Improvements in Side Couplings for Railway Carriages.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Side Couplings for Railway Carriages.
I, SAMUEL BÄNDEL, of 4, Kaiserstrasse, Königshütte, Germany, Merchant, 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:-
The side-coupling for railway carriages represented in the accompanying
drawings, in the leading principle thereof, may be considered as an abstract of
the side couplings heretofore proposed, but differs therefrom in that, whilst being
extremely simple, its construction avoid the defects of those previously proposed
while retaining the advantages thereof. In the operation of the improved device,
coupling takes place automatically, and uncoupling is effected from the side.
The hooking on of the draw-bars is effected with all the certainty that practical
use can require, and that without the danger of disconnection during the travel
of the vehicle. What has particularly to be pointed out in comparing the im-
proved side couplings with existing side couplings, is, that the improved coupling
is particularly supple and readily adapts itself to the closed position of the
vehicles on travelling over curves of short radius, and will also admit of a free
and unconstrained transmission of power from vehicle to vehicle when the train
passes from a horizontal or from a descending part of the track to a short steep
ascending gradient so that the whole train forms a vertically undulating curve
sometimes of appreciable flexion. This extraordinary and withal unconstrained
movableness of the draw-bars and links especially forms a characteristic of this
coupling which is most valuable in practice.
In Figure 1, of the drawings, the coupling is represented coupled up and
applied for use on passenger cars.
Figure 2, is a side elevation of Figure 1,
Figure 3, shows one half of the coupling as adapted for goods-trucks.
Figure 4, shows a detail, the object of which will presently be explained.
The coupling consists of a link, c, fitted with a ball and socket joint and held
in a raised position by a spring support, , and a draw bar, a, having a nose-
shaped head and moving in a straight line, this draw bar, when the vehicles
are being coupled, first pushes aside the link, and, when the buffers meet the
link, falls into engagement with the hook, a. In both passenger cars and goods
trucks, the draw bar is supported by a spring, f, which is put under tension
when the train pulls. The same takes place in uncoupling, as the link, when the
draw mechanism is pulled, is forced to make a forward movement even though
a slight one. By reason of the compression of the spring, f, the buffers will
also cease to be in contact when the train is pulling. If, however, the buffers
are to remain in contact, as is prescribed for passenger trains, the draw bar is
held fast and therefore can make no forward movement when the train pulls.
The hook, b, engages, as seen in Fig. 1, with a link o¹, of the hook, a. The
hook, a, is secured and released and two coupled vehicles are uncoupled by
turning screws, w, having cranks, k, and round disc-like cams, m, and 'm², the

page_text: cam, m², actuating the link, c. A special device for pulling the vehicles together,
which is only required in passenger vehicles, is therefore dispensed with.
The simplicity and ready accessibility of the whole coupling will be readily
apparent, as will also its unusual mobility, and, consequently, it will be subject
to very little wear in practical use. By reason of this exceptional simplicity of
construction and operation, combined with its great mobility and the infrequency
of repairs that may be expected, this coupling is calculated to replace existing
couplings not capable of being operated from the side, with considerable
advantage.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
A side coupling for railway carriages having a link, c, supported in a hori
zontal position in a ball and socket joint in the buffer beam, which link, when
the vehicle is being coupled, automatically passes into engagement laterally, with
the draw hook, «, carried in straight direction, and which, in uncoupling the
vehicle, forced off the said hook by a horizontal shaft, wc, lying transversely in
front of the buffer beam, the said coupling being characterized by the hook
being supported behind the buffer beam by a spring, f, which, in goods trains,
gives the necessary elasticity to the coupling, but which, in passenger trains, is
made inoperative by the hook, b, mounted so as to be able to turn on the buffer
beam, this hook engaging with a link, o, of the draw bar, when the shaft, w,
is moved laterally, as set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of November 1808
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents, 321, High Holborn, London,. W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.