Year: 1887

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by JOHN STRONG ANDREWS, of Milltown, in the Province
of New Brunswick, Dominion of Canada, Manufacturer.]
I, PERCY HADDAN, of the firm of Herbert & Co., Patent Agents, of 67 Strand,
London, in the County of Middlesex, Civil 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:-
In the accompanying drawings:
Of Sheet 1-Figure 1 is a top view, Fig. 2 a sido elevation and Fig. 3 a
longitudinal, inedian and horizontal section of two car-couplers, of this improved kind,
in the positions in which they stand relatively to each other just before being coupled.
Fig. 4 is a front end view of one of such couplers, Fig. 5 is a similar longitudinal
and median section of them as coupled.
In practice each coupler, when applied to the end of a car, should have its median
horn projecting to the right or to the left, relatively to a person when standing on the
platform at such end, with his back toward the centre of the car, in which case the
cars on coming together will couple automatically.
The nature of the invention is defined in the claim or claims hereinafter
presented.
From the body A of each coupler, there is extended as shown, three curved
horns B B and C, the middle one being curved in a direction the reverse of that of
each of the others.
In the body directly in rear of the horn C, there is a recess D and in the said horn
in advance of the said recess is a spring catch E, that slides laterally within the horn,
In this catch is a slot bin
and has its inner end angular or bevelled, as shown at a.
which is placed a spiral spring e which at one end bears against the inner end of the
slot, and at the other against a pin d going through the horn vertically thereof. A
chain e connected to the catch at its outer end serves to enable a person to draw the
catch out of engagement with that of the other couplor.
In advance of the catch there is within the median horn Ca recess f, a hole g, being
extended vertically through the horn and such recess-such being to enable the

page_text: coupler to be connected by a link projecting from a car and inserted in the recess f
and by a pin inserted in the hole, through the link.
In rear of the catch, and arranged with respect to it as shown, are two shoulders
which on the couplers being in engagement, butt against the shoulders of the other
coupler, and with them serve as "bunters."
There projects from the rear end of the body A, an eye k with which a link is
coupled. This link extends into the end of the draw bar Gand is secured therein by
a key m, that goes transversely through both. A spiral spring n encompasses the eye
and link, and projects into a recess o in the end of the draw har. By such a
connection of the coupler with the draw bar, such coupler can swing or play upward
or downward, as well as sideways, as occasion may require.
On one coupler being forced toward the other in order to couple or engage with it,
the two horns B, and B₁ of it, will be forced against the two horns B and B of the
other, whereby the median horn C of each coupler will be caused to pass between the
horns B and B, of the other coupler, and the two catches E, will be forced toward and
into contact with each other, and will be moved lengthwise on their horns until they
the said catches may pass cach other. Having so passed each other, they-by their
springs will be moved in opposite directions, so as to cause each catch to pass into
the recess at the back of the other catch, thereby locking the two catches together
and engaging both couplers. By pulling outwardly either catch sufficiently,
disengagement of the catches can be effected.
While the spring renders the coupler flexible, the key m arranged as represented,
aids in preventing such coupler from turning or canting over to one side or the other.
These couplers will couple at the coming together of two cars, either end of each being
foremost. They can be uncoupled at either side of the train without going on or
between the cars. With this coupler, a car can also be coupled with another by means
of a link and its pins.
In Sheet 2, I have represented a modification of the car coupler as hereinbefore
described.
In such Sheet 2, Fig. 1 is a top view, Fig. 2 a front elevation, and Fig. 3 a
longitudinal and median, and horizontal section of a pair of the improved car couplers,
as disengaged and arranged in the positions they have, when applied to two cars to
be coupled by them. Fig. 4 is a vertical and median longitudinal section of them, as
disengaged, while Fig. 5 is a horizontal, longitudinal section of the said pair of
couplers, as engaged with each other.
Instead of having to the car coupler the three horns, as hereinbefore stated, one of
them viz., that which projected upward-I dispense with, and in its place I substitute
an abutment. Furthermore, I have also virtually dispensed with the median horn and
in lieu thereof, I employ a simple projection in which there is arranged, crosswise of
it, the locking catch and its actuating spring; the object of so dispensing with the
upwardly curved horn being to enable the coupler-without obstruction from the
horn to pass under the platform of a car, toward which it may be moved, to couple
with the coupler underneath such platform.
From one side of the body A, of each coupler, there is extended a single curved
horn B which curves outwardly and downwardly relatively to such body. At the
other side of the body and opposite such horn, there is a shoulder or abutment C
directly between which and the horn B is the projection D in and through which is a
latch E and its operative spring F all being formed and arranged as shown. A hole u
goes down through the abutment and into the horn, such hole being for reception of a
pin to engage the coupler with a common link, when such may be desirable. In rear
of the latch there is a chamber or recess in the body A.
When one coupler is forced toward the other for being engaged with it, the bevel
of the latch of one will be pressed against that of the latch of the other; in
consequence of which both, latches will be moved lengthwise in their carriers until
one of such latches may pass the other-in which case their springs will move them
in opposite ways, and thereby cause the two couplers to become engaged. By pulling

page_text: either latch backward sufficiently in its carrier or projection D, a disengagement of
tlie two couplers may be effected.
The horns of the couplers serve, when butting together, to guide the latch of one
into contact with and to aid in causing it to properly act against that of the other.
The abutments, when in contact, arrest at the proper time the advance of one coupler
relatively to the other. I would remark that the projection D is bevelled or rounded,
as shown, in order that when such projection may be forced against that of another
coupler of like kind-in the act of coupling two cars-the rounded parts shall guide
the catch of one to that of the other for them to engage with each other.
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 car coupler provided with the body A, and three horns B, C and B',
projecting therefrom, as set forth, and having within the body the recess D, and in
advance thereof and in the median horn, a spring catch E, all being arranged
substantially as set forth.
2. The car coupler provided with the body A, and three horns B, C and B¹
projecting therefrom, as set forth, and having within the body the recess D, and two
shoulders h, and in advance thereof and in the median horn a spring catch E, all
being arranged substantially as represented.
3. The car coupler provided with the body A, and three horns B, C and B¹
projecting therefrom as set forth and having within the body the recess D, and in
advance thereof, and in the median horn, a spring catch E, and in front thereof, the
link receiving recess, and the hole y, arranged therewith as explained-all being
essentially as shown and specified.
4. The combination with the coupler and draw bar, of the eye projecting from the
former, the link extending through the said eye and into the draw bar, the key going
through the draw bar and the link, and the spiral spring encompassing the eye and
link, and extending from the coupler to the draw bar—all being substantially as set
forth.
5. The car coupler substantially as described, consisting of the body A, the single
curved horn B, the abutment C, the intermediate projection D, the recess or chamber b,
between such projection and horn, and the spring latch E, in such projection, all being
arranged essentially in manner and to operate as set forth.
Dated this 9th day of March 1887.