IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING RAILWAY WAGONS AND OTHER VEHICLES ON RAILWAYS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Dobson, of Crewe, in the County of Chester,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING
RAILWAY WAGONS AND OTHER VEHICLES ON RAILWAYS, AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR"
Sealed the 18th July 1879, and dated the 20th January 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Dobson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th January 1879.
THOMAS DOBSON, of Crewe, in the County of Chester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING RAILWAY WAGONS AND OTHER VEHICLES ON RAIL-
WAYS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
.This Invention is designed to prevent the constant danger incurred by shunters,
guards, and others under the present arrangement of coupling, and yet make use of
existing stock without material alteration.
It consists 1st., of placing a bar rest or other fulcrum under the ordinary hook
and slightly below the level of the solo plate of the wagon, preferably attached to
the wagon by the same bolts and holes that hold the drawbar plate to the buffer
plank. This bar is used as a rest for the end of the lever hereafter described.
2nd. In a tool for coupling and uncoupling and mode of operating same.
at present arranged consists of a body formed of gas piping or other strong stiff
light material with mechanism, hereafter described, at each end. One end is used
for coupling the other for uncoupling.
This as
The coupling end is forked, one fork being nearly in line with the shaft, or pre-
ferably bent at right angles a short distance, and then extending out in a direction
parallel with the shaft. The other fork is longer and extends out from the shaft at
right angles, and preferably in the same plane as the other fork. The end of
this is forked again at right angles, and a trifle nearer the shaft than the second
fork is a cap or broad concave tooth jutting out so as to cover the round end of the
link, as hereafter described.
The coupling end is formed with two arms projecting from it at right angles. One
arm is forked at the end, the two prongs extending out parallel with the main shaft,
and a little nearer the main shaft is a projecting tongue or cap parallel to the fork.
The other arm, called the fulcrum arm, is preferably curved over a little, and then
CD 031

page_text: continues outward parallel to the fork and tongue. The mode of manipulating is as
follows: The workman taking hold of the implement by the other end, hereafter
described, places the fulcrum arm on the rest, described in part 1, behind the shackle.
He then fits the fork round the lower link and the cap over it, and thus takes hold
of said link in such manner as to prevent slipping till it is hooked on. By twisting
the implement round and using the fulcrum end as a purchase he guides the link
over the hook.
The other end of the implement, hitherto used as a handle, is employed for un-
coupling, and as I at present prefer it is described as follows:-A short distance
from the end the shaft is crossed by a bar at right angles. The end of the shaft
beyond this bar performs the same duties in uncoupling that the "fulcrum end”
does in coupling. On the cross bar a suitable distance from the shaft is another
arm, called the unhooking arm, at right angles or nearly so with the main shaft,
but preferably curved inwards at the end and armed with a stop. The cross bar
serves to carry the arm and also as a handle for the coupling apparatus.
The mode of action is as follows:-The end of the bar is placed on the hook, and
the end of the unhooking arm behind the link hanging on said hook; by twisting
the shaft the unhooking arm raises the link out of the hook and thus uncouples the
bar. In describing my apparatus, as aforesaid, I do not bind myself to the exact
details herein described, as other tools could be made differing widely which would
operate in a similar manner.
My Invention has these advantages
1st. It can couple without the workınan having to place anything over the buffer.
2nd. No material alteration is required in existing stock. 3rd. Instead of an
ordinary leverage action mine is accomplished by a twisting motion of very simple
character. 4th. The same instrument does for any number of vehicles instead of
requiring one for each carriage.
În ordinary coupling in the dark it is desirable to have two men employed; ono
holds the lamp, the other does the work. Now to obviate this and enable one man
to do both operations I sometimes place a swivel in the centre of the shaft of my
instrument and hang the lamp on the swivel. The swivel consists preferably of a
steel or other wire coiled loosely round the gas pipe between two collars with
the two ends like hooks pointed inwards and in opposite directions.
The ring
of the lamp is shoved in between the hooks and turned round so as to hang
on them. Other forms of attachment would do, such, for instance, as a split
ring.

page_text: This Invention is designed to prevent the constant danger incurred by shunters,
guards, and others under the present arrangement of coupling, and yet make use of
existing stock without alteration.
In my Provisional Specification I mentioned a fulcrum or rest attached to the
waggons. This is useful in some rare cases, but for all ordinary waggons I find it
can be dispensed with and the buffer used as a fulcrum instead. I do not propose
therefore to make any claim for it but refer enquirers to the second sentence of my
Provisional Specification for a description of it. The main part of my Invention
consists in a tool for coupling and uncoupling. This consists of a body or shaft A
formed of gas-piping, wood, or other strong stiff light material (a wooden shaft is
shown in the Drawing, but gas piping can be used if desired).
One end of this is employed for coupling, and either it or the other end for
uncoupling. The coupling end is socketted into the shaft and is forked, one fork,
cap, or prong B being ucarly or quite in line with the shaft. The other fork C
is longer, and extends out from the shaft at right angles, preferably in the
same plane as the other fork. The end of this is forked again at right angles,
forming two prongs D, D. The cap or broad concave tooth P juts out so as
to cover the round end of the link, as hereafter described.
I find when no special fulcrum is used the fulcrum end, as described in the Pro-
visional Specification, except as represented by cap B, is no longer required,
but would be in the way, and both uses can be combined in the one cap B.
The Figure shows my latest arrangement of apparatus when made of sheet plate iron
or steel, but is preferably of charcoal iron. The arm C is made as short as possible,
and the two prongs D, D, have a recess cut in them or are "curved over a little,
as it is expressed in the Provisional Specification, so as to more securely hold the
link and prevent it slipping out. For this purpose too the two flanges E, E, are
curved over and project inward, the hanging link being retained in place thereby.
F is a steel or iron band rivetted on to increase the strength.
The mode of action is shown in Fig. 3. The bar is pushed into position shown,
when it will be found that the lowest link is securely held between the jaws and
can be directed onto the hook, the buffer acting as a fulcrum. In the Provisional
Specification I described a somewhat similar apparatus for uncoupling, but I now
find that the plain bar end will do all that is required, or I can use the coupling
mechanism for uncoupling also.
In ordinary coupling in the dark it is desirable to have two men employed, one
holds the lamp, the other does the work. Now to obviate this and enable one man
to do the both operations, I sometimes place a swivel in the centre of the shaft of
my instrument and hang the lamp on the swivel. The swivel consists preferably
of a steel or other wire coiled loosely round the shaft between two collars, with the
two ends of the wire like hooks pointed inwards and in opposite directions. The
ring of the lamp is shoved in between the hooks and turned round so as to hang on
them. Other forins of attachment would do, such, for instance, as a split ring. This
arrangement of hanging lamp is shown in Figures 1 and 4.
My Invention has these important advantages, unlike all other attempts to

page_text: solve the difficulty of mechanical coupling and uncoupling, the present waggons
or couplings need not be altered in the slightest degree for it. The work is
done quicker, as the lever may be used while the waggons are in motion.
In conclusion, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the
exact details shown, as many tools might be made on this principle widely
different from the one herein shewn, but what I believe to be new and desire
to protect under the berein before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. The tool for coupling and uncoupling waggons, consisting of a bar with a
projection, cap, or prong, formed so as to fit on to the end of the link, and the other
prong forked so as to grasp the link on each side.
2nd. The mode of coupling waggons herein described by means of a tool that clips
the links both on the end and sides so as to hold them secure, and by means of a
twisting action raising the link into place on the hook of the adjoining truck which
it is intended to couple.
3rd. The combination of tool and lamp attachment, substantially as herein shown
and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Dobson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this 15th day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
THOMAS DOBSON. (L.s.)
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