GB190514454A - Improvements in Couplings for Railway and other Vehicles. - Google Patents

Abstract

14,454. Smith, J. Melland-. July 13. Couplings, non- automatic.-A coupling-bar mounted in bearings attached to the draw-bars carries a coupling- hook which engages with a coupling-link mounted on the adjacent vehicle. The coupling-bar a, Fig. 3, is mounted to rotate in brackets e, f, g, secured to or formed integral with draw-bars h, j, k, connected by a cross-head 8 to the draw and buffer spring_5. The coupling-hook n, Fig. 4, is mounted with a lost-motion connexion on the shaft a and is provided with a projecting arm m. On turning the shaft a by the side hand-lever 1, Fig. 3, the hook n is brought into a horizontal position to engage with the link w held outwards by brackets v, Fig. 2. The hook is locked in the coupled position by a bar b having a cranked portion p, which engages with the arm m, Fig. 4, of the coupling. hook. The cranked bar b, Fig. 2, is rotated from the shaft a by pinions r, q, a lost-motion connexion being made between the pinion q and the shaft b, so that the cranked portion p is not turned to engage with the arm m until the hook assumes the horizontal pcsition. The hook n is also locked by a pawl s on a shaft c which is held by a spring t in contact with the teeth of a ratchet r<1> formed on the pinion r. The operating-lever 1, Fig. 3, is provided with a spring key or handle 2, on which is formed a projection 3 adapted to engage a lever z on the shaft c. To release the coupling-hook n, the spring key 2 is pushed down until the projection 3 comes against the lever z, so that, on turning the lever 1, the shaft c is turned to release the pawl from the ratchet teeth r', and the cranked bar b is rotated to release the arm m, which allows the coupling-hook to be freed from the link by a further rotation of the arm 1.