IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY COUPLINGS FOR WAGONS AND OTHER RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edwin Powley Alexander at the Oflice
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd February 1876. A communica-
tion from abroad by Eduard Friedrich August Büsche, of Schwelm, Westphalia.
EDWIN POWLEY ALEXANDER, of 14, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY
COUPLINGS FOR WAGONS AND OTHER RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK." A communication
from abroad by Eduard Friedrich August Büsche, of Schwelm, Westphalia.
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of safety
coupling for railway carriages and wagons, and other rolling stock of railways,
whereby the operations of coupling and uncoupling can be easily and rapidly
performed from either side of the vehicle without the necessity for the entrance of
the attendant between the two vehicles, a practice which frequently results in
severe injuries and loss of life.
This improved coupling is applicable to all existing railway rolling stock, and
can be worked with equal facility on curves or on straight portions of the line. It
is attached to the buffer bar and comprises, 1, a jointed coupling suspended from
the rear of the draw hook; 2, a horizontal cross shaft carrying two chain drums
and actuating hand wheels; 3, a screw coupling forming a portion of the draw
bar; 4, a horizontal cross shaft underneath the framing for actuating the screw
coupling.
The improved jointed coupling consists of three sections jointed together and
suspended from the back of the draw hook, the outer section consisting of a link
which engages with the draw hook of the opposite vehicle. At the junction of the
first and middle sections there is an arm which stands out at or about right angles
with the first section when in its pendant position. To the end of this arm are
attached by a link two chains which are wound on to two chain drums (conical or
otherwise shaped) fast on a transverse shaft mounted in bearings on the buffer bar
of the vehicle. A stop or projection of the joint of this arm enables the jointed
coupling to be elevated as though it were rigid when the chains are wound on to
the drums by turning the transverse drum shaft. The hooked end of the draw bar
is made with a screw thread which engages with a tightening and slackening nut
composed by preference of phosphor bronze, which nut turns freely on the end of
the main portion of the draw bar, and is provided with external helicoidal teeth
engaging into a worm mounted on a transverse shaft situate beneath the framing
יד

page_text: of the vehicle, and which is actuated by winch handles at each end thereof. Each
vehicle is provided with a similar arrangement, and when it is desired to couple up,
one of the draw hooks is moved outwards by turning the nut, after which the
jointed coupling is lifted by turning the drum shaft, at the same time moving it
longitudinally so as to cause the link to pass clear along one side of the opposite
draw hook. On moving this shaft back again and releasing it the coupling link
will be brought over the nose of the draw hook and dropped therein. The coupling
is then tightened up by turning the before-mentioned nut by means of the worm
and worm shaft.
The operation of uncoupling is accomplished by first moving outwards one of the
draw hooks by the action of the nut and worm, and then suddenly lifting the
coupling by means of the chain drums so as to clear it of the nose of the draw hook,
whereupon it is dropped or released and allowed to bang from the opposite hook.
In this position the end link of the coupling is maintained ready for action by
being supported by the end of the arm to which the elevating chains are attached.
To avoid any damage to the drum shaft in case of rupture of the couplings the
elevating chains are only slightly connected to the arm, so that the connection will
give way under any sudden and violent strain.
In cases of fracture of the draw bar the presence of the nut will prevent that end
which carries the draw look from being drawn out of the buffer beam. Where the
draw bar is made so as not to extend the full length of the vehicle the draw spring
may be placed behind the supporting bracket of the said draw bar. The nut
traverses freely along the worm during the play of the draw spring without
detriment to the teeth or worm, owing to the wide pitch of the helicoidal teeth and
the free play of the worm shaft. This system is also applicable to the uncoupling
of the ordinary coupling chains and draw hooks.