Improvements in Couplings for Railway and Tramway Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1899
Complete Specification Left. 1st Aug. 1899-Accented. 7th Oct. 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Couplings for Railway and Tramway Vehicles.
I, JAMES ADDISON HINSON, of 1209, Monadnock Building, Number 250 to 288.
Dearborn Street, in the City of Chicago, County of Cook, and State of Illinois,
United States of America, Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:
car.
This invention relates to an improved.construction in car coupling devices
intended to provide a means by which a car provided with the usual draw bar,
draw hook and draw chain may be connected with another car provided with an
automatic coupling of that kind having a draw head provided with a pivoted
horizontally swinging knuckle or jaw, and a locking device for holding the jaw
in position for engagement with the like jaw of a similar draw head on another
In a coupling device made in accordance with my invention, a draw head
of the character described is provided with a rigid metal bail or yoke the ends
of which are pivotally connected with the opposite vertical side faces of the said
draw head in such manner that the bail may be swung or oscillated freely about
a horizontal axis, and to the central or outer part of said bail is connected a
draw chain adapted in the usual manner for engagement with the draw hook
of another car. Preferably the bail is provided with a centrally arranged hole
or eye for engagement with the end link of the draw chain. The bail referred
to is made of such size that it will extend around or in front of the outer end
of the draw head, so that said bail may be swung upwardly in a horizontal posi-
tion when the chain is engaged with the hook of another car; this construction
affording a central draft connection of the draw chain with the draw head,
while at the same time enabling the said bail and the draw chain connected
therewith to be dropped below and hang free from the operative parts of the
draw head when the chain is not in use. The pivoted bail and draw chain thus
arranged will be always in position for use in the usual manner, and at the same
time will be entirely out of the way of the working parts of the draw head when
not in use.
So far as the general purposes of my invention are concerned, pivotal con-
nection of the ends of the bail with the coupling head may be made in any
desired manner, but as a further and separate improvement I construct these
parts as follows:
I provide the bail with eyes or bearing apertures in its ends
adapted to engage pivot studs or trunnions, which are mounted on and extend
outwardly from the vertical side faces of the draw head; the ends of the said
balls being held in engagement with the said studs by means of cotter pins or
the like. The stud at the side of the draw head at which the pivoted jaw or
knuckle is located is made integral with the draw head. The stud at the oppo-
site side of the draw head is not made integral with the head, but is attached
to or formed on a metal block which is secured to the outer side of the guard
arm there located: said block being detachably secured to the draw head by a
bolt or belts, or like means, so that the yoke or bail may be easily connecte:t

page_text: with the head by first engaging one of its arms with the integral stud on one side
of the head and then engaging the stud which is on said block with the opposite
arm of the bail and thereafter bringing said block to its proper place on the
other side of the head and there securing it. Where the guard arm of the coup-
ling head is provided with horizontal outwardly extending stiffening flanges at
its top and bottom surfaces, as is usually the case, the block referred to will be
secured to the head by being inserted between said horizontal flanges and secured
in place by a bolt or rivet passing through said flanges and the block.
As an additional improvement I propose to attach to the draw head a spring
adapted to press downwardly on the bail or yoke to prevent the same from acci-
dentally swinging upward and releasing the coupling when the cars are coupled
by the use of the bail and its connected draw chain. Such a spring is desirably
made in the form of a spring metal rod, and which is secured to the draw head
by the same bolt by which the block referred to is attached to the head. When
the parts are thus arranged the spring will be bent at one end into the form
of an eye adapted to be arranged horizontally in a recess formed in said block
between the bottom of the block and the flange of the draw head beneath the
same; and the outer end of the spring will be bent outwardly into the plane
in which the adjacent arm of the bail swings, so as to come over said arm and
bear against the arm when the bail is lifted into its horizontal position. The
spring thus arranged to press downwardly on the bail, acts to prevent the bail
from oscillating or swinging vertically under the jolting of the car when the
cars are coupled by the draw chain, and thereby obviates liability of the chain
attached to the bail being disengaged from the draw hook, as might occur if
the bail were left free to so swing or oscillate.
As a further and separate improvement in draw heads for automatic coupling
devices of the character described, I propose to so construct the same that they
may be fitted and secured to the draw hooks of ordinary form, as heretofore
made. For this purpose I provide the said coupling head with a rearwardly
projecting part or shank having in it a vertical slot of the proper width to
receive said draw hook and connect said head with the said hook by means of
bolts passing through the parts of said shank at opposite sides of said slot. I
also propose to arrange one of said bolts in position to pass through and engage
the opening in the hook and another bolt in position to pass through the hole
in the draw bar at the rear of the hook, which is usually there provided for
the passage of the securing bolt of the coupling shackle. Still another bolt
or rivet is preferably inserted through the end portion of the shank of the head
and through the draw bar, for the purpose of more firmly and strongly securing
the draw head to the draw bar.
The attaching means described afford a simple and reliable means of con-
necting the draw head of an automatic coupler to a draw bar and draw hook
as ordinarily constructed.
Improvements in Couplings for Railway and Tramway Vehicles.
I, JAMES ADDISON HINSON, of 1209, Monadnock Building, Number 250 to 288,
Dearborn Street, in the City of Chicago, County of Cook, and State of Illinois,

page_text: United States of America, Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 an improved construction in car coupling devices
intended to provide a means by which a car provided with the usual draw bar,
draw hook and draw chain may be connected with another car provided with an
automatic coupling of that kind having a draw head provided with a pivoted
horizontally swinging knuckle or jaw, and a locking device for holding the jaw
in position for engagement with the like jaw of a similar draw head on another
car. In a coupling device made in accordance with my invention, a draw.head
of the character described is provided with a rigid metal bail or yoke the ends
of which are pivotally connected with the opposite vertical side faces of the said
draw head in such manner that the bail may be swung or oscillated freely about
a horizontal axis, and to the central or outer part of said bail is connected a
draw chain adapted in the usual manner for engagement with the draw hook
of another car. Preferably the bail is provided with a centrally arranged hole
or eye for engagement with the end link of the draw chain. The bail referred
to is made of such size that it will extend around or in front of the outer end
of the draw head, so that said bail may be swung upwardly in a horizontal posi-
tion when the chain is engaged with the hook of another car; this construction
affording a central draft connection of the draw chain with the draw head,
while at the same time enabling the said bail and the draw chain connected
therewith to be dropped below and hang free from the operative parts of the
draw head when the chain is not in use. The pivoted bail and draw chain thus
arranged will be always in position for use in the usual manner, and at the same
time will be entirely out of the way of the working parts of the draw head when
not in use.
So far as the general purposes of my invention are concerned, pivotal con-
nection of the ends of the bail with the coupling head may be made in any
desired manner, but as a further and separate improvement I construct these
parts as follows: I provide the bail with eyes or bearing apertures in its ends
adapted to engage pivot studs or trunnions, which are mounted on and extend
outwardly from the vertical side faces of the draw head; the ends of the said
bails being held in engagement with the said studs by means of cotter pins or
the like. The stud at the side of the draw head at which the pivoted jaw or
knuckle is located is made integral with the draw head. The stud at the oppo-
site side of the draw head is not made integral with the head, but is attached
to or formed on a metal block which is secured to the outer side of the guard
arm there located; said block being detachably secured to the draw head by a
bolt or bolts, or like means, so that the yoke or bail may be easily connected
with the head by first engaging one of its arms with the integral stud on one side
of the head and then engaging the stud which is on said block with the opposite
arm of the bail and thereafter bringing said block to its proper place on the
other side of the head and there securing it. Where the guard arm of the coup-
ling head is provided with horizontal outwardly extending stiffening flanges at.
its top and bottom surfaces, as is usually the case, the block referred to will be
secured to the head by being inserted between said horizontal flanges and secured
in place by a bolt or rivet passing through said flanges and the block.
As an additional improvement I propose to attach to the draw head a spring
adapted to press downwardly on the bail or yoke to prevent the same from acci-
dentally swinging upward and releasing the coupling when the cars are coupled
by the use of the bail and its connected draw chain. Such a spring is desirably
made in the form of a spring metal rod, and which is secured to the draw head
by the same bolt by which the block referred to is attached to the head. When
the parts are thus arranged. the spring will be bent at one end into the form
of an eye adapted to be arranged horizontally in a recess formed in said block

page_text: between the bottom of the block and the flange of the draw head beneath the
same; and the outer end of the spring will be bent outwardly into the plane
in which the adjacent arm of the bail swings, so as to come over said arm and
bear against the arm when the bail is lifted into its horizontal position. The
spring thus arranged to press downwardly on the bail, acts to prevent the bail
from oscillating or swinging vertically under the jolting of the car when the
cars are coupled by the draw chain, and thereby obviates liability of the chain
attached to the bail being disengaged from the draw hook, as might occur if
the bail were left free to so swing or oscillate.
As a further and separate improvement in draw heads for automatic coupling
devices of the character described, I propose to so construct the same that they
may be fitted and secured to the draw hooks of ordinary form, as heretofore
made. For this purpose I provide the said coupling head with a rearwardly
projecting part or shank having in it a vertical slot of the proper width to
receive said draw hook and connect said head with the said hook by means of
bolts passing through the parts of said shank at opposite sides of said slot. I
also propose to arrange one of said bolts in position to pass through and engage
the opening in the hook and another bolt in position to pass through the hole
in the draw bar at the rear of the hook, which is usually there provided for
the passage of the securing bolt of the coupling shackle. Still another bolt
or rivet is preferably inserted through the end portion of the shank of the head
and through the draw bar, for the purpose of more firmly and strongly securing
the draw head to the draw bar.
The attaching means described afford a simple and reliable means of con-
necting the draw head of an automatic coupler to a draw bar and draw hook
as ordinarily constructed.
As shown in the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a coupling device embodying my inven-
tion, the adjacent ends of the cars being shown in central vertical section.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a detail side elevation showing that side of the draw head oppo-
site to that shown in Figure 1.
Figure 4 a cross-sectional view through the shank of the draw head, taken on
line 4 4 of Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a detail section through a part of the draw head taken on line 5-5
of Figure 2.
As shown in said drawing, A, A', indicate draw bars of two adjacent cars,
and B B the draw hooks thereon. C indicates a draw chain of the usual con-
struction which is connected with the draw hook B by a coupling shackle C.
D indicates a draw head which is provided with a horizontally swinging knuckle E,
which is pivoted to a forwardly projecting arm d on one side of said draw head,
by means of a vertical pivot bolt c. Said draw head is provided on its head
opposite the arm d with a forwardly projecting guide arm d¹, as common in draw
heads of this construction. The said draw head D is shown as attached to the
draw hook B. Said draw head contains a locking device for holding the
knuckle E in engagement with a similar knuckle of another car, the only part
of said locking device illustrated being the locking bolt DI
F indicates a rigid bail or yoke having at its ends bearing apertures which
are engaged by bearing studs G G on the opposite side faces of the draw head D.
Said bail is provided with a central eye f by which is connected therewith the
adjacent link of a draw chain H. The studs G and G¹ are desirably provided
with cotter pins g g arranged to hold the ends of the bail in proper engage-
ment with said studs.
The said stud G is shown as made integral with the adjacent part of the draw
head, but the stud G¹ is shown as attached to a separate block G which is
inserted and secured between the horizontal top and bottom stiffening flanges
of the guide arm . The said block G2 is shown as shaped to fit the forward

page_text: part of the outer surface of the guide arm, in its part between the said hori-
zontal flanges, and as being secured in place by means of a bolt G³ which is
inserted vertically through the said flanges on the guide arm and the said
block G. Said bolt G³ is shown as held in place by a cotter pin ² inserted
through its lower end.
As an additional improvement the draw head is provided with a spring I
arranged to press downwardly on the bail F when the latter is in its horizontal
position. This spring consists of a rod which is bent at one end to form an
eye i which is arranged to encircle the lower part of the bolt G, between the
lower surface of the block G2 and the flange below it; the said rod being
extended outwardly from the side of the draw head and so shaped that its free
end is located in the same vertical plane with and in position to strike the top
surface of the adjacent end portion of the bail, as clearly shown in Figures 2
and 3. The eye i is conveniently arranged to rest horizontally in a recess g
formed in the lower face of the block G around the hole for the bolt G³.
When the coupling device described is in use the bail F is lifted and the
draw chain H engaged with the draw hook B¹ of the opposite car. When not
in use the said bail and draw chain hang freely downward, leaving the operative
parts of the draw head entirely unobstructed and in readiness to engage the
parts of a similar draw head.
By forming the pivot stud G¹ at one side of the draw head on a separate
block, detachably secured to the draw head, the bail may be easily connected
with the draw head by first slipping one end of the same over the stud G, then
engaging the stud G₁ with the other end of the bail and thereafter bringing the
block which carries said stud into position and securing the same in place by
the bolt G³.
The spring I, arranged as described, serves to press against the bail or yoke
when it is thrown upwardly and thereby holds said bail from swinging or
oscillating under the jarring of the car to such an extent as to render liable
the disconnection of the draw chain H from the draw hook with which it is
engaged.
To provide means for attaching the draw head D to a draw hook, as B, the
said draw head is provided with a shank portion D2 which is provided with a
central vertical opening or slot of proper width to receive said draw hook.
The draw head is secured to the draw hook by means of bolts J J which pass
horizontally through the parts; one of said bolts J engaging the opening of
the hook and the other engaging the hole which is usually made in the hook to
receive the holding bolt of the coupling swivel. The drawing shows a third
bolt or rivet J2 as inserted through the extremity of the shank D2 and through
the draw bar A.
The construction described affords a simple and convenient means of attach-
ing a draw head to a draw hook.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. A draw head provided with means for coupling it to a like draw head,
combined with a yoke or bail pivoted to the sides of said draw head and a draw
chain connected with said bail or yoke.
2. A draw head provided at one side with a permanently affixed bearing stud,
and at its opposite side with a detachably secured block carrying a bearing stud,
a bail or yoke engaged at its ends with said bearing studs, and a draw chain
connected with said bail or yoke.
3. A draw head combined with a bail or yoke pivoted to the sides thereof,
and a spring applied to resist upward movement of the said bail or yoke.
4. The combination with a draw bar, and an integral draw hook thereon,
provided with a shackle-bolt hole, of a draw head having a shank provided

page_text: with a vertical slot adapted to receive said hook, and bolts or the like inserted
through said shank and through the opening of the hook and the shackle-bolt
hole.
Dated this 1st day of August 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.