An Automatic Coupling for Use on Railway Carriages and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1899-Accepted, 19th Aug., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Automatic Coupling for Use on Railway Carriages and the like.
I, THOMAS HENRY PATCHING, of Strathfield, in the Colony of New South
Wales, Tailor, 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:-
-
My invention relates to improvements in couplings for railway rolling stock;
the object being to provide a coupling whereby the rolling stock of railways
may be automatically connected when the vehicles are run together.
The coupling is so devised as to be more simple in construction, and certain
in action then any hitherto invented. A further object is to provide a coupling
possessing the aforesaid merits which can be disconnected without necessitating
the operator going between the carriages.
My invention consists of a ratchet bar hinged to a draw-bar of ordinary con-
struction, hereinafter called the male coupling and a female coupling so con-
structed as to receive and retain the same. This female portion consists of two
metal bars of peculiar construction as hereinafter described, similarly hinged to
a draw-bar of ordinary construction, and having between them an eccentric
pawl, which is operated by means of a lever.
But in order that my invention may be clearly understood I will refer to the
accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate the same
parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 is an elevation showing the coupling in operation.
Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1.
Figure 3 shows the coupling with one side of the female portion removed.
Figure 4 is an enlarged view of eccentric.
Figure 5 is an enlarged view of pawl.
a a are the ends of the two vehicles to be coupled.
bb are the draw-bars to which the couplings are hinged.
cc are the pins by means of which the couplings are attached to the draw-
bars.
d is a ratchet bar which forms the male coupling. This bar is provided with
an arm or angle bracket e which rests against the end of the vehicle to which
the bar is attached for the purpose of maintaining it in a horizontal position.
The teeth of this ratchet bar are shown in the drawings triangular in form but
I do not confine myself to teeth of any particular shape, as under varying con-
ditions teeth of different forms may be found desirable.
ff are two bars which form the body of the female coupling. The end of
each of these bars expands into a bracket-head, through the lower portion of
which pass the pins gg for the purpose of securely joining them together as

page_text: shown. The said bars are here shown parallel to one another but it may be
found desirable to make them slightly wider apart at the bracket ends to allow
for greater play.
These bars are also provided with arms or angle brackets jj which rest
against the end of the vehicle to which they are attached.
his guide block on which the male coupling d rests when in action and which
also forms a distance piece between the bracket heads of the bars aforesaid.
is a pawl revolving on an eccentric m suspended on trunnions between
bracket heads as shown in Figure 3.
nn are the aforesaid trunnions, which revolve in bearings formed in the top
portions of the bracket heads.
p is a crank arm keyed to one of the trunnions.
r is a connecting rod, pivoted at one end to the crank arm p and suitably
connected at the other by any of the well known methods so as to be easily
operated by a weighted handle or lever s or any suitable attachment which may
be placed on the side of the vehicle or in any other convenient position.
tt are converging guide plates for the purpose of directing the male coup-
ling d between the bracket heads of the bars ff.
aa are guide pins fixed on each side of the pawl working in suitable inclined
slots ww provided on the bracket heads for the purpose of directing and con-
trolling the course of the pawl when lifted by the eccentric from contact with
the toothed bar d.
u is a concentric slot or groove in the side of the pawl k. This slot may be on
both sides of the pawl if found desirable.
vis a pin in the periphery of the eccentric m which fits into and travels in
the slot u.
The method of operating my invention is as follows:-
-
When the vehicles are pushed together the male coupling & being directed by
the guide plates t t enters between the bars f f, the pawl m riding over the
teeth until further progress is stopped by the buffers. This automatically com-
pletes the coupling.
When in this position the coupling is securely locked, and it is impossible
to withdraw the ratchet, as from the relative positions of the teeth and the pawl,
the strain comes on the dead centre. The gripping faces of the teeth may be
slightly rounded so as to allow of the male coupling having freer play without
strain when the vehicles are going round a curve.
In order to uncouple the vehicles the eccentric m is rotated by the crank arm,
which movement gradually draws the pawl back from contact with the teeth of
the male coupling and the pin coming in contact with the end of the slot u in
which it travels the pawl is lifted clear and the vehicles disconnected. It is
obvious that a pawl operated by an eccentric such as herein before described can
be easily withdrawn from contact with the teeth of the ratchet, no matter how
great the draught strain may be.
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:-
1. In an automatic coupling for use on railway carriages and the like, a paw!
revolving on and operated by an eccentric substantially as herein described and
as illustrated in the drawings.
2. In an automatic coupling for use on railway carriages and the like, the
combination and arrangement of a toothed bar, hinged to a draw-bar, with a
pawl revolving on and operated by an eccentric substantially as herein described
and as illustrated in the drawings.
3. In an automatic coupling for use on railway carriages and the like, the
combination and arrangement of a toothed bar (such as ) with a pawl (such as k)
revolving on an eccentric (such as m) supported by trunnions (such as n n)

page_text: between the side bars of a female coupling, substantially as herein described
and as illustrated in the drawings.
1000
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.