Improvements in Couplings of Railway Rolling Stock and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1897-Accepted, 28th Aug.,
1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Couplings of Railway Rolling Stock and the like.
We, CHARLES MACDERMOTT, of 159 Queen Street, Melbourne, in the Colony of
Victoria, Gentleman, and GEORGE GARIBALDI TURRI, of 159 Queen Street, Mel-
bourne, in the Colony of Victoria, Patent Agent, 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:-
The object of our improvements is to provide a simple cheap and efficient car
coupling suitable for railway waggons. The coupling we use comprises end links
of any desired construction with an elongated intermediate link of triangular
shape. The form of an isosceles triangle with the angle at the apex smaller than
either angle at the base is what we find suitable. We have found by experiment
that such an intermediate link will remain without change in either of several
positions, thus allowing the waggons to be tightly or loosely coupled together,
whilst coupling and uncoupling can be performed with great rapidity thus reducing
liability to accidents, and saving an amount of time (as compared with the time
required by screw couplings) which in course of a year, means an important
economy in wages. It is well known that loose couplings, are to a large extent
used for connecting goods trucks; and it is further known that such use leads to
injury to the goods from jolting, to breakage of couplings during use, and to
damage to the waggons themselves. Each result causes expense the heaviest item
being for the repair of the rolling stock. Now with our invention, all expenses
from these causes will be materially decreased. In these facts, combined with the
extreme cheapness of construction of our coupling as compared with all others
that can be tightly coupled, lie its distinguishing advantages.
Referring now to the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows a side view of
trucks ends with a coupling in its slack or lengthened position. Figure 2 shows
the same parts in the closely coupled position. Figure 3 is a plan view of the
coupling when in the position in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a plan view of the
coupling extended to its extreme length.
In these drawings the two links of any desired construction are marked A and B
respectively, and the special triangular link is marked C. The draw hooks are
marked XX.
The mode of operation of the triangular link C is obvious. The principle of
this invention might be retained whilst altering minor details or modifying the
particular form shown in the drawings which is simply a good form as actually
used on some of the rolling-stock of the Victorian Railways.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. In a coupling a link of substantially triangular form for the purposes set
Soth

page_text: 2. A coupling having an elongated link as C adapted to be placed in and retain
the respective positions shown in Figures 1 and 2 and thereby form either a slack
or a close connection substantially as set forth.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.