Arrangement of Automatic Coupling for Railway Carriages and Wagons.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th June, 1899-Accepted, 29th July, 1899
Arrangement of Automatic Coupling for Railway Carriages and
Wagons.
I, EDWARD LETHEM, of 37, Ranelagh Road, Pimlico, London, S.W., Builder's
Assistant, 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 invention relates to a system of automatic coupling for railway carriages
and wagons.
The accompanying drawings shews the application of the system.
Figure 1 being a plan view.
Figure 2 a section.
Figure 3 an enlarged detail of part of Figure 2.
Figure 4 an enlarged detail of part of B C D E F K L M & N.
Figure 5 an enlarged detail of part of link A shewing attachment of J.
Figure 6 a plan view of Figure 5.
Figure 7 an elevation of a modification of part of link A.
The coupling is carried out by means of a rigid link A fixed on one of the
vehicles, which becomes engaged with the arms B B-which are carried on a
chair fixed to the other vehicle-the arrangement being as follows.
C is a chair (carrying the arms B B) in which is cast, at the front edge of each
side of the opening allowed in the centre of the chair for the link A to pass in;
sinkings or boxes, provided with covers for means of access to the springs fitted
in each of these sinkings (see Figures 3 & 4).
The springs consist of three or more spring steel bands "C" shaped, which fit
into notches in a pair of steel jaws, one end of the jaws is clipped around the steel
pin D and the other end is kept apart by a fixed block E. Fitted between these
jaws, immediately behind E, is a steel pin F', the other end of which is fixed to
the underside of the arms B B.
The arms B B are carried on chair C, and are fitted to same by means of a steel
pin D, which is continued right through the box, or sinking referred to in the
chair C and fixed to the underside of same. The arms B B move freely around
the pins D.
A is a rigid link of the shape shewn in Figure 2, attached to which, is a bar J
for taking up the slack (hereinafter referred to).
On one vehicle backing into the other, the link A, strikes the arms B B, and
forces them back to such a distance (as shewn in dotted lines Figure 1) as will
admit of the link A passing between them, immediately the arms B B have
cleared the link A, the springs return them to their original position, and the
link A becomes engaged with the arms B B.
As the draught increases, the tighter the arms B B at the points bb bear
against the part G and it is impossible for the link A to become disengaged from
the arms B B whilst G remains in position.
The uncoupling is carried out by the following means.
G is a flat bar of the same thickness as the arms B B, and is carried on the

page_text: chair C. The front part of G is fitted in between the arms B B at the point b b,
and the underside of the end nearest the carriage is circular, and which fits in a
corresponding groove in the chair C-from G a rod H is carried to each side of
each vehicle-each end of the rod H terminates in a handle I.
The handles I on either side of each vehicle being turned towards the vehicle,
the circular part of G is rotated in the groove-in C and the front part of G which
fits in between bb of the arms B B is raised to the position indicated by dotted
lines Figure 3 The vehicles drawing away from one another, the link A with the
part J (hereinafter referred to) bearing on the arms B. B and no resistance being
offered to the arms B B at the points b b. they fall inwards (as indicated by
dotted lines Figure 1) to such a distance, as will admit of the link A passing out
between them, and immediately it has passed, the springs carry the arms B B
back to their original position. The handles I, being turned down again to
their original position, the coupling will be ready for action when next required.
The action of the springs is as follows.
As the vehicles approach each other, the link A strikes, the arms B B and
carries them inwards (or, in the case of uncoupling, outwards)-the pin F. being
fixed to the underside of the arms B Bas before described, is moved with the
arms, and forces open the jaw of spring and admits of the arms B B taking up
such a position, as will allow of the link A passing between them, and immediately
A has done so, and the arms B B have cleared it, the pressure on the springs
is removed, and they carry back the jaw, and with it the pin F and arms B B
to their original position. The block E fixed between the jaws, prevents the
possibility of the springs carrying the jaw, pin F, or arms B, B, beyond their
proper position.
The arrangement provided for taking up the slack is shewn in the Figures 3, 4,
5, and 6.
Figure 3 shows a section, and Figure 4 a plan view of two flat plates K K
provided on each side of the opening in chair C-the springs N N keeping K K
in their normal position, the whole is carried on plate L, which is fixed to the
underside of chair C.
Figure 5 shews an elevation and Figure 6 a plan view of part of link A with
part J attached-J consists of a bar of the same thickness as the link A --one end
of J is forked over the front of link A, and loosely fixed to same by means of
a pin.
The action is as follows-
The link A striking the arms B B and forcing them inwards and becoming
engaged with them as before described--the vehicles still continuing to approach
one another (until the buffers on each vehicle touch) and when the link A
reaches K K they strike against J at the point j, below the pin (there being only
sufficient space between K K to allow of the link A, without the attachment J
to pass) and force it up into the position indicated in dotted lines Figures 3 and 5-
by which time the buffers on each vehicle are touching one another J just fills
in the space, or slack, which occurs between the inside of the front bar of link A
and the inner side of the arms B B-when the buffers on each vehicle touch as
shewn in Figure 1. J, is supported in position at the point j, on the plates K K,
-and when the buffers telescope, J at the point j, slides along the plates K K
towards G. and it is impossible for J to fall out of position until the vehicles are
uncoupled When the vehicles are uncoupled and they draw away from one
another, bears against the inner edge of the arms B B and forces them
open, and the link A passing out, J at the point j slides off the plate K, and by its
cwn weight, resumes its original position.
The link A being of such a depth, the coupling on the opposite vehicle is
enabled to move freely within the same, (as shewn in Figure 2) and the plates K K
being free to move around the pin M when the link A bears against them
although they remain rigid when J (on link A) strikes them on entering) the
train will be able to travel around' a curve of any radius.

page_text: The link A is of sufficient depth to allow for any difference that may arise in
the height of the couplings on the opposite vehicles, through a loaded vehicle
being next an empty one.
A hole is
bracket O is fixed at each end of rod H to support it, a pin is passed through
a hole in the bracket, into a corresponding hole in rod H, which prevents the
possibility of G. rising out of position when the train is in motion.
also provided through the rod H at right angles to the one just described and
through which the pin is passed, when it is required to keep the coupling out of
action, viz.;-in the position shewn in dotted lines Figure 3.
Each carriage has at each end, on the left, the link A, and on the right, the
arms B B-so that whatever may be the position in which a vehicle presents itself
to another on the track, a link A is always opposite the arms B B.
As a modification (for goods wagons) the sinkings in chair C, together with the
springs in same can be omitted, leaving only the steel pin D fixed through the
chair C-and around 1) the arms B B can move freely-outside the arms B B
at the points b b, fix blocks on the chair C, so that the arms will not be able to
move outwards (as before when the link A engages with the arms) but only
inwards (when G is removed by turning handle I). On the chair C, between the
arms B B, and just in front of G, fix a steel spiral spring. Fork out the front
of top bar of link A and fit the front bar between same, carried on a steel pin (as
shewn in Figure 7). Omit the parts J K L M N.
On the link A striking the arms B B, the arms B B remain rigid, and the
front of link A. is raised as indicated in dotted lines Figure 7-when it has cleared
the arms B B, the front of link A falls by its own weight to its original position,
and the arms B B become engaged with A.
To uncouple same, the handles I are turned as before and the link A bearing
on the inside of arms B B they fall inwards, sufficient to admit of the link A
passing out, and after it has passed,--the spiral spring carries the arms BB
back to their original position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed—I declare what I
claim is:-
1. An arrangement for automatically coupling vehicles, consisting of a link A,
which coming into contact with the arms B B. forces them apart, sufficient to
admit of link A passing between them, and the armis B B being carried back to
their original position by the springs, the link A becomes engaged with the
armis B B-substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, and 6, of the accompanying drawings.
2. An arrangement for taking up the slack, consisting of a bar J, fixed to front
of link A, and which is raised into position by striking plates K K,-fixed to
the underside of chair C, substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. In a coupling arrangement of the kind herein before described, the modifica-
tion consisting in omitting the sinkings in chair C, together with the springs in
same, also omitting parts J K L M N and fixing blocks on chair C and a spiral
spring and making the front of link A to work freely on a steel pin, substan-
tially as hereinbefore described.
T
1000