Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1887
Complete Left, 6th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 10th Feb., 1888
I WILLIAM HOLLAND Managing Director of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Wagon
Company (Limited) of Heywood in the County of Lancaster Wagon Builders do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The objects of this invention are to dispense with the shackles usually employed
for connecting the coupling chains with the draw bars of railway trucks and other
rolling stock, and at the same time to facilitate repairs and to prevent the coupling
chains from being removed by unauthorized persons.
In carrying out my invention I proceed as follows. In the thick part of the draw
hook to which the shackle for attaching the coupling chain is usually bolted I drill or
form a hole of a sufficiently large diameter to receive the first link of the draw chain,
and in order to introduce the link therein I make a slot or opening (of the same
diameter as the hole) which slot extends from the hole preferably in an upward
direction to the upper side of of the hook.
The first link of the coupling chain being introduced through this slot into the bole
in the hook, the slot. is closed by means of a solid filling piece so made that it can
slide therein towards and from the centre of the hole, but it is provided with grooves
or projections which prevent it from being removed from the slot in a transverse
direction. The forward end of this filling piece is made with a semi-circular notch
which completes the circumference of the hole and thus the link of the coupling chain
is held firmly in its place, and has no unnecessary play.
To secure this filling-piece in its place I drill or otherwise form a transverse hole,
half in the filling piece, and half in the hook, and through this I drive a split pin,
cotter, screwbolt or other equivalent device so formed that it cannot be removed
without a special tool or appliance.
When the coupling chain has been thus attached to the drawhook the chain cannot
he removed therefrom without first withdrawing the split pin cotter or other device
which requires a special tool or appliance. The introduction of a fresh link therefore
in case of fracture (or otherwise) is not difficult, whilst at the same time special
appliances are required and the operation of removing the link is sufficiently
I DO

page_text: complicated to prevent the fraudulent or mischievous removal thereof by unauthorized
or dishonest persons.
As a further security in some cases I propose to make the slot incline downwards
and backwards terminating at the shoulder of the hook so that the back of the filling
piece when in its place abuts against the face plate on the buffer beam or headstock,
in which case the filling piece and link cannot be withdrawn without also unscrewing
the nut which holds the drawhook in its place and pulling the latter sufficiently
forward to allow of the withdrawal of the filling piece from the slot.
Dated this 17th day of May 1887.
GEORGE DAVIES,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Couplings for Railway Rolling Stock.
WILLIAM HOLLAND Managing Director of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Wagon
Company (Limited) of Heywood in the County of Lancaster Wagon Builders 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 objects of this invention are to dispense with the shackles usually employed
for connecting the coupling chains with the draw bars of railway trucks and other
rolling stock, and at the same time to facilitate repairs and to prevent the coupling
chains from being removed by unauthorized persons.
The nature of my said invention and the manner in which the same is to be per-
formed will be readily understood on reference to the annexed sheets of drawings
marked with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the following
explanation thereof.
On sheet 1. of the drawings Fig. 1. is an elevation illustrating my improved coupling,
and Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are detached views hereinafter more particularly referred to.
On Sheet 2. of the drawings Fig. 5 illustrates a modification of my improved
coupling, and on Sheet 3. Fig. 6 illustrates a further modification.
A, A is a section of the headstock and B, B the draw plate.
In carrying out my invention I proceed as follows. In the thick part of the draw-
hook a, a (see Sheet 1. Fig. 1.) to which the shackle for attaching the coupling chain
is usually bolted I drill or form a hole at b, b of a sufficiently large diameter to receive
the first link c, c of the draw chain, and in order to introduce the link therein I make
a slot or opening d, d (of the same diameter as the hole) which slot extends from the
hole preferably in an upward direction to the upper side of the hook a, a.
The first link c, c of the coupling chain being introduced through this slot d, d into
the hole b, b in the hook, the slot is closed by means of a solid filling piece e, e so made
that it can slide therein towards and from the centre of the hole (see Fig. 1. also
detached side view Fig. 2 and face view Fig. 3.)
This filling piece may be provided with grooves or with projections e¹, e¹ Fig. 4.
which prevent it from being removed from the slot in a transverse direction. The
forward end of this filling piece e, e (see Fig. 2) is made with a semi-circular notch f, f
which completes the circumference of the hole b, b and thus the link, c, c of the
coupling chain is held firmly in its place and has no unnecessary play:
To secure this filling-piece e, e iu its place I drill or otherwise form a transverse
hole g half in the filling piece e, e and half in the hook a, a and through this I drive a
split pin, cutter or screw bolt h, h or other equivalent device so formed that it cannot
be removed without a special tool or appliance.
When the coupling chain c, c has been thus attached to the draw hook a, a the
chain cannot be removed therefrom without first withdrawing the split pin or the
bolt h, h or the cotter or other device which requires a special tool or appliance.

page_text: The introduction of a fresh link therefore in case of fracture (or otherwise) is not
difficult, whilst at the same time special appliances are required and the operation of
removing the link is sufficiently complicated to prevent the fraudulent or mischievous
removal thereof by unauthorized or dishonest persons.
By the use of this invention in case the draw bar should break, the links will be
held securely and not lost.
At Fig. 5 (sheet 2) the filling piece is made without any side projections e, e¹ and
the hole g, g (partly in the hook and partly in the filling piece) is dispensed with, the
latter being provided with a lug i, i and fixed in its place by means of a screw k, k.
As a further security, in some cases I propose to make the slot d, d incline down-
wards and backwards terminating at the shoulder a¹ of the hook a, a so that the back
of the filling piece e e, when in its place abuts against the draw plate B B or face plate
on the buffer beam or headstock A, A. (see Fig. 6. sheet 3) in which case the filling
piece e, and link c, c cannot be withdrawn without also unscrewing the nut which
holds the draw hook in its place and pulling the latter sufficiently forward to allow
of the withdrawal of the filling piece e, e backwards and downwards from the slot.
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 :-
The combination with a draw hook having a slotted hole to receive the first link of
the draw chain of a filling piece the end of which is made with a curved notch to form
the other side, of the hole, the said filling piece being so fitted and secured in the slot
that it cannot be removed therefrom without the use of a special tool or instrument
for that purpose substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings
annexed.
Dated this 5th ...
1000
GEORGE DAVIES,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicant.