IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS TO FACILITATE THE COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING OF RAILWAY TRUCKS, WAGONS, AND CARRIAGES.”
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Agars Walker, commonly called John George
Agars Walker, of Danes Hill, near Retford, in the County of Nottingham, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS TO FACILITATE THE
COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING OF RAILWAY TRUCKS, WAGONS, AND CARRIAGES.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Agars Walker at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd November 1877.
GEORGE AGARS WALKER, commonly called JOHN GEORGE AGARS WALKER, of
Danes Hill, near Retford, in the County of Nottingham. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MEANS OR APPARATUS TO FACILITATE THE COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING OF
RAILWAY TRUCKS, WAGONS, AND CARRIAGES."
The first part of my Invention relates to improvements on an Invention described
in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me, dated the 30th of April last,
No. 1676, for coupling and uncoupling railway trucks, and consists in the addition
of a rope or its equivalent, which is attached to the end link described in my said
Specification, and brought over a runner to the side of the wagon or truck. By
means of this arrangement the link can be tilted, and the coupling and uncoupling
thereby facilitated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Agars Walker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd
May 1878.
GEORGE AGARS WALKER, commonly called JOHN GEORGE AGARS WALKER, of
Danes Hill, near Retford, in the County of Nottingham. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MEANS OR APPARATUS TO FACILITATE THE COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING OF
RAILWAY TRUCKS, WAGONS, AND CARRIAGES."
My Invention relates to improvements on an Invention described in the Specifi-
cation of Letters Patent granted to me, dated the 30th of April last, No. 1676, for
coupling and uncoupling railway, trucks, and consists in the addition of a rope or its
equivalent, which is attached to the end link described in my said Specification,
and brought over a runner to the side of the wagon or truck. By means of this
arrangement the link can be tilted, and the coupling and uncoupling thereby
facilitated.
And in order that my said Invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying Drawings, more fully
Figure 1 is a side elevation of parts of two railway trucks or wagons shewing my
improved apparatus for coupling and uncoupling applied thereto; Figure 2 is a plan
of the above; and Figure 3 is a separate view of part thereof.
a is a spindle or shaft extending across the end of each truck or wagon, and pro-
vided with a lever handle a¹ at each end thereof, by which it can be operated; this
shaft or axis a is mounted in suitable bearings 6 fixed to the end of the truck a suitable
distance above the draw hook c. Near the centre of each shaft or axis a is fixed a
spring arm d, which is connected at its outer end to a pivot or stud e¹, carried by a
clip e² fixed rigidly to the end or coupling link e. The spring arm d, represented in
the Drawing, is formed in two parts, one of which is formed with capability of
sliding within the other, and is acted upon by a spring d¹ to enable it to accom-
modate itself to whatever position the end or coupling link e may assume.
far the apparatus described is similar to that described in the Specification of Letters
Patent herein-before referred to.
Thus
According to my present Invention I also attach to an arm or lever e³, fixed
rigidly to each coupling link e, a chain f, which is again connected to two chains g,
which are conducted by guide rollers h carried by the spring arms d, and by guide
rollers a², carried by the spindles or shafts a, one to one side and the other to the
other side of the truck or wagon, in suitable position to be acted upon by the
attendant, a handle g¹ being attached to each chain g for convenience. By these
means the attendant can by acting upon one of the lever handles a and the corre-
sponding handle g' effect the coupling and uncoupling of the wagons or trucks, the
end or coupling link e being tilted up by the action of the chains f, g, to enable it
readily to be lifted on to or off the drawhook c.
If desired the shafts a can be slidden horizontally in their bearings to enable the
end or coupling links e to pass up on the side of the draw hook when being raised
for coupling, or lowered for uncoupling.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode which
I prefer to employ in carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim is, connecting to each end or coupling link of railway trucks or wagons
operated by a spring arm or lever, a chain by which it can be tilted to facilitate the
coupling and uncoupling of railway trucks or wagons, such tilting chain being

page_text: mounted and operated by means of handles at each side of the truck or wagon, in
manner substantially as herein shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Agars Walker, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
G. A. WALKER. (LS.)