Year: 1888

page_text: I, CHARLES LOCK, of 5, Peckham Terrace, Piestbury Road, Upton Park, in the
county cf Essex, Pianoforte Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows
-
My invention relates to couplings for railway vehicles and especially to couplings
of the kind which are now in general use wherein a hook and chain are employed.
The chief object of my said invention is to provide improved means for enabling the
coupling chains to be connected with or disconnected from the hooks of adjacent vehicles
without the necessity for a person getting between the wagons.
According to my said invention the link at the free end of the coupling chain is
connected by link bars or their equivalents to two levers one on each side of the wagon
so that the coupling can be operated from either side thereof.
Each of these levers is carried in a bearing adapted to rotate on a vertical axis and
the lever itself is adapted to rotate in the said bearing on a horizontal axis, or vice versa,
so that when the free end of either lever is pushed in one direction it will impart a
corresponding movement to the coupling chain through the medium of the link bar or the
like and when the lever is rotated on its horizontal axis the chain will be raised, the
weight of the chain normally maintaining it in its lowest position.
The link bars are connected to the levers in such a manner that when the chain is
pushed forward it will be in a central position relatively to the wagon so as to coincide
with the opposite hook.
According to a modification of my invention the two levers are connected together
at their inner ends and the coupling chain is carried by a single link bar which is
united to the said levers at their point of junction.
The advantage of this modified construction is that it enables the coupling chain
of each of two adjacent wagons to be connected to the hook of the other wagon,
so that in case one chain breaks the wagons are prevented from parting by the
other chain.
1
T
1000
G. F. REDFERN & Co,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London.
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, CHARLES LOCK, of 5, Peckham Terrace, Prestbury Road, Upton Park, in the
county of Essex, Pianoforte Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what mannor the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement.
My invention relates to couplings for railway vehicles and especially to couplings
of the kind which are now in general use wherein a hook and chain are employed.
The chief object of my said invention is to provide improved means for enabling the
coupling chains to be connected with or disconnected from the hooks of adjacent
vehicles without the necessity for a person getting between the wagons
According to my said invention the ink at the free end of the coupling chain is
connected by a link bai or its equivalent to two levers extending to the opposite sides
of the wagon so that the coupling can be operated from either side thereof
Each of these levels 1s carried in a bearing adapted to rotate on a vertical axis
and the lever itself is adapted to rotate in the said bearing on a horizontal axis, oi arce
versa, so that when the free end of either lever is pushed in one direction it will impart
a corresponding movement to the coupling chain through the medium of the link bar
or the like and when the lever is rotated on its horizontal axis the chain will be raised,
the weight of the chain normally maintaining it in its lowest position.
The link bar is connected to the lever in such a manner that when the chain is
pushed forward it will be in a central position i clatively to the wagon so as to coincide
with the opposite hook.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same with reference
to the accompanying drawing, in which,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a railway wagon having my improved
coupling applied thereto.
Figure 2 is an end view of the same, and,
Figure 3 is a plan.
Figure is a plan showing the adjacent ends of two wagons with their couplings
united.
Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 are views of a detail.
a is the body of the wagon, b is the underframe thereof, c is the draw hook and d
the coupling chain, all the said parts being of ordinary construction.
e is the link bar which at its free end f is connected to the outermost link of
the coupling chain d and at its inner end g to the adjacent ends h, h of two levers 2, 2
having the lever arms 1,1 at their outer ends.
The levers, are carried in two sockets or bearings k, k serving as fulcrums
which sockets are mounted in brackets 1, 1 so as to rotate on vertical axes.
levers
The
2 are also arranged to rotate in the said sockets and to slide therein so as
to bring the chain exactly opposite to the hook to which it is to be united. The
adjacent ends of the levers 1, are shaped as shown in Figures 5 and 6 and arranged

page_text: in conjunction with the end g of the link e, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, so that when
the levers, are moved to the position shown in Figure 4 the link e will be in a
position to carry the chain d centrally so as to engage with the hook of the adjacent
wagon, the said ends h, h bearing upon the said end g at opposite sides.
AL
The operation of my apparatus in coupling two wagons is as follows, that is to
say, the lever arm on either side of the wagon is grasped and pulled backwards
so that the levers ",
assume the position shown in Figure 4 to move the coupling
forward the sockets k, k carrying the said levers, rotating on their vertical axes.
the same time the said lever arm is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow,
Figure 1, whereby the chain is raised above the level of the hook of the adjacent
coupling. The level arm 19 now released so that the chain drops, the end link
engaging with the said hook.
Although in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing
the coupling chain is for convenience shown as projecting forward beyond the level
of the buffers it is to be understood that in practice when the coupling is disconnected
occupies the position indicated by the dotted line m, Figure 3. Also as shown in
the drawing the chain d is supported by a single link bare but it is to be understood
that a link bar could be arranged at each side of the chain, in which case the
levers i, instead of being connected, as shown, would be arranged separately and
each connected to a link e
it
The former arrangement, however, is preferable, as it enables two couplings to he
used simultaneously as shown in Figure 4 the second pair of link bars e in the latter
case preventing this. A great advantage of my invention is that the accidental dis-
connection of the coupling from its hook is impossible owing to the fact that it is
necessary to give a double motion to the levers, which double motion cannot be
produced by a shock or blow
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
(1) A railway coupling, the coupling chain of which is supported by a link or
links connected to levers extending to the sides of a wagon, substantially 25
described, whereby the said chain can be moved to cause it to be engaged with the
draw hook of an adjacent wagon and disengaged therefrom as set forth.
(2) The manufacture and use of the improved rulway coupling hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 6th day of March 1889.
G. F REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.