GB987179A - Improvements in or relating to automatic coupling devices for railway vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

987,179. Railway vehicle automatic couplings and buffing gear. ROLLS-ROYCE Ltd. Oct. 3, 1963 [Oct. 12, 1962], No. 38812/62. Heading B7T. A hook 38 pivoted horizontally about a pin 39 and vertically about a pin 40a is held when in the uncoupled position against a stop 44 by a spring 45, and is automatically coupled up with a similar hook when the vehicles move together by compression of side buffers 31, 32 which swing a pivoted bell crank lever 33 against the tension of springs 37, 45 and pivot the hook into engagement. A locking pin 35 which passes through levers 33, 36 and which locks the couplers and immobilizes the buffer 32 may be withdrawn by side-operated linkage, Fig. 3 (not shown), to release the couplers 38 and also service pipe connectors 48 which automatically make during coupling. A locking pin 42 in automatic operation prevents downward movement of the hook 38, but when the pin is removed the hook 38 may be pivoted down to present the hook 43 for manual coupling. In Figs. 1 and 2 (not shown) a coupler swinging linkage operated directly by the buffer head is illustrated, and in Fig. 5 (not shown) the simple spring buffer 32 operating the coupler linkage is replaced by a fluid and spring-operated buffer which unlike the buffer 32 remains fluid active after compression of its spring and operation of the linkage.