Improvements in Couplings for an Electric Circuit in Connection with the Brake Pipes of Railway Trains.RIC
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in Couplings for an Electric Circuit in Connection
with the Brake Pipes of Railway Trains.
I WILLIAM EDWARD LANGDON of 5 Grove. Terrace, Derby, in the County of
Derby, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLINGS FOR AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT IN CONNECTION WITH
THE BRAKE PIPES OF RAILWAY TRAINS to be as follows:-
This improvement consists in the combination of an Electric coupling with
the Brake coupling employed upon Railway trains and it is so arranged that the
act of connecting up the Brake also couples up, and completes the connection of
the Electrical coupling.
The following, or auy suitable form of Electrical coupling may be employed. To
a Block of Ebonite, or any other insulating material, I affix two pieces of metal,
or fangs, insulated at that part at which they are attached to the Ebonite, the one
from the other. One of these fangs I make rigid, the other consists of a spring so
constructed that the end opposite to that at which it is fixed to the Ebonite, shall
make contact with the rigid piece of metal, or fang, previously referred to. The
inside of this rigid fang I insulate, leaving uninsulated only such space at the
extreme end, as is required to enable the spring fang to form metallic contact with
it when at rest, that is, when the coupling is disconnected or uncoupled. The space
between the two fangs is regulated by the thickness of the rigid fang.
-
The Block of. Ebonite carrying the said fangs, I fix in a hood, or cover, and
having attached the necessary wires by which the Electrical communication is
carried through each coach or other vehicle, a hood with its contents is firmly
fixed upon each portion of the Brake coupling in such a manner, and in such a
position, that when the two portions of the Brake coupling are connected up, the
fangs upon the one portion shall engage with the fangs upon the other portion, and
this, so that the spring fang of the one, shall form contact with the rigid fang of
the other; and that when thus thrust together, the spring fang shall be forced apart
from the rigid fang of its portion of the coupling which in its normal condition it
maintains, and the two wires forming the communication attached to each portion
of the coupling shall become respectively connected with each other; that in
connection with the spring fang of the one, to that in connection with the metal

page_text: fang of the other, the insulation of the inner portion of the rigid fang maintaining
the insulation between the two wires.
.
The front edges of the hood are fixed at such a distance apart when the coupling
is completed as to deprive them of the power of exercising any prejudicial influence
upon the perfect and efficient connection of the brake. To the edges of each hood
I fix an india-rubber washer in such a manner as to afford its outer edge a forward
inclination, so that when coupled together the two india-rubber washers close
sufficiently to protect the Electrical coupling from the rain or snow.
The wire, or wires required for the Electrical communication I weave into the
.brake flexible tubing, or I arrange those used in its present construction so as to
render them available for the purpose, or if preferred the wires may be carried
loosely outside or inside the brake tubing, or attached to the same.
Datad
-..
1

page_text: Improvements in Couplings for an Electric Circuit in Connection.
with the Brake Pipes of Railway Trains.
WILLIAM EDWARD LANGDON of 5 Grove Terrace Derby in the County of Derby
Superintendent of the Midland Railway Company's Telegraph Department do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLINGS FOR
AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT IN CONNECTION WITH THE BRAKE PIPES OF RAILWAY
TRAINS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This improvement consists in the combination of an electric coupling with the
brake coupling employed upon Railway trains so arranged that the act of con-
necting up the brake also couples up and completes the connection of the electrical
coupling. Any suitable form of electrical coupling may be employed. Preferably
I employ that designed for the purpose and more particularly explained herein.
To a block of ebonite, or other insulating material, I affix two pieces of metal or
fangs, insulated at that part at which they are attached to the ebonite, the one
from the other. One of these fange I make rigid the other consists of a spring so
constructed that the end opposite to that at which it is fixed to the ebonite shall
make contact with the rigid piece of metal previously referred to. The inside of
this rigid fang I insulate leaving uninsulated only such space at the extreme end
as is required to enable the spring fang to form metallic contact with it when at
rest, that is, when the coupling is disconnected or uncoupled The space between
the two fangs is regulated by the thickness of the rigid fang.
The block of ebonite carrying the said fangs I fix in a hood or cover and having
attached the necessary. wires by which the electrical communication is carried
through each coach or other vehicle, the hood with its contents is firmly fixed upon
each portion of the brake coupling in such a manner and in such a position that
when the two portions of the brake coupling are connected up the fangs upon the
one portion shall engage with the fangs upon the other portion and this so that the
spring fang of the one shall form contact with the rigid fang of the other, and that
when thus thrust together the spring fang shall be forced apart from the rigid fang"
of its portion of the coupling which in its normal condition it maintains, and the
two wires forming the communication attached to each portion of the coupling
shall become respectively connected with each other:-that in connection with the"
spring fang of the one with that in connection with the metal fang of the other-
the insulation of the inner portion of the rigid fang-maintaining the insulation'
between the two wires.
The front edges of the hood are fixed at such a distance apart when the coupling
is completed as to deprive them of the power of exercising a prejudicial influence
upon the perfect and efficient connection of the brake To the edges of each hood
I fix an india rubber washer in such a manner as to afford its outer edge a forward
inclination so that when coupled together the two india-rubber washers close
sufficiently to protect the electrical coupling from rain, snow, &c.
Figure I is an outside perspective view of the combined brake and electrical
coupling when closed; A is the hood in which the electrical coupling is arranged.

page_text: B is the the lower or hooked portion of the brake coupling; D the brake hose,
and C a small india-rubber tube in which is carried the wires employed for
conveying the electric current. Figure II is also a perspective view of one part of
the coupling illustrating more fully the arrangement of the combination of the
electrical with the brake coupling.
Figure III is an illustration of the electrical coupling viewed from above, and
Figure IV. an end view of the same shewing the ebonite block to which the
electrical parts are fixed. K is the block of ebonite to which is affixed the two
metal fangs fand g insulated one from the other, but so arranged that when the
two portions of the coupling are apart the fang f inclines to, and rests upon, by
means of two small lateral fangs o, the metal portion of the rigid fang g. g is a
rigid piece of metal provided on its inner side with a piece of hard insulating
material as ivory, m. This insulating piece m is cut away at the point n to admit
of the small lateral springs o forming electrical contact with g. Now when ƒ by
its lateral fangs o-one on either side of the spring-is resting upon g, the two are
in electrical contact and any current of electricity sent through the wire p will
pass through the spring f and through g to the wire q, thereby completing any
electrical circuit which may be set up in connection with the said wires.
Each of the two portions of the brake coupling is provided with an electrical
coupling such as has been described, planted centrally upon or at the back of the
projecting horn E of the brake coupling by means of the block of ebonite K to
which fand g are attached, and on the two portions of the coupling being coupled
up the rigid tang ġ of the one will pass between the insulated portion m¹ of the
fang g¹ and the spring f¹ of the other, f will in each case be forced away from its,
contact with g, owing to the thickness of the combined metal piece g, and its
insulation piece m being larger in bulk than the space provided between f and m,
and the contact between them will be severed. At the same time g of the one
part, Figure III, will form contact with f¹ of the other part, and f of the former
with g of the latter. The electrical circuit will now be completed through the
coupling a current entering at q will pass along g to f¹ and by the wire p¹, and
in like manner a current entering at q' will pass to g¹, and thence to f and out at
the wire p.
The arrangement of ƒ and g may be either vertical as shewn in the drawings or
horizontal, as may be found necessary for the communication, to be formed.
The wires may be enclosed in a tube attached to the brake tube, or they may be
woven into the hose, or affixed to it in any convenient form.
my said
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. The combination of an electrical coupling with the brake pipes or
couplings of railway trains substantially as set forth.
Second: The construction of an electrical coupling substantially as set forth and
described in the text and illustrated in the several drawings and figures whether
arranged for contact vertically or horizontally.
Third: The general construction and combination of the parts as shewn and
described.
Dated 1: 01
1080