An Improved Car Coupling.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Aug. 1890
Complete Specification Left, 9th May, 1891-Accepted, 13'h June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Car Coupling.
I, JOHN PITT BAYLY, of 18 Fulham Place, Paddington, in the County of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a com-
munication to me from abroad by George Powell, of Sunny South, Alabama, U.S.A.
Inventor) to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to provide means whereby railway cars can be
readily and conveniently coupled without the necessity of a man going between the
vehicles, and to thus obriate great danger attending the coupling of cars as at
present performed.
The invention comprises a suitable draw-head, which is attached to the under
side of the cars. This draw-head is provided upon its upper and lower edges with
longitudinal slots. Within the draw-head is suitably pivoted a spring pressed-
coupling latch, which works within the slots aforesaid, and which terminates in a
hooked end adapted to engage the coupling link, which projects from a corre-
sponding draw-head, upon the next car.
Suitable links are provided. in which is conveniently journalled in bearings a
transverse-shaft which is formed or provided with a cam. To this shaft is attached
one end of a vertical lever, and which extends upward above the roof of the car,
and is adapted to be reciprocated within a guide-way secured to the upper part of
the car, and through which the lever passes. By means of this lever and the cam
upon the shaft aforesaid, the latch may be lifted when it is desired to disconnect
the car.
Dated this ath dose of dwest 1800
J. P. BAYLY,
Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Car-Coupling.
I, JOHN PITT BAYLY, of 18 Fulham Place, Paddington, in the County of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a com-
munication to me from abroad by George Powell, of Sunny South, Alabama, U.S.A.
Inventor,) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention has relation to improvements in car-couplings designed to auto-
matically couple and also be uncoupled by an operator from the side of the
car, in order to avoid the necessity of passing between the cars to be connected.
The object of my invention is to provide a construction capable of effecting the
above named function in an efficient manner, and, furthermore, to provide a coupler
of a most simple construction, yet at the same time combining in an eminent degree
efficiency of operation and durability.
With these objects in view the invention consists in the improved construction
and combination of parts, as hereinafter more fully described in the Specification,
and specifically pointed out in the claims.
In the accompany drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a car with my improvement applied
thereto.

page_text: and
4 is a detan view in plan of the draw-nead with the couping laten remov
_
Fig. 5 is a detail view of the coupling-latch.
Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.
Referring to the drawings, the letter A indicates the car-body, and B the draw-
head secured thereto, said draw-head provided upon its upper and lower edges,
respectively, with longitudinal slots or openings b, b. Pivoted upon a transverse
bar C, in the rear of the draw-head, is the rear end of a coupling-latch D, said
latch terminating at its forward end in a hook d, which is adapted to engage the
coupling-link E. Above this coupling-latch is secured a spring F, which bears
upon the coupling-latch and serves to hold the samne in firm engagement with the
coupling-link after the coupling has has effected.
The letters G G indicate depending hangers, which extend down from the
bottom of the car at the ends thereof. These hangers form bearings for a trans-
verse shaft H, said shaft being formed or provided with a central cam h, which
passes into the slot in the under side of the draw-head, and bears against the
coupling-latch. It is obvious that when this shaft is turned the cam so operates
upon the latch as to elevate the same, in this manner providing for the uncoupling
of cars.
In order to effect a convenient turning of the shaft, I have connected to one end
thereof a vertical hand-lever I, said lever extending through a guide J, projecting
laterally from the roof of the car. The lever terminates at its upper end in a hand-
piece i, by which it may be conveniently manipulated from the roof of the car; and
it is furthermore provided at a suitable distance from its lower end with a laterally
extending hand-piece ¹, so as to afford convenient means for operating the lever
from the side of the car, in both cases obviating the necessity of a person passing
between the cars in order to uncouple the same.
It is evident that, if preferred, both ends of the transverse shaft H may be
provided with the vertical hand-levers and their adjuncts. In practice perhaps this
will be more desirable, inasmuch as the cars may then be uncoupled from either
side.
Having thus fully described the construction of my improved car-coupling, the
operation of the same is as follows: As the car carrying the coupling-link
approaches the other car to be coupled thereto, the link passes into the draw-head
of the latter car, and pressing upon the slightly bevelled end of the hook portion
of the coupling-latch will overcome the downward pressure of the spring F. After
passing by this portion of the hook the gravity of the latch, aided by the pressure
of the spring, will cause the said latch to fall into engagement with the link, and
thus securely couple the cars. When it is necessary to detach the cars, all that is
required is simply to operate the hand-lever, which causes the transverse shaft B
to partly rotate and the cam to act against the under side of the coupling-
latch, so as to elevate the same, when of course the link may be readily
withdrawn.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a car-coupler, the combination, with a draw-head provided on its lower
edge with a longitudinal slot, of a coupling-latch pivoted in said draw-head,
hangers, a transverse shaft having bearings in said hangers, said shaft formed or
provided with a cam, a vertical lever secured to the end of the transverse shaft,
and extending upward above the roof of the car, and a laterally extending guideway
through which said lever passes, substantially as set forth.
2. In a car-coupler, the combination, with a draw-head provided upon its upper
and lower edges with longitudinal slots, of a spring-pressed coupling-latch pivoted
in said draw-head and working in the slot, said latch terminating in a hooked end
adapted to engage the coupling-link, hangers, a transverse shaft having bearings in

page_text: said hangers, said shaft formed or provided with a cam, a vertical lever secured to
the end of the transverse shaft and extending upward above the roof of the car,
and a laterally-extending guideway through which said lever passes, substantially
as set forth.
J. P. BAYLY,
Applicant.