IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM OR APPARATUS FOR COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING RAILWAY TRUCKS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Agars Walker, commonly called John George
Agars Walker, of Danes Hill, near Retford, in the County of Notts, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM OR APPARATUS FOR COUPLING
AND UNCOUPLING RAILWAY TRUCKS."
Sealed the 17th July 1877, and dated the 30th April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Agars Walker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th April 1877.
"
GEORGE AGARS WALKER, commonly called JOHN GEORGE AGARS WALKER, of
Danes Hill, near Retford, in the County of Notts. IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM
OR APPARATUS FOR COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING RAILWAY TRUCKS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in mechanism or apparatus for
coupling and uncoupling trucks or freight cars on railways in the ordinary manner,
but without the necessity of the attendant going between the buffers, thus pre-
venting accidents which accrue therefrom; also by the use of this Invention time can
be saved in the operation. For this purpose I place a spindle across each end of the
car and a certain height above the hook and chain, at each end of which spindle a
lever is attached; also near the centre of same spindle two arms project, these
arms are clasped to the end link, and are made pliable.
The attendant, with the assistance of a lever at either side of the truck or car,
can couple or uncouple them, and at a variety of heights, by the action of lifting
either of the levers at the side of car.
Also by the action of the two arms, the cbain will be held more securely in the
hook of the car it is coupled with, being of special benefit when going round curves
or down inclines.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Agars Walker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
October 1877.
"
GEORGE AGARS WALKER, commonly called JOHN GEORGE AGARS WALKER, of
Danes Hill, near Retford, in the County of Notts. IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM
OR APPARATUS FOR COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING RAILWAY TRUCKS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in mechanism or apparatus for
coupling trucks or freight cars on railways in the ordinary manner, but without
the necessity of the attendant going between the buffers, thus preventing the
accidents which accrue therefrom; also by the use of this Invention time can be
saved in the operation. For this purpose in carrying out my Invention I place a
spindle a across each end of the car and a certain height above the hook and chain
(as shown in the Drawings hereto annexed); at each end of which spindle
a lever
or winch handle a¹ is attached. Near the centre of the spindle an arm 6 (or it might
be two arms) is mounted and connected to the end link of the coupling chain o, the
arm be made pliable by being formed of several plates of spring steel.
The attendant, with the assistance of the lever a¹ at one or either side of the
truck or car can couple or uncouple them and at a variety of heights, by the action
of lifting either of the levers a¹ at the side of the car.
If the wagons are stationary the lever will require to be drawn backward or
forward, as the case may be, to allow the chain when being raised to escape the
under side of the hook.
The spindle a with arm b and chain c can be moved or slid in its bearings a² to
allow the chain to pass up on the side of the hook when being raised for coupling,
or lowered for uncoupling.
Handles can be applied at both sides if deemed necessary; also the shape of
handles can be varied to suit different opinions and to the build of the trucks.
By the action of the arm b the coupling chain will be held more securely on the
hook of the car it is coupled with, being of special benefit when going round curves
or down inclines.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming or carrying the same into practice, I would remark that I do not claim
separately any of the mechanical parts which are old and in common use, but what
I claim is the improved arrangement and combination of mechanism or apparatus
for coupling and uncoupling railway trucks, acting substantially in the manner
herein described and represented in the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Agars Walker, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
G. A. WALKER.
(L.S.)