Improvements in Couplings for Railway or other Wagons.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 1st Sept., 1891-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Couplings for Railway or other Wagons.
I, JAMES HEATON, of The Poplars, Spring Bank, Pemberton, Wigan, in the
County of Lancaster, Wagon Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object a coupling in which fresh links can be inserted
when the old ones are worn or broken without the agency of a smith, and yet so
arranged that it will be practically impossible for anyone to steal the said links
except by using as much work as if they had to unscrew the drawbar itself.
The railway companies at the present time require a chain of three links to each
hook, and these links must no longer be made, as formerly, of two links and a
shackle. In order therefore to comply with the new regulations, various devices
have been made for passing the links through slots in the drawbar hook instead
of through a hole, as heretofore, when a shackle and pin were used instead of the
top link.
Now my invention is designed to enable one to introduce fresh links without
interfering with the drawbar in any way, and, as the improved shackle will also be
serviceable in using up the present hooks, a saving will be thus effected in the
expense of new ones.
In carrying out my invention, I provide a bar screwed at each end and bent
round hot into a link, leaving a hiatus between the ends large enough to admit the
other link or the draw-hook to pass between the ends.
I, also provide a nut screwed on the long arm till it passes the end of the bar
before bending the same in position. After the link has been inserted in the draw
hook hole and the other link in it, the nut is screwed down till it comes onto the
other end of the bar forming the link and has a good hold of it. In place of a
screwed nut and bar, a plain bent bar can be used, and a sleeve run over the hole
in the same way that the nut is screwed down over it, and then the sleeve held by
two pins, or a bridge piece of other form can be used to fill the hiatus.
Dated this 29th day of November 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Couplings for Railway or other Wagons.
I, JAMES HEATON, of The Poplars, Spring Bank, Pemberton, Wigan, in the
County of Lancaster, Wagon Builder, 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 has for its object a coupling in which fresh links can be inserted
when the old ones are worn or broken without the agency of a smith, and yet so
arranged that it will be practically impossible for anyone to steal the said links
except by using as much work as if they had to unscrew the drawbar itself.
The railway companies at the present time require a chain of three links to each
hook, and these links must no longer be made, as formerly, of two links and a
shackle. In order therefore to comply with the new regulations, various devices
have been made for passing the links through slots in the drawbar hook instead
of through a hole, as heretofore, when a shackle and pin were used instead of the
top link.

page_text: Now this invention is designed to enable one to introduce fresh links without
interfering with the drawbar in any way, and as the improved shackle will also be
serviceable in using up the present hooks a saving will be thus effected in the
expense of new ones.
It is best described by aid of the accompanying drawing, showing the best mode
known to me of carrying the invention into effect.
In this, A is a bar screwed at each end and bent round hot into a link as shown,
leaving a hiatus between the ends large enough to admit the other link or the draw
hook to pass between the ends.
B is a nut shown partly in section, and screwed on the long arm C till it passes
the end of the bar before bending the same in position. After the link has been
inserted in the draw hook hole and the other link in it, the nut is screwed down till
it comes on to the other end of the bar forming the link and has a good hold of it.
In place of a screwed nut and bar a plain bent bar can be used, and a sleeve run
over the hole in the same way that the nut is screwed down over it, and then the
sleeve held by two pins, or a bridge piece of other form can be used to fill the
hiatus. I prefer the nut as shown in the drawing to any other type.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
A removable draw link formed with a slot or hiatus in one side and a removable
nut link or bridge piece filling up or covering the same, substantially as and for
the purposes described.
Dated this 21st dof At 1001
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.