Improvements relating to Automatic Couplings and Coupling-buffers for Railway-vehicles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 27th June, 1891-Accepted, 1st Aug., 1891
NOVIDIUNAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Automatic Couplings and Coupling-buffers
for Railway-vehicles.
I, ALFRED BUCKINGHAM IBBOTSON, of the firm of Ibbotson, Brothers & Co.,
Limited, Globe Steel Works, Sheffield, in the County of York, Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to automatic couplings and coupling-buffers of the kind or
class wherein a hanging locking-pin is so arranged that, when two vehicles provided
with such couplings or coupling-buffers, are brought into contact with each other,
the projecting end of a link from the coupling-head of one vehicle will raise the
hanging locking-pin in the coupling-head of the other vehicle, and the said pin will
then fall into and engage with the said link.
It has been found in practice that, with couplings or coupling-buffers of this
kind or class as hitherto constructed, there is a liability to accidental uncoupling
of the vehicles by reason of the vibration or jolting of the same when in motion.
This vibration or jolting tends to cause the said locking-pin to fly upward when
the tractive force or stress applied to the coupling is suddenly relaxed by a
temporary approach of the vehicles, and the locking-pin is thus, in some instances,
lifted out of the coupling-link in such a manner as to release the latter.
My invention is designed to obviate this defect, whilst retaining the advantages
of the automatic coupling of the vehicles when brought together, and whilst per-
mitting the disengagement of the said locking-pin from the coupling-link with
facility, either through the medium of a rope or chain or in any other convenient
manner, to uncouple the vehicles.
For this purpose, I combine with the aforesaid locking-pin, one or more springs
which tend to depress the said locking-pin and thus effectually prevent any acci-
dental upward movement of the same, but which are not so strong as to prevent
the necessary raising of the said locking-pin by the coupling-link in the automatic
coupling of two vehicles fitted with my improved couplings or coupling-buffers.
The springs which I employ, moreover, are of such strength and are so arranged
that they will not prevent the pulling upward or lifting of the locking-pin by hand
through the medium of a rope or chain, or otherwise, to effect the uncoupling of
the vehicles.
My present improvements are advantageously applicable to couplings or coupling-
buffers such as are described in the Specifications of the following former Letters
Patent viz. No. 1607 dated 15th April 1876, No. 4446 dated 2nd November 1878,
and No. 13400 dated 24th August 1889, and wherein a hanging locking-pin is
employed.
In
In the couplings or coupling-buffers of this kind or class described in the said
former Specifications, the locking-pin is coupled or hinged at its upper end to a
heavy cap or lid, which is connected by a hinge-joint with the coupling-head, or
with a sliding or travelling carriage such as is shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the
drawings accompanying my said former Specification No. 13,400 of 1889.
applying my improvements to such couplings or coupling-buffers, I find it advan-
tageous to arrange the spring or springs to bear upon the top of the said cap or.
lid. By preference 1 make the spring of a single piece of spring-steel of the
required strength and elasticity, and form the same with bosses or lugs through
which are passed the hinge-pin for connecting the said cap or lid to the coupling-
head. The portion of the spring which bears upon the top of the said cap or lid
s, if desired, bent or curved to correspond with the shape of the said cap or lid;
or the said spring may be flat and arranged to bear upon either a flat or a convex

page_text: surface on the said cap or lid. To prevent turning of the spring about the said
hinge-pin, I sometimes make the said spring with one or more projections or
extensions which bear against the rear surface of the flange of the buffer-head or
coupling-head or against one of the cross-pieces of the aforesaid sliding or travelling
carriage, or against any other suitable surface. The spring may be of the same
width as, or somewhat narrower than the said cap or lid as may be found most
desirable.
Dated this 10th day of April 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements relating to Automatic Couplings and Coupling-buffers
for Railway-vehicles.
I, ALFRED BUCKINGHAM IBBOTSON, of the firm of Ibbotson, Brothers and
Company, Limited, Globe Steel Works, Sheffield, in the County of York, Merchant,
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 automatic couplings and coupling-buffers of the kind or
class wherein a hanging locking-pin is so arranged that, when two vehicles provided
with such couplings or coupling-buffers are brought into contact with each other,
the projecting end of a link from the coupling-head of one vehicle will raise the
hanging locking-pin in the coupling-head of the other vehicle, and the said pin
will then fall into and engage with the said link.
It has been found in practice that, with couplings or coupling-buffers of this
kind or class as hitherto constructed, there is a liability to accidental uncoupling
of the vehicles by reason of the vibration or jolting of the same when in motion,
more especially when the vehicles are going down an incline. This vibration or
jolting tends to cause the said locking-pin to fly upward when the tractive force or
stress applied to the coupling is relaxed by a temporary approach of the vehicles,
and the locking-pin is thus, in some instances, lifted out of the coupling-link in such
a manner as to release the latter.
My invention is designed to obviate this defect, whilst retaining the advantages
of the automatic coupling of the vehicles when brought together, and whilst per-
mitting the intentional disengagement of the said locking-pin from the coupling-
link with facility, either through the medium of a rope or chain or in any other
convenient manner, to uncouple the vehicles.
For this purpose, I combine, with the aforesaid locking-pin, one or more springs
which tend to depress the said locking-pin and thus effectually prevent any acci-
dental upward movement of the same, but which are not so strong as to prevent
the necessary raising of the said locking-pin by the coupling-link in the automatic
coupling of two vehicles fitted with my improved couplings or coupling-buffers.
The said springs should, moreover, be of such strength and so arranged that they
will not prevent the pulling upward or lifting of the locking-pin by hand through
the medium of a rope or chain, or otherwise, to effect the intentional uncoupling of
the vehicles.
My present improvements are advantageously applicable to couplings or coupling-
buffers, such as are described in the Specifications of the following former Letters
Patent, viz. No. 1607 dated 15th April 1876, No. 4446 dated 2nd November 1878,
and No. 13,400 dated 24th August 1889, wherein a hanging locking-pin is
employed.
In the couplings or coupling-buffers of this kind or class as described in the
said former Specifications, the locking-pin is coupled or hinged at its upper end

page_text: to a heavy cap or lid, which is connected by a hinge-joint with the coupling-
head, or with a sliding or travelling carriage such as is shown in Figures 5
and 6 of the drawings accompanying my said former Specification No. 13,400
of 1889. In applying my improvements to such couplings or coupling-butters,
I find it advantageous to arrange the spring or springs to bear upon the top of
Hid. By preference i make the spring of a single piece of spring-
steel or steel rod of the required strength and elasticity, as hereinafter more
particularly described.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, of one form of coupling-
buffer provided with a holding-down spring in accordance with my said invention.
preter
make the spring of a single piece of spring-
steel or steel rod of the required strength and elasticity, as hereinafter more
particularly described.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, of one form of coupling-
buffer provided with a holding-down spring in accordance with my said invention.
Figure 2 is a phens and
Figure 3 a side elevation, partly in vertical section, showing a slight modification
of my said invention.
Figure 4 is a plan, and
Figure 5 a side elevation, partly in vertical section, and
Figure 6 an end elevation, illustrating the application of my invention to a
coupling-buffer wherein the hanging locking-pin is coupled to a cap or lid carried
by a sliding or travelling carriage in the coupling-head.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing,
A is the buffer-head or coupling-head, a is the coupling-link, b is the hanging
locking-pin pivoted at to the cap or lid c, which is connected by a hinge-joint c¹
to the said coupling-head A as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, or to the sliding or
travelling carriage d as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6.
is the spring for holding down the cap or lid c and locking-pin b. This
spring is made from a steel rod or wire which is bent and coiled as shown, 60
that it extends across the said cap or lid c and its coiled portions serve as bosses
or lugs through which passed the pin of the hinge-joint c' for connecting the
said cap or lid to the coupling-head or to the sliding carriage. The portions
of the springe at each end of the part thereof which bears upon the top of
the said cap or lid may be straight as shown in Figures 1 and 5, or they may
be bent or curved to correspond with the shape of the said cap or lid as shown
in Figure 3. To prevent turning of the spring e about the hinge-pin, I make
the said spring with projections or extensions e¹ which bear against the rear surface
of the flange of the buffer-head or coupling-head as shown in Figures 1,
and 3,
or are fitted into holes in one of the cross-pieces of the aforesaid sliding or
travelling carriage d, as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6. Or the said extensions e¹
may be secured or held in any other convenient manner.
sometimes employ a plate provided with lugs
the rod or wire forming the spring e, and with lugs
the pin of the hinge-joint c'. This plate assists to
proper position, and the said plate may bear the name
coupling or coupling-buffer and any other particulars that may be desired.
through which is passed
through which is passed
retain the spring in its
of the maker of the
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood
that I claim :—
First. In a coupling or coupling-buffer provided with a hanging locking-pin, a
spring or springs so constructed and arranged as to hold down the said locking-pin
and thus prevent accidental uncoupling of the vehicles, whilst permitting the
automatic coupling and the intentional uncoupling of the said vehicles when
required.
Second. In a coupling or coupling-buffer, the combination, with a locking-pin
suspended from a cap or lid which is pivoted to the coupling-head or buffer-head,
of a spring which is kept in place by the hinge-pin of the said cap or lid and which
holds down the latter and the said locking-pin, substantially as hereinbefore
described and for the purpose specified.

page_text: Third. The modification of my invention wherein the spring is secured to a
carriage to which is pivoted the cap or lid having the locking-pin coupled thereto,
and which is arranged to move to and fro in the buffer-head or coupling-head,
substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Dated this 27th day June 1891.
ALFRED BUCKINGHAM IBBOTSON.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.