GB851457A - Improvements in vehicle couplings and draw gear - Google Patents

Abstract

851,457. <SP>Railway</SP> vehicle couplings and draw gear. HILGER, O., and BUSCH, W., [trading as BERGISCHE-STAHL-INDUSTRIE]. Oct. 10, 1957 [Oct. 11, 1956], No. 31737/57. Class 103(5). A draw and buffing gear comprises an automatic central coupling head 23 in combination with a draw hook 19 and centering arrangement, the hook 19 and coupling 23 together being pivotally connected to the draw bar 6 by the vertical pin 16, and the coupling 23 alone being pivotally connected by means of a forked end 25 to a horizontal pin 22. During change over of coupling arrangements on existing rolling stock, the draw gear may be fitted to trucks already having buffers, the buffing forces then being shared. When the existing buffers are later removed their springs may be used to replace the weak temporary spring in the draw gear. A pre-compressed spring 13 is arranged between a fixed plate 2, and a plate 12 held from moving forwards by abutments 11, so that the draw and buffing forces are taken by the springs 10 and 13 respectively via the draw bar 6 passing through holes in the plates 2 and 12. If however the abutments 11 are not provided, then the pre-compression of the spring 13 is accepted by the spring 10. The spring 13 however may be replaced by a stronger compression spring or springs if the coupling is to be used as a central buffer, the abutment 3 and spring 10 being removed so that the tractive force is taken up by the compression spring. Abutments 32 limit the buffing movement. The pin 16 is received in an eye 15 at an end of the bar 6, and also by forks 20 of the hook 19 having flat ends 35 engaging the plate 12. Projections 17 provided on the plate 12 are shaped to whatever form the eye 15 is given, so that buffing forces are transmitted from the eye through the projections 17 to the plate 12, thus relieving the draw bar of load. When the coupling 23 is pivoted downwardly about the pin 22 the hook 19 may be used to couple with trucks not provided with central buffing gear, but in use the coupling 23 is held substantially horizontal by a pin 28 which passes through the jaw of the hook 19 and is connected by bearers 30 and springs 29 to the coupling. The pin 22 is a loose fit in the eye 21 of the hook 19 so that the forked end 25 of the coupling 23 strikes an abutment 24 on the draw hook shaft when buffing occurs, thus relieving pin 22 of load. The draw bar, hook, and lugs of the plate 12 are so constructed that the compression spring 13 has a centering effect, and a coupling 31 is provided on the coupling head 23 for air lines and so on.