Improvements in Automatic Couplings for Railway and Tramway Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 20th June, 1899-Accepted, 21st Oct., 1899
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COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Couplings for Railway and Tramway
Vehicles.
I, HENRY SWITHIN FRAMPTON, of 22, Staple Gardens, Winchester, in the County
of Hampshire, Builders' Merchant, 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:-
My present invention relates to certain improvements upon, modifications of,
and additions to the improved automatic coupling for railway and tramway
vehicles forming the subject matter of my previous Patent No. 1833 of A.D. 1899,
the objects of the said improvements, modifications and additions being, to provide
greater simplicity in construction, and economy in the cost of manufacture and
maintenance, while yet fully attaining all the attributes of the invention con-
stituting my said previous patent.
In my said previous patent my invention consisted of a pair of metallic blocks A
and B, the former adapted to form a pair of jaws A1 and A2 and the latter a
tongue B, the said tongue B being arranged to form or be firmly connected to
the draw-bar B at either end of the vehicle, the said tongue and jaws being pivotally
connected by the means of a bolt C. The said block A has connected thereto or
formed integrally therewith, a slotted arm H, while the block B is similarly
provided with arms J J, to the free ends of which is pivotally connected a
coupling tongue K, adapted to engage with the slot in the arm H by the tension
of a rod L governed by a spring N contained in a box M, the free end of the said
tongue being capable of release from the slot in H, only when H is caused to
recede from J and J, to effect which the block A is provided with a fixed or
vibratory externally threaded pin G, adapted to engage with an internally threaded
arm E, operated by a lever F, and mounted upon the frame D 11 12 connected to
the block B, and forming a guide for the movements of the block A, caused to
recede with its slotted arm H from the block B, when the arm E is caused by
rotation to be screwed upon the pin G.
In my present invention the moving parts are less in number, more simple in
their action, and more quickly and easily removed and replaced with new by the
guard or driver should rupture occur to any part whilst on a journey.
My present invention (omitting minor details hereinafter explained) consists
essentially of only six parts, viz., an octagonal frame bolted to the draw-bar at
either end of the vehicle, a pair of connected arms mounted upon one face of the
said block, and a slotted arm upon the opposite face. A tongue pivotally con-
nected to the said pair of arms and adapted to engage with the said slotted arm.
A threaded pin for actuating the movements of the said slotted arm and a lever
arm for operating the said threaded pin.
In order that my said improvements and the manner of their operations may
be fully understood I have hereunto appended four sheets of drawings, of which.
Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 Sheet 1 are left hand elevation, right hand elevation, plan
and back end elevation respectively of an octagonal metallic frame forming the

page_text: foundation of my said improved coupling, and to which is bolted the specially
constructed outer or free end of the-draw-bar of the vehicle.
Figs. 5 and 6 are top view and side view respectively of a pair of connected
arms, adapted to be attached to one face of the said octagonal frame, and carrying
pivotally the locking tongue.
Figs. 7 and 8 are like views of a slotted arm adapted to be mounted upon the
opposite face of the octagonal frame to receive the free end of the said tongue.
Fig. 9 is a detached view of the threaded pin and ball and arm, or lever, for
operating the rotation of same; Fig. 10 being a similar view with the ball in
section, to show the extent to which the connecting bolt of the said arm or lever
may oscillate therein.
Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are plan, front and back face respectively of the specially
constructed head of the draw-bar, according to my present invention.
Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a detail hereinafter explained.
Fig. 15 Sheet 2 is a plan view of Figs. 3, 5 and 7 when connected together as
hereinafter explained, Fig. 10 being an end elevation of same when viewed from
right to left.
i
Fig. 17. is a side elevation of Fig. 15, shewing the view Fig. 1, Fig. 18 being
a section upon the line A B of Fig. 17. Fig. 19 is a view of the reverse side of
Fig. 17 also shewing the view Fig. 2, Fig. 20 being an end elevation of Fig. 19
as viewed from left to right.
Fig. 21 is a diagramatical view illustrating the movements of the locking
tongue under the several conditions of working hereinafter explained.
Fig. 22 Sheet 3 is an end elevation, while Fig. 23 is a side elevation of the end
of a vehicle to which my improved coupling has been attached.
Figs. 24 and 25 are enlarged views of the rest or carrier for the lever arm,
shewing the closed and open positions of same and hereinafter explained.
Figs. 26 and 27 are sectional views of one end of a brake van, illustrating the
manner in which I purpose arranging my invention for use in releasing slip
carriages, or vehicles, and hereinafter explained.
I Fig. 28 Sheet 4 is a plan view of the ends of two coaches, illustrating the
application of my invention as a coupling therefor.
In carrying my invention into effect T cast, forge, or otherwise produce of any
suitable metal, a case or frame A, which, for the purposes of my invention, I
prefer to construct of octagonal formation in vertical cross section, the upper left
hand angle a, and the lower right hand angle 6 of which are extended to form
upon the front face of the said frame or case, projections or prolongations a¹ and b¹
respectively. The said case or frame is arranged for connection to the outer or
free end of the draw-bar B of the coach, truck, or other vehicle to which my
improved coupling is to be attached, the said draw-bar, for the purposes of my
invention, having welded or otherwise connected to its said outer or free end, or
constructed so as to provide a metallic cross piece as at Figs. 11, 12 and 13, the
four members c cd d' of which are of such dimensions as to fit easily into the
frame or
case A, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, the two vertical
members c and c¹ of which have a central hole e, bored or otherwise provided
entirely therethrough as shewn in Fig. 11, and indicated by dotted lines in
Fig. 12, which, in conjunction with holes f formed in the upper and lower faces
of the frame A, are for the reception of a bolt and nut or its equivalent
(Figs. 4, 15, 16, 18 and 20) by means of which the said frame or case A may be
retained in firm connection with the said draw-bar. The members d and dare
curved upon their outer faces as shewn in order that the said case or frame may
have a certain amount of play or free lateral horizontal movement upon. the
bolt 9, to permit the coupling to accomodate itself to the various curves in the
track, as suggested by the dotted lines in Fig. 11.
Upon the outer surface of the angle a of the said case or frame, I braze, mould,
or otherwise provide a lug C, while the extension or prolongation al has upon its
outer surface a smaller lug C constructed substantially as shewn. The outer-

page_text: face of the angle b has similarly a:lug.D; while the extension and prolongation b¹
has a lug D constructed substantially as shewn, the latter having upon its face
a web or eye such as D2, for purposes hereinafter explained.
The metallic frame E, illustrated by Figs. 5 and 6 is arranged to form two
arms E and E2, the slot or space between the said arms being occupied by a
tongue F (hereinafter referred to as the locking tongue) pivotally supported upon
the free ends of E' and E2, by the means of a bolt and nut G. The said frame E
has at its solid end an oblong hole h and a circular hole h', (Fig. 6) and is fixed.
upon the angle b and prolongation b' in the following manner. The oblong hole h
is first passed over the lug D and pulled forward until the semi-circular end of E
engages with, and is beneath the lip thereof, when the hole h¹ in E will coincide
with a hole in the extension b¹, and the curved end of the slot or space between
E and E2 will abut against and be beneath the lip of the lug D', the position of the
frame E being then substantially as at Fig. 19. In Fig. 14 I show a metallic
or other block consisting of a flat plate k, circular block and semicircular
block. If now this block be presented in the manner shewn by Fig. 19, the
block will fit into the hole ', the hole in k¹ then coinciding with the hole j¹
in b', and at the same time the block will fit into the space now existing (and
shewn) between the forward, end of the hole h in E and the curved end of the
lug D, and when the blocks and are both in position, the plate k would fit.
between and be flush with the lugs D and D¹, as suggested by dotted outline in
Fig: 19, a bolt 3 passing entirely through the hole in k and k¹ and the hole j
in the extension 6', serving to firmly retain and hold the arm E in this position
as shewn in Figs. 15, 16, 17, and 18.
The metallic frame H illustrated by Figs. 7 and 8 is preferably semicircular
at both ends, and constructed to form a slot I, and an oblong hole 1, and between
these the said frame has upon its outer face a fixed nosing m, in which, and the
said frame is formed; an internally threaded through hole m¹. The said frame H
is attached to the angle a and extension a¹ by causing its oblong hole " to engage
with the lug C, with its curved end beneath the lip C of same in the same
manner as that described with regard to the engagement of the frame E with
lug D, saving, that in the case of the frame H; the length of the hole therein is
only slightly in excess of the length of the bass of the lug C, so that when in
position, the frame H may have a slight lateral movement at its front end (as
indicated by dotted outline in Figs. 15 and 17) without its back end becoming
disconnected from the lug C. In placing the said frame H in position the back
end of the slot therein engages with and abuts against the back face of the
lug C on a, when the threaded hole m¹ in H would coincide with a slightly
smaller and smooth faced hole n in the extension a¹ between the lugs C and C¹
(Figs. 1, 2 and 3) the lug C₁ then receiving an outer and wider metallic plate or
washer J, which may conveniently he secured in position by a bolt or bolts and
nut or nuts such as p (Figs. 15, 17 and 19) passing through a hole therein,( and
a hole in the lug C (Figs. 1, 2, and 3), the said plate or washer J serving to
allow the necessary and said lateral movement of the free end of H, without its
opposite end leaving the lug.C C¹.
The hole m in the nosing m receives a threaded metallic pin or bolt K, the
inner.end of which is smooth and engages with and passes entirely through, the
holen in. a, and is thereat secured by any suitable and convenient means, such
for instance as that of a washer r, and pin r. The opposite end of the pin or bolt K
is constructed to form, or has brazed or otherwise connected thereto, a ball or
spherical.head L, in which a narrow slot or passage M is formed in the plane of
the threaded stem K the said slot being extended gradually from the centre and
in, the direction of its greatest width, until each of its halves are of triangular
formation or thereabouts in cross section, or substantially as that shewn by the
part. sectional and sectional views respectively Figs. 10 and 18. The said slot
receives a. bolt or pin N, which forms a pivotal connection between the ball L
and a lever handle 0 (hereinafter called the coupling lever) the outer end of

page_text: which is provided with a handle P, and operates as hereinafter explained, the
universal joint thus formed between 0 and L providing that by the rotation of
the latter, rotary motion would be imparted to the former and the screwed pin K,
notwithstanding that K and O are never in the same plane or in alignment with
each other, the extent of motion of the coupling lever in the restricted direction
being indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 10.
The manner of operation and use of my invention is as follows. The free end
of the coupling tongue F' is normally held in the slot of the frame H, with its
hooked or curved end abutting against the end of H, as at Figs. 15, 17 and 19,
when H is in its closed position, resting firmly against and seated flat upon the
extension a¹, the tongue F being automatically retained in this position by a
continuous pull upon the heel F¹ of same, by the means of a rod R, actuated by
a spring R', contained in a box or case S, which, for the purposes of my present
invention, is pivotally connected to the face, end, or other part of the web or
eye D² of the lug D₁, as shewn in Fig. 19.
By reason of the position in which the said coupling tongue is mounted upon
the frame or case A, the said tongue is always at an angle of 45° relatively to the
vertical centre of the vehicle, and as my improved coupling would be in the same
position upon each end of all the vehicles of the system, it follows, that whenever
two vehicles are brought together end to end, that the tongue of one vehicle
would cross the tongue of the other at right angles, as suggested by the tongue F
and dot and dash line Fin Fig. 20, so that whatever may be the difference of load
of any two vehicles being coupled, the coupling tongues would always cross each
other, and the impact between the opposing tongues of two such vehicles meeting
would cause the said tongues to recede from each other as indicated in Fig. 21, the
force and its direction of the opposing tongue being indicated by the arrow X,
and while the coupling tongue is thus forced back the position of the rod R would
be that indicated by the dot and dash line R2, but directly the said tongues have
passed each other, both would return to their normal positions, as shewn by full
lines at F, and dot and dash line at Fig. 21, and in the views 15, 17 and 19,
when both vehicles would be locked together as illustrated by Fig. 28.
To uncouple two vehicles so coupled, an attendant would operate the handle P
of either vehicle, which, up till now has been in the position shewn by full lines
in Figs. 22 and 23, but if the attendant now brings the said handle up into the
position indicated by dotted outline in the same figures, he would, by such motion
of P, impart one half turn to the coupling lever O, the ball L, and the threaded
pin or bolt K, the pitch of the thread upon K being such that the said one half
turn thereof would be sufficient to withdraw the frame H from its position shewn
by full lines, into that shewn by dotted outline in Fig. 15, 17 and 21, thus
releasing the free end of the coupling tongue F, when this would be drawn
outward from H in the direction indicated by the arrow X X in Fig. 21, and into
the position shewn by dotted outline, thus releasing the tongue of the other
vehicle, and while the operated tongue is in the position shewn, the position of
the rod R would be that shewn by R³ in the said figure, from which it will be
understood, that whatever may be the position of the coupling tongue, the
spring R (Fig. 19) would always operate to return the said tongue to its normal
position, and that by reason of the spring box or case S being pivotally connected
to the web or eye D, this would readily accomodate itself to the varying positions
of the rod R. The tongue having returned to its normal position, the attendant
may return the handle P to its lowest position, thus rotating the threaded pin K
in the opposite or left handed direction and causing the frame H to return to
the position shewn by full lines in Figs. 15, 17, 19, and 21, and engaging with the
end of and locking the tongue F, ready for automatically coupling with another
vehicle when necessary in the manner previously described. It is obvious that
if found more convenient or desirable that the handle P should be in a raised
position when the frame H is locked, I can attain this by forming a left handed
thread upon the pin K instead of a right-handed one as shewn.

page_text: I may in order to combat with possible events, such for instance as that of the
breaking of the spring R or rod R find it convenient or desirable to arrange
the frames E and H, so that their positions may be interchangeable in order that
the coupling tongue F may depend instead of stand up from the frame E and so
make contact with the slot in H by the action of gravity alone, and to render
such an arrangement possible all that is needed is to provide a female screw
thread in the hole h of E for receiving the threaded bolt or pin K of the locking
lever O.
f.
It will be seen by reference to Figs. 22 and 23 and by comparison with my said
previous patent, that in my present invention the locking lever O and the handle P
do not extend beyond the side, of the vehicle which obviates the possibility of
rupture occurring to these by passing objects as in my said previous patent. For
the purposes of my present invention I may find it necessary to provide a loose
support for the free end of the lever O, and I may effect this in many ways, but
I prefer to employ a bracket such as T fixed upon the end of the vehicle the said
bracket having a hinged coupling T capable of receiving and holding the said
locking lever 0, such an arrangement being shewn in position by Figs. 22 and 23,
while the said bracket and coupling is shewn more graphically by the detached
enlarged views Figs. 24 and 25.
In order that the before described uncoupling of the vehicles may be arranged
applicable for slip carriages or trucks, provide in either or both ends of a
guards van the arrangement illustrated by Figs. 26 and 27, in which a pinion or
other toothed wheel t is mounted and fixed upon the coupling lever O, whilst
a toothed rack passes through and extends horizontally beyond the end of the
vehicle, and gears with the said pinion or toothed wheel, the inner end of the said
toothed rack being in connection with a locking lever w carried in a locking
frame z. By this arrangement when the handle l' is in its lowest position and
the two vehicles are coupled, the lever we would be in the position shewn by Fig. 27,
but if the coupled vehicle is to be slipped at a given point of the journey, the
guard would place the lever into the position shewn by Fig. 26, which
operation would draw the toothed rack inward and so rotate the rocking lever ()
in the direction of the arrow Fig. 27, and bring the handle. P in the raised position
shewn in Fig. 26, which would operate for disengaging the coupling tongue F
in the manner previously described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1st. The construction use and application of the herein described automatic
coupling for railway and tramway vehicles, connected, combined, and operating
substantially as herein set forth and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
2nd. The improved coupling for railway and tramway vehicles, consisting of
the combination of an octagonal case or frame A, bolted to the cross shaped end
of a drawbar B, the said frame having extended portions a¹ and b¹ forming
continuations of its angles a and b, and having projected lugs C and C¹ and
D and D respectively, the said angle 6 and continuation 6' having bolted and fixed
thereto a frame E with divided arms E and E, the said arms carrying pivotally
a coupling tongue F, the heel of which is pivotally attached to a rod R,
governed by a spring R¹, contained in a box S, pivotally connected to the lug D³
of 6' the free end of the said coupling tongue being adapted to engage with the
slot of a frame H pivotally mounted upon the angle a of A, and connected to
the extension a¹ of same, by the means of a right or left handed screw pin or
bolt K, engaging with a like threaded hole m in the said frame H, and retained
in free connection with the extension by the means of a pin or its equivalent r³,
the opposite end of K having a spherical head L formed internally at M to
receive and permit the extended movements of a bolt N, connecting to L, a
locking lever adapted to be operated by a handle P, and supported by a suitable

page_text: carrier such as T, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
shewn by the appended drawings.
3rd. In combination, the improved automatic coupling set forth in the preceding
clain, with a toothed or pinion wheel such as t, fixed upon the locking lever O,
and gearing with a toothed rack such as e, passing through the end of a guards
van, and connected to a locking lever w mounted upon a locking frame such as z,
substantially as described and shewn by Figs. 26 and 27, of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 20th day of June 1899.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1, Broad Street Buildings, Liverpool Street, London, E.C.
Agent for the Applicant.