A New or Improved Automatic Coupling for Railway Carriages.
Year: 1899

page_text: A New or Improved Automatic Coupling for Railway Carriages.
We, JOSEPH LENA, of 132, Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London, Engineer,
and JOSEPH HENRY BETTELEY, of 44, Clapham Road, London, S. W., Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to certain new or improved automatic railway carriage
couplings, the object being to provide for the engagement of the couplings under
the varying conditions of the coming together of the ends of the trucks, waggons,
or carriages; to effect the disengagement of the couplings from the sides of the
carriages without the workmen getting between the carriage ends, and to allow
of the coupling of the carriages being made by the ordinary chain links and
hooks of existing rolling stock when such should be required.
In carrying this invention into effect, the end of the draw-bar is extended out-
ward to a length equal to that of the buffers, (dead buffers, or spring buffers when
compressed) and is made with a forked outer end to receive a crosswise through
bolt. This said bolt carries upon it and between the said fork of the draw-bar
end, a lever which ends in a hook standing outward and either upwards or down-
wards. On the outer ends of the aforesaid crosswise through bolt on the outside
of the fork of the draw-bar are carried the ends of the arms of a shackle-link
(somewhat of a horse shoe form).
The loop of this shackle-link extends beyond the hook and in front of the
same and posing in normal condition by its own weight at a slight angle to the
horizontal. The front of the hook is curved backward so as to form an inclined
plane and the front edge of the shackle-link is bevilled or rounded.
Such coupling means are to be oppositely placed at the ends of the carriage
frames to correspond one with the other when the ends of two such carriages are
brought or shunted together.
The action of this automatic coupling takes place as follows:-
The shackle-links upon approaching strike upon the inclined beaks of the hooks
and ride over same and then fall by their own weight (or it may be aided by a
spring or counter-weight suitably bearing upon the arms of the shackle-links)
into position behind the hooks so coupling the carriages aniomatically.
To effect the uncoupling of the carriages and to positively control' the working
of the coupling books from the sides of the carriages. there is a cross turnable
bar or rocking shaft carried in supporting bracket-ears at the ends of the carriages.
The rear end of the hook-shank or hook-lever is jointed by a toggle joint with
and to a short arm on the rocking shaft aforesaid, so that when the said rocking-
shaft is turned (for instance by lever arms at the sides of the carriage ends) the
hooks may be lowered and disengaged from the shackle-links or be set in raised
position ready for the automatic coupling to be effected as before described.
Data 9th Anil 1890
J. H. BETTELEY,
For the Applicants, 44, Clapham Road, S.W.

page_text: A New or Improved Automatic Coupling for Railway Carriages.
We, JosEPH LESA, of 132, Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London, Engineer,
and JOSEPH HENRY BETTELEY, of 44. Clapham Road, London, S.W., Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention 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 to certain new or improved automatic railway carriage
couplings, the object being to provide for the engagement of the couplings under
the varying conditions of the coming together of the ends of the trucks, wagons
or carriages, to effect the disengagement of the complings from the sides of the
carriages without the workmen getting between the carriage ends and to allow
of the coupling of the carriages being made by the ordinary chain links and
Juoks of existing rolling stock when such should be required.
In order that this invention may be well understood and he carried into practice
there is hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings, and the same will be referred to in
the following more particular description by figures and letters, like letters
referring to similar parts throughout.
Fig. Ï. is a diagramatic view of the fitting, at one end of the truck, wagon,
or carriage, with the engaging hook for the opposite coupling-shackle-piece turned
downward. The dotted lines e, in this figure and also of Fig. 3, represents the
coupling-shackle raised-up out of working position, and the dotted lines d',
represents a link of an ordinary chain coupling which may be used when required.
Fig. 2, is a plan of Fig. 1.
Fig. 8. represents in like manner a modification of the fitting but with the
engaging hook for the opposite coupling-shackle-piece turned upward.
Figs. 4, and 6, are detailed views of paris showing in detail the mounting of
the hook and the shackle-piece-bolt b. of Fig. 3.
Either construction may be used, as the pärts, on each end of the truck, wagon,
or carriage, correspond and will engage automatically upon the coming together
of the vehicles. According to the weight upon the springs and the relatively
varying depression of the two vehicle bodies, one or other of the opposite compling-
shackle e, will effect engagement with the hook d, of the opposite or corresponding
coupling.
Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2. the end of the draw-bar A. is extended
outward to a length equal to that of the buffers (dead buffers, or spring buffers
when compressed). The end of the draw-bar A, is forked and the fork ends,a,
serve as upper and lower guides and carriers of the hook d, and coupling shacklee.
The upper guard a may he formed with either a square or a rounded end as
shown in Fig. 1. or Fig. 3.
The hook, is mounted and hinged upon the bolt b. and the shackle c. is
mounted fast upon the bolt 6', which bears in the lower arma, of the fork-ended
drawbar A. The hook d may be anchor shaped as shown in Fig. I so as to permit
of the use of the ordinary shackle-link-coupling indicated at 7, of Fig. 1, by its
upper arm.
In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 5 both the hook d, and the coupling
shackle piece are mounted and work upon the bolt 6, carried in the arm, of
the forked end of the draw-bar. In both cases the hinge portions of the shackle-
link e occupies a position outside of the guide fork-arm, and extends beyond
the hook, and in front of the same and is positioned, in normal condition by
its own weight at a slight angle to the horizontal. The front of the hook d, is

page_text: curved backward so as to form an inclined plane, and the front edge of the
shackle-link e. is bevilled or rounded.
The somewhat horse-shoe form of the shackle-link e, is provided, so that the
coupling of carriages will be ensured when brought together, upon curves of the
line of track.
Upon the shackles striking or coming together either one or the other as before
mentioned, will yield or rise and pass over the guide fork end, between same,
and the fork enda, striking the backwardly curved hook d, which will turn said
hook lever upon its centre b. to admit of the passing on of the shackle-link, after
which the hook d, reassumes normal position as shown in the figures of the
drawings.
This engagement of the hook d, and shackle-link e, may be aided by a spring
or springs or by a counterweight. The direct pull of the train and the position
of the shackle-link e, engaged with the hook and positioned between the guide
forks a, a, when coupled, will prevent possibility of any accidental disengage-
ment of the hook and shackle whether the upwardly turned hook or the down-
wardly disposed hook be employed.
The raising of the shackle e, may be aided by the inclined rear end of same,
working against the inclined part ², of the draw-bar-fork-end a¹, and in this
case the bearing hole in the said fork end a', for the pin 6, will be elongated; the
shackle-link, being secured fast on the pin 6, of Figs. 1 and 2, and upon the
pin 5, of Figs. 3 and 5.
To effect the uncoupling of the carriages and to positively control the working
of the coupling hooks d, from the sides of the carriages there is a cross turnable
bar or rocking shaft f. carried in supporting bracket ears g, at the end of the
carriages. The rear end of the hook shank or hook lever e is jointed by a joint-
piece, with and to a short arm on the rocking shaft / aforesaid, so that when
the said rocking shaft /. is turned (for instance by lever arms i, at the sides of the
carriage ends) the hooks d, may be disengaged from the shackle links e, or be set
in raised position ready for the automatic coupling to be effected as before
described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that
what we claim is:-
The new or improved automatic railway carriage coupling constructed combined
and operating as and for the purpose herein set forth and described in reference
to the accompanying drawings.
J. H. BETTELEY.
For the Applicants.