IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF COUPLINGS FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND WAGGONS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Attwood Brockelbank, of No. 2, Cowper's Court,
Cornhill, in the City of London, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF COUPLINGS FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND WAGGONS"
Sealed the 5th January 1877, and dated the 19th July 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Attwood Brockelbank
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th July 1876.
THOMAS ATTWOOD BROCKELBANK, of No. 2, Cowper's Court, Cornhill, in the
City of London, Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF COUPLINGS
FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND WAGGONS."
In my Patent dated 27th November 1873, and Nod, 3876, I have described a new
method of constructing couplings for railway carriages and waggons.
Experiments have demonstrated that it is preferable to modify certain parts of
the coupling apparatus in the manner herein-after stated.
In coupling carriages on a sharp curve when the head of the coupling loop is
made with a bevilled or sloping end, as shown at b, Figure 2 in the Drawing to my
said Specification, it happens sometimes that the hook fails to rise over the loop,
but passes alongside of it. I therefore make the head of the coupling loop square,
which obviates this defect. The hook cannot pass along the side of the loop, but
must rise and fall into its place.
I have also ascertained that where the arms a³, Figure 1 in the Drawing to my
said Specification, are hollowed out, as therein described, that the pressure of the
coupling against the hollow part will sometimes strain or break off the arm. I
therefore construct the arm in a solid piece, having the part towards the coupling
bevilled or sloped off.
In my said Specification I described the draw bar d, Figure 2 in the Drawing, as
being hinged to the cross head in order to give a lateral movement to the couplings
in going round a curve. I have however ascertained that the cross head will not
always come back into its place in order to enable the couplings to act automa-
tically. I therefore construct the draw bar and cross head in one solid piece, making
the head of the draw bar where it joins the cross head fan-shaped, so that when the
draw bar is drawn out there will be sufficient space to allow of its having a lateral
movement, while the coupling hook and loop will be always opposite one another,
[Price 6d1

page_text: and can thus act automatically. I am thus enabled to do away with the fixed
stems h, h, and the extra length of the pin a, as shown at the said Figure 2 in the
Drawing accompanying my said Specification.
My further improvements in the construction of couplings consists in attaching to
the cross head a hook for the purpose of carrying ordinary couplings, and this hook
is sloped or bevilled on the side towards the coupling, so that when the carriages or
waggons are pressed together the coupling will be thrown up or down, as the case
may be, instead of coming violently into contact with the body of the carriage or
waggon. This hook is suspended upon the same pin or bolt which attaches the
coupling to the cross head.
In the case of waggon couplings, where the couplings are worked by a lever bar
passing across the end of the waggon and a lever at the side, I place above the lever
bar a small rod, which is turned by a handle by the side of the lever. To the centre
of this rod is fixed a hook which catches on a small stud welded to the lever bar,
and thus keeps the coupling in any desired position without the necessity of a man
going between the waggons to fix back the couplings after the waggons have been
uncoupled.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Attwood Brockelbank in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th January 1877.
THOMAS ATTWOOD BROCKELBANK, of No. 2, Cowper's Court, Cornhill, in the City
of London, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF COUPLINGS FOR
RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND WAGGONS."
In my Patent dated 27th November 1873, and Numbered 3876, I have described
a new method of constructing couplings for railway carriages and waggons.
Experiments have demonstrated that it is preferable to modify certain parts of
the coupling apparatus in the manner herein-after stated.
In coupling carriages on a sharp curve when the head of the coupling loop is
made with a bevilled or sloping end, as shewn at b, Figure 2 in the Drawing to my
said Specification, it happens sometimes that the hook fails to rise over the loop,
but passes alongside it. I therefore make the end of the head of the coupling
loop square, which obviates this defect, as the hook cannot pass along the side of
the loop but must rise and fall into its place.
I have also ascertained that where the arms a³, Figure I. in the Drawing to my
said Specification, are hollowed out, as therein described, that the pressure of a
I
coupling against the hollow part will sometimes strain or break off the arms.
therefore construct the arms in a solid piece, having the part towards the coupling
bevilled or sloped off.
In my said Specification I described the draw bar d, Figure 2 in the said
Drawing, as being hinged to the cross head in order to give a lateral movement to
I have however ascertained that the cross
the couplings in going round a curve.
head will not always come back into its place in order to enable the couplings to act
automatically. I therefore construct the draw bar and cross head in one solid piece,
making the head of the draw bar where it joins the cross head fan-shaped, so that
when the draw bar is drawn out of the head stock of the vehicle there will be a
sufficient space to allow of its having a lateral movement, while the coupling hook
and loop will be always opposite one another, and can thus act automatically. I
am thus enabled to do away with the fixed stems h, h, and the extra length of
the pin a, as shown at the said Figure 2 of the Drawing accompanying my said
Specification.
My further improvement in the construction of couplings is attaching to the
cross head a hook for the purpose of carrying ordinary couplings, and this hook is
sloped or bevilled on the side towards the coupling, so that when the carriages or

page_text: waggons are pressed together the couplings will be thrown up or down, as the case
may be, instead of coming violently into contact with the body of the carriage or
waggon. This hook can be suspended upon the same pin or bolt which attaches
the couplings to the cross head, or in any other convenient manner, so that it assumes
the desired position in relation to the couplings.
In the case of waggon couplings, as shown in my said Specification, when the
lever m³ has raised them out of position I have found it necessary, in order to secure
against the effect of shocks and vibration of vehicles in heavy traffic, to devise a lock
or holdfast that can be actuated from either side of the waggons. This I do by a
peculiar shaped circular pawl hung upon or fastened to an upper bar falling upon
and under a quadrant-shaped stud, as herein-after described and shown in Figures V.,
VI., and VII of the Drawing accompanying this Specification.
In the Drawing accompanying this Specification,-
Figure I. shows the improved square end of the head of the coupling hook. a is
the coupling hook; A is the square end.
In Figure II. in my said Drawing I have shown at A³ my improved solid arms,
with the parts towards the coupling bevilled or sloped off.
In Figure III. I have shown my improved draw bar and cross head. d is the
draw bar;
D¹ is the fan-shaped end; C is the improved cross head shaped to receive
the peculiar shaped hook C, described at Figure IV.
Figure IV. is the peculiar shaped hook C above referred to, which is attached to
the cross head in the manner herein-before described.
In Figures V., VI., and VII. I show sections of my improved holdfast. In the
arm m² I place at its union with the bar m a small quadrant-shaped stud or pro-
jection P. Above the rod m I place another rod O, supported by the same brackets
and parallel to it, and worked from either side of the waggon by a handle R.
Upon this rod and above the quadrant-shaped stud is hung or fastened a peculiar
shaped pawl Q, to the upper portion of which at the side is fixed a small stud S.
The pawl is raised by an arm T, fixed to the rod upon which the pawl is hung,
which presses against this stud S when the handle R is pressed over. The pawl has
a projection which rest upon the quadrant-shaped stud.
"When the pawl is raised the quadrant-shaped stud is released, and the coupling
can be raised by actuating the lever bar m, when the 'pawl by its own weight falls
beneath the quadrant-shaped stud, and holds the coupling in the desired position
when not in use.
In order to put the coupling ready for use it is only necessary to reverse the
action.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim any of the
ordinary details of coupling apparatus, but what I do claim are, the particular
improvements, modifications, and additions, substantially as herein-before described
and shown in the Drawings hereto.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Attwood Brockelbank, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
T. A. BROCKELBANK. (L.S.)