Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Automatically Coupling Railway Carriages and Cars.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 30th July, 1889-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Automatically
Coupling Railway Carriages and Cars.
I, JOHN ELLIE DAVIS Jr., residing at West Point, in the county of Clay and State
of Mississippi, one of the United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates generally to couplings for cars and particularly to automatic
couplings of that class in which a link is used as the connection between the cars.
The object of the invention is to improve upon constructions of this kind and the
nature of these improvements will be hereinafter fully described in the specification
and pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in
which:-
Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a car.
Figure 2 a section of a coupling showing parts ready to receive the links.
Figure 3 a section showing the link in place.
Figure 4 a top plan of the coupling and the buffer in section.
Figure 5 a detail showing one of the weights.
Figure 6 a detail showing the elbow, dog, and locking cam. Figure 7, is a detail
view.
Figure 8, a side elevation of the buffer with rod removed; and
Figure 9, an elevation of my form of coupling shown on one side and the old form
on the other side.
A, represents the draw-head having the usual flaring mouth. In the bottom of the
draw-head an opening a, is formed for the elbow, a', of a link retaining dog, A',
which is pivoted to the draw-head in any desired manner.
The longer arm, a², of the retaining dog normally rests in a recess, a³, formed in
the bottom of the draw-head so that the upper face will be flush with the bottom of
the draw-head and not interfere with the link when inserted in the draw-head.
The short arm, a', which extends vertically when the arm, a³, is in recess, a³, is con-
nected with said arm, a², by the elbow, a', rounded on its upper angle as shown so
that the link when entering the draw-head will have a curved surface to act upon to
upset the dog and throw the long arm, a², into the slot of the link to hold it in place.
In the upper side of the draw-bead is a slot, as, for the locking cam, A2, pivoted
at the front end and projecting into the space formed by the walls of the draw-
head. The cam, A2, is provided with an inclined face, a, against which the link
acts to raise the cam so that the link can reach the arm, a, of the dog, A¹, to
upset it. The rear part, a', of the cam is curved and forms a bearing for the
long arm, a, of the dog when the latter is upset to hold the link.
The upper side of the locking cam is provided with an eye, a¹, or other
device for lifting the cam when it is desired to release the link. On each side of
the slot, a, are formed slots, a³, and, aº, for the pivoted weights A³, and, A⁹.
These weights are pivoted at their front ends by a rod, a¹, which also passes
through the locking cam, A. The front part, a¹³, of the under side of these weights
is bevelled so that the link in entering the draw-head will be guided toward the
short arm of the dog. The under side, a¹³, of the weight is parallel with the
upper side and when the link has passed thereunder holds the latter in a horizontal
position and ready to enter the draw-head on the car to be coupled.
The rear end, al, of the weights are rabetted and enter a recess, a¹³, formed in the
reer of the draw-head and the lower end is provided with a heel, a¹ which engages

page_text: with the bottom of the draw-head recess. The link in entering the draw-head first
lifts the weights and locking cam, strikes the short arm of the dog which is thereby
upset in such manner as to throw the long arm in through the slot of the link and in
a vertical position back of the locking cam which falls in front of said arm and locks
it in place while the weights which also resume their normal position hold the link
horizontally. By lifting the locking cam and pulling on the link the position of the
dog will be reversed and the link will be free of the locking mechanism. The cam is
then returned to its place and the coupling is ready to receive and lock the link in
place. To unlock the coupling several means may be employed. One is a bar B,
extending across the end of the car and having hand-grasp, b, at each end for turning
or rocking the bar which is provided at its center with a crank arm, b, connected
with the eye, a", by a chain 6. By turning the rocking-bar, B, the locking cam is lifted
and the link is free to upset the dog to its normal position and be withdrawn from the
draw-head. A second bar B¹, extending from a point near the top of the car and
connected by a chain 63, to the crank arm, 62, can also be lifted to remove the locking
cam from contact with the dog. The bar B', is provided with a pin or pro-
jection, 6, which can be raised through the slot in guide, 65, and turned to hold the
bar B', in an elevated position; said bar in turn holding the cam so that the link will
be free to pull out. The advantage of this is found in using a flying switch. The
bar, B¹, is set as above described and the cars behind it are released in time to take
the switch on the run.
The shank D of the draw-bar is provided with a flat coiled spring, D, which resists
the pulling and pushing movement of the draw-head and prevents the jarring that
usually occurs when such means are not provided.
In coupling cars that are provided with my device the weights hold the link in
such position that the end to be inserted is guided into the exact place but in that
class of devices where the link is free to run or hangs loosely from a pin, some means
must be provided for guiding them into the draw-head.
One means for overcoming this is shown in the drawings and consists of the curved
guide-plate, E, which normally hangs from the draw-head to which it is pivoted by
arms, E, E, on the bolt, e, journaled in the draw-head. To raise the plate E, into
position any suitable device may be used. I prefer however to use a buffer, I, having
at its rear end a transverse passage, 1'. The end, i, of the passage is provided with
an opening, i¹, and the opposite end is closed by a washer, 2, held in the passage by
flanges or lugs, . Between the end, i, and the washer, 2, is interposed a coil
spring,, which forces the washer against the flange, 3. The ends of arms E', are
provided with a chain, E³, passing over a pulley, e², secured to the car and connected
to the end of a pull rod, 12, which passes through the passage I¹, to the side of the
car.
The rod, 12, is provided with a cross-head,, which when the rod is pulled passes
through a slot,¿ª, in the washer, and is turned to engage with the groove, in the face of
the washer. When the link strikes the plato, E, all jar is avoided as the blow is more
or less releived by the arms, E¹, drawing upon the chains and rod which forces the
washer against the spring in the lateral passage.
When the plate E, is not used the washer can be released from the cross head and
the weight of the plate will draw the rod, I², to its normal position.
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. In a car coupling the combination of an angular dog pivoted at the elbow
to the bottom of the draw-head, a pivoted locking cam projecting into the draw-head
in front of the vertical arm of the dog, and the pivoted weights on each side of the
locking cam and having the inclined front ends to guide the links to the dog,
substantially as described.
Second. The combination of a draw-head, a guide plate having arms and pivoted
to the draw-head, a buffer having a passage provided with a spring and a slotted

page_text: washer; a pull rod having a cross head and extending through said passage, and a
chain passing over a pulley and connected with the guide plate arms and the ends of
the pull rod.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.