An Improved Safety Spring Coupling for the Draught Chains, Traces, Swingle Trees, and other Parts in connection with Road Vehicles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 18th Jan., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Safety Spring Coupling for the Draught Chains,
Traces, Swingle Trees, and other Parts in connection with Road
Vehicles.
I, HERMANN RIPPKE of Jäschkittel in the Kingdom of Bohemia, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this 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 a spring coupling appliance by means of which harness
and other parts in connection with road vehicles may be quickly and securely
coupled and uncoupled, thereby reducing to a minimum the unpleasantness attendant
upon the fall of horses. It also facilitates the draught or traction.
Referring to the accompanying drawing: Fig. 1, is a side view of the spring
coupling of this invention." Fig. 2 a back view of the same, and Fig. 3 a side view
of the lower portion with fastening hook in the closed position.
A is an open frame of sheet or hoop iron bent in several different directions.
One of its ends is bent round to form an eye B and its opposite end is provided
with an aperture C for the engagement of the hook D. F is a plate firmly
rivetted to the frame near its closed end. It has a perforation in the middle and
serves as a stop for a strong spiral spring G which encircles a bolt H the head J of
this latter keeping it in position, further the bolt H passes through the central per-
foration in the stop plate F and through the closed end of the frame where it is formed
to the shape of an eye K by which it may be fixed on a chain. The hook D is rivetted
to the eye B so as to turn freely therein and be capable of engagement in the opposite
arm of the frame at C. M is a flat spring fixed by one of its ends to the inner side
of that arm of the frame on which the eye B is formed. It engages in the slide way
of a slide bracket N which may be slid from the unfastened position shewn in Fig. 1
to the fastened position where by its bent end it takes on to a projecting part a
of the frame and thus prevents it from springing open. When coupling is to be
effected, it is only necessary to pass the chain or other attachment over the
hook D when in the open position, press the point of this latter into the
aperture C and fix it by sliding along the bracket N until it takes firmly on to
projecting part a by its bent end. To uncouple, the slide bracket N is drawn off the
projecting part a and the hook D released.
A nose part O on the frame A suitably limits the travel of slide bracket N.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
A spring coupling appliance to allow of the coupling, and when desired the in-
stantaneous and unimpeded uncoupling of draught chains, traces, swingle trees and
the like, comprising the spring frame A provided on the one arm with a flat
spring M. in combination with safety hook D mounted to turn on the end of the
same arm of the frame and to, engage in aperture of the opposite arm of the frame,
and slide bracket N arranged to slide over the one arm of the frame and spring M
substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this th day of December 1880.
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, W.C., Agent for Applicant.