IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLINGS FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES
Year: 1884

page_text: I HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings London, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare
the nature of said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLINGS FOR RAILWAY
VEHICLES" 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 that class of couplings for railway vehicles which
employ a link, and which are constructed so as to automatically engage the link.
The object of the said Invention is to provide a simple device which shall be
entirely enclosed within the draw-head, and bring the resistance entirely upon the
draw-head instead of upon a bolt, or some movable device which will enter the
link, and the Invention comprises the novel construction and combination of parts
as hereinafter described.
In the accompanying Drawing
Figure 1, is a side view of a coupling constructed according to this Invention.
Figure 2 is a top view or plan of the same.
Figure 3 is a front end view, and
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section.
.
A indicates the draw-bar, and B the draw head which is of substantially usual
form, and applied to the vehicle in the usual manner. The said draw-head is
constructed with the usual flaring mouth C, forming a funnel shape into which the
link D may be readily guided so as to bring it to a central position in the draw-
head, as in couplings of ordinary construction.
Within the chamber of the draw-head, and upon its bottom side, is a shoulder a
which may be cast integral with the draw-head, but I prefer to form it of a steel-
block b, introduced into the mould so as to be enclosed within the casting of the
head and firmly held in its position as a part of the head. The shoulder a thus
made of steel is stronger and firmer than if made of the same material as the
head. If desired, the steel block b may be introduced into a recess formed in the.
casting.
E indicates the locking cam hung in the chamber of the head upon a transverse
sliaft d, so as to swing in a vertical plane toward, aud from, the shoulder a as
indicated by dotted lines Figure 4. The shaft & extends through the head so as to

page_text: form bearings upon which it may be readily turned, and through the cam the shaft
is of angular shape, as seen in Figure. 4, so that as either the cam or shaft is
turned the other will be turned with it. Upon the shaft, outside the head, a
counterpoise F is hung, the weight being to the rear of the mouth, as seen in
Figure. 1, so that by its weight it tends to hold the cam in its forward position,
yet will permit the cam to be turned rearward as indicated by dotted lines
Figure. 4.
The cam, forward of the shaft upon which it is hung, is constructed with a
shoulder e which, when the cam is in its forward position, will strike the top of the
chamber in the head as at f, so as to make a firm bearing at that point forward of
the cam, this bearing being directly over the shoulder a; the lower surface or
bottom of the cam E is such that, when down, it substantially meets the upper.
edge of the shoulder a.
Standing in this position when the. link is introduced, as shown in dotted lines
in Figure. 4, it strikes the front or outer face of the cam, and turns the cam as
indicated in Figure. 4, then the link falls behind the shoulder.a, and so soon as it
has dropped it escapes from the cam, and the cam is permitted to return, passing,
over the link until it comes to a bearing against the top of the chamber, as seen in
Figure 4 then the bottom of the cam lies over the inner end of the link so as to
prevent its accidental escape from the shoulder, but while lying in that position the
link is free for general movement the same as if it were held by the common
coupling pin.
To the shaft d, outside the head, a crank is connected (represented in Figure 1
by the counterpoise F) so that the shaft may be turned from the outside, as
indicated in Figure 1, to turn the cam as indicated in Figure 4, to release the link
and permit its disengagement. This connection may be by means of a chain as
shown, extending to any point where it is desirable to operate the coupling devices,
and at such point when the shaft is turned to release the link, it may be secured
and held in the open position, if desirable.
Instead of operating the shaft by a chain, the said shaft may be extended to one
or both sides of the velicle, so as to be turned from either side, and may be locked
so as to hold the cam in its closed or open position, but when the cam is free, it
will, because of the counterpoise, be held in its closed or down position, but free to
be turned as the link shall enter, and so permit the link to engage with the
shoulder a, and then return to lock the link. in such engagement, as before
described.
By this construction the mechanism of the clutch is entirely enclosed except at
the open mouth. Being covered at the top it is protected from snow, ice, dirt, or
other foreign substance, which might interfere with its working. As it is closed
at the top a firm bearing f is made for the shoulder e of the cam, whereby. the
tendency of the link to throw the cam upward is resisted entirely by the head of
the coupling, and not by the shaft or axis upon which the cam is hung.
.
Instead of applying the counterpoise to the shaft outside, as shown, it may be
formed upon the cam, that is to say the part of the cam to the rear of its axis may
be made considerably heavier than the forward part, whereby the increased weight
at the rear will force the cam into its locking position, and there hold it; the said
Invention is therefore not to be understood as limited to the counterpoise arranged
outside the head.
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
First. The combination of the draw-bar A, its head B constructed with a flaring
mouth and with a shoulder a to engage the link, and the locking cam E hung in
the chamber within the head upon an axis arranged transversely of the head; the
shid cam being constructed with a shoulder forward of its axis, so as to take a
bearing against the top of the chamber over the link-engaging shoulder, substantially
as described.

page_text: Second. The combination of the draw bar A, its head B constructed with a
faring mouth C, the link-engaging shoulder a made in a separate piece from the
head and introduced therein, and a cain E arranged in the chamber within the head
upon an axis placed transversely of the head and constructed with a shoulder é
forward of its axis, so as to take a bearing against, the top of the said chamber
above the link-engaging shoulder, substantially as described.
Third. The combination of the draw-bar A, its head B constructed with the
flaring mouth C, and with the link-engaging shoulder a, the cam E hung within
the chamber of the head upon an axis transverse of the head, the said head
having its top closed so as to completely cover the cam, and a counterpoise the
tendency of which is to turn the cam toward the link-engaging shoulder,
substantially as described.
Fourth. The draw-bar A, its head B constructed with a flaring mouth C and
with a link-engaging shoulder a, the cam E hung within the chamber of the head
upon a shaft transverse of the head and constructed with a shoulder e forward of
the axis arranged to take a bearing against the top of the chamber over the link-
engaging shoulder, the said shaft.extending outside the head and being provided
with means for turning the said cam, substantially as specified.
Deted this 28d day of March 188A
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.