IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING RAILWAY CARRIAGES, TRUCKS, OR WAGGONS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Fenwick, of Gateshead-on-Tyne, in the County of
Durham, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING RAILWAY CARRIAGES, TRUCKS, OR WAGGONS."
Sealed the 23rd August 1878, and dated the 25th February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Fenwick at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th February 1878.
GEORGE FENWICK, of Gateshead-on-Tyne, in the County of Durham, Engineer.
" IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING RAILWAY
CARRIAGES, TRUCKS, OR WAGGONS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for coupling and
uncoupling railway carriages, trucks, and waggons, by reason of the attendants
having to pass between the trucks to effect this operation, thereby involving con-
siderable risk and delay. Now I obviate these disadvantages by means of an improved
apparatus which is both simple and effective in its action. I either cast or forge
in iron, steel, or any other suitable metal or material a shoe or lift made in the form
of two curvilinear arms terminating at their upper ends in bosses, the space between
such curved arms being formed hollow. Such arms may however, if preferred, be
made either straight, oblique, or of any other convenient form. The lower ends of
these arms terminate in shoulders or projections which serve to prevent the end
link of the coupling chain dropping through the hollow space between the arms
when raised as hereafter described. Midway between such shoulders or stops I
form a metal socket or channel which slopes down inwardly to a convenient angle to
allow of the intermediate links of the coupling chain slipping through the hollow
space between the arms as hereafter mentioned. Such shoulders or projections
terminate in two curved ends or prongs which have hollows or grooves formed on
their inner sides.

page_text: The upper ends or bosses of the curved arms have holes formed therein to permit
of a cross shaft passing therethrough, and to which cross shaft they are keyed on or
otherwise attached. Such cross shaft is carried on a movable frame which is capable
of being shifted backwards or forwards as required. In the lower ends of this
movable frame, holes are formed, wherein suitable pins are inserted, whereon such
movable frame works. These pins are also connected to rigid arms or supports of
any convenient shape and dimensions fixed to the bottom of the truck, one on either
side, and additional strength is imparted to the movable frame by means of suitable
strengthening bars.
The cross shaft together with the movable frame is actuated and controlled by
means of suitable hand levers placed one on either side thereof.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-When it is desired to raise the
coupling chain in order to connect the same with a second truck, the cross shaft is
turned by means of one of the hand levers, thus imparting motion to the shoe or
lift, which raising the chain, allows the intermediate links thereof to drop down
through the hollow space between the arms, whilst the end link is caught by the
curved ends or prongs, and lodging in the grooves or hollows formed on the inner
sides thereof, is so held in position until such link is raised above the level of the.
centre crook attached to the truck, when, in order to drop the same thereon, it is
only necessary to shift the movable frame by pulling forward one of the hand levers
when the centre crook passes into the slot between the two ends or prongs, and the
ond link of the coupling chain instantaneously drops thereon, after which, by slightly
reversing the hand lever, the shoe or lift is caused to fall clear of the coupling
chain.
When it is desired to uncouple the trucks it is only necessary to raise the shoe or
lift to a sufficient height by means of one of the hand levers to dislodge the link
from the centre crook, and then shift the movable frame backward sufficiently to
allow both the link and the shoe to fall clear of the crook.
If preferred a metallic brace or bridge piece may be cast or forged on the back of
the socket of the shoe in order to strengthen the same.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Fenwick in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th August
1878.
GEORGE FENWICK, of Gateshead-on-Tyne, in the County of Durham, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING RAILWAY
CARRIAGES, TRUCKS, OR WAGGONS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for coupling and
uncoupling railway carriages, trucks, or waggons.
Hitherto great difficulty has been experienced in coupling and uncoupling
railway carriages, trucks, and waggons, by reason of the attendants having to pass
between the trucks to effect this operation, thereby involving considerable risk and
delay. Now I obviate these disadvantages by means of an improved apparatus which
is both simple and effective in its action, and which I will now with the aid of the
accompanying Drawings, whereon similar letters of reference indicate corresponding
parts, proceed to describe. I either cast or forge in iron, steel, or any other suitable
metal, a lift or shoe made in the form shewn at S, Figure 1, of the accompanying
Drawings, which shews in end elevation a railway truck with my improved
apparatus attached thereto. The upper part of this lift or shoe is made in the form
of two curvilinear arms a, a, terminating at their upper ends in bosses b, b, the
space between such curved arms being formed hollow, as shewn at a¹, Figure 1.
Such arms may however, if preferred, be made either straight, oblique, or of any
other convenient form. The lower ends of these arms terminate in shoulders, stops,
or projections c, c, which serve to prevent the end link of the coupling chain
dropping through the hollow space a¹ when raised as hereafter described. Midway
between such shoulders or stops c, c, I form a metal socket or channel d, Figure 2,
which slopes down inwardly to a convenient angle to allow of the intermediate
links of the coupling chain slipping through the hollow space a¹, as hereafter
mentioned. Such shoulders, stops, or projections c, c, terminate in two curved ends
or prongs e, e, which have formed on their inner sides hollows or grooves f, f.
The upper ends or bosses b, b, of the curved arms a, a, have holes formed therein
to permit of a cross shaft g passing therethrough, and to which cross shaft they are
attached.
Two levers h, Figure 3, are placed one on either side of the railway truck or
carriage. Such levers h are supported by two upright movable levers h¹ attached
to two rigid arms or supports i affixed to the bottom of the truck or carriage, as
shewn in Figure 3. Such arms or supports may be made of any convenient shape
and dimensions.
The cross shaft g together with the levers h are actuated and controlled by means
of suitable hand levers j, and two suitable rollers k are fixed underneath the truck,
under which the levers h work with greater ease.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-When it is desired to raise the
coupling chain in order to connect the same with a second truck, the cross shaft g
is turned by means of one of the hand levers j, thus imparting motion to the shoe
or lift S, which, raising the chain, allows the intermediate links thereof to drop
through the hollow space a¹, whilst the end link is caught by the curved ends or
prongs e, e, and is so held in position until such link is brought above the level of
the centre crook attached to the truck, when, in order to drop the same thereon it
is only necessary to pull the hand lever j forward, when the centre crook passes
into the slot d formed between the two ends or prongs e, e, and the end link of the
coupling chain instantaneously drops thereon, after which by slightly reversing the
hand levers h the shoe or lift is caused to fall clear of the coupling chain.
When it is desired to uncouple the trucks it is only necessary to raise the shoe or
lift to a sufficient height by means of one of the hand levers h to dislodge the link
from the centre crook, and then pull the hand lever backward sufficiently to allow
both the link and the shoe to fall clear of the crook.

page_text: If preferred a metal brace or bridge piece indicated at 1, Figure 2, may be
cast or forged on the back of the socket of the shoe in order to strengthen the
same.
Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying Drawings illustrate this arrangement in
end and side elevation.
Figure 2 represents another method by which the shoe or lift can be worked
successively in coupling and uncoupling trucks, &c. The shoe or lift S being fixed
upon a cross shaft g, upon such cross shaft g are the ends of two malleable iron
arms or levers g', g'. The said arms or levers being supported upon two rollers h,
Figure 4, and at the other end of each of the said arms or levers are attached two
movable suspending links m which are fixed by a pin joint at one end underneath
the truck.
Upon each end of the cross shaft g are fixed two hand levers j. By lifting the
hand lever j at either side, motion is imparted to the shoe or lift, and it is worked
in a similar manner to that already described with reference to the first
arrangement.
Figures 2 and 4 of the accompanying Drawings illustrate this arrangement in
end and side elevation.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said In-
vention, and the manner of carrying the same into operation, I would have it under-
stood that what I claim is,-
First. The manufacture and use of a shoe or lift, substantially in the manner and
for the purposes herein-before described and illustrated.
Second. The raising and lowering of such shoe or lift and the shifting the same to
and fro by means of the mechanism herein-before described and illustrated, or any
mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Fenwick, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
GEORGE FENWICK
(TO)