Year: 1899

page_text: We, WILLIAM HENRY APPLEBY, of 21, High Street, Bloxwich, in the County
of Stafford, Engineer, and SAMUEL. PARKES, of Glenthorn, New Road, Willenhall,
in the County aforesaid, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
This invention relates as hereinafter described to an improved coupling for
railway carriages, trucks, and the like, and has for its object to provide means
whereby such carriages or trucks may be coupled or uncoupled from either side
of the carriages or trucks without the danger of the man in charge having to
get between the carriages or trucks as in the case of the ordinary form of chain
coupling.
In carrying our invention into effect, we attach an ordinary link to the hook
of the truck or the like, the said link as is usual, being partly flattened, on
one side, so as to slide in the slot of the hook. We provide a rectangular or
other shaped piece of metal, preferably of steel or wrought iron, and provide
the same with a slot, just sufficiently wide fo receive the flattened edge of the
link aforesaid. At the bottom of the said slot we form a rectangular or other
shaped groove, centrally with same, and attach the said piece of metal to the
link aforesaid by means of the slot passing over the flattened edge of the link:
the link, when in place, resting in the said groove, where its thicker portion
can freely move.
We provide another slot, of the same width as the former, on the outer end
of the rectangular piece of metal, which slot is made to widen out at the bottom
and attach a similar link to the previous one, by means of its flattened edge
passing through the slot and into its wider portion, the said link being after-
wards turned round in position for coupling so that its larger thickness is in
contact with the aforesaid piece of metal, thus it is held in place. We form a
projection on each side of the said piece of metal, at its outer end, to hold the
outstanding link in position, when the trucks are required to be coupled or
uncoupled.
We provide a lever, extending longitudinally across the truck, and of a
U shape in the centre, the said lever being made in one piece. and stayed to the
end of the truck. The U portion of the said lever is flattened along part of the
same, to attach to the rectangular piece of metal aforesaid, by means of its
flattened edge, passing through the slot, and thus slides in the groove when in.
action. The lever extends round to each side of truck where it can be operated
upon without having to go between the trucks.
Thus, when the end of the lever at the side of the truck is depressed, the
U part of the lever, sliding in the groove of the said piece of metal, raises it,
together with the outstanding link aforesaid, and couples or uncouples the
trucks. When not required for coupling, the outstanding link may be fastened

page_text: on to the hook to which it is attached, by slight action of lever, instead of hang-
ing loosely, thus it is always ready for action, and is kept in order..
The required pressure on the end of the lever, to couple or uncouple the trucks
is greatly lessened owing to part of the weight of the links and the said piece of
metal, being supported from the hook.
The arrangement of the grooved slot can be reversed, in order to ensure smooth-
ness of action of the portion of the lever in the groove.
The said piece of metal may be made without the slots at top or bottom, but
with the groove and hole cut or pierced out, the links would require to be welded
through, as in the ordinary way of chain making.
The lever may be arranged to act underneath the bottom of the truck by
slight modification.
Thus, our invention can be put into operation at a cheap cost, as the ordinary
links can be brought into use, at the same time, the links are easily replaced
in case of accident.
The rectangular piece of metal aforesaid may be applied to any ordinary
chain, irrespective of couplings, so as to form any continuous length of chain.
Dated this 18th day of Vov 1899
WILLIAM HENRY BARACLOUGH,
36, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agent for the Applicant.
An improved Coupling for Railway Carriages, Trucks, and the like.
We, WILLIAM HENRY APPLEBY, of 21, High Street, Bloxwich, in the County
of Stafford, Engineer, and SAMUEL PARKES, of Glenthorn, New Road, Willenhall,
in the County aforesaid, Merchant, 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 an improved coupling for railway carriages,
trucks and the like by which we provide means whereby such carriages or trucks
may be coupled or uncoupled from either side of the carriages or trucks, without
the danger of having to pass between the carriages as in the case of the present
form of chain coupling.
In carrying our invention into practice, we attach an ordinary link to the
hook of the truck or the like, the said link as is usual being partly flattened
on one side, so as to slide in the slot of the hook. We then provide a rectangular
or other shaped piece of metal or block preferably of steel or wrought iron, and
form the same with a slot, just sufficiently wide to receive the flattened edge
of the link aforesaid. At the bottom of this slot we form a rectangular or other
shaped slot or groove, preferably central with same, and attach the said piece
of metal to the link aforesaid by means of the slot passing over the flattened
edge of the link which link, when is position rests in the said groove, and in
which it can freely move.
We also form another slot, of the same width as the former, on the outer end
of the rectangular piece of metal or block which slot is enlarged at its base and
then attach another link thereto by means of its flattened edge passing through
the slot and into the wider portion, the said link being afterwards turned round
in position for coupling so that its larger thickness is in contact with the afore-
said piece of metal, thus it is held in place. Formed on each side of the said
piece of metal or block at its outer end is a projection or horn for holding the
end link in position when the trucks are required to be coupled or uncoupled.

page_text: Extending longitudinally across the truck is a lever formed U-shape in the
centre the said lever being made in one piece and mounted in bearings fixed
to the truck. The U portion of the said lever is flattened along part of the
same, to attach to the rectangular piece of metal or block by means of its flattened
edge passing through the slot, and thus slides in the groove when in action.
The lever extends to each side of the truck and is provided with a handle where
it can be operated without having to go between the trucks. Thus, when the
end of the lever at the side of the truck is depressed the U part of the lever,
sliding in the groove of the said piece of metal or block raises it, together with
the outer link and couples or uncouples the trucks. When not required for
coupling the outer link may be fastened onto the hook to which it is attached,
by the action of lever, instead of hanging loosely, thus it is always ready for
action, and is kept in order.
The required pressure on the end of the lever, to couple or uncouple the trucks
is greatly lessened owing to part of the weight of links and the said piece of
metal or block being supported from the hook.
The piece of metal or block may be made without the slots at top or bottom
but with the groove or hole cut or pierced out, in which case the links would
require to be threaded through and then welded as in the ordinary way of chain
making.
The lever for operating the couplings may be arranged to act underneatli
the bottom of the truck by slight modification.
The rectangular piece of metal or block may be applied to any ordinary chain,
irrespective of couplings so as to form any continuous length of chain.
In order that our invention may be more clearly understood and easily carried
into practical effect we have appended hereunto three double sized sheets of
drawings upon which we have illustrated examples of our railway coupling.
Figure 1 is a side elevation shewing a portion of two trucks or waggons A
and B uncoupled having our improved coupling applied thereto.
Figure is an end elevation of the truck or waggon B shewing our coupling
extended at full length.
Figure 3 is a side elevation shewing the trucks A and B coupled but not
taught or in tension.
Figure 4 is a plan view of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is an end elevation shewing our arrangement for coupling the trucks
when close together and the links are fully extended.
Figures 67 and 8 are side elevation, end view and plan respectively of the
connecting piece or block F.
Figure 9 is a plan view of the end coupling link.
Figure 10 shews the links of a chain connected together with our rectangular
piece or block F.
In carrying our invention into practice we attach the ordinary link L to the
usual draw bar hook H which is attached to each of the trucks A and B or the
like. This link L is flattened on one side at 11 as is usual so as to enable it to
pass through the slot in the draw bar hook which slot is enlarged at its base
to allow the link to move freely therein. We then provide the rectangular
piece of metal or block F which is slotted at f¹ to receive the link L and this
link L is coupled to the block F by passing the flattened portion through the
slot formed at or about right angles to the slot f which slot is just wide
enough to allow the flattened part to pass through but the slot f' is sufficiently
wide to allow the link L to freely move therein when in position. The rect-
angular piece or block is also slotted at its other end at f³ to receive the end
coupling link I which is also flattened at to allow it to pass through the
slot the slot being enlarged at its base to allow the link 1) to freely move
therein, it will thus be seen that this rectangular piece or block F virtually
becomes a coupling link for uniting the links of chains together and may be used
for forming various lengths of chains such as shewn at Figure 10. Also formed

page_text: on or attached to each side at this end of the rectangular piece or block F are
the projections or horns, ft for the purpose of holding or lifting the link D into
position when the trucks are being coupled or uncoupled. These horns f* may
be made detachable so as to more readily facilitate the removal of the link D.
This link D is preferably formed square at the end which fits into the slot fa
as shewn at Figure 9 so as to prevent it from getting cross wise and to always
ensure it being in position ready for coupling. The opposite end of this link
being preferably formed circular and slightly enlarged so as to more easily
pass onto the draw bar hook when coupling the trucks on a curb. Or the link D
may be formed round at both ends or formed similar to the link L.
.
Mounted in the bearings e¹ is the lever E extending longitudinally across
the ends of each truck as shewn at Figure 2. This lever E may be made hollow
or solid and is formed U shape at the centre or with the crank e2 and on this
U shaped portion or crank we form the flat e³ so as to enable the rectangular
piece or block F to be attached to or fitted thereon, the base of the U or crank
fitting into the groove or slot f¹ in front of the link L as clearly shewn on the
drawings. This groove or slot f¹ is of such a length so that when the links are
taut and the draw bar hook is fully extended no strain is put upon the lever E.
Fixed to the ends or forming part of the lever E are the handles et which may be
of any shape or design for operating the coupling from either side without having
to pass between the trucks and they may be arranged to either project upwards or
downwards or horizontal when in their normal position or to operate from the
underside of the truck. It will thus be seen that when either of the handles et
is depressed the U shaped part of crank which slides in the slot or groove fl
will raise or lift the rectangular piece or block consequently also lifting the
end link D, which link D is held by means of the horns or projections f* in an
outwardly extending position so as to be ready for coupling or uncoupling the
trucks. By operating or moving the lever E sharply when uncoupling the
trucks the end link may be thrown or lifted by means of the projections or
horns so as to catch onto the draw bar hook H of the truck A as clearly shewn
at Figure 1, thus being in position ready for recoupling. In a like manner
when recoupling by moving or operating the lever E sharply the end link D is
thrown forward thus coupling onto the draw bar hook of the truck B as clearly
shewn by Figures 3 and 4.
The pressure required on the lever E to couple or uncouple the truck is
slightly lessened by reason of the weight of the link and the rectangular piece
or block F being slightly supported by the draw bar hook.
At Figure 5 we have shewn our arrangement for coupling when the trucks are
close together or the buffers touching and the coupling links in the position as
shewn on the trucks B Figure 1 or fully extended. In order to allow the end
link D to pass at one side of the draw bar hook when lifting the links by
operating the lever E we arrange the lever E so as to be capable of sliding in
its bearings e by this means the links can be pushed or moved slightly on one
side thus allowing them to be lifted above the draw bar hook and then brought
central again and coupled.
It will be evident that the rectangular pieces or blocks F may be made with the
slot for the reception of the link L and the U portion of the lever and with
a hole at the other end for the reception of the link D. (but without the slots f2 f³)
in which case the links L and D would require to be welded as in the ordinary
way of chain manufacture but we prefer to couple these links together as herein
before described and as shewn on the drawings as by this means we are enabled
to build up or form rivetless chains for various purposes. When using our
rectangular blocks or special links F for forming lengths of chains we may dis-
pense with the slot f³ and form the slots f¹ and f centrally in the block as shewn
at Figure 10. These special links F may be using for forming driving chains
for cycles and similar purposes and for chains generally.
By our invention the ordinary railway coupling links may be brought into

page_text: use thus reducing the cost, at the same time the links may be easily and quickly
replaced in case of accident.
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: An improved coupling for railway carriages, trucks and the like
consisting of the coupling chain made up and united together with the rect-
angular piece block or special link with its fittings and mountings and handle
lever E substantially as herein set forth and as shewn upon the drawings.
Second: In coupling chains for railway vehicles and the like the combination
of the special block or link F with the links D and L and operated by the handle
lever E and in combination with the same and connected to the draw bar hook
substantially as herein set forth.
Third: The special block or link F for use in railway and like couplings
and chains substantially as herein set forth.
Fourth In railway and like coupling chains the use of the block F with
the special horns f* substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and
as shown.
Fifth In railway and like couplings mounting the lever E so as to be
capable of lateral movement in its bearings in combination with the special
block or links F and links D and L substantially as and for the purpose herein
set forth and as shewn.
Dated this 17th dow of Fab 1000
WILLIAM HENRY APPLEBY,
SAMUEL PARKES.
By George Barker,
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
Agent for Applicants, 77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.