IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF COUPLING RAILWAY AND OTHER VEHICLES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, EDMOND RICHMOND, of 42 Lower. Hastings Street, Leicester, in the County of
Leicester, Commercial Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF COUPLING RAILWAY AND OTHER VEHICLES
to be as follows:-
:-
My Invention consists of a hook, link, and drawheads, of novel shapes, for
automatically coupling locomotive engines, railway wagons, trucks, cars, tram-cars,
and similar vehicles; and also for uncoupling the same by means of cords, chains
or wire ropes, in combination with pulleys, rings, staples, or tubes; or by iron
rods, or levers, attached to the ends of the vehicles, so that they can be readily
worked on either of the sides, or on both sides of the vehicles.
The hook is affixed in a horizontal position, and the upper side of the front, or
outer face, may be either curved, or formed with an inclined plane, preferably with
an inclined plane, so that the link easily glides up it when pressed into contact.
The link is formed, on the lower side of its front or outer face, with an inclined
plane, or it may be curved, preferably curved, so as to lessen the friction in'
coupling. The rear ends are affixed to the drawhead by a bolt or pin, which forms
an axis upon which the link works, and moves up and down to couple, and up to
uncouple. The link is made wide enough to insure coupling, and to allow sufficient.
lateral play when the vehicles are working on curved lines.
The drawhead of the link is formed with ledges on each side, both at the top
and bottom; or pins may be fixed in both sides of the drawhead to work in holes
or grooves in the sides of the rear ends of the link, or pins may be fixed in the
inuer sides of the rear ends of the link to work in holes or grooves in the sides of
the drawheads, either seperately or in combination, to hold the link in a horizontal
position when working, and to regulate its action in coupling or uncoupling.
At each end of every vehicle, at a height as uniform as possible from the level
of the rails, I affix a hook on one side, and a link on the other side, at an equal
lateral distance from the existing drawhead, either to draw-bars in the usual way,
or in any suitable manner, so that when two vehicles are brought together, the
link and hook at the end of one vehicle will be opposite to a hook and link at the .
end of the other vehicle; and when the buffers, which should be as uniform in-
D

page_text: length as possible, are pressed together, the links glide up the outer faces of the
hooks, and fall down their inner faces, by their own weight, and the coupling is
instantly completed automatically.
To uncouple passenger carriages, I prefer to use chains, attached to the links,
which pass over pulleys affixed above the drawheads of the links, then down each
of the sides of the drawheads and round pulleys affixed below the level of the
drawheads, and thence through staples affixed to the vehicles above or below the
buffers. By pulling the chains, on either of the sides of the vehicles, the links are
raised clear of the hooks, and they can be kept in that position, so as to prevent
coupling, by placing a ring, at the end of each chain, on a hook fixed at each of the
ends or sides of the vehicles.
To uncouple very low trucks or wagons, I prefer to use iron rods, made with
projecting arms, which raise the links by turning the handles on either of the sides
of the vehicles. The iron rods are attached at each of the ends of the vehicles
below the buffers. The links can be kept clear of the hooks, to prevent coupling,
by any suitable device, such as a ring, so placed as to slide on the handle and keep
it from turning back.
Levers, worked from either of the sides of the vehicles, can be readily attached
to any description of vehicle, so as to uncouple the hooks and links, and keep them
uncoupled when desired.
To give greater security, and prevent accidental uncoupling by any violent
concussion of the vehicles, an iron guard, in the form of the letter U, or any
suitable shape, may be attached to and suspended from the sides of the front end
of the link. If, by any accident, the link should be jerked upwards, the bottom of
the guard automatically strikes the under side of the hook and causes the link to
fall instantly and couple with the hook. Cords may be attached to the guards and
the ends of the vehicles, by which they may be pulled towards the drawheads of
the links, so as to allow uncoupling as described previously.
This method of attaching the hooks and links allows any vehicle to be coupled
at either end, and also allows the hooks and chains now in use to remain, thus
enabling any vehicle, having the ordinary coupling gear, to be coupled to a vehicle
fitted with this automatic coupling apparatus.
My Invention possesses the following advantages over the coupling gear now
in use:-
1st It saves an immense amount of time and labour in coupling, and is quickly
and easily uncoupled from either of the sides of the vehicles.
2nd It holds the vehicles much more firmly and securely together and, being
stronger, is less liable to break.
3rd It does away with the present plan of screwing up the links of passenger
carriages.
4th It enables an engine driver to couple any number of vehicles without leaving
his engine.
5th It can be easily arranged so that a guard can uncouple and slip a carriage
while the train is in motion.
6th It entirely avoids the necessity of any person going between the vehicles,
and thus prevents accidents to railway servants when coupling or uncoupling.
This apparatus can be worked with, or without, the aid of springs, preferably
without.
In any case, when it is not necessary to couple vehicles at either of the ends, a
link only need be affixed at one end, and a hook only at the other end of each
vehicle, and they may be attached to the present draw-bars in place of the hooks
and chains now used.
I do not confine myself to any size, or shape, of the hook, link and drawheads,
as they can be varied; nor to the mode of attaching them to the vehicles, as they
can be attached in various positions, to suit every description of vehicle, and work
in any desired position, or at any angle.
i

page_text: The hook can be made to move, and the link be fixed; or both link and hook
may be movable, in whole, or in part, so as to couple automatically when pressed
together.
I claim as my Invention, a hook, link, and drawheads, which, when suitably
attached, will couple vehicles automatically on being pressed together; and suitable
apparatus for uncoupling the same from the sides of the vehicles, substantially as
described.

page_text: OTHER
I, EDMOND RICHMOND, of 42 Lower Hastings Street, Leicester, in the County of
Leicester, Commercial Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF COUPLING RAILWAY AND
VEHICLES 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 improvements in the method of coupling railway and
other vehicles whereby such vehicles may be readily and automatically coupled
when brought together and likewise be prevented from becoming accidentally
uncoupled. For this purpose I arrange at the ends of the vehicles links and hooks
so situated that when two vehicles are placed end to end there is a link on the one
opposite a hook on the other and vice versa.
These links and hooks are so constructed and mounted that on meeting one
slides over the other, and the two become engaged by the simple act of pressing the
buffers of one vehicle against those of the other. A guard carried by either the
link or the hook, whichever is movable, prevents the two becoming unlocked by
concussion or other accidental disturbance. For the purpose of effecting the
disengagement of the hook and link employ cranked rods supported in bearings
at the ends of each vehicle and engaging with the link or hook to be lifted. The
outer ends of these rods are provided with handles whereby they may be partially
rotated from the side of the vehicles without the necessity of anyone passing
between the vehicles for the purpose of uncoupling the links and hooks.
Referring to the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1, is a side clevation partly in
section showing my improved apparatus for coupling and uncoupling vehicles
applied to the end frames of two vehicles, and Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the
same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a movable link with its
supporting drawhead.
a. a are coupling links pivotted at their rear ends by pins b. b. in drawheads c. c.
attached to the end frames d. d of two adjacent vehicles. The pins b. b may be
secured in their drawheads in any convenient manner as for instance by providing
one end with a head and the other with a nut or by rivetting it on the outer sides
of the links. The drawheads c, c are each formed in one with or secured to draw
rods c¹. c¹. e. c are coupling hooks secured to the end frames d. d in a horizontal
or approximately horizontal position and formed in one with or connected in any
convenient manner to draw rods f. f. The upper side or outer face g of each hook
is either curved or formed with an inclined surface as shown, in order that the
opposite link may easily slide or glide up it when pressed into contact therewith
during the coupling operation. For this purpose also the lower side h of the front
or outer end of the link is cither formed with an inclined or a curved surface as
shown, the latter form being preferred, as it causes a smaller amount of friction
during coupling. The links a. a are made sufficiently wide to ensure coupling with
the coupling hooks on an adjacent carriage and to allow sufficient lateral play when
the vehicles are passing round curves. The draw-heads c. c. which support the
coupling links and to which they are pivotted, as above stated, are provided on each
side with ledges or projections i above the rear ends of the coupling links and with
ledges or projections j below the said ends. These ledges or projections are
clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and constitute an important feature of my Invention.
The object of the lower ledges or projections is to support the coupling links in a
horizontal or other convenient position whereby they may be left in readiness to
become automatically coupled to another vehicle also fitted with my improved
coupling apparatus when two such vehicles are brought together.

page_text: The object of the upper ledges or projections is to limit the upward movement
of the links during coupling and uncoupling. The rear ends of the links are
formed with flat surfaces a¹ an advantage of so forming them being that the link
strikes the top and bottom ledges or projections when coupling or uncoupling at
the same moment thereby reducing the strain on the draw bar to a minimum.
I prefer to apply a link and hook of the kind above described to each end of a
vehicle and at a height as uniform as possible from the level of the rails, one, say
a link, being to the right, and the other, say a hook to the left of the centre of the
end frame and at an equal distance therefrom; the same order being observed in
each case.
By these means when two vehicles are brought together the link and
hook at the end of one vehicle will always be opposite to respectively a hook and
a link at the end of the other vehicle and as the vehicles approach each other the
links will glide up the outer faces of the hooks as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1
and fall down their inner faces by their own weight thus easily and automatically
coupling the vehicles. In the Drawing the apparatus is shewn applied to two
vehicles, such as passenger carriages, in which the spring buffers are always in
contact when the vehicles are coupled. In the case of goods trucks and the like
however, coupling takes place before the said buffers come in contact.
To uncouple the vehicles I employ rods k supported in bearings / conveniently
secured to the end of the vehicle below the buffers. The inner ends of these rods
are cranked as shown at m. m part thereof extending beneath a portion of the
link, as shown in Fig. 2. The outer ends of these rods are provided with handles n
extending outside the vehicle whereby the rods may be partially rotated and the
links uncoupled from their hooks and raised upward until they come in contact
with the ledges or projections i on the drawheads. The links may be maintained
in their upward position to prevent coupling when required by any suitable device
such for instance as a pin passing through the lever and entering a hole,
conveniently situated for the purpose, in the side of the vehicle. By the
arrangement above described coupled vehicles may be readily uncoupled without
the necessity of passing between the vehicles for the purpose and without danger.
In uncoupling carriages provided with spring buffers in contact, these must be first
compressed by the backing of the engine, or by the attendants pushing the carriages
together. To render this operation casy the inner faces of the links and hooks on
passenger carriages may be vertical instead of inclined as shewn in the Drawings.
To ensure greater security and prevent accidental uncoupling due to any violent
concussion of the vehicles I employ an iron guard o shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1
conveniently made in the form of a U or approximately so and secured to or
suspended from the bottom or sides of the front end of each link. The projecting
end of the cranked rod l which is beneath the link passes through this U shaped
guard, and when the vehicles are coupled, the said rod k is held fixed in any
convenient manner in about the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. By this
arrangement it will be readily seen that should the coupling links attempt to
move upward through accidental concussion or otherwise the bottom portion of the
guard will immediately come into contact with the cranked end of the rod k and
be prevented from rising. When it is desired to uncouple the vehicles the handles
must be first unlocked and then turned whereby the cranked inner ends of the
rods will first come into a position immediately below the coupling link and upon
continuing the movement the link will be raised clear of the hook and the
vehicles uncoupled the form and position of the guard o not interfering with this
operation.
The cranked inner ends of the rods k are maintained in a horizontal position as
shewn in full lines in Fig. 1 when in normal position or when the vehicles are
uncoupled.
Instead of the hook being fixed and the link movable as above described both
may be movable or the link may be fixed and the hook movable either as a whole
or in part that is to say the body portion of the hook with its projecting head or
hook portion proper may be in one piece and move together when coupling or the

page_text: projecting head or hook portion may be pivotted in the outer end or ends of the
hook body and be the part that rises when the fixed link passes beneath it and in
contact therewith.
In this case when the link has passed sufficiently far underneath the movable
head or hook portion the latter falls by gravity into the opening of the link and
thus effects the coupling operation. When uncoupling is desired the body and
head or hook portion of the movable hook are lifted together on the centre of
motion in the supporting drawhead. When both the link and hook are movable
either of them may be pressed downwards in coupling or uncoupling and then be
automatically forced upwards to a horizontal position by means of a spring coiled
round a curved rod attached at one end to the upper sides of the link or hook, the
other end of the said rod being arranged to move through a hole or slot in a
projection attached to the top of a drawhead. Again instead of employing my
improved link and hook at each end of a vehicle on each side of the centre as
shown in the Drawing a vehicle may be provided with a hook at one end and a
link at the opposite end each arranged in the centre of the end frame of the
vehicle and conveniently attached to the drawhead in place of the hooks and
chains ordinarily employed but I prefer the arrangement shown and described as
it allows a vehicle to be coupled at either end, and also admits of the hooks and
chains ordinarily employed remaining. Also instead of employing the ledges or
projections i. j. herein before described for supporting the movable link in a
convenient position for automatic coupling and for limiting the movements of
the said link, I may employ pins fixed in the two sides of the drawhead and
arranged to work in holes grooves or slots formed in the sides of the rear ends of
the link, or the pins may be fixed in the inner sides of the rear ends of the link
to work in holes or grooves in the sides of the drawhead as will be readily
understood, the length and position of the holes grooves or slots being such as to
limit the movements of the link and hold it in any desired position for automatic
coupling.
In lieu of employing the cranked rods k for uncoupling the vehicles, cords,
chains, or wire ropes may be employed one of their ends being secured to the
coupling links and their other ends extending outward to the sides of the vehicles
into a convenient position for operating them. The said cords chains or wire
ropes may be supported and guided in the necessary directions by means of pulleys
rings or the like suitably secured to the ends of the vehicles.
With this arrangement the links may be maintained in a raised or other desired
position by placing rings secured to the ends of the cords chains or wire ropes over
hooks fixed to the sides or ends of the vehicles. This uncoupling arrangement
prefer for uncoupling passenger carriages, the uncoupling apparatus above
described and shown in the Drawing being more suitable for low trucks or
vehicles.
The guard o may be pivotted to the bottom or sides of the front end of the
link at right angles to the position shown in Fig. 1 so that when two vehicles are
coupled it shall hang vertically, the bottom portion of the guard being beneath
and embracing the coupling hook. Then, if by accident the link should be jerked
upwards, the bottom of the guard immediately strikes the under side of the hook
and causes the link to instantly fall, thus preventing uncoupling. When the
book is movable the guard may be suspended from its front end the said guard
preventing uncoupling in this case, by striking the underside of the link. To
enable the vehicles to be uncoupled when desired, a cord or chain may be attached
to the guard and led away by pulleys or other means secured to each vehicle into
a convenient position for handling. By pulling the said cord or chain the guard
may be turned towards the drawhead of the link and thus be clear of the hook for
uncoupling. It will be evident that the position of the links and hooks with
relation to each other and to the vehicle may be more or less varied without
departing from my Invention.

page_text: 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:
1. In an automatic coupling apparatus for railway and other vehicles comprising
a hook and a link, the one fixed and the other arranged to slide over it and to
fall into its place by gravity, pivotting the movable part to a drawhead provided
with means substantially such as hereinabove described to hold the said part in
the proper position for the engagement to take place and to prevent its being
raised too high during the coupling and uncoupling operations as herein set
forth.
2. In an automatic coupling apparatus a drawhead c provided with ledges or
projections i.j or their equivalent in combination with a movable link a or hook e
substantially as hereinbefore described for the purposes specified.
3. In an automatic coupling apparatus the combination of a hook and a link,
one of which is pivotted in a drawhead provided with means to hold the said
part in the proper position for the engagement to take place and to prevent
its being raised too high during the coupling and uncoupling operations with
means for raising the said pivotted part to effect the uncoupling substantially
as described.
4. The combination of the pivotted link a, hook e, drawhead c, rod k, and
handle n substantially as herein before described for the purpose set forth.
5. In an automatic coupling apparatus the combination with a hook e and link a
of a guard o to prevent accidental uncoupling and means for throwing it out of
action when required substantially as described and illustrated.
6. The combination of link a, hook e, drawhead c, rod k, handle n, and guard o
substantially as described for the purposes specified.
7. The improved automatic coupling apparatus constructed arranged and
operating as hereinabove described and shewn in the Drawings.
Dated this 5th day of September 1884
EDMOND RICHMOND.
W. Lloyd Wise,
Per F. J. Brougham,
Applicant's Agent.