IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
and Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES."
A communication from abroad by George Frederick Adams, of Buffalo, New
York, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd January 1881.
"
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLING APPARATUS FOR
RAILWAY VEHICLES." [A communication from abroad by George Frederick Adams,
of Buffalo, New York, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to that class of automatic coupling apparatus for railway
vehicles in which a link attached to one drawhead is engaged with a hook forming
part of the opposite drawhead.
.
The object of this Invention is to render couplings of this kind more certain and
reliable in their operation, more durable in construction, and more safe and
convenient in coupling and uncoupling the vehicle than heretofore.
My said Invention consists in the particular construction of the several parts of
my improved coupling, and in the manner in which the several parts are arranged
and combined together, as will be hereinafter fully described.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide the drawhead constructed
with a bottom plate cheek or side pieces having vertical buffer faces and a rear
wall forming a drawhead which is open at its top and front. The front side or
face of the bottom plate is inclined rearwardly and upwardly in order to deflect
upwardly any link which may strike the face.
The coupling hook is arranged centrally and longitudinally within the drawhead,
to which it is pivotted at its rear end, while its front end rests loosely upon the
bottom plate. The hook is constructed with an upper curved peojection or claw

page_text: .
This
and a lower claw, in either of which the link of the opposite drawhead may be
engaged. The upper part of the face of the hook is inclined upwardly and
backwardly to lift any link which may strike this portion of the face of the hook
over the upper claw, and the lower portion of the face of the hook is inclined
downwardly and backwardly, whereby any link which may strike this lower portion
of the face of the hook is directed downward against the upwardly inclined face
of the bottom plate, and caused to lift the front end of the hook, whereby the link
is allowed to pass under and behind the lower claw, which latter engages the link
as the hook drops. The horizontal upper portion of the bottom plate lies immediately
behind the inclined face of the latter, and there is an upwardly curved shoulder
formed at the rear of the horizontal portion of the bottom plate, and extending
across the mouth of the drawhead. Two lugs are arranged on the inner side of
each side wall of the drawhead on both sides of the hook, and forming upward
continuations of the shoulder. The latter forms with the lugs a pocket in which
the link of the opposite draw-bar is securely held, and which receives the thrust
of either a locomotive drawbar or a link, either of which is held securely from
receding by the lower claw of the hook. Drawlugs project laterally from the rear
end of the shank of the hook, and engage against shoulders or drawfaces formed in
the side walls of the shank of the drawhead and shoulders forming the front sides
of recesses formed in the side walls of the shank of the drawhead. There is a
longitudinal opening or recess formed in the bottom of the shank of the drawhead
extending from the rear side of the lugs to the rear side of the recesses.
opening is made sufficiently wide and deep to permit the rear end of the hook with
its projecting drawlugs to be passed backward through the opening and be inserted
into the recesses against the drawfaces without at any time protruding below the
drawbar The rear end of the hook is introduced into the drawhead from above,
over the lugs and into the opening, and then pushed backward to the rear end of
the opening, when by lifting the rear end of the hook the drawlugs thereof will
enter the recesses and come in contact with the drawfaces. A longitudinal recess
is formed in the shank of the drawhead for receiving the shank of the hook. The
side walls of this recess diverge rearwardly from the rear wall of the drawhead to
the drawfaces in order to permit of a slight lateral play of the hook in passing
around curves, thereby preventing, in connection with the peculiar construction of
the inner walls of the drawhead, the drawing link from exerting a lateral strain on
the hook. I provide an elastic plate, preferably constructed of steel and secured
against the underside of the rear end of the shank of the hook, in order to retain the
hook in its proper position. This plate is held in depressed or recessed ways formed
in the side walls of the shank of the drawhead and extending nearly the whole length
of the opening on both sides thereof. The width of the groove ways is made greatest
at their front end where the elastic plate enters the same, and is gradually reduced
towards the rear until the place is reached where the plate is to be secured. Here the
direction of the ways is changed, and an abrupt shoulder is formed in the lower
side of each way so that the elastic plate when pushed into this narrow portion of
the ways is sprung down against the square shoulders in both ways, and thereby
firmly held against accidental displacement. The elastic plate is preferably made
shorter than the space between the square shoulder and the ends of the ways, so
that when the plate rests against these shoulders there will be sufficient space
between the rear end of the plate and the rear end of the opening to insert a tool
for prying the plate out of its seat when it is desired to remove the hook.
A notch, recess, or crotch is formed in the rear side of the head of the hook near the
junction of the head with the shank of the hook for the reception of the inner end
of the link. The rear wall of the draw head is made concave to correspond with the
curvature of the inner end of the link, whereby the latter receives a firm bearing
rearward and sideways against the concave face of the rear wall and the cheek
pieces, and forward against the recess in the hook. By this means the lateral
movement of the inner end of the link is limited, and the danger of breaking the
.

page_text: hook by a lateral strain is avoided. The link is supported in an upwardly inclined
position by the lugs on both sides of the drawhead. These lugs act as a fulcrum
on which the link turns, so that a slight weight as of the link on the opposite
drawhead will depress the outer end of the link and prevent the same after
coupling from being raised by any unequality in the rails.
A depression is formed on the inner side of each side wall and in the rear wall
of the drawhead, extending rearwardly and downwardly from the upper sides of
the lugs in the form of a half circle a sufficient distance to permit the inner end
of the link to be lowered in the drawhead as the rear end of the hook is depressed
in passing it through the opening for the purpose of inserting the drawlugs in the
recesses. A depression or slot is formed centrally in the rear wall of the drawhead,
and meets at its lower end the forwardly inclined rear wall of the depression, the apex
at the junction of the two depressions being opposite the rear side of the link when
the hook rests on the bottom of the drawhead. There are two forwardly projecting
shoulders which overhang the concave face of the rear wall of the drawhead on
both sides of the slot in which the hook plays, and which receive the upward
thrust of the inner end of the link, and prevent the link from reaching a perpen-
dicular position. Two upwardly projecting jaws are formed on the rear portion of
the head of the hook, and there is an uncoupling blade pivotted with its rear end
between the jaws, and laying in a recess or groove formed longitudinally in the
upper side of the head. This recess or groove extends forward into the rear portion
of the upper claw of the hook, which is thereby divided into two rearwardly
projecting parallel parts. In the forward end of the blade is formed a crotch for
holding the link. The rear shoulder of the crotch is long enough to overlap the
end of the link when the blade is depositing the link on the end of the hook, and
the front shoulder is extended so as to form a tongue, which projects into that
portion of the recess which is formed in the rear side of the upper claw of the hook.
The forward end of the blade rests below the recess at the base of the upper claw
in which the link is held when the vehicles are coupled together. The crotch is so
formed and arranged that when the end of the link is in the crotch behind and at
the base of the upper claw of the hook it is impossible to raise the blade out of its
recess. When the drawheads are pushed together and the end of the link is
thereby pushed upward over the inclined upper surface of the hook in rear of the
claw, the blade upon being raised will lift the link above the claw.
A
I provide a lifter, which is pivotted with its forked lower end to the blade in
rear of the crotch. The lifter is preferably made in the form of a broad blade,
covering the other blade and the adjacent portions of the hook on both sides of the
blade, thereby preventing snow, rain, and cinders from entering the recess in which
the blade rests. A channel is formed in the hook, extending from the lower portion
of the recess in which the blade plays downwardly and rearwardly through the
hook, and having its lower end in rear of the bottom plate of the drawhead, 'so as
to afford a free discharge for rain and cinders which may enter the recess.
shoulder is formed on the hub of the blade so as to come in contact with a similar
shoulder formed between the jaws, between which the blade is pivotted, so as to
arrest the upward movement of the blade before it reaches a vertical position, thereby
ensuring its return to its seat in the hook as soon as released. A depression is
formed in the inner and upper portion of each side wall of the drawhead for the
accommodation of the end of the link attached to the opposite drawhead. The links
are made narrowest at their inner ends, which are attached to the hooks, and
increase in width towards their outer ends, whereby a close fit of the links in the
cavity of the drawheads at their inner ends is obtained, while permitting the
requisite lateral play at the outer ends of the links.
I provide a three armed lever pivotted to a bearing plate, which is secured to
the end of the vehicle at a convenient height above the coupling. The lever
consists of a long horizontal arm and two shorter vertical arms. The horizontal
arm is guided by a segment, which is formed on the bearing, and which bears

page_text: The
against the outer side of this arm. A wire or rod runs from the long arm of the
lever to the lifter attached to the blade, and there are wires or rods running from
the three arms of the lever respectively to both sides and the top of the vehicle, so
that by pulling either of the rods the blade will be lifted. The two rods extend
through a tapering hole in the respective arm of the lever, and have heads or stops
on the narrow side of the hole, whereby the rods are given sufficient lateral play
to move freely, and only that rod is caused to move which is pulled while the other.
two rods remain stationary, and the arms of the lever slip over the same.
weight of the horizontal arm of the lever always causes the bell crank when
released to return to its normal position, whereby the blade is permitted to drop
and enter the recess of the hook. The bearing plate is provided with a central hub
.or sleeve, through which passes a fastening screw or bolt, and on which turns the
bell crank lever. The end of the sleeve projects through the hub of the bell crank,
and receives the pressure of the fastening screw, thereby relieving the bell crank
from this pressure, and ensuring the free movement of the same, and the uncoupling
blade connected therewith.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Harris Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th June 1881.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLING APPARATUS FOR
RAILWAY VEHICLES.' A communication from abroad by George Frederick Adams,
of Buffalo, New York, United States of America.
"
This Invention relates to that class of automatic coupling apparatus for railway
vehicles in which a link attached to one draw-head is engaged with a hook forming
part of the opposite draw-head.
The object of this Invention is to render couplings of this kind more certain
and reliable in their operation, more durable, and more safe and convenient in
coupling and uncoupling vehicles than heretofore.
My said Invention consists in the particular construction of the several parts of
my improved coupling and in the manner in which these parts are arranged and
combined, as hereinafter fully described.
In the accompanying Drawings,
:
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of my improved railway vehicle
coupling, shewing two draw-heads meeting at the same height, and
Figure 2 is a plan or top view of the same.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of a draw-head with the hook and link
removed.
"
.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section of one of the draw-heads on the line x, x,
Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of my improved coupling, shewing the link of
one draw-head engaged under the hook of the other draw-head.
Figure 6 is an underside view of one of the draw-heads.
Figure 7 is a vertical cross section on the line y, y, Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a front elevation of the draw-head and hook with part of a link in
section.
Figure 9 is a similar view with the hook and link removed.
Figure 10 is a front elevation of the uncoupling mechanism applied to the body
of a railway vehicle.
Figure 11 is a front elevation drawn to an enlarged scale of the bell crank lever
of the uncoupling mechanism in its lower position, and
Figure 12 is a similar view of the same when in its upper position.
Figure 13 is a horizontal section on the line x1, x¹, Figure 11.
Figure 14 is a similar view, shewing the manner in which the bell-crank lever
is introduced under the guide segment and engaged over the hub or sleeve of the
bearing plate.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawings.
A represents the draw-head constructed with a bottom plate A', cheeks or side
pieces A2, having vertical buffer faces A³ and a rear wall A, forming a draw-head.
which is open at its top and front, as clearly shewn. The front side or face of the
bottom plate A is inclined rearwardly and upwardly, as shown at a, in order to
deflect upwardly any link which may strike the said face.
B represents the coupling hook arranged centrally and longitudinally within the
draw-head, to which it is pivotted at its rear end, while its front end rests loosely
upon the bottom plate A¹. The said hook B is constructed with an upper curved
projection or claw b and a lower claw b¹, with either of which the link of the
opposite draw-head may be engaged. The upper part of the face of the book B is

page_text: inclined upwardly and backwardly, as shewn at c, in order to lift any link which
may strike this portion of the face of the hook over the upper claw b, and the
lower portion of the face of the said hook B is inclined downwardly and
backwardly, whereby any link which may strike this lower portion of the face of
the hook is directed downward against the upwardly inclined face a of the bottom
plate A¹ and thus cause the front end of the said hook to be lifted, whereby the
link is allowed to pass under and behind the lower claw 61, which latter engages
with the link as the hook drops; d represents the horizontal upper portion of the
bottom plate A' lying immediately behind the inclined face a of the latter, and ď¹
is an upwardly curved shoulder formed at the rear of the horizontal portion d of
the said bottom plate and extending across the mouth of the draw-head; D, D, are
two lugs arranged on the inner side of each side wall of the draw-head, on both
sides of the hook B, and forming upward continuations of the shoulder d¹. The
latter forms with the said lugs D, D, a pocket in which the link of the opposite
draw-bar is securely held, and which receives the thrust of either a locomotive
draw-bar or a link, either of which is held securely from receding by the lower
claw b of the hook B. e, e, are the draw-lugs projecting laterally from the rear
end of the shank of the hook B, and engaging against shoulders or draw-faces E
formed in the side walls of the shank of the draw-head, the said shoulders E
forming the front sides of recesses E¹, E2, formed in the side walls of the shank of
the draw-head; F is a longitudinal opening or recess formed in the bottom of the
shank of the draw-head and extending from the rear side of the lugs D to the rear
side of the recesses E1, E2, as clearly shewn in Figure 3. This opening. F is made
sufficiently wide and deep to permit the rear end of the hook B, with its projecting
draw-lugs e, to be passed backward through the said opening F and be inserted into
the recesses E', E, against the draw-faces E without at any time.protruding below
the draw head. The rear end of the hook is introduced into the draw-head from above
over the lugs D, and into the opening F, and then pushed backward to the rear
end of the said opening F, when by lifting the rear end of the hook the draw lugs
thereof will enter the recesses E1, E2, and come into contact with the draw faces E.
g represents the longitudinal recess formed in the shank of the draw-head for
receiving the shank of the hook B. The side walls g¹ of this recess diverge
rearwardly from the rear wall A* of the draw-head to the draw-faces E in order to
permit of a slight lateral play of the hook B in passing around curves, thereby
preventing, in connection with the peculiar construction of the inner walls of the
drawhead, the drawing-link from exerting a lateral strain on the said hook. His
an elastic plate, preferably constructed of steel, and secured against the underside
of the rear end of the shank of the hook, in order to retain the said hook in its
proper position. This plate is held in depressed or recessed ways h formed in the
side walls of the shank of the draw-head, and extending nearly the whole length
of the opening E, on both sides thereof. The width of the grooved ways h is made
greatest at their front end, where the plate H enters the same, and is gradually
reduced towards the rear until the plate is reached where the plate H is to be
secured. Here the direction of the ways h is changed, and an abrupt shoulder i is
formed in the lower side of each way, so that the said elastic plate H when pushed
into this narrow portion of the said ways his sprung down against the said square
shoulders in both ways, and thereby firmly held against accidental displacement.
The said plate H is preferably made shorter than the space between the square
shoulder and the ends of the ways, so that when the plate H rests against these
shoulders there will be sufficient space between the rear end of the said plate and
the rear end of the opening F to insert a tool for prying the plate Hout of its seat
when it is desired to remove the hook B.
A notch, recess, or crotch k is formed in the rear side of the head of the hook B,
near the junction of the head with the shank of the said hook, for the reception of
the inner end of the link K. The rear wall A' of the draw head is made concave
to correspond with the curvature of the inner end of the said link K, whereby the
latter receives a firm bearing rearward and sideways against the concave face of

page_text: the said rear wall A* and the cheek pieces A*, and forward against the recess k in
the hook B. By this means the lateral movement of the inner end of the link is
limited, and the danger of breaking the hook by a lateral strain is avoided. The
link is supported in an upwardly inclined position by the lugs D, D, on both sides
of the draw-head. These lugs act as a fulcrum on which the link turns, so that a
slight weight, as, for instance, that of the link on the opposite draw head, will
depress the outer end of the said link, and prevent the same after coupling from
being raised by any inequality in the track.
L is a depression formed on the inner side of each side wall, and in the rear wall
of the draw head, and extending rearwardly and downwardly from the upper sides
of the lugs D in the form of a semi-circle, a sufficient distance to permit the inner
end of the link to be lowered in the draw-head as the rear end of the hook is
depressed in passing it through the opening F for the purpose of inserting the
draw-lugs in the recesses E¹, E². L¹ is a depression or slot formed centrally in the
rear wall of the draw-head, and meeting at its lower end the forwardly inclined
rear wall of the depression L, the apex at the junction of the two depressions LL',
being opposite the rear side of the link when the book rests on the bottom of the
draw head. l, l, are two forwardly projecting shoulders, which overhang the
concave face of the rear wall A* of the draw-head on both sides of the said slot in
which the hook B plays, and which receive the upward thrust of the inner end of
the link K, and prevent the link from reaching a perpendicular position; m, m,
are two upwardly projecting jaws formed on the rear portion of the head of the
hook B, and M is the uncoupling blade pivoted with its rear end between the said
jaws m, and lying in a recess or groove m' formed longitudinally in the upper side
of the head of the said hook B. The recess m¹ extends forward into the rear
portion of the upper claw b of the hook, which is thereby divided into two
rearwardly projecting parallel parts, as shewn in Figure 2. In the forward end of
the blade M is formed a circular crotch m² for holding the link. The rear
shoulder m³ of this crotch is long enough to overlap the end of the link when the
blade is depositing the link on the end of the hook, and the front shoulder mis
extended so as to form a tongue, which projects into that portion of the recess m¹
which is formed in the rear side of the upper claw b of the hook. The forward
end of the said blade M rests below the recess at the base of the upper claw b, in
which the link is held when the vehicles are coupled together. The crotch m² is
so formed and arranged that when the end of the link is in the crotch behind and
at the base of the upper claw b of the hook, it is impossible to raise the blade out of
its recess.
When the draw heads are pushed together, and the end of the link is
thereby pushed upward over the inclined upper surface of the hook B in rear of
the claw b, the said blade M upon being raised will lift the link above the said
claw b, as shewn in dotted lines in Figure 1.
N represents the lifter, which is pivoted with its forked lower end to the blade M
in rear of the crotch m².
The lifter N is preferably made in the form of a broad
blade, covering the blade M and the adjacent portions of the hook on both sides of
the blade, thereby preventing snow, rain, and cinders from entering the recess in
which the blade rests. n is a channel formed in the hook B, and extending from
the lower portion of the recess m¹, in which the blade plays downwardly and
rearwardly through the book, and having its lower end in rear of the bottom
plate A' of the draw-head, as shewn in Figure 1, so as to afford a free discharge for
rain and cinders which may enter the said recess m²; ois a shoulder formed on the
hub of the blade M, so as to come in contact with a similar shoulder o¹ formed
between the jaws m (between which the blade M is pivoted) so as to arrest the
upward movement of the said blade before it reaches a vertical position, thereby..
ensuring its return to its seat in the hook as soon as released; o³ represents a
depression formed in the inner and upper portion of each side wall of the draw-*
head for the accommodation of the end of the link attached to the opposite draw-
head. The links are made narrowest at their inner ends, which are attached to the
hooks, and increase in width towards their outer ends, whereby a close fit of the s

page_text: links in the cavity of the draw-heads at their inner ends is obtained, while
permitting the requisite lateral play at the outer ends of the said links.
P represents a three armed lever pivoted to a bearing plate P¹, which is secured
to the end of the vehicle at a convenient height above the coupling. The lever P
consists of a long horizontal or approximately horizontal arm p, and two shorter
vertical or approximately vertical arms p¹. The horizontal arm p is guided by a
segment g, which is formed on the bearing P¹, and which bears against the outer
side of the arm p; ris a wire or rod extending from the long arm p of the said
lever to the lifter N attached to the blade M, and S represents wires or rods
extending from the three arms p, p, of the lever to both sides and the top of the
vehicle, so that by pulling either of the said rods s, the blade M will be lifted. The
rods and s each extend through a tapering hole t in the respective arms of the
lever, and have heads or stops on the narrow side of the hole, whereby the rods.
are given sufficient lateral play to move freely, and only that rods is caused to
move, which is pulled while the other two rods 8 remain stationary, and the arms
of the lever P slip over the same. The weight of the horizontal arm p of the lever
always causes the said lever when released to return to its normal position, whereby
the blade M is permitted to drop and enter the recess m' of the hook B. The
bearing plate P₁ is provided with a central hub or sleeve p*, through which passes
the fastening screw or bolt ps, and on which turns the said three armed or bell-
crank lever. The end of the said sleeve p* projects through the hub of the bell-crank
lever, and receives the pressure of the fastening screw, thereby relieving the bell-
crank lever from this pressure, and ensuring the free movement of the same and
the uncoupling blade connected therewith.
The operation of my improved coupling is as follows, that is to say:-When two
draw heads are pushed together the lower link always raises the higher link out
of its way and engages with the hook B of the opposite draw-head. If the lower
link strikes the upper inclined face of the opposite, hook it will rise and engage
over the upper claw b of the hook, and if it strikes either the lower inclined face
of the hook or the inclined face of the bottom plate A¹ the hook will be raised and
the link will engage behind the lower claw b¹ of the said hook. When the link
strikes the ridge of the hook at the junction of its inclined faces, which lies in a
plane above that in which the rear end of the hook is pivotted to the draw-head,
the hook will be raised until the angle of its inclined face with reference to the
link is changed sufficiently to permit the link to pass over the upper incline and
engage over the upper claw of the hook. The higher link, which is raised out of
the way by the lower link, is guided by the peculiar shape of the draw-head so as
to swing upwardly in about the same manner as if it turned on a pivot, and is
.arrested before it reaches a perpendicular position, so that the link leans forward
under all circumstances, and is always ready to drop back to its forward position.
The higher link rests upon the lower link when the draw-heads are coupled
together and tends to prevent the disengagement of the lower link from the hook.
Each link is supported at two points, namely, at its rear end where it rests in the
notch of the hook, and somewhat in the rear of its middle portion where it rests
upon the lugs D on both sides of the draw-head; these two points of support are
so arranged that the link is held in an upwardly inclined position. This manner
of supporting the link enables the rear end of the link and the hook to be raised
by applying a downward pressure to the front end of the said link. If the link by
which the coupling is effected should be raised from any cause the hook to which
the link is coupled will be raised also, and an uncoupling of the parts will thereby
be avoided. In coupling the draw bar of a locomotive to the draw-head of a
vehicle, the end of the draw bar is coupled with the lower claw 61 of the
hook B, and the thrust of the said draw-bar is received by the shoulder d¹ and
lugs D.
In uncoupling the vehicles the draw-heads are pushed together so as to bring the
end of the coupling link upon the lifter, when by raising the lifter and the blade M,
the end of the said link slides off the lifter and is received in the crotch of the

page_text: blade. Upon lowering the latter the end of the link is deposited upon the upper
claw b of the head when the draw-heads are free to be separated.
In raising and lowering the hook the lugs or jaws m thereof play in the slot or
depression L', the side walls of which aid in retaining the hook in a vertical plane
during its movements. In raising the hook the inner end of the link strikes the
shoulders before the shank of the hook comes in contact with the roof of the
recess in the shank of the draw-head.
The side walls of the draw heads are so formed as to arrest the lateral movement
of the link in passing around curves before the hook strikes any of the parts which
confine it laterally, thereby throwing all lateral strains on the draw head and
preventing the breaking of the hook. As the centre of the draw head from the
top of the hook to the base line of the base-plate is composed of inclines which
ensure the coupling of the link, a large range is secured in different heights at
which two draw-heads can be coupled together.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,-
▾
First. A draw-head constructed with an open top and front, and a coupling-
hook arranged longitudinally within the said draw-head, and pivotted with its
rear end to the latter, and resting with its free front end upon the bottom plate of
the same, substantially as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Second. The combination with a draw-head of a coupling-hook having a face
composed of two inclined surfaces c, c', whereby the link of the opposite coupling
is deflected upward or downward, substantially as above set forth.
Third. The combination with a draw-head having its bottom plate constructed
with an inclined face a of a coupling-hook having a face composed of two inclined
surfaces c, c¹, substantially as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. The combination with a draw-head of a coupling-hook provided with
an upper claw b and a lower claw b', both adapted to engage with the link of the
opposite draw-head, substantially as above set forth.
Fifth. The combination with a draw-head of a pivoted coupling-hook having a
face composed of two inclined surfaces c, c³, and provided with an upper claw b
and a lower claw b', substantially as above set forth and for the purposes
specified.
Sixth. The combination with a draw-head of a pivoted coupling hook having
an upper claw b and a lower claw 61, the latter resting upon the bottom of the
draw-head and a transverse shoulder d' and lugs D, D, formed on the bottom and
sides of the said draw-head in rear of the claw 6' to receive the thrust of the link
engaged behind the said claw, substantially as above set forth.
Seventh. The combination with a draw-head of a coupling-hook pivoted with
its rear end to the said draw-head, and provided with an upper claw b and a
lower claw 61, both adapted to engage with the link of the opposite draw-head
and a link secured in the draw-head by means of the said pivoted hook,
substantially as above set forth.
Eighth. The combination with a draw-head of a pivoted coupling-hook, a
link attached thereto, and lugs D formed on the bottom and sides of the said
draw-head on both sides of the hook to support the link, substantially as above
set forth.
Ninth. The combination with a draw-head of a coupling-hook arranged longi-
tudinally therein, and pivoted at its rear end to the same by means of lugs formed
on the said hook engaging in pockets or depressions in the shank of the said draw-
head, substantially as above set forth.
Tenth. The combination with a coupling-hook provided at its rear end with
lugs e of a draw-head having pockets or depressions E', E2, for the reception of the
said lugs of the hook, and an opening F extending through the rear wall of the
draw-head, and connecting with the said pockets E¹, E³, by means of which the

page_text: rear end of the hook can be introduced into the said draw-head, and the lugs of
the hook be inserted in the said pockets, substantially as above set forth.
Eleventh. A draw-head constructed with a longitudinal recess g provided with
rearwardly diverging sides g₁ for the reception of the pivoted coupling-hook,
substantially as above set forth.
Twelfth. The 'combination with a draw-head constructed to limit the lateral
motion of the link of a coupling-hook having a limited lateral motion in the
draw-head, whereby the hook is relieved from all lateral strains, substantially as
above set forth.
Thirteenth. The combination with a draw-head provided with depressions E', E²,
and a removable coupling-hook having draw lugs e of the locking plate H and
ways h formed in the said draw-head for introducing and securing the said locking
plate, substantially as above set forth.
Fourteenth. The combination with a draw-head of a pivoted coupling-hook,
a link attached to the said coupling-hook, and shoulders formed on the rear wall
of the said draw head, whereby the upward motion of the hook and link is limited,
substantially as above set forth.
Fifteenth. The combination with a draw-head of a pivoted coupling-hook pro-
vided on its upper side with a recess m' and an uncoupling blade M pivoted to
the said hook in the recess m¹ thereof, substantially as above set forth.
Sixteenth. The combination with a draw-head of a coupling-hook having a
claw b, a recess formed in the said coupling-hook, and extending partly into the
said claw b and the uncoupling blade M pivoted to the hook and resting in the
said recess, and a shoulder m³ formed on the blade and overhanging the crotch
thereof, the parts being so arranged that the blade will rise through the claw of the
hook, and its shoulder will strike against the underside of the link coupled behind
the said claw, thereby preventing the blade from being raised until the link is
pushed back, substantially as above set forth.
Seventeenth. The combination with a draw-head of a pivoted coupling-hook
provided on its upper side with a longitudinal recess m¹ for the reception of the
uncoupling blade, and a channel n extending from the said recess m¹ through
the hook for the discharge of water and cinders, substantially as above set
forth.
Eighteenth. The combination with a draw-head of a pivoted coupling-hook
provided with jaws m, m, and a shoulder o³ between the said jaws, the uncoupling
blade M having a shoulder o adapted to come into contact with the shoulder of and
arrest the upward movement of the said blade before the latter reaches a vertical
position, substantially as above set forth.
Nineteenth. The combination with a draw-head of a pivoted coupling-hook
provided on its upper side with a longitudinal recess m¹, an uncoupling-blade M
resting in the said recess m³, and a lifter N pivoted to the blade and covering the
latter and the contiguous portions of the hook on both sides of the blade, sub-
stantially as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Twentieth. The combination with a draw-head constructed to limit the lateral
movement of the link of a pivoted coupling hook having a limited lateral move-
ment in the draw-head and a link attached to the said hook, and contracted from
its outer towards its inner end, substantially as above set forth and for the purposes
specified.
Twenty-first. The combination with a draw-head of a pivoted coupling-hook
having an upwardly inclined face c, the lower edge of which is arranged above the
plane of the centre of the pivot at the rear end of the said hook, whereby the hook
is raised when the link of the opposite draw-head strikes the lower edge of the
inclined face, or the face itself if it be rough, thereby changing the direction of the
link and causing the latter to slide up on the said inclined face and engage over the
hook, substantially as above set forth.
Twenty-second. The combination with two draw-heads, each having a coupling-
hook arranged centrally within the draw-head and a link pivoted to the said draw-

page_text: head in the rear of the head of the hook of a shoulder, whereby the upward
movement of the link which is not employed in coupling is arrested before this link
has reached a vertical position, and after the link has been swung back far enough
to permit the opposite link to engage over the hook, thereby causing the link not
used in coupling to return automatically to its lower position when released,
substantially as above set forth.
Twenty-third. The combination in a railway vehicle coupling of two draw-heads,
each having an open top and front, a coupling-hook placed centrally within each
draw-head, and a link pivoted at its rear end to each draw-head, the links of both
draw-heads being arranged in line with each other, and having their free front ends
held higher than their pivoted rear ends, whereby the front ends of the said links
when they come in contact with each other are compelled to rise together until by
momentum, concussion of the draw-heads meeting, or some other cause, they
disengage, one link passing under the other and engaging over the opposite coupling-
hook, substantially as above set forth.
Twenty-fourth. The combination with the coupling-hook B having a recess or
depression m' of a lifter provided with a crotch m² arranged to engage the link
and to deposit it upon the top of the hook, substantially as above set forth.
Twenty-fifth. In a coupling apparatus for railway vehicles a lifter having a
circular crotch m³ and an extension or tongue m in front of the said crotch,
substantially as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Twenty-sixth. The combination with an uncoupling blade M of the bell-crank
lever P constructed with a long arm p and two shorter arms p¹, a wire or rod r
connecting the arm p with the blade M and rods 8 extending from the arms p, p',
to the top and both sides of a vehicle, substantially as above set forth and for the
purpose specified.
Twenty-seventh. The combination with the lever P having a long arm p and two
shorter arms p¹ of the bearing plate P¹ provided with a guide segment q, substantially
as above set forth."
Twenty-eighth. The combination with the three armed lever P provided with
tapering holes t of the wires or rods 7, 8, extending through these holes and provided
with heads or stops on the narrow sides thereof, substantially as above set forth and
for the purpose specified.
Twenty-ninth. The combination with the bell-crank lever P of the bearing
plate P¹ provided with a bore for the insertion of a fastening screw or bolt, and a
sleeve p formed on the said plate surrounding the bolt, and forming a journal on
which the bell-crank lever turns, whereby the said crank is relieved from the
pressure of the said fastening screw or bolt, substantially as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Harris Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
DENNI
H. LAKE
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