Improvements in Automatic Couplings for Railway Waggons and like Vehicles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Aug., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 29th June, 1896-Accepted, 8th Aug., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Couplings for Railway Waggons and
like Vehicles.
I, ARTHUR RUSHFORTH, of 51 Hanover Square, Bradford, in the County of
York, Timber Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in the method of and apparatus
for coupling railway waggons and like vehicles and has for its object the automatic
coupling of such vehicles upon the same coming in contact with each other without
necessitating an attendant passing between or underneath same as is the case with
couplings of the ordinary description thereby minimising the danger of accident
and effecting a saving of labour.
I accomplish my object in the following manner. The draw bar hooks are
passed through the head stock and coupled to what is known as the "spring
buckle" somewhat in the ordinary manner, sufficient play being left in the head
stock as will allow of lateral movement of the draw hook. I form the draw hook
somewhat as hitherto, but with the hook proper at such an angle that when two
waggons are buffered together, the books come in contact with each other, and
overcoming the pressure of a spring suitably mounted, they automatically engage
with each other and thereby effectually couple the waggons.
In order to uncouple the waggons I connect to each draw hook, a lever mounted
in a suitable manner and passing to the outside of the waggons and by the
operation of said levers the action of the before-mentioned springs is overcome and
the hooks disconnected.
I may accomplish my object by forming the draw bar and hook in two parts
and mounting the latter to the bar by a pin as fulcrum and connecting therewith a
spring in such a manuer that when the waggons are in the act of "buffering" the
hooks come in contact with each other and overcome the action of the respective
springs when the hooks are permitted to pass each other and immediately they
are clear the before mentioned springs being liberated operate the hooks in such
a manner that they automatically engage with each other thereby effectually
coupling the waggons.
Dated this 26th day of August 1895.
JOHN WAUGH,
Agent.
Improvements in Automatic Couplings for Railway Waggons and
like Vehicles.
1, ARTHUR RUSHFORTH, of 51, Hanover Square, Bradford, in the County of
York, Timber 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 statement:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in the method of and apparatus
| Pminn 071

page_text: for coupling railway waggons and like vehicles, and has for its object, the
automatic coupling of such vehicles upon the same coming in contact with each
other, without the necessity of an attendant passing between or underneath the
waggons as is the case with couplings of the ordinary description, thereby
minimising the danger of accident and effecting a saving of labour.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will describe the same in
detail by making reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 represents a plan view of portions of two railway waggons with my
improved coupling applied thereto, the two waggons being in a coupled position.
Fig. 2 is an elevation of same with a portion of head posts and buffers removed
for purpose of better illustration.
Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the two waggons uncoupled.
Fig. 4 is an end view of a waggon with my improvement attached, and
Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged details.
The waggon or the like is of the ordinary description, and my invention to be
mounted thereto requires no alteration to the vehicle whatever.
The draw bar hook A, is mounted in a jaw B, by means of a fulcrum pin C, the
extension rod B¹, of jaw B, passes through the head stock D, and is connected to
what is known as the "spring buckle," in exactly the same manner as the ordinary
draw bar hook at present in use. To the draw bar hook A, I mount a link or the
like E, connected by a pin at F, to one end of a rod G, the opposite end of the
said rod is connected to a bell crank lever H, mounted on a bracket J, secured to
the head stock D, the said bell crank lever H, is provided with a counter balance
weight W. The ends of the said draw bar hooks A, are formed at an angle so
that they slide past each other upon the waggons being buffered together, and are
moved in the direction of the respective curved arrows, thereby raising the
weights W, and as soon as the ends of the hooks A, are clear of each other, the
action of the weights W, cause the hooks to return to their normal position and
automatically engage with each other, thereby effectually coupling the waggons
without the aid of an attendant.
In order to uncouple the waggons, the huffers are brought together, and on
raising the bell crank lever H, at X, the link E, and rod G, are operated, causing
the draw bar hook A, to move in the direction of the before mentioned curved
arrow clear of the other draw bar hook, thereby uncoupling the waggons.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
1. A railway waggon or other vehicle with which is combined draw bar hooks
and other mechanism, arranged substantially in the manner and for the purpose as
hereinbefore described.
2. Draw bars having hooks A, at an inclined angle to the vertical, mounted in
jans and retained in their normal position by means of levers and weights, arranged
substantially in the manner and for the purpose as herein before described.
Dated this 27th day of June 1896.
JOHN WAUGH,
Agent.