AN IMPROVED APPARATUS OR MEANS FOR INSTANTLY DETACHING RAILWAY CARRIAGES FROM THE ENGINE WHILE THE TRAIN IS IN MOTION
Year: 1870

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Joseph Robert M°Voy at the.
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd December 1870.
I, JOSEPH ROBERT M°VOY, of Harrogate, in the County of York, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
APPARATUS OR MEANS FOR INSTANTLY DETACHING RAILWAY CARRIAGES FROM THE
ENGINE WHILE THE TRAIN IS IN MOTION," to be as follows: -
This Invention relates to improved means for instantly detaching
railway carriages and waggons from the engine and tender when the
same is in motion, and when there is danger of a collision, or when
other accidents threaten the train with destruction, such as a land slip, so
that when the breaks are applied to the carriages and waggons, they may
be with more facility brought to a standstill," and thereby prevent many
calamitous accidents not hitherto so completely controlled, as it is found
that when a train is in rapid motion, and (as in the case of an express
train) it is desired to stop almost immediately (considering the con-
siderable distance the train goes in a very short space of time) if the
engine is kept attached to the rest of the train the power of the engine,
coupled with the momentum that the train has attained, so completely
overpowers the retarding motion of the breaks as to render the same
almost entirely useless.

page_text: The Invention consists in the application and use of an improved
railway engine "slip" to be fixed to the end or back part of the tender
as hitherto and intended to be used with the old coupling chains. To
the back part of the tender is attached a metal plate, which is secured
thereto by screws or any other convenient means. Through this pro-
jects outwardly the bifurcated portion of a 4 piece made of suitable
metal. At the end of this bifurcation is placed a latch or catch (to hold
the coupling chains of the fore carriage) pivotted in one of the arms of
the bifurcation. This latch when closed extends across to the other arm.
In this second arm at the outer end thereof is pivotted a second latch or
catch, which when the first latch or catch is closed holds the same. At
the upper side of the second mentioned arm projects the upper portion
of a third latch or catch, having a hole through the same. This latch or
catch is pivotted at the end of the second-mentioned arm nearest the
tender and securely locks the second latch or catch and consequently
the first when the carriages are attached to the engine and tender, and
the coupling links of the fore carriage have been passed over the first
latch or catch. From the hole in the third latch or catch, a wire, rod,
cord, or chain, is carried through a hole in the iron plate and to any
suitable position near the driver, at its end it is provided with a ring or
other suitable holding contrivance. The action is as follows:-
:-
The driver on approaching danger, instantly pulls the wire, rod, cord,
or chain, this pulls outwardly on the upper surface of the piece the
third latch or catch, and so prevents the same from holding and
securing the first and second latches or catches. The weight of the
carriages immediately begins to act, and in pulling out the first latch
or catch the coupling chain connecting the carriages with the engine
and tender is disconnected, and consequently the guard is at liberty
to immediately apply with great effect all. the break power at his
command, which with the friction of the carriages will soon overcome
the momentum the latter may have attained, and will very soon bring
the same to a standstill, and so prevent much loss of life, and many
otherwise calamitous accidents.