IM- PROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY COUPLINGS AND COUPLING BUFFERS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY COUPLINGS AND COUPLING BUFFERS." A. com-
munication from abroad by Alfred Buckingham Ibbotson, of Villa Ibbotson,
Florence, in the Kingdom of Italy, Merchant.
Sealed the 10th June 1876, and dated the 15th April 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th April 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY COUPLINGS AND
COUPLING BUFFERS." A. communication.
This Invention relates parily to apparatus for the central buffing and automatic
coupling of railway carriages or vehicles, and partly to apparatus for effecting only
the automatic coupling of the same, and the said Invention is carried into practise
as follows, that is to say, in lieu of the draw bar hook in ordinary use for coupling
railway carriages or vehicles by hand, I construct on or attach to that end of the
draw bar shaft which projects outwards from the carriage wagon, locomotive or
tender, the apparatus herein described. This apparatus has a head containing a
hanging pin, hook, sneck or catch, by which the end of a coupling link projecting
from the apparatus on one vehicle into that on another vehicle may be locked
securely therein, and at the projecting end of the head of this apparatus I may form
a mouth or opening therein, sufficiently large to insure its receiving automatically
the end of a link projecting from a similar apparatus attached to another vehicle
with which it may be brought into contact. I make the inner part of this mouth
to slope or contract inwardly towards a throat near the centre of the apparatus,
through which throat the end of the said link is conducted, being guided by the
sloping sides and by the pressure of the link against the said hanging pin, hook,
sneck or catch; the latter is made to recede or rise out of the way of the link, but
the said pin will immediately pass or fall into and through or across the inside of
the said link, and remain suspended therein as soon as the inner or solid end of the
said link has passed the point of such hanging pin, hook, sneck or catch, thereby
preventing the return or withdrawal of the said link.
By making the said apparatus sufficiently strong, and causing it to project far
enough from the vehicle to which it is attached to permit it to recede under

page_text: pressure, the required distance and forming buffing surfaces on the external pro-
jecting edges of the mouth, and by adjusting the spring or springs on the shaft for
this purpose this Invention will serve both as a central buffer and automatic
coupling. In the inner part of the said apparatus, that is to say, behind or within
the throat, is a space of such a size or diameter vertically and laterally to permit
the end of a link to enter and rise and fall or move therein sufficiently to allow
the other end of the link (if free) to enter the mouth of a similar apparatus
attached to another vehicle, but not at the same height or level, and to be auto-
matically locked therein, or to permit the free end of a link which may be per-
manently or otherwise secured to another vehicle at a different height or level to
pass into and become locked in the said apparatus, moreover, by making the lower
side of the mouth of this apparatus nearest its throat to slope downward towards
the mouth for a short distance at such an angle as to form a support or
fulcrum for the lower side of the link (if loose) to rest upon the projecting free end
of such link will be kept from hanging too low to enter automatically another
apparatus occupying a higher level. By causing the sloping sides and upper part
of the inside of the mouth of the said apparatus to extend outward a sufficient dis-
tance, and the remainder of the inner lower slope of the mouth to extend downwards
a sufficient depth, and by making the links of corresponding length the automatic
coupling of the vehicles, whatever may be their difference of height or side play,
may be insured.
Where a great difference in height of the vehicles has to be
provided for by a long slope downwards, the buffing surfaces at the side faces of the
apparatus will be sufficient without any buffing surface at the top and the latter
therefore may be omitted to reduce the external vertical diameter of the faces.
A double hinged hanging pin may be used for locking the end of the link, and
I may prevent its rising higher than necessary in the act of coupling, by forming a
lug or stop on its lid or by a spring, but I prefer to so form the cavity in the lid
from which the hanging pin is suspended with a projection against the back of the
pin, so that the said lid will always rise with the pin at the moment when the end
of a link is forced against the front of such pin, and with another projection in
said lid in the proper position with regard to the front of the said hanging pin to
prevent the falling of the same too far forward by its own weight when the lid is
raised so that such hanging pin (if driven upwards out of and above the apparatus
by a sudden shock) may on falling back into position for locking a link be certain to
fall within the slot in the top of the apparatus without striking against any portion
of the top of the apparatus itself; while this last-named projection in the lid will
not extend too far to prevent the withdrawal of the said spring upward or vertically
out of a link for uncoupling the vehicles.
Or instead of using a double hinged hanging pin for locking the link, I may use
a hanging hook with a hinge secured in or near the shaft or apparatus, this hook
may hang in the throat through a slotted hole in the top of the apparatus, and there
is an upwardly outward slope on that part of the the hanging hook against which
the end of the link is forced while being inserted into the mouth, so that the pressure
of the link against the hook may force it upward sufficiently to allow the solid end
of the said link to enter into and pass through the throat so far that its hanging
point will fall by its own weight within the link and so lock the same securely.
By a cord, chain, or lever attached to the upper portion of this hanging hook, the
same may be raised to set the link free for uncoupling the vehicles when the same
are either standing still or in motion.
It is desirable to avoid any considerable increase in the vertical external diameter
of the mouths of the apparatus for coupling vehicles of greatly varying height; for
this reason I make the external upper portion of this hanging hook piece of sufficient
weight by extending it forward from its hinge over the top of the said apparatus or
otherwise, and by causing the under part of this hanging piece behind its point and
near its hinge to rest upon the upper side of the locked end or the adjacent part of a
link locked in the apparatus, while the lower side of the said link is supported as on a
fulcrum further forward on the lower side of the neck or throat of the said apparatus

page_text: this hanging hook piece will then act as a counterbalance weight to the free end
of said link to keep the same projecting outward in a horizontal line to insure its
automatic entrance into the mouth of another apparatus occupying a different level
when brought into contact therewith. The inside of the point of this hanging hook
may be curved to retain a firm hold of the link locked thereby, even when the
vehicles coupled with the same vary to a great extent in height.
Or instead of using either the double hinged hanging pin or hanging hook above
described, I may employ a hinged locking pin passing through a slot in the top
of the head down across the back of the throat and formed in one piece with
and projecting downwards from a heavy piece which forms a lid for the top of the
apparatus. The upper portion or lid of this locking pin may be made to extend
forwards over the top of the head of the apparatus and be there secured [by side
projections or a hinge pin passing through vertical guides formed or fixed on the
top of the forward or outward end of the head. When the link of the other head
to be coupled has its end forced inward against the said locking pin, the said
hinge pins or projections being free to turn partially round in their vertical guides,
the extremity of the said locking pin will rise until the inner or solid end of the
link has passed the extremity or point of the said locking pin, and the latter will
immediately fall into the said link and lock it securely. The said vertical guides
for the hinge to turn and rise in extend upwards vertically far enough to permit
the whole locking pin piece to be withdrawn upwards vertically to free the link for
uncoupling the vehicles by a cord or otherwise.
When the two heads of my coupling apparatus are to be coupled with a loose link,
the extreme back or inner surface of the hollow part inside the throat of the appa-
ratus is made of the proper depth for the inner extremity of a link locked therein
to abut against, so that the other projecting free end of said link may be forced by
the pressure of the said inner abutting surface of the head forward into the mouth
and through the throat of another apparatus or head against which it may be forced
so that it may be locked therein, but the link must not be so long as to prevent the
coming in contact of the buffing surfaces of the two apparatus. I provide two loose
links of the same external length but differing in their internal length; the heads
or buffing surfaces of the apparatus may by the use of the link with the lesser
internal length be held, when coupled, more closely together than they will be by
the use of the other link. The short link is therefore better adapted for the
coupling of passenger carriages than the long link, which will allow more play
between the faces of the buffers as required for mineral wagons to enable the loco-
motives to start with a long train of such wagons.
Where side buffers are used in addition to these central coupling buffers, and
the buffing surfaces of these central buffers project a lesser distance from the end
of the vehicle than the side buffers by the use of the above described links, or of
the permanently fixed links herein-after described, these central coupling buffers
will only be coupled and come into use when the said side buffers are under com-
pression, and the said side buffers will or may thereby be automatically locked
more tightly in contact than they are usually made by the screwing up.of ordinary
screw coupling links after coupling by hand.
Instead of using one loose link for coupling two heads of the said apparatus I
may attach a link by a hinge to each head of the apparatus. The free or projecting
end of each link may have a chisel or beviled edge, which is permitted to hang as
much lower than a horizontal line, as will be required by the differing heights of
the carriages to be coupled, and when two vehicles fitted with this apparatus are
brought into contact the extreme projecting end of one of the said links will be
certain to strike above or pass below the projecting end of the other link, and that
link which strikes the upper side of the other will rest on the same, and be thereby
guided upward into and through the throat of the apparatus to which is affixed
the lower link, and be locked therein securely, as these links will or may each be
hinged in such a position below the throat of the apparatus as to form on their
upper surface above their hinges the lower part of the said throat, and also to form

page_text: on the forward part of such surface a sliding sloping rest or guide for the end of
another link to replace the lower side slope of the mouth of the above described
apparatus. And the hinder or inner part of these permanently fixed hinged links
behind their hinges within the throat may be forined to serve as a rest or side
support for the hanging pin point or other locking point to be pulled by the other
link locked thereby. The hinge pin (if one be used) of these otherwise permanently
attached links may be so fixed that it can be removed to disconnect the said links
when desired. To allow these links sufficient side play for curves, I may rimer
these holes for their hinge pins (if used) slightly towards their centres, but prefer
to allow sufficient space laterally inside the throat of each head or apparatus for
this purpose, or to leave the sides of the said apparatus entirely open; in the latter
case I may increase the width of the projecting ends of the said links sufficiently
to ensure their being locked even on the sharpest of curves. I may either support
these links to cause them to project outward at a proper angle by a backward
continuation of the links behind the hinge, the end of which continuation inay
abut against the under side (towards or on the shaft) of the apparatus or other-
wise, or support them under their parts which project forward from their hinges by
a cross-bar or piece projecting from the heads.
Any of the above described forms of apparatus may be coupled by hand to an
ordinary draw bar hook by a screw coupling plain link or chain link of the right
length, and where there are side buffers projocting further outward than this central
apparatus the coupling may be effected at the moment the said side buffers are
under compression without necessitating any screwing up afterwards, as the buffers
will or need not have enough space to rebound and recede from each other again.
Where the side buffer cases extend sufficiently far from the vehicles, that is to say,
the distance of projection of the faces of the side buffers when under their greatest
compression is sufficient to allow enough open space behind the locking pin, hook,
sneck, or catch in the said apparatus to permit the extreme end of the hinged or
fixed link locked or to be locked, thereby to pass onward freely without striking
the extreme end of hollow, and far enough to permit the opposing side buffers of
two vehicles to be compressed to their fullest extent.
The said apparatus fitted with these fixed hinged links may be simplified in form
by dispensing with the projecting buffing surfaces, and may serve as automatic
couplings only. In this case the heads of this apparatus may be welded on or
otherwise attached to the shaft of any ordinary draw bar apparatus after cutting
off the old hook of said draw bars without necessitating any alteration of the spring
or springs of the latter.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th
October 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY COUPLINGS AND
COUPLING BUFFERS." A communication from abroads by Alfred Buckingham
Ibbotson, of Villa Ibbotson, Florence, in the Kingdom of Italy, Merchant.
This Invention relates partly to apparatus for the central buffing and automatic
coupling of railway carriages or vehicles, and partly to apparatus for effecting
only the automatic coupling of the same, and the said Invention is carried into
practice in the manner herein-after described, and as illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings which I will now proceed to describe.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus comprising two central coupling buffers
coupled or connected by devices herein-after described.
Figure 2 is a plan or top view of one of the said coupling buffers.
Figure 3 is a front or face view of the same.

page_text: Figure 4 is a plan or top view of the coupling link for the said buffer.
Figure 5 is a plan or top view of a modification of this coupling link.
Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal section; and
Figure 7 is a plan or top view illustrating a modification of the locking
mechanism of my coupling buffer.
Figure 8 is a vertical longitudinal section; and
Figure 9 is a plan or top view of a coupling buffer embodying further modifications
of the said Invention.
Figure 10 is a side elevation shewing two of my coupling buffers in which a
hinged or pivoted coupling link is employed instead of a loose link.
Figure 11 is a front or face view; and
Figure 12, a plan or top view of one of these coupling buffers.
Figure 13 is a plan or top view of the said pivotted link.
Figure 14 is a side elevation of one of my coupling buffer heads, showing one
method of inserting or hinging the link in the coupling head.
Figure 15 is a vertical longitudinal section of a somewhat similar coupling head
showing how the link is pivoted to the coupling head by a horizontal pin.
Figure 16 is a side elevation illustrating another form of my automatic coupling
apparatus.
Figure 17 is a plan of one part of the same.
Figure 18 is a side elevation, showing the same coupled with the ordinary screw
coupling.
Figure 19 is a side elevation of the head shewn in Figure 10 coupled to a draw
bar hook.
Figure 20 is a side elevation of my improved links applied to draw bar hooks.
Figures 21 and 22 are plans or top views of the same.
Figure 23 shews another modification of my Invention.
One method of carrying my said Invention into practise is illustrated in Figures
1, 2, and 3 in which a is the draw bar shaft, and b the coupling or buffer head.
In lieu of the draw bar hook in ordinary use. for coupling railway carriages or
vehicles by hand, I construct on or attach to that end of the draw bar shaft a, which
projects outwards from the carriage wagon, locomotive or tender the apparatus
herein-after described. This apparatus comprises a head 6 supporting a double
hinged hanging pin c or a hook, sneck, or catch by which the end of a coupling
link d projecting from the head on one vehicle into that on another vehicle
may be locked securely therein, and in the outer end of the head of this apparatus
I form a mouth or opening whose size is sufficient to insure its receiving auto-
matically the end of a link projecting from or forming part of a similar apparatus
attached to another vehicle with which the first vehicle may be brought into con-
tact. I make the inner part of this mouth e to slope and contract inwardly towards
a throat near the centre of the apparatus through which throat the free and loose
end of the link d is conducted being guided by the sloping sides of the head; and
by the pressure of the link d against the said hanging pin c or against a hook,
sneck or catch, the latter is made to recede or rise out of the way of the link; but
the said pin hook or catch will fall into and through or across the inside of the link
d and remain suspended therein as soon as the inner or solid end of the said link
has passed the point of the said hanging pin c or the hanging point of the hook or
catch, which will thereby prevent the return or withdrawal of the said link.
By making the head of the said apparatus sufficiently strong and causing it to
project far enough from the vehicle to which it is attached to permit it to recede
under pressure the required distance, and by forming buffing surfaces on the external
projecting edges of the mouth, and by adjusting the spring or springs on that part
of the draw bar shaft a shown at a in Figure 2 for this purpose, the apparatus
above described will serve as a central buffer as well as an automatic coupling, or
as both buffer and coupling combined.
This part of my Invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, 6 to 12, 14 and 19 the
said buffing surfaces being indicated by b¹.

page_text: Another part of my said Invention relates to means whereby the said apparatus
is rendered efficient for the automatic coupling of vehicles of both equal and different
heights, and is illustrated in Figures 1 and 8 and carried into practise as follows:-
In the inner part of the said apparatus, that is to say, beliind or within the throat f,
I form. a space j of such a depth, size, and diameter, vertically and laterally, as to
permit the end of a link to enter it as far as the abutting surface j₁, and rise and
fall or move therein sufficiently to allow the other end of the said link (if free) to
project outward at the proper angle to enter the mouth of a similar apparatus
attached to another vehicle and to be automatically locked therein, even when the
vehicles vary considerably in height, or to permit the free end of a link which may
be permanently or otherwise secured to another vehicle at a different height or
level to pass into and become locked in the said apparatus. The loose link must
have sufficient length to extend from the abutting surface ¹ in one head far enough
into and through the throat of another head when the two heads are brought into
contact at their greatest difference in level to be automatically locked therein with
certainty, and yet this link must not be two long to prevent the buffing surfaces b¹
being brought into contact on the same level.
I make the lower side of the throat f of this apparatus to slope downwards
towards its mouth as shewn at f1 for a short distance at such an angle as to form a
support for the lower side of the link locked therein, so that the projecting free end
of the said link will be kept from hanging too low to enter automatically another
apparatus occupying a higher level as shown in Figure S.
By causing the sloping sides and upper part of the inside of the mouth of the said
apparatus to extend outward a sufficient distance and the remainder of the inner
lower slope of the mouth to extend downward a sufficient depth, and by making
the links d of corresponding length; the automatic coupling of the vehicles what-
ever may be their difference of height or side play may be ensured. For coupling
vehicles which vary but little in height, such as passenger carriages, a link of the
same external length as the ordinary link shown in Figure 4, but of shorter
internal length, as shown in Figure 5, or any modification thereof may be used and
the heads of the coupling be held coupled thereby in closer contact to prevent
unnecessary jolting. Where a great difference in height of the vehicles has to be
provided for by a much longer slope downwards of the lower part of the mouth, the
buffing surfaces at the sides of the head will be sufficient, and the buffing surface at
the top of the head may therefore be omitted to reduce the vertical diameter of the
faces or front surfaces of these leads.
According to another part of my Invention I may form the double hinged
hanging pin c used for locking the end of the link to prevent its rising higher
than necessary in the act of coupling with a lug or stop c¹ on its lid c or by a
spring, but I prefer to so form the cavity in the said lid from which the hanging
piu is suspended with a projection, as shown at 2, Figure 1, near the back of the
hanging pin c, so that the said lid will always rise with the pin at the moment
when the end of the link d is forced against the front of the said pin c, and with
another projection in the said lid in the proper position with regard to the front
of the said hanging pin to prevent the falling of the point of the latter too far
forward by its own weight when the lid is raised, so that the said hanging
pin c (if driven upwards out of and above the apparatus by a sudden shock) may,
on falling back into position for locking a link, be certain to fall within the
slot in the apparatus, without striking against any portion of the top of the
head b; while this last-named projection in the lid c will not extend too far to
prevent the withdrawal of the pin c upward or vertically out of a link for uncoupling
the vehicles. Or instead of using a double hinged hanging pin for locking the
link, I may use a hanging hook g hinged or pivoted at g¹ in the head near the
draw bar shaft a of apparatus, as shewn in Figures 6 and 7. This hook may hang in
the throat through a slot or long hole in the top of the head b, and it will be seen
by referring to Figure 6, that the part g2 of this hanging look, against which the
end of the link is forced while being inserted into the mouth, is so formed with a

page_text: slope or inclination and occupies such a position in the head, that the pressure of
the link & against the hook in entering the head will force it upwards sufficiently
to allow the solid end of the said link to pass through the throat so far that the
point g³ of the hook will fall by the by the weight of the hook within the link d
and so lock the same securely, as shown in Figure 6. By a cord, chain, or lever
attached to the upper portion of this banging hook at g, the same may be raised
to set the link free for uncoupling the vehicles when the same are either standing
still, or in motion.
It is desirable to avoid any considerable increase in the vertical external diameter
of the heads of the apparatus for coupling vehicles of greatly varying heights.
For this reason, I make the external upper portion of this hanging hook piece g
of sufficient weight by extending it forward from its hinge gl along the top of the
head b, as shewn in Figure 6, or otherwise, and by causing the under part g" of
this hanging piece above and behind its point, and near its hinge, to rest upon
the upper side of the locked end, or the adjacent part of a link locked in the
apparatus while the lower side of the said link at f¹ is supported as on a fulcrum,
further forward on the lower side of the neck or throat f of the apparatus. This
hanging hook piece g will then act as a counterbalancing weight to the free end of said
link to keep the same projecting outwards in a horizontal line or thereabouts, to
insure its automatic entrance into the mouth of another apparatus occupying
a different level when brought into contact therewith. The inside of the point g³ of
this hanging hook may be curved as shewn, to retain a firm hold of the link locked
thereby, even when the vehicles, coupled with the same, vary to a great extent in
height. A foot plate may be. attached to the top of the hanging hook piece g which
will also serve to increase its weight. Or instead of using either the double hinged
hanging pin or hook above described, I may employ the device illustrated in
Figure 8, which is a hanging pin h passing through a slot in the top of the head b,
down across the back of the throat f, and formed in one piece with, and projecting
downward from a heavy piece which forms a lid for the top of the apparatus;
which upper portion or lid of this hanging pin may be made to extend forward over
the top of of the head band be there secured by studs or a hinge pin h² passing
through a vertical guide or guides i formed or fixed on the top of the forward or
outward end of the head b. When the link in the other head to be coupled has
its end forced inward against the said hanging locking pin h, the said hinge pin or
studs being free to turn partially round in their vertical guides i, the extremity
of the said banging pin h will rise in a circle from such guide or guides, and when
the inner or solid end of the link d has passed through the small space required to
pass the extremity or point of the said hanging pin h, the latter will immediately fall
into the said link and lock it securely, as clearly shown in Figure S. The said
vertical guides i for the hinge h to turn and rise in, extend upwards vertically, far
enough to permit the entire hanging pin piece h, ¹, to be raised vertically by a
cord or chain attached to the loop 3, to free the link for uncoupling the vehicles.
Instead of using a loose link for coupling two heads of the said apparatus I may
modify my Invention by attaching a link by a hinge or pivot to each head of the
apparatus in the manner illustrated in Figures 10 to 14, wherein the link dis
hinged or pivoted inside the head at d. The free or projecting end of each
of these hinged links may have a chisel or beviled edge as shown in Figure 10 and
other Figures, which beviled edge is permitted to hang below the horizontal
position of the said link as much as will be required by the unequal heights
of the vehicles to be coupled, and when two apparatuses fitted with these links
are brought into contact, the extreme projecting end of one of the said links will
be certain to strike above or pass below the projecting end of the other link, and
that link which strikes the upper side of the lower link will rest on it and be
thereby guided upward into and through the throat f of the apparatus, to which
is affixed the lower link and be locked therein securely. These links will or may
each be hinged in such a position below the throat of the apparatus that their
upper surface at d³ above their hinge piece d¹ forms the lower part of the said

page_text: throat, while the forward part of such surface of the link from the part d³ outward
forms a sliding inclined rest or guide for the end of another link, and is a substitute
for the lower sloping surface of the mouth of the apparatus above described, and
the inuer part of these hinged or pivoted links, that is to say, the part at the
centre of the back of hinge piece within the throat f may be formed to serve as
à rest or bottom support for the hanging pin point c or other locking device to be
pulled against by the link of another apparatus. The pivots of the hinge may
be made solid with the link, or I may use a hinge pin so fixed that it can be
removed to disconnect the said links when desired, as shown in Figure 15. To
provide for these links sufficient side play for insuring the proper action of the
locking apparatus in the passage of the vehicles around curves I may rimer the
holes for the hinge pins d shown in Figure 15 slightly towards their centres, or
I may ensure this object by allowing sufficient play behind the hinge piece ¹,
or I may widen laterally the throat of each head or apparatus or leave the sides
of the head entirely open; in the latter case I may increase the width of the
projecting ends of the said links as shown in Figures 17 and 22 sufficiently to
insure their being locked even on the sharpest curves. I may either support
these links to cause them to project outward at a proper angle by increasing the
breadth of the hinge pieces or side pivots d', as shown in Figures 10 to 14, in which
case the supports in the heads of the apparatus are made to correspond as hercin-
after described, or by a backward continuation of the link as shewn at 5 Figure 15
behind the pivot d¹, the end of which continuation may abut against the under
side of the part 63, as shown in Figures 15 to 17.
In Figure 13 I have shown a peculiar construction of the link with broad side
pivots, which affords great convenience in its introduction into the head, that is
to say, the piece d' of the link which serves as the rest or bottom support for the
coupling pin or catch c to be pulled against as above-described, is made separately
from the link and formed to dovetail therein. The link without this piece d
is introduced into the buffer head, and being open or unsupported at the end
where the rest piece is to be placed, its ends on which the pivots or bosses c¹
are formed may be compressed or sprung together to permit the said pivots or
bosses to enter the stock or elongated holes in the sides of the said buffer head.
The said rest or glut piece is then fitted in the dovetail grooves in the link and
secured therein, thereby ensuring the safe retention of the link in its place. Or
I may form the rest piece d' solidly in or upon the link d, but in this case it will
be necessary to form passages or apertures through part of the sides of the buffer
head to permit the insertion of the link as herein-after described. These apertures ¹
may be filled up by brackets 2, which may if required be arranged to help in
supporting the ends d¹ of the link, as shewn in Figure 14. If these apertures k¹
are left open, the link may at any time be easily removed from the coupling
buffer head.
Any of the above described forms of my improved apparatus may be coupled
by hand to an ordinary draw bar hook by a screw coupling, a plain link, or a chain
link of the proper length, and where there are side buffers projecting further
outward than this central apparatus, the automatic coupling of two of these
apparatuses may be effected at the moment the said side buffers are under com-
pression without necessitating any screwing up afterwards, as the buffers will not
or need not have enough space to rebound in to cause them to recede from cach
other.
Where the side buffer cases extend far enough from the vehicles, that is to say,
when the distance of projection of the faces of the side buffers under their greatest
compression is sufficient to allow enough open space behind the locking pin hook
sneck or catch in the said apparatus to permit the extreme end of the hinged or
fixed link locked or to be locked thereby, to pass onward freely without striking
the extreme end of the hollow part or cavity behind the throat f, and far enough
to permit the opposing side buffers of two vehicle to be compressed to their fullest
extent, the said apparatus fitted with these pivoted or hinged links may bo

page_text: simplified in form by dispensing with the projecting buffing surfaces, and serve
as an automatic coupling only, as shewn in Figure 15. In this case the heads of
the said apparatus may be welded on or otherwise attached to the shaft of any
ordinary draw bar apparatus after cutting off the old hook of said draw bar
without necessitating any alteration of the spring or springs of the latter.
In Figures 16 and 17, which also shew my apparatus as a coupling, only the
said apparatus has a hanging hook 1, and the apparatus is without sides, while
the end of the link is made of considerable extra width to insure the locking on
curves, or where there is much side play.
Figure 18 shews the apparatus with the hinged or pivoted link d turned
upwards out of the way, this being its position when iny apparatus is coupled
with an ordinary screw coupling link n, so as to leave space for its ball handle to
turn about in.
My improved apparatus may also be arranged to couple automatically with the.
ordinary draw bar hook, by providing the said draw bar hook with one of my
improved links d as shewn in Figure 19. Or the hooks of ordinary draw bars
may be coupled automatically by providing each of them with one of my improved
links above described, as shown in Figures 20 to 22.
In this modification of my
Invention, the links are pivotted to the coupling hooks o by the pins d', and are
also supported when free by the projections o² on the sides of the hook. In the
act of coupling, the higher link will mount the lower one, and passing over the
inclined part o will drop over the point of the hook, and so couple the vehicles
automatically. The said links can easily be lifted from the hooks for uncoupling,
and may be thrown back and supported by a catch or otherwise against the wagon
frames, while the vehicles are being shunted, or for coupling with an ordinary link.
I may make provision for considerable lateral play by increasing the width of
the links at their coupling ends, as shown in Figures 17 and 22.
Buffer faces may be applied to the couplings shown in Figures 15, 16, and 20,
to convert the same into a coupling buffer.
•
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim.
First. The improvements in the locking device for automatic coupling, buffers or
couplings comprised in the lid of the double hinged hanging and locking pin c in
Figure 1, in which the projection c³ is so formed that while it will not prevent the
pin point being withdrawn vertically from a link, it will prevent the falling of
the point of such hanging pin c too far forward to cause it to strike or rest upon
the top of the apparatus after it has been forced upward out of and while it is
above the slot be in the head b, and for the purpose in combination with the
projection of conducting the pin point back with certainty into and through the
said slot as above set forth.
Second. The peculiar construction and combination of the parts of the inside
of the mouth, throat, and hollow in the buffer coupling heads above described, and
as shewn in Figures 1, 3, and 8 for coupling vehicles of either equal and different
heights, as above set forth.
Third. The modification of the locking devices comprised in the apparatus shown
in Figures 6 and 7, whereby one part of a hanging locking hook may be made to
rest upon one end of a link locked therein as a counterbalancing weight to cause
its other or free end to project outward in a horizontal or nearly horizontal line as
above set forth, and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. The modification of the locking devices, wherein a locking hanging pin
or sneck made in one piece with its lid is hinged to a vertical guide or guides
placed on the top of the forward part of the head, which will permit the said pin
not only to recede in a circle from such guide or guides, and to act as a locking
pin for a link, the locking of which is thereby accomplished within a very small
space, but will permit the whole locking piece to be withdrawn vertically for
uncoupling the vehicles, as above set forth.

page_text: Fifth. In the coupling link for my automatic coupling buffers for use when
such buffers are attached to passenger carriages, the modifications of these improve-
ments comprised in a loose link of the same external length as the ordinary link
shown in Figure 4, but of shorter internal length for causing the buffing surfaces to
be left when coupled thereby in closer contact to avoid unnecessary jolting, as above
set forth.
Sixth. The modification in the coupling links for automatic coupling buffers and
couplings comprised in a hinged or pivoted link & attached to each apparatus, as
shown in Figures 10 to 20, the projecting ends of which link are permitted to hang
as much lower than a horizontal line as will be required by the differing heights of
the vehicles to be coupled, and which ends are formed with a chisel shaped or
beviled point d², for the purpose of preventing any concussion between the two
ends, when they are brought into contact and so arranged that the lower one
of said links shall then serve as a rest or guide for conducting the projecting end of
the higher link against any of the above described locking pins, hooks, snecks,
or catches which may be used in connection therewith, or against the sloping front
face of any ordinary draw bar hook, for the purpose of being automatically locked
thereby, as above set forth.
Seventh. The improvements relating to the construction of the above described
fixed links, whereby the rear or inner central part behind their hinges may serve
as a rest or side or front support for the lower front end of the hanging locking
pin, to be pulled against by the other link locked thereby as above set forth.
Eighth. The improvements relating to the fixed hinged links illustrated.in
Figures 15, 16, and 17, and comprised in the backward continuation thereof,
arranged to abut against the under side of the apparatus towards or on its shaft,
as above set forth, and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.