Improvements in Couplings for Railway or similar Vehicles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 7th. Dec., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 7th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 19th Oct., .1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Couplings for Railway or similar Vehicles.
I, RICHARD GEORGE, Spring Mills, Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire, Flannel
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in couplings for railway or similar
vehicles and in carrying same into practice I provide a rod, of circular form in
section, which I mount horizontally in suitable brackets upon the end of a railway
waggon for instance, said rod being of such a length so as to project at each end
a convenient distance beyond the sides of the waggon, and being also capable of
readily turning in its bearings.
To the said rod are connected by short curved or other rods, two vertical rods,
the said short connecting-rods being pivoted at their lower ends to the upper
extremities of the vertical rods aforesaid, two similar short connecting-rods,
connecting the lower extremities of the said vertical rods in like manner to a
second horizontally situated rod supported in brackets fixed to the end of the
waggon, the said second horizontal rod being capable of turning in its bearings in
a sunilar fashion to the first-mentioned one.
A lifter consisting substantially of a U-shaped rod, is fixed to the second or
lower horizontal rod, the horizontal part of such U-shaped lifter passing through
a circular opening or eye formed in the coupling-link, near one end thereof.
This link is formed of two parts, that is to say, the link or loop portion has
hinged by a compass-joint or the like, to its ends, two rods, each of which is
provided with a longitudinal slot which terminates near one end in the circular
enlargement or eye, aforesaid through which the U-shaped lifter passes, the
extremities of the said slotted-rods, nearest the said circular enlargement or eye
being pivotally connected to the rigid hook usually provided upon each end of a
railway-waggon, or they may be connected to any other suitable part of the
waggon.
The other extremities of the slotted rods aforesaid, which are hinged to or
jointed to the loop or link proper, are formed with shoulders upon their upper
sides, to prevent the said link folding or doubling up when the pulling strain is
removed therefrom. The lower sides of the said extremities of the slotted rods,
are also provided with shoulders for the same purpose.
Levers are provided upon the first or upper horizontal rod, for the purpose of
turning such rod in its bearings to raise the link when the vehicles are to be
uncoupled, the said leyers being suitably weighted to maintain the rod in its
normal and desired position.
Dated this 7th day of December 1894.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23 Coleman Street, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: ...
Coping to alway OF STRIar
VENICIES.
I, RICHARD GEORGE, Spring Mills, Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire, Flannel
Manufacturer, 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 couplings for railway or other vehicles and in carrying
same into practice I proceed as follows:-making reference to the accompanying
sheet of drawings wherein :
Fig. 1. represents a side view, and
Fig. 2. a plan of my improved coupling,
b
Similar letters in each figure representing the same parts. I provide a rod a
of circular form in section which I mount horizontally in suitable brackets or
bearings upon the end of a railway wagon c, for instance: the said rod being of
such a length as to project at each end as at d and d¹ a convenient distance beyond
the sides of the wagon, and being also capable of readily turning in its bearing b.
To the said rod a are connected by short connecting rods e and e¹, two vertical
rods fand, the said short connecting rods e and el being pivotted at their lower
ends to the upper extremities of the vertical rods aforesaid. Two similar short
connecting rods g and g¹ connect the lower extremities of the said vertical
rods and fiu like manner to a second horizontally situated rod / supported in
brackets or bearings i and ¹ fixed to the end of the wagon, or the like, the said
second horizontal rod being capable of turning in its bearings in a similar
manner to the first mentioned one a.
A lifter; consisting essentially of a more or less U or V shaped rod or structure,
ed to the second or lower horizontal rod h; the horizontal part of such more
or less U or V-shaped lifter passing through the circular openings or eyes k and k¹
formed in and near the end of the two side portions and comprising part of the
coupling link. The entire link is formed of two parts and l, and m and m¹; the
two parts are joined by compass joints or the like, n and n'.
Each of the parts and is furnished with the longitudinal slots o and o¹ which
terminates near one end in the circular enlargements or eyes k and k¹, aforesaid,
through which the lifter j passes, the extremities of the said slotted rods nearest
the said circular enlargements or eyes, being pivotally. connected to the rigid
hook usually provided upon each end of a railway wagon, or they may be
connected to any other suitable part of the
wagon.
The other extremities of the slotted rods aforesaid are formed with shoulders p
and p on their upper sides to prevent the link folding or doubling up when the
pulling strain is removed therefrom. The lower sides of the extremities of the
slotted rods, are also provided with butt-shoulders 9 and 7 for the same purpose.
Levers and are provided on the first or upper horizontal rod a for the
purpose of turning such rod in its bearings to raise the link, when the vehicles
are to be uncoupled, the said levers being suitably weighted to maintain the rod
in its normal or desired position.
The action of the couplings is as follows:-
By depressing the end of the levers r and r¹, the vertical rods fand f' are
raised and these draw up the lifter j attached to the second horizontal bar h.
The end of the lifter then slides out of the eyes k and k¹ and into the slots o and o¹,
and raises the link and land m and m¹ out of the permanent hook o³ and so
uncouples the two wagons.
When required for use with low trucks, the second horizontal rod h is not
necessary and may be omitted: the first horizontal rod is then put where the
second one would be were it used.

page_text: I do not confine myself to the precise relative proportion, position, or con-
formation of the parts as indicated in the drawings, as any, or all of them may be
considerably varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
In couplings for railway or other vehicles, the combination of one or more
horizontal rods or the like with and working a lifter, running in slots, in one part
of a jointed coupling link and actuated by the movement of levers or the like, the
whole substantially as described in the above Specification and exemplified by the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 7th day of December 1894
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23 Coleman Street, London, E.C., Agents for Applicant.