IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CON- NECTED WITH PIPE COUPLINGS FOR AIR OR VACUUM BRAKE APPARATUS AND APPLICABLE OTHERWISE
Year: 1882

page_text: 56
LETTERS PATENT to Dugald Drummond of Lenzie, in the County of Dumbarton
North Britain, Engineer for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CON-
NECTED WITH PIPE COUPLINGS FOR AIR OR VACUUM BRAKE APPARATUS AND
APPLICABLE OTHERWISE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Dugald Drummond at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th December 1882.
DUGALD DRUMMOND of Lenzie, in the County of Dumbarton, North Britain,
Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH PIPE COUPLINGS FOR AIR
OR VACUUM BRAKES AND APPLICABLE OTHERWISE
•
"
This Invention has for its object to provide improved coupling apparatus for
connecting, between the several carriages or vehicles of a railway train, the pipes
through which air is forced or exhausted for the purpose of working brakes, such
coupling apparatus being metallic and without the flexible rubber pipes ordinarily
used and which are liable to be easily injured or put out of order. The improved
apparatus is also advantageously applicable in other cases in which rubber
connecting pipes are ordinarily employed.
In carrying out the Invention as applied to brake apparatus the improved con-
necting details are attached to the horizontally projecting end of the pipe fixed to
the carriage, and between this pipe end and the terminal coupling piece which
when a train is made up is coupled to the corresponding terminal coupling piece of
the next carriage there are four swivel joints which are constructed in an improved
manner so as to be practically air tight. These swivel joints may be arranged in
various ways but in one modification the first swivel joint near the carriage is
made with its axis horizontal; and when the entire combination is extended
horizontally the movable part of the first swivel joint which consists partly of a
short curved pipe extends in an inclined direction to the second swivel joint which
has its axis at right angles to that of the first swivel joint. A straight pipe extends
from the second swivel joint to the third one the axis of which is in line with the
axis of the said straight pipe; and the third swivel joint connects directly with
Din 37

page_text: the fourth swivel joint the axis of which is at right angles to the straight pipe, and
the movable part of which is one end of a curved pipe having the terminal coupling
piece at its other end.
The construction of the first, second, and fourth swivel joints is the same. The
movable piece of each of these swivel joints has screwed into the end of it a short
tube fitted to turn in the other or external part of the joint. The internal tube is
made with a flange or collar at its inner end which flange bears against a face
formed at the inner end of the part in which the tube works, a ring of rubber or
other suitable packing material being interposed to render the joint airtight. The
internal tube is got into its place through a hole formed for the purpose in the
external part of the joint, and which is afterwards closed by a screw plug. The
third swivel joint is similar in construction there being in it an internal tube
having a flange or collar, but the external part of the coupling is screwed upon the
end of the straight pipe the internal tube being got into its place through the
opening into which the straight pipe is screwed.
The terminal coupling piece is formed with an opening in a face which is in a
plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the piece and this opening has in it
a flanged rubber bush or tube held by means of a three-pronged ring. Then the
two terminal coupling pieces are put together in which position they interlock by
means of clamping flanges formed on each, the flanges of the two rubber bushes
meet and form an airtight tubular joint.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Dugald Drummond in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th June
.1883.
DUGALD DRUMMOND, of Lenzie, in the County of Dumbarton, North Britain,
Engineer, "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH PIPE COUPLINGS FOR AIR
OR VACUUM BRAKE APPARATUS AND APPLICABLE OTHERWISE
"
My said Invention has for its object to provide improved coupling apparatus for
connecting, between the several carriages or vehicles of a railway train, the pipes
through which air is forced or exhausted for the purpose of working brakes, such
coupling apparatus being metallic, and without the flexible rubber pipes ordinarily
used, and which are liable to be easily injured or put out of order. My improved
apparatus is also advantageously applicable in other cases in which rubber connecting
pipes are ordinarily employed.
In carrying out my Invention as applied to brake apparatus the improved con-
necting details are attached to the horizontally projecting end of the pipe fixed to
the carriage, and between this pipe end and the terminal coupling piece which,
when a train is made up, is coupled to the corresponding terminal coupling piece of
the next carriage, there are four swivel joints which are constructed in an improved
manner so as to be practically air tight."
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings to
be hereinafter referred to and representing my improved metallic jointed pipe
coupling apparatus as made according to one modification.
Figure, 1, on the accompanying sheet of drawings is a plan of as much of the
pipe coupling apparatus as is to be fixed to each end of a'railway carriage. Figure 2,
is a side elevation corresponding to figure, 1, and figure, 3, is a section showing
two of the swivel joints. In these drawings the same reference numerals are used
to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
The swivel joints in each set or length of coupling parts may be arranged in
various ways; but in the modification shown in the drawings, the first swivel
joint next the carriage is made with its axis horizontal and transverse the external
part or box, 4, being formed with an internally screwed coupling, 5, to be screwed
and fixed upon the projecting end of the pipe, 6, which is fixed to the carriage and
communicates with the brake apparatus thereof. When the entire combination or
length of coupling parts is extended out horizontally from the carriage end, in
which position it is shown in figures 1, and 2, the movable or inner part of the
first swivel joint, 4, and which movable part consists' partly of a short curved
pipe, 7, extends in an inclined direction to the second swivel joint, 8, which has its
axis at right angles to that of the first swivel joint, 4. A straight pipe, 9, con-
nected by a right-angle bend to the second swivel joint, S, extends therefrom to
the third swivel joint, 10, the axis of which is in line with the axis of the straight
pipe, 9; and the third swivel joint, 10, connects directly with the fourth swivel
joint, 11, the axis of which is at right angles to the straight pipe, 9, and the
movable part of which is one end of a curved pipe, 12, having the terminal coupling
piece, 13, at its other end.
The construction of the first, second and fourth swivel joints, 4, 8, and 11, is the
same. As shown in figure, 3, the movable piece, 14, has screwed into the end of it
a short tube, 15, fitted to turn in the external part or box, 11. The internal
tube, 15, is made with a flange or collar, 16, at its inner end (the upper end in
figure, 3) which flange bears against a face formed in the box, 11, at the inner end

page_text: of the part in which the tube, 15, works or turns, a ring of rubber or other suitable
packing material being interposed to render the joint airtight. The internal
tube, 15, is got into its place through a hole formed for the purpose in the external
part or box, 11, and which is afterwards closed by a screw plug, 17. When the
internal tube, 15, has been screwed into the movable piece or pipe end, 14, a small
screw, 18, is screwed in from the outside to prevent it from getting loose. The
third swivel joint, 10, is similar in construction there being in it an internal
tube, 15, which is screwed into the joint piece, 10, and which has a flange or
collar, 16; but the external part, 19, of the coupling is screwed upon the end of
the straight pipe, 9, the internal tube 15, being got into its place through the
opening into which the straight pipe, 9, is screwed.
The terminal coupling piece, 13, which may be constructed like any suitable
kind hitherto is use is made with an opening in a face, 20, which is in a plane
passing through the longitudinal axis of the piece I prefer to fit the opening with
a flanged rubber bush or tube held by means of a three-pronged ring. The rubber
bush projects from the face, 20, inches; and when the terminal coupling
pieces, 13, of two adjacent carriages are put together, in which position they inter-
lock by means of clamping flanges, 21, 22, formed on each, the flanges of the two.
rubber bushes meet and form an airtight tubular joint.
8
32
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise details
lierein described or delineated but that what I believe to be novel and original and
claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the herein before in part
recited Letters Patent is :-
1. The constructing of pipe couplings for connecting air or vacuum brake
apparatus between railway carriages and for analogous purposes, with metallic
pieces united by a sufficient number of swivel joints substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2. The constructing of swivel joints for pipe couplings or connections substan-
tially in the improved manner hereinbefore described.
In Witness whereof, I, the said Dugald Drummond, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this second day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty-three.
Witness
EDMUND HUNT
Patent Agent
Glasgow.
DUGALD DRUMMOND. (L.S.)