Improvements in the Construction of Automatic Couplings suitable for Railway or Tramway Rolling Stook.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 16th Dec., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Automatic Couplings suitable
for Railway or Tramway Rolling Stook.
I, RUDOLPH HAUB, of 145 Macquarie Street South, in the City of Sydney,
Colony of New South Wales, Australia, Engineer, 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 has reference to certain improvements in the construction of
mechanism to be used in conjunction with certain classes of coupling gear such as
are described in Letters Patent No. 11,171% granted to me on the Fourteenth day
of June A.D. 1892.
These improvements consist more particularly in certain additions to the links,
and inclined planes whereby certainty of action as regards the interlocking of the
hooks and links is ensured, and in the event of the buffers being fully seated and
the shortest possible distance between the vehicles being obtained, the hooks and
links will have each a rising motion imparted to them, such rising motion affording
security against possible damage or disarrangement.
A further addition to the links and draw-bar is also provided for the purpose of
causing them to occupy a certain desired position, and to produce a falling move-
ment when desired.
Another improvement relates to the means employed for facilitating the operation
of uncoupling and also for retaining certain associated parts in positions which will
prevent the coupling operation being performed if it is so desired, it being possible
to perform these operations on either side of the vehicle. The mechanism
employed for this purpose will however, when released by the attendant return to
its normal position and dispose the various parts so that the coupling operation
may be performed automatically, that is when the trucks or vehicles are brought
together.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which similar
letters are used throughout the different views to indicate similar parts, and in
which
Figure 1 is an elevation showing the respective parts of the mechanism.
Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation on the line x, x looking towards the left and
showing the relative position of the hook inclined plane operating lever, cross bar,
and other parts.
Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation on the line y y looking towards the right
with the hook removed and shewing the link, inclined plane and operating gear..
Figure 3 is a detail of Figure 3.
Figure 4 shews the spindle and clutch detached from the tube.
Figure 5 shews tube and crank apart from the spindle.
Figure 6 is a detail of the link showing toe piece and stop, and drawbar with
stop.
Figure 7 is a side elevation partly in section shewing the relative positions of
hook and link during the compression of buffers and when the rising gradient is
operative and
Figure 8 shews the buffers fully compressed and the several parts in their
corresponding positions.
To carry out the first named improvement the links F pivoted to the draw-bar A
by pin B are made of a special form at their extreme or forward end, which is shod
with an extending toe or piece G having an upward curl. This extension toe or
piece serves to assist or facilitate the rising movement of the link when it comes in
1
:

page_text: contact with the inclined portion of the hook C. The surface M of the inclined
plane L is also altered in form by the introduction of a changing gradient N at its
inner end, such changing gradient serving as a guide to the hook C which when in
contact with it is pushed upward into the loop of the link causing it to ride upon
that part of the loop nearest the boss, such upward movement being continued when
the book C is altogether free from contact with the inclined plane L. The
changing gradient is only operative when the distance between the trucks or
vehicles is appreciably lessened by the compression of the springs of the
buffers F1.
To produce the falling movement of the links F, when desired for the purpose of.
causing them to occupy a certain desired position, a stop piece H is affixed to the
boss of the link and a corresponding stop I is attached to the side of the
draw bar A, Figures 3, 6, 7, 8. The position of these stops is determined by
keeping the links F at the desired angle above the horizontal plane so that should
they be struck smartly by the advancing hooks C they will fall quickly to their
normal position and engage with the corresponding hooks.
To carry out the last named improvement a suitable lug or projection J is formed
upon the boss of the link F see Figure 6, preferably below the centre line of the
draw bar A. To the said lug or projection I attach a chain K of suitable length
the opposite end of which is also attached to the inclined plane L in close proximity
to the changing gradient N at its inner end. The lever portion O of the inclined
plane L is pivoted by a pin P to a suitable bearing R attached to the head stroke
or buffer beam G₁ of the truck or vehicle and the inclined plane L is thereby
suspended in the desired position beneath the link. The inner end Q of the lever Ŏ
is secured to a connecting rod S whose upper end is attached to a crank U. formed 2
in the following manner. Two pieces of tube V, V, Figure 5, of different lengths
have each a crank U formed upon one end by screwing or riveting.
The said tubes are supported in bearings W attached to the end of the vehicle
so that they may be partially rotated. A pin T and the boss of the rod S secures
the two cranks U at the required distance from each other. A spindle Y is then 3
fitted into the tube and a clutch disc Z secured thereon between the cranks, the
said clutch disc being formed with a projecting pin A¹ upon one face thereof. A
portion of the spindle Y is allowed to project beyond the outer ends of the tube
and is formed with a square neck B' fitted to slide in a covering plate Cattached
to the outside of the outer bearings W.
3
On the extreme ends of the spindle Y cross handles D' are secured and held in
position by means of nuts E. Upon the tubes V preferably near to the outer
bearings, I attach balance levers X for the purpose of operating the retaining
gear, which is done in the following manner. The balance levers X are set at a
certain desired angle and secured to the tube V. When it is desired to disengage 4
the link F from the hook C the balance lever X is lifted upward which will cause
the tube to rotate upon the spindle Y, the square neck B₁ at each end
preventing the spindle from turning. As the lever is lifted upward the connecting
rod S attached to the crank U and to the lever end Q of the inclined plane L
rises upward and imparts to the inclined plane a downward movement.
4
The chain connection K which is attached to the link F is thus set in motion.
and causes the link to rise and disengage from the jaw of the hook C. If it is
desired to keep the link and inclined plane in their altered relative positions,
which is the position for non-coupling, the spindle Y is pushed or pulled in the
desired direction, when the pin A' of the clutch disc Z will engage with the edge 5
of the crank U and prevent its return. To restore the link and inclined plane to
their normal position for coupling automatically, the pin A' of the clutch disc Z
is withdrawn by pushing or pulling the spindle Y in the desired direction and the
balance levers X will then fall to the desired angle for disposing the operating
parts in their coupling position, the hook C is moreover provided with a lug D on 5
its boss adapted to engage with a projection E on the draw-bar to limit its
downward movement.

page_text: 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
1. In apparatus for coupling railway or tramway vehicles having a hook and
link, or hooks and links, which couple automatically with the aid of an inclined
plane, the combination with such inclined plane of a rising gradient formed at the
inner end of the inclined plane, whereby the hook is diverted from a horizontal to
an angular position, and is made to seat itself upon the extreme inner end of the
link, the said link having an extending toe to facilitate the rising movement of the
link when it comes in contact with the inclined portion of the hook, as described
and shewn, and for the purposes set forth.
2. In apparatus for coupling railway or tramway vehicles having a hook and
link, or hooks and links, which, when engaging with each other will impart to the
link an upward or rising movement, the combination with such link of an extending
toe formed on the extreme outer end, and a stop piece affixed to the boss, such stop
picce engaging with a corresponding stop piece attached to the side of the draw bar,
the relative positions of such stop pieces being such as to prevent the link from
being inoperative when struck smartly by its companion hook, as described and
shewn and for the purposes set forth.
3. In apparatus for coupling railway or tramway vehicles, having a hook and
link, or hooks and links, the combination of a link with an inclined plane by
attaching such link to the inclined plane in the manner described, in combination
with operating and retaining gear consisting of a tube, crank, a connecting rod, a
spindle passing through such tube, a clutch disc, and balance levers all operated
in the manner described and shewn, and for the purposes set forth.
4. In apparatus for coupling railway or tramway vehicles, the operating of any
two parts of such coupling gear simultaneously by the combined use of a stationary
spindle and a rotating crank shaft having balance levers and a clutch for the
purpose of retaining the cranks in a desired position, such mechanism being
operative from either side of the vehicle, as described and shewn and for the
purposes set forth.
Dated this 8th day of August 1893
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.