IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY COUPLINGS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Noel Chandler, of Cannock Chase Foundry, Hednesford,
in the County of Stafford, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY
COUPLINGS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Noel Chandler at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th July 1879.
NOEL CHANDLER, of Cannock Chase Foundry, Hednesford, in the County of
Stafford. "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY COUPLINGS."
The object of this Invention is to couple or uncouple railway wagons, vans, and
other rolling stock from the sides without requiring the aid of a person between the
buffers.
My Invention consists of a shackle connected to any draw hook by a pin or other
suitable method of attachment, and at the lower end of the shackle is suspended by
a rivet or pin a double or reversible swing link, to which are attached hand chains
(or instead of chains, rods and levers can be used) which pass over small runners
or wheels conveniently hung by bracket and pin above the draw hooks and toward
the outsides of the van or wagon to a suitable place for handling by the person
desiring to effect coupling or uncoupling. The ends of the chains can also be
attached, if desired, to hand levers placed in a convenient part of the wagon.
To effect coupling one chain should be pulled from either side of the van or
wagon until one end of the double or reversible swing link is a little, higher than
the hook which it is required to be connected to when the opposite chain should be
pulled, which thrusts the double reversible link forward over the hook by which
coupling is completed. To uncouple the action should be reversed.
The advantages of my improved coupling for connecting railway wagons, vans,
and other rolling stock from the outside are,-
1. It can be added to any existing draw-book.
2. It is not likely to get out of order, even with rough usage.
3. It is simple, and as strong as an ordinary coupling.
4. In case of breakage of the swing-link it can be turned round and used again,
both ends being.alike.
5. It will couple or uncouple when wagons are close up or as far apart as, the
coupling can reach.
6. Life, time, and labour are saved by its use.
7. The coupling can be made any reasonable length, and is entirely under the
control of the person from the side of the wagon..
8. With reasonable handling it never fails, and;
.9. It can be fixed on any wagon by one man in one hour.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said-Noel-Chandler in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th January
1880-
NOEL CHANDLER, of Cannock Chase Foundry, Hednesford, in the County of
Stafford. IMPROVEMENTS. IN RAILWAY COUPLINGS."
The object of my Invention is to couple or uncouple railway vans, wagons, or
other vehicles from the sides thereof without requiring the aid of a person between
the buffers.
. According to my Invention I connect a shackle to an ordinary drawhook by a
pin or other suitable mode of attachment, and at the lower end of the shackle is
suspended by a rivet or pin a swing link, to which are attached light hand chains
(or instead of chains rods and levers may be used) which pass first over grooved
pulleys conveniently 'hung by a bracket which is attached to the outside of the
vehicle above the drawhook, and then over grooved pulleys suitably placed at each
side of the vehicle for the convenience of the attendant desiring to effect coupling
or uncoupling.
The hand chains may be connected to hand levers placed in a convenient part
of the wagon.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a side elevation partly in section of
so much of the two ends of a railway wagon with my improved couplings applied
thereto as will be necessary to illustrate the manner in which I carry my Invention
into effect.
Figure 2 is an end view of a wagon with one of my couplings attached. Similar
letters of reference refer to like parts in both Figures.
'
A is the shackle; B, the drawhook; C, C¹, the swing link; D, the pin or rivet
connecting the swing link C, C', to the shackle A, and forming the fulcrum for the
aforesaid swing link; F, F¹, are the hand chains from swing link; and G, G³, are the
pulleys over which they pass; H, H', are the swinging brackets carrying
the grooved pulleys G, G₁; and I, I, are the guide pulleys at or near the sides of
the wagon or carriage.
J', Ji, are handles, and J*, J*, stop pieces secured to the upper part of chains F, F',
and which assist in keeping them slightly in tension, and prevent them running
over the pulleys further than required.
--
To effect coupling according to my Invention the following action takes place
The chain F, which has an egg shaped handle J at one end, is connected at the
other end to the link C, C¹, at E. The chain For handle J is pulled until the
shackle A is in an horizontal position or nearly so. The link C will then assume
an obtuse position, and by-pulling-the-back-chain F, which is attached to the
link Cat E¹, behind the fulcrum which is at D, a radial motion is imparted to the
link C, C¹, until it acquires the desired position in the drawhook B, and a similar
or reverse action takes place; when the vehicles are to be uncoupled the chain F
is pulled to raise the link C from its position in the drawhook B, and is then
lowered. It is not necessary that the link should be alike at both ends, but I
prefer that it should be.
The advantages of my improved coupling for connecting vehicles from the outside
are,-
First. It can be added to existing drawhooks.
Second. It will couple or uncouple when vehicles are close together or as far
apart as the coupling can reach.
Third. The vehicles need not be at a standstill.
Fourth. Life, time, and labour are saved by its use.
'
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the

page_text: same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my improvements in railway
couplings,—
First. The employment of a double or reversible swing link having chains con-
nected to it on each side of a fulcrum pin, substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The employment of a shackle, from which is suspended a swing link
actuated by chains (or equivalent means) passing over pulleys for facility of opera-
tion at the side of the wagon, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawings:
Third. The general arrangement or any mere modification thereof, substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Noel Chandler, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Second day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
NOEL CHANDLER. (L.S.)