IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED COUPLING AND BUFFING APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING TRAMCARS AND THEIR ENGINES, ALSO OTHER VEHICLES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Vaux, of Bradford, in the County of York,
Engineer for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED COUPLING AND
BUFFING APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING TRAMCARS AND THEIR ENGINES, ALSO
OTHER VEHICLES.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Vaux, at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st May 1883.
WALTER VAUX, of Bradford, in the County of York, Engineer,
" IMPROVE-
MENTS IN COMBINED COUPLING AND BUFFING APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING TRAM-
CARS AND THEIR ENGINES, ALSO OTHER VEHICLES."
My invention relates to improvements in combined coupling and buffing
apparatus for connecting tramcars to their engines, or tramears or other vehicles
one to another, and has for object to not only obtain effectual connection, but also
to neutralize concussion between the vehicles to which the apparatus is applied,
and thus to prevent the unpleasant shocks to passengers and deterioration to
rolling stock and permanent way which at present obtain.
I use a compound coupling link comprising two end portions with eyes and female
screws, and a central portion having right and left handed screw-threads which
take into corresponding female threads in the end portions.-The said central
portion is provided with a depending lever and weight (as is usual in ordinary
railway couplings) whereby to operate the central portion for drawing the vehicles
tightly together, and by which also they may be partially released when it is
desired to uncouple them.-The depending lever and weight also prevent the
accidental unturning of the central portion. An enlargement is formed in or
about the middle of the central portion, and against each end face thereof there
bears a metallic buffer plate or washer, behind which is an india-rubber pad or
pads and washers, or other suitable elastic medium, such as a metallic volute or
other spring or springs, next to which and so as to bear against it or them, I

page_text: provide another metallic plate or washer, one of which takes a bearing against the
drawbar or other convenient part of the one car or vehicle whilst the other bears
against a projecting part of a universal connecting link attached to the next car
or vehicle, or to the engine. The eyes in the two parts having the right and left
hand female threads are for the reception of the drag pins, one of which is in the
aforesaid drawbar, and the other in the part forming the universal link before
mentioned, the said eyes are elongated in order that when over-running occurs
between the cars, or between car or cars and engine the india-rubber pads or
metallic springs previously referred to may have a cushioning effect, thereby
lessening the shock to passengers as well as the destructive effects to permanent
way and rolling stock that occur with existing arrangements of couplings.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Walter. Vaux in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th November
1883.
Walter Vaux, of Bradford in the County of York, Engineer
" IMPROVE-
MENTS IN COMBINED COUPLING AND. BUFFING APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING TRAM-
CARS AND THEIR ENGINES, ALSO OTHER VEHICLES."
My invention relates to improvements in combined coupling and buffing
apparatus for connecting tramcars to their engines, or tramcars or other vehicles
one to another, and has for object to not only obtain effectual connection but also
to neutralize concussion between the vehicles to which the apparatus is applied,
and thus to prevent the unpleasant shocks to passengers, and deterioration to
rolling stock and permanent way which at present obtain.-I use a compound
coupling link comprising two end portions with eyes and female screws, and.a
central portion having right and left handed screw threads which take into
corresponding female threads in the end portions..
The said central potrion is provided with a depending lever and weight (as
is usual in ordinary railway couplings) whereby to operate the central portion for
drawing the vehicles tightly together, and by which also they may be partially
released when it is desired to uncouple them.
The depending lever and weight also prevent the accidental unturning of the
central portion. An enlargement is forined in or about the middle of the central
portion, and against each end face thereof there bears a metallic buffer plate or
washer, behind which is or are an india-rubber pad or pads and washer or washers,
or other suitable elastic medium, such as a metallic volute or other spring or
springs, next to which and so as to bear against it or them I provide another
metallic plate or washer. One such plate or washer takes a bearing against the
drawbar or other convenient part of the one car or vehicle, whilst the other bears
against a projecting part of a universal connecting link attached to the next car or
vehicle or to the engine.-The eyes in the two parts having the right and left
hand female screw threads are for the reception of the drag-pins, one of which is
in the said drawbar, and the other in the part forming the universal link before-
mentioned; the said eyes are elongated in order that when over-running occurs
between the cars, or between car or cars and engine, the. india-rubber pads or
metallic springs previously referred to, may have a cushioning effect, thereby
lessening the shock to passengers as well as the destructive effects to permanent
way and rolling stock that occur with existing arrangements of couplings.-When
my improved combined coupling and buffing apparatus is attached to an engine
and car or cars, or to other vehicles, and the end parts are drawn tightly together
by turning the central screwed portion thereof, no play or backlash can occur
between the outer-surfaces of the eyes and the drag-pins, hence the use of my
invention considerably reduces wear and tear of such eyes and drag-pins and
prevents the latter from working loose or becoming accidentally displaced.
The india-rubber pads or metallic springs are brought into play during slight
re-actions which take place between engine and cars or vehicles on starting,
running, over-running, or stopping the same, and almost entirely prevent such
shocks as are usually felt when a rigid coupling such as heretofore in use is
employed.
In the accompanying drawings the same reference letters are used to denote like
parts wherever they occur. Fig. 1, is an elevation, chiefly in section, a, is a drag-
link jointed to the engine by the pin b, around which to some extent, it is free to

page_text: move, a similar drag-link may also be attached to the cars, c, and c 1, are the
respective end portions of the improved coupling and buffer, one having a right
band and the other a left hand female thread formed therein,-d, is the central
portion, on one end of which is formed a right hand and on the other a left hand
thread for taking respectively into the corresponding threads in the parts c,
and c 1. e, is a depending weighted lever attached to the central part d, for
turning the same and drawing the ends c, and c1, together when connecting an
engine and car or cars, or other vehicles one to another, and for extending the said
ends c, and c 1, when required to disconnect the same, f. f 1. are buffer plates,
which take a bearing respectively against the shoulders d 1, and d 2, formed by the
enlargement of the central portion d.-g, g 1. g 2, and g 3, are india rubber pads
placed between the backs of the said buffer plates f, f 1, and the washers h, h 1,-
g1, g 2, g 3, are shewn as india rubber pads in sections, with metallic washers g 4,
and g 5, between them, but in lieu of such sectional pads, one such as shewn at g,
may be used if preferred. The washers h, and hi, bear respectively against the
drag-link a, of the coupling, and against a similar or other drag-link such as i,--
j, is a coupling pin for connecting the end portion c 1, to the drag-link i,-k, is a
drag-pin for connecting the end portion c, to the drag-link a, and is placed at about
right angles to the pin b, so that together they form a universal joint. Spaces c2,
and c 3, shew the elongation in the eyes of the end portions c, and c1, for the
'purpose above referred to, Figs, 2, and 3, illustrate the application of metallic
springs in lieu of india rubber, 1, being a volute spring placed between the buffer
plates f, f1, (which in this case may be formed to surround the spring) and the
washers h, h1-m.`m, are spiral springs between the buffer plates f, f 1, and
washers h, h 1, or in lieu of a number of spiral springs as shewn, one larger coil
surrounding the end portions c, and c'l, may be used.
Having now described the nature of the said invention and the manner of
carrying the same into practical effect, I would have it understood that what I
consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as secured to me by the
Letters Patent, first hereinbefore in part recited is
Coupling and buffing apparatus, combined, arranged, and operating, substantially
as hereinabove described for the purposes set forth
In Witness whereof, I, the said Walter Vaux, have hereunto set my hand and
seal this ninth day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
WALTER VAUX. (L.S.)
Witness to the signature of
the said Walter Vaux.
THO E CRAVEN. Fel. Inst. Patent Agents
24 Victoria Chambers
South Parade
Leeds
WALTER VAUX. (L.S.)