IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR UNCOUPLING RAILWAY TRUCKS OR WAGONS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis William Trewhitt, James Thompson, and William.
Ormandy, all of Barrow-in-Furness, in the County of Lancaster, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR UNCOUPLING RAILWAY
TRUCKS OR WAGONS,”
Sealed the 9th April 1878, and dated the 12th February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis William Trewhitt,
James Thompson, and William Ormandy at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents on the 12th February 1878.
FRANCIS WILLIAM TREWHITT, JAMES THOMPSON, and WILLIAM ORMANDY, all of
Barrow-in-Furness, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR
APPARATUS FOR UNCOUPLING RAILWAY TRUCKS OR WAGONS."
The Invention has for its object improvements in means or apparatus for
uncoupling railway trucks or wagons so as to avoid the necessity for an attendant
to pass between the trucks or wagons for that purpose.
For this purpose we pin-joint to each hook a link or lever, the sides of which
pass on each side of the hook, and are connected together at their forward end,
where such link or lever is connected to one end of a chain, the other end of which
is by preference connected to a drum or pulley fixed on a shaft extending across the
end of the truck or wagon, and on each end of such shaft is fixed a lever by which
the uncoupling link or lever can be operated.
The uncoupling link or lever is returned to its normal position by means of a
weight or spring, but is prevented falling below such position by means of a stud
fixed in the hook, and the coupling link when hanging on the hook rests on the
uncoupling link or lever between the connections from the latter to the operating.
chain. Thus by raising the uncoupling link or lever the coupling link is raised
over the nose of the hook, and the uncoupling thereby effected.
Other means may be employed for operating the uncoupling link or lever,

page_text: Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of portions of two railway trucks or wagons
with our improved uncoupling apparatus applied thereto, and showing the links in
position for being lifted off the draw book of the adjoining carriage or truck;
Figure 2. is an end view of parts of one of such trucks or wagons.
Figure 3 is a plan of tilter corresponding to that represented at Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a plan showing the tilter working outside coupling link instead of
inside as in Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a sectional side elevation of part of a carriage or truck with our.
improved uncoupling apparatus applied thereto, and showing different arrangement
of means for operating the tilter.
.
Corresponding parts are marked with similar letters of reference in all the
Figures.
4.
a, a, are parts of trucks; b,.b, are the draw or connecting hooks; and c; c, are the
connecting chains in ordinary use. On the end of one of the trucks we have
represented our Invention applied to the draw or connecting hook b, but it is
évident that each end of a truck may with advantage be similarly provided.
The tilter, or uncoupling link, or lever d is connected to the draw hook b by the
same pin which connects the first link c¹ of the connecting chain to such draw
hook b, and may be arranged to work either inside or outside of such link, as shown
at Figures 3 and 4. The tilter is formed of two side links, connected together at
their outer ends by a cross bar, on which the end or coupling link c² rests, and the
tilter, or uncoupling link, or lever d is by a link e connected to a chain, or it may
be a wire rope f, which chain or wire rope fis, according to the arrangement
represented at Figures 1 and 2, passed over two sheaves or pulleys g, g', and the
two ends thereof passing to the right and left are connected to two sliding rods 'h, h¹,
mounted in guides or bearings i, i¹, and provided with eyes or handles h², h³, at the

page_text: ends nearest the side of the truck or carriage, by which eyes or handles the tilter,
or uncoupling link, or lever & can be lifted, and the end or coupling link c³ thereby
liberated from the draw or connecting hook b, and the carriages or trucks uncoupled
without going between them..
In the arrangement represented at Figure 5 the tilter, or uncoupling link, or
lever d, link e, and chain or wire rope f, are similar to those described with respect
to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, but the connection to the side of the carriage or truck is
different. In this case the chain or wire rope f is fixed at one end to the link e, and
at the other end to the sheave or pulley ¹, which sheave or pulley is fixed on a
shaft or axis j extending across the end of the truck or wagon, and mounted in
brackets or bearings i, , and provided at each end with a lever handle fixed
thereon. By turning these lever handles j the carriages or trucks can be uncoupled
as required without the attendant going between them.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the mode in which
we carry the same into effect, we would have it understood that what we claim is,
the employment of a tilter," or uncoupling link, or lever, mounted and operated
in manner substantially as herein shown and described.
"
In witness whereof, we, the said Francis William Trewhitt, James Thompson,
and William Ormandy, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fifth
day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
night
Witness,
HENRY JONES.
F. W. TREWHITT.
(L.S.)
JAMES THOMPSON.
(L.S.)
WILLIAM ORMANDY. (LS.)