Year: 1886

page_text: Date o Application, 15th Sept., 1886..
Complete Left, 3rd Jan., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 4th Feb., 1887.
WILLIAM DEVOLL Cuba Villa, Chester Road Erdington in the County of Warwick
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a perfectly safe means of coupling Street
Locomotives to the cars, from the outside, without having to go between the Engine
and Car, either to couple or uncouple, the said coupling being so constructed, that it
cannot by any means become self-uncoupled, and may also if prefered be coupled and
uncoupled, by the Engine driver in his usual place on the Engine:
For this purpose, I form a coupling of the following discription.
To each end of the car and on a suitable part of the frame, I fix a round coupling
bar of suitable length having an enlarged eye in each end, one end being pivotted on
a bolt underneath the car, in the usual manner, and free to radiate when going round
a curve.
A short distance above the coupling bar and at about the middle of its length,
I suspend from a bracket fixed on the frame of the car-a short pendulum lever,.
having an oblong slot in the middle, and a small weight or ball on its lower end, the
round portion of the coupling bar passes through this slot, and as the upper end of
the lever is suspended vertically and freely on a pin or pivot, it has the action of a
pendulum, and is free to move to the right, or to the left, so as to allow the coupling
har to adjust itself to a curve, but when the Engine is uncoupled, the ball on the end
of the lever, will by force of gravity allways rest in a vertical position, and as the
coupling bar passes through the slot in the pendulum lever, the action of the ball
will always control the coupling bar, and cause it to remain at a fixed centre, when
uncoupled. By this means the coupling bar on the car will always be central and
true with the other portion of the coupling on the Engine.
This part of my invention avoids the necessity of having to go between the Engine
and Car to adjust the coupling bar untill it is central with the coupling on the Engine,
as by the means above described, it is self-adjusting and of a simple kind not liable. to
get out of order.
To prevent any lowering or drop, in the vertical height of the coupling bar (which
may arise from wear of the pin on which it radiates) it may be supported about the

page_text: middle of its length, by a light clip or rest, of the kind now used for this purpose,
but this support is not necessary if the bolt on which the coupling bar radiates, is
kept in good condition.
For the Engine, an iron socket is bolted to the end of the Engine, and is enlarged
at the mouth or front, to receive the end of the coupling bar which, as hereinbefore
described has an enlarged eye to receive a bolt or pin, which passes verticaly through
the socket and the eye of the coupling bar when coupled up.
To uncouple, this bolt must be withdrawn.
In order to operate this coupling bolt or pin without having to go between the
Engine and Car (as is now done) I fix a lever across the end of the Engine, and
immediately above the socket, one end of the lever is pivoted on a bracket which is
bolted to the end of the Engine, the other end is formed as a handle for operating it,
but does not project beyond the side of the Engine.
The top of the coupling bolt or pin is formed as a jaw or knuckle joint and is
connected to the lever above it by a pin in the usual way and free to move, so that
when the lever is raised, the coupling bolt will be withdrawn, and the Engine and Car
uncoupled. A suitable stop may be fixed, to prevent the lever lifting too high, as the
coupling bolt should not be raised out of the top of the socket, but only out of the
on the coupling bar.
eye
For coupling up If the Engine be now backed up to the Car, the coupling bar, (which
is kept in a central position by means of the pendulum lever) will enter the socket
the required distance, the coupling bolt may then be dropped in by lowering the
lever, the operator standing at the side of the Engine. As a security against self-
uncoupling. I fix a small weight on the end of the lever near the handle.
The socket should be enlarged at the mouth sufficient to allow clearance for the
coupling bar, when going round a curve.
The coupling bolt may also be inserted and withdrawn by means of a screw fixed
verticaly over it and connected to it in a suitable manner, the screw running in a
bearing nut bolted to the Engine, the screw should be fitted at the top with a small
hand wheel and should be of a convenient length, so that the hand wheel may be
turned by the Engine driver while standing in his place at the end of the Engine.
Both the methods of coupling hereinbefore described are applicable to either, or to
both ends of the Engine and Car.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Couplings for Street Locomotives and Tram Cars.
WILLIAM DEVOLL Cuba Villa Chester Road Erdington in the County of Warwick
Engineer 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
The object of this invention is to provide a perfectly safe means of coupling street
locomotives to the cars, from the outside, without having to go between the engine
"and car, either to couple or to uncouple, the said coupling being so constructed that it

page_text: cannot by any means become selfuncoupled, and may also if preferred be coupled and
uncoupled by the engine driver in his usual place on the engine.
For this purpose I form a coupling of the following description. (See reference to
drawings) To each end of the car and on a suitable part of the frame or foot plate, I
fix a round coupling bar A, of suitable length having an enlarged eye in each end, one
end being pivoted on a bolt B, underneath the car in the usual manner, and free to
radiate when going round a curve.
A short distance above the coupling bar A, and at about the middle of its length,
I suspend from a bracket C-fixed on the frame D of the car-a short pendulum
lever E having an oblong slot F in the middle and a small weight, or ball G, on its
lower end. The round portion of the coupling bar, passes through this slot, and as
the upper end of the lever is suspended verticaly and freely, on a pin or pivot H, it
has the action of a pendulum, and is free to move to the right or to the left, so as to
allow the coupling bar to adjust its self to a curve, but when the engine is uncoupled,
the ball. G on the end of the lever, will by force of gravity, always rest in a vertical
position as at Fig. 2, and as the coupling bar passes through the slot F in the
pendulum lever, the action of the ball will always control the coupling bar, and will
always cause it to remain at a fixed centre when uncoupled. By this means the
coupling bar A on the car will always be central and true with the portion of the
coupling on the engine.
This part of my invention avoids the necessity of having to go between the engine
and car to adjust the coupling bar, until it is central with the portion of the coupling
on the engine, as by the means above described it is self-adjusting and of a simple
kind not liable to get out of order.
Referring to the Drawings;
Fig. 1, is a part elevation of one end of the engine, shewing the arrangement of a
lever for coupling and uncoupling.
Fig. 2, is a part elevation of one end of the car shewing the pendulum lever E in
a vertical position with the coupling bar A in the centre.
Fig: 3, is a combined plan of Figs. 1. & 2 shewing the engine and car coupled up.
Fig. 4, is a part elevation of one end of the engine shewing the arrangement of a
vertical screw and hand wheel for coupling and uncoupling:
Fig. 5, is a combined plan of Figs. 2 & 4 also shewing the engine and car
coupled up.
Fig. 6, is a section through line 1 & 2 in Fig. 5, the same section also applies to
Fig. 5 with the exception of the screw; nut, and hand wheel, which are shewn in
elevation and plan.
For the engine-An iron socket I is bolted to the end of the engine, and is
enlarged at the mouth or front, to recieve the end of the coupling bar which as
hereinbefore described, has an enlarged eye to receive a bolt or pin J, which passes
verticaly through the socket I, and the eye of the coupling bar when coupled up.
To uncouple, the bolt J must be withdrawn. In order to do this without having to
go between the engine and car (as is now done) fix a lever K across the end of the
engine, and immediately above the socket I, one end of the lever is pivoted on a
bracket L, which is bolted to the end of the engine, the other end is formed as a
handle M, for operating it, but does not project beyond the side of the engine.
The top of the coupling bolt or pin is formed as a jaw, or, knuckle joint N and is
connected to the lever above it by a pin P in the usual way, and is free to move, 50
that when the lever is raised, the coupling bolt J will be withdrawn, and the engine
and car uncoupled.
A suitable stop R may be fixed, to prevent the lever lifting too high, as the coupling
bolt should not be raised out of the top of the socket, but only out of the eye on the
coupling bar.
For coupling up-If the engine be now backed up to the car, the coupling bar A
(which is kept in a central position by means of the pendulum lever E) will enter the
socket I the required distance, the coupling bolt J may then be dropped in, by
lowering the lever K.

page_text: As a security against self uncoupling, a small weight S may be fixed on the end of
the lever, near the handle if preferred, but I find that the weight of the lever is
sufficient.
The socket I should be enlarged at the mouth as shewn in Figs. 1. 3. 4. 5. 6.
sufficient to allow clearence for the coupling bar A when going round a. curve.
The coupling bolt may also be inserted and withdrawn, in the manner shewn at
Figs. 4 & 5, by means of a screw T fixed verticaly over it, and connected to it in a
suitable manner as shewn at Fig. 4; the screw running in a bearing, nut U bolted to
the engine. The screw should be fitted at the top with a small hand wheel V, and
should be of a convenient length, so that the hand wheel may be turned by the engine
driver, while standing in his usual place at the end of the engine. To prevent any
lowering or drop in the vertical height of the coupling bar A, which may arise from
wear of the pin B on which it radiates, it may be supported about the middle of its
length by a light clip or rest Was shewn in Figs. 2. 3. 5. 6. or of the kind now used
for this purpose, but this support is not necessary if the bolt B is kept in good
condition.
The combinations hereinbefore described are applicable to either, or to both ends
of the engine and car, but if the combination in Figs. 4 & 5 is adopted at both ends
of the engine, it will require the door for the engine driver to be fixed on one side,
instead of in the centre, as is now done.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed and used, I would have it clearly
understood that I do not claim all the various parts hereinbefore described, and shewn
in the accompanying drawings, as I am well aware that some of them are not new,
but what I claim as new and as my invention is ;
1. The combination in street locomotives or tram engines for the purpose of
coupling, of a socket I having a bolt J which is fitted to a lever K, the said lever
having one end pivoted on a bracket L, which is bolted to the engine, and having the
other end M formed as a handle for the purpose of inserting and withdrawing the
coupling bolt, the said lever having a stop R above it to prevent it rising too high,
having the action substantially as hereinbefore described, and shewn in the accom-
panying drawings.
2. The combination in street locomotives or tram engines for the purpose of
coupling, of a socket I having a bolt J, the upper end of which is fitted and con-
nected to a vertical screw T, the said screw working in a bearing nut U and having at
its upper end a hand wheel V for the purpose specified, substantially as herein before
described and shewn in the accompanying drawing.
3. In tram cars the combination of a pendulum lever E suspended verticaly on a
pin H having at its lower end a ball G, and in the middle of its length an oblong
slot F, with the coupling bar A, the said coupling bar passing through the slot in the
lever, so as to be controlled by the gravity of the ball, substantially as hereinbefore
described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
4. The arrangement and combination of parts, constituting the improvements in
couplings for street locomotives and tram cars, having the action substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figs. 1 to 6, both inclusive, of the
accompanying drawings.
WILLIAM DEVOLL.