IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY COUPLINGS.
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Fenwick, of Gateshead-on-Tyne, in the County
of Durham, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY
COUPLINGS.
او
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Fenwick at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th January 1878.
GEORGE FENWICK, of Gateshead-on-Tyne, in the County of Durham, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY COUPLINGS."
The Invention has for its object improvements in that class of railway couplings
in which the coupling and uncoupling of railway rolling stock may be readily
effected from the sides of the rolling stock without the necessity for the attendants
to pass between; and my Invention consists in a novel construction and arrange-
ment of parts, whereby the coupling and uncoupling can be readily effected within
certain limits at varying distances of the rolling stock from each other. For this
purpose I pin-joint to the hooks a pair of slotted levers. In the slots of these
levers work the axis of a counterbalanced coupling link, which can be raised for
coupling by means of a pair of levers working against projecting ends of the axis
of the coupling link, or by means of a cross stud carried by such levers working
against the slotted levers.
The aforesaid levers are fixed on an axis running across the end of the carriage,
and provided with a lever at each end, by which it can be operated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Fenwick in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th July
66
1878.
GEORGE FENWICK, of Gateshead-on-Tyne, in the County of Durham, Engineer.
IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY COUPLINGS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in that class of railway couplings
in which the coupling and uncoupling of railway rolling stock may be readily
effected from the sides of the rolling stock without the necessity for the attendants
to pass between; and my Invention consists in a novel construction and arrange-
ment of parts, whereby the coupling and uncoupling can be readily effected within
certain limits at varying distances of the rolling stock from each other.
And in order that my said Invention may be better understood and readily
carried into effect, I will now, with the aid of the accompanying Drawings, whereon
similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, proceed more particularly
to describe the same.
Figure 1 of such Drawings represents a part side elevation of two railway
trucks with my improved coupling apparatus applied thereto, and Figure 2 of such
Drawings represents a view in end elevation of a railway truck also with such
improved coupling apparatus attached to the same.
In order to carry out my Invention I proceed as follows:- I attach a pair of
slotted links A to the draw hooks by means of a pin-joint, similar to the fixing of
the ordinary chain couplings now in use. In the slots of these levers works the
-axis of a counterbalanced coupling link B, and such slotted links are raised for
coupling by means of a pair of lifting lovers C working against the projecting ends
of the axis D, and keyed on to a cross shaft F fixed to the end of the waggon or
truck by two brackets H. At each end of such cross shaft are suitable hand
levers G, by raising which motion is, imparted to the lifting levers C, each of
which latter is furnished with a stud E fixed for the purpose of raising the slotted
links A.
The operation of my improved coupling apparatus is as follows:-As soon as the
slotted links A are raised to the level or centre of the opposite draw hook, the
counterbalanced coupling link B passes on to the lifting levers C at the ends of its
axis D, and by continuing to raise it above the centre the counterbalanced coupling
link B falls back along the slotted links A upon the upper part of the lifting
levers C, and thus enables it to couple or uncouple at any distance required.
One of the principal advantages secured by the employment of my improved
coupling apparatus is, that it dispenses with all necessity for the attendants passing
between the trucks in order to couple and uncouple them, thus obviating the risk
and injury hitherto attending the performance of this duty; at the same time,
that the trucks can be coupled or uncoupled far more quickly and easily than
hitherto.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I claim as novel the
before-mentioned slotted links A, together with the use thereof, in combination
with the other mechanical parts above specified, substantially in the manner and
for the purposes herein-before set forth and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Fenwick, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
GEORGE FENWICK. (L.S.)