Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 23rd Sept., 1887
Complete Accepted, 25th Oct., 1887
I, THOMAS DICKINSON SWIFT of Ince Waggon and Iron works Co., Ince in the
County of Lancaster, Waggon Builder do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
In Gaskell's patent No. 2997 of 1884 now owned by me, a method is shown and
other slightly varying methods described by which the coupling chain can be securely
fitted into the draw bar, so that it can only be extracted by the taking out of the
draw bar itself. The claims of that patent though very comprehensive might
perhaps be held not to cover a further method of accomplishing the object sought, not
set forth in the specification, namely combining with the draw bar a movable cover
piece, which is held in position by being passed with the draw bar through the buffer
beam, or which is held between the buffer beam or the draw hook plate and the draw
bar or draw hook in such manner that it cannot be removed without the draw bar
being unscrewed and withdrawn partly or wholly from its position.
A mode of carrying out the invention is as follows:-
:-
I provide a draw hook with a slot or recess in the shank, in substantially the same
position relatively to the hook as the shackle bolt hole is in ordinary draw bars. Into
this recess or socket which is preferably placed obliquely, the coupling link is inserted,
and in order to prevent the link from falling out or being otherwise removed from
the hook, I provide a stop plate which is made to completely cover the entrance to the
recess. The stop plate may be provided with a lip or tooth, which when dropped
into a recess of corresponding shape in the draw bar, prevents the plate from moving
laterally, and as the headstock or under-framing of the vehicle prevents it being
raised, it is held firmly in position and prevents the coupling being removed.
The mode of action is as follows:-
The link is inserted in the recess or slot before the draw bar is finally secured in
place. The stop plate is dropped into its position covering the entrance to the slot.
The draw bar is then screwed up until the under frame of the wagon covers the
stop plate sufficiently to prevent it being raised. The coupling is therefore now

page_text: Owing to the oblique
securely fastened to the draw bar and cannot be removed.
position of the slot, the coupling when in use will remain in one position. To remove
the coupling, all that is required is to slacken the screw, and pull out the draw
bar, until the stop plate can be lifted off, when the coupling can be removed.
When continuous draw bars are employed, I prefer to cut the draw bar in the
centre and unite the two ends with a link with a right and left handed nut
or with their equivalent, so that the book can be drawn out or fixed in position
at pleasure.
It is evident that the stop plate may be secured in a manner other than that already
described, as for instance by bolting or otherwise securing it to the draw bar, draw
bar plate, or framing of the vehicle. If it is fastened to any other part than the
draw bar, I prefer to form the plate so that it not only completely covers the entrance
to the slot or recess, but extends beyond it, hence if from any cause, such as the
spring becoming worn, the draw bar is not fixed in its normal position, the stop plate
will still cover the slot and prevent the coupling being removed.
If
If it is desired to provide a deep slot or recess, I may form the draw hook with a
beak projecting from its upper surface on the front or both sides of the recess.
this is provided the stop plate is shaped accordingly.
Dotad this Seventeenth day of Nuch 1887

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Appertaining to Couplings for Railway
Rolling Stock.
I, THOMAS DICKINSON SWIFT, of Ince Wagon and Iron Works Co. Limited, of
Ince, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer and Managing Director, 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:-
In Gaskell's patent No. 2997 of 1884, now owned by me, a method is shown, and
other slightly varying methods described, by which the coupling chain can be
securely fitted into the draw bar, so that it can only be extracted by the taking out of
the draw bar itself. The claims of that patent, though very comprehensive, might
perhaps be held not to cover a variation in the method of accomplishing the object.
sought, not set forth in the specification, namely, combining with the draw bar a
movable cover piece, which is held in position by being passed with the draw-bar
through the buffer beam, or which is held between the buffer beam or the draw hook
plate, and the draw bar or draw hook in such manner that it cannot be removed
without the draw bar being unscrewed and withdrawn, partly or wholly from
its position.
The invention is best described by aid of the accompanying drawing, in which,
Figures, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are all modifications of my invention; referring first to
Figures 1, 2, and 3.
In these, I provide a draw-hook A with a slot or recess C in the shank, in
substantially the same position relatively to the hook as the shackle bolt hole is in
ordinary draw-bars. Into this recess or socket which is preferably placed obliquely
and opening above, the coupling link B is inserted, and in order to prevent the link
from falling out or being otherwise removed from the hook, I provide a stop plate H
which is made to completely cover the entrance to the recess leaving preferably only
a round hole for the link as set forth in Figures 1 and 2. The stop plate may,
however, be provided with a lip or tooth E, Figure 3, which when dropped into
another recess of corresponding shape in the draw-bar prevents the plate from
moving laterally or longitudinally, and as the head stock or under-framing of the
vehicle prevents it being raised, it is held firmly in position, and prevents the coupling
being removed.
The mode of action is as follows:
The link is inserted in the recess or slot before the draw-bar is finally secured in
place. The stop plate is dropped into its position in or over the slot and covering
the entrance. The draw bar is then screwed up until the underframe of the wagon
covers the stop plate sufficiently to prevent it being raised. The coupling is
therefore now securely fastened to the draw-bar and cannot be removed. Owing to
the oblique or vertical position of the slot, the coupling, when in use, will remain in

page_text: '
one position at the bottom thereof. To remove the coupling, all that is required is to
slacken the screw and pull out the draw-bar, until the stop plate can be lifted off,
when the coupling can be removed.
When continuous draw-bars are employed, I prefer to cut the draw-bar in the
centre, and unite the two ends with a link with a right and left handed nut, or
with their equivalent, so that the hook can be drawn out or fixed in position
at pleasure.
It is evident that the stop plate may be secured in a manner other than that
already described as for instance, by bolting or otherwise securing it to the draw-bar,
draw-bar plate D or framing of the vehicle.
Figure 4 shows it bolted to the draw-bar by screws G, Figure 5 shows it bolted
to the draw-bar plate D or buffer beam, and covering and passing beyond the
slot. If it be fastened to any other part than the draw-bar, as in Figure 5, I
prefer to form the plate so that it not only completely covers the entrance to the
slot or recess, but extends beyond it, as shown, hence if from any cause, such as
the spring becoming worn, the draw-bar is not fixed in its normal position, the
stop plate will still cover the slot, and prevent the coupling being removed.
If it is desired to provide a deep slot or recess I may form the draw hook with
a beak projecting from its upper surface on the front or both sides of the recess.
If this is provided the stop plate is shaped accordingly so as to well fill the slot
above the link, and be provided with a tail piece covered by the butter beam.
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 :-
1st. A draw bar hook with a slot C for the coupling links to lie in, and a cover
plate prevented from sliding longitudinally on the buffer beam by having a part
projecting into slot E or other recess in the drawbar, and prevented from rising
upward through being held down by the buffer beam, by screws, or by their
mechanical equivalent.
2nd. A draw bar hook having a slot for the coupling link to be suspended from, in
combination with a cover piece covering the slot, and travelling with the draw-
bar, and inseparable therefrom, while the draw bar is in normal position in the
buffer beam.
3rd. The combination of a draw-bar hook having the coupling link supported
thereon or therein, so that it can be lifted off the draw bar hook when the cover piece
is not in place, in combination with a cover piece forming with the draw bar hook a
hole in which the link is locked, and from which it cannot be extracted except by
slackening off the draw-bar, or undoing fastenings rigidly connecting the cover-piece
with the draw bar hook.
4th. A cover plate fixed to the buffer-plate, and securely covering and passing
some distance beyond a slot in the draw bar hook, enclosing the end of the draw link,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
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