IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUSES FOR CONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING CARRIAGES AND ENGINES ON RAILWAYS, AS ALSO SIGNAL LINES BETWEEN GUARD AND DRIVER
Year: 1862

page_text: nesten,
TIT
UL
Surrey, Watchmaker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUSES
FOR CONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING CARRIAGES AND ENGINES ON RAILWAYS, AS
ALSO SIGNAL LINES BETWEEN GUARD AND DRIVER."
Sealed the 5th September 1862, and dated the 7th March 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Restell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th
March 1862. "
.I, RICHARD RESTELL. of Croydon, in the County of Surrey, Watchmaker, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPA-
RATUSES FOR CONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING CARRIAGES AND ENGINES ON RAILWAYS,
AS ALSO SIGNAL LINES BETWEEN GUARD AND DRIVER," to be as follows:-
By means of my Invention carriages may be connected and disconnected
whether at rest or in motion.
My Invention consists, first. in attaching to the engine or to the tender or
to any carriage, wagon, van, or truck, a stirrup which is hinged to a plate; a
perforated rod or wormed bar which passes through the frame, and is con-
nected to an ordinary draw spring or not as may be needed; or the plate
may be fixed or may be connected to a tightening apparatus hereafter
described. The stirrup is fitted to it, and depending from it a weighted
U-shaped bar, white a double similarly shaped bar is connected by loops to the
upper surface of the stirrup; this latter bar has attached to it a cord, strap, or
chain, which is carried io some part within reach of the driver, guard, or
attendant, and at the sides of the U-shaped bar is placed a flat bar with a
Price Sd1

page_text: sliding loop for connecting and disconnecting a signal between guard and driver,
the carriage to come next to that carrying the stirrup is fitted with an ordinary
draw hook or to one or other of the connecting hooks hereafter described.
The operation is as follows:-Supposing the driver of the engine, for instance,
requires to connect. he first raises the stirrup by means of the cord or chain,
causes his engine to press up against the carriage, and lowers the stirrup over
the draw or other hook into which the weight connected to the under part of
the stirrup causes it to descend and become engaged, having first released the
perforated rod or bar. To connect .the coupling chains it is necessary an
attendant should hook them on, but there is no necessity for him to enter
between the rails as the hooking on should be performed outside the rails on
each side.
My Invention also consists in forming a looped hook at the end of each of
the side chains, and in carrying a chain. cord, or band within reach of the
driver or attendant, so that, when required, by pulling on the cord the chains
can be released. 1 sometimes hinge on to a plate bolted to the engine or
tender or carriage a weighted hook to receive one end of the side chain, and
I attach a line, cord, or chain to the hook in such manner that on the hook
being pulled up the chain will be liberated. I employ a separate looped hook
to each side chain. To disconnect the central coupling the engine is checked
or stopped, and presses up against the train or allows the train to press up
against it; the driver at the same time gives the guard notice to disconnect
the signal line between them, draws up the safety bolt, slacks his apparatus
by means of the endless screw and wheel, and raises the stirrup sufficiently to
free it from the hook. and the disconnection is effected. In order to tighten
up the coupling, whether the stirrup or any other of my couplings, I connect
to the plate which carries the stirrup a rack which passes through the front
or back frame, as the case may be. This rack is geared into by a pinion
which is worked by a handle either directly or through a worm and wheels or
a wheel working on a worm, and the connections are so made as to admit of
the stirrup bar being moved outwards or inwards as may be required.
Another part of my Invention consists of a tightening, connecting, and dis-
connecting coupling, which may be used with my stirrup or any other
connecting apparatus. A lever hook is pivoted between the jaws of a bar, the
rear end of the hook is united by links to the fore end of a plate, the rear end
of which is hinged to a fixed point. A frame carries a projecting plate against
which the hook is made to abut when the coupling is closed. The upper part
of the frame carries a plate through which a rod passes. The lower end of
this rod is threaded, and working through a fixed nut presses upon the plate

page_text: which carries the links connected to the rear end of the lever hook. Under
this plate there is a spring to press the plate upwards and keep the hook open
when the plate is not pressed downwards and the hook thereby closed through
the screwed rod, the upper end of which carries a handle or wheel for
working it.
Another part of my Invention consists of a lever tightening coupling
apparatus. This apparatus consists of a plate bolted on to the front or back
frame of the carriage. Projecting from the upper part of the plate is a bar
with a rack or teeth cut on the upper and outer end: another bar projects
from the lower part of the plate; a spring shoc is fixed to the outer end of
this plate on which the bottom of a hook resis at or about its centre. A bolt
connects this hook to a sliding bar which works through a socket in the plate.
This sliding bar is connected by a link to a forked lever, the lower end of
which is connected to and moves on a bolt on or under the lower bar
projecting from the plate. The forked part of this lever embraces and is
free to move along the top projecting toothed plate, and to the lever a
looped click is jointed which is free to fall and engage in the teeth on the
plate: the upper part of the hook when closed abuts against the upper
plate. The hook is opened and closed by working the forked lever to and
fro by means of a handle which forms a continuation of the fork.
Again,
for adjusting the length of a coupling and for effecting the coupling. I
connect to one link a perforated or slotted plate and to the opposite link a
box fitted with a spring bolt for engaging into one or other of the perforations
or slots in the slotted plate on the same being inserted in the box.
My Invention lastly consists of a connecting and disconnecting apparatus
formed of a spiral spring draw bolt which is raised to release a coupling or
lowered to effect and retain the coupling.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Restell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th September 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I. RICHARD
RESTELL, of Croydon. in the County of Surrey, Watchmaker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria. by Iler Letters
Patent. bearing date the Seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself. Her heirs and successors. give and grant unio

page_text: me, the said Richard Restell. Her special licence that I, the said Richard
Restell my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as T, the
said Richard Restell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed. should and lawfully hight make, usc.
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUSES FOR CONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING CARRIAGES AND ENGINES ON
RAILWAYS, AS ALSO SIGNAL LINES BETWEEN GUARD AND DRIVER," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I. the said Richard Restell. my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Restell, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed. to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof. reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed.
that is to say:
By means of my Invention carriages may be connected and disconnected
whether at rest or in motion.
First, my Invention consists in attaching to the engine or to the tender. or
to any carriage, wagon. van, or truck, a stirrup, which is hinged to a plate, a
perforated rod or wormed bar, which passes through the frame, and is con-
nected to an ordinary draw spring or not, as may be needed. Or the plate
may be fixed or may be connected to a tightening apparatus, hereafter
described. The stirrup has fitted to it. and depending from it, a weighted
U-shaped bar, while a double similarly shaped bar is connected by loops to the
upper surface of the stirrup: this latter bar has attached to it a cord, strap.
or chain, which is carried to some part within reach of the driver. guard, or
attendant, and at the side of the U-shaped bar is placed a flat bar with a
sliding loop for connecting and disconnecting a signal between guard and
driver the carriage to come next to that carrying the stirrup is fitted with an
ordinary draw hook, or to one or other of the connecting, hooks. hereafter
described.
Figure of the accompanying Drawings is a side elevation, and Figure 2
is a plan of an apparatus for connecting and disconnecting carriages and
engines, according to my Invention, in its simplest form,

page_text: a is the stirrup, hinged to a plate b, connected to the frame c of a carriage,
wagon. van. or truck is the U-shaped bar, and its weight, depending
from the stirrup a, and e. f. are the upper U-shaped bars, the bar e having a
cord or chaing connected to it, and led within reach of the guard, the other
bar is passed over the ordinary draw hook on the adjacent carriage engine
or other rolling stock: or the bar d itself may be passed over the draw hook:
i is the flat bar at the side of the stirrup a. with a loop free to slide thereon
for a signal cord between the engine driver and guard. to be connected to or
disconnected from it. The operation is as follows:-Supposing the driver of
the engine, for instance, requires to connect, he first raises the stirrup a by
means of the cord or chain g. causes his engine to press up against the
carriage. and lowers the stirrup over the draw or other hook h. into
which the weight connected to the under part of the stirrup a causes it to
descend and become engaged. To connect the coupling side chains it is
necessary an attendant should hook them on. but there is no necessity for him
to enter between the rails, as the hooking-on should be performed outside the
rails on each side. In order to tighten up the coupling, whether the stirrup
or any other coupling. I connect to the plate which carries the stirrup. a rack
which passes through the front or back frame, as the case may be. This rack is
geared into by a pinion, which is worked by a handle either directly or through
a worm and wheels, or a wheel working on a worm, and the connections are
so made as to admit of the stirrup har being moved outwards or inwards, as
may be required. Figure 3 is a side elevation. and Figure 4 is a plan of this
apparatus for tightening up or slackening the coupling: b is the plate, carry-
ing the stirrup: 7 is the rack connected to it, and passing through the frame c:
m is a pinion. into which the teeth of the rack lake. This pinion is on a
shaft n. carrying another pinion o, which is in gear with a worm wheel p: q is
a safety rod and hook. which takes into apertures formed in the rack 1. and
affords additional security thereto. By raising this rod out of the aperture it
occupies. and by communicating motion to the worm p motion is given to the
rack 1. and consequently the coupling is tightened up or slackened according
to the direction in which the worm is turned on releasing the safety rod it
again takes into one of the apertures in the rack. To disconnect the central
coupling in this arrangement the engine is checked or stopped and presses
up against the train, or allows the train to press up against it, and the driver
at the same time gives the guard notice to disconnect the signal line between
them, draws up the safety bolt, slacks his apparatus by means of the endless
screw and wheel, and raises the stirrup sufficiently to free it from the hook,
and the disconnection is effected. The disconnection of the signal line may

page_text: be effected by means of one of the weighted or looped hooks, hereafter
described. The connecting and disconnecting apparatus shewn is similar to
that given at Figures 1 and 2, similar letters are used in these Figures to
indicate corresponding parts.
Figure 5 shows in side elevation, and Figure 6 in plan, another arrange-
ment for tightening up and slackening. The shaft or bar 1 (corresponding
with the rack 1, in Figures 3 and 4), is connected to the plate b, not shown;
m is a toothed wheel working on the thread formed on the bar 1. and in gear
with a worm wheel p. which has motion communicated to it by the handle p',
and according to the direction in which it is turned, so the threaded shaft or
bar is caused to travel through the wheel mi. and thus the coupling is
tightened up or slackened.
Another part of my Invention consists of a tightening, connecting, and
disconnecting coupling, shown in side elevation at Figure 7. which may be
used with my stirrup or any other connecting apparatus. a is a lever hook,
pivotted between the jaws of a bar b. the rear end of the hook is united by
links c (one only of which is seen) to the fore end of a plate 'd, the rear end of
which is hinged to a fixed point e: g is a frame, carrying a projecting plate h.
against which the hook a is made to abut when the coupling is closed; the
upper part of the frame carries a plate. through which a rod i passes; the
lower end of this rod is threaded, and working through a fixed nut presses
upon the plate . which carries the links c connected to the rear end of the
lever hook is a handle at the top of the rod ; and is a spring pressing
against the plate d. The lever hook is shown closed at Figure 7. In Figure 8
it is shewn open. To close the lever hook turn the handle , which causes
the rod i to press against the plate d, which through the links c causes the
hook a to abut against the plate h. as shown at Figure 7. To open the hook
turn the handle in the reverse direction, and the action of the spring b
against the plate throws the hook back, as shewn in Figure 8, and the
coupling is released.
Another part of my Invention consists of a lever tightening coupling appa-
ratus, shown in side elevation, and closed at Figure 9, and open at Figure 10.
This apparatus consists of a plate a bolted on to the front or back frame of
the carriage projecting from the upper part of the plate is a bar b, with a
rack or teeth cut on the upper and outer end; another bar c projects from the
lower part of the plate, a spring shoe d is fixed to the outer end of this plate.
on which the bottom of a hook e resis; at or about its centre a bolt connects
tbis hook e to a sliding bar f, which works through a socket g in the plate a
This sliding bar is connected by a link h to a forked lever i, the lower end

page_text: of which is connected to and moves on a bolt on or under the lower bar c
projecting from the plate; the forked part of this lever embraces and is free
to move along the top projecting toothed plate; to the lever a looped click
or paul is jointed, which is free to fall and engage in the teeth on the plate:
I is a cord or chain attached to the click ; the upper part of the hook when
closed abuts against the upper plate, as shewn in Figure 9. To open the hook
raise the click from the teeth in the bar b, and push forward the forked
lever by the handle m to the position shewn in Figure 10, or the strain of
the coupling against the hook e is suflicient to release it so soon as the click
is raised from the rack in the bar b. Again, for adjusting the length of a
coupling, and for effecting the coupling, I connect to one link a perforated or
slotted plate, and to the opposite link a box fitted with a spring bolt for
engaging into one or other of the perforations or slots in the slotted plate on
the same being inserted in the box. Figure 11 is a plan, and Figure 12 is a
side elevation of this apparatus. is the perforated or slotted plate connected
to the link b; e is a box, connected to the other link d, into which the plate a
is free to enter; e is a bolt, connected to a spring plate, the said bolt passing
through an aperture formed in the hox c, so that when the plate a is inserted
in the box c the length of the coupling is adjusted according to the hole in
the plate a, the bolt e is allowed to enter. The spring plate is raised .by hand
or by a chain or cord connected to a hook on its surface. The signal cord is
shown attached to the sliding loop by a looped hook with a cord for
disengaging.
1
My Invention also consists of a connecting and disconnecting apparatus
formed of a spiral spring draw bolt, which is raised to release a coupling, or
lowered to effect and retain the coupling. Figure 13 is a side elevation of this
apparatus. The plate is secured to the carriage, wagon, truck, or engine,
and is forked, as shewn; c is a tube containing a helical spring d passing
round a rod e with a hook or ring at top. A cord may, if desired, be con-
nected to the ring. By pulling the cord the rod d is raised out of the fork,
and the coupling is released; on releasing the cord the spring returns the rod
and closes the fork.
My Invention lastly consists in forming a looped hook at the end of each
of the side chains, and in carrying a chain, cord, or band within reach of the
driver or attendant, so that, when required, by pulling on the cord the chains
can be released. I employ a separate looped hook for each side chain. I
sometimes hinge on to a plate bolted to the engine, tender, or carriage a
weighted looped hook to receive one end of the side chain or other coupling,
and I attach a line, cord, or chain to the hook in such manner that on the hook

page_text: being pulled up the chain will be liberated. Figure 14 is a view of this
weighted hook. a is the hook with a loop b, to which a chain c is connected.
The hook is hinged to a plate e attached to a carriage; is the weight sus-
pended from the hook. To disengage the coupling the hook is raised by the
chain; on releasing the chain the weight f causes the hook to fall into the
position shown at Figure 15; at Figure 16 I have shown a looped hook
applied to a side coupling chain.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed. I declare that I claim as my improve-
ments in Apparatuses for Connnecting and Disconnecting Carriages and Engines
on Railways, as also Signal Lines between Guard and Driver."-
First, the employment of a stirrup fitted to the ordinary draw bar carrying
three U-shaped bars, one of which is weighted, and depends from the stirrup.
another hooks on to the ordinary draw hook, and a third acts as a release bar,
all acting substantially in manner and for the purposes herein-before described
and illustrated at Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings.
Second, the employment of apparatus for tightening up and slackening the
couplings constructed and acting, as herein-before described and illustrated at
Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the accompanying Drawings, whether such appa-
ratus be used with ordinary draw.hooks and couplings, or with apparatus
constructed as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.
Third, the construction of connecting and disconnecting couplings, as
herein-before described with reference to Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13.
Fourth, the construction of looped hooks. weighted or not. as herein-before
described.
Fifth, the employment of a sliding loop on the coupling bars for connecting
or disconnecting the signal lines between engine driver and guard, as herein-
before described.
In witness whereof. I, the said Richard Restell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of September, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-two.
RICHARD RESTELL. (L.S.)