Improvements in Couplings for Railway and like Vehioles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug.,
1899
Complete Specification Left, 24th May, 1900-Accepted, 24th Aug.,
1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Couplings for Railway and like Vehioles.
I, GEORGE BROMLEY ALLEN, of Albion Cottage, Northwick Road, Worcester,
in the County of Worcester, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my
said invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object improvements in couplings for railway &
like vehicles which can be coupled or uncoupled from either side of the
vehicle thus avoiding the necessity of getting between the buffers which is so
dangerous and the cause of frequent accidents.
In carrying my invention into practice I form my coupling preferably in
two parts. One part is formed with a hook at one end the other end being
A hole is
fixed to the ordinary draw bar springs at the end of the coach.
formed near the part where the bend of the hook commences through which
a cross bar or its equivalent passes running the width of the coach, cranked
or curved levers or handles or their equivalents being fixed to the ends of this
cross bar which is free to move in the hole in the hook. A. long link is fixed
into this cross bar in such a manner that the hook passes between. This link is
formed with a stay or cross piece so as to form a division between the part of
the hook which pivots or rocks upon the cross bar and the end of the hook in
such a manner that should this cross bar break through any cause the hook
would catch onto this stay and the vehicles would still remain coupled thus
making it almost impossible for them to become detached. It will be seen
that by turning one of the handles or cranked or curved levers on the ends of
the cross bar that the link may be coupled onto or uncoupled from the hook
fixed to the next vehicle thus avoiding the necessity of getting between the
buffers. The ends on the underside of each link of the couplings are bevelled
or chamfered so that if the coaches should butt against one another these links
strike each other and one slide upwards onto one of the hooks.
1 1000

page_text: invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention has for its object improvements in couplings for railway and
like vehicles which are specially applicable to railway rolling stock and which
can be coupled and uncoupled from either side of the vehicle thus avoiding
the necessity of getting between the buffers which is so dangerous and the
cause of frequent accidents.
In carrying my invention into practice I form my coupling preferably in
two parts. One part is formed with a hook at one end the other end being
fixed to the ordinary draw bar springs at the end of the coach. A hole is
formed near the part where the bend of the hook commences through which a
cross pin or its equivalent passes and upon this cross pin a long link is fixed
in such a manner that the hook passes between.
Formed on the ends of the link which are fixed to the cross pin are two
cranked arms and passing through holes formed in the lower ends of these arms
is a cross bar extending the width of the coach having handles or cranked
levers connected to its ends. This link is also formed with a stay or cross
piece so as to form a division between the part of the hook through which the
pivot or cross pin passes and the end of the hook in such a manner that
should this cross pin break through any cause the hook would catch onto this
stay and the vehicles would still remain coupled thus making it almost impos-
sible for them to become detached. It will be seen that by turning one of
the handles or cranked or curved levers on the ends of the cross bar that the
link may be coupled onto or uncoupled from the hook fixed to the next vehicle
thus avoiding the necessity of getting between the buffers. The ends on the
underside of each link of the couplings are beveled or chamfered so that if
the coaches should butt against one another these links strike each other and
one slides upwards onto one of the hooks.
In order that my invention may be more clearly understood and easily
carried into practical effect I have appended hereunto four double sized sheets
of drawings upon which I have illustrated my improved coupling as applied
to railway trucks.
Figure 1 is a side elevation shewing a portion of two trucks coupled together
according to my invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an end view of a truck shewing the position my coupling assumes
when the trucks are uncoupled.
Figure 4 is a plan view shewing a slightly modified form of my coupling.
Figure 5 is an elevation of the coupling link.
Figure 6 is a plan view of Figure 5.
In carrying my invention into practice I form my coupling preferably in
two main parts. The one part A is formed with a hook at one end, the other
end being attached to the ordinary draw bar springs on the underside of the
waggon W and this hook A constitutes the draw bar hook. A hole is formed
near the part where the bend of the hook commences which is slightly enlarged
for that purpose and passing through this hole and free to move therein is
the cross pin ². Fixed upon this cross pin at either side of the hook A is
the coupling link L of the required length and having the stay or cross piece /¹
forming a division between the head of the hook and the part through which
the pivot or cross pin a² passes as clearly shewn at Figures 2, and which
stay or cross piece supports the link when the waggons are uncoupled in an
extended position. This link L.is formed at the rear end with the arms or
levers 13 cranked or bent in a downward direction as clearly shewn at
Figures 1, 5 and 6 and in the lower ends of these cranked arms I form the
holes through which the cross bar B running the width of the waggon passes.
The bar B is fixed to these arms 12 73 and also fixed to the ends of this bar are

page_text: the short arms or levers the other ends of which are fixed to the short rods
or pivot mounted in the bearings supported by the brackets fixed to the
sides of the waggon and on the outer ends of the rods or pivots 62 I fix the
handles or levers 65 for operating the coupling. It will thus be seen that when
one of the handles b is turned in the direction of the arrow the short arm
or levers 6 will depress the bar B and consequently the cranked arms 12 13
thereby uncoupling the link L and raising or lifting it into the position as
shewn on the waggon Wat Figure 1. To couple the waggon the handle b³ is
turned in the reverse direction thus lowering the link L and coupling it onto
the hook A. Should the cross pin a³ upon which the link L is fixed break
through any cause the cross piece would then catch against the hook A the
vehicles thus still remaining coupled thereby rendering it almost impossible for
them to become detached. In the modification as shewn at Figure 4 instead
of forming the link L with the arms 123 I dispense with these arms and
with the cross pin 2 and fix the link L upon the bar B which bar passes
through the hole in the hook A. This bar B is supported near its ends in
the brackets 64, the handles or levers 65 being fixed upon its ends. It will be
readily understood that when the bar B is turned in the direction of the arrow
in its bearings or supports that the link L which is fixed upon this bar will
be raised or lifted thus uncoupling the trucks. I preferably form the ends of
the link L on the underside with a bevel or chamfer off at 75 so that if these
links are turned down or in the position they assume when coupled and the
trucks should butt or bump against one another one of the links as they strike
each other slides upwards onto one of the hooks A. By the use of my coupling
the necessity for standing between the buffers D when coupling or uncoupling
is obviated thereby greatly reducing the risk to the men employed for this
purpose. It will be evident that instead of the arms or levers. 13 being
formed with the link L they may be fixed independently upon the cross pin a².
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:-
.CLAIMS.
First The improvements in couplings for railway and like vehicles con-
sisting essentially of the coupling link L pivoted to the draw bar hook A and
having cranked arms or extending levers to which a cross bar is fixed carried
by short arms supported in brackets and operated in the manner substantially
as herein set forth and as shewn.
Second: In couplings for railway waggons and the like the link L having
a stay or cross piece in combination with the arms 12 13 fixed to the cross
pin a mounted on the hook A the said arms being fixed at their other
ends to the rod B supported by the arms b which arms b₁ are fixed to the rods
or pivots 2 mounted in brackets in the manner and for the purpose substan-
tially as herein set forth and as shewn upon the accompanying sheets of drawings.
Third: In couplings for railway waggons and the like vehicles fixing the
link L upon the bar B which bar passes through a hole in the hook A and is
supported by brackets such as 6 in the manner and for the purpose substan-
tially as herein set forth and as shewn by Figure 4.
Dated this 22nd day of Mar 1900
GEORGE BROMLEY ALLEN.
By George Barker,
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
Agent for Applicant, 77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.