IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY WAGGONS AND OTHER VEHICLES 9
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Somers Mildred of Middlesbrough on Tees in the
North Riding of the County of York for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS
IN COUPLING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY WAGGONS AND OTHER VEHICLES
9 7 @
00.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Somers Mildred at:
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd November 1882.
ひ
ALFRED SOMERS MILDRED, of Middlesbrough on Tees in the North Riding of
the County of York, "IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY
WAGGONS AND OTHER VEHICLES'
"
C.
G
It has for its object the coupling and uncoupling of railway wagons, and other
vehicles, whereby the shunter or other attendants are entirely relieved, from the
necessity and danger of passing between the buffers to couple or uncouple, also, this
invention has for its purpose the saving of time, as by its use, the process of
coupling and uncoupling can be performed with greater speed and certainty than
by hand also while the train is in motion. I forge in iron, steel, or other suitable
metal or material a kind of loop with a single eye at the centre of the bend at its
upper end when in position the lower part terminating in two arms cranked in
their length, and bent to a right angle at their extreme ends, these ends also being
each split into two prongs for holding in position the extreme link of coupling
chain, also upon each of the said arms of loop are fixed pins projecting so as to
prevent the extreme link of coupling chain from slipping back between the arms
of loop, which are a certain distance apart from each other, the loop is sufficiently
wide to clear the shackle bolted on the hook, when being operated. I suspend a
hollow shaft transversely to and parallel with the underside of wagon or other
vehicle, immediately behind the coupling chain, when the latter is hanging
vertically. The hollow shaft is suspended by links at each of its ends, and in
which it is free to move, the said links are attached to each side of the wagon, near.
its end or at its end; by pins.or bolts in lugs or brackets, upon which they are free
to move, each end of this hollow shaft projects sufficiently through the links to
receive a lever which is keyed on it in a vertical position, when at rest, both of
these levers are cranked at the lower end to a right angle terminating in a double-
eye, to each of these cranked levers is attached a straight lever, by means of a pin
or bolt with a double eye there being a corresponding eye in the straight lever, the
+

page_text: long arm of the straight lever forms a handle, the short arm terminates in a
double eye.
Inside the hollow shaft is a spindle a little longer than the hollow shaft, each end
of which terminates in a single eye, to which the short end of the straight lever is
attached by a pin, through their respective single and double eyes, and upon
which they are free to move, the spindle is free to move lengthways inside of
hollow shaft. Through the hollow shaft, and some distance from the centre of its
length, is cut a slot right through it, through the spindle at the point where the
aforesaid slot in hollow shaft is, a hole is provided, for a pin or bolt, through this
hole is passed a bolt or pin, attaching a curved link, which is formed into double
eyes at each end, this curved link is free to work upon the said bolt or pin. On
the loop and about the centre of its length, is an eye on one of its arms, to this eye
the curved link is attached by a bolt or pin, on which it is free to move. At the
centre of the length of the hollow shaft, is keyed a short lever terminating in a
double eye, to this short lever is attached a loop by means of the single eye at its
centre of upper part, and the double eye, of the said short lever, a pin or bolt
passing through both on which the loop is free to move laterally.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The shunter or other attendant takes
hold of the long arm of the straight lever (which may hang vertically, when not in
use, or be hooked up in any position desired) as a handle, by moving it forward in
the direction of the length of the wagon the hollow shaft is made to revolve in the
links, and the loop being attached to the short lever at-the-centre-of-hollow-shaft-is-
at the same time pressed forward coming in contact with the extreme link of the
coupling chain. The bent split ends of the loop and the pins fixed upon it hold
the extreme link of coupling chain so that it cannot slip back between the two
ends or arms of loop, nor can-it-move-laterally being held in position by the bent
split ends of loop, which thread themselves through, and on both sides of extreme
link of coupling chain
It will be seen that the coupling chain may be lifted radially to any required
height by the motion described. There is another motion which is obtained in the
following way.
By moving the straight lever upon the pin securing it to cranked lever, its upper
end being attached to the spindle inside of hollow shaft, it pushes the said spindle
inwards or pulls it outwards. The curved link being attached to the spindle is
actuated by it.
The loop being attached to the curved link, is actuated by it, laterally, so that
the coupling link when being lifted up by the one motion, is moved to one side or
the other, so as to pass the hook on the opposite wagon, with which it would come
in contact, but for the motion just described. It will be seen that the coupling
chain can be lifted up radially to any required height, also that it can at same time
be moved any required distance laterally either way, to pass the hook of opposite
wagon, and then bring it back over the hook to couple on.
A third motion is obtained when required, by pushing the whole apparatus
forward or backward in the direction of the length of wagon, all being suspended
by the links, at sides or end of wagon, on the pins or bolts of the upper ends of
which, they are free to revolve, this motion enables the coupling link of wagon to
be adjusted to the distance of the hook of the opposite wagon, which may vary.
In uncoupling the operations are simply reversed. The apparatus is worked
from either or both sides of the wagon, in exactly the same way, namely, by a
straight lever with a handle. The apparatus can be used to couple and uncouple
the guard links if required, and is applicable to all kinds of rolling stock where
couplings and hooks are used, without any alterations whatever

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alfred Somers Mildred in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd May 1883.
ALFRED SOMERS MILDRED of Middlesbrough-on-Tees in the North Riding of
the County of York "IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY
WAGONS AND OTHER VEHICLES
"
My invention has for its objects the coupling and uncoupling of railway wagons
and other vehicles in such a manner that the shunter or other attendants are entirely
relieved from the necessity and danger of passing between the buffers to couple
or uncouple, also to enable the process of coupling and uncoupling to be performed
with greater speed and certainty than by hand, and likewise to permit of the same
operations being effected whilst the train is in motion.
For these purposes in conjunction with a device that I call a loop for raising
supporting and guiding the coupling link I provide an arrangement of apparatus
whereby the said loop can be moved radially upward or downward and also laterally
these movements being effected by operating a single lever or handle at either side
of the vehicle. The loop and its operating gear are carried by links capable of
radial movement in vertical planes to enable the said loop and gear to be moved
towards an adjoining vehicle as and for the purpose hereinafter more particularly
explained.
And in order that my said invention may be clearly understood I hereto append.
two sheets of illustrative drawings with reference to which I now proceed to more
fully describe the nature of my invention and the manner of carrying it into
practical effect.
Fig. 1 is an end view of a railway wagon, having my invention applied thereto.
Fig. 2 shews in side elevation, part of the wagon with my invention.
Fig. 3 shews to an enlarged scale the apparatus whereby the coupling links are
operated
The other views represent parts of the said apparatus and are marked with the
same reference numerals as in Fig. 3
I forge in iron steel or other suitable metal or material a kind of loop 1 with a
single eye 2 at the centre of the bend at that end which is uppermost when the
loop is in position for being actuated to couple or uncouple. The lower part of the
loop terminates in two arms 3 and 4 cranked in their length, and bent to a right
angle at their extreme ends 5 and 6 these ends may also be each split into two
prongs but they are not so shewn in the drawings. The arms 3 and 4 are for
holding in position the end link of the coupling chain. Upon each of the said
arms of the loop is fixed a pin 7 or 8 projecting so as to prevent the end link of
the coupling chain from slipping back between the said arms; which are a certain
distance apart. The loop is sufficiently wide to clear the shackle bolted on the
hook, when being operated. I suspend a hollow shaft 9 transversely to and parallel
with the underside of the wagon (or other vehicle) immediately behind the coupling
chain 10 when the latter is hanging vertically. The hollow shaft 9 is suspended
by links 11 and 12 one at each of its ends, in these links the said shaft is free to
move. The links are attached to a weigh shaft 13 supported in brackets 14 fixed
to the end of the vehicle; but the links may be attached to each side of the vehicle,
near its end or at its end by pins or bolts in lugs or brackets, upon which they
are free to move. Each end of the hollow shaft 9 projects sufficiently through the
links to receive a lever 15 and which is keyed on the shaft so as to assume a
vertical position, when at rest; both of these levers are cranked at the lower end

page_text: to a right angle which may terminate either in a double eye as at 16 in Fig. 3 or
with a pin as at 17 in Fig. 4. To each of the cranked levers is jointed an operating
lever 18, as shewn in Fig. 3 this can be effected by means of a pin or bolt 19
passing through the double eye there being a corresponding eye in the lever 18.
Thus the long arm of the operating lever forms a handle 20 whilst the short arm
terminates in a single (or it may be a double) eye 21.
Inside the hollow shaft 9 is a spindle 22 a little longer than the hollow shaft ;
each end of this spindle terminates in a double or single eye 23, to which the
short end of the operating lever is attached by a pin; the pins pass through their
respective single and double eyes, and the operating levers are free to move upon
the pins, also the spindle is free to move lengthways inside of the hollow shaft.
In the hollow shaft and some distance from the centre of its length, is cut a slot 24
extending entirely through it.
Through the spindle opposite the slot in the hollow shaft a hole is provided,
through this hole is passed a bolt or pin which attaches to the spindle a curved
link 26 which is formed into double eyes at each end. This curved link is free to
work upon the said bolt or pin.
One-arm of the loop 1 is provided at about the centre of its length, with an eye 27,
to which the curved link is attached by a bolt or pin, on which it is free to move.
At the centre of the length of the hollow shaft, is keyed a short lever 28 termi-
nating in a double eye 29 to this short lever is attached the loop 1 the attachment
being effected by means of a pin or bolt_passing_through-the-single-eye-2-at the
centre of the upper part of the loop and through the double eye, of the said short
lever 28. On this pin or bolt the loop can oscillate laterally.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
The shunter or other attendant takes hold of the long arm of the operating lever
(which may hang vertically when not in use, or may be hooked up in any position
desired) as a handle. By moving it forward radially in the direction of the length
of the vehicle as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2 the hollow shaft is made to rotate
partially in the links 11 and 12 and the loop being attached to the short lever at
the centre of the hollow shaft its lower end is at the same time moved forward
and upward thus coming into contact with the end link of the coupling chain.
The bent ends of the loop and the pins fixed upon them hold this link of the
coupling chain so that it cannot slip back between the two ends or arms of the
loop nor can it independently move laterally, being as it is held in position by the
bent ends of the loop, which thread themselves through, and on both sides of the
end link.
It will be seen that the coupling chain may be lifted radially to any required
height by the motion described. There is another motion which is obtained in the
following way. By moving either of the levers 18 radially about its centre (16)
of attachment to the cranked lever 15 its upper end being attached to the spindle
inside of the hollow shaft, will push the said spindle inwards or pull it outwards
as the case may be. The curved link being attached to the spindle is actuated by
it. The loop being attached to the curved link is actuated by it, laterally, so that
the coupling link when being lifted up by the one motion is moved to one side
or the other, so as to pass the hook on the opposite vehicle with which it would
come in contact but for the motion just described.
It will thus be seen that besides being lifted radially to any required height as
described the coupling chain can at the same time be moved any required distance
laterally either way, to clear the hook of the next or opposite vehicle and can
then be caused to bring the chain back over that hook and effect the coupling.
A third motion is obtained when required by moving the whole apparatus
forward or backward in the direction of the length of the vehicle upon the sup-
porting axis 13 all being suspended thereto by the links 11 and 12
This motion enables the coupling link of one vehicle to be adjusted to the
distance of the hook of the next or opposite vehicle which may vary.
In uncoupling the operations are simply reversed. The apparatus is worked

page_text: from either or both sides of the vehicle, in exactly the same way, namely, by a
band lever such as 18. The apparatus can be used to couple and uncouple the
guard links if required, and is applicable to all kinds of rolling stock where
couplings and hooks are used
Having thus described the nature of my said invention and the manner of
performing it I would have it understood that what I consider to be novel and
original and therefore claim as secured to me under the Letters Patent hereinabove
first in part recited is :-
1. In apparatus for effecting coupling & uncoupling of railway wagons &
other vehicles the use in combination with a loop or link holder, of means for
moving the same laterally as well as upward & downward substantially as &
for the purposes hereinabove described.
2. In apparatus for effecting coupling & uncoupling of railway wagons &
other vehicles the use in combination of a loop or link holder attached to a slotted
hollow shaft provided with arms 15, a spindle within that shaft connected to the
said loop or link holder by a link 26, and an operating lever or levers such as 18,
with suspending links 11 & 12, substantially as described.
3. The improved coupling apparatus constructed arranged & operating
substantially as described & illustrated.
In Witness whereof I the said Alfred Somers Mildred have hereunto set my
hand & seal this twenty first day of May in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred & eighty three.
.
5
ALFRED SOMERS MILDRED (L.S.)
Witness to the signature of
Alfred Somers Mildred.
JOHN HART.
Engineer & Agent.
Middlesbrough on Tees.
Yorkshire.