IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLINGS FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND WAGGONS PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Smith, of Malpas Road, Brockley, in the County
of Kent for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLINGS FOR RAILWAY
CARRIAGES AND WAGGONS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Smith at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th October 1882.
THOMAS SMITH, of Malpas Road, Brockley, in the County of Kent, "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN COUPLINGS FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND WAGGONS
"
This invention relates to the couplings or links by which carriages or other
vehicles upon railways are connected together, and it has for its object novel
methods of constructing such couplings so that they can readily and quickly be put
in or out of operation without danger to the person using them.
Supposing that my improved coupling is to be applied to an ordinary railway
carriage or waggon the ends of which are provided in the ordinary way with draw
hooks over which the coupling can be dropped in order to connect a second carriage or
waggon, I form in the shank of the hook a transverse hole through which passes a
pin by which one end of the coupling is jointed to the hook. The coupling itself
is formed of two links one end of the wider of which is jointed as described to the
hook whilst its other end fits upon and is jointed to the end of a narrower link the
other end of which fits when required over the draw-hook of the adjoining carriage
or waggon to which the first is to be coupled. The end of the latter link
where it is jointed to the wider one is provided with a piece projecting outward
and of such weight that when the wider link is suspended vertically freely on its
joint the narrow one hangs also vertically within it its upper part being free of
the hook.
In a convenient position upon the frame of the carriage or waggon I arrange
bearings, under and behind the hook, in which turns a transverse shaft one end
of which extends to the side of the vehicle and is provided with a fixed or
loose handle by which the shaft can be turned round through a sufficient angle.
Or, both ends of the shaft may be extended to the sides of the vehicle and so
fitted.

page_text: Upon this shaft I make.or fix two parallel levers at such a distance apart that
when the shaft is turned round their outer ends press against the sides of the
wider link and raise it until it is in a horizontal position, the inner link then
banging vertically at its outer end.
A chain or cord is attached to the heavier projecting end of the inner link and
is brought round one or more suitable pullies under the hook and to the side of the
carriage or waggon, so that when the inner link is in the position just described
the chain or cord can be pulled until the inner link is brought into a horizontal
position, its outer end descending over the hook upon the adjoining carriage, to
which it thus becomes coupled.
The shaft may then be turned back into its original position, the levers upon it
leaving the outer link perfectly free in the position to which they had raised it, and
the chain or cord may be released. Instead of the shaft and levers described, to
raise the outer link, a chain or cord may be used.
The coupling may be disconnected, by raising the outer link by means of the
levers as described, and allowing the weighted end of the inner link to lift it off the
hook to which it had been coupled.
Each end of every waggon or carriage may be fitted with my improved
apparatus, the draw-hook being left clear when the links are banging vertically as
described.
The levers upon the shaft may be provided with cheeks or guides at their outer
ends fitting upon the sides of the outer link.
By_my_invention the processes of coupling and uncoupling railway carriages or
waggons are easily and safely performed by any person standing at the side without
the necessity for going between them, and the apparatus is simple, cheap and
easily fitted and operated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th April
1883.
THOMAS SMITH, of Malpas Road, Brockley, in the County of Kent
MENTS IN COUPLINGS FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES OR WAGGONS
"
"IMPROVE-
My invention relates to the couplings or links by which carriages, waggons, or
other vehicles upon railways are connected together. It has for its object novel
methods of constructing such couplings, so that they can be readily and quickly
put in or out of operation without danger to the person using them.
Supposing that my invention is to be applied to an ordinary railway carriage
or waggon the ends of which are provided in the ordinary way with drawhooks
over which the link of the coupling can be dropped in order to connect a second
carriage or waggon, I form in the shank of the hook a transverse hole through
which passes a pin by which one end of the coupling is jointed to the hook. The
coupling itself is formed of two links, one end of the wider of which is jointed as
described to the hook, whilst its other end fits upon and is jointed to the end of a
narrower link the other end of which is dropped when required over the draw-
book of the adjoining carriage or waggon to which the first is to be coupled. The
end of the latter link, where it is jointed to the wider one, is provided with a
projecting piece or arm of such weight that when the wider link is vertically
suspended freely on its joint the narrower one hangs vertically within it, its upper
part swinging clear of the hook.
In any convenient position upon the frame of the carriage or waggon I arrange
bearings or brackets below and behind the hook, in which turns a transverse shaft
one end of which extends to the side of the carriage and is provided with a fixed
or loose handle by which the shaft can be turned round through a sufficient angle.
Or, both ends of the shaft, instead of one only, may be extended to the sides of the
carriage and so fitted.
Upon this shaft two parallel levers are formed or fixed at such a distance apart
that when it is turned round as described their outer ends press against the lower
edges of the outer link and raise it until it is in or near a horizontal position, the
inner link then hanging vertically in it from its outer ends. A chain or cord is
attached to the heavier projecting end of the inner link and is conducted round one
or more suitable pullies, below the hook and to the side of the carriage or waggon,
so that when the inner link is in the position just described the chain or cord can
be pulled until the inner link has been brought into a horizontal position, its outer
or free end descending over the hook upon the adjoining carriage, to which it thus
becomes coupled.
The shaft may then be turned back into its original position, the levers upon it
descending and leaving the outer link perfectly free in the position to which it had
been raised, and the chain or cord can be then released, and the coupling remains
perfectly safely and securely connected. To disconnect the coupling, the outer link
is raised by the levers in the manner described, and the weighted end of the inner
link descends and allows the outer end of the latter to rise and become disconnected
from the hook to which it had been coupled.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of my invention, and represents my
improved coupling applied to ordinary railway waggons provided with drawhooks
over which the coupling can be dropped in order to connect together the two
waggons. Figure 1 shows the coupling in use connecting together the two

page_text: waggons. Figure 2 shows the same coupling disconnected. Figure 3 shows the
coupling just before being connected. Figure 4 is an end view of the coupling
disconnected, and figure 5 a plan of the same coupling connected.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures. a is
the end crossbeam of the waggon which carries the coupling, and 6 the
corresponding crossbeam of the other waggon to which it is to be coupled. c and d
are drawhooks attached to the beams in the usual way, their shanks being
provided with transverse holes ate and f. The main part of the coupling
consists of two side links g, h, pivotted to the book cat one end, and at the other
end to the inner link i the outer end of which drops over the hook d in order to
complete the coupling process, as shewn in figure 1 and 5.
The inner linki is of such length that when the outer links hang vertically it
hangs freely between them, and its inner end is provided with a weight k by
which its vertical position is assured. Z is the transverse shaft turning in bearings
below the beam a, and having a fixed or moveable handle at m, at one or both
ends. Upon this shaft are keyed the levers n, o, the outer ends of which raise the
main links g and h to a position more or less horizontal, as shewn in figures 3 and 5,
when the shaft is turned. p is a chain or cord one end of which is attached to
the weight whilst its other end is passed round pullies and guides 7, 7, and is
then brought into a convenient position and provided with a handle at 8, by which
it can be easily tightened or loosened as required.
The action of the coupling is as follows:-the waggon fitted with the book d
being brought sufficiently near the hook c from which the coupling is hanging as
shewn in figure 2, the shaft is turned by means of the handle or lever m, and the
levers n, o, pressing against the lower edges of the links g, h, raise them into the
position shewn in figure 3, the inner link i being retained in its vertical position
by its weighted end, as shewn in dotted lines.
The chain or cord p being then pulled by the handle at 8, the inner link i is
brought down first into the position shewn in figure 3, and then completely over
the hook d. The levers n and o being then lowered by turning back the shaft 7,
and the chain p being released, the coupling is left free and takes the position
shewn in figure 1, coupling the two hooks c and d and their waggons together.
In order to uncouple the waggons when required, they are brought sufficiently
close together, and the levers n and o being raised lift the links g and h to n
horizontal position; and the chain 2 being loose the weight disengages the link i
from the hook d and brings it into a vertical position, as shewn in dotted lines in
figure 3.
The levers n and o being then lowered, the coupling takes the position shewn in
figure 2.
The levers n and o are shewn with projecting side cheeks at their ends at t, in
order to bring them more certainly into their position under the links g and h, and
their ends may be provided with friction rollers.
Instead of the shaft and levers to raise the links, a chain or cord may be used.
Each end of every waggon or carriage may be fitted with my improved apparatus,
the drawhooks being left clear when the links are hanging vertically as described.
It will be seen that the coupling can be readily and quickly connected and
disconnected by any person standing at the side of the waggons, without going
between them and with no danger, whilst the apparatus is simple, cheap, and not
likely to get out of order.
I do not confine myself to the precise details and proportions of the parts of my
improved apparatus as herein before described and shewn, but having described my
invention and the manner in which it is to be performed,
I claim the coupling consisting of the combination of the outer suspended link,
the inner link having a weighted end, and the levers and shaft, or chain, by which
the outer link can be raised or lowered, substantially as and for the purposes
described and shown in the Drawing.

page_text: Also, in combination with such coupling, the flexible cord or chain attached to
the weighted end of the inner link, and having its other end brought to a point
where it can be conveniently and safely operated for the purpose described and
shewn in the drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Smith, have hereunto set my hand
and seal this 27th day of April in the year of our Lord 1883.