Improvements in and connected with Coupling Apparatus for Railway Rolling Stock.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Lott 25th Ian 4000
4000
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Coupling Apparatus for Railway
Rolling Stock.
We, WILLIAM JOHNSON, of 14, Alma Road, Southampton, Gentleman, and
JAMES CARPENTER, of 2, Cambridge Road, Southampton, Mechanical Engineer,
both in the County of Southampton, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that type of automatic coupling apparatus for railway
rolling stock, in which hollow draw heads are used, and has for its object to
provide a simple and efficient coupling, and a means, or device that can be adapted
to engage with coupling devices at present in use.
Under our invention we provide a hollow draw head on the ends of say, each
waggon frame, in a slot in the upper part of this hollow draw-head we hinge a
hook with its point turned down and arranged to bear in a notch in the under-
side of the draw-head so that the hook is held by its hinge and also by its point
against the pull of the coupling link, and within the hollow head we provide
a spring buffer device. Under our invention one means of connection between
the hooks in the hollow draw-heads of two waggons consist of a double ended
coupling-link, or bar having a vertical slot, or slots, this link has rounded and
tapered ends adapted to easily enter the mouths of the hollow draw-heads, which
are also flanged or rounded off so as to allow for the entery of the link whatever
the relative heights of the waggons may be, and irrespective of the curve of the
railway line. The waggons are disconnected by raising the draw-head hook by
any suitable gear.
The engaging links may be in two parts, one end of each part being adapted
to engage with the hollow draw-head, and the other end of each part being pro-
vided with a suitable hook end or coupling jaw such as used in what is known
as the American Janney type; the jaws of each part being adapted to interlock
with each other when the waggons come together.
In operation the coupling link is inserted into the hollow draw head of one
waggon the end of the link compressing the spring buffer in the draw-head, and
the hook of the draw-head engaging with the slot in the link, the link thus
stands out horizontally from the draw head of the waggon, in coupling with
another waggon, on the approach of the waggons the projecting end of the coupling
link enters the draw-head of the waggon to be coupled pressing back the spring
buffer which takes the concussion, and lifting the hinged hook until the hook
falls and engages with the slot in the link, and thus the waggons are coupled
the spring buffers taking up all slack.
A coupling under this invention meets the following requirements in auto-
matic couplings:-
1. That they be coupled and uncoupled without requiring men to go between
vehicles.
2. That whatever the relative heights of the couplers, they couple, and uncouple
equally well.

page_text: 3. That free slack as far as possible be dispensed with to reduce damage to
equipment and freight.
4. That vehicles can be coupled easily, and with a minimum of concussion to
encourage careful handling of vehicles.
5. That they be simple and durable and manufactured at a minimum of
cost.
6. That they couple on curves.
7. That they couple with certainty, and remain so without danger of parting
on the road.
8. That they be such as act favorably with brakes.
9. That coupling and uncoupling be unobstructed by inclement weather.
10. That the coupling be universal, or readily connecting with all other couplers.
FREDERICK J. CHEESBROUGH, Fel. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
Grant & Maddison's Bank Buildings, Canute Road, Southampton,
Applicants' Agent.
Improvements in and connected with Coupling Apparatus for Railway
Rolling Stock.
We, WILLIAM JOHNSON, of 14, Alma Road, Southampton, Gentleman, and
JAMES CARPENTER, of 2, Cambridge Road, Southampton, Mechanical Engineer,
both in the County of Southampton, do hereby declare the nature of our said
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 that type of automatic coupling apparatus for railway
rolling stock, in which hollow draw-heads are used, and has for its object to
provide a simple and efficient coupling and a means or device that can be adapted
to engage with coupling devices at present in use.
Under our invention we provide a hollow draw head on the ends of, say, each
wagon frame, in a slot in the upper part of this hollow draw-head we hinge a
hook with its point turned down and arranged to hear in a notch in the under-
side of the draw-head so that the hook is held by its hinge and also by its point
against the pull of the coupling-link; and within the hollow head we provide
spring buffer device. Under our invention one means of connection between
the hooks in the hollow draw-heads of two wagons consists of a double ended
coupling-link, or bar having a vertical slot, or slots, this link has rounded and
tapered ends adapted to easily enter the mouths of the hollow draw-heads. which
are also flanged or rounded off so as to allow for the entry of the link, whatever
the relative heights of the wagons may be, and irrespective of the curve of the
railway line. The wagons are disconnected by raising the draw-head hook by
any suitable gear.
The engaging links may be in two parts, one end of each part being adapted
to engage with the hollow draw-head, and the other end of each part being pro-
vided with a suitable hook end or coupling jaw such as used in what is known
as the American Janney type; the jaws of each part being adapted to interlock
with each other when the wagons come together.
A coupling under this invention meets with the following requirements in auto-
matic couplings:-
1. That they be coupled and uncoupled without requiring men to go between
vehicles.

page_text: 2. That whatever the relative heights of the couplers they couple and uncouple
equally well.
3. That free slack as far as possible be dispensed with to reduce damage to
equipment and freight.
4. That vehicles can be coupled easily, and with a minimum of concussion to
encourage careful handling of vehicles.
5. That they be simple and durable and manufactured at a minimum of
cost.
6. That they couple on curves.
7. That they couple with certainty and remain so without danger of parting
on the road.
8. That they be such as act favourably with brakes.
9. That coupling and uncoupling be unobstructed by inclement weather.
10. That the coupling be universal or readily connecting with all other couplers.
The accompanying drawings illustrate an example of a coupling apparatus
constructed according to our invention and like letters of reference are used to
indicate like parts in the drawings.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation, shown partly in section and
Figure 2 is a plan of the coupling apparatus.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of a modification of the hook and hollow draw-head
and
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of the hook shown in Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a side elevation and
Figure 6 is a plan of the coupling link.
With reference to Figure 1 in the drawings a denotes the hollow draw-head
and b denotes the draw-hook. The upper part of the draw-head a is provided
with a slot al in which is hinged or pivotted at the draw-hook 6 which is in the
form of a lever hook with its point 6' turned down and arranged to bear in a
notch a² in the underside of the draw-head a so that the hook 6 is held by its
hinge c and also by its point 61 against the pull of the coupling-link. d denotes
a sliding block and e is a spring which rests against a stop f; the block d and
spring e form a spring buffer against which the end of the coupling-link strikes
in the act of coupling. The coupling-link consists of a double ended link h
having rounded and tapered ends has shown and a vertical slot 72; the end h¹
is adapted to easily enter the mouth a³ of the hollow draw-head a which is flared
or rounded off so as to allow the end ¹ of the coupling-link to enter the draw-
head, whatever the relative heights of the vehicles may be. The lever hook b
is connected by a rod g to any suitable gear, such as a chain or cord or lever
gear, by which the hook can be raised to the position shown in dotted lines, and
the hook withdrawn from the link and the coupling thereby disconnected.
In the modification shown in Figures 2 and 3 the lever hook is arranged to be
worked from underneath the draw-head.
The engaging coupling-link may be in two parts, one end of each part being
adapted to engage with the hook of the draw-head a and the other end of each
part being provided with a suitable hook-end or coupling jaw, such as is used in
what is known as the American Janney type of coupling, the jaws of each part
being adapted to interlock with the other when the wagons come together.
In operation the coupling-link is inserted into the hollow draw-head of one
wagon, the end of the link compressing the spring buffer in the draw-head,
and the hook of the draw-head engaging with the slot in the link, the link
thus stands out horizontally from the draw-head of the wagon, in coupling with
another wagon, on the approach of the wagons the projecting end of the coupling-
link enters the draw-head of the wagon to be coupled pressing back the spring-
buffer, which takes the concussion, and lifting the hinged hook until the hook
falls and engages with the slot in the link, and thus the wagons are coupled the
spring buffers taking up all slack.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:―
1. A coupling apparatus for railway rolling stock, constructed and operating
substantially as herein described; that is to say, an apparatus comprising a hollow
draw-head, a lever-hook pivotted and working in a slot in said hollow draw-head,
the point of said hook taking into a notch in the underside of said hollow draw-
head; so that the hook is held by its hinge and its end against outward pull.
and a buffer block and spring contained in said hollow draw-head and adapted
to receive the thrust of the coupling-link when engaging with the lever hook
as set forth.
2. In a coupling apparatus for railway rolling stock the coupling-link device
constructed and adapted to operate substantially as described and illustrated in
Figures 1, 2, 5, and 6, of the accompanying drawings.
3. In a coupling apparatus for railway rolling stock a coupling-link device,
formed in two parts, each part having one end constructed and adapted to operate
as shown in the accompanying drawings, and the other end formed or provided
with any known suitable hook or coupling jaw such as a hook of the American
Janney type, the jaws of each part of the link being adapted to engage with each
other when the vehicles come together as set forth.
4. In a coupling apparatus for railway rolling stock the lever-hook device for
engaging with the coupling-link constructed and arranged substantially as set
forth and illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
5. The coupling apparatus for railway rolling stock constructed, arranged, and
operating substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
FREDERICK J. CHEESBROUGH,
Grant & Maddison's Bank Buildings, Canute Road, Southampton,
Applicants' Agent.