IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING RAILWAY CARRIAGES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Taylor Leighton of No 8 Montgomery Street in
the City of Edinburgh-for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING RAILWAY CARRIAGES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Taylor Leighton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th March 1883.
JOHN TAYLOR LEIGHTON residing at N° 8 Montgomery Street Edinburgh
Aerated Water Manufacturer " IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COUPLING AND
UNCOUPLING RAILWAY CARRIAGES
The Coupling I have invented obviates the necessity for any person entering
between or under Railway Carriages or trucks for the purpose of coupling or
uncoupling and is fixed to the ordinary draw bar which passes through the Cross
beam of the Carriage in the ordinary way. The Coupling consists of an iron box
or body made either in one or more pieces as may be desired and to the box is
attached a link or eye which attaches itself to the hook of the opposing Carriage―
This link is made sufficiently deep so as to adjust itself to the different heights of
the Carriages and is held in position by a lateral spring contained in the box of
the coupling and so placed as to retain the link in position with this effect that it
will always attach itself to a similar opposing coupling on an opposing Carriage-
The book into which this link goes is placed horizontally and is made loose on
its axis.
The hook protrudes from the side of the box opposite to that on which the link
is placed and is secured when closed by a moveable block placed inside of the
coupling box. The moment this book goes back into its place it releases and is
secured by the block which falls down by its own weight and cannot again be
raised except by the action of the handle and levers after mentioned.-The hook is
formed with an extension or tail which when the hook is open serves to keep up
the block and also to shut the hook by the link of the opposing Carriage coming
against it and carrying it back into its proper position-When it is restored to its
proper position it releases the block which immediately as before mentioned falls
by its own weight and secures the hook.

page_text: The block holds the hook in its position and cannot be down if the hook is open
and the hook cannot be open if the block is down-When it is meant to open the
hook the block must be lifted up-This is done by means of a cross rod and lever
construction passing below the buffers of the Carriage and having a handle pro-
jecting beyond the side of the carriage so as to be operated upon by any person
without the necessity of his going under or between the Carriages. To this cross
rod is attached what I call a hammer or lever which when lifted at once raises the
block thus allowing the hook to be opened and the Carriages to be disunited-
When another opposing Carriage is restored to its proper place the link on it
strikes the tail of the hook if open and carries it back into its proper position thus
releasing the block which immediately falls and secures the hook. The handle or
lever actuating the cross bar can be supported by an ordinary pin secured by a
chain or any other ordinary catch.
By means of the foregoing coupling two Carriages may be automatically
coupled simply by running them together and this being done it is impossible
to separate them without raising the bandle which actuates the lever and raises
the block.
An auxiliary hook may be attached to the under side of the body or box of
the coupling for attaching thereto Carriages fitted with the ordinary coupling
Chains.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
:
by the said John Taylor Leighton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th September 1883.
JOHN TAYLOR LEIGHTON of 8 Montgomery Street in the City of Edinburgh
Aërated Water Manufacturer "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COUPLING AND
UNCOUPLING RAILWAY CARRIAGES
"
My Invention relates to Improvements in apparatus for coupling and uncoupling
Railway Carriages so as to obviate the necessity of any person entering between
or under Railway Carriages or Trucks which are provided with my improved
apparatus for the purposes of coupling or uncoupling.
In order conveniently to describe the nature and practical working of my
Invention I refer to the drawings hereto annexed.-Sheet 1 being a plan view
looking from below, Sheet 2 a plan view from above Sheet 3 a side view of my
improved coupling as attached to a railway carriage or truck.
The drawings on Sheets 1 and 3 represent one half the size,-those on sheets 2
and 4 the full size of my improved apparatus-Figures A' and A2 on sheet 3. are
full sized sections at a.-b. and c-d respectively of the accompanying Plan on
that sheet.
-
My improved coupling is fixed to the ordinary draw bar which passes through
the cross beam of the carriage or truck and consists of an iron box or body A. A. A.
made either in one or more pieces as may be desired. To this box or body is
attached the link or eye B. which is made of sufficient height and depth so as to
adjust itself to the different heights of the carriages or trucks and is held in
position by a lateral spring C. contained in the box or body A. A. A.-Spring C.
is so placed as to retain the link B. in position with this effect that it will always
attach itself to a similar opposing coupling on an opposing carriage or truck.
The hook D. protrudes from the box A. on the side opposite to that on which the
link or eye B. is placed and is secured when closed by a moveable-block E. fitted
into the coupling box. The moment hook D. goes back into its place it releases
and is secured by the block E which falls down by its own weight and cannot
again be raised except by the action of the handle and levers after mentioned.
The coupling of the two carriages or trucks can be accomplished whether the
hook D. is freed from or held rigid by the block E because the spring C. which
keeps the link or eye B. in position allows this link or eye to have sufficient lateral
movement to enable it to be carried over the end of the hook D. even although
held rigid by reason of the block E being down but the link cannot be withdrawn
from the book until the block is raised and the hook freed. This hook D. is so
formed that when open it serves to keep up the block E and also to be carried
back into position by the link of the opposing carriage coming against it. When
the hook is restored to its proper position it releases the block which immediately
as before mentioned falls by its own weight and so secures the hook.
The block E which holds the hook D. in its position cannot be down if the
hook is open and the hook cannot be open if the block is down.-When it is
desired to open the hook the block must be lifted up.-This is done by means
of a cross rod F. attached to and passing under the draw-bar of the carriage or
truck and having a handle G. projecting beyond the side of the carriage or truck
so as to be operated upon by any person without the necessity of going under or
between the carriages. To the cross rod or lever last mentioned is attached what
I call a hammer or lifter H. which, when moved by the action of the cross bar F.
and the handle G., at once raises the block E. thus freeing the hook and allowing
t

page_text: it to be opened and the carriages to be disunited simply by drawing them
separate. When two carriages with similar couplings are brought into contact the
link B. on each passes over and enters the hook D. on each and so completes the
coupling of the two carriages.
If wished the bandle or lever actuating the cross-bar can be supported by an
ordinary pin secured by a chain or any other ordinary catch or holder
By means of my improved coupling as before described two carriages may be
automatically coupled simply by running them together, and this being done it is
impossible to separate them without lifting the handle which actuates the lever
and raises the block as hefore described.
An auxilliary hook I. may be attached to the underside of the body or box A. of
my coupling in order to attach thereto carriages or trucks fitted with the ordinary
coupling chains. This hook is so formed and placed that when the ordinary chain
link is hung on it it is securely fixed by the end of the block E and can only be
released by lifting the block as before mentioned.
Hitherto I have described my invention as if the end of the Body A. next the
carriage or truck were square and without making any allowance or provision for
overcoming the side pressure on the coupling which more or less exists when a
train is rounding a curve.-I provide for this as shewn on drawings sheet 2. I
introduce on the end of the draw-bar of the carriage a socket or hole J. through
which and corresponding sockets or holes in the Body A. the connecting pin K
passes I also round the corners of the Body A. as shewn at L. on drawings
sheet 2. This allows the coupling to yield to the side pressure. I have also made
an alternative provision for this as shewn on-drawings-sheet 4.-I there shew a
separate link M. which unites the body of the coupling A. to the draw bar N.
These provisions are only applicable where the draw bar is held by a spring and
is not fixed to the cross beam of the truck.
:
.)
On drawing B sheet 4. will be seen a view of two carriages coupled by my
improved coupling.
Having thus described my said invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, I desire to state that I do not claim any particular part of the
apparatus herein before described as novel or original but what I do claim as my
invention and to be secured to me by the said Letters Patent is the combination
of the different parts thereof for effecting the objects before mentioned in the
way I have described and in combination as aforesaid, or any mere modification
thereof
In witness whereof I the said John Taylor Leighton have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twenty fifth day of September in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
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