Improvements in Couplings for Railway and like Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 1st Oct., 1900-Accepted, 17th Nov., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Couplings for Railway and like Vehicles.
I, JAMES BAINES CULLEN, of 22, Oldhall Street, Middleton, near Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Millwright, and Shipwright, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
I construct the draw bar with a large heart shaped eye and two hooks one at
either side of the eye placed nearer the end. Thus each draw bar forms both
a hook and eye and when the two are brought together the hook of one engages
with the eye of the other.
The end of the draw bar is preferably tapered or spear shaped tapering to-
wards a point from the sides of the heart shaped eye and also from the sides of
the hooks forming four edges or feathers which strengthen the bar. These
feathers or edges also form guides to direct the opposite hook into position to
engage the eye. The hooks are made in duplicate one at either side of the eye
so that either side of the bar will engage therewith. Each draw bar may if
desired be made with a single hook.
At the side of the waggon or vehicle is placed a lever by which the coupling
is unfastened. The lever extends from the side of the waggon to the neck of the
draw bar and is there connected to a wedge shaped block or lever or the like
which is forced or pressed into the small end of the heart shaped eye or between
it and the point or end of the opposite draw bar. The two hooks are thus
moved laterally until they are clear of the respective eyes with which they.
engage. The heart shaped eye in each draw bar is preferably extended into a
slot or groove to form a guide for the wedge or lever or to receive a link.
A second screw lever extends to the inside end of the draw bar forming a
screw by which the draw bar is tightened so that it cannot be unfastened by the
uncoupling levers. The draw bar is secured in place by nut and screw or cotter
or otherwise and may be held up to its central position by a spring or the like
sufficient lateral movement being permitted to allow of the hook of one draw bar
passing that of the other into the eye.
The draw bar eye is preferably heart shaped but it may be made of other shape
if found practicable.
On the end of each waggon or vehicle is attached a bell shaped receiver
through which the draw bar passes and projects. The mouth of this receiver
also receives and guides the end of the opposite draw bar and retains it in
position by a small spring placed inside. This is worked by the uncoupling
lever which releases or draws back the spring and allows the two draw bars to be
parted.
Dated this 18th day of April 1900.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Couplings for Railway and like Vehicles.
I, JAMES BAINES CULLEN, of 22, Oldhall Street, Middleton, near Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Millwright, and Shipwright, 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 an improved form or construction of draw bar and
automatic coupling for railway and like vehicles.
It consists essentially of a draw bar and coupling constructed with a heart
shaped eye and two hooks one at either side of the eye at the edge nearer to the
end of the bar each draw bar forming both a hook and eye so that when two are
brought together the hook of one engages with the eye of the other.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which only sufficient of the frame of a wagon is shown to illustrate the invention.
Fig. 1. Side elevation of a single draw bar and coupling in position when
uncoupled.
Fig. 2. Plan showing two draw bars or couplings in position when coupled.
The draw bar A is formed at its free end of spear or other suitable shape
with a heart shaped eye B and two laterally projecting hooks C one at either side
of the eye.
The end of the draw bar also preferably tapers from the sides or roots of the
hooks C to the point.
The draw bar is secured in position in the waggon in any ordinary way with
a small amount of lateral movement or play. In the arrangement shown in
the drawing a screw thread is formed on the shank and over this is placed a
spring D held in position by a nut d to take the pull of the bar. The longi-
tudinal movement of the bar is adjusted by a second nut E with teeth on the
periphery by which it can be rotated in either direction by a worm E¹. The
worm E is on a shaft e extending to the side of the waggon when it can be
turned by a handle e¹.
Upon the draw bar is placed to slide longitudinally thereon a wedge shaped
block or lever G which can be moved to and fro by a lever H the handle of which
is placed at the side of the waggon. The wedge G is preferably made of sheet
metal passed through small end of the eye B with a sleeve g to embrace the shank
and a pin g¹ passing through a slot a cut in the shank of the bar. To uncouple
the bars the wedge G on one is forced between it and the point or end of the
opposite draw bar the two hooks are thus moved laterally until they are clear of
the respective eyes with which they engage.
On the end of each waggon or vehicle is attached a bell shaped receiver K
through which the draw bar A passes and projects. The mouth of this receiver
also receives and guides the end of the opposite draw bar and retains it in
position by a small spring k placed inside. The working of the uncoupling
lever and the wedge G which forces the two draw bars asunder also forces back
the springs allowing the two draw bars to be parted.
It is preferred to make the draw bars with two hooks but they may be made
each with only one hook and placed so as always to engage at one and the same
side.
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. An improved draw bar and coupling for railway vehicles constructed with

page_text: a heart shaped eye and one or two laterally projecting hooks substantially as
described.
2. An improved coupling for railway vehicles comprising in its construction
a draw bar with heart shaped eye and laterally projecting hook or hooks a
screwed shank adjusting nuts and spring a wedge shaped block sliding thereon
for the purpose of uncoupling and an uncoupling lever extending to the side
of the waggon and a bell shaped guide for the end of the draw bar substantially
as described.
3. A coupling for railway vehicles having the several parts constructed and
arranged in combination substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 29th day of September 1900.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, London, & Birmingham,
Patent Agents.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, London, & Birmingham,
Patent Agents.