Improvements in and relating to Car Couplings.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Nov., 1892-Accepted, 10th Dec.. 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Car Couplings.
I WILLIAM NEWBY COLAM of Billiter Buildings, in the City and County of
London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
=
My invention relates to an improved coupling for connecting tram cars and other
similar vehicles, and it is specially adapted for connecting horse cars with dummy
cars operated by cables, or by electric and other mechanical motors, and it has for
its object providing a simple and effective coupling which can be quickly connected
and disconnected.
In carrying my invention into practice, I take a coupling rod formed in two
lengths the one adapted to be connected to the tram car and the other to the
dummy car. One part of this coupling rod-preferably that part adapted to be
connected to the tram car is made elastic in its length by means of a spring
connection therein. One end of each part of the coupling rod is attached to a
bearing block mounted on the front axle of the tram car and the rear axle of the
dummy car, respectively, by a vertical joint so that the parts of the said coupling
rod are connected to the said axles by universal joints. The free end of that part
of the coupling rod connected to the tram car terminates in a tongue shaped and
adapted to engage with a socket on the free end of the other part of the coupling
rod connected to the rear axle of the dummy car. The length of each part of the
coupling rod is such that the coupling ends are just clear of the lengths of the
respective cars. In the socket on the free end of that part of the coupling rod
connected to the dummy car is a spring finger which engages with a notch on
the tongue carried by the other part of the coupling rod and locks the two together
and completes the coupling. To ensure the notch in the tongue being always up
to the engaging spring finger a spiral spring is placed in the end of the socket
against which the end of the tongue abuts.
To prevent the two parts of the rod dropping when they are disengaged, a radius
bar is fixed to the end of each car adapted to support the parts of the said rod
when uncoupled.
The spring finger of the socket is controlled by a cord or other connection
carried to the foot plate of the dummy car so as to be easily manipulated by
the driver.
It will be obvious that it is immaterial which part of the coupling rod carries
the tongue and which carries the socket, and further that either or both parts of
the rod may be made elastic in their lengths.
Dated this 10th day of February 1899
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Car Couplings.
I WILLIAM NEWBY COLAM, of Billiter Buildings, in the City and County of
London, Engineer, 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 an improved coupling for connecting horse tramcars and
similar vehicles to motor cars or dummy cars such as are used on cable tramways,
Paine 1

page_text: and it has for its object, providing a simple and effective coupling which can be
quickly connected and disconnected and which is not objectionable on the score of
weight or otherwise when the tramcar is drawn by animal traction.
I attain this end in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings in
which
Figure 1 Sheets No. 1 and 2 is a broken view in side elevation-partly in section-
of my improved coupling.
Figure 2 Sheets No. 1 and 2 is a broken view in plan thereof.
Figure 3 Sheet No. 1, is a view in transverse section on line a, a, Figures 1 and 2
Sheet No. 1, and
Figure 4 is a view. in transverse section on line y, y, Figures 1 and 2,
Sheet No. 2.
Throughout the several views similar parts are marked with like letters of
reference.
My improved coupling consists of two rods or bars A and A', the former mounted
on one of the axles of the tramcar, and the latter on one of the axles of the motor
or dummy car. The lengths of these rods are such that their free ends project
jnst beyond the ends of the respective cars.
Both rods A and A' are mounted on
the axles of the respective cars to which they are attached in such a manner that
they are free to move in any direction. To provide the necessary universal joint
I make use of the axle X of the car on which I mount a bearing block B provided
with an adjustable cap band piece b₁ as shown. This bearing block is mounted on
the centre of the axle X and is kept in position thereon by collars C, C, or their
equivalents fixed on the axle. On the top and bottom of the bearing block B are
formed or fixed pins or studs B', B', with which eyes formed in the end of a fork D
on the rod or bar engages thus completing the universal joint. The fork D is
preferably made in two pieces as shown to adapt it to be clamped to the rod or bar
by bolts d, d, etc. which engage with slots in the sides of the rod or bar and so
prevent the fork turning axially with respect to the rod or bar.
The rod or bar A is made telescopic in its length, the one part a of the rod or
bar being tubular and the other part a' solid to slide therein. Between the end
of the tubular part a and the fork D is a helical spring E encircling the part a¹ of
the rod or bar, and between the same end of the tubular part a and the free end
of the part is also a helical spring E' the said spring being mounted outside the
tubular part a and acting between a collar a³ on the free end of the tubular part a
of the rod and a collar a loose on the tubular part a but bearing against a cottar a
fixed to the free end of the solid part a¹ of the rod or bar and passing through
slots a, a, in the tubular part a of the rod or har. In the end of the tubular
part a of the rod or bar is fixed a solid tongue F rounded on the underside of its
end, chamfered off on the top side thereof, and having a notch formed in its
upper side.
The rod or bar A' is rigid throughout its length and carries at its free end a
socket G having a bell-shaped mouth and adapted to receive the tongue F on the
end of the other rod or bar A. On the top of this socket G is mounted in a
suitable case Ha spring finger J adapted to engage with the notch fin the tongue F
and so keep the two rods or bars A. and A' firmly locked together. The spring K
encircling the finger J and acting between the top of the case H and a collar
or shoulder on the finger J ensures the firm interlocking of the tongue F with the
socket G. In the base of the socket G is a disc L pressed forward by a spring M,
and bearing against the forward end of the tongue F keeps the engaging end of
the notch up against the engaging edge of the spring finger J.
The spring finger J is raised to release the tongue and uncouple the cars by means
of a lever N fulerated on the case H, one end of the lever engaging with the top
of the finger J and the other operated by a cord or chain & passing over suitable
.guide pulleys to the platform of the motor or dummy car.
Parts of the underframe of the tram car Y and of the motor or dummy car Z
are shown in the accompanying drawings by fine dotted lines.

page_text: To prevent the rod or bars A and A' dropping to the ground when they are
disconnected a radius bar W is fixed to the end of each car to support the ends of
the rods or bars when they are uncoupled.
As a modification the rod or bar A¹ may be made elastic in its length, and the
rod or bar A rigid.
It will be understood that the rods or bars A and A' are each mounted on the
axles nearest to the ends of the cars to be coupled, and that in cases where no
provision is made for turning the cars, couplings will be provided at each end
of cars.
I wish it to be particularly understood that I do not bind myself to the precise
details of construction hereinbefore described and shown by the accompanying
drawings, but that I hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations
as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention..
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 I
desire to secure by Letters Patent is :—
1. The improved car coupling as herein before described and illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
2. A car coupling consisting of two rods or bars one of which is made elastic
in its length-each connected to one of the axles of each car by a universal joint,
the one rod or bar carrying an engaging tongue on its free end, and the other rod
or bar carrying a socket on its free end adapted to receive the engaging tongue on
the end of the other rod or bar, and of a spring finger mounted on the socket and
adapted to engage with the engaging tongue, as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a car coupling, the combination of a rod or bar universally connected
to the axle of the car and made telescopic in its length, the said parts being
controlled by springs so that the said rod or bar is elastic in its length, of an
engaging tongue carried on the free end of the said rod or bar; of a rod or bar
universally connected to the axle of the motor or dummy car, of a socket on the free
end of the said rod or bar, adapted to receive the engaging tongue on the other rod or
bar, of a spring finger carried by the socket and adapted to engage with a notch
in the engaging tongue, and of a lever adapted to operate the spring finger to release
the connecting-tongue, as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a car coupling, the combination of a rod or bar elastic in its length
universally connected to the axle of the tramcar and carrying at its free end an
engaging tongue; of a rod or bar universally connected to the axle of the motor or
dummy car and carrying a socket at its free end adapted to receive the engaging
tongue on the other rod or bar; of a spring finger adapted to lock the two rods or
bars together, and of radius bars adapted to support the ends of the rods or bars
when they are uncoupled, as set forth.
Dated this 3rd day of November 1892
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
•
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.