IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLING BUFFERS FOR RAILWAY PURPOSES.”
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick John Talbot, of Sheffield, in the
County of York, for the Invention of “IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLING
BUFFERS FOR RAILWAY PURPOSES.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick John Talbot
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 19th July 1875
I, FREDERICK John Talbot, of Sheffield, in the County of York,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for “IMPROVEMENTS
IN COUPLING BUFFERS FOR RAILWAY PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
-
My Invention relates to a coupling buffer or combined buffer and
coupling for railway carriages and waggons.
The said Invention consists in the novel construction and combination
of parts, and comprises a peculiarly formed double lever or bell crank
which is pivoted to the buffer head, and so arranged in combination with
a link and locking bolt that it may be readily adjusted to couple or

page_text: uncouple the buffers of two adjacent carriages The said lever or bell
crank has arms of about equal lengths formed at right angles or nearly
so to cach other, and is so pivoted on one side of the coupling or buffer
head that its rear arm will extend across the mouth of the said coupling
head, when the couplings are disconnected; but when the buffer heads
are brought together a vertical link secured in the opposite coupling
entering the said mouth forces back the said arm into the interior of
the head, and thereby causes the other arm of bell crank to enter the
said link. The rear arm when retiring releases the locking pin which it
previously supported,. and the said pin then drops in front of the afore-
said rear arm, and by preventing its return effects the locking or
coupling of the buffers. To uncouple them it is only necessary to lift
the said pin or bolt, for as the carriages separate the said link acting
upon the released coupling arm of the bell crank moves the two arms of
the same back into their original positions.
When an ordinary straight link is used to allow for differences in the
heights of railway carriages or waggons the coupling heads should have
mouths with inclined faces which will admit the end of the link and
cause it to slide up to the proper position as the heads come together;
with these buffer heads the coupling links will in some instances be pro-
vided with springs, levers, or weights, arranged to keep them in a
horizontal position, but I prefer to use heads having vertical apertures
for the reception of a link somewhat resembling that described in the
Specification of former Letters Patent granted to me the 3rd day of
September A.D 1874; No. 3023, the said link having one end so shaped
as to hook upon the coupling arm of the bell-crank lever in one buffer,
and be thereby supported in the proper position for coupling with the
opposite buffer. The other end of this plate or coupling link has a long
vertical slot which permits the entrance of the coupling end of the bell
crank, even when there is considerable difference in the heights of the
carriages or waggons. Or I may uso buffer heads constructed with
apertures on each side of the centre line, and fit each head with either
a fixed or movable link. The coupling heads are also constructed with
horizontal slots for the reception of the aforesaid coupling bell crank,
whose pivot, pin, or bolt passes through the two jaws thus formed in the
coupling head.

page_text: inclination in any direction required. I prefer to provide a stud on the
said bell crank to decide the exact position which the two arms of same
shall occupy. By somewhat modifying the form of bell crank it may
be arranged to work when pivoted at almost any point, either inside or
outside the jaws of the coupling head, and it may be so arranged
that the drawing strain comes directly upon the head and not on
the nin

page_text: The coupling bell crank may be pivoted either at the top or bottom of
the coupling head, and the locking pin may be inserted vertically, as
herein-before described, or horizontally by any of the methods described
in the Specification of my said former Letters Patent.
When it is desired to have the couplings perfectly tight springs or
india-rubber washers may be arranged to act between the buffer faces
and be supported by the link. When used as couplings only the buffer
faces are not required
The top surface of the coupling end of bell crank is concave, and the
portion of the fixed end of link which rests upon the said end of boll
crank is convex, so that the link may when free occupy a central
position. Metal or india-rubber springs may be attached to the sides of
link to answer the same purpose.
In my said former Specification I have described a wedge for
adjusting or operating the locking bolt or pin, and a weighted arm
arranged to prevent the action of the pin when the buffer heads are
uncoupled I now modify this apparatus by so shaping one end of the
weighted arm which is pivoted at the back of the coupling head, that
when the buffers are uncoupled it will rest against and support the said
coupling wedge, so that when the link enters the mouth of the buffer
head to which it is to be locked it will carry the arm back into the
interior of the said head and thereby release the coupling wedge, which
is arranged to drop some distance and acquire considerable impetus
before acting on the coupling pin or bolt.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 25
filed by the said Frederick John Talbot in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 18th January 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
JOHN TALBOT, of Sheffield, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her 30
Letters Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,

page_text: give and grant unto me, the said Frederick John Talbot, Her special
licence that I, the said Frederick John Talbot, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Frederick John
Talbot, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLING BUFFERS FOR RAILWAY PURPOSES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Frederick John
Talbot, my executors, or administrators, by an instrument m writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frederick John Talbot, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings forming a part of this Specification.-
My Invention relates to an automatic coupling buffer or combined
buffer and coupling for railway carries or wagons.
The said Invention consists in the novel construction and combination
of parts, and comprises a peculiarly formed two-armed piece or bell
crank which is pivoted to the buffer head, and a locking bolt, so
arranged in combination with a link that when the couplings or buffers
of any two carriages or wagons are brought together the said two-armed
piece may be readily adjusted to couple or uncouple the carriages
although they may vary to a considerable extent in height, and may
be on a sharp curve or steep gradient. The said Invention also comprises
improvements in certain of the devices described in the Specification of
my former Letters Patent dated September 3rd, A.D. 1874, No. 3023.

page_text: top view of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a front elevation of one of the buffers
seen in Figure 1, showing the link of the other buffer coupled with the
same; Figure 4 is a vertical section on the line x, x, Figure 2, showing
the locking pin or bolt of the said buffers
Figure 5 is a side clevation of two of my improved coupling buffers,
showing a modification in the links and other parts herein-after
described, Figure 6 is a plan or top view of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a
front elevation of one of the couplings in Figure 5, showing the other
coupling locked in the same.
Figure 8 is a side elevation illustrating a modification of the sliding
wedge described in my said former Specification for oporating the
locking pins of coupling buffers; Figure 9 is a front elevation of the
samo
A is the draw bar; B is the buffer head; C, the buffer facc, D is the
coupling bell crank or double-armed coupling piece, E, the locking
pin; F, the coupling link; and G the bell-crank spring.
In Figures 1, 2, 3, the coupling or buffer beads B, B, are supposed
to be those of two carriages, which are thereby coupled or connected.
The said buffer heads are formed with Jaws b, which support the
coupling link F and the coupling bell crank or double-armed lever or
piece D; a vertical cavity or aperture is formed in the coupling head
to permit the entrance of the coupling link F of one buffer into the
other buffer. When the buffers are uncoupled the rear arm d' of bell
crank D lies across the mouth of the head, the fore or coupling arm d² of
same being entirely out of the mouth of coupling, in which position it
is held by the spring G When the coupling heads B come together
the link F entering the mouth of the coupling forces back the aim d¹ of
the said double-armed piece to the rear or interior of the head, and
thereby causes the other arm of the said piece to enter the said
link F. The rear arm & when retiring releases the locking pin E,
which it previously supported, and the said pin E then drops in front
of the aforesaid rear arm d', and thereby effects the coupling of the two
buffers. The uncoupling is effected by raising the locking pin E of
cach coupling by means of levers or a pulley and chain, or other suitable
devices, which can be actuated from either side of the carriages. As
the carriages separate the link F acting upon the released coupling
arm of the bell crank D moves the same back into its original

page_text: position.
The uncoupling lovers when tree act upon the locking pin E
with considerable downward pressure, that is to say, when the buffers
are uncoupled the lovers occupy a horizontal position, and therefore by
their gravitation act with considerable pressure upon the pin, so that
5 it becomes unnecessary to add weights or springs to the pin to assist its
action.
It will be seen by referring to the Drawings that the coupling link F
is of such a length vertically as to permit the entrance of the coupling
end of the bell crank D at any time, although there may be con-
siderable difference in the heights of the carriages or wagons to be
coupled.
In the couplings shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, the coupling link F is
pivoted to the coupling head B by the pin II, which also forms the
pivot for the bell crank or two-armed pieco D.
In the coupling shewn in Figures 5, 6, 7, the coupling link F is
welded or otherwise formed on the coupling head B, and the front face ƒ'
of the link F which abuts against the rear end of the coupling mouth
is arranged to supply the place of the buffer faces C and bear the
buffing strain when the carriages or wagons meet. The lower edge ƒª
of the link is curved back to serve as a guide for the link and prevents
the fouling of the link of one head with the link of the other head to be
coupled.
In a modification of my Invention the coupling link may be a loose
plate with one end shaped to hook upon the coupling arm of the bell
crank in one buffer, and be thereby supported in the proper position for
coupling with the opposite buffer when two carriages are brought
together. The vertical apertures for the coupling links will in this
instance be formed in the centre of the coupling head
The top surface of the coupling end of the bell crank may be concave,
the aforesaid link having the portion of its fixed end, which rests upon
the said end of the bell crank, convex, so that the link may when free
occupy a central position. Metal or india-rubber springs may be
attached to the side of the said links to serve the same purpose.
The spring G prevents the derangement of the coupling picco D
from vibration, but a lever or pulley and weight or other simple
contrivance may be arranged to serve the same purpose. The coupling

page_text: pin may be hinged to the coupling head. Instead of being supported by
the arm of the bell crank it may have its lower end so beviled that when
the coupling link enters the coupling mouth it shall force the arm of
the bell crank against the locking pin and lift the said pin, which on
being released falls in front of the arm of bell crank and so effects the
coupling. The coupling bell crank may be pivoted either at the top or
bottom of the coupling head, as may be preferred.
When it is desired to have the carriages coupled perfectly tight or
without any slack metal, springs or india-rubber washers may be arranged
to act between the buffer faces, the said springs or washers being
supported by the coupling link.
A socket or bearing is in some instances formed on or attached to the
top of the coupling head to act as a guide for the locking pin, and
insure its proper action in the buffer head, and springs or weights if
required may be arranged to exert their force upon the locking pin to
accelerate its action if necessary.
The exact position of the said locking pin is not of great importance,
as it may be arranged to work in almost any part of the coupling head
which will permit it when the buffers are uncoupled to be supported by
the bell crank D, and when the buffers are in the act of coupling to fall
and lock the couplings together.
.
I do not confine myself to the exact shape of the coupling head here
shown, as these coupling appliances may be applied to ordinary coupling
heads with internally inclined faces and may be arranged to couple with
an ordinary link.
In the modification of the said Invention illustrated in Figures 8
and 9, I have shown a bell-mouth coupling hoad to which is applied a
weighted wedge as described in the Specification of my said former
Patent for adjusting or operating the locking bolt or pin, and a weighted
arm J which is arranged to prevent the action of the pin when the buffer
heads are uncoupled. When the buffers are uncoupled the weighted
arm J will rost against the projection ", and thereby support the
wedge I. When the link enters the mouth of the buffer head to which
it is to be locked it will carry the said arm J back into the interior of
the head, and thereby release the coupling wedge I which is arranged
to drop some distance and acquire considerable impetus before the front
faces of its inclines 2 can act upon the shoulder k³ of the locking bolt k,

page_text: and so force it through the sides of the buffer and coupling link By
this peculiar construction and arrangement of parts a wedge of little
weight may be caused to act with considerable force upon the said
locking pin or bolt. This mechanism for operating the locking pin or
bolt may be applied to any horizontally acting locking pin or bolt,
whatever may be the form of the coupling head.
Having thus fully described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it understood that I claim,―
First. In a railway coupling the bell crank or two-armed piece (with
or without a spring or lever) pivoted in one coupling head, and arranged
to act in combination with a link or slotted plate attached to the other
coupling head, and with a locking pin or bolt or similar device, as herci
set forth and for the purpose specified.
Second. A coupling head provided with the said pivoted two-armed
piece, coupling link, and locking bolt, and formed with a cavity or
aperture on one side for the reception of a similar link of another
coupling head, and with these various parts so constructed, combined,
and operating, that as the two heads come together they are automatically
coupled and locked as hercin set forth.
Third. The combination with the aforesaid coupling and locking
devices of the means described for lifting the locking pin or bolt to
release or uncouple the carriages as herein set forth.
Fourth. The modification of my Invention illustrated in Figures 5,
6, 7, of the Drawing, wherein the coupling link is forged or otherwise
formed upon or made solid with the coupling head, and arranged to
operate in combination with the said bell crank or two-armed piece and
locking pin, as herein set forth.
Fifth The modification of my Invention illustrated in Figures 8
and 9, comprising the locking pin or bolt, and adjusting or sliding
wedge operated by a weighted arm, as herein set forth and for the
purpose specified.
Sixth. In combination with a coupling buffer head the employment
of springs or clastic cushions interposed between the two heads, and
acting to make the coupling tight or to take up the "slack" between
the buffers of the carriages coupled together.

page_text: Seventh. The adaptation of the said two-armed piece or bell crank
and locking pin or bolt to a coupling provided with links of the
ordinary form, in such manner that they will operate as above
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick John Talbot, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of January,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-six.
Witness,
A. F. STONE.
FREDERICK JOHN TALBOT. (L.S.)