GB952058A - Improvements in railway vehicles having automatic couplers and release mechanism therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

952,058. Railway vehicle automatic couplings and draw gear. DOWTY HYDRAULIC UNITS Ltd. Sept. 8, 1960 [Sept. 25, 1959; Nov. 11, 1959], Nos. 32729/59 and 38297/59. Heading B7T. A railway vehicle having an automatic coupler slidably mounted thereon for movement in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and release mechanism for operating a movable coupler release member on the coupler, wherein the release mechanism comprises a release lever supported on the vehicle behind the coupler and a mechanical connection provided between the coupler and the release lever, the mechanical connection having a pivotal attachment to the release lever forming a fulcrum about which the lever can turn, and which fulcrum, by means of the mechanical connection, is longitudinally movable with the coupler, and a connecting element extending backwardly from the movable coupler release member to a point on the release lever which is spaced from the lever fulcrum. The coupler head 12 which engages by inclined swing is supported from the railway vehicle for longitudinal movement with respect thereto by a draw spring 29, and by a spring 48 which may be compressed on buff or draw by movement of either of the telescopic members 43 or 46 within a fixed cylinder 42, the head being provided with a ball- and-socket 25 and a restoring torsion spring 33 bonded to a pin 23 and a pivoted cup 32. A spring-loaded catch 17 which is adapted to lock the latch 13 of a mating coupler may be disengaged by movement of a lever 21 connected by a chain 22 to a point on the release lever 55. The lever 55 is mounted on the vehicle and guided along a strip 58 by a strap 59, and may fulcrum about either of the points 63 or 66 which are connected by chains 61, 64 to a plate 52 bolted to a rod 36 attached to the cup 32. Swinging of the lever 55 about either the point 63 or the point 66 therefore tensions either the chain 61 or the chain 64, and exerts a pull on the chain 22 to operate the catch 17. The release mechanism operates independently of the sliding movement of the drawbar 26 because inward movement of the head 12 and bar 26 causes the rod 36 and the plate 52 to move inwardly an equal amount so that no pull is applied to the chain 22. Similarly, pivotable movement of the head will not alter the effective length of the chain 22, so that the latch 17 will remain locked unless the lever 55 is swung.