IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLINGS FOR RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK, AND OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, WILLIAM SAMUEL LAYCOCK of Ranmoor Sheffield in the County of York
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention. for IMPROVEMENTS
IN COUPLINGS FOR RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK, AND OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the method of coupling and uncoupling
Railway Carriages or Wagons, and other similar Vehicles to which Couplings are
applied; from either side of the said vehicles, instead of having to go between
them, and it consists in a simple arrangement of levers by which the coupling
chain (or shackles) can be raised from its suspended position, moved on one side,
and placed over the drawhook of the next wagon; a similar but reversed movement
raises and removes the chain from the hook.
In carrying out my invention as applied to a railway wagon (for example) I fix
in a convenient position across the end of the wagon, and preferably in a line with
tlie draw bar hook, a rocking bar, supported in suitable bearings and provided
with cross handles, or other suitable handles to turn it by; the bar has also a
lateral movement through its bearings; a spring (or springs) being arranged to
bring back the bar to its central or normal position.
The centre of the rocking bar, or thereabouts is either bent so as to form a
crank-shaped arm projecting, when raised, from under and in front of the hook, or
a suitable arm or lever may be fastened on to the bar; the use of the arm or lever
being to elevate or lower the chain or coupling links by acting upon the first link
only.
-
The chain is preferably composed of three links, or two outside shackles and
a centre link. The shackles are connected to the centre link by a knuckle joint,
which will close upwards but will sustain the links rigidily when they are in line,
so that they can be raised to a horizontal (or more elevated) position when at their
full extent.
.
Thus, when the wagons are ready to be coupled, the chain hanging down from
the usual position in the draw hook, it is only necessary to turn the rocking bar on

page_text: either side of the wagon, so that the arm or lever before mentioned comes in
contact with the first link or shackle which is secured in the usual manner to the
draw hook, thus raising the three links to a horizontal position, the coupling link
would now strike the underside of the hook on the next wagon but by giving
a lateral movement to the bar (by a projection upon the arm or lever which
preferably engages inside the link,) the chain is moved sideways, and can then be
raised and dropped over the hook.
The chain when released may either be suspended, or may hang down in the
usual manner.

page_text: Fig. 4, a different construction of the lifting rod.
In carrying out my invention as applied to a railway wagon (for example) shown
in Fig. 1, I fix in suitable bearings, and in any convenient position but preferably
in a line with the hook of the drawbar, a rod or bar A, having a rocking, and a
short lateral sliding motion in its bearings; it is also provided with levers or
handles B, at each end to operate it by.
To return the rod to its central or normal position, one or more spiral springs C,
are arranged so as to effect that object, or if desirable other suitable.springs may
be used.
The centre part of the lifting rod A is either bent, so as to form a crank shaped
arm D, which when raised (by rotating the rod) projects in front of the draw-
hook E, or a suitable arm or lever F, see Fig. 4, may be attached to a straight
lifting bar in which case the said bar is placed low enough to pass under the
draw-hook.
The cranked arm D, or the lever F, are both for the purpose of raising, lowering
and adjusting the links or shackles G, G1, G2, when coupling or uncoupling, and
this is accomplished through the medium of the first link G, between the arms of
which a projecting piece or finger H, fits loosely.
The links G and G² are connected by means of knuckle joints to the centre-
link G¹, such joints having a movement in one direction only, from the centre line,
thus enabling them to be raised from a vertical or suspended position, to a hori-
zontal extended position, and to be dropped over the hook of the adjacent wagon,
and hang in a flexible curve between the two wagons.
❤

page_text: This coupling operation is accomplished by turning one of the handles or levers B,
which causes the arm D (or F) to come in contact with, and raise the links G, G¹,
and G. The link G' would strike the underside of the hook E, of the next
wagon, but by giving a lateral or side movement to the rod A, the finger H moves
the links on one side, and thus allows it to be raised a sufficient height to be
dropped over the hook.
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
1 In Couplings for Railway Wagons and other similar Vehicles, constructing the
coupling links or shackles with knuckle joints, so that the links will support each
other in a diagonal or horizontal position for the purpose hereinbefore specified and
substantially as described-and illustrated.
.
2 In Couplings for Railway Wagons and other similar Vehicles, the sliding rod
for moving the coupling links or shackles to one side when being raised or lowered
for the purpose of missing the drawhook substantially as herein before described
and illustrated.
:
3 The apparatus for coupling Railway Carriages and other similar Vehiclos,
consisting chiefly of a combination of knuckle jointed coupling links or shackles
that will support each other in a diagonal or horizontal position; with a rod
provided with a crank (or arm) to raiso or lower the shackles or links; and a sliding
movement to move the links or shackles on one side; for the purpose specified and
substantially as described and illustrated.