Improved Draw Bar Hooks for Railway Carriages, Wagons, Tramcars, and similar Vehicles.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Oct., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 14th May, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 5th Oct., 1888
Improved Draw Bar Hooks for Railway Carriages, Wagons, Tramcars,
and similar Vehicles.
I FREDERICK CHARLES COWNEY of the Fullerton Road Lekles, Rotherham, in
the County of Yorkshire Railway Carriage and Wagon Works Manager do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My Draw bar hook is constructed of wrought iron or other suitable metal or
material and is made with an oblong hole with a slot cut in the top of the hook at an
acute angle.
The draw bar hook can be made to suit any draw bar chain in use, it does not
require any special link. The ordinary way of connecting the chain with the hook
is by making a special shackle & fixing this with a bolt or rivet & in some cases welding
the link into the hook. The shackles that are secured with a bolt or rivet are con-
stantly out of repair by getting stiff making it impossible to couple the wagons &c.
together. The welded link is very bad in case of breakage on its journey the hook
having to be removed. This is entirely obviated by my arrangement, by simply
raising the draw chain perpendicular to the top of the hook twist the end link to the
required angle of the slot, when in the oval hole twist it back and pull it over the
front of the draw har hook, it is then secure, it can be fixed in a few moments, it is
stronger and prevents any stiff shackles and much safer and can be coupled with a
pole, thus preventing many accidents by those in charge not having to get between the
vehicles to couple them together.

page_text: FREDERICK CHARLES COWNEY Works Manager Fullerton Road Ickles Rotherham
Yorkshire 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 :-
--
My draw bar hook is constructed of wrought iron or other suitable material having
a centre pull throughout & can be made to suit any links now in use & does not
require any special link or chain, is more secure than a shackle with a rivet or bolt,
not being so liable to break, does away with stiff shackles & can be fixed in less time
than any now in use. My book is made with an oval hole for the link with a slot cut
on the top of the hook at an acute angle, to fix the chain or link it must be lifted
perpendicular to the hook twisted to the angle of the slot & then pulled over the front
of the hook. The chain is then secure & is impossible to come out in working or get
stiff or tight in the hole.
In order that my invention may be more fully understood, refference is had to the
accompanying Drawings and to the letters of refference marked thereon, that is
to say:-
-
Figure 1 is the side elevation showing the oval hole with the slot cut at an acute
angle.
Figure 2 is the plan of the hook showing the angle of the slot hole for the
chain.
Figure 3 & 4 is the side elevation of the hook showing the top link in
position.
Figure 5 & 6 is the end elevation showing the chain in position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
First. That it does not require any special link.
Second. It does not require the nut or cotter to be removed to get the shackle or
link out or the draw bar in any way moved or disturbed.
Third. It can be fixed in less..lime than any other in case of breakage of chain
or link.

page_text: Fourth. No fear of loosing.
Fifth. It does away with the shackle, shackle pin or rivet.
Sixth. The easiest to couple without getting under the vehicle.
Seventh. Cheapness-much more so than those with a link welded through the
hook.
Eighth. The general construction and arrangement of my draw bar hook, substantially
as hereinbefore set forth and described.