An Improved Automatic Coupling for Vehicles Travelling Upon Rails.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1899-Accepted, 29th July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Automatic Coupling for Vehicles Travelling Upon Rails.
I, BRUNO MILCH, of 29, Burgstrasse, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany,
Technologist, 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 has for its object an improved coupling arrangement for rail-
way vehicles, tramcars and the like which may be uncoupled by means of a
draw device of any suitable kind from any desired point of the vehicle but
preferably from the side.
Such a coupling is shown in the accompanying drawings as an example, in
which:-
-
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section partially in side view of the parts
when coupled ;
Figure 2 is a section on the line A-B of Figure 1 and serves to show the
engagement of the actual coupling discs, whilst
Figure shows the position of these discs to one another when uncoupled ;
Figure 4 shows the rear end of the spindle h in plan view, and
Figure 5 the arrangement which allows the coupling discs a certain revolu-
bility or mobility in a horizontal plane;
Figure 6 a modification serving for the same object.
The arrangement and mode of working of this improved coupling, which
must be arranged for any vehicle on the same place in the centre of the front
and rear end, is essentially as follows:-
A plate fixed on the front or rear end of the vehicle at a suitable height
has a cylinder b, in the cover of which a socket d is held by means of ribs or
bars e.
In the cylindrical casing a strong spring f is arranged which bears
with its front end against a ring g of the socket d and thus tends to press said
socket always into the extreme outward position shown. In the socket d and
the rear end of the cylinder b, or rather in the plate a, a spindle is held and
guided, which at its front end carries the actual coupling disc with claws k
bent out of the plane of the disc. As shown in Figure 5 the coupling disc i is
connected with the spindle by means of a pin in such a way that it has a
certain play in a horizontal plane, which play is limited by the pressure of a
spring. A sleeve m with a disc n and a spring o, which however must be weaker
than the before mentioned spring f, are located in front of the disc i on the
end of the spindle h, said spring bearing with one of its ends against a ring p
of the socket d and with its other end against a platen carried by socket m in
such a way that the coupling disc i by means of the said plate always tends
to turn at right angles to the spindle in its normal position. The socket d
has a curved guide slot in the part which is located in the cylinder in which
guide slot there engages a pin of the spindle h. Further, the spindle has
at its rear end (Figure 4) a slots in which, when the coupling discs are in a
coupled position, (Figures 1 and 2), a slide t, (Figure 1) which if desired may be
loaded is allowed to drop in order to avoid any unintentional turning back of
the spindle h and thereby any uncoupling of the discs i.

page_text: When two vehicles fitted with this coupling device encounter one another,
the coupling discs i first assume the position to one another shown in Figure 3.
By the impact the weaker springs are first compressed in such a way that the
spindle moves inwards. The guide pin then travels in the guide slot q of
the socket d which is prevented turning by the bar e and thereby produces a
rotation of the spindle h which causes the discs i to couple as shown in Figure 2,
as of course the same procedure takes place with the coupling device of the
other vehicle. The moment the coupling is effected, and the pin r has assumed
its highest position in the slot q, the vertically guided, and, if desired, loaded
slide drops into the longitudinal or elongated slot s of the spindle and thereby
prevents any forward rotation of the latter as well as any unintentional back-
ward rotation. As thereby simultaneously a coupling of the spindle h with the
socket is brought about, the sleeve n moves inwards together with the spindle h
in consequence of the still surplus impact and thereby compresses the stronger
spring in cylinder b. When the impact ceases, the discs i remain coupled by
means of their claws k, as the slide t prevents any backward rotation of the
spindle h. If then it be desired to release the coupling, the slide t must be
withdrawn from the slots of the spindle h, which may be effected by means
of a suitable lever mechanism, for instance from the side of the vehicle. The
compressed spring o, then presses on the plate and forces the disc i outwards.
The spindle, which of course follows this movement turns simultaneously in
consequence of the movement of its guide pin r in the guide slot of the
socket d and this turning uncouples the discs i. As already mentioned, the
connection of the disc with the spindle shown in Figure 5 in plan view
partially in horizontal section, imparts a certain mobility to the disc in a hori-
zontal plane which is necessary in the case of curves as well as in shunting the
carriages.
A certain mobility of the discs i coupled with one another in a vertical plane
may also be obtained by making the same of suitable dimensions.
In place of the arrangement shown in Figure 5 the one shown in Figure 6
may also be employed. Here the cylinder bis revolubly arranged by means of
hinge eyelets and link bolts on hinge eyelets of the plate a, in order to
allow of a mobility in a horizontal plane. As in this case the disc i is firmly
connected with the spindle h, the socket m with the plate n is superfluous.
The coupling may if desired be connected with a signalling device operated
by the slide t, which signalling device gives a certain signal to the conductor
or driver on the outside of the car as to whether the coupling is connected or
disconnected.
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;-
1. A centrally arranged coupling for vehicles travelling upon rails, charac-
terized by the coupling dises which engage one another and which are of
similar form being automatically given a rotation in opposite directions by the
action of the impact and thereby caused to engage with one another in a
coupled position by means of projecting coupling claws substantially as
described.
2. A coupling such as described, characterized by the spindle (h) carrying
the coupling discs which have projecting coupling claws being mounted elasti-
cally and movably in a socket (d) and being guided by means of a guide pin (r)
engaging in a curved slot (7) of the socket (d), said socket d being also axially
adjustable in a casing (b) against the action of a strong spring (f) but unable
to turn, and in which for the first part of the movement of the spindle (h) the
socket (d) is stationary in such a way that the adjustment of the spindle (h)
produced by the impact first causes a rotation of the latter which effects the
engagement of the coupling discs and then is secured against further rotation

page_text: by a slide dropping into a slot in the shaft, any still existing surplus effect of
the impact being entirely absorbed by the compression of the spring (f) through
the socket or bush (d), substantially as described.
Dated this 29th day of May 1899.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.