Improvements in Couplings for Railway and like Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Couplings for Railway and like Vehicles.
ROBERT JAMES CHALMERS, 65, Albert Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire,
Mechanical Engineer, & FRANK PARKER, 41, Old Roose, Roose, Lancashire,
Waggon Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to couplings for railway & the like carriages, the object
being to provide an arrangement for coupling which can be actuated from the sides
of the carriages, to couple & uncouple the same, thereby avoiding the necessity. of
men getting between the vehicles.
In carrying out this invention we provide the bottom (or end) link with a stud on
either side of is at A, Fig. 3.
To these studs a forked connecting rod is fitted as shewn at B, Fig. 3.
The forked piece B, is again connected to a lever C as shewn in Figs. 2 & 3, by a.
straight connecting rod D as shewn in Figs. 1 & 3.
The lever C is fixed to a shaft, E, as in Figs. 2 & 3 which is carried by two carriers.
F, & G which are fixed to the headstock as shewn in Figs. 2 & 3. The carrier F is
formed with a tail spindle piece with a washer & nut at the end for the purpose of
allowing a spring H as shewn in Fig. 2, to be fixed. This spring is placed here, in
case a rough pull on the links, (which will pull out draw bar) should occur, when the
carrier F, will slide in the bracket, K, as shewn in Figs. 2, & 3 & thus lessen the risk
of the rod D being broken.
The mechanism is actuated by means of a lever L as shewn in Figs. 1, 2, & 3,
which is fixed to the shaft E.
So that the coupling links may clear the draw bar, of the carriage, we wish to
couple with, the bracket F is kept far enough away from the lever C, to allow us to
pull the shaft outwards, as we push down the handle L & by the spring M as in Fig. 2
the shaft is pushed back to its proper position when desired.
The spring M is held in position by the carrier G & a washer N which is fixed to
the shaft.
B
We also provide a tongue, P, forged onto the shaft, which, when we are lifted
high enough to clear the draw bar will catch on behind a clip Q which is fixed to the
headstock as shewn in Figs. 1, 2, & 3 & the action of the spring M forces the links
in to the centre of vehicle again.
This takes the weight off the person actuating the lever.
Instead of operating the shaft by a lever a hand wheel may be used.
This can be fitted to the standard couplings.
1000
ROBT. J. CHALMERS:
FRANK PARKER.

page_text: Improvements in Couplings for Railway and like Vehicles.
We, ROBERT JAMES CHALMERS, late of 65, Albert Street, Barrow-in-Furness,
Lancashire, now of Douglas House, 9, Boutflower Road, Wandsworth Common,
London, S.W., Mechanical Engineer, & FRANK PARKER, 41, Old Roose, Roose,
Lancashire, Wagon Builder, 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 the coupling of railway & like vehicles in such a manner
by means of levers, & spindles & light springs, that it is unnecessary for the operator to
place himself between any two vehicles for the purpose of coupling as all is operated
from the side of vehicle.
This invention consists of the three link coupling to which is adapted a system of
levers & rods, for the purpose of coupling railway & like vehicles, and is illustrated in
the drawing filed with our Provisional Specification.
On the bottom, or end, link, at the centre of it there are forged two studs A,
(Fig. 1, & 3).
Coupled to this link, by means of the studs A are a forked piece B; & a rod D,
(Figs. 1 & 3).
B is fixed to D, by passing through a hole in D, & being held in position by a nut.
The other end of D is coupled by means of a pin to the lever C, (Figs. 1, 2, & 3)
making a working joint.
The lever C is keyed on to the main spindle E, or fixed by a pin.
The main spindle E is carried from the headstock by the carriers F & G, (Figs.
2 & 3).
The carrier G is fixed to the headstock.
The carrier F is so arranged with tail piece & spring that it may have a sliding
motion in the bracket K which is fixed to the headstock.
The carrier's sliding motion is controlled by the spring H, (Figs. 1 & 3).
At the outer end of spindle a handle or wheel L, is fixed (Figs. 1, 2 & 3).
The spring M on the spindle E is held in position by the washer shewn in Figs.
2 & 3.
A tongued piece is forged on the spindle in such a position that it will slip behind
the clip (when the operator has the links raised for the purpose of coupling) by
pulling the handle I. outwards, (Figs. 1, 2, & 3).
To couple any two vehicles it is necessary for the operator to push down handle L
(or turn wheel) sufficiently to raise the links above the level of the top of the draw
hook of adjacent vehicle. In order to clear the draw hook of the adjacent vehicle
the operator must pull out the handle & by so doing the link is brought far enough
out of the centre to pass hook as shewn in dotted lines Fig. 2..
When it is raised sufficiently high the spring M helps to force the links back to
the centre position. Now let go the handle & the link drops into the hook of
the adjacent vehicle.
The carrier F is allowed to slide in order to prevent any damage being done to the
part should a rough pull come on the draw bar.
The operation for uncoupling is of a similar nature.

page_text: Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of the said inven-
on & in what manner the same is performed we declare that what we claim is :—
1, Form & construction of bottom link of coupling
2,
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3
3,
"
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lifting rod & levers
carriers for spindle
>> spindle
4, Use of controlling spring on carrier
5,
22
"
6,
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"
"
7,
"
lever or wheel on end of spindle
clip on headstock, & tongued piece on spindle.