IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FACILI- TATING THE COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES, WAGGONS, AND TRUCKS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Brown, of Barrow-in-Furness, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FACILI-
TATING THE COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES, WAGGONS,
AND TRUCKS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Brown at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th July 1878.
JAMES BROWN, of Barrow-in-Furness, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING OF
RAILWAY CARRIAGES, WAGGONS, AND TRUCKS."
This Invention relates to apparatus actuated by levers or handles arranged on
the outside of the vehicle whereby the end or outer link of a coupling chain may
be placed within or withdrawn from the coupling hook of an adjoining vehicle,
without its being necessary for the operator to place himself between the vehicles.
My improved apparatus is as follows:-Across each end of the vehicle at its
under side is mounted in suitable bearings a hollow shaft, having at each extremity
a suitable handle.
Within the hollow shaft is arranged a longer shaft able to rotate in the hollow
shaft, beyond which the inner shaft is provided with handles which may be formed
by bending its ends over at right angles. Below the coupling hook, part of the
hollow shaft is removed to accommodate an arm projecting from and actuated by
the central or inner shaft. At each side of this space arms are attached to the
hollow shaft which carry upon their outer ends a pin or axis constituting the
fulcrum of a bell-crank lever, upon whose outer extremity is carried on pivots the
end or outer link of the coupling chain, the inner end of the bell-crank lever
working in a slot formed in the outer portion of the arm projecting from the central
shaft.

page_text: The action of the apparatus is such, that by actuating the hollow shaft, the bell-
crank lever and with it the end or outer link of the coupling chain, will be raised
or lowered, and by actuating the central or inner shaft the position of the axis or
fulcrum of the bell-crank lever will be altered, thereby causing the link to be
moved backwards or forwards.
My improved coupling and uncoupling apparatus may be readily applied to
existing coupling chains by making the pivots on the ends or outer link separate
from the link.
The loose pivots may consist of suitably formed jaws (preferably steel castings)
placed one above and one below each side of the link, drawn together by a bolt and
nut, and thereby secured to the link.
The lower jaw has a projecting part which forms the bearing and the bearings,
one on each side of the link are fitted into the outer end of the bell-crank lever
which is forked and suitably arranged to receive them. For new waggons or
other vehicles, the bearings or pivots may be forged with, and therefore form
portions of the link itself.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th January
1879.
"
JAMES BROWN, of Barrow-in-Furness, in the County of Lancaster. IMPROVE:
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING OF
RAILWAY CARRIAGES, WAGGONS, AND TRUCKS."
This Invention relates to apparatus actuated by levers or handles arranged on
the outside of the vehicle, whereby the end or outer link of a coupling chain may
be placed within or withdrawn from the coupling hook of an adjoining vehicle
without its being necessary for the operator to place himself between the vehicles.
The arrangement and application of my improved apparatus are shewn in the
accompanying Drawings, of which Figs. 1 and 2. (in elevation and plan view
respectively) represent the adjoining end portions of two railway waggons or trucks
provided with the arrangement of coupling chains and hooks usually employed.
Across the end of each waggon at its under side, is mounted in suitable bearings
a a hollow shaft b, having at each extremity a handle_c.
Within the hollow shaft b is arranged a longer shaft d able to rotate in the
hollow shaft, beyond which the inner shaft d is provided with handles e, which may
be formed by bending its ends over at right angles as shewn. Below the coupling
hook f, part of the hollow shaft b is removed to accommodate an arm g projecting
from and actuated by the central or inner shaft d. At each side of this space arms
h are attached to the hollow shaft b, the arms h carrying upon their outer ends a
pin or axis i constituting the fulcrum of a bell-crank lever j, upon whose outer
extremity is carried on pivots k the end or outer link of the coupling chain; the
inner end of the bell-crank lever working in a slot m formed in the outer portion of
the arm g projecting from the central shaft.
The action of the apparatus is such, that by actuating the hollow shaft b, the
bell-crank lever j, and with it the end or outer link of the coupling chain, will be
raised or lowered, and by actuating the central or inner shaft d, the position of the
axis or fulcrum i of the bell-crank lever j will be altered, thereby causing the link
to be moved backwards or forwards.
My improved coupling and uncoupling apparatus may be readily applied to
existing coupling chains by making the pivot k on the end or outer link / separate
from the link.
Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively side and end views of one such arrangement of
loose pivot, the construction of which will be understood without further descrip-
tion.
The studs may be clongated and curved as shewn, the elongation dispensing with
the necessity of a nut or check pin, whilst the curvature is designed to facilitate
the removal of the link from within the bell-crank lever j, the two arms of which
may be sprung open so as to liberate the coupling link when broken or otherwisc.
The loose pivots may also consist of a pair of suitably formed jaws (preferably
steel castings) placed one above and one below each side of the link, drawn together
and secured to the link by a bolt and nut (see Figs. 5 and 6).
The lower jaw may be provided with a projecting part to form the bearing, and
the bearings one on each side of the link are fitted into the outer end of the bell-
crank lever j, which is forked (as shewn in Fig. 2), and suitably arranged to receive
them. For new waggons or other vehicles, the bearings or pivots may be forged
with and therefore form portions of the link itself.
The shaft b works in slot bearings which (see Fig. 1) allow the shafts to be
moved forwards or drawn out along with the draw bar and coupling hook; the
bearings a being preferably set at an angle, so that when the shafts are so drawn
out, they may of their own weight or gravity fall back or return to their normal
position.

page_text: The handles c may be so fitted to the extremities of the shaft b, as to rest in the
hooks or catches o, not only when the waggons are uncoupled, but also when they
are coupled. This may be effected by the arrangement shewn in Figs. 7 and 8, in
which p is a stud or projection forming a portion of the thimble or sleeve q which
is screwed upon or otherwise secured to the hollow shaft b. is a metal strap
having an opening or slot s extending from the points 4 to 8. The handles c will
work loose or move round upon the thimble or sleeve q, until one of the points 4 or
8 is brought to bear against the stud or projection p, when the shaft 6 may be
actuated.
In Fig. 1 the chain and swing rod t (of which there may be one to each arm of
the bell-crank lever, one on each side of the coupling chain), causes the coupling
link when not hooked to fold up, as will be readily understood on reference to the
Drawing. Thus the bottom link may be suspended at such a height from the
ground as to prevent its catching the sleepers or other obstacles on the permanent
way; and moreover by being folded up as shewn, less power is required to work
the handle c; the weight of the bottom link being brought nearer by its own
length to the axis or fulcrum on which the handle works.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and explained the
manner of carrying it into practical effect, I would have it understood that I do not
claim as of my Invention or the exclusive use of the several mechanical parts
herein-before described or referred to, except when the same are used in and for the
purpose of my said Invention, but 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, the constructing and arranging apparatus, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated, for facilitating the coupling and uncoupling of
railway carriages, waggons, and trucks, and particularly I claim the method, sub-
stantially as described, of operating the link 7 by means of the two shafts b and d,
the one working within the other, and having a common centre or axis.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Brown, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-first day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
Witnesses,
JOSEPH WADDINGTON,
Engineer,
Hindpool Foundry,
Barrow-in-Furness,
and
BENJAMIN LONGBOTTOM,
Engineer,
of the same Place.
JAMES BROWN. (L.S.)