An Improved Automatic Coupling for Railway Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 14th July, 1898-Accepted, 20th Aug.. 1898
An Improved Automatic Coupling for Railway Vehicles.
I, SAMUEL BÄNDEL, of 4, Kaiserstrasse, Königshütte, Germany, Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment:-
This invention relates to an automatic coupling for railway vehicles with an
apparatus for uncoupling them from the side. This invention has for its object to
allow of a certain and secure hooking of the draw mechanism, with free movement
and security of the connection between the vehicles during the journey and also to
allow of the uncoupling being effected quickly and easily.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the coupling in its normal position.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of two vehicles coupled together, of which one vehicle
is empty whilst the other vehicle is loaded up to its full limit.
Figure 3 is a plan of two vehicles after they have been uncoupled.
The draw mechanisms consisting of the draw link a and the draw hook b are
arranged respectively on the right and left hand sides of the middle of the vehicle on
the same end or head of the vehicle, that is to say, diagonally with reference to the
latter. The rectangular form of the draw link which is provided with a ball joint,
is determined first by the difference in the heights of the buffer centres of two
unequally loaded vehicles which are to be coupled together, and secondly by the com-
pression of the buffers of the vehicles. The said link is fixed by means of a ball
joint to the buffer beam. Similarly attached to the buffer beam and situated under
the link there is provided a strong support c which is capable of yielding spring-like
in all directions, and is provided with end pins c' that are horizontal and parallel to
the buffer beam and which carry the compression spring d. This support or end pin
keeps the link a in a horizontal position by means of its lug a¹ sliding on the pin c¹,
whilst it is also held by means of the compression spring d in its normal position,
that is to say, in a direction at right angles to the buffer beam. The strong draw
hook 6 which is formed with a nose-shaped head is slipped into a sleeve e fixed to
the buffer beam and is held fast by means of the wedge g that is provided with a
guiding arm f bent down a little at its end, so that the said hook is not capable of
making either a forward or a backward movement. Along the buffer beam there is
arranged at each of the two ends or heads of the vehicle a rod or spindle m which is
formed in the centre with a screw thread and is provided at its ends with crank
handles h and also with disc-like carrier pieces 1 and 22. This spindle m is movable in
a screw bearing k, and two eye-like bearings I. One of the two carriers ¹ mounted
on the rod m consists of two round discs situated a short distance from each other
and between which there projects the downwardly bent end f of the wedge-guiding
arm. Opposite the other carrier 2 there is arranged a tappet b' which is fixed to
the lug a¹ of the draw link a.
In coupling, the draw link of one vehicle strikes against the inclined nose of the
oppositely situated draw hook of the other vehicle, and by compressing the spring d
it moves aside, and when the buffers meet, it snaps into the draw hook.

page_text: The uncoupling is effected by rotating the screw spindles of both vehicles
simultaneously in opposite directions until the back of the wedge is pressed against
the guide bracket s, which is effected by means of carrier 2. In this operation
first the wedge g which holds the draw hook fast becomes loosened by the carrier for
the purpose of enabling the link a to be deflected, whereupon by continued further
screwing, the other carrier 2 enters in operation, and now both carriers act together,
the one carrier by pressing against the tappet 6' of the draw link acting to deflect
the draw link or to rotate it to one side, which then in its turn by this rotation
drags out so to speak the draw hook 6 engaging in the same, out of the sleeve e,
whilst the other carrier by continually loosening or drawing forward the wedge of
the draw hook, provides the necessary space to allow of the hook being pulled
forward by the draw link.
The draw mechanisms are brought again into their original normal position, by
rotating the screw spindles of the two vehicles simultaneously or successively into a
direction opposite to the direction of the previous rotation, until the wedges of the
draw hooks are again made fast, that is to say, fill up the wedge opening and thus
render further rotation impossible.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
(1) A side coupling for railway vehicles, characterised by a rotary draw link a
which is attached by means of a ball joint to the buffer beam A and is held suspended
by means of a spring support c which is capable of flexure or yielding in all directions,
and also characterised by a draw hook b which is capable of being moved at right
angles to the buffer beam A, for the purpose of ensuring always a certain or safe
engagement of the parts of the coupling with different loads on the vehicles, as set
forth.
(2) A side coupling according to Claim 1, characterised by a screw spindle m
which is provided for the purpose of uncoupling from the side along the buffer
beam A and which is operated by a crank handle h at each end so as to force a
wedge g against a guide bracket s, by means of a carrier i¹, whilst drawing the draw
hook b out of the sleeve e, and by means of the other carrier 2 moving a tappet 61
provided on the draw link a for the purpose of deflecting the said draw link, as set
forth.
(3) A coupling for railway vehicles, constructed, arranged and adapted to be:
operated substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
Dated this 14th day of July Love.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M.Inst.C.E., M.I.Mech. E.,
Chartered Patent Agent, 70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Associate Agent.