Improved Coupling Apparatus ay
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 17th June, 1898
4000 Accented 22nd Anr 1800
Improved Coupling Apparatus ay
I. FRIEDRICH GRAFF, of No. 89, Breitestrasse, Witten on the Ruhr, Germany,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved construction of that kind of coupling
apparatus for railway vehicles in which the coupling and uncoupling is effected
from the side of the vehicle.
The improved construction possesses in addition to its great simplicity the
advantage that it can be used together with the ordinary couplings at present
in use. The main feature of the coupling consists in that the draw bar has pivoted
to its end both a hook and a loop or shackle side by side, both turning in a
vertical plane, and which are held below by supports, of which the one for the
hook is carried by a hollow shaft that can be shifted longitudinally while the
support for the shackle is fixed to a solid shaft passing through the hollow shaft.
Both of these shafts are provided at the side of the vehicle with suitable appliances
for actuating them.
I will describe the improved coupling apparatus with reference to the accom-
panying drawings. Figure 1 shews a plan of the coupling apparatus of two
adjacent vehicles in the engaged position. Figure 2 shews a side view of the
right-hand pair of couplings. Figure 3 shews the lefthand pair of couplings.
Figures 4 to 7 shew details.
bb are the coupling hooks turning in a vertical plane, and dd are the loops
or shackles to be coupled therewith, which in the construction shewn consist of
two parts connected together by a hinge-joint, these parts being however so
arranged that the loops themselves cannot move downward beyond the arms when
holding them in the horizontal position, while they are free to move in the upward
direction, so that the two parts of each shackle can assume angular positions such
as are shewn by way of example at Figures 2 and 3.
P
The parts b and situated side by side-are carried by one and the same draw
bar o which has in addition a rigid hook p with which can be engaged an ordinary
coupling chain. Each draw bar o is coupled by the lateral branches of the hook
(Figure 7) with two guide bars 7 which are acted upon in the known manner by
helical springs s. At a point between these guide bars the draw bar o is
divided into two parts, the ends of these parts being formed respectively, with a
right and a left handed screw thread, and screwing into a tightening yoke i
Figures 1 and 2, so that by turning this yoke in one direction or the other the
parts of the draw-bar are either drawn together or moved further apart; thus
in the first case if the coupling hook is engaged with the coupling chain or loop
of the next vehicle, the coupling will be tightened up, and in the second case it
will be loosened, so as to be capable of disengagement.
For effecting such turning of the tightening yoke from the side of the vehicle,
it has combined with it a worm wheel & Figures 1, 2, and 6 in such manner that
the wheel carries the yoke round with it but the yoke can slide longitudinally
With the
through the wheel, which is stationary in the direction of its axis.

page_text: worm wheel is engaged a worm m fixed on a shaft extending to either side of
the vehicle and provided with hand levers n outside, by means of which the shaft
can be turned so as to effect the rotation of the worm and worm wheel, and conse-
quently of the adjusting yoke, in one direction or the other.
The hook and the shackle d are held in the normal position by supporting
arms Figure 3 and g Figures 2, 4, and 5.
The support e serves for holding the hook b, and the support g for holding
the shackle d. The support el is fixed on a tubular shaft c that passes under-
neath the buffers, and contains a solid shaft
Near the hook 6 the tubular shaft e is provided with a lateral slot e, Figure 4,
through which the support g¹ fixed on the shaft g projects, the slot e being of
sech length that the hollow shaft e can be shifted relatively to shaft g to such
an extent that the support e! is brought from under the hook b, so that this loses
its support, and can consequently swing downwards.
This action is effected in all cases where a coupling of the above described
improved construction to be connected to a coupling of the existing kind.
If both vehicles are provided with the improved coupling, the hooks b can be
maintained in their horizontal position.
This is however a case that will not occur for sonre considerable time, as for
some time to come only a portion of the rolling stock will have the new coupling.
For actuating the shafts e and from the sides of the vehicle they are provided
with hand levers f and the levers serving to raise and lower the support g¹
while the levers f serve both for raising and lowering the support el and for
moving the shaft e longitudinally. In order that during the normal position of
the support e, no unintentional longitudinal motion of the shaft e may occur,
at least one of the levers f is provided with a projection f, Figure 2, which
engages behind a beak w¹ on a fixed bracket w, Figures 1 and 2. As long as the
lever is in the position at Figure 2, the hook will be held by the support e
and no longitudinal motion of the shaft e can take place. When it is required
to move it longitudinally, the attendant first turns the lever f which happens to
be on his side, so that the engagement of the parts f¹ and w¹ is released, and the
hollow shaft c is then shifted longitudinally so that the support e¹ is removed
from the hook b and thus in losing its support can drop down.
The coupling up of the parts is effected as follows.
The uncoupled shackle d, being in the hanging down position, is raised by
means of the support g', whose shaft g is turned by lever, such raising being
effected above the horizontal position; in this motion it also raises the hook b
projecting horizontally over it, as indicated in dotted lines at Figure 3. The rais-
ing of dis continued until the hook 6 is free of it, and can again fall back on to
the support e, whereupon, the shackle d is lowered again until it engages with
the hook . The same operation is then also carried out with the shackle d of
the other vehicle, so that both hooks and shackles of the coupling are engaged,
after which the tightening yokes i are screwed up in the above described manner
so that both sets of hooks and shackles are now tightly coupled up.
For uncoupling the operation is carried out in the reverse manner.
Dated this 141
T
1000
ppanaway venicies.
I, FRIEDRICH GRAFF, of No. 89, Breitestrasse, Witten on the Ruhr, Germany,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner

page_text: the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
This invention relates to an improved construction of that kind of coupling
apparatus for railway vehicles in which the coupling and uncoupling is effected
from the side of the vehicle.
The improved construction possesses in addition to its great simplicity the
advantage that it can be used together with the ordinary couplings at present
in use.
The main feature of the coupling consists in that the draw bar has pivoted
to its end both a hook and a loop or shackle side by side both turning in a
vertical plane and which are held below by supports, of which the one for the
hook is carried by a hollow shaft that can be shifted longitudinally while the
support for the shackle is fixed to a solid shaft passing through the hollow shaft.
Both of these shafts are provided at the side of the vehicle with suitable appliances
for actuating them.
I will describe the improved coupling apparatus with reference to the drawings
accompanying my Provisional Specification: Figure 1 shews a plan of the coupling
apparatus of two adjacent vehicles in the engaged position. Figure 2 shews a
side view of the right hand pair of couplings. Figure 3 shews the left hand pair
of couplings. Figures 4 to 7 shew details.
bb are the coupling hooks turning in a vertical plane and dd are the loops
or shackles to be coupled therewith which in the construction shewn consist of
two parts connected together by a hinge-joint, these parts being however so
arranged that the loops themselves cannot move downward beyond the arms when
holding them in the horizontal position while they are free to move in the upward
direction, so that the two parts of each shackle can assume angular positions such
as are shewn by way of example at Figures 2 and 3.
P
The parts band & situated side by side are carried by one and the same draw
bar o which has in addition a rigid hook p with which can be engaged an ordinary
coupling chain. Each draw bar o is coupled by the lateral branches of the hook
(Figure 7) with two guide bars which are acted upon in the known manner by
helical springs s. At a point between these guide bars the draw bar o is
divided into two parts, the ends of these parts being formed respectively with a
right and a left handed screw thread and screwing into a tightening yoke
Figures 1 and 2, so that by turning this yoke in one direction or the other the
parts of the draw-bar are either drawn together or moved further apart; thus
in the first case if the coupling hook is engaged with the coupling chain or loop
of the next vehicle, the coupling will be tightened up, and in the second case it
will be loosened, so as to be capable of disengagement.
For effecting such turning of the tightening yoke from the side of the vehicle
it has combined with it a worm wheel k Figures 1, 2, and 6 in such manner that
the wheel carries the yoke round with it but the yoke can slide longitudinally
through the wheel, which is stationary in the direction of its axis.
With the
worn wheel is engaged a worm m fixed on a shaft / extending to either side of
the vehicle and provided with hand levers n outside, by means of which the shaft
can be turned so as to effect the rotation of the worm and worm wheel and conse-
quently of the adjusting yoke in one direction or the other.
The hook and the shackle d are held in the normal position by supporting
arms e Figure 3 and 9 Figures 2, 4 and 5.
The support e serves for holding the hook b, and the support gl for holding
the shackle d. The support el is fixed on a tubular shaft e that passes under-
neath the buffers and contains a solid shaft g.
Near the hook the tubular shaft e is provided with a lateral slot & Figuro 4,
through which the support g¹ fixed on the shaft 9 projects, the slot e being of
such length that the hollow shaft e can be shifted relatively to shaft g to such
an extent that the support e¹ is brought from under the hook 6 so that this loses
its support, and can consequently swing downwards.

page_text: This action is effected in all cases where a coupling of the above described
improved construction is to be connected to a coupling of the existing kind.
If both vehicles are provided with the improved coupling the hooks b cán be
maintained in their horizontal position.
This is however a case that will not occur for some considerable time, as for
some time to come only a portion of the rolling stock will have the new coupling.
For actuating the shafts e and g from the sides of the vehicle they are provided
with hand levers f and h the levers serving to raise and lower the support g
while the levers f serve both for raising and lowering the support c¹ and for
moving the shaft e longitudinally. In order that during the normal position of
the support e no unintentional longitudinal motion of the shaft c may occur,
at least one of the levers f is provided with a projection f Figure 2, which
engages behind a beak w¹ on a fixed bracket w Figures 1 and 2. As long as the
lever is in the position at Figure 2, the hook b will be held by the support c¹
and no longitudinal motion of the shaft c can take place. When it is required
to move it longitudinally, the attendant first turns the lever f which happens to
be on his side, so that the engagement of the parts f¹ and w¹ is released and the
hollow shaft is then shifted longitudinally so that the support el is removed
from the hook and thus in losing its support can drop down.
The coupling up of the parts is effected as follows.
The uncoupled shackle d, being in the hanging down position, is raised by
means of the support g', whose shaft g is turned by lever h, such raising being
effected above the horizontal position, in this motion it also raises the hook b
projecting horizontally over it, as indicated in dotted lines at Figure 3. The rais-
ing of d is continued until the hook is free of it, and can again fall back on to
the support el whereupon the shackle d is lowered again until it engages with
the hook b. The same operation is then also carried out with the shackle d of
the other vehicle, so that both hooks and shackles of the coupling are engaged
after which the tightening yokes i are screwed up in the above described manner
so that both sets of hooks and shackles are now tightly coupled up.
For uncoupling the operation is carried out in the reverse manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In coupling apparatus for railway carriages wherein the coupling is effected
from the side of the carriage by means of transverse shafts, providing the draw-
bar with an upward swinging hook and with an upward swinging shackle arranged
side by side, such hook and shackle being supported from below by arms fixed
to the transverse shafts the parts being so arranged that the raising of the shackle
of the one draw bar by its support also effects the raising of the hook of the
opposite draw bar, substantially as described.
2. In coupling apparatus for railway carriages wherein the coupling is effected
from the side of the carriage the combination with the draw bar of a pivoted
hook and a pivoted shackle arranged side by side and so arranged that for effect-
ing the engagement of the shackle with the pivoted hook of the opposite draw
bar such hook is first raised up by the said shackle until this rises up beyond the
hook whereupon the latter falls back into its original horizontal position so that
the shackle becomes engaged therewith, on being lowered, substantially as
described.
3. In railway coupling apparatus wherein the coupling is effected from the side
of the carriage, the combination with the draw bar of a pivoted hook and a
pivoted shackle arranged side by side, the hook being supported in the horizontal
coupling position by means of a supporting arm c¹ on a longitudinally moveable
transverse shaft c which can either be shifted so as to remove the arm e¹ from
the hook so that this can swing downwards, or be locked in the position for
supporting the hook, while the shackle can be actuated by means of an arm g

page_text: on a shaft g so as either to engage with the hook on the opposite drawbar, or to
be uncoupled therefrom when the hook has to be deprived of its support by the
shifting of the bar e, substantially as described.
4. In a railway carriage coupling the combination with a pivoted coupling hook
of a supporting arm so arranged as to be locked in the position for supporting the
hook when this is to be coupled with the shackle of the contiguous carriage and
to be freed from such locked position when the hook is required to swing down-
wards on uncoupling, substantially as described.
D
1911 1
1000
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.