IMPROVEMENTS IN ROPE COUPLINGS FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES
Year: 1885

page_text: ROBERT COOKE SAYER 3 Summer Hill Villas Maindee Newport Monmouthshire
Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
ROPE COUPLINGS FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
See Drawing:-Figs 1. 2 and 3 represent parts of the vehicle showing the
couplings attached in end elevation, plan, and longitudinal section respectively.
A is the frame and A the buffers. The iron or steel wire ropes B B form two
loops, one over the other, at the outer ends B2 the loops are sheathed as shown and
the inner ends pass round guide S which is capable of traversing the square portion
of the bolt C.
D, D2 are two air chambers or cylinders (in one casting and carried by C) having
pistons D³ working within them. D has an air valve or aperture near the outer
extremity and as Bª enters it the air is compressed and forms a spring the whole
length: D has its valve or aperture regulated in its position according to the
pressure or strength of spring required and if necessary for a greater difference
between the maximum and minimum pressures D2 is to be reduced and D increased
in diameter: the pistons D³ being connected with S the ropes are kept in tension
while the grip Z lays hold of them: the ropes are drawn out by means of either
of the smaller ropes G. G2 when the ratchet bars E or E2 are forced back.
F are handles screwed and keyed upon the rod H which is carried by the
bearings L; this rod H carries the links J the pinions K and K², the jaws M
spring Hs and also has square or cogged portions H2 which fit into the suitable
bearings of J: the links J have horns N and N2 as shown and also the pin or
bolt P which slides from one pair of horns to the other according to the position
of J: the jaws X keep J from lateral travel.
The pin or bolt P (see fig 4) with its vertical stem and horizontal arms or top,
each being hollow and the latter formed as a vertical slot and carries an arm P³
bent at the ends capable of moving vertically: binged at the centre of P³ a vertical
stem P is suspended to which is appended the two links P5 and Po at the ends of

page_text: "
which hinge the arms P': the inner ends of P' are hinged at P³ (its spindle being
fixed in Pas shown) while the outer project horizontally through the apertures
at Peach side of P and so that when P³ is raised the arms P7 will also be raised
and drawn within P, or when Ps falls they will be projected.
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K are pinions keyed to H and formed somewhat excentrically having a sort of
formed by cutting off some of the cogs and prolonging the line so formed,
being arranged to stop after it has been rotated a portion of its circle by the "cam
meeting its ratchet cogs E: K and K2 are similar but fixed in different positions
upon H.
"
The "ratchets" E and E2 have their cogs under and fitted for working the
excentric pinions K and K' the teeth of the whole of which are blunt pointed top
and sides, they also have " snugs' or horns E and E: the small wire ropes G
and G2 are so attached to E and E2 that when at rest and latter are projecting out
they may be disconnected by turning the handles E" (fig 1) when E and E' may be
pushed in by the hand and are firmly held there.
The jaws M are bent over and fall between the small jaws 02 of the sliding
bar O, O is notched so that when thrust over by M it shall lock E' by passing in
front of Es while E is free to traverse upon being pushed back, or should O be
thrust the other way E shall be locked and E free: the "snug "E³ is of such form
and strength that in the event of E or E2 being locked and meeting with an
irrisistable object E³ shall slide upwards upon bar O and cause E or E' to rise
the spring fixed above giving to allow the movement Q are jaws working
vertically and drop between the pinions K and K to prevent the spring H³
from drawing H back but rise when H is pushed over : when down it is raised
when required by the snug E* meeting it.
The bracket R is formed as shown.
T are regulating screws.
It is intended to hinge H at first stop U so that it may drop and not take up
more room than U.
The mode of coupling will be as follows viz:-
Let operator push from or pull towards him (say former) handle F to first stop
when K will be thrust under E, E then is free E² locked and H2 are passed
within the square bearings of J: while Q prevents H³ from driving back H:
passing to the other vehicle stop U is thrown over and F pushed to second stop
when K will be thrust under E, E then is locked and E2 free, upon the vehicles
being "buffed up" E of 1st vehicle is pushed back, E2 being rigid and E² of second
vehicle being free it is pushed back when loops B2 upon both are drawn out (to a
distance proportionate to the length of the respective buffers) and the links J raised
to the extent shown at fig 3: J of first vehicle being raised more rapidly than the
loops B are drawn out the pin P upon link J clears them when rising from position
shown at fig 1: again J of 2nd vehicle is raised into position of fig 3 and held there
guiding the loops B2 between those of the other vehicle when the loops B² are
out to the extent shown the "snug" E' raising Q allows the spring H³ to draw
back H when the square portions H2 being withdrawn from the bearings of J
allows them to fall and P to pass between all the loops B2 where it remains
and J continues to the position of fig 1: the "snug" E' acts similarly with the
2nd vehicle: H being thrust back by H³ the air spring D³ draws in the ropes.
The mode of uncoupling will be as follows viz :-
When the vehicles are apart or touching let operator pass to the 2nd (or that
which has P upon J) throw up first stop U and push over F when K2 will be
engaged by E as before: passing to the 1st vehicle push F over to first stop and
insert the forked jaws W between the buffer bearing and nut H' when K will be
engaged as before, let the vehicles "buff up" and the links J will be again raised
as in Fig 3, that of 1st vehicle catching P on its arms, and when "snug" E* of
each vehicle meets Q, H³ drawing back H lets the links J of the 2nd vehicle fall
while W at H* prevents H2 coming right out of the bearings of J although the

page_text: pinions K are free, thus retaining J with P suspended to be dropped at the will of
the operator after the vehicles have parted.
Where there is room between the timber frame of the vehicles it is intended to
use the vacuum spring shown at Fig 5 where the four pistons D³ work within the
two cylinders and have their valves in the centre, the sizes being regulated similarly
to those described for the air spring above (fig 5 is not to scale).
For vehicles requiring coupling screws for. tightening up the couplings or for the
purpose of assisting to draw back the ropes B it is intended to connect the
air spring cylinders D, D2 with an air reservoir of high pressure and to act as
follows:-
The shanks of the buffers A³ are to act similarly to D³ working in a cylinder
as D² with the high pressure reservoir behind having a high pressure valve con-
necting with the buffer spring cylinder so that when the buffer is thrust back by
contact with another the air shall be compressed as at D2 and when the
compression is sufficient the high pressure valve is opened and it enters the
reservoir.
Pipes are to be lead from the reservoir to the chambers D and D2 with valves
attached so that when the couplings have to be tightened up, a handle provided on
either side of the vehicles connecting with the supply (high pressure) valve and
valve D and also the end of E and E³ enables the operator to admit the pressure,
when the valve D' then closes and also that at the end of D³ (see fig 2) and
presses the piston D³ beyond the aperture D³ (a stiff spring between the sheathing
of B2 and buffer plank A³ being made to give by increased pressure) and thus
closes D and at the same time the ratchets E and E2 are thrust up into the
spring provided (as before described for meeting irrisistable objects and they swivel
at their front guides and slide under those of the adjoining vehicle, the heads E³
being specially formed for this class of vehicle. This action fixes the ropes and
compresses the buffer shanks A³ into their cylinders beyond their air apertures or
valves: the pressure required is regulated by a valve in the reservoir.
To uncouple these vehicles the operations are the same as before described, after
having first released the high pressure by reversing the handle on either side of the
vehicle and thus closing the high pressure supply, opening D* and releasing E
and E2 that they may return to their former position upon the vehicles parting
preliminarily to their uncoupling.
When the vacuum spring (fig 5) is used and the above tightening up is required
the pistons are made larger than the piston rods and the high pressure air admitted
in a similar way to the above, on the opposite side of the pistons to that of the
vacuum.
When the buffers do not work sufficiently to give the required pressure it is
intended to fix an excentric upon the cast iron boss of one or more of the wheels
with a plunger air pump for compressing the air in the reservoir.
To the vehicles used for shipment of coals &c it is intended to have a plate of
iron projecting over the bar H.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First The use, form, and arrangement shown of the metal wire rope couplings
for Railway Vehicles substantially described.
Second-The automatic arrangement for coupling and uncoupling, together with
the means of disconnecting the projecting ratchet bars when at rest: and also the
means of preventing damage when the projecting ratchet bars meet fixed objects
as described.
Third-The arrangement of pneumatic springs for drawing in the ropes by
compression and vacuum as substantially described.
Fourth-The arrangement of the pin or bolt P as described.

page_text: Fifth (a) The substitution of compressed air for tightening up the vehicles
and obtaining a pneumatic elastic connection when so coupled, in lieu of screw
couplings and steel or other springs: (b) so far, or otherwise as they are
applicable to attain the above objects, the use of pneumatic buffers as substantially
described.