Improvements in Automatic Couplings for Railway and Similar Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Reprinted as amended in accordance with the decision of the Comptroller General, ·
dated the 28th day of September 1900.
[The Amendments are shown in erased type.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Couplings for Railway and Similar
Vehicles.
HENRY GEORGE ATKINS, 22, Kilmaine Road, Fulham, London, S.W., Gun-
maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
To framework at the tail end in the centre of and between buffers, I propose
to fix and secure a bellmouth socket with a recess to receive a rod with egg
shaped knob secured to the head end of framework in centre of another truck
No. 2. Upon uniting truck No. 1 and No. 2 coupling is effected.
To disengage or to uncouple one truck or car from the other, is by raising a
lever, end of which rests upon the buffer of car of truck No. 1..
Uncoupling is effected.
DESCRIPTION OF CONTRIVANCE FOR COUPLING AND SECURING ONE CAR TO ANOTHER.
The egg shaped rod attached to No. 2 truck enters the mouth of bellshaped
socket or receiver which has a recess at the back, the coupling rod with the egg
shaped knob upon entering drops into the recess and is retained there by a swing-
ing plummet hanging over the knob of coupling rod.
The plummet has an incline one side and acted upon by a wedge shape end
of short lever.
The lever upon being pressed down by raising buffer end of the long lever, it
lifts the plummet out of the perpendicular to a vertical position, at the same
time lifts the coupling knob from the recess of the bell shaped receiver.
The short lever is so shaped to be acted upon and pressed down by the action
of raising the end of main lever, resting upon and extending to the buffer of
car or truck No. 1.
The fulcrum of the long lever being over the short lever and upon the frame
work of the bell shaped socket, the nose of the long lever commands the tail
end of the short lever, that by lifting the end of the main lever, which rests
upon the buffer uncoupling is effected and No. 2 car or truck is disengaged.
At the front and in the centre of frame work of No. 2 truck or car a slotted
receiver is secured to which is attached one end of the coupling rod, secured by
a horizontal crossbolt, allowing an upward play for the coupling rod to travel
up the mouth of the bell shaped receiver or socket of truck No. 1 upon uniting
trucks together coupling is effected.
1
1
1 1900

page_text: Improvements in Automatic Couplings for Railway and Similar
Vehicles.
HENRY GEORGE ATKINS, 22, Kilmaine Road;. Fulham, London, S.W, Gun
Maker, 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:
To the tail end of vehicle in centre of framework between buffers securely fixed
is a metal coupling box, with a socket to receive a part egg shaped knob of
coupling arm, which is secured to the head end of vehicle No. 2.
By uniting vehicles No. 1 and No. 2 coupling ensues.
Fig. 5. The coupling box.
Fig. 8. The coupling arm.
Fig. 6. Swing block with an incline at the side.
Fig. 7. Curved short lever with guide plain.
To disengage or to uncouple one vehicle from the other, is by raising a lever
end of which rests upon the left butter of vehicle No. 1, uncoupling is effected.
Description of contrivance for coupling and securing one vehicle to another
the knob, B, of coupling arm Fig. enters the mouth A of Fig. 1 which has a
recess at the back, the knob B of Fig. 2 drops in the recess and is retained
there by a swing block, the said block has an incline on the side and acted upon
by the wedge tipped point D 1 of short curved lever Fig. 7 the lever by being
pressed down by raising end E2 of the long or main lever it lifts the block,
Fig. 6 out of position, at the same time lifts the knob B of Fig. 2, free to be
withdrawn from Fig. 3.
The short curved lever Fig. 7 is so shaped to be acted upon and pressed down
by the action of raising the end of another or main lever E extending to and
resting upon the left butter of vehicle No. 1.
The fulcrum of the long or main lever E being over the short lever Fig. 7
and upon the framework inside the coupling box, the nose E1 of the main
lever rests upon the tail D2 of curved lever Fig. 7 that by lifting the end of
the main lever E2 which rests upon the buffer uncoupling is effected and vehicle
No. 2 becomes disengaged from vehicle No. 1.
At the front end and in the centre of framework of vehicle No. 2 a slotted
receiver is secured with projecting arms K to which is attached one end of the
coupling arm secured by an horizontal crossbolt G allowing an upward play for
the coupling arm Fig. 8 to travel up the mouth of the receiver or coupling box
of vehicle No. 1, upon uniting vehicles together coupling ensues.
Secured to the framework in the centre between the buffers of vehicle No. 1
is the coupling box Fig. 5 its mouth A is to receive the knob B of coupling
arm Fig. 8 attached to the head end, in the centre of the framework between
buffers of vehicle No. 2 is a slotted metal plate C projecting from its face are
two arms K, K, to secure the rear end B1 of Fig. 8, by a crossbolt G passing
through the end B1 and K, K.
Fig. 8 has a flange 1) behind the plate C to releive and support the crossbolt G
when coupled.
Inside the coupling box Fig. 1 and over the back of the mouth A is suspended
on crossbolt H a swing block Fig. 6 with an incline F at the side acted upon
by the wedge tip D1 of the curved lever Fig. 7. The wedge D1 is under the
incline F of Fig. 6.
The fulcrum of lever Fig. 7 is at the side of mouth A, the circular part is

page_text: under the throat of mouth A, the rear end D2 of lever is under the nose El of a
long or main lever E, its fulcrum is over the curved lever Fig. 7 that by raising
the end E2 off the buffer the nose E1 presses down the rear end D2 of Fig. 7,
and the wedge tip D1 travels up the incline F of Fig. 7 and raises the swing
block Fig. 6 from its position, at the same time the curved part l' of lever Fig. 7
lifts the coupling arm Fig. 8 from the socket of the coupling box Fig. 5 and
uncoupling is then effected.
The lower bolts N N securing Fig. 1 to the framework of vehicles and the bolts
securing plate C have knobs or enlarged heads to form eyelet holes large enough
to receive and have a crossbolt M passed through to secure links L or hook that
non automatic vehicles can be coupled together if required.
To couple one vehicle with another unite with sufficient pressure to com-
press the springs of buffers.
The curved lever Fig. 7 has a guide plate P at the side of the curve to receive
the knob B of Fig. 8 when raised by lever Fig. 7, the coupling arm N can then
be withdrawn from Fig. 3.
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:
Fio 5 The coupling box