GB977855A - Uncoupler devices for railway vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

977,855. Railway vehicle uncoupling devices. STAMICARBON N.V. June 14, 1962 [June 15, 1961], No. 22960/62. Addition to 926,439. Heading B7T. The magnet carrying pivotable arm of the parent Specification is modified by the provision of a wedge-shaped part 9, Figs. 1, 2, which prevents the arm from being accidentally retained in the swung down position, and by the provision of pivoted cheeks 10a, 10b, Fig. 3, which are pushed inwardly when the vehicles are moved closer together to slacken the couplings for uncoupling. In operation, the arm 5 in an upwardly-pivoted position runs its wheel 6 along the side of one of the coupled vehicles until the gap between the vehicles is reached. The arm 5 then falls down between the vehicles which are maintained at the maximum distance apart permitted by the couplings, and engages its magnet shoe 7 with the hook 3a. The vehicles are then brought closer together as in Fig. 3, so that the cheeks 10a, 10b whose maximum width is nearly equal to the distance between the buffers 2a, 2b in Fig. 2, are then forced inwardly against the action of a spring, Fig. 4 (not shown), thus ensuring that the shoe 7 does not accidentally engage the hook 3b instead of the hook 3a. The spring acting on the cheeks is so strong, that when the support to which the arm 5 is attached is taken along by the vehicles, as in the parent Specification, the cheeks will not be moved together by the force of such translation but will only be depressed by the stronger force exerted by the vehicles moving together as in Fig. 3. When the coupling becomes slack, as in Fig. 3, the hook 3a clings to the magnet but rolls in contact with the shoe 7 so that the link 4b drops. Uncoupling is then completed by raising the arm 5.