Improved Apparatus for Coupling and Uncoupling Railway and other Vehicles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 16th Dec., 1893
Improved Apparatus for Coupling and Uncoupling Railway and
other Vehicles.
I, CHARLES CLAUDE CARPENTER, of 40, Brook Street, London, W., in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to facilitate the coupling and uncoupling of
vehicles either with themselves or with locomotives running on railways, tramways,
or other roads.
The invention consists of a buffer of special construction which is mounted upon
a central spindle provided with suitable springs, so that it acts either as a spring
buffer, or draw-bar.
At the rear of the body of the buffer is formed a boss, having a hole bored
therein, through which works a swivel-pin. The upper part of this swivel-pin is
formed into a jaw, containing a horizontal pin which passes through the boss of a
specially constructed coupling hook.
The form of this book is such that when two buffers of vehicles which it is
desired to couple, come together, the prow of the hook is gradually raised until
it falls over the buffer, engaging at its lower extremity a curved projection formed
on the buffer to receive it.
The top part of the swivel-pin in which the coupling hook works, terminates in
the form of a diagonally placed cylinder containing a hollow plunger within which
is placed a spring by which it is kept extended.
The head of this plunger bears upon a projection formed upon the coupling
hook which, while it keeps it continually depressed, permits it being raised within
a considerable range.
The hook thus remains securely attached to the opposite buffer, notwithstanding
any vibration or oscillation to which it may be subjected.
Above the horizontal pin on which the coupling hook hinges, a second pin runs
parallel therewith through the jaw of the swivel-pin, and on which works a
cranked lever, the top extremity of which is formed into a handle, and the lower
shaped in the form of a cam.
The construction of this lever is such that when thrown backwards from the
swivel-pin, the cam falls into a recess under the diagonal spring cylinder, and permits
the coupling hook to rise and fall unobstructed by it.
When however the handle of the lever is moved as far as possible in the opposite
direction, the cam attached thereto bears upon a flat projection formed upon the
boss of the coupling hook, and by depressing this raises, but to a greater
degree, the opposite or engaging extremity of the hook, the operation of uncoupling
being thus performed.
The coupling hook may be either retained in this position, in which case auto-
matic coupling will not take place when two of these buffers are pushed together,
or the hook may again be placed at liberty for coupling, by throwing backward the
cam handle into its normal position.
In order to prevent the hooks striking off when two buffers come together, two
springs worked under tension are employed. On the, under side of the body of the
buffer a tube is formed radially with the swivel-pin, and having a slotted opening
on the side nearest thereto. Within this tube are placed two radial spiral springs,
the opposite extremities of which bear against two plugs screwed into the ends of
the tube

page_text: When in the operation of automatic coupling a vehicle buffer is forced against
the curved extremity D. I. of the coupling hook, this rises until it reaches the
top of and falls behind the projecting bead O when the coupling of the two vehicles
is completed.
The horns or projections R, R, formed on either side of the buffer body are
curved so as to prevent the fouling of the coupling hooks, should these from any
cause not properly engage on the bead O.
In Fig. 4, is shewn the application of this invention where it is desired to couple
or uncouple vehicles from a locomotive.
The locomotive buffer U has formed upon its front upper edge a projecting
bead O similar to that on the vehicle buffers.
Hinged to a pin Y, 1, on the upper surface of the buffer, works a plate W
actuated by a lever X attached thereto.
When this plate is resting in its normal position as shewn by the dotted lines,
the coupling hook D engages the bead O of the buffer. When the handle X is
depressed the plate W, rises, lifting and thus disengaging the coupling hook.
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 :-
1. The combination of a coupling hook with a buffer in such a manner, that it
has vertical and radial motion.
2. The attachment thereto of radial springs by which the coupling hook is
always maintained in the proper position for coupling, substantially as described.
3. The attachment to the coupling hook of a spring by which uncoupling due
to vibration or irregularities of the road, or other causes is obviated, substantially
as described.
4. The combination of a cam lever with the coupling hook by which the latter
is raised or released as desired, substantially as described.
5. The formation of a coupling buffer having horns or attachments thereto, to
obviate the fouling of the coupling hooks, substantially as described.
6. The attachment to the main or locomotive buffer of a moveable plate by
which the vehicle coupling hook may be disengaged therefrom or not as desired,
and substantially as described.
.
Dated this 11th day of November 1893.
CHARLES CLAUDE CARPENTER.