Improvements in Couplings for Railway Vehicles.
Year: 1891

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Date of Application, 19th Aug, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 13th May, 1892-Accepted, 19th Aug., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Couplings for Railway Vehicles.,.
THOMAS ORRELL, 20 Croston's Road Elton, Bury Lanc. Railway Clerk. I do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This is applied to the present drawbars with the hook taken off and the end
deepened to level of waggon bottom. A sliding hook is affixed by means of a pin
placed perpendicularly through the end of the drawbar with a bar extending
beneath the waggon bottom and running through a loose guiding & protecting
bracket which works to & fro on a half circular bar and is adjusted by means of
two spiral springs which keep the hook in position so that it cannot liberate
itself.
The circular bar is fixed to the waggons under the buffers by means of two
stands.
The uncoupling arrangement consists of a chain attached to the bracket and
running through a grooved stand fixed to the waggon side at which end is
a ring.
Towards the centre of the chain is an iron joint, & when this is pulled through
the grooved stand, by means of the ring, it is turned downwards and thus the
waggons are uncoupled until the joint is again released. This method can also be
applied to the end of the hook between the buffers, if necessary.
Dated this 18th day of August 1891.
THOMAS ORRELL.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Couplings for Railway Vehicles.
I, THOMAS ORRELL of 20, Crostons Road, Elton, Bury, in the County of
Lancaster, Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
In accordance with my invention the hook of the present drawbar is removed
and a radial hook is substituted therefor, affixed to the draw-bar by means of a pin
placed perpendicularly therethrough which hook is provided with a bar or arm
extending beneath the wagon and running through a guiding and protecting
bracket which works to and fro on a semi-circular bar and is adjusted by spiral
springs which keep the hook in position so that it cannot liberate itself.
The uncoupling arrangement consists of a chain attached to bracket and running
through a stand affixed to the wagon. At the loose end of this chain is a ring and
towards the centre is a joint which when pulled through the stand aforesaid by
means of the ring and turned downwards uncouples the hook until the joint is
released again.
In order that this my invention may be readily understood and carried into
practical effect I have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings illustrative of my
improved coupling and will now proceed to describe the same with the assistance of
the various figures and letters of reference marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is an end elevation, Fig. 2 an inverted plan view and Fig. 3 a side
sectional elevation of a railway wagon with my improved coupling shewn applied
thereto.
A is the draw bar connected in the ordinary manner to the wagon B. B' is my
improved radial hook or coupling affixed to the draw bar by the pin C which forms

page_text: the centre of rotation of the hook,-D is the arm or lever either formed in one
piece with the hook as illustrated or otherwise which passes through the bracket or
block E on the curved or radial rod or bar F. G. G¹ are the spiral springs
surrounding the curved or radial bar as illustrated which bear against the block E
and always tend to hold the hook in the position indicated in the drawings.
The curved bar F is supported at each end in brackets or stands H. H under-
neath the wagon as illustrated and in the centre is more or less supported by the
arm D and block E.
I is the chain for uncoupling the wagons attached at one end to the block E the
opposite end of which passes through the stand or bracket J and is provided with
a ring K. L is the joint made in the length of the chain which when pulled through
the bracket or stand J and turned downwards catches in the mouth or entrance of
the groove or hole in the stand and retains the chain. The spring G on the curved
bar is thus compressed by the block E and the book withdrawn from the coupling
of the adjoining wagon.
The joint may be permanently retained until the coupling operation is to be
again effected but I prefer it to be released as soon as the wagons are separated so
that on coming together again the wagons will couple automatically.
It will be obvious that the chain may be attached to the end of the hook at M
but I prefer it to be underneath the wagon so as to lie out of the way. Instead of
the jointed chain other convenient devices may be used, the ring for instance at the
end of the chain may be arranged to fasten onto a stud or hook.
The springs G. G¹ and curved bar F may be covered in so as to exclude all dust
and dirt therefrom.
In this manner I produce a railway coupling which may automatically couple
itself and which can be readily uncoupled without any necessity for going between
the wagons.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim as my invention is :-
1st. The improved railway coupling substantially as set forth and illustrated.
2nd. A railway coupling comprising a hook B and rod D in combination with a
curved or radial bar F surrounded by springs G. G' all mounted and operating
substantially as herein before described and illustrated on the accompanying
drawing.
Dated this 7th day of May 1892.
JOHN G. WILSON,
Agent for the Applicant.