Improvements in Coupling Apparatus for Railway and like Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1896-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coupling Apparatus for Railway and like Vehicles.
1, PETER WILHELM MÖLLER, Basket Maker, and HANS JULIUS MÖLLER,
Engineer, both of 9 Grosse Fischerstrasse, Altona, in the Empire of Germany,
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:-
Our invention relates to coupling apparatus designed for railway and like
vehicles which automatically couples the vehicles as they are pushed in contact
with each other; the uncoupling being effected by lever operated mechanism.
In the accompanying drawings ;-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of our apparatus applied to railway trucks.
Figure 2 is a corresponding view of the apparatus uncoupled partially in section
and partially in elevation.
Figures 3 to 7 illustrate details which are identified by the same reference
letters.
On each vehicle we arrange a box constructed from channel irons a and sheet
metal plates b. In this box is provided a tube c containing a spring d. This
spring d bears on the one hand against the sleeve e screwed upon the tube o and on
the other hand against a collar for enlarged end of the rod g. We arrange, the
box k upon the front of the vehicle and adapt such box to slide in recesses i.
We provide upon the front face 1 of this box a striking plate or boss upon or
within which is provided an aperture of appropriate shape for the purpose of
guiding the rod g on introduction. In the box k are arranged the catches o fitted
to turn about the centres ? and provided in bracket bearings n. The two catches o
are continually forced against the projectionff by means of the spiral spring r.
The box k is secured to the front wall by screw-threaded bolts. Springs are
mounted upon bolts & suitably secured upon the front of the vehicle which have
the tendency to always keep the box in its normal position as shown in Figure 3.
We provide bearings u for the purpose of guiding the tube c.
For the purpose of uncoupling the connection we provide a collar wo secured
upon a shaft v suitably and securely mounted preferably parallel and in proximity
to the tube c; and we secure to such collar chains or links y the other extremity
of which are secured to the opposite ends or arms of the lever catches o.
A lever z is provided to effect the rotation of the shaft and upon such being
operated the chains or links y are wound round the collar wo to which they are
attached thereby effecting the closure of the outer arms of the lever catches o,
and the withdrawal of the noses or catches q from engagement with the projection
on the connecting rod or link g. It is obvious that the shaft v may be otherwise
actuated from without by suitable gear. To each end of the vehicle we fix such
an apparatus and a rod g or g' each furnished with projections ff' so that during
the coupling the rod g' of one vehicle being actuated by a spring stronger than
that actuating the rod g is introduced into the apparatus of the other vehicle,
the rod g being pressed into the tube c, by the rod g¹ until its projection f¹ is
taken hold of by the catches o, thereby effecting the fastening of the coupling.
When it is desired to disconnect the coupling so formed the uncoupling lever =
is operated and the catches q withdrawn as before described. The coupling
rods 9 9' are each provided with projections ff at their front and rear ends, the

page_text: projections ff directed outwards having exactly the same diameter as the rods g
and g whereas the inner projections ff have that of the tube c; accordingly the
projections can always pass through the openings in the box, whilst the
projections are precluded from so doing.
When two vehicles push against each other the rod g' provided with its projec-
tion will pass through the cast metal boss m into the box k, push asunder the
catches o under the action of springs enter the interior of the tube c and cause
the rod g to bear against the spring d. This spring prevents the concussion that
might thereby be produced and forces back the rod g until the catches or noses q
bear against the projection f¹ on the rod g¹.
The projections of the respective rods being in close contact, the catches or
noses 9 pass on to the extremity of the rod g', and by the peculiar formation of
the projection on the rod 9', its backward movement is prevented.
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 5 are various views showing the apparatus with its catches
closed, and Figures 4 and 6 show the same with its catches open.
The buffers are arranged independently of the coupling.
Upon the tube c is screwed a sleeve a provided with a circular projection
against which the projections on the catches q bear for the purpose of fixing the
tube in the longitudinal direction.
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. An automatic coupling device for railway vehicles, characterized by the
feature that a rod g' furnished with projections f¹ and elastically supported in a
box arranged on the vehicle, is held by a similar device on the other vehicle which
by two catches o operating under the action of the spring r, firmly holds such
rod g' in contact with a rod g against the action of the spring d, substantially as
described.
2. In the automatic coupling device described in the first claim a device for
disengaging the same, characterized by a shaft operated from a lever z and a
collar w arranged upon such shaft which is connected by chains or links y with
lever arms by means of which latter the catches o can be brought out of engage-
ment with the projection on the rod gl substantially as described.
3. Automatic devices for coupling and uncoupling railway and other vehicles
substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
Dated this 27th dan
1000
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.