Year: 1888

page_text: I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 323 High Holborn, London, in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E., do hereby declare the nature of this said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in car couplings of
that class which are, termed twin couplings, and it has for its objects to provide for
the coupling and uncoupling of the cars on a sharp curve, to take the wear off of the
drawhead proper, and to otherwise improve and increase the durability and efficiency
of the coupling.
The novelty consists in the peculiar construction of the drawhead, and of the
clutch, the means of locking said clutch, and the peculiar combinations, and the
construction, arrangement and adaptation of parts, all as more fully hereinafter
described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings-
Fig. 1 represents a vertical section of my coupling in position.
Fig. 2 is a plan of two couplings embodying my improvements as they appear when
united and with the cars on a curve, parts being broken away and other parts in
section in order to better illustrate the construction.
Fig. 3 is a plan of a single coupling of slightly modified form, with part broken
away.
Fig. 4 is a similar view of one of the couplings shown in Fig. 2 with the clutch
thrown back to allow of the coupling being used with an ordinary link.
Fig. 5 is a front view with the clutch closed, and
Fig. 6 is a similar view with the clutch thrown back.
In the previous constructions of drawheads the wear of the parts caused by the
rubbing of one coupling against another has been on the drawhead proper, so that
in a short time an entirely new drawhead has to be substituted. By my construction
the wear is taken from the drawhead and all the wear is upon the clutch, which, as it
DQ17

page_text: becomes too much worn to perform proper surface, can be readily removed and
replaced by a new one without disturbing the drawhead. The cost of a new clutch
being very small when compared with that of the entire coupling, this will constitute
a great saving in the course of a year. This, and the other features of the invention,
will be best understood on reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a
part of this specification, and in which A designates the drawbar, the mouth of
which is formed on the arc of a circle, and at one side is formed with ears or lugs to
receive the pin B upon which is pivoted the hook C, at substantially right angles to
which is the arm 'C', said hook and arm constituting the "clutch." The clutch
shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is cored to add strength thereto and decrease its weight, and
the outer face of the hook is formed on the arc of a circle. By previous constructions
the hinge of the clutch was so placed that the opposite draw-head bore on the said
hook and the drawhead to which it was hinged, consequently the wear was at this.
point and the same soon became worn, and when thus worn not only the clutch but
the draw-bar had to be thrown away. I avoid this difficulty by placing the hinge of
the clutch back of the point of contact of the draw-bar, as shown. In this way the
wear comes on the clutch, which, if it becomes so worn as not to be of use, can be
readily replaced by a new one at a very small cost.
This peculiar form of the mouth of the drawhead admits of the coupling and
uncoupling on, say, a 20° curve, which could not be done with the previous con-
structions.
The arm of the clutch works in a recess in the mouth of the drawhead, which
recess is so formed that its bottom slopes downward from the front, to prevent
dust, etc., from accumulating therein, and its front forins a support for the hook D
against the strain which may be exerted against it when in use. This recess also
'communicates with a chamber 6 in which works the dog D pivoted on a transverse
pivot d and when the arm of the clutch terminates in a hook, as shown in
Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6, the forward end of this dog also terminates in a hook as shown
plainly in Fig. 1, to engage the hook of the arm as shown in said figure.
The rear end of the dog is formed with a notch or curve, as shown, to engage one
.end of a coil spring E which passes through an opening in the draw-bar and is
suitably secured at its other end within the draw-bar as shown. This spring serves
to more firmly and securely hold the dog in contact with the arm and lock the clutch.
The hinging of the clutch in the position shown permits the same to be thrown back
into the position shown in Fig. 4 to allow of the coupling being used with an ordinary
link, as seen in the same figure.
Instead of forming the dog and the arm of the clutch of the form shown in
Figs. 1, 2 and 4, I sometimes make it as shown in Fig. 3, in which the dog, instead
of being hooked at its forward end, is broadened, to strengthen it, and the arm of the
clutch, instead of being hook-shaped, is formed with a flattened end as seen at c.
In ordinary use upon a straight track, the wear comes upon the inner face of the
hook of the clutch and at this point I secure in any suitable manner, so that it may
be removed when desired, a steel wearing plate as seen at F in Figs. 2 and 3. As
this plate becomes worn it can be replaced by a new one at a trifling expense.
. I prefer to make the clutch with an enlargement near the pivot, as shown at e in
Figs. 2 and 4, which addition is intended to fortify the hinge and the hook of the
clutch both in front when thrown open as in Fig. 4, or in the rear when closed as
shown in Fig. 2. This enlargement will also take the strain of the blow off the pin B
when closed. To take the strain off of the horizontal pin d I sometimes add a collar
to the dog D as shown in dotted lines at f in Fig. 1, which bears against the walls
of the recess in which the dog works, or a projection may be added to the dog
immediately in front of the pin d which projection would draw against the drawbead
and thus serve to relieve the pin of the strain.
The pin B on which the clutch is pivoted has around its lower end a spiral spring E¹
enclosed in a recess F in the underside of the ear G¹ through which the lower end
of the pin passes, and which spring finds its points of resistance between the top of
the recoss F in the ear G¹ and a key d¹ set in the lower end of the pin B, and tends

page_text: to force said pin B downwards so that its head b¹ will press down upon the ear c³ of
the clutch.
The ear G has a series of notches g cast or otherwise formed on its upper surface,
and the underside of the ear has two projections c³ formed on its underside, which
projections catch into the notches g, for a purpose hereinafter explained.
Under the ear is arranged a shaft J having each end turned at right angles to form
handles K, by which the shaft may be conveniently turned. In the centre of the
shaft is a crank L which bears on the tail of the dog D, so that by partially turning
the shaft J the forward end of said dog D may be raised clear of the arm C.
The draw-bar extends backwards in the form of a pin a having in its end a key a¹,
and is supported in a guide bar M attachod to the car in any convenient manner and
having on the opposite sides of said bar M buffer springs N N partially enclosed in
tubes O connected to the draw-bar and key a'.
The operation of coupling with similar devices is so well understood that it is
unnecessary to describe it, but attention is called to the following explanation of the
mode of uncoupling:-
When it is desired to uncouple the cars it is only necessary to turn the shaft J so
as to cause the crank to bear on the tail of the dog D, which will raise the front end
of the same and thus liberate the hook (), or a link, if one be employed.
The object of the spring E', projections and notches g is to hold the clutch in
whatever position it may be placed, whether in position for coupling with another
clutch or for coupling with a link, as shown in figure 4, and yet allow it to be readily
moved when desired. An inspection of the drawing will show that the spring tends
to press the projection c into the notches g and thus hold the clutch in whichever of
the two positions it may be placed, and yet when it is desired to move the clutch the
projections will readily rise out of the notches and allow the clutch to move as
required.
If a car provided with the link form of coupling is to be coupled, the clutch is
swung backwards, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, so as to be out of the way. As the
link enters the drawhead, it strikes the front of the dog D and raises it until the link
has passed in far enough, when the dog D falls and thus secures the link. It may be
uncoupled as before described.
From the above it will be seen that my coupling can be used either with a link or
hook coupling on the opposito car without change or even the use of a pin to couple
the link, which I consider an important advantage as it saves the expense of the pins
and their liability of getting lost or misplaced, and it will also be seen that the
coupling is a very simple one and not likely to get out of order, as there are but few
working parts.
From the above it will be seen that not only has my coupling the above advantages
but the peculiar construction enables cars to be coupled and uncoupled at angles
which would prevent these operations with couplings of the old style, and besides
this, the wear caused by the rubbing of one coupling with another is transferred from
the drawhead to the clutch with the advantages above set forth, and not only is this
done but much of the strain has been taken from the pivots of the parts.
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-A drawhead of the character described, having its mouth formed on the arc of
a circle drawn substantially at right angles to the axis of the drawhead, combined
with a clutch pivoted to said drawhead at the rear of one end of said arc and having
the outer face of its hook formed substantially on the are of a circle, as set forth.
2-The combination with the drawhead and the clutch pivoted thereto, of a dog
pivoted to said drawhead and working-in a chamber therein and engaging the arm of
the clutch, and a spring secured at one end directly to the tail of the dog and at its
other end to the drawhead, substantially as described.

page_text: 3-The combination with the drawhead having a horizontal recess and a chamber 6,
of a clutch pivoted to said drawhead and having an arm working in said recess, and
a pivoted dog working in said chamber with its side engaging the point of said arm,
substantially as described.
4-The combination, in a coupling, of a drawhead and a swinging hook, with a
locking dog, constructed to perform the double function of locking the hook and
engaging with a link, substantially as described.
The combination in a coupling, of drawhead and a swinging hook and arm,
the two arranged substantially at right angles to each other and the arm entering the
drawhead, with a pivoted hook having its point constructed to drop in front of said
swinging arm, substantially as described.
6-The combination, in a coupling, of a drawhead, adapted to receive a link, an
automatically locking book as C, and a dog as D constructed to hold a link, sub-
stantially as described,
7-The combination in a coupling, of a swinging hook C having an arm C', a
vertically-acting dog provided with a rear extension, and a shaft as 3 constructed to
operate the dog from the side of the car, substantially as described.
8-The combination in a coupling, of a drawhead, having a horizontal opening and
a vertical recess crossing said opening, and a hook as C provided with an arm at right
angles thereto and constructed to swing into said opening, with a pivoted hook
constructed to lock said hook and supported by the front walls of the recess,
substantially as described.
9 The combination in a coupling, of a drawhead A having ears G G¹, and a hook
swinging on a pivot set in said ears and provided with projections catching into
notches on one of said cars, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
10 The combination in a coupling, of a drawhead A having ears G¹ G₁ one of said
ears being provided with notches; a hook swinging on a pivot set in said ears and
provided with projections catching into said notches, and a spring constructed and
arranged to press said projections into said notches, substantially as described.
11 The combination in a coupling, of a drawhead having ears G G¹ said ears
having notches g and a recess F¹, and a hook swinging on a pin forced downward by
a spring around said pin and concealed in said recess and provided with projections
catching into said notches, substantially as shown and described.
12-A cast metal clutch designed for use in a car coupling, comprising in a single
element, a hook and an arm at substantially right angles to said hook, both hook
and arm being cored, substantially as shown and described and for the purpose
specified.
13-A clutch provided with an enlargement e, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
14-A dog having a collar or projection, or both, near its pivot, substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
15 A clutch provided with a steel wearing plate, substantially as described.
16-A drawhead having a clutch constructed and arranged to be thrown backwards
out of the way when coupling with a link.
Dated this 21st day of February 1888.