Improvements in Coupling Arrangements for Railway Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coupling Arrangements for Railway Vehicles.
We, EVAN MILLS, Cabinet Maker, of Great Oak Street, Llanidloes, in the County
of Montgomery, GEORGE DAVIS, Merchant, of North Road, and JOHN FREDERICK
JONES, Solicitor, of Loveden Road, both of Aberystwyth, in the County of Car-
digan, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention relates to improvements in coupling arrangements for railway
carriages, trucks and like vehicles, the object being to obviate the necessity for
the person coupling the vehicle having to pass between the buffers or stand
between the vehicles which are to be coupled.
In carrying our invention into effect we employ the same system of draw bars
as at present in use and we utilize the ordinary form of chain or coupling links
with modification in the form or attachment of the end link only in order to
minimise the alterations required to fit existing vehicles with our improved
apparatus.
We arrange a way shaft or motion shaft beneath the end of the vehicle pro-
viding suitable bearings for the same to turn in and we mount the bearings in
such a manner that the shaft is free to rotate when turned by a handle on either
side of the vehicle and it is also free to be drawn along by the same handle or
lever, suitable collars or stops being provided upon the shaft to determine the
length of travel which can be made. We provide manipulating handles or levers
on each end of the shaft so that the same can be controlled from either side of
the vehicle, the handles being mounted loosely upon the shaft in order that the
shaft itself may rotate without carrying the handle with it when one handle
only is held by the porter or person manipulating the coupling apparatus.
provide for this free movement of the coupling lever in one simple manner by
mounting a fixed collar, shoulder, or horn upon the shaft against which we cause
a projection upon the boss of the lever to press when it is turned a sufficient extent,
and thus by contact to cause the lever to turn round the shaft without turning the
lever upon the opposite end.
We
Upon the centre of the motion or way shaft we provide a horn like projection
or projections, having moving links connected to the same, the ends of which lift
up when moved in the upward direction other links or plates into which the end
or free coupling link of the chain which is attached to the ordinary draw bar
hook engages by means of side pins or snugs which enter into suitable slots formed
in each of the side arms of the link plate.
We form the link plates with a snug like end so that when the motion shaft
is moved in one direction the link plates are raised up as one piece, and when
turned in the other direction to depress the plate the horn of the link plate may
fold somewhat in the manner of the ordinary rule joint. By this arrangement
of jointing when the manipulating lever on either side of the vehicle is turned the
link plate raises upwards the free end of the link which is attached to it until it
is in a position above the draw bar hook on the other vehicle to which it is to be

page_text: attached. The motion shaft is then pushed or drawn along until the link is imme-
diately over the hook, when it is depressed until it comes in contact with the same,
and the link plate is allowed to slide along the projecting snugs or guide pins
formed on the end of the link by reason of the slot cutting each of the link plates.
When it is desired to disconnect or uncouple the chain from the hook the lever
on either side is turned, and the rule joint like connection of the link with the
jaw or arm projection upon the motion shaft is straightened and the coupling
chain is readily lifted out of contact with the draw bar hook when the motion
shaft is pulled along until the link is clear of the hook and may then be depressed
and thus the vehicle disconnected.
We do not limit the application of our invention to any particular form of
motion shaft or to any special type of bearing or peculiar arrangement of lever
and cam for manipulating the motion shaft, but we modify the form of the
lever, sometimes making it fixed on the shaft and dispensing with the horn like
projection which engages with it; and we vary the method of attaching the links
to the shaft to suit the type of vehicle or the form of wagon to which our apparatus
is to be applied.
Improvements in Coupling Arrangements for Railway Vehicles.
We, EVAN MILLS, Cabinet Maker, of Great Oak Street, Llanidloes, in the County
of Montgomery, GEORGE DAVIS, Merchant, of North Road, and JOHN FREDERICK
JONES, Solicitor, of Loveden Road, both of Aberystwyth, in the County of Car-
digan, 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 improvements in coupling arrangements for railway
carriages, trucks and like vehicles, the object being to obviate the necessity for
the person coupling the vehicle having to pass between the buffers or stand between
vehicles which are to be coupled.
In carrying our invention into effect we employ the same system of draw bars
as at present in use and we utilise the ordinary form of chain or coupling links
with modification in the form or attachment of the end link only in order to
minimise the alterations required to fit existing vehicles with our improved
apparatus.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings,
Figure 1 represents in side elevation parts of two railway vehicles with buffers
in contact, my improved coupling arrangement, shown in the uncoupled position,
being applied to one of the vehicles.
Figure 2 represents the same vehicles, the buffers being omitted for clearness
of drawing, with the improved coupling arrangement shown on the point of being
coupled.
Figure 3 represents the same parts as those shown in Figure 2, the coupling
arrangement being in this case in the coupled position.
Figure 4 represents in end elevation corresponding to Figure 1 part of a rail-
way vehicle, showing the coupling arrangement in its uncoupled position.

page_text: Figures 5 and 6 are respectively plan and side elevation which I employ to raise
the links of one chain into engagement with the hook, part of the way shaft for
operating the arrangement being shown.
Figures 7 and 8 are respectively end and side elevations of the hand lever by
means of which I turn the way shaft, showing the method of attachment to the
shaft.
Figures 9 and 10 are respectively plan and cross section of the last or engaging
link of the chain, showing the projecting pins by which the link is lifted into
engagement with its hook.
We arrange a way shaft or motion shaft beneath the end of the vehicle pro-
viding suitable bearings for the same to turn in and we mount the bearings in
such a manner that the shaft is free to rotate when turned by a handle E on either
side of the vehicle and it is also free to be drawn along by the same handle or
lever, suitable collars or stops d being provided upon the shaft to determine the
length of travel which can be made. We provide manipulating handles or
levers E on each end of the shaft so that the same can be controlled from either
side of the vehicle, the handles being mounted loosely upon the shaft in order
that the shaft itself may rotate without carrying the handle with it when one
handle only is held by the porter or person manipulating the coupling apparatus.
We provide for this free movement of the coupling lever in one simple manner
by mounting a fixed collar, shoulder or horn, Ff upon the shaft against which
horn we cause a projection e upon the boss of the lever to press when it is turned
a sufficient extent, and thus by contact to cause the lever to give a rotary move-
ment to the shaft without the lever being turned or moved upon the opposite end.
Upon the centre of the motion or way shaft C we provide a boss G₁ having link
like side arms G attached thereto the ends of which being recessed carry upwards
other links or plates H into which the end or free coupling link B₁ of the draw
chain engages by means of side pins or snugs b which enter into suitable slots h
formed in each of the side arms H of the link carrier G, H.
We sometimes form the link plates H with a snug like end or with a rectangular
locking surface so that when the motion shaft C is moved in one direction the
link plates H are raised up as one piece with the arm G as in Figure 2, and when
turned in the other direction after the coupling has been effected as in Figure 3
the link plate H moves upon the bolt L as a pivot away from locking contact with
the arms G. By this arrangement of jointing when the manipulating lever on
either side of the vehicle is turned the link plates raises upwards the free end
of the link which is attached to it as shown in Figures 1 and 2 until it is in a
position above the draw bar hook on the other vehicle 'to which it is. to be attached.
The motion shaft C is then pushed or drawn along until the link is immediately
over the hook, when it is depressed until it comes in contact with the same, and
the link plate is allowed to slide along the projecting snugs or guide pins b formed
on the end of the link by means of the slot cutting hin each of the link plates.
When it is desired to disconnect or uncouple the chain from the 'hook the lever
on either side is turned and the butting joint like connection of the link hª with
the surface of the jaw or arm is straightened or brought into contact as shown in
Figure 6, and the coupling chain can then be lifted out of contact with the drawn
bar hook and the motion shaft is then pulled along in its bearing until the coupling
link is clear of the hook when it becomes free to be depressed and thus the vehicle
disconnected or uncoupled.
We sometimes make the guide pins on the coupling link as detachable collar
pins instead of forming them in one with the links. The handles or manipulating
levers may be secured in position by ordinary catches or other ordinary fastenings
when so desired to prevent accidental derangement of the parts when the vehicle
is travelling.
We do not limit the application of our invention to any particular form of
motion shaft or to any special type of bearing or peculiar arrangement of lever
and cam for manipulating the motion shaft or raising the links, but we modify

page_text: the form of the lever and its connection, and the method of attaching the links
to the shaft to suit the type of vehicle or the form of wagon to which our apparatus
is to be applied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The improvements in coupling links for use upon railway and like vehicles,
substantially as herein before described and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
2. In couplings for railway and like vehicles the use of a manipulating shaft
to which is attached by means of jointed levers and other connections the links
of the coupling chain, and constructed and arranged in such a manner that the
links may be raised above the connecting hook and then along to a position in
which they will be free to fall or to be depressed out of contact with the hook,
substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
3. In chain couplings for use upon railway or like vehicles the arrangement
of a shaft or spindle upon the vehicle which is free to be moved in a rotary and
in a longitudinal direction for the purpose of raising and transversing the links
to and from the coupling hook, substantially as hereinbefore described and as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of August 1898.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.