Apparatus to Couple and Uncouple Railway Trucks and other Vehicles.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 5th June, 1886.
Complete Left, 1st Mar, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 1st Apr., 1887.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus to Couple and Uncouple Railway Trucks and other
Vehicles.
I WILLIAM HERALD 226 Mottram Road, Godley, in the County of Chester,
Mechanical & Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
APPARATUS TO COUPLE AND UNCOUPLE RAILWAY TRUCKS AND OTHER VEHICLES,
to be as follows :—
This invention relates to the Couplings of Waggons, Trucks, & other Vehicles
employed on Railways, and the object of this apparatus is to enable the Vehicles to be
Coupled and Uncoupled by the attendant when outside and clear of buffers.
The present links and drawbar hooks as now used may be retained. To the sides of
outer, or end link, I affix two studs or pins one on each side. I place on these studs
two rods or bars, or a fork rod as may be arranged, these rods or bars pass under the
frame work of vehicle for several feet; at a distance of about 3 feet the rods are joined
by a fixing or small carriage which is made to run on a wheel, or wheels, supported
by a rail or runner secured to and immediately under the Woodwork of Vehicle, and
just below the line of drawbar. The inner ends of rods are carried some distance
beyond the above mentioned Carriage and to these ends may be attached a weight to
Counterbalance, as may be desired, the Weight of Coupling links.
On each of the aforesaid rods I fix a handle, either Wood or Iron, in a suitable
position projecting towards the sides of Vehicle.
To Couple the person raises the handle when the rods or side levers act similar to
the beam of a pair of Scales by swinging on the support this elevates the Coupling
links to the desired height then by bringing forward the handle the whole apparatus
rolls outward similar to a small bogie truck on its Wheel or Wheels to any desired
distance when the handle and links are allowed to fall.
To Uncouple raise the handle and allow the apparatus to run back under the Vehicle,
the supports of small bogie Carriage may be placed on an incline so as to facilitate the
running in when Uncoupling.
The apparatus may be suspended over head as described, or may rest on Wheels, or
roller supported by a rail or frame underneath the apparatus.
When Uncoupled the

page_text: links are not allowed to fall full length but caught and suspended part way in the most
suitable position by a horned bracket secured to the framework under drawbar hook,
these horns sustain the side rods and thus hold up the links.
Or this support may be dispensed with and a roller attached to the inner ends of
side rods to run against the Underside of rail or frame and thus sustain the weight of
Coupling links in front to any desired height.
As the apparatus swivels easily any lateral motion for hooking is readily obtained.
To diminish friction in Moving the Carriage of apparatus I affix side rollers to touch
the sides of rail or runner bar.
Also rollers to clear the underside of frame to prevent any Canting.
The rail or runner bar may be secured to a thin iron plate, or Wrought iron frame,
the latter to be secured in the most suitable manner to framework of Vehicle.
In the event of a drawbar breaking the apparatus is not carried away but simply
parted at the link ends when the apparatus will run back underneath the Vehicle.
The apparatus may be worked with one land.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus to Couple and Uncouple Railway Trucks and other
Vehicles.
I WILLIAM HERALD 226 Mottram Road, Godley, in the County of Chester,
Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for APPARATUS
TO COUPLE AND UNCOUPLE RAILWAY TRUCKS & OTHER VEHICLES, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
My invention relates to Certain Mechanical apparatus or appliances by which
Railway Trucks, Wagons or other Vehicles may be Coupled or Uncoupled from outside
the buffers and thus avoid the dangers to which the attendants are subjected to in
going between the vehicles.
The present links, drawbars & hooks as now used may be retained.
For this purpose
I affix to the sides of outer or end link two Stu:ls one on each side, attached to these
Studs are two rods or bars, or a forked rod as may be arranged, these rods pass under
the frame work of Vehicle for several feet and are joined by a fixing or small carriage
which is made to run on a Wheel, or Wheels, supported by a rail or runner secured
to and immediately under the frame work of Vehicle and just below the line of
drawbar,

page_text: The inner ends of rods are carried some distance beyond the above mentioned
carriage and to these ends may be attached a weight to counterbalance, as may be
desired, the weight of coupling links. On each side of the aforesaid rods I affix a
handle (either wood or iron, in a suitable position projecting towards the sides of
Vehicle.
The apparatus may be suspended overhead as described or the small carriage may
rest on wheels or roller supported by a rail or frame underneath the apparatus. To
diminish friction in moving the carriage of apparatus I affix rollers, or wheel to run
against the sides of rail or runner bars, also roller wheels to clear the underside of
framework to prevent Canting. The rail or runner bars may be secured to an iron-
plate, or Wrought iron frame the latter secured in the most suitable manner to frame-
work of Vehicle.
In the event of a drawbar breaking the apparatus is not carried away but simply
parted from links when the apparatus will run back underneath the Vehicle. When
Uncoupled the links are not allowed to fall full length but caught and suspended part
way in the most suitable position by a horned bracket secured to framework under the
drawbar hook, the horns sustain the side rods and thus hold up the links. Or this
horned bracket may be dispensed with and the inner ends of side rods allowed to bear
against the underside of Vehicle a pulley, roller or other contrivance intervening the
side rods being thus held in position and sustaining the coupling links in front to any
desired height..
The action of the apparatus is as follows.
"To Couple" the person with one hand raises the handle when the rods or side levers
act similar to the beam of a pair of scales by swinging on the supports this elevates
the Coupling links to the desired height then by bringing forward the handle the whole
apparatus rolls outwards similar to a small bogie truck on its wheel or wheels, to any
desired distance when by lowering the handle the link falls on hook, any side play is
easily obtained as the apparatus swivels on its support with the slightest side pressure
on the handle.
"To Uncouple" with one hand raise and draw forward the handle
this simultaneous action releases the Coupling links when the handle may be allowed
to fall and cause the apparatus to run back under the Vehicle, or the Coupling link
may be thrown on to its own hook.
The supports of small bogie carriage may be placed on an incline so as to facilitate
the running in when Uncoupled.
Double Coupling may be obtained by arranging the apparatus so as to connect one
side only of the Coupling link to the apparatus.
ADVANTAGES.
1st. The operations of Coupling, or Uncoupling can be performed with ease and
certainty the position of Trucks being either full open, or closed buffers with Looks
only 1 inches apart, or when on a Curve.
2nd. Being essientally a one handed affair the attendant has the other hand at liberty
for his lamp,
or to signal to the Engine driver, and in using the apparatus the action
of the man's body is tending to lean backwards so that in the event of a slip of the
hand there is no possibility of the man falling under or against the Vehicle.
3rd. The whole of the apparatus handles included are under the vehicle consequently
does not interfere with any sheeting or other matter being secured to sides or ends of
Truck.
Ath. Simplicity of arrangement few working parts, an absence of levers, joints and
other complicated Mechanism. The apparatus can be easily attached to Vehicle and to
Coupling links of whatever size or length.
5th. Can be used in a siding or warehouse where a man can pass between wall and
Vehicle, a short man can work it just as well as a tall person.
6th. As the Couplings now in use do not require alteration they can be worked as
heretofore in the event of apparatus being out of use, and is immaterial whether a part
or a whole of the train of vehicles are fitted with the apparatus.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING.
A. A. are the connections to coupling links, B. B. are the side rods, C. C the small
carriage with rollers pulleys etc., D. D. the horned bracket to sustain rods & links in
position. EE the arrangement to dispense with horned bracket D.
F. F. is one arrangement of runner bar or rail to be secured to underside framework
of Vehicle.
G. G. are positions where the counter balances may be fixed. H. H are the handles.
Figs. 1 & 2 are the side and end elevations of trucks showing position of apparatus
with Coupling links stretched tight. Fig. 3 shows the apparatus and links run back
at rest.
CLAIM.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would have it understood
that I do not restrict myself to the precise details of construction, but declare that
what I claim is,
1st. In a non Automatic Coupling apparatus for Railway and other Vehicles
comprising a small bogie carriage working under the framework of Vehicle on pulley,
wheels, or rollers running on suitable rail, runners, or table arranged so as to swivel
and give the necessary play or hook finding range by moving the handle attached to
apparatus in the direction required.
2nd. In a non automatic arrangement a suitable rail, runners, or other supports
secured to vehicle and contrived so that when the links are uncoupled the apparatus
runs back under the vehicle by its own gravity and the weight of links.
3rd. In a non Automatic Coupling apparatus where the released coupling links are
not allowed to fall down full stretch but are sustained in a suitable position under their
own hook by the action of apparatus.
4th. A combination of rods, carriage, rollers, pulleys, runners and supports attached
underneath the Vehicle whereby a person in grasping one of the handles may move
the Coupling links up or down forward or backward, or swivel to right or left
substantially as described and illustrated.
5th. The improved non Automatic Coupling apparatus constructed arranged and
operating as hereinabove described and shewn in the drawings.
Dated this 28th day of February 1887.
WILLIAM HERALD.