An Improved Car-coupling.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 17th June, 1891-Accepted, 18th July, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Car-coupling.
I, JOHN PITT BAYLY, of 18 Fulham Place, Paddington, in the County of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communi-
cation to me from abroad by Jacob Shaaber, of Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Inventor,) to be as follows:-
By this invention the railway cars or trucks are provided at each end with a jaw-
shaped draw-head. These draw-heads are each provided with an inner projection
a short distance from the mouth of each jaw, and which extends about half way up
the width thereof. At a point just above these projections is pivoted a suitable
hook, having a laterally projecting piece, to which is movably attached a link. By
reason of the pivot being just above the projection in the jaw-shaped draw-head,
the projection forming part of the hook comes in contact therewith when the link
is in a pendent position, and thereby retains the hook in an elevated position.
By this construction when a link of a corresponding draw-head is passed over
the hook of another draw-head, it is retained in place by reason of the projection
upon the hook coming in contact with the projection in the draw-head. Thus the
link or hook of each draw-head may be used as found most convenient.
The link of each hook is preferably connected to the projection of the said hook
by means of a pin, which enables the link to give when the cars are travelling
around curves.
Dated this 17th dar
1800
J. P. BAYLY,
Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Car-coupling.
I, JOHN PITT BAYLY, of 18 Fulham Place, Paddington, in the County of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a com-
munication to me from abroad by Jacob Shaaber, of Reading, Pennsylvania,
U.S.A. Inventor) 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 more particularly to improvements in car-couplings whereby
the operation of coupling and uncoupling may be rendered more safe and easy
without involving a complicated construction, necessarily apt to get out of order
and consequently to fail to operate.
The essential feature of the invention is the coupling-link employed which has a
hook or pin extension at one end, and is pivoted intermediately to the draw-head,
so as to permit the positions of the link and hook to be readily reversed, adjoining
cars which it is desired to couple being arranged with the link of one car opposite
the pin of the other.
The construction and operation are fully described hereinafter in connection
with the accompanying drawings, and the invention is particularly pointed out in
the claims.
Figures 1 and 2 are longitudinal sections of adjoining draw-heads, showing the
combined coupling-link and hook of each arranged to couple automatically.
Fig. 3 is a top view of the same, showing the two heads coupled on a curve.
Figs. 4 and 5 show in detail a combined link and hook, substantially the same as
shown in Figs. 1 and 3.
Fig. 6 shows a modified form of combined link and hook.

page_text: The draw-heads A are represented as jaw-shaped, with a flange a³ projecting
inwardly from the jaws a, and shoulders or stops a² near the front of the head; the
purpose of which will be hereinafter explained. The coupling-link
is pivoted
at to the portion B of the hook b, and the combined hook and link are pivoted
between the jaws a a of the draw-head slightly forward of the stops a². In Fig. 1
they are carried upon a pin 64, which passes transversely through the jaws a a of
the draw-head, while in Fig. 2 they are carried upon trunnions 62, forming part of
the hook or link, which trunnions enter bearings a', recessed in the inner surface
of the jaws a a.
In Figs. 4 and 5 the portion B of the hook is represented as jaw-shaped and
inclosing the end of the link ', instead of the latter being merely pivoted in contact
with one face of the portion B, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. In either case the
link has a swinging motion upon the pivot independent of the swinging motion of
the combined hook and link upon the pin or trunnions 62, the two motions, however,
being in planes at right angles to each other.
In Fig. 6 the hook and link are represented as formed in one solid piece, which
construction, though inferior to that already described, can perhaps be used satis-
factorily where no short curves are encountered.
The operation will be readily understood. When two cars approach each other
to be coupled, they are set, as represented in Figs. 1 and 2, with the hook of one
draw-head opposite the link of the other. Preferably the link should be uppermost
on the lower car, if of different heights, though this is not essential. The point of
the pendent hook, as shown in Fig. 2, projects beyond the draw-head and comes in
contact with the intermediate portion of the combined hook and link of the adjoining
draw-head, Fig. 1. The latter being in contact with the stops a² cannot swing
away, and the link of the first draw-head is consequently thrown forward automati-
cally, and engages the opposite hook of the adjoining car, thus positively coupling
them. In Fig. 3 they are shown coupled with the coupling-link turned upon its
pivot to suit the curve of the track. It is evident that the coupling will readily
adjust itself to any curve or to varying heights of cars, and also that cars may be
coupled upon curves. They may be readily uncoupled by pressing down the
horizontal hook, Fig. 3, thus lifting the link, this being done by hand, or, if
preferred, by any suitable mechanism operated by a handle at the side of the car.
I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein set forth, as it may be
varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed; I declare that what I
claim is :
1. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the jaw-shaped draw-head having
shoulders or stops, as a², of a coupling-link having a hook-extension at one end and
pivoted intermediately to said head, said stops being arranged to limit the swinging
motion of said link, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the draw-head, of a combined
coupling-link and hook pivoted intermediately to said head, substantially as
described, the said link having an independent pivotal movement in the plane at
right angles to that of the combined link and hook, substantially as set forth.
3. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the jaw-shaped draw-head having
shoulders or stops, as a², of a combined coupling-link and hook pivoted inter-
mediately to said head and having a flat portion between said hook and link arranged
to bear against said stops when the link is in the pendent position and to come in
contact with the pendent hook of the draw-head of an adjoining car, all substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
J. P. BAYLY,
Applicant.