IMPROVEMENTS IN PIPE COUPLINGS, MORE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO RAILWAY BRAKES WORKED BY FLUID PRESSURE OR VACUUM
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Westinghouse at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd December 1878.
GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE, Jun., of No. 20, Southampton Buildings, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PIPE COUPLINGS, MORE
PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO RAILWAY BRAKES WORKED BY FLUID PRESSURE
OR VACUUM,"
My Invention relates to a construction of pipe coupling of the kind described in
my previous Patents, Nos. 1540, of 1874, and 4127, of 1877, wherein each half
coupling communicates with the other by a flat side face having an opening pro-
vided with a caoutchouc lip, the two faces being pressed together by a curved rib
on the one half coupling being brought under and engaged with a grooved pro-
jection on the other half coupling, which operation is effected by first placing the
half couplings together in such a position that the axes of their nozzles are at an
angle to each other, and then turning them upon a centre coinciding with the
centres of their side openings until their axes are in line with each other.
In employing such coupling for connecting and disconnecting separate lengths of
pipe or hose serving to convey fluid pressure or exhaust from reservoirs to wherever
required, such for instance as the pipes employed for conveying fluid pressure to
brake apparatus of railway trains, it is generally required that on disconnecting or
uncoupling a length of pipe both parts of the pipe should be closed at or near the
coupling, so as to prevent the escape of fluid pressure.
According to my present Invention I insure the opening or closing of the pipe
on coupling or uncoupling by so connecting or combining a valve or cock with the
said coupling that by the act of connecting or disconnecting this the cock or valve
is turned in the required manner for opening or closing the communication.
According to one arrangement for this purpose a disc on the inner back face of
the coupling has a stein passing airtight through the back face, and has projections
engaging with a grid shaped valve capable of turning on a metal seat on the back
of the beforementioned caoutchouc lip surrounding the opening, by which the one
half coupling communicates with the other half. The outer end of the before-
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page_text: mentioned stem passing through the coupling carries an arm or lever, the end of
which is forked, so that when the two half couplings are fitted together the said
forked arm of the one half engages with a stud on the other half. Thus on turning
the two half couplings upon each other, so as to bring them into the before-
mentioned angular position for uncoupling, the said stud turns the forked arm, and
with it the stem and grid valve, so that the latter closes the side aperture of the
coupling, which consequently remains closed when the half couplings separate.
On again bringing the half couplings together in the angular position for coupling
up, the forked arm of the one half again engages with the stud of the other half, so
that on turning the two halves into the straight position the valve is turned back
into the open position. If on the other hand the two halves while coupled up are
forcibly drawn asunder, as would occur in the case of railway brakes on an
accidental separation of the carriage coupling, the valves will remain in the open
position, and in allowing the fluid pressure to escape will cause the brakes to be
applied in the manner described in my previous Patents.
The beforementioned forked arm is so forned with lateral wings that these
prevent the half. couplings being fitted together in any other position than that in
which the stud engages with the fork.
According to another arrangement I provide in the nozzle end of each balf
coupling a stop-cock having an arm, which passes beyond the end of its half
coupling, and has a fork engaging with a stud on the other coupling, so that by
turning the two halves into the annular position for uncoupling, the arm, and with
it the plug of the cock, are turned, so as to close the pipe, while the contrary takes
place when the two halves are fixed together again.