GB191315634A - Improvements in Couplings for Railway Vehicles and the like. - Google Patents

Abstract

15,634. Hughes, J. H. July 7. Couplings, automatic, of the type in which twin elements, each provided with a pair of coupling projections or hooks, are adapted to couple by horizontal swing, and to be locked automatically in the coupled position. Each coupling-head 8 is provided with a continuous inclined forward face between the hooks 9, 10 to take the buffing impact. Each head 8 is mounted to swing upon a vertical pin 7 carried by the forked end 1 of the buffer and draw-rod, and normally assumes the set-for-coupling position shown in Fig. 2 owing to the co-operation of a helical or inclined surface upon a projection on the fork 1 with a similar surface within a recess in the coupling-head. In the coupled position, each hook 9 enters a recess 11 behind the hook 10 of the other head, and each hook 10 enters behind the hook 9 of the other head. A sliding locking-block 15, mounted in an inclined slot 14 in each head 8, is normally in its foremost position, Fig. 9, under the action of gravity and of a spring 19, and projects into the space behind the hook 9. In the coupling operation, each block 15 is pushed back by the opposing hook 10 and is returned to engage a notch in the hook. To uncouple, the blocks 15 are pulled back by chains. Couplings, automatic, convertible to non- automatic.-To allow the use of a non-automatic link 26, Fig. 10, the head 8 is adapted to be reversed upon the pin 7 as shown, a recess 23 being provided to accommodate the link. The outer face 24 of the head is rounded to act as a buffing surface in this position, and the inner face 25 bears against a corresponding inclined face within the fork 1.