An Improved Automatic Car Coupling.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 20th May, 1898
An Improved Automatic Car Coupling.
JAMES EASTWOOD, JUNK., 95, Almack Road, Lower Clapton, London, N.E.,
Commercial Traveller, 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 couplings for railway carriages and wagons and consists
of a simple form of coupling which is automatic in action when coupling up, is
simple in construction, and can be produced at a low first cost.
It can be constructed with considerable variation in details without departing
from the spirit of my invention. The accompanying drawings illustrate simple
and efficient form of my invention.
Fig. 1 is a plan of the apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation."
Fig. 3 is an end elevation.
Figs. 4, 5, 6 are detail views of a modification.
A indicates a trunk or case the end a of which is fixed rigidly to the end of a
carriage or wagon. B is a box capable of sliding backwards or forwards in the
free end of the trunk or case A against the action of a helical or other spring C.
It is prevented from sliding completely out of the trunk or case A by flanges or
stops b which form part of the box B. The box B has a slot b¹ formed on its
upper side and a corresponding slot or hole on its lower side. In these slots or
holes a plate D is loosely fitted so as to be capable of vertically sliding up and
down the distance of this slide being limited by a flange d at top and by nuts d'
or their equivalents at bottom. The plate D is formed with a groove slot, or
notch d² shewn in Fig. 3 cut through the greater portion of its length for the
purpose hereinafter to be described.
To the opposite and adjacent end of the next wagon is rigidly fitted a hook or
bar E the end e of which is enlarged to form a catch of such size that it is capable
of entering the slot, groove, or notch in the sliding plate D), the end e of the
hook is tapered so that its upper surface forms an inclined plane and
the hook E and the trunk or case A being fitted to their respective
wagons at corresponding heighths, it follows that when the hook E
enters the slot or groove that the inclined plane engages the upper
end of the notch d, and lifts the plate D high enough to allow the head e of the
hook E to pass beyond the plate D thus leaving the latter free to drop behind the
vertical face of the end e. By this means the hook and the trunk or case are
held together and consequently the carriages to which they are affixed are safely
coupled.
When it is required to uncouple the carriages it is necessary only to lift the
plate D sufficiently high to allow the hook head e to be withdrawn. To enable
this to be done conveniently a chain has its one end fastened to the upper end
of the plate D while its other end is attached to an arm de projecting from a rail d
Do77

page_text: which is affixed to the end of the carriage or wagon in such manner that it can
be lifted by depressing either end ds of the rail d³.
The spring C serves to prevent or minimise concussion when the wagons are
brought together but it can be dispensed with when desirable, in that case the
box B being fastened to the end of the wagon or carriage.
$
In some cases the jolting of the carriages causes the plate D to jerk upwards,
in some cases lifting to such an extent as to release the hook E.
In order to prevent this I, in some cases form a notch e in the vertical face of
the hook end e, a corresponding projection d is formed upon the plate D and
when this latter falls to its coupled position the projection enters the notch e²
and prevents the plate rising.
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 car coupling in which a hook fixed to the end of one carriage or wagon,
enters a sliding plate attached to adjacent end of the next carriage or wagon in
such manner as to first raise it and then allow it to drop behind the hook end, and
engage the hook, thus coupling the wagons together, substantially as described
and shewn.
2. In a car coupling the combination of the box B, the sliding plate D, having a
groove d³, and the hook E, having an enlarged end e, substantially as described
and shewn.
3. In a car coupling the combination of the trunk or case A, the box B the
sliding plate D, having a groove and the hook E, having an enlarged end e
substantially as described and shewn.
4. In a car coupling the combination of the trunk or case A the box B, the
sliding plate D, having a groove ², the hook E, having an enlarged end e, and
means for lifting the plate D, substantially as shewn and described.
5. For use in a car coupling substantially as herein before described and shewn,
the hook E having a notch e² and a sliding plate D, having a corresponding
projection d, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 26th day of January 1898.