Improvements in Thill-Couplings.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application. 19th July, 1898-Accepted, 17th Sept., 1898
Improvements in Thill-Couplings.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD SHERWOOD, of 22, Grand Street, Oneida, County of Madison,
State of New York, United States of America, Inventor, 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 invention relates to improvements in thill-couplings that prevent rattling, and
the object is to provide a coupling of this nature that will be simple and durable and
that will be easy and effective in its operation.
To this end my invention consists in the combination with the usual clip, clip-
plate and knuckle, of a bolt passing through the clip-ears and knuckle, having an
arm at one end extending downwardly, a wear-plate bearing upon the rear side of the
knuckle and having a depending horizontal projection pivoted to the said arm, a
spring secured to the wear-plate and extending rearwardly below the clip-plate, (a
lever pivoted to the rear end of the spring, and a bail connecting the said lever with
the rear end of the clip-plate.
And my invention consists in certain other combinations of parts hereinafter
described and specifically set forth in the claims.
In the drawings hereto annexed and forming a part of this specification, Figure 1
is a side elevation of my improved coupling, Figure 2 shows the same after the bail
has been released from the clip-plate and in position for the removal of the bolt from
the clip-ears, Figure 3 is a rear view of the device when in its operative position,
Figure 4 is a front view with the knuckle removed, and Figure 5 is a top plan view
of a modification showing means for retaining the bolt in the coupling should the
bail become accidentally released.
Referring specifically to the drawings, A is a portion of the axle provided with the
usual clip, A', and tie-plate, A", below the axle. The clip has the usual forwardly
extending ears, a, a, between the ends of which is held by a bolt, B, the thill
knuckle B¹. The wear-plate, C, is located between the ears and between the knuckle
and the clip, and is provided with a concave inner face to bear upon the said knuckle,
and to the opposite face is secured by a rivet or other suitable means, the end of a
flat bent spring, D, which extends rearwardly beneath the tie-plate.
To the rear
end of the spring, D, is pivoted a lever, E, which is provided with a link or bail, F,
for connection with the rear end of the tie-plate A¹¹. When the bail, F, is attached
to the tie-plate, and the lever is drawn forward so that its upper side bears upon the
lower side of the spring, D, the lever is held in this position and the wear-plate, C,
is pressed against the knuckle B¹. The lever, E, is retained in this position by the
bail, which is adapted to turn in a bearing in the lever, and which then has its
bearing below and forward of the end of the spring D, as shown in Figure 1.
The end of the lever pivoted to the spring is bifurcated so that the end of the
spring, which is provided with an eye, is held in the bifurcation. The bearing for
the lower end of the bail is formed by a lip or projection, e, of the lever which is
bent around the portion of the bail passing below the lever. The upper end of the
bail is bent rearwardly to fit around the bolt of the clip and to throw the bail forward.
The front end of the tie-plate, A", and the nut form a fulcrum for the inner side
of the spring, D, which is in reality a spring-lever. The bolt, B, is held in place and

page_text: secured to the wear plate, C, by means of a depending arm, b, on one end of the bolt
and a depending horizontal projection c on the wear plate which is pivoted to the
end of the arm by a rivet b¹.
When the parts are in their operative position as shown in Figure 1, it will
be obvious that the bolt cannot come out owing to the position of the wear plate
between the ears of the clip.
To remove the thill or knuckle, B¹, the lever is thrown back to loosen the bail,
then the bail is removed from the tie-plate and the parts carried downward and
forward as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings; this removes the wear plate from
between the ears, a, a, and permits the withdrawal of the bolt, B, and the removal
of the parts connected thereto.
To insure against the removal of the bolt should the bail be inadvertently re-
moved from the tie-plate, I may provide the end of the bolt, B, with a recess, f,
as shown in the modification in Figure 5, and provide the wear-plate with another
depending horizontal projection, g, having an arm, h, entering the recess when the
parts are lowered. In this case, it would only be necessary to carry the parts still
further forward before removing the bolt in order to remove the arm, h, from the
recess.
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 :-
1-In a thill-coupling, the combination with the usual clip, clip-plate and knuckle,
of a bolt passing through the clip ears and knuckle, having an arm at one end ex-
tending downwardly, a wear plate bearing upon the rear side of the knuckle and
having a depending horizontal projection pivoted to the said arm, a spring secured to
the wear plate and extending rearwardly below the clip-plate, a lever pivoted to the
rear end of the spring, and a bail connecting the said lever with the rear end of the
clip-plate, as set forth.
2 In a thill-coupling, the combination with the usual clip, clip plate and knuckle,
of a bolt passing through the clip ears and knuckle, having an integral arm at one end
extending downwardly, a wear plate having a concave face bearing upon the rear side
of the knuckle and having a depending horizontal projection. pivoted to the end of
the said arm, a spring secured to the rear side of the wear plate and extending rear-
wardly below the clip-plate, a lever pivoted to the rear end of the spring, and an
angular bail connecting the said lever with the rear end of the clip-plate, as set forth.
3-In a thill-coupling, the combination with the usual clip, clip-plate and knuckle,
of a bolt passing through the clip-ear and knuckle, having an arm at one end extend-
ing downwardly, a wear plate bearing upon the rear side of the knuckle and having a
depending horizontal projection pivoted to the said arm, a spring secured to the
wear-plate and extending rearwardly below the clip-plate, a lever pivoted to the
rear end of the spring, a second depending horizontal projection on the wear plate
having an arm adapted to enter a recess in the side of the bolt, and a bail connect-
ing the said lever with the rear end of the clip-plate, substantially as shown and
described.
WILLIAM EDWARD SHERWOOD,
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.