An Improved Pole for Use in Coupling and Uncoupling Railway Waggons.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 28th June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 28th Mar, 1900-Accepted, 28th Apr., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Pole for Use in Coupling and Uncoupling Railway
Waggons.
I, EDWARD JACOB HILL, of 11, Victoria Street, in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved form of pole for the use of railway
shunters, whereby to manipulate the coupling chains in coupling up and
uncoupling railway waggons from outside the track, the object of the invention
being to relieve the operator as far as possible of fatigue and to reduce to a
minimum the dangers incidental to coupling railway waggons especially when
the latter are in motion.
The invention consists primarily in so forming the shunter's pole that it may
be easily rotated about its own axis in the operation of manipulating the coupling
chains of waggons.
For this purpose the pole is bent or cranked towards the
rear or handle end, the bend being preferably situated at about one-third the
length of the pole from the rear end and causing a deflection of about fifteen
degrees, more or less, from the straight.
A pole so constructed would be used preferably in conjunction with a bracket
attached to the waggon just below the level of the buffer, and forming a fulcrum
both for lifting the end of the coupling chain and for rotating the pole about
its own axis, the latter operation being effected by the operator merely pressing
downwards the bent rearward portion of the pole so as to transfer the bend from
(say) a laterally directed horizontal position to a downwardly directed vertical
position.
A shunter's pole constructed as described is specially adapted for use in
connection with coupling chains whose outer link is provided with means whereby
it may be caused to move through an are in a vertical plane for the purpose of
being engaged with, or disengaged from, the coupling hook on the adjacent
vehicle. When so used, the forward end of the pole is flattened and splayed out
laterally, or provided with a spatula-shaped blade adapted to engage in a portion
of or extension arm upon the coupling link which is specially formed to engage
such flattened or spatula-shaped end, the blade or flattened forward end of the
pole preferably lying in the plane of the bent rearward end. The spatula-shaped
blade or flattened forward end of the pole would preferably be shouldered or
provided with stops on one or both of the flat sides for the purpose of preventing
the pole being thrust too far through the coupling link.
Dated thin 07th day of Tuno 1800
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.

page_text: 1
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Pole for Use in Coupling and Uncoupling Railway
Waggons.
I, EDWARD JACOB HILL, of 11, Victoria Street, in the City of Westminster,
Civil 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:-
1
My invention relates to poles used by railway shunters for manipulating the
coupling chains in coupling-up and uncoupling railway waggons from outside
the track, the object of the invention being to provide an improved pole adapted
to relieve the operator, as far as possible, of fatigue and to reduce to a minimum
the dangers incidental to coupling operations especially when the waggons are
in motion.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of
this specification wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view shewing one form of
the improved shunter's pole as in use. Figure 2 is a side view of the pole in
position of engagement with the coupling chain for the purpose of effecting the
operation of coupling-up, the view being taken looking lengthwise of the waggon.
Figures 3 and 4 are respectively an upper and an under-side plan of the pole.
Figure 5 shews in side elevation a fulcrum bracket for use in conjunction with
the improved shunter's pole.
My invention consists primarily in so forming the shunter's pole A that it
may be more easily rotated about its own axis in the operation of manipulating
the coupling chains, than are the straight poles heretofore in use. For this
purpose the pole is bent or curved, preferably as shewn in the drawings, wherein
the rear or handle portion a of the pole is bent or cranked as at a¹ the bend being
situated at about one-third the length of the pole from the rear end b, the angular
deflection of the handle a from the line of the straight main portion of the pole
amounting to less than a right angle, and preferably to thirty degrees or
thereabouts.
A shunter's pole so bent or curved might be provided at its forward end with
the usual hook whereby to engage with and manipulate the coupling chain, but
would preferably have its forward end specially formed as and for a purpose to
be hereafter described. In any case the bent pole would preferably be used in
conjunction with a fulcrum bracket attached to the waggon head-stock and
adapted, whilst supporting the pole, to permit both of the rotation of the pole
about its own axis and also of its angular movement when acting as a lever,
the bracket being designed to obviate the necessity, heretofore experienced by
the shunter, either of employing both hands, the one for manipulating the pole
and the other as a fulcrum for the pole, or of utilizing the buffer as a fulcrum.
This fulcrum bracket is so arranged as to present a support for the pole at a
point just below the outer end of the buffer-socket C, the form and position of
the bracket being such as to avoid fouling the buffer D itself when the latter is
driven completely home as would be the case when the trucks are brought
together violently.
In the form illustrated the bracket consists of a metal bar E bolted or otherwise
fixed to the bottom of the buffer-plank or headstock F of the waggon and
extending immediately beneath, and to a distance approximately equal to the
length of, the buffer socket C, the bar being bent first upwardly as at e, then

page_text: ownwardly as at e', and again upwardly near its end and so as to form a moon
dapted to readily receive and form a support for the shunter's pole.
The bent or curved shunter's pole when supported in the hook E¹ of the
ulcrum bracket or otherwise, can be easily rotated about its own axis as may be
equired in manipulating the coupling chain, by the operator merely exerting
ressure upon the bent rearward portion of the pole so as to transfer said bent
portion from (say) a horizontal to a downward vertical position.
The bent or curved shunter's pole above described is specially adapted for use
n connection with a coupling chain whereof the coupler link X is so combined
with the intermediate link Y of the chain as to be adapted to move as one there-
with in a longitudinal vertical plane for the purpose of being engaged with or
lisengaged from the draw-hook on the adjacent vehicle as described in a former
Application for Letters Patent No. 8660 of 1899 and as shewn in Figures 1 and 2
or the accompanying drawings. When used with such a chain, the forward end
of the pole is made of special form such as illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4 for
the purpose of so engaging with the intermediate link of the chain that when the
pole is rotated about its axis, the intermediate and coupler links will be caused
to describe an angular movement together in a longitudinal vertical plane.
To this end the forward extremity of the pole is flattened or splayed as at H so
as to fit loosely within the oblong open portion of the intermediate link without
being capable of turning therein, the point being somewhat tapered as indicated,
in order to facilitate the introduction of the end of the pole within the link.
A cross pinj projecting beyond both faces h h of the flattened portion H of the
pole, is attached to the pole immediately in rear of said flattened portion to
serve as a stop and prevent the pole from being thrust too far through the link,
and the pole is also provided with means for preventing its becoming accidentally
withdrawn from the link, said means comprising a downward protuberance k on
the lower edge of the flat portion H, so shaped as to engage the farthest side of
the link when the end of the pole, after being thrust through the link preparatory
to coupling-up, and whilst the chain hangs vertically, rests within the link just
before and whilst being rotated about the axis of the pole, this position being
indicated in Figure 2.
The protuberance k is so sloped on its forward side ¹ as to offer no resistance
to the insertion of the end of the pole within the link, and on its rear side 2 is
made of an easy curvature which will permit of the ready withdrawal of the
pole from the link after the operation of coupling-up or uncoupling has been
effected. Preferably the cross pin j and the protuberance k are combined in a
single metal casting attached by screws to the lower edge of the flattened
portion H of the pole as indicated.
Two very short studs projecting one beyond each face h of the flat portion H
are also provided on the upper edge of the pole immediately opposite to the
protuberance k, so as by engaging, the one or the other, with the farther side of
the link, to prevent the pole becoming accidentally disengaged from the link
when the latter occupies a horizontal or backwardly inclined position, in which
positions the protuberance k will tend to become disengaged from that portion of
the link against which it rests whilst the coupling chain hangs vertically. These
studs are too short to prevent the end of the pole being readily thrust into or
withdrawn from the link, and are preferably constituted by slight lateral exten-
sions of a metal plate m attached by screws to the upper edge of the flattened
O portion H of the pole as indicated.
The deflection of the handle a of the pole would preferably be substantially in
the plane of the flattened portion H and towards the upper side of the pole, that is
to say towards the side opposite to that whereat the protuberance k is situated.
I would have it understood that it is not absolutely necessary, in using my
5 improved pole, to employ the fulcrum bracket mentioned above, but it is prefer-
able to do so, and such a bracket forms the subject of an Application for Letters
Patent filed by me on 14th September 1899, No. 18578.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A shunter's pole for use in manipulating the coupling chains of railway
vehicles, of substantially the bent or curved form described for the purpose
specified.
2. An instrument for use in manipulating the coupling chain of a railway
vehicle, consisting of a pole ɓaving its rear or handle end bent so as to lie at an
angle to the main portion of the pole and having its forward end flattened
or splayed to adapt it to engage with a link of the coupling chain so as to enable
the chain to be manipulated as specified.
Dated this 28th day of March 1900.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.