Improvements in Railway Couplings.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6th June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 6th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 21st Apr., 1994
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Railway Couplings.
I, LEMUEL SARGEANT MANNING of Alessandro, County of San Bernardino,
State of California, United States of America, Miner, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to railway couplings of the American type and it has for
its objects to provide a simple and effective car coupling, which will be adapted to
cushion,percussion and draft strains received in service, which will couple auto-
matically with another coupling of its class, and will afford means for the safe
detachment of two of the improved couplings on cars, from either side of said cars.
The body of the drawhead of the improved car coupling is entirely cylindrical, its
front portion which projects in advance of the car body whereon it is placed, being
conically apertured from its flared front edge and terminating in a spheroidal cavity
which is perforated at its base to permit the escape of dust.
:
Beneath the car frame, which is mainly of the ordinary construction, are secured
two nearly central and spaced longitudinal stringers, which may also form a part
of the said frame, the stringers being parallel and suitably separated for the
reception between them of the drawhead and the attachments thereto, it being
understood that duplicate couplings of the improved construction are provided,
which individually engage the stringers, as will be presently explained.
The stringers project beyond the car body at each end, a proper degree, for
supporting the coupling, and may be cut away on the lower edge to reduce their
breadth where projected. Upon or near the lower edges of the projecting ends of
the stringers are formed opposite longitudinal slots of a sufficient length to receive
and support the laterally extended flanges of an enveloping casing, constructed
preferably of sheet metal, and secured on the front portion of the drawhead. The
casing is composed of two half sections, each flanged, the flanges being secured
together by bolts, so as to permit the easy attachment and removal of the casing as
required, and being bent oppositely at the edges that project through the slots in
the stringers, so as to aid in holding the drawhead centrally between them.
From the chambered end of the drawhead extends rearwardly a solid cylindrical
portion of reduced diameter and of the desired length, and from the rear end of the
latter projects in axial alignment therewith a further cylindrical portion of still
smaller diameter.
The extensions of the drawhead are loosely sustained in position on the stringers
by transverse bearings of wood or metal, which are centrally apertured for their
reception.
The cylindrical rearmost portion of the body of the drawhead is made of
greater length than the intermediate portion, and is prevented from being drawn
out of the end bearing by a transverse key inserted in a cross slot in the end of
said rear portion.
On the larger cylindrical portion of the drawhead is mounted a strong spiral spring
which is confined between a rear shoulder on the chambered portion of the drawhead
and the transverse bearing in which said cylindrical portion is supported. A collar
is placed on the rear portion of the drawhead, in contact with the end of the
larger cylindrical portion, and is held in place by a key which is inserted in a
transverse slot formed in the collar and drawhead.
Between the collar and the rear transverse bearing is placed a strong spiral spring
that bears with its ends upon the collar and bearing respectively.

page_text: The springs are adapted to absorb shocks received on the front end of the
chambered portion of the drawhead, and also cushion the drawhead against jars,
due to fluctuation in draught force applied to the coupling.
Within the front chambered portion of the drawhead, a recess is formed, which
is rectangular in cross section, and in it is located a latch, which consists essentially
of a rectangular flat metal block, knuckle jointed upon the drawhead at the front
end of the recess which it occupies when in elevated adjustment. On the lower
side of the main portion of the latch is formed or secured a locking tongue consisting
of a depending piece of metal having parallel sides and of a proper thickness and
length for effective service, and made straight on its rear edge, which is formed at
such an angle to the lower surface of the latch that when the tongue is engaged
with the bottom surface of a shallow groove formed in the base of the conical
recess in the drawhead, the rear edge of the tongue will be at a right angle with
said surface.
The front edge of the tongue is beveled downwardly and rearwardly from the
underside of the latch so as to facilitate the introduction of the coupling link, which
has an elongated body that is nearly parallel on its sides, its upper and lower faces
being sloped from the longitudinal centre of the link toward each end, so as to
taper it a proper degree. The ends of the link are curved on the side edges
to facilitate the introduction of either end into the converging cavity in the
front portion of the drawhead. At a suitable distance from each end of the link a
slot is formed of like shape, each being located in the median line of the link and
of sufficient length to receive freely the depending tongue of the latch when the
link is thrust into the drawhead, the rearwardly inclined front edge of the tongue
facilitating such introduction which is also assisted by rounding the front edge of
the ends of the link. The end walls of each slot are rounded to aid the introduction
of the tongue therein and also to permit the link to be swung from a horizontal
position so as to engage the inserted end of the link with the upper wall of the
spheroidal cavity in the drawhead before mentioned and maintain the link in position
for entering its outer end within another drawhead of a like construction.
Upon the vertical end wall of the car body is supported a transverse horizontal
rock shaft having an outwardly projecting arm from the outer end of which a chain
extends in a downward direction, the lower end of the chain being connected to a
ring or eye upon the upper face of the latch block, the chain or a long link thereof
extending loosely through a slot formed in the top of the end portion of the
drawhead to permit of its connection with the latch block as stated.
On the ends of the rock shaft that project beyond each side of the car-body,
similar crank arms are affixed which hang pendent when the arm first mentioned is
horizontally projected and the latch block is in the normal position. To connect
the coupling to another device of its class on an approaching car, the link is
entered within the conical recess in the front portion of the drawhead and is held
projected by the contact of its inserted end with the upper wall of the cavity in the
drawhead as before explained, so as to permit its opposite end to enter the
approaching drawhead and lift its latch block and engage its tongue with the slot
in the link, and as the tongue on the latch block from which the link was projected
was already coupled thereto by the act of inserting the link, it will be evident
that a complete connection of two of the improved couplings will be produced
automatically by the mere movement of the two cars toward each other.
The coupled cars are detached by swinging up one of the crank arms at the side
of the car, so as to raise the horizontal arm on the rock shaft and thus elevate the
latch block and release the link.
Dated this 6th day of June 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Railway Couplings.
I, LEMUEL SARGEANT MANNING of, Alessandro, in the County of San
Bernardino, and State of California United States of America, Miner, 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:-
My invention relates to railway couplings of the American type and it has for
its objects to provide a simple and effective car coupling, which will be adapted to
cushion percussion and draught strains received in service, which will couple
automatically with another coupling of its class, and will afford means for the safe
detachment of two of the improved couplings on cars, from either side of said cars.
To these ends, my invention consists of the construction and combination of
parts, as is hereinafter described and claimed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
Specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
all the views.
Figure 1 is a side view partly broken away and in section, of the improved
coupling in position on a car.
Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional side view of the front portion of the improved
coupling, on the line 2-2 in Figure 3.
Figure 3 is a plan view on the line 3-3 in Figure 2, and
Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 4-4 in Figures 1 and 2.
The body of the drawhead of the improved car coupling is entirely cylindrical,
its front portion A which projects in advance of the car body whereon it is placed,
being conically apertured from its flared front edge, as indicated at a in Figures 2
and 3.
The circular and inwardly converged wall of the recess a, terminates in a
spheroidal cavity b, which is perforated at its base as at c, to permit the escape of
dust that enters said cavity from the front of the drawhead.
Beneath the car frame A which is mainly of the ordinary construction, are
secured two nearly central and spaced longitudinal stringers B, which may also
form a part of the said frame, the stringers being parallel and suitably separated
for the reception between them of the drawhead and the attachments thereto, it
being understood that duplicate couplings of the improved construction are
provided, which individually engage the stringers, as will be presently explained.
The stringers B project beyond the car body at each end to a suitable extent
for supporting the coupling, and may be cut away on the lower edge to reduce
their breadth where projected.
Upon or near the lower edges of the projecting ends of the stringers B are
formed opposite longitudinal slots d of sufficient length to receive and support the
laterally extended flanges e, forming part of an enveloping casing C, constructed
preferably of sheet metal, and secured on the front portion of the drawhead as
represented in Figures 2 and 4. The casing C is composed of two half sections,
each flanged at e, said flanges being secured together by bolts e¹, so as to permit of
the easy attachment and removal of the casing as required, and being bent
oppositely at the edges that project through the slots d in the stringers so as to aid
in holding the drawhead centrally between them.

page_text: From the chambered portion A of the drawhead a solid cylindrical body A
extends rearwardly of reduced diameter and of the desired length, and from the
rear end of the latter projects an integral cylindrical portion A' of still smaller
diameter in axial alignment with the parts A, A' as indicated in Figure 1.
The portions A, A, of the drawhead are loosely sustained in position on the
stringers B by the transverse wall plates C¹ C³, of wood or metal, which are
centrally apertured so as to loosely embrace the portions A¹ A³, respectively of
the drawhead.
The cylindrical rearmost portion A' of the drawhead body is given a greater
length than the part A' and is prevented from being drawn completely through
the wall plate Cl, by a transverse key 9 inserted in a cross slot formed in the
part A near its rear end.
On the portion A' of the drawhead a strong spiral spring D is loosely mounted,
of a suitable length and strength for effective service, which is confined between a
rear shoulder on the portion A of the drawhead and the transverse bearing C¹ as
shown in Figure 1.
A collar h is placed on the portion A' of the drawhead, in contact with the end
of the portion A¹, and it is held in place by a key i which is inserted in a transverse
slot formed in the collar and drawhead.
Between the collar h and the transverse bearing C² is placed a strong spiral
spring E, that bears with its ends upon the collar and bearing respectively, as
shown in Figure 1.
The springs D and E are adapted to absorb shocks received on the front end of
the portion A of the drawhead, and also cushion the drawhead, against jars it
receives, due to fluctuation in draught force applied to the coupling.
Within the front portion A of the drawhead, a recess a¹ is formed, which is
rectangular in cross section, and in it is located a latch G, which consists essentially
of a rectangular flat metal block, knuckle jointed at m upon the portion A of the
drawhead at the front end of the recess which it occupies when in elevated adjust-
ment. On the lower side of the main portion of the latch G is formed or secured
a locking tongue n consisting of a depending piece of metal having parallel sides
and of a proper thickness and length for effective service, and made straight on its
rear edge, which is formed at such an angle to the lower surface of the latch that
when the tongue is engaged with the bottom surface of a shallow groove o, cut in
the base of the conical recess a', in the drawhead, the rear edge of the tongue will
be at right angles with said surface, as indicated in Figure 2.
The front edge n' of the tongue n, is bevelled downwardly and rearwardly from
the underside of the latch G so as to facilitate the introduction of the coupling
link I.
The link I is made of suitable metal, and has an elongated body that is nearly
parallel on its sides, its upper and lower faces being sloped from the longitudinal
centre of the link towards each end, so as to taper it in a proper degree.
The ends of the link I are curved on the side edges, as at p in Figure 3, to
facilitate the introduction of either end into the converging cavity in the front
portion A of the drawhead.
At a suitable distance from each end of the link a slot r is formed, each being
of like shape and located in the median line of the link, and of sufficient length to
receive freely the depending tongue n of the latch G, when the link is thrust into
the front of the drawhead, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the rearwardly inclined
front edge n¹ of the tongue n facilitating such introduction, which is also
assisted by rounding the front edge of the ends of the link, as represented in
Figure 2.
The end walls of each slot r, are rounded from the top and bottom of the link
to aid the introduction of the tongue n therein, and also to permit the link to be
swung from a horizontal position, so as to cause the inserted end of the link to abut
against the upper wall of the spheroidal cavity b, and maintain the link in position
for entering its outer end within another drawhead of like construction.

page_text: Upon the vertical end wall of the car body A a transverse horizontal rock
shaft s is supported by a suitable number of boxes s' as shown in Figure 1, said
shaft having an outwardly projecting arm of suitable length; from the outer
end of which a chain u extends in a downward direction, the lower end of the chain
being connected to a ring or eye v upon the upper face of the latch block G, (at its
transverse centre and near its rear end, as shown in Figure 2) the chain u or a long
link thereof extending freely through a slot w formed in the top of the
portion A of the drawhead to permit of its connection with the latch block as
stated.
On the ends of the rock shaft s that project beyond each side of the car body,
similar crank arms are affixed which hang pendent when the arm 2 is horizontally
projected as shown in Figure 1, and the latch block is in the normal position
indicated in Figure 2.
To connect the coupling to another device of its class on an approaching car, the
link is entered within the conical recess in the front portion A of the drawhead,
and is held projected by the contact of its inserted end with the upper wall of the
chamber b, as before explained so as to permit its opposite end to enter the
approaching drawhead, and lift its latch block, and engage its tongue n with
the slot in the link, and as the tongue n on the latch block from which the link
was projected was already coupled thereto by the act of inserting the link, it will
be evident that a complete connection of two of the improved couplings will be
produced automatically by the mere movement of the two cars, toward each other
on the railroad track.
When the coupled cars are to be detached, this can be readily effected by
swinging up one of the crank arms s³, at the side of the car, so as to raise the
arms, on the shaft s, and thus elevate the latch block G and release the link I in
an obvious manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a car coupling, a cylindrical drawhead spring cushioned against percussion
and draught strain, conically recessed at its front; and provided with a pivoted
latch block adapted to interlock with an elongated slotted link, substantially as
described.
2. In a car coupling, a cylindrical drawhead loosely mounted in apertured wall
plates forming a portion of a car frame, and coiled springs enveloping the
drawhead body and pressing against said plates, substantially as shown and
described.
3. In a car coupling, a cylindrical drawhead body comprising two integral
axially aligned portions of different diameters, the forward portion of the drawhead
being conically recessed and furnished with a latching device adapted to automati-
cally interlock with a slotted link, substantially as described.
4. A coupling link for a drawhead having a conical recess at its front end,
comprising a link body having nearly parallel side walls, top and bottom walls
tapered toward each other from the centre of length and similarly slotted near each
end to receive the tongue of a latch block in the conically recessed drawhead,
substantially as described.
5. In a car coupling, the combination, with a cylindrical drawhead, comprising
a front portion A of large diameter conically recessed at its front end and
rectangularly recessed above the conical recess, the latter terminating at the rear
in a spheroidal chamber apertured in its base, a solid body portion A of less
diameter than the portion A, a solid body portion A' of less diameter than the
portion A, a solid body portion A of less diameter than the portion A' the part A*
having a collar secured thereon, spiral springs on the portions A', A³, of the draw-
head, a clamping case on the front portion A guide plates projected oppositely at the
sides of said case, a latch block hinged within the front portion of the drawhead, a

page_text: depending tongue thereon adapted to seat in a groove in the conical recess, and a.
device on the front of the car adapted when manipulated to raise the latch block,
substantially as described.
L CAL
1904
L. S. MANNING,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.