Improved Car Coupling.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 28th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 9th Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Car Coupling.
We JOSEF SOUTH and WILHELM BURSCH both of Cologne in the Empire
of Germany, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The object of our invention is to construct a car coupling by means of which the
risk of the cars becoming uncoupled accidentally is avoided.
The coupling made according to our invention also provides for uncoupling and
coupling of the vehicles being effected without the necessity of getting between
them; the apparatus being actuated by a lever or handle situated at the side of
the car or vehicle.
In carrying out our invention, we adopt substantially the following arrange-
ments:-
The coupling hooks on the ends of the cars or wagons are fixed to or form part
of longitudinal rods extending from end to end of the vehicles. On the ends of
the rod adjacent to the coupling hook, are sleeves surrounding the same, and at the
end of each of these sleeves and underneath the car is a spring buffer, free to slide
with the aforesaid sleeve upon the longitudinal rod. Between the spring buffer
and the coupling hook is clamped or secured a bearing for a transverse bar or
shaft passing from side to side of the car, and terminating in a lever or handle
at either end. This transverse bar or shaft is provided with a right and left hand
Screw thread passing through a matrix on each side of the spring buffer so that
when it is turned by means of the handle, it has the effect of bringing the coupling
hooks nearer together or farther apart. The connecting link passing over the
coupling hooks is a single link but jointed by a hinge fastening in the centre.
To the hinge fastening on one or both sides of the link is connected a slotted bar
terminating at its other end, and close to the end of the wagon, in a counterweight.
At that end where it is connected to the hinge fastening it has a slot of sufficient
length to enable it to slile on the pivot of such fastening sufficiently to raise or
lower the connecting link when the counterweight rises or falls.
The connecting link is fixed to the hook of one wagon by a pin passing through
a slot therein, upon which it is free to turn, so as to be passed over the hook of
the next wagon when the aforesaid counterweight is raised."
Supplementary connecting links and hooks may be provided if required, to serve
on an emergency, in case the principal coupling hooks or links should be damaged
or out of working order.
BONNE & Co.,
57/8, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Car Coupling.
We, JOSEF SOUTH & WILHELM BURSCH of Cologne, Marienburg, in the
Empire of Germany, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
This invention has for its object to enable a man to couple two railway cars
from the side without stepping between them.

page_text: In the drawings herewith Fig. 1 is a side view and Fig. 2 a plan of the coupling
constructed according to our invention.
Drawing rod (a) passing underneath the car terminates in a draw hook (b),
carrying in a slot, bolted to it, hoop (c). Underneath hook (4) passes a shaft (e),
resting on two bearings (d, d), and having on its extremities levers (ff) while to
its middle is fixed a slotted lever (g). This lever () being connected with
hoop (c), when lever (ƒ) or (f) is moved, hoop (c) is dropped on to or lifted off
the opposite hook (b). Hoop (c) consists of two hinged parts, so that it will
yield, when the cars, are pushed on to each other, but cannot drop off the
hook ().
For pulling the cars together the bolt of hoop (c) is provided with two
rods (¹), terminating at their other extremity in disc (i) which slides on
draw rod (a). Disc (i) bears against spiral spring (k), which bears against
ring (), fixed to (a). Two bearings (m), fixed to draw rod (a), carry a screw (n)
threaded right and left and having at its extremities folding crank handles (o o¹).
Two nuts on screw (") are connected by chains (p) with lever (7) through a
slot in which draw rod (a) passes, and which is hinged at its upper end. When (n)
is turned so as to draw the nuts apart chains (pp) pull lever (7) against disc (i)
and rods (h) push hock (c) forward; but when the nuts of screw (n) are drawn
towards each other (g) is slackened and spiral spring (4) pulls the cars together
yielding at every push.
The following refers to a method of fastening, from the side, the safety chain,
consisting of a hook (r), hanging on the draw rod bolt, and an eye (s) which is
hooked on to opposite hook. Shaft (e) is now encased in two tubes (tt), connected
by the curved tubes (u'). Each tube is provided with a lever (e) which causes
the curved tube (u) under the hook () to lift the latter in such a manner that on
leaving it drop, it will fall on to the eye of the opposite hook.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
A railway car coupling in which is employed a slotted lever (g) for moving the
connecting link (c) substantially as described.
In such coupling the arrangement of levers (f) and (e) for actuating levers (g)
and (u) substantially in the manner as and for the purpose described.
In such couplings the means for drawing the cars together, consisting in the
right and left threaded bar (n), chains (p¹) and lever (7) substantially in the
manner as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 28th day of November 1891.
BONNE & Co.,
57 & 58, Chancery Lane, Authorised Patent and Trade Mark Agents.