GB191899A - Improvements in or relating to couplings for railway and similar vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

191,899. Weight, W. C. Nov. 21, 1921. Couplings, automatic.-In an automatic coupling for railway vehicles in which the hook-bar is pivoted about a horizontal pin and which engages in a horizontal plane, the hook-bar is adapted for pivotal mounting in the heel of the usual draw-bar hook or in the end of the draw-bar and is provided with a spring controlled guide arm which extends laterally in a position facing the hook. The hook-bar a is pivotally mounted on a horizontal pin a<2> through the hole in the chain coupling hook b or to the end of the draw-bar, the ends of the pin a' bearing against a centralizing spring d. The hook-bar a is provided with a spring contrdlled, pivoted, guide k and with a plate or rod I pivoted on the upper side which provides a rest for the opposing hook when uncoupling. The hook-bar is raised in a vertical plane by a lever e fixed to a transverse shaft f operated by a side handle g, the lower end of the lever e being provided with a spring plunger e<3> which bears against the jointed end of two levers h, Fig. 2, to retain the hook-bar in the horizontal position for coupling, and which can be moved out of the way to allow the hook-bar to fall and allow the ordinary chain hook b to be used. Coupling is effected by retaining the hook-bars a in the horizontal position and running two cars together, the hooks being guided into engagement by the guides k. When uncoupling, one hook bar is raised by the lever e until the pivoted bar l on the opposing coupler is free to drop back on to its hook. The hook-bar is then lowered until it rests on the bar l; the vehicles can then be separated.