Improvements in Car-couplers.
Year: 1893

page_text: Improvements in Car-couplers.
A communication from RICHARD KIDD DORSEY, of the Village of Allandale,
County of Simcoe, Province of Ontario, Canada, Locomotive Engineer.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
The object of the invention is to provide a simple automatic car-coupler capable
of coupling with an ordinary link and pin draw-head, and it consists in the arrange-
ment of parts hereinafter more particularly explained.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved automatic draw-head connected to
the end of a freight-car.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the improved draw-head partially in section to
expose the interior construction.
Fig. 3 is a plan showing two draw-heads coupled together.
Fig. 4 is a sectional plan of one of the draw-heads.
A represents the draw-head which is secured in the usual manner to the bottom
of the car B.
C is a block pivotted to the draw-head A by the pin D.
E is an arm extending from and forming part of the block C and through which
a pin hole F is made.
G is an arm extending at about right angles from the arm E and shaped as
indicated to fit into a recess made in the draw-head A.
H is a swinging block pivotted at I in the recess made in the draw-head A and
designed to fall towards the mouth of the draw-head A to an angle of about forty-
five degrees.
J is a latch pivoted in the mouth of the draw-head A and shaped so that it may
be caused to engage with the block H and tilt it back on its pivot.
In Fig. 4 the moving parts in the draw-head are arranged as they appear when
set to uncouple, while in Figures 1, 2 and 3 they are set in their coupled position.
In Fig. 4 it will be observed that the arm G is set forward clear of the swinging
block H and that the arm E extends forwardly.
When the draw-heads are to be coupled together, the arm E comes in contact
with the arm G on the opposite draw-head pushing the said arm G back clear of
the swinging block H, which moves back to permit the arm G to pass and
immediately when it passes, falls forward behind the arm E thereby locking it in
position as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.
The block C being simultaneously operated in both draw-heads the two arms E
are thrown, as shown in Fig. 3, to come opposite to each other and thus couple
together as indicated in the said figure.
In order to relieve the strain on the pin D a notch 6 is made in the back of the
arm E which notch fits behind and engages with a shoulder d formed inside the
mouth of the draw-head A.
Should it be necessary to connect the draw-head with an ordinary link and pin
draw-head, the link would be inserted in the recess K made in the arm E, and the
ordinary pin may then be inserted through the hole F thus forming the connection
desired.
In order to uncouple the car when automatically connected as described, the
latch J is drawn upon by the chain L, so as to raise the block H clear of the face
of the arm G which arm is thrown out towards the mouth of the draw-head A by
the action of the arm M which is pivotted at N and has a projection O formed on

page_text: it which extends behind the swinging block H so that the said swinging block when
thrown back by the action of the latch J comes in contact with the projection O
thus rocking the arm M on its pivot N and causing the arm M to push the arm G
towards the mouth of the draw-head and clear of the swinging block H.
In Fig. 1, is shown means for operating the latch J from the top of the car or
from either side thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what 1 claim is,-
1. A block C pivotted in the mouth of the draw-head A and having extending
from it the arms E and G in combination with the swinging block H and pivotted
latch L arranged substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. A block C pivotted in the mouth of the draw-head A and having extending
from it the arms E and G a notch b formed in the arm G and arranged to engage
with the shoulder D on the draw-head A in combination with the swinging block H
and pivotted latch L arranged substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. A block C pivotted in the mouth of the draw-head A and having extending
from it the arms E and G the arm M pivotted at N and extending behind the arm G
in combination with the swinging block H operated by a latch J and arranged to
engage with a projection O formed on the pivotted arm N substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
4. A block C pivotted in the mouth of the draw-head A and having extending
from it the arms E and G a notch & formed in the arm G and arranged to engage
with the shoulder D on the draw-head A the arm M pivotted at N and extending
behind the arm G in combination with a swinging block H operated by a latch J
and arranged to engage with a projection O formed on the pivotted arm N sub-
stantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 23rd day of May 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Of London, Nottingham, Liverpool, and Manchester,
Agents for the Applicant.