated this 4th day of May 1887

page_text: A communication from THOMAS L. McKEEN, residing at Easton, in the County of
Northampton, United States of America, Gentleman.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, 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:-
The salient features of this invention are a hook having an inclined face presented
to the opposing vehicle and a link pivotted in the body of the hook the link or pivot
being connected by a chain or otherwise with an arm projecting from a cross bar
which extends across the vehicle the ends being bent so as to form handles or proper
handles may be fixed on to the ends of the cross bar. A certain amount of longi-
tudinal play is allowed to the cross bar so that the supporting arm may be so located
as to rest upon either one of two or more (usually two) supports. The action is
as follows:
If it is desired that the vehicles when run together should couple themselves
automatically the arm which supports the link is placed on a low support and the link
then lies in a horizontal plane or thereabouts projecting forwards from the end of the
vehicle and as the vehicles come together this link runs up the inclined face of the
hook upon the second vehicle until it reaches and falls into the hook or recess
prepared for it.
The link upon the second vehicle meantime has been held out of the way by reason
of the arm being rested upon a higher support than that of the first vehicle or the
link having been thrown hack or dropped altogether out of the way or if both links
be left down the lower one will raise the upper and throw it back. The apparatus
upon both vehicles is the same and the uncoupling is effected by turning the cross bar
by one of its handles thus raising the arm and link to which it is connected.
In the accompanying drawings, figure 1 represents a plan of this improved coupling
apparatus; Fig. 2 an elevation thereof showing link horizontal and fig. 3 an elevation
showing coupling link thrown back out of the way.
A is the draw hook the face a of which is inclined and B B' is a coupling link
which is pivotted to the draw hook at C. The coupling link is practically a double
link being jointed at b so as to be capable of folding back on itself as shown in
figure 3. For convenience of manufacture the front or loop portion of the link B
is formed in one solid piece pivotted at 6 to two arms B' which are pivotted one on
each side to the hook A by means of the pivot C. A continuation c of the pivot is
bent at right angles thereto for connection with the supporting chain. As it is
preferable to have the link so constructed as to fold only in one direction the

page_text: shoulders of the arms B₁ are formed prominent and these, when the link is
straightened out abut against the square shoulders 63 of the loop portion of the link
and so support the same when in the horizontal position.
The action of the apparatus and the mode of manipulating the link has been
already described and the apparatus therefor is illustrated in the specification of
Letters Patent granted to A. J. Boult No. 3852 A.D. 1886.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention, as
communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a car coupling a double link such as B B' having its central joint provided
with double shoulders b¹ 6 or equivalent means to prevent the loop B from turning
upon its pin b in either direction beyond its assigned limit the whole constructed and
operating substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
2. In a car coupling the combination with the draw hook A of a double link such
as B B pivotted in the draw hook and having its central joint provided with double
shoulders b¹ 63 or equivalent means to prevent the loop B from turning upon its pin b
in either direction beyond the assigned limit substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.