An Improved Automatic Car Coupling.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 16th June, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JOSEPH FLETCHER TOOMER, Zumpango
de la Laguna, Estado de Mexico, Mexico.]
An Improved Automatic Car Coupling.
I ETHEL MARION TOOMER 38 Ebury Street London S. W. 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved automatic car coupling apparatus, and is
intended to provide a safe and reliable nieans of coupling without requiring to be
operated by hand, and one which can be used with an ordinary coupling when
required.
The coupling is made by means of an ordinary link which engages with a hook
fitted to a drawhead on each carriage. The drawhead is formed with an opening
at the front of about the thickness of the link employed, so that when one car is
not coupled to another the link will be held in a nearly horizontal position,
projecting from the drawhead ready to enter the opposite one when the cars come
together. The link is not connected permanently to a drawhead but is held loosely
by the hook above mentioned. This hook is pivoted to the drawhead, the pivot
being precisely in line with the link. This hook when in its lower position rests
against the inside of the front of the drawhead. When the link enters and hits
the hook the latter is raised, falling again when the link has entered fully and
engaging with the link.
The pivot hole of the hook is made oval or slotted, so that the hook can move
slightly to and fro, and when any strain is put upon it can abut against the front
of the drawhead.
The hook is formed with a lug at the top to which is attached a chain for the
purpose of releasing the coupling. The chain is connected to an arm on a lever
extending across the carriage to the sides where it is furnished with a handle by
which it is operated.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to
the accompanying sheet of drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a half plan and half section of a drawhead, Fig. 2, is a longitudinal
section of the same,
Fig. 3 is an end view of the drawhead,
Figs, 4 & 5 are cross sections respectively on the lines x, x, and y, y, Fig. 2;
Fig. 6 is a side elevation of parts of two carriages coupled together, and
Fig. 7 is an end view of the lower part of a carriage or truck with coupling
device fitted.
A. is the drawhead fitted to the body of the carriage or truck B, in any ordinary
manner.
The drawhead is formed with a horizontal slot or recess a at front of just
sufficient width and depth to allow the link C to enter freely without permitting it
when loosely held to drop far or become too much inclined. The edges of the
opening are rounded on every side, so that if on the cars coming together the end
of the link is not central it will be guided into its proper place.
The pin
The hook D is pivotted at E to the drawhead and moves vertically.
hole d is of slotted form allowing the hook to be pulled forward a short distance.
The hook is of great strength and circular in cross section excepting at the most
forward part d' of the bend which is made thicker as it takes the greater part of
the strain.

page_text: As shown clearly in Fig. 2 when the link C enters the mouth of the recess a it
forces up the hook and on the end of the link passing the point of the hook, the
latter will drop and retain the link.
On any pull being given, the hook will move forward and the front d' will bear
against the inner face a' of the drawhead, thus rendering it practically impossible
to break the hook. The hook is formed with a lug F at top to which is attached
the chain f. for raising the hook.
This chain as shown in Fig. 6 & 7, is connected to an arm 9 on the transverse
horizontal rod G. extending from side to side of the carriage. This rod is furnished
with the handles g' which may be formed by simply bending down the ends. It
can move in guides a short distance in either direction.
"
This is for the purpose of holding the hook in open position preventing any
chance of accidental coupling. The rod is moved so that one handle is slidden in
front of the carriage and is prevented from turning back and allowing the hook to
fall by the carriage itself, as shown in the left hand part of Fig. 6 and in Fig. 7.
Provision is thus made for the operation of making a "flying switch or giving a
car a "kick" by which cars can be brought together without coupling.
If found necessary the hook can be raised from the top of the car by a small
chain attached to the lever arm at one end and the top of the car at the other.
Two drawheads may be placed on each ear in the place commonly occupied by
the buffers.
In this case one of the drawheads is furnished with a fixed link so that on a
carriage at each end, one drawhead has a link and the other a hook. The cars will
thus be coupled whichever ends meet, a link always coming opposite to a hook.
In this case the mouth of the drawhead will require to be wider and the springs
capable of more elongation than in the former case.
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 I
claim is :-
1. An improved car coupling comprising a link of the ordinary kind and a draw-
head having a hook pivotted loosely within it and capable of moving longitudinally,
a recess for the insertion of the link and an inner face against which the front of
the hook can abut, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
2. In an automatic car coupling the combination with a connecting link of a
drawhead having a pivotted hook in a recess, engaging with the link and means for
raising the hook and releasing the link, consisting of a rod with arm connected to
the hook by a chain, the rod passing to the side of the car, where it is furnished
with a handle, and capable of moving crosswise, so that the car can form a stop and
hold the hook in open position, substantially as described and shown and for the
purposes specified.
3. The improved automatic coupling device consisting of a drawhead fitted
centrally on the car containing a pivotted hook with slotted pivot hole allowing it
to move longitudinally, the drawhead being formed with an inner face against
which the front of the hook can abut, and an opening in the face, the drawheads
when meeting being connected by a loose link passing through the openings in the
faces and engaging with the hooks, substantially as described and shown and for the
purposes specified.
4. The improved automatic coupling apparatus for use with railway carriages,
constructed and operating substantially in the manner described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 6th day of April 1894.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.