IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLING APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING TOGETHER RAILWAY OR TRAMWAY CARRIAGES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Merrick Head, of Reigate, in the County of Surrey,
Gentleman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLING APPARATUS
FOR CONNECTING TOGETHER RAILWAY OR TRAMWAY CARRIAGES." A com-
munication from abroad by John Craig Davidson, of Rupaheli, Bunderwarra,
Nasirabad, in the Empire of India, Engineer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Merrick Head at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd April 1881.
JOHN MERRICK HEAD, of Reigate, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLING APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING TOGETHER RAILWAY
OR TRAMWAY CARRIAGES." A communication from abroad by John Craig
Davidson, of Rupaheli, Bunderwarra, Nasirabad, in the Empire of India, Engineer.
In carrying out this Invention the parts of the coupling are as heretofore
capable of being drawn towards each other, or in part removed therefrom, for the
purpose of drawing adjoining carriages closely together or for tightening up or of
releasing them by means of right and left handed screws on a screw stem, which
for the motion in either direction is operated by a ratchet brace having a double
ended driver rocking on a centre of motion, and acted upon by a spring, and adapted
to act on teeth applied to the boss or collar of the screw stem to drive that screw
stem in the direction for the time desired.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Merrick Head in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th October 1881.
JOHN MERRICK HEAD, of Reigate, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLING APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING TOGETHER RAILWAY
OR TRAMWAY CARRIAGES." A communication from abroad by John Craig
Davidson, of Rupaheli, Bunderwarra, Nasirabad, in the Empire of India, Engineer.
In carrying out this Invention the parts of the coupling are as heretofore capable
of being drawn towards each other, or in part removed therefrom, for the purpose

page_text: of drawing adjoining carriages closely together or for tightening up or releasing
them by means of right and left handed screws on a screw stem, which for the
motion in either direction is operated by a ratchet brace having a double ended
driver rocking on a centre of motion and acted upon by spring, and adapted to
act on teeth applied to the boss or collar of the screw stem to drive that screw
stem in the direction for the time desired.
But that the nature of the said Invention may be the better understood I will
proceed, by the aid of the accompanying Drawings, to describe more in detail
means adapted for carrying the same into practical effect.
Figure 1 shews by side view, and Figure 2 by a plan, parts or a couping adapted
for use in drawing together two carriages in order to their correct connection for
running.
Figure 3 shews by sectional side view, and Figure 4 by edge view, the ratchet
portion of the coupling separately.
a, a, are the two portions of the coupling to be connected to the hooks or
equivalent parts of the respective carriages to be drawn together or tightened up
one to the other. These portions a and a are each forked to receive between the
parts of their forks the pieces b, b', respectively, and these pieces are respectively
secured to these forks with capability of rocking therein by pins or projections c, c.
These pieces band bare tapped to receive the multiple screw threaded parts d', d²,
of the central stem d, and this central stem is operated for its rotatory motion in a
direction for screwing up closer or unscrewing further apart the parts of the
coupling connection by means of the ratchet wheel e, the teeth e¹ of which are
engaged by one or other horn or end of the ratchet foperated by the arm g, the
inner end g of which is forked to receive between it the ratchet wheel e, and these
forked parts are formed to receive and rock on the central stem d. A spring h
serves by pressing upon the ratchet f to keep the ratchet to its work in the
ratchet wheel teeth e¹.
By these means I am enabled to construct an improved coupling for railway and
tramway carriages, simple and efficient in use, economical in construction, and the
parts of which do not require special skill to manufacture beyond what is usually
available in mechanical workshops, whilst for narrow gauge rolling stock having
the single buffer arrangements the present Invention affords greatly increased
facilities in use, such as admitting of the use of much larger connecting hooks.
Having thus described the Invention as communicated to me, I would have
it understood that what I claim is the arranging or combining parts forming an
improved coupling apparatus for connecting together railway and tramway
carriages, substantially as shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Merrick Head, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of October, One thousand eight hundred
aud eighty one.
Signed, sealed, and delivered
by the above named John
Merrick Head in the
presence of
CHAMBERLAIN MOLE,
his Clerk.
J. MERRICK HEAD. (L.S.)