Improved Railway Carriage, Waggon, or Vehicle Coupling.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 6th May, 1899-Accepted, 9th Dec., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Railway Carriage, Waggon, or Vehicle Coupling.
I, WILLIAM DAVIDSON MUNCASTER, Registered Plumber, Carlisle, Cumberland,
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:--
I make an hinged coupling see Fig. 1 S Sheet 1 of steel, wrought-iron, or
cast malleable iron, or other suitable material of a like nature. I preferably
make this coupling of suitable length with elongated open centre, see Fig. 2 1
Sheet 1 suitable to receive special hook see Fig. 4 F Sheet 1 end of coupling to
be formed similar to Fig. 3 F C Sheet 1 at such an angle as to catch special hook
by the slightest pressure. I make hinged coupling with square centre, cross
rod fixed in lifting part, also forming pinions. Back part of coupling to be
fixed to carriage, waggon, or vehicle see P Fig. 1, but front part of coupling so
made, as to rise.up and uncouple at will of the operator, by the action of turning
the handle K at end of waggon or carriage or vehicle. The rod passing full
length across end of carriage, waggon or vehicle, and being provided with handle,
at each end, can be uncoupled at either side of waggon, carriage or vehicle. If
to be uncoupled, I turn handle from the special shaped hook by the action of
which, I raise coupling also, and if required in that position I hold coupling
suspended, with an adjustable hook of iron, steel, or any other material, of suit-
able size to receive handle of coupling, placed in proper position, at side of
waggon, carriage or vehicle, working in a socket so made, that it can turn to the
right or left, rise or fall in socket, being kept in position, by projecting cup on
bottom part of hook, and projection on back of bend of hook, above socket, to
keep it from falling too far through socket, hook to be made similar to drawing.
When again recoupling I unhook the handle, turn it over from end of waggon,
carriage, or vehicle and allow it to lay flat, which places coupling in proper
position for recoupling.
I herewith insert list of figured drawings together with a short written
statement as to what each figure and drawing is intended to represent.
Fig. 1 represents the side view of complete coupling ready for fixing, shewing
how the bolts A & B are inserted to fix parts together, also shewing section of
spindle C which forms the axis upon which the lifting part of coupling rises
and falls.
Fig. 2 drawing) Sheet 1 shews elongated opening 1 so made that special hook
can have perfect freedom in working during the process of shunting or the turn-
ing of bends on road or rail.
Fig. 3 drawing) Sheet 1 shews end of coupling with opening wide at lower part
of end E so made as to receive special hook with ease, and safety from side slip-
ping, oscillation or indirect central contact.
Fig. 4 drawing) Sheet 1 represents side view of special hook, so made as to
receive or discharge improved coupling with ease, freedom & safety the nose F
of hook always rising above the base line of contact, and to be of sufficient length,
to suit the improved coupling Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 drawing) Sheet 1 represents special railway waggon hook shewing

page_text: bevel on top base and bevel H on end of hook to facilitate case and freedom
in working.
Fig. 6 drawing) Sheet 1 (R) (R) represents support, for working. rod for im-
proved railway coupling circle (I) I shewing where the working rod passes
through.
Fig. 7 drawing (Sheet 1 shews top view of side handles, rod and square centre
with broken lines in rod shewing it can be made of suitable length as desired.
Letters J&K represent handles at each end of working rod which passes through
the body of working part of coupling, and forming the axis of action, the square
centre L is attached to the round rod and embedded in the body of the active
part of the coupling so fixed as to give good leverage in the lifting or lowering
of the coupling.
Fig. 8 (drawing. Sheet 1 (R) T is elevation to describe adjustable hook of round
rod of iron, steel or other suitable material of sufficient strength with cup head M
and sufficiently bent with pointed end to catch handle quickly and drop into
position, so fixed in a strong iron or steel socket that the hook can be lifted or
lowered as required the cup head M being specially made so that the hook cannot
possibly lift out of the socket the projection on back of bend of hook marked N
is so formed that the adjustable hook Fig. 8 cannot possibly fall too far into
socket.
Fig. 9 drawing Sheet 2 represents two waggons coupled with improved rail-
way coupling, and special hook F with centre support P two side supports R
together with handles K & I ready for travelling on the railway line V.
Fig. 10 drawing) Sheet 3 represents improved coupling fixed on end of
waggon X in proper position also special hook fixed in suitable position on end
of waggon Z and the ends of waggons marked X & Z being brought face to face
shews position of improved railway coupling and special hook ready for shunting
on railway line (V).
Fig. 11 drawing Sheet 4 represents ends of two waggons on railway line V
shewing special hook on end of waggon A A, and improved railway coupling
on end of waggon B B standing opposite to each other shewing improved coupl-
ing uncoupled and held in position by adjustable hook.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
The said improved railway carriage coupling, waggon or vehicle, coupling is
automatic in coupling the features of which I have already described.
Agent,
WILLIAM D. MUNCASTER.
William Bradshaw,
7, Devonshire Walk, Irish Gate Brow, Carlisle.