An Automatic Arrangement for the Coupling of Trucks, Corves, Wagons, and Vehicles of a similar character.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Jan., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 14th Oct., 1899--Accepted, 16th Jan., 1900
An Automatic Arrangement for the Coupling of Trucks, Corves,
Wagons, and Vehicles of a similar character.
We, SQUIRE LEWIS WALKER, 54, Robert Street, Leeds Road, Bradford, Engineer's
Model Maker, and FREDRICK WILLIAM WILSON, 124, Ventnor Street, Leeds
Road, Bradford, Engineer's Model Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The principles of this invention is for the reduction of loss of life & accident,
also time saving in coupling up & uncoupling of trucks, corves, wagons, & vehicles
of a similar character. The hooks are made of suitable length so that when the
vehicles are together the hooks are connected in the central space between the
vehicles one with another. The hooks are fixed in such a manner that when
coupled the point of one enters the space of the other, and by that means becomes
interlocked one with the other. The hooks are formed of a suitable depth to allow
of variations in the height of vehicles. There is a suitable chain fixed to short
draw bar for making connections to existing vehicles. The short draw bar, which
is a continuation of hook, is made of suitable length to connect with existing
buffing spring buckle or other suitable point of attachment. The short draw bar
of hook passes through an elongated slotted plate in front of vehicles and can be
moved in a radial direction from point of attachment. The hook is kept in a
central or thereabouts position by a spring, weighted lever, or other suitable
means, and can be moved from that position for the purpose of uncoupling by a
suitably arranged lever. The said lever has an attachment for retaining it in a
suitable position. The action of this coupling consists of the following. When
the hooks as described are in a central or thereabouts position, and the vehicles
are brought together for the purpose of connection, the hooks meet each other and
are caused to move side ways one from another by the angular shape of the ends
of the hooks, until each passes the point of the other which takes place immediately
before the vehicles come in contact. Then by the actions of the springs, weighted
levers, or other suitable means, the hooks are caused to spring together, and are
retained in that position each with its point resting on the shank of the other, and
when the vehicles are drawn forward the hooks thereby become interlocked one
with another.
Dated this 14th day of January 1000
SQUIRE LEWIS WALKER.
FREDRICK WILLIAM WILSON.

page_text: An Automatic Arrangement for the Coupling of Trucks, Corves,
Wagons, and Vehicles of a similar character.
We, SQUIRE LEWIS WALKER, of 54, Robert Street, Leeds Road, in the City of
Bradford, Pattern Maker, and FREDRICK WILLIAM WILSON, of 124, Ventnor Street,
Leeds Road aforesaid, Pattern Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to provide a simple and efficient automatic coup-
ling for railway trucks and similar vehicles.
To fully describe our invention reference is made to the accompanying sheet
of drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures of reference
indicate corresponding parts in each of the views.
Figure 1, represents a side elevation of such portions of two railway trucks
coupled together as are necessary to illustrate the application of our improvements.
Figure 2, is a plan view of the same with the addition of the buffers.
Figure 3, is an end view of one of the trucks.
Figure 4, is a plan view of the central portion of the ends of the trucks showing
the couplings disengaged.
Figures 5 and 6 are a separate plan and side view of one of the couplings.
The buffer beams or headstock 2 and general framework 3 of the trucks are
of ordinary form.
"
The shanks 4 of the coupling hook of each truck is connected by a pin 6 to
the strap or buckle of the buffer spring 8 and the shank extends in the form
of a draw bar through the slot 10 in the buffer beam. At this point the shank of
the coupling is bifurcated and a chain 12 is attached to the short limb 13 for
the purpose of coupling the truck in the ordinary way to trucks not fitted with
automatic couplings. The other limb 15 is carried forward and bent into the
form of hook shown.
The hooks are normally held in the position shown in Figure 2 by the arm 20
of the weighted lever 21 engaging the shank 4 on one side, and the upward
extension 30 of the arm 31 of the hand lever 32 engaging the other side of the
shank.
The lever 21 is mounted upon a stud 22 fixed in the bracket 23 and the weight 24
keeps the arm 20 pressed against the side of the shank 4, but leaves the coupling
free to be moved aside when the inclined faces 9 of the hooks meet and to spring
back under the influence of the weight 24 to cause the hooks to become engaged.
A suitably arranged spring may be used instead of the weight 24 or in conjunction
with the weight.
To release the couplings the trucks are moved towards each other until the
points 11 of the hooks are clear of each other and then one or the other of them
is moved aside, as shown in Figure 4, by means of the hand lever 32. The hand
lever 32 is pivoted on the stud 33 fixed to the bracket 34 on the framework. The
outer end of the lever works in a guide slot 35 on the framework and provided with
a notch 38 at its outer end into which the lever is dropped when it is required
to hold the coupling out of position for engagement.
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: --
1. A coupling hook of the form shown extending through the buffer beam and

page_text: pivoted directly to the strap of the buffer spring, substantially as herein shown
and described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. A coupling hook of the form shown having a chain 12 attached to it and
pivoted directly to the strap of the buffer spring, substantially as herein shown
and described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. The combination with the coupling shown of the weighted lever and hand
lever all arranged and operating substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 19th day of October 1899
DRACUP & NOWELL,
Patent Agents, Bradford.