COUPLING RAILWAY VEHICLES
Year: 1885

page_text: I ROBERT COOKE SAYER of 3 Summer Hill Villas Maindee Newport in the
County of Monmouth Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for COUPLING RAILWAY VEHICLES and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
See Drawing: Fig. 1 represents end elevation of the Buffer plank of the vehicle.
Fig. 2 a plan of portions of the vehicle: Fig. 3 a sectional elevation: Fig 4 a
detail section of the "grip" and Figs 5 and 54 the "grip" for connecting the ends
of the ropes.
The iron or steel wire ropes B B form two loops one over the other passing
through the frame of the vehicle at each end B the loops are sheathed as shown
and at the centre of the vehicles the ropes pass round a guide capable of traversing
the square portion of the bolt or rod C: the spring D keeps the ropes in tension,
while the "grip "A lays hold of them: the ropes are drawn out at either end of the
vehicles by means of turning the handles F which winds the small rope G upon
the drum E: the spring D together with the ordinary spring at C2 (should it be
required) drawing them back again.
The longitudinal rod H rests in the bearings L, and carries the drum E together
with the links J J, and their support K; it is square at H' and capable of
traversing longitudinally and is kept in position by means of the spring at H³.
One link J is provided with a transverse bar M and arranged to turn from a
transverse position as at M, to a longitudinal position as at M2, and be fixed below
the link: both links are provided with horns at N. N2 and N³, their bearings are
square allowing them to hang freely upon the rod H or to be raised when the
handles F are pushed or drawn out (as the case may be) and then rotated (the
square portions H² of the rod H being inserted within the bearings, though not
leaving the drum E). The support K hinges upon each of the links J J and is
formed as shown at Figs 1 and 3: at the upper part of K² it should be wedge
shaped to prevent catching in the bottom of its supporting bracket when being
raised with the links J.
P is a bolt with arms P for uniting the loops and rests upon them or (when
required upon the links J, its bearings are square it is intended to lengthen the
arms P2 beyond that shown on the drawing with a hook hinged on at each end so
as to fall below the bottom loop B2 and prevent the pin P from rising, the lower
part of the hook is to be wedge shaped that it may be thrown up when the link J
comes in contact with it for the purpose of uncoupling. Q is a plate projecting
below the timber frame of the vehicle, and carries the rubber buffer Q2. R are

page_text: strong hooks worked back by means of flexible wire cords working through conical
thimbles from the sides. The drum E has square bearing and is loose upon the
rod H. The bracket O has a transverse projecting head 02 to carry the loops B²
when drawn out.
Figs 5 and 5 show the "grip" for connecting the ends of the ropes, the two
plates T and U fit down over one another with the ends of the ropes between, the
projecting horns V and V2 passing between the ropes (apertures in the lower plate
being left for the purpose) and presses them laterally whilst the plates act similarly
vertically being tightened up by the bolts.
The jaws X keep the links J from lateral movement.
The mode of coupling and uncoupling will be as follows:-
Draw out the ropes by means of turning handle F: draw back spring hooks R:
push (or pull) over the rod H after having first seen the position of the handle F is
right for the square portion H2 to take into the link bearings, and also that the
transverse bar M is fixed paralel with the link, then raise the links and with them
their support K when the lower part K2 falling over by gravity takes upon its
supporting bracket O; the pin P is to be hung upon the links as shown at Fig 3.
Passing to the other vehicle the coupler first sees the bar M is placed transversely,
he then draws out the loop B2 to the required distance, then pushing (or pulling)
over Fhe engages the links and when raised the bar M meeting the loops B²
- regulates their position vertically to take between the loops of the first vehicle, and
passing along, the nose of the loop B2 of the second vehicle comes in contact with
the projecting head K2 of the link support K and pushes it away from 0 (its
support), when the pin P falling between all four loops B2 engages the whole.
The loops on either vehicle are to be drawn out to nearly the same extent to do
away with any lateral difference when coupling upon curves: the horns N prevent
any objectionable lateral movement at the first blow upon contact of the loops.
When the pin P has fixed the loops the handle F being freed it is drawn back by
the spring H3 and the links J fall by gravity, the concussion being taken by the
buffers Q, and the spring hooks R prevent any detrimental movement.
To uncouple, when the vehicles come together, draw out the loops B2 by turning
handle F upon one or both vehicles, raise the links J that have the bar M paralel
with them, when the horn N or link will engage with the arms P2 (see Fig 1) of
the pin P and will draw it down the links J and is stopped by the horn N² or N³
and continuing to raise the links it will draw up the pin P clear of the loops B2
when the vehicles will be free.
For vehicles that have the timbers W and W2 too close to admit of the above
arrangement, it is intended to extend the bolt C toward the ends of the vehicles
and letting the guides S traverse it on the other side of the timbers W and W
having the springs arranged to take against the outer heads and nuts of the bolt C,
but otherwise precisely the same as the above.
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
First The use and arrangement of the Steel or iron wire ropes as shown and
described for coupling Railway Vehicles together.
Second-The mode of connecting or "gripping" the ropes.
Third The arrangement for coupling and uncoupling the above.
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