Improvements in Thill Couplings!
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th July, 1899-Accepted, 5th Aug., 1899
Improvements in Thill Couplings!
We, WILLIS CLEMONS WESLEY THOMAS; MITCHELL and JESSIE MELIRNA
MITCHELL, Travellers, corner of 8th and Streets, N.W., Washington, D.C.,
U.S.A., 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 invention has relation to thill couplings of the anti-rattler type.
The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which shall
be simple of construction, durable in use, comparatively inexpensive of produc-
tion, and one in which the thills may be easily and quickly attached to and
removed therefrom.
With this object in view, the invention consists in certain features of con-
struction and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and
claimed.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure is a side elevation of our improved thill coupling, showing in full
lines the position the parts assume when in operation, and in dotted lines, the
position they assume when it is desired to disconnect the thills from the vehicle.
Figure 2 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the coupling head,
Figure 3 is a similar view of the thill iron,
Figure 4 is a similar view of the elastic noiseless cushion.
In the drawings, 1 denotes the axle, 2 the axle clip, 3 the couplings, 4 the
thill iron, and 5 the elastic cushion. The coupling head is secured to the axle 1
by the clip 2, and is provided with a transverse oval aperture 6 intersected by
a vertical transverse slot 7, one wall of which is extended upwardly to form a
stop shoulder 8 for a purpose hereinafter to appear.
The elastic cushion which is preferably made of rubber, has its external out-
liuo corresponding in shape to the oval aperture 6 within which it is seated,
and is provided with the slot 9 registering with the slot 7 of the coupling head.
The thill iron has near its rear end a rectangular aperture 10, a cross bar 11,
and laterally projecting arms or extensions 12.
In assembling the parts, the elastic cushion is inserted sidewise into the
aperture 6, with its slot 9 registering with the slot 7 in the coupling head.
The thill iron is now engaged with the coupling head with the arms 12 of the
thill iron straddling the head or paralleling the sides thereof. The thill iron
is now elevated until the cross bar 11 contacts with the stop 8, which guides the
bar 11 through the slot 7 of the head and into the slot of the elastic cushion.
The thill iron is now lowered in the position shown in full lines in Figure 1.
From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings, the construction, operation and advantages of tho invention will be
readily understood without requiring an extended explanation. It will be seen
that no parts of the metal contact, but all are spaced apart by the elastic cushion,
the ends of which project laterally beyond the sides of the head and engage
the slotted walls of the aperture and the inner faces of the arms. It will be

page_text: further seen that the arms serve to prevent the cushion from working out of
position or becoming twisted or distorted, thus materially increasing the life
of the cushion, as well as preventing its accidental displacement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
A thill coupling comprising a head formed with a transverse elongated aper-
ture 6 intersected by the transverse slot 7, the rear wall of which projects up-
wardly to form a stop shouldor 8, an elastic cushion corresponding in outline
to the aforesaid aperture, and provided with the transverse slot registering with
the slot of the head, and the thill iron having a rectangular aperture 10 and
cross bar 11 at the end of the aperture, and parallel rearwardly extending
arms 12, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of June 1899.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, Agents.