GB190106003A - Improvements in Railway Coupling Apparatus. - Google Patents

Abstract

6003. Jones, W. R. S. March 21. Couplings, automatic and non-automatic.-Fig. 1 shows the parts set for automatic coupling. The outer link d of the chain b, c, d is jointed to a frame or carrier g having brackets g<1> which receive the lifting-crank i carried by the cross-shaft h having arms h<1> fitted between lugs 11, 12 on lifting-devices 7 acting in conjunction with guided stops 8 pivoted to the backs of the buffer heads. The carrier g is also jointed to a rod o, which slides through a pin p mounted in an arm n fixed to a loose sleeve k on the cross-shaft m having weighted end arms 3, and, when these arms are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the pawl 5 is held out of engagement with the ratchet 6 by a cam m<1> on the shaft m. The parts are set for coupling by the loose levers 13 having projections 13<a>, which abut against the adjacent arms h<1>. When two vehicles are brought together, the stops 8 push back the arms h<1>, which, acting on the projection 11, turn the devices 7, so that the lugs 12 lift the stops, and the parts h<1>, h, i, g are released, allowing the link d to fall and automatically engage the adjacent hook e. The parts may be automatically uncoupled, and in this case the arms 3 are placed in the position 3<a>, Fig. 5. with the pawl 5 engaging the ratchet-wheel 6. When the coupling-chain is slackened, the arms 3 fall successively into the position shown by the lines 3<b>, 3<c>, and, acting on the lower ends of the carrier g by means of the parts h, k, n, o, first cause the link d to rise over the point of the hook e, after which the carrier g turns on the crank i, and the rod o slides until the stop o<2> strikes the pin p and the cam m<1> trips the pawl 5, and the parts fall back by gravity into the inoperative position above their own drawhook. For non-automatic coupling, the arms 3 are placed in the forward position, and one of the levers 13 is turned to lift the link d off the hook e, and the carrier g then turns on the crank i until it has passed slightly beyond its vertical position, when it falls forwards by gravity with the coupling- links over the draw-hook of the adjacent vehicle. Non-automatic uncoupling is effected by turning the arms 3 into their rear positions at 3<a>, and the crank i is raised by hand first to cause the carrier g to raise the link clear of the hook and then return it backwards to its inoperative position. In modifications, the link d is carried by a cradle pivoted to the carrier, and the stops 8 have wedgelike portions, the action of which causes the arms h<1> to be released after a short movement of the buffer head.