Improvements in and relating to Couplings for Railway Věhlolës.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 30th June, 1892-Accepted, 13th Aug., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
.
[Communioated from abroad by EDWARD HERBERT GILLMAN and GEORGE
HOWARD 'BARNES, both of 11, Cadillac Square, Detroit, Wayne County,
Michigan, United States of America.]
Improvements in and relating to Couplings for Railway Věhlolës.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent Agents
15 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, 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 statement :-
This invention relates to new and useful improvements in-car couplers, and the
invention -consists in the peculiar construction of the draw-head, having spring
draw-bars with which a hook upon the adjacent car is adapted to engage.
The invention further consists in the peculiar construction of this spring draw-bar
whereby cars may be coupled notwithstanding the difference in height, or difference
in alignment in curves, whereby they may be more readily' uncoupled with the
ordinary link and pin type of coupler.
The invention further consists in the peculiar construction, arrangement' and
combination of the various parts, all as more fully hereinafter described..
In the drawings,
Fig 1 is a bottom plan view of the meeting ends of two adjoinings care to which
my couplers are attached, showing the parts-in coupled position'..
Fig. 2-is a vertical central longitudinal section through the couplers' thereof."
Fig 3 is a detached perspective view of one of the couplers.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the couplers in the position shown in Fig. 2.
Fig.15 shows in detached perspective view the parts of the drawbar and-draw-
head...
Fig. 6 is a detached perspective view of the uncoupling block.
A and B-show the ends of two cars to which my improved coupler is attached:
C is a draw-head which I preferably make of cast metal in the form of a
rectangular box and consisting of the two parts a 6 more plainly shown in Fig. 5,
having lateral flanges c, by means of which the two parts are secured together...
At the forward end this draw-head is provided with the flaring lips d, forming
the mouth of the draw-head. The draw-head at its rear end is provided with a bar
or shaft D; which passes through the heads -E and F; clamping a spring G between,
which acts as the usual buffer spring. Near the forward end the draw head is
provided with the inwardly extending lugs e, having the half boxes f formed in each
half, the two forming & whole box of bearing for the cross bolt or bar upon which
is becured a hook H, extending some distance beyond the mouth of the draw-head
and provided at its outer end with the arrow shaped coupling head I.
My draw-bar consists of two vertical plates J angularly arranged in relation to
each other, and which make a substantially V-shaped mouth or 'opening, corre
sponding or neatly so with the flaring mouth of the draw-head, only smaller. The
inner edges of such plates meet, or nearly so."
K-are spring arms extending rearwardly from the upper or lower edges of said
plates above and below the draw-head and secured at their rear ends in the clips L
which are provided with the recesses M in which the ends of such spring arms
engage, a clip plate N being secured beneath this plate, and the whole bolted by
means of bolts-O to the rear end of the draw-head, which is plainly shown in
Figs. 3-and-6.
To prevent lateral displacement of this draw-bar I preferably form_notches Pins
the upper and lower edges of these springs which engage with the clip Land prevent
heir withdrawal

page_text: The spring arms K act with their tension to approach the two plates J and they
are limited in such inward movement by a tapering block Q secured to a vertical
shaft R, passing through suitable apertures in the draw-head and provided with
suitable means for actuating it from the roof and side of the car for freight cars,
and from the platform or side of the car for passenger cars,
The means which I have shown for actuating it consists of a crank i and the
links extending to each side of the car by means of which this block may be
rotated to spread the spring arms K and separate the plates J.
The operation of the device is as follows: two cars approaching each other
supplied with my improved coupler, one of the hooks H being in horizontal position,
by the engagement of the lips k of the plates J on the sides of the hook H, the
head I of such hook will impinge against the plates J on the opposite coupler
separating them owing to its wedge shape, and they will close again when the head I
has passed beyond the plates, and shoulders 1, being locked against the lips k to
prevent a disengagement of the parts.
In this position, which is shown in Fig. 4, it is evident that the two cars will be
securely coupled, and it is also evident that any angular movement required in going
around curves etc., may readily take place, the hook turning on its bearing between
the plates J, and if two sharp curves are experienced it may separate them slightly
but not sufficiently to become disengaged. It is also evident that any amount of
vertical movement required in going around curves etc., may take place without
disengaging the parts, the head I cannot pass downward beyond the lower edge of
the head, so that the jolting of the cars in travelling will have no effect in
disengaging it.
The
The draw-heads are preferably slotted, as shown at m above and below the
hook H, so that that hook may be turned up or down, as shown in Fig. 2, upon the
car, in which the coupling hook is not desired to be used to couple the cars.
operator at the side of the car can slide in the link rocking the block Q which
will separate the springs K and separate coupler jaws J a sufficient distance to allow
the head I to be freely withdrawn. As soon as the operator releases his hold, the
parts will assume the position ready for the new coupling. In case one car should
be overturned, the head I will then be arranged in line with the opening between
the coupling jaws J and be readily withdrawn without turning the adjoining car
with it in case it is derailed.
It will be seen that with my construction I overcome many of the objections to
present type of coupler; my device being entirely automatic in its coupling, and
uncoupling without requiring the operator to pass between the cars; enables me to
couple cars in which the coupler is located at different heights, or to couple_cars
upon the sharpest curves; will become readily detached in case of accident, and yet
not detachable under any of the ordinary exigencies of travel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a car-coupler, the combination with a draw head, of a draw bar secured
thereto, consisting of two vertically-disposed and oppositely-inclined plates or jaws
arranged across and free of the end of the draw-head, springs extending backward
from the plates, arranged to cause the plates to normally approach each other, and a
pivoted draw-bar arranged to be engaged and held between the plates by the springs,
substantially as described.
2. In a car coupler, the combination with a draw-head and a draw-bar secured
thereto and consisting of oppositely-inclined jaws arranged vertically across the
open end of the draw-head, of springs formed by extension of the plates for causing
said plates to approach each other, and a draw-bar pivoted on a transverse bar in
the draw-head, having an arrow-shaped coupling head, said bar being clamped
between the jaws and adapted to be turned out of coupling position, substantially as 5
described.

page_text: 3. In a car coupler, the combination of a draw-head formed of the two halves a b,
the flanges c, bolts therethrough for securing the halves together, the half bearing
in each half, the shaft in said bearings, the hook secured to said shaft, and the
spring-jaws with which said hook is adapted to couple, substantially as described.
Dated this 30th day of June 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.