COUPLERS
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edward Thomas Hughes at the
Communi-
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th June 1883.
cated to him from abroad by George A. Cage, Robertson F. Shreuder, and
Benjamin F. Read, all of Minevea, Wood County, Texas, United States of
America.
"
EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the firm of Hughes and Son, Patent Agents,
IMPROVEMENTS IN CAR
5 Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex.
COUPLERS A communication to me from abroad by George A. Cage, Robertson
F. Shreuder, and Benjamin F. Read, all of Mineven, Wood County, Texas, United
States of America.
This Invention relates to car couplers, the object being to provide a coupling of
simple and durable construction which may be coupled automatically, thus
avoiding the inconvenience and danger incident to the use of the usual coupling
link and pin.
The invention consists in the improved construction and combinations of parts
hereinafter fully described.
On the accompanying Drawing.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a car, and drawhead having the
improved coupling devices applied thereto.
Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same.
Figure 3 represents a detached view of this improved form of coupling link, and
Figure 4 shows a modified form of coupling pin.
A represents a portion of the end of a car, and B the drawhead, the latter being
provided with an extension B-This extension B¹ is provided with a longitudinal
recess b adapted to receive an extended end c of a sliding block C, and coil or
other spring Cone end of the latter bearing against the end of the extension c
while the opposite end has bearing against the extension B¹ of the drawhead-
The under side of the extension c of the block is grooved to receive a pin c'
projecting from the bottom of the recess b to guide said block.
The spring C operates to force the block Cinto the mouth of the drawhead B.
D represents a vertically sliding rod supported in staples or guides d projecting
from the end A of the car. Said rod is bent at its lower end to form a right
angle D¹, the end of which forms the coupling pin to engage the link. The

page_text: upper end of the rod D terminates in a handle d³ by means of which the rod is
raised from the top of the car to discharge the link.
E. represents a lever pivoted at one end to the end of the car, and formed with
a bend or loop e to embrace the angle D¹ of the rod D, and terminating in a
handle e by means of which the coupling pin may be raised from the platform
or side of the car. F represents the improved coupling link provided on the
upper side of one of its sides with an enlargement f having bevelled ends f¹, a
similar enlargement " is formed on the opposite side of the under side of the link.
The operation of the improved coupler is as follows:-
The outer end c of the block C is normally flush with the inner end of the
flaring mouth of the drawhead to receive the thrust of the link, the force of the
Intter operating to push in the block C to allow the coupling pin d* to drop
through the link by means of gravity, thus securely retaining the latter in the
drawhead.
The enlargements f¹. f. of the coupling being on opposite sides of the link,
operate to keep the latter in proper horizontal position, and insure a positive
engagement of the parts.
To uncouple the cars it is only necessary to raise the rod D by its handle d³
from the top of the car or by the lever E, from the platform or side of the car,
when the block by means of the spring C¹ will force the link out of the draw-head,
thus effecting the desired disengagement.
In Figure 4 the vertical rod D has a looped right angular arm D.
H represents the coupling pin provided with a loop g²-This loop is adapted to
be inserted through the looped end of the arm D₁ of the rod D, and secured by a
crosspin h or other equivalent means-The pin H passes through an opening in
the drawhead, and is adapted to fall into the link when the block E is forced back
by the thrust of the link.