Improvements in Automatic Railway Couplings.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 27th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 24th Feb., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Railway Couplings.
We, JAMES HURMAN, of Lullote, Llanishen, near Cardiff, Railway Manager,
EDWARD LILEY, of 137, Crwys Road, Cardiff, Civil Engineer, and WILLIAM HENRY
CULLEN, of 197, Newport Koad, Cardiff, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
According to this invention the coupling consists of a pair of links connected
by a rule or like joint and of such a size that one can fit within the other, means
being provided for raising the link next the vehicle, and with it the other link,
into an approximately horizontal position.
If the couplings on both vehicles are so raised, then when the vehicles come
together the ends of the outer links meet and one is slightly raised whilst the
other is passing beneath it. The latter then comes against the hook on the
next vehicle and riding up an incline on it drops into place allowing the other
coupling to descend and also drop into place on the hook of the other vehicle
thus forming a double coupling.
If the coupling on only one vehicle is raised it comes against the hook on
the next vehicle and falling into place as above described forms a single coupling.
To uncouple the wagons similar action will be adopted to raise the links to
an approximately horizontal position but to such an angle as to clear the links
from the coupling hook.
When the coupling is not in use it can be doubled up and its outer link hung
on the hook of its own vehicle thus preventing the swinging of the coupling.
DL th 1 of 1och 1900
JAMES HURMAN,
EDWARD LILEY,
W. H. CULLEN.
www. . COLLEA
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Railway Couplings.
We, JAMES HURMAN, of Lullote, Llanishen, near Cardiff, Railway Manager,
EDWARD LILEY, of 137, Crwys Road, Cardiff, Civil Engineer, and WILLIAM HENRY
CULLEN, of 197, Newport Road, Cardiff, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
According to this invention the coupling consists of a pair of links connected
by a rule or like joint and of such a size that one can fit within the other, means
being provided for raising the link next the vehicle, and with it the other link,
into an approximately horizontal position.
If the couplings on both vehicles are so raised, then when the vehicles come
together the ends of the outer links meet and one is slightly raised whilst the
other is passing beneath it. The latter then comes against the hook on the
next vehicle and riding up the upper portion as an incline drops into place
allowing the other coupling to descend and also drop into place on the hook
of the other vehicle thus forming a double coupling.

page_text: If the coupling on only one vehicle is raised it comes against the hook on
the next vehicle and falling into place as above described forms a single coupling.
To uncouple the wagons similar action will be adopted to raise the links to
an approximately horizontal position but to such an angle as to clear the links
from the coupling hook.
When the coupling is not in use it can be doubled up and its outer link hung
on the hook of its own vehicle thus preventing the swinging of the coupling.
Figure 1 is a plan, and Figure 2 a vertical section (on the line 22
Figure 1), showing the ends of two adjacent vehicles with both couplings in
use. Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure 2 but showing one vehicle with its
coupling hung up out of use, Figure 4 is a front elevation of Figure 3.
Figures 5 and 6 are similar views to Figures 2 and 3 showing a single coupling
in different positions.
Each coupling consists of two links a and b, a being pivotted to the vehicle,
bis narrower
generally to the draw bar as shown, and b being pivotted to a.
a and b are
than a as shown in Figure 1 so that it can lie between its side bars.
connected by a rule or like joint so that 6 cannot swing downwards beyond the
plane of a as shown in Figure 5. care levers at the sides of the vehicles fixed
to the transverse shafts & which work in bearings carried by brackets e fixed to
the vehicles. Each shaft d has fixed to its inner end a crank hook f which
carries a pin g. hare arms pivotted at h³ to the vehicle and forked at their ends
to receive the links a.
-
When the coupling is out of use it is in the position shown in Figures 3
and 4 the link b hanging on the draw hook j. If the two vehicles to be coupled
are stationary and touching one of the levers c on one of them is thrown over
and the ping on the crank f bearing on the underside of the arm h raises it
and the link a whilst at the same time the end of the hook of the crank f
carries the link b outwards with it and throws it over the hook j of the next
vehicle.
The automatic coupling the lever c of one or both vehicles is put into the
position shown in Figure 5 with the pin g in a notch in the underside of the
arm h so that the parts remain in that position. When the vehicles come together
then, if only one coupling is being used, the link 6 comes against the hook j
of the next vehicle and riding up it drops into position over it or if both
couplings are being used then when the ends of the links b come together one
of them slightly raises the other passing beneath and engaging with the hook j
of the next vehicle as before described the upper link 6 similarly engaging with
the other hook j as shown in Figures 1 and 2. To uncouple, the lever
suddenly thrown fully over as shown in Figure 6 and then back again. The
first movement brings the end of the hook of the crank f against the tail end
of the link b swinging the link upwards as shown in Figure 6 and then by its
quick retirement gets out of the way so that the link 6 continuing to swing
backwards drops over the hook j as shown in Figures 3 and 4.
is
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. A coupling consisting of a pair of links connected by a rule or like joint
and one capable of fitting within the other substantially as described.
2. Automatic couplings substantially as described and illustrated in the draw-
ings.