AN IMPROVED SELF-ACTING COUPLING FOR RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK, WHICH MAY ALSO BE USED AS A COUPLING FOR VARIOUS OTHER PURPOSES, ALSO APPLICABLE AS A SHACKLE OR TOGGLE FOR SHIPS SAILS AND VARIOUS OTHER PURPOSES."
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Lawrence Tyerman, of Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, for the Invention of " 'AN IMPROVED SELF-ACTING COUPLING
FOR RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK, WHICH MAY ALSO BE USED AS A COUPLING
FOR VARIOUS OTHER PURPOSES, ALSO APPLICABLE AS A SHACKLE OR TOGGLE
FOR SHIPS SAILS AND VARIOUS OTHER PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Lawrence Tyerman
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th January 1878.
ALFRED LAWRENCE TYERMAN, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster. "AN
IMPROVED SELF-ACTING COUPLING FOR RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK, WHICH MAY
ALSO BE USED AS A COUPLING FOR VARIOUS OTHER PURPOSES, ALSO APPLICABLE
AS A SHACKLE OR TOGGLE FOR SHIPS' SAILS AND VARIOUS OTHER PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to an automatic coupling for railway rolling stock, which is
self-engaging upon the vehicles, being engines, carriages, or trucks, or any of them
coming together. The coupling may be disengaged by a lever handle or its equiva-
lent on the outside of the engine, carriage, or truck, or may be disengaged by a rod,
chain, cord, or its equivalent leading to any portion of the train.
My Invention is also applicable for use as a coupling generally, for purposes, such
as traces for horse vehicles, for pile driving, for mooring purposes, for lifting and
hoisting purposes, and for any other purposes where an automatic coupler and dis-
engager is advantageous.
A portion of my Invention, as herein-after described, is applicable as a shackle
or toggle for ships' sails, and various other purposes.
My Invention consists of two parts, namely, an engager and a double loop or part
to be engaged.
The first part of my Invention or the engager consists of a bar having a slot or
jaw, in which works two bell-crank tumblers, formed with curved or rounded backs,
so that when projecting in line with the bar, they form a V jaw or mouth, upon
pressing which the tumblers open out, bringing their other ends together, which
ГД

page_text: are then embraced by a spring-worked sliding ring on the bar. The tumblers
are thus held in an open position. Upon withdrawal of the ring, the tumblers
are free to open, and when open are kept open by the ring. The ring may be
worked by a lever or levers, chain, or cord, or their equivalent, or may be screwed
on to the bar, in which case the spring is dispensed with and the screw ring worked
by some turning device or by hand. The bar which carries the tumblers and
ring may be square or round (round always, when a screw ring is used). The spring
working the ring may be inside the bar or outside the bar. I, however, prefer a
spiral spring inside the bar, bearing on a cross bar, which engages the ring through
a slot on either side of the main bar.
The double loop or part to be engaged consists of two projecting links, in which
works a (spring supported) buffer, the front of which or cross bar is made with
two inclined planes, or a segment of a circle. The loops or links are attached
to and emanate from the frames of the engine, carriage, or truck, into which also
works the shank, or bar of the spring-supported buffer. The double loops are
arranged sufficiently far apart to receive the tumblers of the engager.
In operation the carriages or trucks are fitted with an engager at one end and
a double loop or part to be engaged at the other end, so that the end of one
carriage being fitted with an engager, and another carriage fitted with the double
loop, the carriages can be coupled by being brought together, the engager automati-
cally taking into the double loop. The carriages are disengaged by withdrawing
the sliding ring and releasing the tumblers on the engager.
Although I have described this coupling more particularly as applied to railway
rolling stock, it will be evident that it is applicable for many other purposes, such
as traces, pile driving, or hoisting and lowering purposes.
The engager by itself is also applicable as a shackle or toggle for ships' square or
other sails. In this case the bar of the engager is formed with a hook or loop which
takes on; in the case of square sails, the jackstay of the yard and the tumblers
being passed through the thimble or eye of the sail and the ring slid or screwed
over the sail is secured.

page_text: SPECIFICATION. in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alfred Lawrence Tyerman in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th July 1878.
"AN
ALFRED LAWRENCE TYERMAN, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
IMPROVED SELF-ACTING COUPLING FOR RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK, WHICH MAY
ALSO BE USED AS A COUPLING FOR VARIOUS OTHER PURPOSES, ALSO APPLICABLE
AS A SHACKLE OR TOGGLE FOR SHIPS' SAILS AND VARIOUS OTHER PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to an automatic coupling for railway rolling stock, which is
self-engaging upon the vehicles, being engines, carriages, or trucks, or any of them
coming together. The coupling may be disengaged by a lever, handle, or its equiva-
lent on the outside of the engine, carriage, or truck, or may be disengaged by a rod,
chain, cord, or its equivalent leading to any portion of the train.
My Invention is also applicable for use as a coupling generally, for purposes, such
as traces for horse vehicles, for pile driving, for mooring purposes, for lifting and
hoisting purposes, and for any other purposes where an automatic coupler and dis-
engager is advantageous.
A portion of my Invention as herein-after described is applicable as a shackle or
toggle for ships' sails, and various other purposes.
My Invention consists of two parts, namely, an engager and a double loop or
part to be engaged.
The first part of my Invention or the engager consists of a bar having a slot or
jaw, in which works two bell-crank tumblers formed with curved or rounded backs,
so that when projecting in line with the bar, they form a V jaw or mouth, upon
pressing which the tumblers open out, bringing their other ends together, which are-
then embraced by a spring-worked sliding ring on the bar. The tumblers are thus
held in an open position (upon withdrawal of the ring the tumblers are free), and:
when open are kept open by the ring. The ring may be worked by a lever or
levers, chain or cord, or their equivalent, or may be screwed on to the bar, in
which case the spring is dispensed with, and the screw ring worked by some.
turning device, or by hand. The bar which carries the tumblers and ring may be.
square or round (round always when a screw ring is used). The spring working.
the ring may be inside the bar or outside the bar; I, however, prefer a spiral spring
inside the bar, bearing on a cross bar, which engages the ring through a slot on
either side of the main bar.
The double loop or part, to be engaged consists of two projecting links, in which
works a T (spring supported) buffer, the front of which or cross bar is made with
two inclined planes, or a segment of a circle. The loops or links are attached to
and emanate from the frames of the engine, carriage, or truck, into which also
works the shank or bar of the spring-supported buffer. The double loops are
arranged sufficiently far apart to receive the tumblers of the engager.·
In operation the carriages or trucks are fitted with an engager at one end and a
double loop or part to be engaged at the other end, so that the end of one carriage.
being fitted with an engager, and another carriage fitted with, the double loop, the
carriages can be coupled by being brought together, the engager automatically
taking into the double loop. The carriages are disengaged by withdrawing the.
sliding ring and releasing the tumblers on the engager.
In order that my Invention may be properly understood, now proceed more
particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same
is. or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had to the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings illustrating my Invention, which are marked with,
letters. and figures of reference corresponding with those in the following
explanation, like letters being used to denote like or similar parts throughout.
the various views.
Figure 1 is a plan of a coupling, according to my Invention, disengaged.

page_text: Figure 3 is a side view of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a modification of Figure 1.
Figure 5 illustrates Figure 4 engaged.
Figure 6 is a side view of Figure 5.
Figure 7 illustrates my Invention applied as a toggle for ships' sails.
Figure 8 is a further illustration of Figure 7, showing toggle, Figure 7,
engaged.
Figure 9 is a modification of Figure 7.
Figure 10 is a second modification of Figure 7.
Figure 11 illustrates my Invention as applied to railway carriages.
Figure 12 is a plan of Figure 11.
Upon reference to the Drawings, Figures 1, 2, 3, 11, and 12, it will be seen
that my Invention consists of two parts, namely, an engager A and a part to be
engaged B.
The engager A consists of a bar C, having a slot or jaw D, in which works two
bell-crank tumblers E, E¹. The bar C is provided with a sliding ring F controlled
by a spring H. The sliding ring F serves to hold the tumblers E, E', in the position
for engaging, as shown at Figure 1, or locks them and secures them in position, as
shown at Figure 2. Upon withdrawal of the ring F by a lever or its equivalent I
(see Figure 11) the tumblers E, E¹, are free to open and disengage.
The part to be engaged B consists of a double loop formed by two projecting
links J, J, and a spring-supported buffer K, the front of which forms a cross bar K³,
which works in the links J, J¹.
The different positions and the working of my coupling will be fully seen upon
reference to Figures 1 and 2, 11 and 12 of the Drawings.
Figures 4, 5, and 6 illustrate a modification of my Invention, in which the parts
are divided, so as to allow for either end of the carriage or part requiring coupling
to be brought together.
It will be seen that the tumblers E, E¹, are divided, as are also the loops J, J,
and instead of the cross bar K there are provided the spring-retained guides K, K¹.
Figure 4 shows this modification of my Invention disengaged, and Figure 5 illustrates
the same engaged.
Upon reference to Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10, it will be seen that my Invention is
illustrated as a toggle for ships' sails.
In Figures 7 and 8 the bar C is provided with a hook C¹, which is sprung or
passed on to the jackstay. The bar C is screwed, and provided with a screwed
ring or nut F.
The disengaged position of the toggle is shown at Figure 7, and the engaged
position is shown at Figure 8, a representing the the thimble or eye of the sail.
Figure 9 shows an arrangement, whereby the sail a may be disengaged by the
lever and gear I.
Figure 10 is a modification of Figure 8, and consists in using the pawl F" in
lieu of the screw nut.
In operation railway carriages or trucks may be fitted with an engager A at one
end, and a part to be engaged B at the other end, as shown at Figures 11 and 12,
so that the carriages can be coupled by being brought together, as shown at Figure
12, and disengaged by withdrawing the sliding ring F by means of the lever and
gear I (see Figure 11).
In case of the modification, Figure 4, it will be seen that it is immaterial which
ends of the carriages are brought together, as the coupling parts will always be in
correct position.
Although I have described my Invention more particularly as applied to railway
rolling stock and ships' sails, it will be evident that it is applicable to many other
purposes, such as traces, pile driving apparatus, hoisting and lowering purposes.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said

page_text: Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The arrangement and construction of a self-acting coupling, consisting of
a double tumbler, such as E, E, engaging into a double loop, such as J, J, and
provided with a spring-controlled ring F, and a spring-controlled cross bar K¹, as
herein-before described and shown at Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the Drawings hereto
annexed, or any modification thereof.
Secondly. The arrangement and construction of a self-acting coupling, as herein-
before described and shown at Figures 4, 5, and 6 of the Drawings hereto annexed,
or any modification thereof.
Thirdly. The arrangement and construction of a toggle for ships' sails, as herein-
before described and shown at Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the Drawings hereto
annexed, or any modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Lawrence Tyerman, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
ALFRED LAWRENCE (L.S.) TYERMAN.