Improvement in Thill Couplings.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVIDIONAL DIVIFICATION.
Improvement in Thill Couplings.
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We, SYLVANUS LYCURGUS HILL and GEORGE WALKER HERDMAN, both of
Jerseyville, Ill., U.S.A., Inventors, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:
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The object of this invention is to provide a thill coupling which will enable
the pole of a vehicle to be readily attached and detached, and which, moreover,
will be free from rattling and more efficient than those of the kind heretofore used.
.The invention comprises two or more upward extensions or loops upon the axle
to retain the bolster. A bifurcated hook extends forwardly from the axle and is
adapted to retain in the hooked extremities of the arms the coupling pin with
which the end of the pole is furnished. A wire spring, extending from the rear.of.
the axle and then forwardly thereof, is attached to a vertical piece of metal which
extends upwardly between the arms of the bifurcated hook and bears forcibly,,upon
a boss on the coupling pin to prevent it rattling in its bearings and to retain it
therein.
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In order to remove the pole it is only necessary to press the piece of metal away
from the boss on the coupling pin, at the same time raising it above the bolster.
The pole and pin can then readily be removed.
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P. R. J. WILLIS,
Agent for Applicants.
Improvement in Thill Couplings.
We, SYLVANUS LYCURGUS HILL and GEORGE WALKER HERDMAN, both of
Jerseyville, Ill., U.S.A., Inventors, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:
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This invention relates to thill couplings; the object of the invention being
to provide a coupling by which the pole of a vehicle can be readily attached
or detached and which, moreover, will be free from rattling, and capable of being
readily applied to any vehicle in which the pole thereof is fitted with the usual
thill iron.
Reference being had to the drawings:-Fig. 1 is a perspective view shewing
the coupling with the thill iron detached therefrom, and Fig. 2 is a similar view
shewing the thill iron secured in place by the coupling.

page_text: The coupling comprises the yoke 1, which binds the bolster 2 and axle 3 together.
A bifurcated hook 4 has perforations in its rearwardly extending part 5 which
pass over the screw-threaded studs 6, formed integral with the yoke 1. A
spring 7, made of wire, or flat metal as shewn, has perforations which pass over
the studs 6 which are fitted with nuts 8 whereby the parts described can be tightly
clamped together. The spring 7 is attached, preferably by a bolt and nut 9, to
the latch 10 which is bent rearwardly at 11 and then upwardly at 12 to form a
handle 12.
The thill iron 13 is fitted with a pin, pins, or projections 14 which projects
to each side thereof as shewn and is adapted to be retained by the hooks 4.
When fitting our improved coupling to vehicles, the poles or shafts of which
are provided with the thill irons 13, it is only necessary to fit the perforation in
the head 15 with the pin 14 which projects to both sides thereof.
The spring 7, in its normal position, keeps the latch 10 pressed upwardly and
rearwardly over the bolster as shewn in Fig. 1. When, however, the thill iron is
to be coupled, it is placed with its pin 14 resting in the hooks 4. The latch 10 is
then pressed downwardly and forwardly by means of the handle 12; the part 11
riding over the yoke 1 and causing the latch—which lies in the bifurcation of the
hook 4, to impinge against the head 15 of the thill iron, thereby keeping it in
place and preventing movement and consequent rattling thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
A thill coupling comprising a yoke having screw-threaded studs integral there-
with and adapted to embrace the vehicle axle and bolster, a bifurcated hook having
its rear part perforated to pass over the screw-threaded studs of the yoke, a spring
secured on said studs and connected to a latch projecting upwardly through the
bifurcation of the hook aforesaid and adapted to bear against the head of the
thill-iron and retain it within the bifurcated hook aforesaid, and the combination
with the coupling of the thill-iron having a pin, pins, or projections extending to
each side of its head, all as and adapted to operate substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore set forth and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 29th day of April 1898.
P. R. J. WILLIS,
Agent for Applicants.