IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Fenwick of Gateshead on Tyne in the County
of Durham, Engineer for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Fenwick at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th September 1882.
GEORGE FENWICK of Gateshead-on-Tyne in the County of Durham, Engineer
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING
RAILWAY TRUCKS, CARRIAGES, OR WAGONS.
My invention relates to certain mechanical apparatus or appliances by which
railway trucks, wagons or other vehicles can be coupled & uncoupled without the
danger to accidents incidental to the present modes of coupling and uncoupling, the
apparatus being at the same time simple in its construction, unfailing in its action
in any circumstances, applicable to existing trucks wagons or other vehicles of any
type and inexpensive in first cost and in maintenance.
The apparatus consists of a weigh bar supported in brackets on each end of the
truck or wagon carrying two hanging arms curved backward at their lower ends, in
the eyes of which is suspended a weigh-bar having keyed upon it a boss carrying a
pair of arms the lower ends of which are united and form a lifting shoe to receive the
end link of the coupling chain which is prevented from slipping when raised to an
angle by shoulders or projections, at the upper end of the shoe where also a loop
bridge may be formed to connect the forks.
The weighbar upon which the shoe piece arms are keyed, works freely in the
lower ends of the hanging arms and has keyed or otherwise fixed upon each end of
it, outside the frames of the truck, a hand lever.
The action of the apparatus is as follows: When coupling is to be performed the
man taking hold of the hand lever on the side next him, draws forward the suspended
weigh-bar carrying the lifting shoe which engages the end link (the intermediate
link falling into the open space) and by a simultaneous (or immediately following)
Derr

page_text: movement turns the lever upward thus raising the shoe with the end link on it till
the loop of forward end is placed over the crook and into socket of coupling hook
on the next truck when the hand lever being released the shoe falls back into its
hanging position. In uncoupling the reverse action takes place the weigh-bar being
drawn forward and turned by the hand lever until the shoe engages with the end
link as it rests in the hook when by further turning the weigh bar it lifts the link
out of its seat and clear of the crook and brings it down into its hanging position.
The operations of coupling or uncoupling can be performed with ease and
certainty in any position of the trucks either with full open or closed up buffers or
when standing on a curve, the position of the suspended weighbar carrying the
lifting shoe and the revolving action of the shoe round the weigh bar producing
together the effect of lengthening or shortening the coupling gear. Coupling or
uncoupling can be safely done, under conditions where lines of trucks standing or
shunting" on adjoining lines of sidings, make it difficult and dangerous to use a
pole. The operations can be performed without difficulty in the dark, as the shoe
invariably engages the end link either to lift it on to or off the hook and when once
engaged it is not possible for the link to slip.
"
The whole of the gear is easily fitted to any class of trucks or wagons and is so
situated as neither to interfere with the space between two trucks nor to be exposed
to damage, and the gear can be adapted to suit any of the existing coupling chains
now in use.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Fenwick in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
March 1883.
GEORGE FENWICK of Gateshead on Tyne in the County of Durham Engineer
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING
RAILWAY TRUCKS CARRIAGES OR WAGONS
My invention relates to certain mechanical apparatus or appliances by which
railway trucks wagons or other vehicles can be coupled and uncoupled without the
danger to accidents incidental to the present modes of coupling and uncoupling the
apparatus being at the same time simple in its construction unfailing in its action
in any circumstances applicable to existing trucks wagons or other vehicles of any
type and inexpensive in first cost and in maintenance
The apparatus consists of a weigh bar supported in brackets on each end of the
truck or wagon carrying two hanging arms curved backward at the lower ends in
the eyes of which is suspended a weigh-bar having keyed upon it a boss carrying a
pair of arms the lower ends of which are united and form a lifting shoe to receive
the end link of the coupling chain which is prevented from slipping when raised to
an angle by shoulders or projections at the upper end of the shoe where also a loop
bridge may be formed to connect the forks
The weigh-bar upon which the shoe piece arms are keyed works freely in the
lower ends of the hanging arms and has keyed or otherwise fixed upon each end of
it, outside the frames of the truck a hand lever
The action of the apparatus is as follows: When coupling is to be performed the
man taking hold of the hand lever on the side next him draws forward the suspended
weigh-bar carrying the lifting shoe which engages the end link (the intermediate
link falling into the open space) and by a simultaneous or immediately following
movement turns the lever upward thus raising the shoe with the end link on it till
the loop of forward end is placed over the crook and into socket of coupling hook
on the next truck when the hand lever being released the shoe falls back into its
hanging position. In uncoupling the reverse action takes place the weigh bar being
drawn forward and turned by the hand lever until the shoe engages with the end
link as it rests in the hook when by further turning the weigh bar it lifts the link
out of its seat and clear of the crook and brings it down into its hanging position.
The operations of coupling or uncoupling can be performed with ease and
certainty in any position of the trucks either with full open or closed up buffers or
when standing on a curve the position of the suspended weighbar carrying the lifting
shoe and the revolving action of the shoe round the weigh bar producing together
the effect of lengthening or shortening the coupling gear coupling or uncoupling can
be safely done under conditions where lines of trucks standing or "shunting" on
adjoining lines of sidings make it difficult and dangerous to use a pole-The
operations can be performed without difficulty in the dark, as the shoe invariably
engages the end link either to lift it on to or off the hook and when once engaged
it is not possible for the link to slip
The whole of the gear is easily fitted to any class of trucks or wagons and is so
situated as neither to interfere with the space between two trucks nor to be exposed
to damage and the gear can be adapted to suit any of the existing coupling chains
now in 1100

page_text: a
weigh bar working in brackets B. B bolted to end of truck and carrying the two
hanging arms C C. the lower ends of which are curved backward as shewn and carry
a weigh bar D working loosely in them. Upon the middle of this weigh-bar is keyed
"boss" E carrying a pair of arms FF the lower ends of which are united to form
a lifting shoe G which embraces the upper portion of the end link H of coupling
chain which is shewn on drawing hanging from the draw hook J. The shoulders or
projections K. on the lifting shoe G fit over the end of the link H and prevent its
slipping when raised by the shoe to couple on to hook of next truck while the loop
bridge L which serves to unite and strengthen the forks of shoe piece G also receive
and steady the next link of coupling. The weigh bar D projects at each side of the
truck outside the wheels as shewn and has keyed on each end a short lever arm M
by which it is worked. The operation of the gear in coupling and uncoupling has
been already fully explained and with the assistance of the drawings will be easily
understood
Having now described and illustrated my invention and the mode in which I
consider it can be simply and efficiently applied I would have it understood that
I do not restrict myself to the precise details of construction but that what I claim
as new and therefore claim as secured to me by Letters Patent is:
The weigh-bar suspended loosely in hanging arms so that by their combined
revolving and radial movement the coupling chain may be lengthened or shortened
to suit the varying distances apart and other circumstances of the trucks
substantially as shewn and described
The apparatus consisting of the combination of parts described constructed
arranged and operating substantially as shewn and described
In witness whereof I the said George Fenwick have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twelfth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
Witness:
T. J. DANSON F. Inst. P.A.
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent
Newcastle upon Tyne
GEORGE FENWICK (L.S.)