Improvements in or relating to Automatic Couplings for the Air- brake Pipes and other Pipes of Railway Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 18th Mar.,
1899
Improvements in or relating to Automatic Couplings for the Air-
brake Pipes and other Pipes of Railway Vehicles..
A communication from JOSEPH ETHAN FORSYTH, Manufacturer, of 3763, Ellis
Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 an improvement in the class of couplings employed
between cars for automatically coupling the train-pipe, whether air-brake pipe,
signal-pipe or steam-pipe, or any two or all of them.
Referring to the accompanying drawings-
Figure shows by a broken view the end portion in sectional side elevation
of each of two freight-cars equipped with this improved automatic coupling for
the air-brake train-pipe; Figure 2 shows the same couplings in side elevation
detached from the cars and separated; Figure 3 is a plan view of the same;
Figure 4, a view of the coupling in front elevation; Figure 5, a section taken
at the line 5 on Figure 2; Figure 6, a section taken at the line 6 on Figure 5;
Figure 7, a view in elevation of a cross-slitted dust-excluding rubber-washer
detail; Figure 8, a longitudinal sectional view of a telescoping joint in the train-
pipe; Figure 9, a view in sectional elevation of a drip-detail; Figure 10, a plan
view of the improved coupling as adapted for coupling the air-brake signal and
steam pipes on a passenger-train; Figure 11, a view of the same in side elevation ;
Figure 12, a view of the same in front elevation; Figure 13, a section taken at
the line 13 on Figure 11; Figure 14, an elevation taken at the line 14 on
Figure 11; and Figure 15, a section taken at the line 15 on Figure 11.
A is a train-pipe, which usually extends lengthwise along the bottom of the
car to one side of its center. For the present purpose, which involves locating
the improved coupling beneath the car-coupling B, a vertical bend r is formed in
the train pipe, at a suitable distance back from each end of the car C, this bend
reaching below the plane of the car-coupler; and from the bend another bend r¹
extends transversely of the bottom of the car about to its center and has connected
with it the continuation of the pipe A, preferably carrying at its outer end the
two telescoping pipe-sections q and q¹, to afford play like that afforded to the
car-coupler B by its draw-bar spring, whereby the car-coupler and pipe-coupler
may move correspondingly.
The improved coupling involves the following-described construction:
cap 0,
of
D is a metal head, preferably cast, and containing a rear chamber p
covered by a
from the center
which oxtends
a tubular
nipple o From one side of the chamber p there extends forward
its
tubular chamber p¹ containing near
outer end a restricted and
a
rounded, seat ; and a similar chamber p extends forward from the opposite

page_text: side of the chamber p and has a bell-mouth termination p³. A tube n having
rounded heads n' and n² respectively at its opposite ends, is held loosely at one
of its heads in the chamber 21 to project beyond it, and fits against the seat v
therein, being confined by a rubber washer ¹, fitting the rear portion of the tube-
head and yieldingly held against it by a spring-pressed tubular bearing To
tend to sustain the tube n in proper horizontal alignment, it is supported by a
prop (Fig. 6) on a vertically reciprocable stem surrounded by a spring
confined against the prop in a housing below the tube and opening into the
chamber.
Within the chamber 2 is confined between an annular shoulder s at the inner
end of the bell-mouth and a spring-pressed tube 4, equipped with means for
guiding it in its reciprocating movements, a rubber washer m, dished in its
outer face and having its central portion cross-slitted, as indicated at in Figure 7,
to form the flaps m.
To the nipple o' is attached a coupling, shown as a T-coupling and containing
a three-way valve k provided with an operating handle . From one side of the
coupling there extends an elbow-tube upon which to connect a coupling-hose
(not shown) in the event of the requirement for coupling a car equipped with
the improved automatic coupler with one not so equipped, but having instead the
old form of hose-coupling.
The device is connected with the train-pipe A at its telescoping section q', and
extends parallel with and underneath the car-coupling B, from which there
depends, for supporting the air-coupling, a bifurcated hanger i to receive a slotted
bar rising from the head D and at which the suspending connection is made
by a pin passed through the slot in the bar and through perforations in the
hanger. The device is further supported at the forward extension of the train-
pipe A by a hanger g depending from the bottom of the car C near its forward end.
When two cars, each equipped with the improvement, come together for
coupling, their train-pipes are automatically coupled between cars by the outer
end of the tube n of each coupling entering the bell-mouth 23 of the other to be
received in the dished face of the washer m; and the spring-pressed condition
of the washers and tubes enables the coupling-action to be performed without
strain and effects and maintains a close junction between the connecting members
of the two couplings.
With the valve in the position in which it is shown in Figure 5, the air
enters the coupling-chamber ? through the nipple o¹, which should be of about
the same diameter as the train-pipe; and from the chamber the body of air
is divided to pass through the tubes n and 2, the combined diameters of which
should about equal or somewhat exceed the diameter of the train-pipe. As will
be understood, by properly adjusting the valve the air may be directed from
the train-pipe through the elbow-pipe 1, and thus past the improved coupling-
device, when the old hose-connection is employed. The air readily passes the
yielding flaps ml of the washer m, which tend normally to close and seal the
device, in its uncoupled condition, against the ingress of dust.
The foregoing describes the improvement in its simplest form, as a means of
coupling a train-pipe, whether air or steam be passed through it, though air alone
has been herein before referred to as the fluid. It may be steam, however, and in
that case may be provided an especially desirable form of drip-device E (Fig. 9)
depending from the chamber p in the head D. It comprises a chamber h con-
nected by a pipe-section h¹ with the bottom of the chamber p and containing a
valve seated in a discharge-opening f' in its bottom. A tendency is given to
the valve to open by rising, through the medium of a lever f2 fulcrumed between
its ends on the casing of the chamber h, weighted at its outer end and connected
at its opposite end with the valve-stem f³. The valve has an upper guide-stem. f*
in a spider-bearing f5 in the chamber h.
The pressure of steam in the chamber 2, when the coupling is in use, overcomes
the resistance of the weighted end of the lever f and holds the valve f closed, or

page_text: against its seat; but when the device is uncoupled, and the steam-pressure is
accordingly removed, the weighted lever opens the valve to permit the water of
condensation to discharge through the opening f¹.
To adapt this improved device for automatically and simultaneously coupling
the air-brake pipe, signal-pipe and steam-pipe of a train, the several parts in the
head D are provided in triplicate. Thus on the back of the cast head D are formed
three chambers one above the other; and from the center of the cover o there
extend the three nipples o' (Figure 14) in horizontal alignment with each other,
for coupling therewith, respectively, the air-brake pipe, the air-signal pipe and
the steam-pipe, which three pipes are parallel on the same horizontal plane along
the bottom of the car. The air-brake pipe, being in alignment with the nipple o
of the central chamber is directly connected therewith, and the air which enters
that chamber goes out through the chambers and p² respectively at its opposite
sides, the former of which contains a headed tube n confined therein between a
seat and a washer under control of a spring-pressed bearing 2, and the latter
of which has a bell-mouth termination and contains a washer m under control of
a spring-pressed tube . The air-signal pipe connects with the nipple to one
side of the brake-pipe nipple. This signal-pipe nipple does not communicate with
the central chamber 2, but with the upper chamber p through a cored passage
represented at 10 in the cover o. The steam-pipe connects with the nipple at
the opposite side of the central, nipple, this steam-pipe nipple having also no com-
munication with the central chamber p, but communicating through a cored
passage represented at 2" with the lowermost chamber p, from which depends
the drip-device E.
As will be understood, from the upper chamber p as well as from the lower
chamber there extend the tubular chambers 7 and 72 equipped with the same
parts as those described in connection with the middle chamber including a
washer m in each chamber 2, which is really a species of check-valve.
pipe is provided with its own three-way valve k and elbow-tube leading there-
from for the hose-coupling connection herein before referred to.
66
Each
Although the termi train-pipe" is more commonly employed in the art to
signify the air-brake pipe, it is intended herein to signify thereby either the air-
brake pipe, the air-signal pipe or the steam-pipe.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1-In an automatic train-pipe coupling, the combination of a head provided with
a rear chamber at which to connect the pipe, tubular chambers leading from and
communicating with each other through said rear chamber, and a tube confined
in and projecting beyond one of said tubular chambers, substantially as described.
2-In an automatic train-pipe coupling, the combination of a head provided with
a rear chamber at which to connect the pipe, tubular chambers leading from and
communicating with each other only through said rear chamber, a tube headed at
its opposite ends and confined at one head in a spring-pressed bearing in one of said
tubular chambers, the other tubular chamber terminating in a bell-mouth and
containing a spring-pressed valve, substantially as described.
In an automatic train-pipe coupling, the combination of a head provided with
a rear chamber at which to connect the pipe, tubular chambers leading from and
communicating with each other through said rear chamber, and a tube confined
in and projecting beyond one of said tubular chambers, the other tubular chamber
terminating in a bell-mouth and containing a dish-faced spring-pressed slitted
rubber washer m, substantially as described.
4-In an automatic train-pipe coupling, the combination of a head provided with
a rear chamber at which to connect the pipe, tubular chambers leading from and
communicating with each other through said rear chamber, a tube headed at its
opposite ends and confined at one head against a bearing in one of said tubular

page_text: chambers.containing a washer v¹ controlled by a spring-pressed tubular bearing
the other tubular chamber terminating in a bell-mouth and containing a slitted
washer m controlled by a spring-pressed tube p*, substantially as described.
5 In an automatic train-pipe coupling, the combination of a head provided with
a rear chamber, a connection between said chamber and pipe containing a three-way
valve, an elbow-tube extending from said connection for a hose-coupling, tubular
chambers leading from and communicating with each other through said rear
chamber, and a tube confined in and projecting beyond one of said tubular chambers,
substantially as described.
,
6--In combination with the chamber of a train steam-pipe automatic coupling,
a drip-device comprising a chamber h containing a bearing f and provided with a
discharge-opening in its bottom, a valve f seated in said opening and having a
protruding stem f³ and a guide-stem f' in said bearing, and a lever f fulcrumed
between its ends, weighted at one end and connected at its opposite end with said
valve-stem, substantially as described.
7-In an automatic train-pipe coupling, the combination of a head provided
with rear chambers respectively connecting with the air-brake pipe, the air-signal
pipe and the steam-pipe, a pair of tubular chambers 1 and 2 leading from and
communicating with each other through each of said rear chambers, and a tube n
confined in and projecting beyond each chamber p, substantially as described.
8-In an automatic train-pipe coupling, the combination of a head D provided
with rear chambers having a cover equipped with nipples each communicating
with one of said chambers for connection thereof respectively with the air-brake
pipe, signal pipe and steam pipe, chambers pleading from said rear chambers and
each having loosely confined in it a tube n, and chambers 22 leading from said
rear chambers and each terminating in a bell-mouth p³ and containing a spring-
pressed valve m, substantially as described.
Dated this 23rd day of January 1899.