IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CON- NECTING AND DISCONNECTING RAILWAY CARRIAGES, PARTS OF WHICH APPARATUS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES.
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Carpenter, of Southampton, in the County
of Hants, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CON-
NECTING AND DISCONNECTING RAILWAY CARRIAGES, PARTS OF WHICH APPARATUS
ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES.
Sealed the 4th September 1874, and dated the 13th March 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Carpenter at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th March 1874.
I, JAMES CARPENTER, of Southampton, in the County of Hants, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING RAILWAY CARRIAGES, PARTS OF
WHICH APPARATUS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," to be as
follows:-
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This Invention relates to coupling bars used for connecting and dis-.
connecting railway carriages and waggons or trucks, and has for its
objects improved methods of constructing and arranging such coupling.
bars and the attachments by which they are.connected to or disconnected

page_text: from the carriages or waggons, by which improved methods greater case
and certainty in such connection and disconnection are attained, together
with greater safety to the persons employed.
My Invention consists in making the coupling bar by which two
railway carriages or waggons are to be connected together, of a straight
bar, preferably of iron, solid or tubular, laving at each of its extremities
a cone, the base of which is of greater diameter than the bar upon which
it is formed. At the end of each of the carriages or waggons which aro
to be connected I form or attach a socket, into which one of the points
of the conc described enters when the carriages are forced together. The
socket is formed of two jaws formed at or near the extremities of two
levers of iron or other suitable material, which levers turn upon joints
or centres attached to the ends of the carriages or of frames fixed to the
carriages, in such way that the two jaws when pressed together form a
circular hole or socket into which the point of the cone already described
enters. The jaws are held together by springs or weights, so that when
the cone is forced between them they open until the base of the cone
has passed them, and they are then forced together again by the springs
or weights, and prevent the withdrawal of the cone until they have been
opened for the purpose by the apparatus herein-after described.
I prefer to make the base of the cone hemispherical or nearly so in
shape, and the inner sides of the jaws when closed of a corresponding
shape, so as to form a universal joint round which the coupling bar may
move to a certain extent in any direction, and I make the opening
between the jaws bell-mouthed, so that the point of the conc may more
readily enter, and I sometimes make the opening oblong vertically.
instead of circular, so that the point of the cone may enter irrespective
of any difference in the height of the two carriages which are to be
coupled.
The levers are so arranged that when the jaws upon them are closed.
any tension upon the coupling bar tending to withdraw it from the jaws
has the effect of tightening the latter more securely.
In order to disengage the coupling bar when required by opening the:
jaws, I form upon cach of the latter a projection or pin in such a position
that when a wedge is thrust between such pins or projections upon two,
adjoining jaws the latter can be forced apart sufficiently for the cone,

page_text: formed between them. The form of wedge which I prefer to employ for
the
purpose consists of a wedge formed partly round the circumference
of a cylinder or cylindrical bar which is so arranged that when the bar is
turned round the point of the wedge is forced between the pins or
projections upon the jaws described, which are thus separated until the
cone upon the coupling bar can be withdrawn. Upon continuing tho
rotation of the bar the thickest part of the curved wedge passes the pins
or projections, and the jaws are then closed again by the springs already
described.
I prefer to arrange the bar or cylinder upon which the wedge is fixed.
transversely across the frame of the carriage or waggon, and turn it
round by means of a bandle, or wheel, or lever, at one or both ends.
These handles may be arranged so as to be worked by cords, chains, or
wires from a distance, if required.
о
Where safety chains are used in addition to coupling bars constructed
and arranged according to my Invention, I prefer to attach the ends of
such chains to looks, bolts, or fastenings which are connected to the
handles described, so that when the coupling bars are disengaged the
chains are released at the same time.
Sometimes I make the coupling bars constructed according to my
Invention tubular, and pass rods, cords, or wires through them, by
which communication may be made between different parts of the train
of carriages or waggons, and I prefer to arrange the coupling bars with
springs of india-rubber, metal, or other sufficiently clastic material fitted
upon them, which springs are compressed between the ends of the
carriages or waggons which are being coupled together, or between
suitable buffer plates arranged upon them.
And sometimes I make the coupling bars in two or more parts,
arranged with springs of india-rubber, or metal, or other sufficiently
clastic material between them, the clasticity of which is brought into
action when the buffer bar is stretched, and the shock or jerk is thus
reduced when the train of carriages or waggons is put in motion.
°
The levers to which the jaws are fixed'as described may be fitted in a
frame or box attached to the frame of the carriage or waggon, or to the
centre of a steel or other buffer spring, or draw spring of the kind
ordinarily used. One or more draw bars, with attaching and discon-

page_text: necting apparatus, may be attached to each end of the carriages or
waggons.
The connecting and disconnecting apparatus constructed according to
my Invention, and consisting of the cone as described held between jaws
upon lovers pressed together by springs or weights, and opened by
means of a revolving wedge operating upon pins or projections upon the
jaws or levers, is applicable to and may be used for other purposes as
well as the connecting and disconnecting of railway carriages, where it
is required to instantly connect or disconnect two separate articles.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Carpenter in the Great Seal. Patent Office
on the 12th September 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
CARPENTER, of Southampton, in the County of Hants, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said James Carpenter, Her special
licence that I, the said James Carpenter, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said James Carpenter, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING RAILWAY CARRIAGES, PARTS OF
WHICH APPARATUS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said James Carpenter, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office

page_text: within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Carpenter, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, and accompanying Drawing (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to coupling bars used for connecting and dis-
connecting railway carriages and waggons or trucks, and has for its
objects improved methods of constructing and arranging such coupling
bars and the attachments by which they are connected to or disconnected
from the carriages or waggons, by which improved methods greater ease
and certainty in such connection and disconnection are attained, together
with greater safety to the persons employed.
My Invention consists in making the coupling bars by which two
railway carriages or waggons are to be connected together of a straight
bar, preferably of steel or iron, solid or tubular, having at each of its
extremities a cone or ball, the base of which is of greater diameter than
the bar upon which it is formed. At the end of each of the carriages or
waggons which are to be connected I form or attach a socket or frame-
work into which one of the points of the cone described enters when the
carriages are forced together. The socket or framework is formed of
two jaws formed at or near the extremities of two levers of iron or other
suitable material, which levers turn upon joints or centres attached to
the ends of the carriages or of frames fixed to the carriages in such way
that the two jaws when pressed together form a hole or socket into
which the point of the cone already described enters. The jaws are
held together by springs or weights, so that when the conc is forced
between them they open until the base of the cone has passed them, and
they are then forced together again by the springs or weights, and
prevent the withdrawal of the cone until they have been opened for the
purpose by the apparatus herein-after described.
I prefer to make the base of the cone hemispherical or nearly so in
shape, and the inner sides of the jaws when closed of a corresponding
shape, so as to form a universal joint round which the coupling bar may
move to a certain extent in any direction, and I make the opening in
front of the jaws bell-mouthed, so that the point of the cone may more
readily enter, and I sometimes make the opening oblong, vertically, or

page_text: square, instead of circular, so that the point of the cone may enter
irrespective of any difference in the height of the two carriages which
are to be coupled.
The levers are so arranged that when the jaws upon them are closed
any tension upon the coupling bar tending to withdraw it from the jaws
has the effect of tightening the latter more securely.
In order to disengage the coupling bar when required by opening the
jaws I form upon each of the latter a projection or pin in such a position
that when a wedge is thrust between such pins or projections upon two
adjoining jaws, the latter can be forced apart sufficiently for the cone.
upon the end of the coupling bar to be withdrawn from the opening
formed between them. The form of wedge which I prefer to employ for
the purpose consists of a wedge formed partly round the circumference
of a cylinder or cylindrical bar, which is so arranged that when the bar
is turned round (from any convenient point in the carriage) the point of
the wedge is forced between the pins or projections upon the jaws
described, which are thus separated until the cone upon the coupling
bar can be withdrawn. Upon continuing the rotation of the bar the
thickest part of the curved wedge passes the pins or projections, and the
jaws are then closed again by the springs or weights already described.
I prefer to arrange the bar or cylinder upon which the wedge is fixed
transversely across the frame of the carriage or waggon, and turn it
round by means of a handle, or wheel, or lever at one or both ends.
These handles may be arranged so as to be worked by cords, chains, or
wires from a distance, if required.
Where safety chains are used in addition to coupling bars constructed
and arranged according to my Invention, I prefer to attach the ends of
such chains to hooks, belts, or fastenings, which are connected to the
handles described, so that when the coupling bars are disengaged the
chains are released at the same time.
Sometimes I make the coupling bars, constructed' according to my
Invention, tubular, and pass rods, cords, or wires through them, by
which communication by whistle, or voice conductors, or other suitable
means may be made between different parts of the train of carriages or
waggons, and I prefer to arrange the coupling bars with springs of
india-rubber, metal, or other sufficiently elastic material fitted upon
them, which springs are compressed between the ends of the carriages or

page_text: waggons which are being coupled together, or between suitable buffer.
plates arranged upon them.
And sometimes I make the coupling bars in two or more parts,
arranged with springs of india-rubber, or metal, or other sufficiently.
elastic material between them, the elasticity of which is brought into
action when the buffer bar is stretched, and the shock or jerk is thus.
reduced when the train of carriages or waggons is put in motion.
The levers to which the. jaws are fixed as described may be fitted in a
frame or box attached to the frame of the carriage or waggon, or to the
I centre of a steel or other buffer spring or draw spring of the kind
ordinarily used. One or more draw bars with attaching and discon-
necting apparatus may be attached to each end of the carriages or:
waggons.
The connecting and disconnecting apparatus constructed according to
my, Invention, and consisting of the cone as described held between jaws
upon levers pressed together by springs or weights, and opened by means'
of a revolving wedge or a draw wedge and lever operating upon pins or
projections upon the jaws or levers, is applicable to and may be used for
other purposes as well as the connecting and disconnecting of railway.
carriages, where it is required to instantly connect or disconnect two,
separate articles.
I sometimes arrange indicators, visible either outside or inside the
carriages, and shewing whether the coupling hooks are open or shut.
Adjustable coupling links may be used, having an ordinary hook or
link at one end, and a cone or ball as above described at the other
end.
The accompanying Drawing is in illustration of my Invention.
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Figure 1 is a plan of part of the framework of a carriage to which my
Invention is applied. a is the framework; b is the coupling rod or
draw bar, having a cone c (the sides of which may be flattened if
desired) at each end; d, d', are levers turning upon centres e, e¹, and
forming a jaw or socket through which the cone c is forced. The
levers d, d, are kept together by springs or weights, not shewn in the
Figure. fis an elastic buffer arranged upon the draw bar b, and abutting
against the frame g which is fixed to the end of the carriage. The
centros e, e, are fixed to a frame which is held back by the draw spring h

page_text: moveable levers forming a socket into which the end of the draw bar
enters and is retained, substantially as described and shewn in the
Drawing.
Also the combination with such moveable levers of a wedge and levers
for the purpose of opening the jaws of the levers when required.
Also the combination with such moveable levers of spring buffers and
tubular draw bars and connecting tubes, substantially as and for the
purposes described and shewn in the Drawing.
Also the arrangement of hooks and levers for the purpose of con-
necting and disconnecting safety chains, substantially as described and
shewn in the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Carpenter, have hercunto
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
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