An Improvement in the Method of or means for Coupling and Uncoupling Railway Wagons and similar Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 19th May, 1900-Accepted, 14th July, 1900
An Improvement in the Method of or means for Coupling and
Uncoupling Railway Wagons and similar Vehicles.
ARTHUR CAWTHORNE, General Dealer, High Street, Ferrybridge, Yorkshire,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
""
"
For the purpose of coupling & uncoupling railway wagons, or other vehicles,
& obviating the necessity of the operator going between the wagons, & is applicable
to the existing method of chain connections. A frame," consisting of two
arms or flat bars, with one or more cross pieces fixed transversely on them, &
with elevations on the outer sides & a space between the inner sides to regulate
the position & movements of the coupling chain, is attached to a cross shaft, or
axle which is fixed across or under each end of the wagon or vehicle & fitted
through bearings, the ends of the shaft reaching to the outer sides of the vehicle
Ine
where a lever or handle is attached to them.
frame" in its normal posi-
tion is behind, & in close proximity to, the uncoupled chain of the same vehicle,
& is so arranged, that by working the handle or lever the frame is raised carrying
with it, in the process of elevation the chain to be coupled on the opposite vehicle.
When the " frame & chain are in a position over the hook which is to receive the
coupling link the handle or lever is released & the link will fall readily on the
hook, while the "frame," which has a sufficient space between the ends to clear
the hook-,will fall to its normal position; the "chain can be readily uncoupled, .
by raising the "frame" which will lift the chain of the hook. This invention
may be made in iron, steel, or other suitable material.
Dated 18th day of August 1899 ·
32
An Improvement in the Method of or means for Coupling and
Uncoupling Railway Wagons and similar Vehicles.
I, ARTHUR CAWTHORNE, of High Street, Ferrybridge, via Normanton, in the
County of York, General Dealer, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to enable the operator to couple and uncouple
railway wagons and similar vehicles, without having to go between the wagons,
or to carry an implement for the purpose; and is intended to be used with present
systems of chain couplings, such for example as Gedges" or similar couplings.
The invention consists of a frame formed of two arms or flat bars, with one or
more cross pieces fixed transversely beneath them, and with elevations on the outer
"

page_text: sides and arranged to leave a space between them: the cross piece, elevations and
space serving to regulate the position and movements of the coupling chain. The
frame is attached to a cross shaft, which is placed across in front of or beneath
the buffer beam of the wagon, and which is carried in bearings secured to the
buffer beam or end of the wagon. The cross shaft reaches on both sides to the end of
the buffer beam or outer sides of the wagon, and each end of the shaft is provided
with a hand lever or handle to enable the shaft to be partially rotated, thereby
'moving the above mentioned frame, so as to raise or lower it.
The frame in its normal or inoperative position hangs vertically downward,
just behind and close to the depending uncoupled coupling chain; so that by
moving the hand lever and rotating the cross shaft, the frame is moved forward
and upwards in a radial manner, carrying with it the process of elevation, the chain
to be coupled to the coupling hook on the adjoining vehicle.
When the frame and chain are raised sufficiently high, so that the end or
coupling link is above the level of the draw hook of the other wagon to be
coupled to the first, this other wagon is moved up to the first; and immediately
the coupling hook comes beneath the coupling link, the hand lever is released,
allowing the coupling link to drop over the hook, and the frame to fall back to
its original vertical position.
The space between the arms or flat bars of the frame is sufficient to clear the
hooks, and to receive the coupling link presented edgewise to the frame, whilst
being too narrow to pass the links presented flat wise to the frame. The space
between the elevations on the outer edges of the arms or flat bars is however
sufficient to admit the coupling link presented flat wise to it.
The position of the cross piece between the arms is such as to clear the draw
hook on the same wagon.
The chain can be readily uncoupled by repeating the operation of raising the
frame, so as to lift the coupling link off the hook.
And in order that my invention and the manner in which the same is to be
performed may be more readily and clearly understood, I have annexed hereto the
accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention as applied to the end of a rail-
way wagon fitted with " Gedges' coupling hook and chains.
In these Fig. 1 is an elevation of the apparatus looking towards the end of the
wagon, the frame and coupling link being shewn in the vertical position.
Fig. 2 is a cross section on line A A of Fig. 1, the frame and coupling link
being shewn in the process of being raised.
Fig. 3 is a plan, and Fig. 4 an end elevation to a larger scale of the frame.
a a indicate the arms or flat bars of the frame, which over one half their length
are provided with the elevations or ribs bb on their outer edges or sides.
e is a cross piece, placed beneath and securing the two arms aa at the proper
distance apart.
d is the cross shaft, to which the frame is secured, and which is carried by
bearings e fixed to the underside of the buffer beam f. 99 are hand levers,
secured to the ends of the cross shaft d.
h is the coupling hook formed on the end of the draw bar i, and m₁, mą, and M3,
are the links of the coupling chain.
"
The width n between the inner edges of the arms or flat bars a a Fig. 3 is
slightly greater than the diameter of the bar out of which the links are formed;
so that, it will admit the link my, which is presented to it edge wise, as shewn by
Figs. 1 and 2: whilst the width o Fig. 3, between the inner edges of the eleva-
tions is sufficient to admit the link m, which is presented flatwise to the
frame.
As indicated in Fig. 2, the position of the cross piece c is such as to catch, when
the frame is sufficiently raised, against the end of the link m₂, and thereby lessen
any tendency of the links m and m, to fall back, when the frame is tilted up
above the horizontal for the purpose of allowing the hook of the adjoining vehicle
to pass beneath the coupling link m..
.

page_text: The cross piece however is not absolutely necessary; and may be dispensed
with, if the arms are secured in a sufficiently rigid manner to the cross shaft.
Sufficient space is left between each of the bosses of the hand levers g and the
boss on one of the arms a and the adjoining bearing e, to permit of the cross
shaft d being moved longitudinally in its bearings, and thereby the move the frame
laterally, as may be necessary to enable the wagons to be coupled whilst on a curve.
The space between the bosses at the ends of the arms and the parts of the
arms close to the bosses is made wide enough to clear the draw bar hook.
I am aware that hinged frames rotated by hand levers on the end of a cross
shaft have previously been used or proposed to be used for lifting the three link
coupling chain, and I do not therefore claim such broadly; but
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. Apparatus for coupling and uncoupling railway wagons and similar vehicles
consisting of a cross shaft, and frame attached thereto; the frame being formed
of two arms or flat bars having a space between them and with elevations on their
outer edges over about one half their length and a cross piece, all arranged
and operated substantially as herein set forth and illustrated.
2. Apparatus for coupling and uncoupling railway wagons and similar vehicles
consisting of a pair of hinged or rotable arms having a space between them and
with elevations on their outer edges over about one half their length all arranged
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and illustrated.
3. The method of coupling and uncoupling railway wagons and similar vehicles
consisting; for coupling the vehicles, in raising the coupling chain of the one
vehicle by means of a hinged or rotable frame constructed as hereinbefore
described so as to support the chain both laterally and longitudinally; until the
end or coupling-link is thrown forward immediately above the position to be
occupied by the coupling hook of the other vehicle, when this latter has been
moved up to the first, and when this has taken place lowering the frame so as
to drop the coupling link over the hook; and for the purpose of uncoupling,
raising the frame and chain, and then, when the wagons have been moved apart,
releasing or lowering the frame and chain substantially as herein set forth.
Dated this 18th day of Mo 1000
J. CLARK JEFFERSON,
30, Park Row, Leeds, Agent for Applicant.