An Improved Automatic Coupling Apparatus for Railway Loco- motives, Carriages, Waggons, and other Railway Rolling Stock.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 4th July, 1887.
Specification Accepted. 5th Aug., 1887.
An Improved Automatic Coupling Apparatus for Railway Loco-
motives, Carriages, Waggons, and other Railway Rolling Stock.
I HENRY LOXLEY of Hillsborough Sheffield in the County of York Builder 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 in writing, and on reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings :-
This Invention relates to and consists in the provision of an improved, more simple
and effective, and at the same time a safer, and a less expensive construction of
apparatus for automatically coupling together railway locomotives, carriages, waggons
and railway rolling stock generally; such as locomotives and tenders or tank
|locomotives,—to carriages, vans, waggons, trucks or the like; and carriages or vans
or waggons to each other or to other railway vehicles.
In order that my invention and the carrying it out in practice may be fully
understood, it is illustrated on the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings, on
which Figure 1, is a horizontal section, and Figure 2, is an elevation, showing my
improved couplings as coupled and attached to the ends of two railway carriages or
waggons. The same letters of reference, corresponding with the following description,
indicate like parts in both Figures.
My improved coupling apparatus is constructed as follows:-Each coupling consists
of a suitable and strong metal draw bar A, made of the requisite length and strength,
which is firmly attached, in the usual or any other required way, to the end frame B,
of the locomotive, carriage, waggon, or other railway vehicle. The draw bar is made
cast or wrought with a bend or turn C, in it, bending from its centre or thereabouts, so
that each coupling may pass the one attached to the next railway vehicle when the two
vehicles come together and the buffer springs thereof are compressed. D, shows the
actual coupling part of the apparatus, it is cast or forged all in one piece to the shape
shown in the drawing, or it can be made of any other suitable shape. It is attached to
the draw bar A, by means of a bolt E, which is passed through the draw bar and the
coupling part D, and is secured with a nut and split cotter or split nut E', thus
forming a movable or hinged clip as shown at D the clip is kept in the desired
position for coupling by means of a flat and curve-shaped metal spring F; or by
ineans of any other spring of suitable strength. One end of the spring bears up
behind the lever arm D', which is cast or forged in the same piece with or forms part
of the clip D, and the other end is secured to the draw bar A, near to the railway

page_text: vehicle, by means of a metal strap G, which strap passes over the end of the
spring F, and is secured to the draw bar by means of the pulley frame H, the two
sides of which frame are shouldered and made to terminate with bolts H¹, passed
through the strap G, and draw bar A, and are secured with nuts and split cotters J.
To the lever arm D¹, of the clip D, a suitable metal rope or chain K, is attached by
means of a ring or hook L, this rope or chain is passed over or around the pulley M,
through the hole N, in the drawbar, and it can be continued over the end, at the side,
or around, or under the railway vehicle, according to the particular construction of
vehicle the coupling apparatus is applied to, by means of a conveniently arranged
lever or levers, and wheels and pulleys, to any required position on the vehicle so that
the coupling and uncoupling can be effected without the operator getting down
between the vehicles, thus obviating the frequent risk of accident attending the old
system of coupling and uncoupling. These levers and wheels are not shown on the
drawing as they will obviously need conveniently arranging and fitting to suit the
various constructions of railway vehicles that this invention is applied to.
When required to uncouple the vehicles the rope or chain K, is actuated by means
of a handled lever and wheel conveniently placed for the operator, and it works over
or around the pulley M, drawing back the lever arm D of the clip 1), and so
depresses the spring F, within and between the frame or forked shape parts of the
draw bar A, thus opening or moving apart the clip or coupling D.
When this is
effected and the handled lever wheel is released by the operator the spring F, forces
the clip D, into its former position ready for automatic recoupling,
After the vehicles are released or uncoupled, if it is required to keep open the clip
or coupling, the handled lever will be kept back, by means of a rack or pin con-
veniently fitted on the vehicle.
My improved coupling apparatus is made correspondingly alike for all the vehicles
and locomotives of a train, the action of one coupling with its opposite one is in effect
automatic or self-locking on the respective clips D, passing and coming in contact.
with each other.
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 :-
The new and peculiar construction, and combination of parts, constituting an
improved useful and safe automatic coupling apparatus for railway vehicles, con-
sisting principally of a bent or curved draw bar (, A, and a movable or hinged
coupling part or clip D, together with the arrangement of parts in connection
therewith and the means of actuating the same; substantially as herein before
described and as shown on the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated this 30th day of June 1887.
BRISTOW HUNT,
Agent for the Applicant.