IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DRAW BARS AND COUPLING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY TRUCKS AND CAR- RIAGES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Montagu Higginson, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
DRAW BARS AND COUPLING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY TRUCKS AND CAR-
RIAGES." A communication from abroad by Joshua L. Pope, Henry W. Pope,
and William S. Sampson, all of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 28th December 1878, and dated the 9th July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Montagu Higginson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th July 1878.
MONTAGU HIGGINSON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DRAW BARS AND COUPLING APPARATUS FOR
RAILWAY TRUCKS AND CARRIAGES." (A communication from abroad by Joshua
L. Pope, Henry W. Pope, and William S. Sampson, all of New York, United States
of America.)
This Invention relates principally to draw bars and couplers for goods trucks, but
it is also equally applicable to passenger carriages. The draw bars extend the
whole length of each truck or carriage, and run upon rollers mounted in loops
attached to the floor of the truck or carriage. The draw bars are provided near
each end and of the centre with pistons, which act between two spiral springs
mounted in clamps, also attached to the floor of the truck or carriage, and thus the
draw bars will resist either a pull or a thrust.
As a greater power is necessary to resist the thrust of stopping or backing than
the pull of starting or going ahead the back springs may be stronger, or two springs
may be placed behind the pistons.
To each end of the draw bars is connected a "coupler frame" sliding in loops,
also attached to the floor of the truck or carriage, the front of the said frame being
a strong plate.
To each coupler frame is axled a coupling hook having an inclined face and barb
projecting downwards. Each hook being placed a little to the left of the centre
d.1

page_text: line of the coupling frame, it follows that as the trucks or carriages are run together
the incline faces of the hooks coming against the front plate of the opposite
coupling frame will be raised up till the barbs have passed over the front plates of
the coupling frames (to the right of the centre) when the hooks will fall again, and
the trucks or carriages are thus automatically coupled.
For uncoupling the trucks or carriages without the necessity for any one passing
in between the same, a "palm" is provided beneath each coupling hook, and to this
"palm" is connected a rod, bar, or chain, and upon raising the said "palm" by
means of the said rod, bar, or chain, either from the top of the floor of the truck or
carriage or from the ground at one side of the same, both coupling hooks will be
raised simultaneously till their barbs are above the top of the front plate of the
coupling frame, and the trucks or carriages are thus uncoupled.
The coupling hooks can be secured in this position, if required, so that the trucks
or carriages may be run together without coupling for shunting or other purposes,
and upon being again released they will immediately fall into the position required
for automatic coupling as before.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Montagu Higginson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th
January 1879.
"IMPROVE-2
MONTAGU HIGGINSON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DRAW BARS AND COUPLING APPARATUS FOR
RAILWAY TRUCKS AND CARRIAGES. (A communication from abroad by Joshua
L. Pope, Henry W. Pope, and William S. Sampson, all of New York, United States
of America.)
This Invention relates principally to draw bars and couplers for goods trucks, 2
"but it is also with modifications applicable to passenger carriages. The draw bars
⚫extend the whole length of each truck or carriage, and run upon rollers mounted
in'loops attached to the floor of the truck or carriage. The draw bars are provided
near each end and at the centre with pistons, which act between spiral springs
mounted in clamps, also attached to the floor of the truck or carriage, and thus the
draw bars will resist either a pull or a thrust.
+
As a greater power is necessary to resist the thrust of stopping or backing than
the pull of starting or going ahead the back springs may be stronger, or two springs
may be placed behind the pistons.
To each end of the draw bars is connected a "coupler frame" sliding in loops,
also attached to the floor of the truck or carriage, the front of the said frame being
a strong plate.
To each coupler frame is axled a coupling hook having an'inclined face and a
barb projecting downwards. Each hook being placed a little to the left of the
,centre line of the coupling frame, it follows that as the trucks or carriages are run
together the inclined faces of the hooks coming against the front plate of the
opposite coupling frame will be raised up till the barbs have passed over the front
plates of the coupling frames. (to the right of the centre) when the .hooks will fall
again, and the trucks or.carriages are thus automatically.coupled.

page_text: of such a width as to extend under both hooks, so that when the "palm" is raised
it not only raises the hook to which it is hinged, but, extending under the barb of
the opposite hook, raises. that. also until both barbs are above the upper edge of the
front plates h, h, (as shewn at Fig. 8), the hooks are then uncoupled and the trucks
are free to be moved asunder. When it is desired to run two trucks together
without coupling (or to use this coupler in connection with trucks not fitted with
the same) all that is necessary is to lift the "palm" k, k, still further, so as to bring
the hook into an erection, as shewn at Fig. 9.
It is not necessary that the "palm" k, k, should be hinged to the hook i, i, as in
some cases it may be formed of one piece with it, as shown at Fig. 10.
To the "palm "k, k, is attached a lifting rod m, m; and it will be obvious that
various simple devices may be employed for the purpose of acting upon this lifting
rod, either from the top of the truck or from the ground at the side of the truck,
or both. For the sake of illlustration, one arrangement for this purpose is shown
at Figs. 11 and 12, and a modification at Fig. 13.
The lifting rod m, m, is connected to a vertical bar n, n, sliding through loops
o, o, attached to the end of the trucks, and having a cross handle p, p, at the top.
Near to the top the bar n, n, is made with two latches, which (when the bar is
raised) are held by a spring catch q, q.
When it is desired to uncouple from the top, the brakesman raises the bar n, n,
to the first latch, which brings the hooks i, i, to the uncoupling position (Fig. 8),
where it is held by the spring latch q, q.
When it is desired to release the bar n, n, so as to let the hooks fall into coupling
position, the brakesman releases the spring latch q, q, by pressing his foot (or hand)
against the end at *.
When it is desired to throw the coupling hooks into the position shown at Fig. 9,
the bar n, n, must be raised up to the second latch.
To uncouple from the ground at either side, two levers 7, r, are provided, and by
pulling down the outer of either, the bar n, n, will be raised. Cords 8, 8, are also
provided for releasing the spring catch q, q, from the same position.
In Fig. 13 a chain t, t, is substituted for the lifting rod, the upper end of the said
chain being connected to a horizontal sliding bar u, u. By pulling the bar u, u,
either to the right or left the chain will be drawn over one or other of the pulleys
v, v, and the books are raised. A lever w, w, is provided for sliding the bar u, u,
from the top of the truck. The hooks are brought again into coupling position by
pushing or pulling the sliding bar u, u, back into its original position, as shown.
The bar may be retained in any position by passing a pin or peg into one of the
holes in the seginent x, x.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with the manner
in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical effect, I
wish it to be understood that I claim as the Invention communicated to me by the
aforesaid Joshua L. Pope, Henry W. Pope, and William S. Sampson, the novel con-
struction and arrangement of draw bars and coupling apparatus, as herein-before
described, and illustrated by the Drawings annexed, or any mere modification or imi-
tation thereof, constructed and operating in substantially the same or a similar manner.
In witness whereof, I, the said Montagu Higginson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.
MONTAGU HIGGINSON. (L.S.)

page_text: For uncoupling the trucks or carriages without the necessity for anyone passing
in between the same, a "palm" is provided beneath each coupling.hook, and to this
"palım" is connected a rod, bar, or chain, and upon raising the said "palm" by
means of the said rod, bar, or chain, either from the top or the floor of the truck
or carriage, or from the ground at one side of the same, both coupling hooks will be
raised simultaneously till their barbs are above the top of the front plate of the
coupling frame, and the trucks or carriages are thus uncoupled.
The coupling hooks can be secured in this position, if required, so that the trucks
or carriages may be run together without coupling for shunting or other purposes,
and upon being again released they will immediately fall into the position required
for automatic coupling as before.
Such being the nature and object of the said Invention, I will now proceed to
describe in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect; and in order that the same may be clearly understood,
I have annexed three Sheets of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have marked the
same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the following
explanation thereof.
In Sheet 1 of the annexed Drawings Fig. 1 shews in side elevation the appli-
cation of the improved draw bar and coupling apparatus to the end of two goods
trucks, the side plates of the coupling frames being removed to show the working
parts more clearly; Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is an underneath
plan view of a railway truck, showing the application of the complete system
thereto.
In these views the trucks are shewn as uncoupled, and at a slight distance
apart.
In Sheet 2 of the Drawings Fig. 4 shows the couplers in the act of meeting, the
hooks.coming in contact with the face of the front plates and commencing to rise.;
Fig. 5 shows the same with the coupling completed, the barbs of the hooks having
passed over the front plates of the coupling frames, and fallen down and locked
on the inner side thereof; Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 a face
view; Fig. 8 shows the same in the act of uncoupling, and Fig. 9 shows the hook
raised up out of the way of damage, as it would be when running in contact with
a truck not provided with this kind of coupler, or if two trucks thus provided are
intended to be run together without coupling.
Fig. 10 shows a modification in the form of the coupling hook.
In Sheet 3 of the Drawings Fig. 11 is an end view of a truck showing one
method of manipulating the couplers, either from the top of the trucks or from the
ground; Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the same, and Fig. 13 shows a modified
arrangement of the same.
Referring to Sheet 1 of the Drawings, a, a, are the draw bars which are provided
at or near each end and at the centre with pistons b, b, acting between spiral springs
c, c, mounted in clamps d, d, secured to the floor. of the truck.
In the Drawing one spring is shown in front of the piston b, b, and two behind
to resist the thrust of stopping or backing; but if preferred, a stronger spring may
be used at the back of the pistons.
e, e, is the "coupler frame" attached to the pistons b; b, at each end of the draw
bar a, a, and sliding on rollers f, f, supported by loops g, g, fixed to the floor of the
truck. The front of the coupler frame is a strong plate h, h. i, i, are the
coupling hooks, one hinged to each "coupler frame" a little to one side of the centre
O line, so that as the trucks meet, the hooks clear each other and come into contact
with the front plate of the opposite coupler frame.
The hooks are made with an inclined face and a barb, and as the trucks are run
together the inclined faces of the hooks i, i, coming against the opposing front
plates h, h, the hooks commence to rise (see Fig. 4) until the barbs have passed over
the front plates h, h, of the coupling frames, when they will fall down into the
locked position (see Fig. 5) and the coupling is completed.
k, k, is the "uncoupling palm" which is hinged on the axle of each hook, and is