TRUCKS HAVING LOOSE COUPLINGS
Year: 1886

page_text: Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
1st FOR TRUCKS HAVING LOOSE COUPLINGS.
The present draw-bar and hook are retained: the nose of the hook carries
(a) two ears which are attached to a small chain or metal wire rope that passes
over sheaves to the sides. (b) a guard hinged to it and itself hinged in the middle
but kept in position by a spring, this rests upon the hook and covers the loop
(to be explained).
The draw-bar carries a tube (capable of sliding upon it) the under part being
formed as a ratchet and the end has attached by a shackle or cast into it the ends
of a metal wire rope which forms a loop and passes through the buffer plank and
round in front of the hook under the guard (mentioned) and has a proper turned
head cast upon it. A pinion works the ratchet in and out as either of the weighted
wheels at the sides of the Truck fixed upon the pinion spindle, is turned-So that,
to couple, by turning a wheel a part of a revolution the loop is run out raising its
guard which rests upon it, and the Trucks meeting, the loop rises upon the guard
of the other (the spring being strong enough to resist the blow of the loop head
but gives should short buffers cause the guards to meet when the Trucks are not
coupled) and slips over its hook-To uncouple-the mentioned chain or rope is
tightened by raising a sheave headed handle at the side, which raises the loop above
the top of the hook when they are free to part.
2nd FOR COACHES REQUIRING TIGHT COUPLINGS AND HAVING LONG BUFFERS.
The present draw-bar and hook are retained-the nose of the hook carry ears
only similar to the above-the draw bar carries a tube formed (for a portion of its
length) at the outer end as a universal ratchet which in longitudinal section at any
part represents the teeth of an ordinary ratchet.; the next portion of its length is
formed as a continuous pinion which in cross section is similar to a pinion having
cop as usual, the next portion of its length is a shackle to which is attached the
ends of a pair of links of bar iron: upon the shackle there are two inclined planes
formed, the shackle is connected to the tube by an annular slotted coupling so that
[Price 8d 1

page_text: as the tube revolves the shackle always maintains a vertical position: the links
pass through and rest upon the buffer plank and has hinged upon them a loop of
bar iron that passes round in front of the hook: at the hinges of the loop returns
under the links are formed so that the loops may rise but cannot fall more than
to a certain extent: the return is formed as a wedge that suits an inclination
formed in the washer plate of the draw-bar (that also embraces the links), so that
as the end of the returns enter the hole or slot the front of the loop is depressed,
there are vertical inclined planes formed upon two horns at the front of the loop-
At the right distance a bar is hinged near its centre to the body of the Coach, one
end is bent and carries the end of a spring, the other straight, so that when the
inclined plane of the shackle as it passes out meets the straight end of the bar it
draws the other end in and allows the spring to force it against the shackle and so
forces forward a thread formed within the tube to take within that formed upon
the draw-bar: upon the return of the tube, the other inclined plane upon the
shackle takes against the bent end of the bar and forces it back beyond the
fulcrum or hinge of the bar, the spring being in tension keeps it there until
the tube is run out again.
A worm wheel of ordinary construction (except that it has cop formed upon its
periphery suitable to take into and work the universal ratchet) is fixed above or
below and works the continuous pinion and causes the tube to make a rotary
motion, and upon reaching the end of the pinion the cog'd portion of the worm
taking into the ratchet causes the tube to take a longitudinal motion-The draw
bar has a left handed thread for a portion of its length sufficient to tighten up
after the coupling loop has been run out, so that before the worm leaves the
universal ratchet, but when its cog is within the reach of the pinion the spring
acts (as mentioned) and causes the two threads to meet, a space or play being left
to prevent the possibility of the threads crossing the worm is worked by wheel'
handles (similar to the above) at either side of the Coach fixed upon the spindle
carrying it-To couple: the links being in, a handle is turned when the worm cop
drive the tube (and with it the links &c) forward the spring being brought into
play the threads take into one another (by the same motion of the handle): and
by the rotary motion caused by the worm, the links &c continue going forward
until the mentioned inclined horns upon the loop front is far enough to cause it to
rise upon those (depressed) of the other Coach and so over the hook when a reverse
motion of the worm tightens up the coupling.
To uncouple act as for Trucks explained.

page_text: Reverse the motion of M which draws P back and loosens G, then raise one of
the pulley headed handles which draws up E and they are ready to part.
FOR THOSE VEHICLES REQUIRING TIGHT COUPLINGS AND WHERE THERE IS NOT
SUFFICIENT HEIGHT FOR THE DRUM &C, AND ARE BUILT TO AN EXTREME
GUAGE AND WILL NOT ADMIT OF THE TRANSVERSE TRAVEL OF THE HANDLES
AND HAVE NOT THE TRANSVERSE BUFFER SPRINGS Z FIG. 4.
The same system is applicable except that the shackle G see Fig. 5 on Drawing
is attached by means of an annular slotted coupling to the continuous pinion P
and a universal ratchet P forming one piece, the whole of which is formed to
traverse the draw-bar B: inside the tube of the pinion P a raised square thread is
formed at P3 and when required takes into the raised similar thread formed on B
at B at the end of the ratchet P2 a clutch is formed so as to take into that upon
the nut Z Z travels, along the threaded portion B' of B: O is the worm, the
periphery of the spiral is cogged as shown, and works the ratchet P, it is fixed
upon the transverse rod J: J similar to that before explained carries each end
balanced handles M: Y is a bell-crank and has the end of the spring X attached
to one arm and is shown in it's normal position resting against the stop W, when
G &c is run out the incline Q upon Q comes in contact with Y and thrusts over Y
which meets the incline G* and drives, it forward and thus assists in keeping P³
against B2 should they not directly take into one another: as G passes on Y² takes
against the stop W:, upon returning G³ neets Y, when. Y meets and assists the
worm O to take into the first cog of P².
•LU O:
The thread upon which Z travels, is to be enclosed from the dust.

page_text: TO COUPLE.
Run out ratchet (by turning M) when it will clutch into Z, at this point the
worm is just clear of the ratchet and revolves the pinion and with it Z: continuing
to turn M in the same direction P³ and B' take into one another, the whole con-
tinues to advance (including H and H2 Figs. 3 & 4) until G meets B*: the vehicles
then meet as before and to tighten them up M is reversed and as G and P¹ &c are
screwed back Z follows.
TO UNCOUPLE.
Turn M. as for running out the links or ropes as the case may be which slackens
them, and raise one of the pulley headed handles as before, when they are ready
to part: M should then be reversed which will draw P³ clear of B² and draw
back Z with it, until the worm cog takes the ratchet and thus enables the clutch
on P' to take against that on Z and prevents P³ and B³ meeting when shunting
about with loose couplings: should H be left out not unscrewed clear of the threads
the effect will be to couple or nearly couple with the first vehicle it meets according
to the amount of projection.
"
'Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is: "
1st The use of metal wire ropes for Coupling Railway Vehicles, and their
arrangement and connecting mechanism and mode of working substantially as
described and shown at Figs. 1 and 2.
2nd-The arrangement and mechanism for Coupling Railway Vehicles, and
screwing them up tight by means of a continuous pinion substantially as described
and shown at Figs. 3 & 4.
3rd The arrangement and mechanism for Coupling Railway Vehicles and
screwing then up tight by means of the combination of universal ratchets and
continuous pinions worked by a cogged worm wheel substantially as described
and shown at Figs. 3. 4 and 5.