Improvements in Couplings for Railway and like Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Couplings for Railway and like Vehicles.
We, EDWARD SANDFORD, Waggon Builder, and EDWARD SMITH, Fitter, both of
4, Carlton Road, Smethwick near Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, do
hereby declare the nature of our said invention to be as follows:-
--
Our invention has for its object improvements in coupling for railway and
like vehicles which will be found both simple and effective and may be coupled
or uncoupled from either end thus avoiding the necessity of getting between
the buffers.
In carrying our invention into practice we fix underneath the body of the
vehicle by suitable brackets two tubes or hollow bearings or their equivalents
into each of which a rod or bar slides and to the outer ends of these bars or rods
we pivot or hinge that link of the coupling chain which drops or fits onto the hook
attached to the next coach when coupling them together. This link is preferably
larger than the ordinary link as used at present and is formed with a lug on either
side for pivoting it to the bars or rods. The centre link of the coupling chain
is preferably made smaller so as to compensate for the extra length of the outer
link. Fixed to the bars between their outer ends and the tubes in which they
slide is a lever extending outwards at either one or both ends of the coach so
that by operating this lever the bars or rods the bars are either moved in or
drawn out of the tubes as desired. Pivoted near one end of this lever is a cranked
lever connected by a connecting rod to a bell cranked lever or its equivalent
pivoted near the centre of the lever which operates the rods and this bell cranked
lever is connected by a connecting rod to a lug or projection formed on the link
pivoted to the sliding rods so that by operating the cranked lever this link may
he raised or lowered as required. Means are provided for latching or holding
the pivoted link in an upright position when the vehicles are uncoupled so that
the link is ready to be instantly dropped and the vehicles coupled together.
Dated this 12th day of December 1899
EDWARD SANDFORD,
EDWARD SMITH,
By George Barker,
Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
Agent for the Applicants,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.

page_text: Improvements in Couplings for Railway and like Vehicles.
We, EDWARD SANDFORD, Waggon Builder, and EDWARD SMITH, Fitter, both of
4, Carlton Road, Smethwick near Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, do
hereby declare the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:.
-
Our invention has for its object improvements in couplings for railway and
like vehicles which will be found both simple and effective and may be coupled
or uncoupled from either end thus avoiding the necessity of getting between
the buffers.
In carrying our invention into practice we fix underneath the body of the
vehicle by suitable brackets two tubes or hollow bearings or their equivalents
into each of which a rod or bar slides and to the outer ends of these bars or rods
we pivot or hinge that link of the coupling chain which drops or fits onto the hook
attached to the next coach when coupling them together. This link is preferably
larger than the ordinary link as used at present and is formed with a lug on either
side for pivoting it to the bars or rods. The centre link of the coupling chain
is preferably made smaller so as to compensate for the extra length of the outer
link. Fixed to the bars between their outer ends and the tubes in which they
slide is a lever extending outwards at either one or both sides of the coach so that
by operating this lever the bars or rods are either moved in or drawn out of the
tube as desired. Pivoted near either one or both ends of this lever is a cranked
lever connected by a connecting rod to a bell cranked lever or its equivalent
pivoted near the centre of the lever which operates the rods and this bell crank
lever is connected by a connecting rod, chain or equivalent to a lug or projection
formed on the link pivoted to the sliding rods so that by operating the cranked
lever this link may be raised or lowered as required. Means are provided for
latching or holding the pivoted link in an upright position when the vehicles are
uncoupled so that the link is ready to be instantly dropped and the vehicles
coupled together.
In order that our invention may be more clearly understood and easily carried
into practical effect we have appended hereunto five double sized sheets of
drawings upon which we have illustrated our improved coupling.
Figure 1 is a side elevation shewing a portion of two trucks one of which is
fitted with our improved coupling.
Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1 shewing the two trucks coupled but not
in tension.
Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 3 shewing the coupling in tension.
Figure 5 is an end elevation of a truck shewing the coupling links turned up
or in position ready for being coupled onto the next waggons.
Figure 6 is a plan view of the coupling link L.
In carrying our invention into practice we fix by the bracket 1 on the under
side of the waggon W the tubes or hollow bearings pieces or sockets T or their
equivalents into each of which the rod or bar B slides. The outer ends b¹ of these
bars are cranked slightly upwards and are preferably hinged or pivoted at 12 to
the main portions of the bars as clearly shewn at Figures 23 and 4. Pivoted to
these ends of the rods B is the link L which couples onto the usual draw bar
hook H¹ of the waggon W when coupling the two waggons together. This link L
is preferably larger than the usual link and is formed with the lugs or pivots /
at either side as clearly shewn at Figure 6 which fit into holes formed in the

page_text: ends of the rods B by which means the link is pivoted to the rods. The centre
link L is preferably made smaller so as to compensate for the extra length of the
outer link L but the link L is the same size as the links as at present in use and
this link L³ fits into the slot 2 of the usual draw bar hook H in the usual manner.
Fixed to the upper surface of the bars B is the lever R having a handle extending
outwards slightly beyond the sides of the waggon either at one or both ends for
operating the lever which when pushed or drawn either backwards or forwards
moves the rods B either in or out of their tubes or sockets T the upper portions
near the ends of these tubes or sockets being cut away so as to allow the lever R
to slide or move when operated. Pivoted at a near either one or both ends of
the lever R but preferably at both ends as shewn are the T shaped levers A or
their equivalents and also pivoted at a² to each lever A are the connecting rods 1)
the opposite ends of these rods being pivoted at to the ends of the short
Tshaped arm or lever E which is pivoted at e¹ to the lever R. Pivoted at e²
to the end of the lever E is one end of the connecting link and chain For
equivalent the other end of which is pivoted to the lug or projection *formed on
the upper surface near the end of the coupling link L. The flat springs S or
their equivalents are fixed to each end or handle of the lever R for holding the
levers A in their normal positions. It will be seen that when either of the levers A
are pressed towards the lever R they move upon their pivots a consequently
drawing the connecting rods 1 outwards which action moves the lever E upon
its pivot e thereby moving the end of this lever and the connecting link and
chain towards the waggon consequently lifting or raising the coupling link L
into position ready for coupling as clearly shewn by Figures 1 and 5.
couple the waggons the lever R is pushed towards the waggon W₁ thereby sliding
the rods B in their tubes and sockets T towards the waggon W₁ also and as these
rods B help to support the coupling links this action throws the link L forward
onto the draw bar hook H thus coupling the waggons. To uncouple the waggon
the lever R is pushed towards the waggon W and one of the levers A is pressed
thereby operating the connecting rods 1) and short arm or lever E and connecting
link and chain F consequently raising or lifting the link L out of the draw bar
hook H thus releasing or uncoupling the waggons. The lever R is drawn back
into its normal position as shewn by Figures 1 and 5 ready for being coupled
again by the spring S' or its equivalent. A catch or other device may be fixed
to the truck for holding the link L in an upright position if required. When
the coupling links L L2 and I are taught or in tension the lever or bar R is
pulled slightly outwards but the whole of the strain is borne by the coupling
links. Our coupling arrangement may be fixed at both ends of the waggon if
desired and as we use the ordinary draw bar hooks the usual coupling links as
shewn on waggon W₁ may be used in case of emergency.
To
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:-
CLAIMS.
First The improvements in couplings for railway and like vehicles consisting
essentially of the link L pivoted to rods such as 13 capable of sliding in tubes or
sockets such as T fixed on the under side of the waggon the said rods and link
being operated by levers in the manner and for the purpose substantially as
herein set forth and as shewn upon the accompanying sheets of drawings.
:
Second In railway couplings, the link L in combination with the sliding
rods B supported in sockets or sleeves and operated by lever and rods in the
manner substantially as herein set forth and as shewn upon the accompanying
sheets of drawings.
Third: In railway couplings, raising or lifting the link L by a connecting
link and chain such as F or its equivalent operated either at one or both sides of
the truck by pivoted levers and connecting rods in the manner and for the purpose

page_text: substantially as herein set forth and as shewn upon the accompanying sheets of
drawings.
Fourth In railway couplings, sliding or lifting the couplings links outwards
so as to couple onto the draw bar hook of the next truck or waggon in the manner
substantially as herein set forth and as shewn upon the accompanying sheets of
drawings.
EDWARD SANDFORD,
EDWARD SMITH.
By George Barker,
Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
Agent for Applicants,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.
EDWARD SANDFORD.
EDWARD SMITH,
By George Barker,
Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
Agent for Applicants,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.