Improvements in and relating to Couplings for Railway Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 22nd May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Couplings for Railway Vehicles.
I, PAUL BUTTNER of 20, Stralsunderstrasse, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany,
Merchant, 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 :-
This invention relates to a railway carriage coupling which has for its object to
enable the chains to be hooked together without it being necessary for persons to pass
in between the carriages.
The apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which :-
Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, partly in section,
Figure 2 is a view in plan thereof, and
Figures 3, 4 and 5 are detail views.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
On the front wall a of the carriage A there is arranged a casing e which extends
along the entire width of the front end of the wagon. Under the buffers at each end
of the wagon there is provided in the casing e a slide b which is guided by means of
the shoulders c in the correspondingly formed or slotted casing e. This slide b is
provided at its middle e with hinges d for folding purposes and is connected with the
drawhook m in such a manner that the latter is moved along together with the slide b
when the latter is shifted laterally. The front part of the casing e is adapted to be
closed by means of the two flaps f. These are hung at the top in hinges and can be
opened out towards the top, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. In their position of rest
they are held fast by means of a friction bolt g which is arranged laterally on the
wagon body or casing and which is provided with a weighted handle h and is adapted
to pass through a suitably formed aperture i in the flap when the handle his moved
into its horizontal position. By depressing the handle, the gag-shaped bolt moves
over the aperture i in the flap in such a manner that the latter cannot be lifted off.
The hook m is provided at the rear with a spiral spring k which serves the same
purpose as the usual springs generally used with draw hooks. The said spring bears
against the wall a which is cut out below throughout the entire width of the front end
of the wagon, so that the rod of the draw hook can be moved laterally. At this front
end there is mounted a spring / which also bears against the wall a, but from the
front, and prevents the hook from being drawn by the spring k into the interior of
the wagon. The chain n is engaged with the draw hook and is hooked in the usual
manner into the oppositely situated hook. The apparatus operates in the following
manner :-
The oppositely situated flaps fon both wagons are opened out, and can be fixed in the
opened out condition in any desired manner by means of chains or friction bolts.
Then in both wagons the slide 6 is drawn out towards the same side to such an extent
that the hook m strikes against the side wall of the casing e. The projecting portion of
the slide b is folded over with the help of the hinge d, because it would otherwise project
too far; then the hooks are coupled together by hooking into the chains. After the
coupling has been effected, the hooks are pushed in again, the flaps are undone, and
closed by means of the friction bolt g. The coupling is thus effected without it being
necessary for the train attendants to pass between the wagons.
In order to obviate friction of the spring k in the lateral movement of the same the
draw hook may be guided by means of an enlargement on its end in an undercut or

page_text: dovetailed groove formed in a part of the frame which itself tightened up by means
of springs. In this manner there is obtained a more easy guidance of the draw hook
whilst maintaining the necessary spring power. The flaps are formed in the middle
with a recess for the hook m.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what we
claim is :-
(1.) A coupling for railway vehicles characterised by the fact that the draw hook m
is connected with a slide b (which is capable of movement in the casing e) in such a
manner that on lifting up the flaps f which are formed with suitable recesses and
which are closed by means of a friction bolt 9 passing through an aperture i, the said
hook, together with the hinged and opening-out slide, can be drawn out, through the
side wall of the wagon for the purpose of hooking the chain, as set forth.
(2.) A coupling for railway vehicles constructed arranged and adapted to operate
substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.