US2558383A - Automatic coupling for model railway rolling stock - Google Patents

Description

June 26, 1951 s. c. PRITCHARD AUTOMATIC COUPLING FOR MODEL RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK Filed 'Nov. 27, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 LP; g9 24 K 23a 29 2s Inventor SYDNEY c. Pram: HARD W M (yawn/ I'- Attorneys June 26, 1951 s. c. PRITCHARD 2,558,333

AUTOMATIC COUPLING FOR MODEL RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK Fild Nov. 27, 1946 ZSheets-Sheet 2 -6 Inventor @smn cwmrmmm Attorneys Patented June 26, 195i AUTOMATIC .oourmno. FOR onet RAILWAY ROLLING sTooK Sydney Charles Pritchard, Seaton, England ppl c nN v mber 27 19. 6, S alN 712.5 4

In Great Britain December 4, 1.945

26 Claims. 1

This invention relates to automatic coupling and uncoupling devices for model railway rolling stock. Several types of automatic coupling and uncoupling devices for model rail-ways are known having parts which cooperate with aramp on the track for effecting automatic uncoupling. Among the objects of this invention are to provide an improved form of coupling and improved forms of uncoupling ramps. In miniature-scale model railways, the curves on the track are of rather sharp radius so that when rounding curves the couplings are turned considerably out of the aligned position which they assume on straight sections of the track, and it has been found that many existing types of coupling quite often become uncoupled at such places. A further object of the invention is to provide a coupling which obviates this defect. Another object is to provide a coupling which operates satisfactorily when pushing, and precludes any tendency to over riding leading to buffer interlocking. Another object is to provide a coupling which permits a Waggon or coach to be readily detached from a trainand removed from the track, as may some times be desired, without interference with and possible derailment of other parts of the train.

These and other objects are achieved by providing a coupling which is arranged for coupling and uncoupling by sideways movement, i. e., in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the track, and by providing a track ramp suitable for cooperating with the coupling to automatically accomplish the desired sideways uncoupling movement when required.

In practising the invention, I provide a model railway vehicle with a coupling comprising a rigid supporting arm which is mounted on the vehicle so as to swivel only sideways with respect thereto and which preferably carries a depending uncoupling striker member and is provided at its end-with a coupling hook arranged on itsside and extending laterally and rearwardly towards an abutment and guide which extends laterally and preferably forwardly from behind the hook in the same lateral direction as the hook.

I also provide in a preferred .constructionand as a new article of manufacture, a couplingcomprising a rigid supporting arm adapted for swivel mounting and .providedat one end with a coupling hook arranged on its side and extending laterally and rearwardly towards an abutment and guide member which extends laterally and forwardly 'from the arm from behind the hook in'zthe same lateral direction as the hook, the arm having a striker member depending therefrom wh c is e a ly hi fr m th a m a d ho lsinl t e r ti op site t that in hiqh the h f): d In the pr i r e f rIh. 2h..91 nl e s s am d p s d in On Piec o effecting au ment unc pling l e159 p ov a rackramp n t e gene a ly P?? er ed form arran n h tr ck e a $9 ome be en th trike h irier hsaeih cou li r ursihe th s .ers and thereb 'th oup in l e a a ar ah is r launched w th.

a e al y i lin d s des Or ends wh ch ar dapted o en ge a d a e the st i ers apart A th us ha e hown the .eg plhnahyihfi d awi and d sc be ih thi .snec fi et eh s Preferred iment .Q m invention an gested certain modifications and alternatives, "it should be understood-that these arenotintended to be exhaustive or limiting of my invention but on the contrary are given with a viewto explain} ing the principlesof the invention and instructing others in the best manner of constructing using the same in order that others skilled in the art maybe enabled to utilise the invention in various embodiments and with various modifica tions each as may be best adapted to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings,

Fig. '1 "is a fragmentary elevation showing the preferred form of coupling mounted on an end of a model railway vehicle, Fig '11: showing the coupling in perspective.

Figs. 2 and :3 are respectively a fragmentary" plan and sectional elevation showing one preferred form of track ramp suitable for use r conjunction with the preferred coupling according to the invention.

Figs. 4 and 5 are fra mentary perspective views of portions of track showing further forms of ramp.

Figs. 6a, -61), ficzand {id are diagrammatic plan views taken on the plane-xx of-Fig. -1 show-ing diagrammatically a sequenceo-f positions assumed by two opposed couplings in effectingathe coupling process,

:Figs. 741, 71) and 7-0 are diagrammatic plan views taken on the plane X--X .of Fig. 1 illustrating diagrammatically the process of automatic-uncoupling. h

Fig. 8 isa fragmentary underneath plan of the coupling on a vehicle, showing an optional centralizing spring.

Figure '1 depicts an end of a vehicle -l-'ll fitted with the improved coupling which-is shown perspective in Fig. la and the plan view of which may be seen by reference, for example, to -Fig.-6a.

":i'i: grasses ,5 i

The coupling I I comprises a supporting arm I2 provided with an aperture I 3 at one end by which the arm is mounted by a rivet pin I4 on the base of the vehicle I so as to swivel only sideways. That is to say, the arm I2 is restrained from executing any up-and-down movement other than the slight amount that may be afforded by the Workingtolerances necessary to permit its free sideways movement. At that end, the arm I2 has a portion I5 projecting between a pair of fixed stops I6 on the vehicle base for limiting the swivel of the arm. If desired, although not essential to the working of the coupling as will later be explained, a light spring 60, shown in Fig. 8; may be provided acting onthe arm I2 to locate it yieldably in a normalcentral position. At its other end the arm I-2'- is provided with a coupling hook I! arranged on its side and curved so as to extend laterally and rearwardly (as .best

' seen in the plan view) towards an abutment and guide. I3 whichis curved to extend laterally and fprvvardly from the arm I2 from behind the hook I] in the same general lateral direction as the hook, so that the hook I! and abutment guide I8 between them define a space I9 having a lateral entry opening 20 through which the hook of a similar coupling can enter into that space. The arm I2 also has a depending striker member 2| which is disposed near the hook end of the arm as shown and is laterally ofiset with respect to the axis of the arm and to the hook I1 in the opposite lateral direction to that in which the hook I! and guide abutment I8 extend. The striker 2| is provided for the purpose of efiecting automatic uncoupling in conjunction with a track ramp 22, as will later be explained.

As will now be seen from Fig. 6a, with such acoupling fitted at each end of a coach, Waggon or other model railway vehicle, the two couplings I I at adjacent ends of two vehicles to be coupled will have their coupling hooks I! and abutment guides I8 facing in opposite lateral directions, the two hooks thus being in position for efiecting the coupling operation automatically as one vehicle is shunted back onto the other to push one coupling longitudinally against the other. As the two couplings are thus brought together (Fig. 6b), their two hooks l1 butt against and push each other aside until their tips override, and each passes through the opening 29 into the space I9 of the other coupling. -While the two hooks are thus moving laterally outwards in opposite directions, their abutment guides I8 are in consequence moving laterally inwards towards each other, so that after the hook tips override, each hook is engaged and guided inwardly by the abutment guide of the other coupling (Fig. 60) with the result that the couplings reverse their turning movements to bring each hook behind the other, and so into the coupling position. This position is represented in Fig. 7a since the hooks assume it not only in the process of uncoupling (to which Fig. 7a particularly refers), but also in the process of coupling. The two hooks will thus interengage and the couplings be coupled, when the engine is pulling (Fig. 6d). the engine is pushing, the couplings assume the position shown in Fig. 7a in which each coupling hook is displaced longitudinally to the rear of the space I9 of the other coupling so that the hook I! of one coupling and the abutment guide I8 of the other coupling bear against each other to transmit the tractive push.

Each coupling hook I! is made sufliciently long inthe lateral direction to maintain the hooks When' of coupled couplings in interengagement when pulling around curves which tend to separate them sideways. The abutment guide 18 of each coupling is so inclined and forwardly directed and laterally extended as to maintain engagement with the hook of a cooperating coupling when pushing around curves which tend to sepate them sideways.

The improved coupling may readily be made in one piece from metal sheet or strip by appropriate stamping and pressing operations, to produce a device which is compact and neat in appearance, is a complete unit and can be readily fitted to a vehicle without soldering. The coupling is of universal application to rolling stock, is adapted to couple waggons and coaches at either end thereof regardless of theirorientation on the track, is suitable for slip-coach working and for two rail electrification systems as well as third rail systems, and produces a realistic clanking noise on starting a train equipped therewith. The improved coupling will not uncouple when not desired, such as when rounding curves, and it functions equally satisfactorily when pushing as when pulling. As it cannot override when pushing, owing to the provision of the abutment guide I8, bufier interlocking is prevented. Also, since the coupling operation is effected by a sideways movement of the coupling hook, it will be appreciated that there is no constraint of the hook in the vertical direction (i. e. perpendicular to the plane of the track) and, therefore, a coach or Waggon can, if so desired, be lifted straight off the track without in any way disturbing the remainder of the train and without the necessity for preliminarily manipulating the vehicle on the track.

To uncouple vehicles on the track, interengaging couplings may be swivelled sideways in opposite directions to disengage their hooks clear of each other. automatically, I have provided the improved coupling with the striker 2I which is adapted tobe engaged by a suitable track ramp 22 arranged for urging the striker sideways in the opposite lateral direction to that in which the hook and abutment of the coupling extend, whereby to cause the coupling to execute an uncoupling movement. With this arrangement it will be apparent that to uncouple two interengaging couplings, the ramp is required to engage the two strikers of the couplings and urge them sideways in opposite directions to cause their couplings to dis-'- engage.

It will be seen by reference to the diagrams of Figs. 7ac that the ramp 22 has a. leading end portion providing laterally curved sides 22a which diverge and lead to a portion with straight sides 221), the ramp being arranged to come between the strikers 2| of two coupled couplings II as the vehicles II! carrying them are moved along the track towards the leading end of the ramp. When the strikers meet the ramp, the divergent sides 22a thereof urge the strikers outwards to push the two couplings apart sideways and so uncouple them, the strikers being heldjout in the uncoupling position by the straight sides 22b of the ramp. Fig. 7a in conjunction with Fig. 7b illustrate the process of uncoupling by shunting on to the ramp. With the engine pushing, the couplings assume the position shown in Fig. '71; as they approach the ramp, and upon engagement of the strikers by the ramp the couplings are urged apart so as to assume and be held by the ramp portions 221) in the position shown in For effecting such uncoupling automatic uncou ling topbe. effected in either direction of travel along the track.

A floating ramp of the character described, although especially suitable for the type of track referred to, is also suitable for use with other kinds and gauges of track, whether working on the two-rail. system of electrification or the third-rail system using either a centre or an outside third (conductor) rail. Such a floating ramp is, in general, especially advantageous for use with locomotives having low-lying parts of mechanism.

In Fig. 4 is illustrated another form of movable ramp which is especially advantageous for scalemodel track built up on a baseboard 35 with sleepers 36 and rails 31. The depicted embodiment is illustrated, by way of example, as applied to track working on the two-rail electrification system in which current for the electric locomotive is collected from one running rail and returned through the other. The figure also shows the ramp raised into operative position above rail level. v

' In this embodiment the ramp 38 comprises a pair of rail or like members 39 which are disposed one along each side of the track between the running rails 31,'the ends of the ramp rails being curved inwardly to provide the required leadportions 39a. for effecting the uncoupling process as previously described. As shown, the ramp rails are curved at both ends, thus making the ramp suitable for two-way working. The ramp is raised and lowered by a parallel-motion linkage, and in' the arrangement shown each ramp rail 39 is pin-jointed at conveniently longitudinally spaced points to links 46 which are resriectively fixed on a pair of parallel spindles 4| rotatably mounted in bearings 42 carried by a pair of plates 43 adapted for fixture to the track bed or sleepers 36 to support the ramp in position on the track. Either of these spindles 4| may be turned for raising and lowering the ramp bodily with a parallel action, and for such actuation either spindle may be coupled or provided with any suitable actuating device or mechanism, such as an electric or mechanical remote control device (not shown), or a trackside lever 44 formed asa bent extension of the spindle and operating at track level as shown or from underneath the baseboard 35.

Such a ramp, constructed with rails or like members arranged at the sides of the track, resembles check rails in appearance, so that the ramp isin a neat and unobtrusive form which does not appear incongruous with normal track formation. Such a ramp, as well as avoiding the ugly appearance of a solid ramp in the track, also avoids fouling gears or other low-lying parts of the electric locomotive mechanism. The described ramp is suitable not only for two-rail electrification systems, but also for third-rail systems using an outside third (conductor) rail. For the latter systems, the ramp is fitted lower than the standard height for the third rail so not to foul the collector bars on the electric locomotive.

illustrates a modified arrangement for scale-model track. In this embodiment, a ramp is, provided which remainsin a fixed position on the track. A pair of rigid straight ramp rails or like members 45 are fixed to the track sleepers 46, at the sides of the track between the running rails, and at one end theramp rails 4-5 are provided with incurved resilient lead-in members such as spring blades or'wircs 41 which diverge 'abutments serving as stops therefor are provided. For example, there is shown a single stop plate 48 fixed on a sleeper andplaced between the extremities 49 of the two resilient members 41 so as to serve as a stop for both. With such a ramp, as the strikers of two interengaging couplings approaching the ramp respectively engage the resilient lead-in members 41, the latter are prevented by their stop 48 from yielding and hence deflect the strikers sideways to effect uncoupling, the strikers being held out in the uncoupling position by the rigid ramp members 45., At their other end, the ramp members 45 are left open so that the strikers of couplings approaching the ramp from that end can pass unimpeded between the ramp members 45, and

approaching the rampfrom that end. These con'-.' vergent lead-in portions may also be constituted" by spring elements 50 which canbe deflected by the strikers v(with subsequent recoiling), so as. not to fouL-a striker. when it is moved 01f the open, end of the ramp after uncoupling. Such a ramp functions entirely automatically and without control, for effecting uncoupling in one direction of travel of the strikers along the track while allowing them to pass in the opposite direc-I tion without being actuated. Instead of mem bers 41 being resilient they may be rigid and hinged to members 45 to swivel under suitable control between an inturned uncoupling position i and an out-turned inoperative position.

The invention is susceptible of other modifications and embodiments. For example, the coupling may be, made as a unit read for fixing to a vehicle without requiring assembly of parts. Such unit may comprise a bracket for fixing, e. g.,' by clips or rivets, to a vehicle and having the coupling swivelly mounted on it, and embodyingv the limit stops for the arm, formed, e. g., by a pair of spaced ears on the bracket, between which the arm can swivel.

Hook I! and guide l8 are preferablymad'e sufficiently deep vertically, tip lla being preferably also enlarged in depth, to provide sufiiciently deep coupling surfaces to compensate for slight differences or variations between the heights of the couplings, as may occur, for instance, due

to slight differences in mounting levels of the couplings on their vehicles or to variations in track,

level.

Iclaim: r

1. Coupling and uncoupling mechanism for miniature railroad vehicles, comprising, in combination, couplings carried by the ends of the vehicles, each of said couplings comprising a rigid supporting arm which is mounted on the vehicle so as to swivel only sideways with respect thereto and which is provided at its forward end witha coupling hook which is arranged on its side with its free end extending laterally and rear wardly towards an abutment guide whichis dis posed behind the hook and extends laterall from f the arm in the same lateral direction as the hookso that thehook and abutment guide define between them a space. having .an opening 'for receiving the oppositely laterally directed hook of an opposed similar coupling to permit automatic interengagement or the two hooks when the two couplings are brought together, stops on said vehicles and cooperating with said couplers to limit the extent of pivotal movement of said couplers, each coupling further comprising an uncoupling striker member depending from said arm and terminating atits lower end close to but slightly above the level of the tops of the running rails of the miniaturerailroad track, and an uncoupling ramp on said track", said ramp having laterally inclined ends and adapted for disposition slightly above the level of the tops of said rails so as to engage by its said ends laterally with the lower ends of the uncoupling striker members of a pair of interengagingcouplings and urge their coupling hooks laterally apart to an uncoupling position as the strikers are moved along the ramp.

2. Coupling and uncoupling mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the striker of :each coupling is arranged so that the strikers of a pair of interengaging couplings are laterally spaced, and wherein the ramp is arranged in the track so as to be positioned betweensuch strikers for engaging and urging them laterally apart to disengage their coupling hooks.

3. Coupling and uncoupling mechanism for miniature railroad vehicles, comprising, in combination, couplings carried by the ends of the vehicles, each of said couplings comprising a rigid supporting arm which is mounted on the vehicle so as to swivel only sideways with respect thereto and which is provided atits forward end with a coupling hook whichis arranged on its side with its free end extending laterally and rearwardly towards an abutment guide which is disposed behind the hook and extends laterally from the arm in the same lateral direction'as the hook so that the hook and abutment guide define between them a space having an opening for receiving the oppositely laterally directed hook of an opposed similar coupling to permit automatic interengagement of the two books when the two couplings are brought together, stops on said vehicles and cooperating with said couplers to limit the extent of pivotal movement of said couplers, each coupling further comprising an uncoupling striker member depending from said arm and terminating at its lower end close to but slightly above the level of the tops of the running rails of the miniaturerailroad track,-

and an uncoupling ramp on said tracksai'd ramp having laterally inclined ends andadapted for disposition slightl above the level of the tops of said rails so as to engage by its said" ends laterally with the lower .ends of the uncoupling striker members of a pair of interengaging couplings and urge their coupling hooks laterally apart to an uncoupling position as the strikers are moved along the ramp, resilient means supporting said rampand urging said ramp into a raised position in which the ramp is disposed slightly above the level of the tops of said rails in which it is operative for effecting uncoupling, said resilient means permitting the rampto be yieldable to downward pressure thereon, and means for depressing and holding the ramp in an inoperative position against the action of its said resilient supporting means. i

4;. Coupling and uncoupling mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the hook and; abutment 10 guide of each coupling have coupling surfaces of suilicient depth to compensate for slight differences in the levels of inter-engaging couplings on adjacent vehicles.

5. A miniature railroad vehicle having a coupling comprising a rigid supporting arm which is mounted on the vehicle so as to swivel only sideways with respect thereto and which is pro vided at its forward end with a coupling hook which is arranged on its side with its free end extending laterally and rearwardly towards an abutment guide which is disposed behind the hook and extends laterally from the'arm in'the same lateral direction as the hook so that the hook and abutment guide define between them a space having "an opening for receiving the hook of an opposed similar coupling, a pair of stops disposed on opposite sides 'of'the arm to limit the sw-ivelling movement thereof, the arm also hav= ing an uncoupling striker member depending from the arm and terminating at its'lower end close to but slightly above the level of the lowermost points of the vehicle wheel treads, said striker member being adapted for lateral engagement at its lower end by a track ramp for effecting a sideways uncoupling movement of the coupling' 6. A miniature railroad vehicle as defined in claim 5, wherein the abutment guide of the cou-" pling extends for such a distance laterally beyond the free end of the coupling hook, and the arm" swivels between a pair of stops which so limit the swivel of the arm, that at extreme swivel positions of a pair of opposed couplings in'which their hooks are at extreme lateral separation, the abutment guide of each of such couplings is in position to engage and guide laterally inwardly the hookof the other coupling when the two couv-n plings are brought together. l I 7. A miniature railroad vehicle: having a 'cou--" pling comprising a rigid "supporting arm which is mounted on the vehicle so as to swivel only sideways with respect thereto and which is provided at its forward end with a coupling hook which is arranged on its side with its free end extending laterally and rearwardly towards an abutment guide which is disposed behind the hook and extends laterally from the arm in the same lateral direction as the hook so that the hook and abutment guide define between them a space having an opening for receiving the hook of an opposed similar 'coupl'ing, a spring for urging the arm into a normal substantially central position with respect to the end of the vehicle, the arm also having an uncoupling striker member depending from the arm and terminating at its lower end close to but slightly above the level of the lowermost pointsofthe vehicle wheel treads,

said striker member being adapted for lateral engagement at its lower end by a track ramp for" efiecting a sideways uncoupling movement of the coupling.

ofiset from the arm for receiving the hook of an opposed similar coupling, the arm having an elongated uncoupling striker member depending 1 therefrom which is laterally ofiset from the arm and hook in the opposite lateral direction to that in which the hook and abutment guide extend, said striker being adapted for lateral engagement at its lower end by a track ramp for urging the striker and thereby the coupling sideways in the opposite lateral direction to that in which the hook and abutment guide extend,

. 9. A coupling for a model railroad vehicle comprising a one-piece stamping of strip material forming a flat rigid supporting arm adapted for mounting on a vehicle so as to swivel substantially in theplane of the arm between a pair of center ing stops carried by the vehicle and provided at one end with two transverse portions Which extend from opposite edges of the arm and are bent substantially vertically to the plane of the arm, one of said transverse portions being bent forwardly from the arm and reentrantly towards the other of said portions so as to form a coupling hook arranged on its side with its free end extending laterally and rearwardl towards said other portion which forms an abutment guide disposed behind the hook and extending laterally from the arm in the same lateral direction as the hook, the stamping also comprising a further transverse portion which is bent substantially vertically to the plane of the arm to form an elongated depending uncoupling striker mem-' ber adapted for lateral engagement at its lower end by a track ramp for efiecting a sideways uncoupling movement of the coupling.

- 10. A coupling as defined in claim 9, wherein the hook and abutment guide have a vertical depth substantially greater than the thickness of the strip materialso as to provide suificiently' deep coupling surfaces to compensate for slight variations in the height of the coupling when" in use on a vehicle.

11. A coupling as defined in claim 9, wherein the abutment guide is curved forwardly from the end of the arm.

12. A coupling as defined in claim 9, wherein the'free end of the coupling hook is enlarged in depth. y

13. A coupling as defined in claim 9, wherein the arm has 'an aperture therein near its other end for mounting it on a pivot pin.

14. A coupling as defined in claim 13, wherein the end of the arm having said aperture therein comprises a projectin portion adapted for disposition between a pair of stops for limiting the V swivel of the arm.

15. A coupling as defined in claim 9, wherein the striker is formed at its lower end with a lateral convex ramp-engaging surface.

ture'railroad vehicles for uncoupling the vehicles as the strikersrare moved along said ramp, re-

silient means supporting and urging said ramp into a raised position slightly above the level of the tops of said rails, in which position the ramp is operative to efiect uncoupling and floats so as to be yieldable to downward pressure thereon, means being provided for depressing and.

holding the ramp in an inoperative position against the action of its said resilient supporting means.

\ 17. A miniature railroad track as defined in claim 16, and including a centre conductor rail between said running rails,- said ramp being arranged adjacent the centre conductor .rail so that when the ramp is raised into operative posi tion for effecting uncoupling, it lies slightly above the level of the top of the conductor rail but is yieldable so as to be capable of depression by a low-lying part such as a locomotive current collector of a miniature railroad vehicle passing over the ramp.

18. A miniature railroad track comprising an open-bottomed hollow track bed having a top surface on which the running rails and a centre conductor rail are mounted, and an uncoupling ramp made of insulating material supported within the hollow bed on springs mounted and housed within the bed, the ramp having two upper portions arranged one at each side of the centre conductor rail above the top surface of the bed and having laterally curved sides for engaging and urging sideway strikers depending from ecu-- plings of model railwa vehicles for uncoupling the vehicles, said ramp being normall resiliently urged by said springs into a raised posi-: tion in which the ramp is operative to effect uncoupling, and control means being provided for moving the ramp positively downwards and to hold it rigidly in a depressed inoperative posi-" tion.

19. A miniature railroad track as defined in" claim 18, said control means including camming" means rotatably mounted within said hollow bed and having camming engagement with said ramp.

20. A miniature railroad track including a pair of running'rails and an uncoupling ramp comprising a pair of rail members disposed longitudinally between said running rails, said ramp members being adapted to be positioned slightly and urging apart strikers depending from inter-;

engaging couplings of model railway vehicles and for leading the strikers divergently to said parallel portions provided for holding the strikers apart, so as to uncouple the vehicles as the' strikers are moved along the ramp members.

21; A miniature railroad track asdefined in claim 20, wherein said end, portions are rigid with said parallel portions of said ramp members and are laterally curved inwardly, and said ramp members are adapted to be raised and lowered bodily by a parallel-motion linkage comprising links pivotally attached to said ramp members and fixed on a pair of parallel spindles rotatably' mounted in bearings carried b a pair of plates fixed to'the track bed for supporting said ramp members. 7 l g 22. A miniature, railroad track as defined in claim 20, wherein said ramp members are fixed in said position slightly above the level of the tops of the running rails, and havearticulated end 1 portions which are laterally movable into and out of a laterally inturned position in which they 7 are operative to efiect uncoupling. 23. A miniature railroad track as defined in? claim 20, wherein said ramp members are fixed; in said position slightly above the level of the tops of the running rails, and are providedat one end only thereof with laterally resilient end 1 portions which are normally laterall inturned and resist inward deflection so as to be operative J for laterally engaging and urging apart the strikers of interengaging couplings on vehicles travelling in one direction along the track so'as to uncouple the vehicles, said ramp members permitting the strikers of interengaging couplings on vehicles travelling in the opposite direction along the track to pass longitudinally between the ramp members and said resilient end portions being yieldable to engagement by strikers thus passing between the ramp members so as to be deflected laterally outwardly from their normal inturned position to permit the strikers to pass between said end portions.

24. A miniature railroad trackway including a pair of running rails and an uncoupling ramp mounted on the trackway and disposed between the running rails, model railway vehicles having pivotally mounted couplers, said couplers being urged by resilient means to normal coupling positions, said ramp having pointed end portions spaced longitudinall with respect to the rails and laterally spaced apart intermediate contact portions, a striker depending from each of said couplers, said couplers when interengaged are adapted to be uncoupled by the engagement of the respective associated strikers with said ramp thereby moving laterally apart said strikers and causing their connected couplers to pivot in opposite directions to uncouple the vehicles.

25. A miniature railroad trackway including a pair of running rails and an uncoupling ramp mounted on the trackway and disposed between the running rails, model railway vehicles having pivotally mounted couplers, stops on said vehicles and cooperating with said couplers to limit the extent of pivotal movement of said couplers, said couplers having laterally extending abutment guide portions adapted to guide said couplers to normal coupling positions when interengaged, said ramp having pointed end portions spaced longitudinally with respect to the rails and laterally spaced apart intermediate contact portions, a striker depending from each of said couplers, said couplers when interengaged are adapted to be uncoupled by the engagement of the respective associated strikers with said ramp thereby moving laterally apart said strikers and causing their connected couplers to pivot in opposite directions to uncouple the vehicles.

26. A miniature railroad trackway including a pair of running rails and an uncoupling ramp mounted on the trackway and disposed between the running rails, model railway vehicles having pivotally mounted couplers, said couplers being free to pivot without resilient restraint and having laterally extending abutment guide portions adapted to guide said couplers to normal coupling positions when interengaged, stops on said vehicles and cooperating with said couplers to limit the extent of pivotal movement of said cOuplers, said ramp having pointed end portions spaced longitudinally with respect to the rails and laterally spaced apart intermediate contact portions, a striker depending from each of said couplers, said couplers when interengaged are adapted to be uncoupled by the engagement of the respective associated strikers with said ramp thereby moving laterally apart said strikers and causing their connected couplers to pivot in opposite directions to uncouple the vehicles.

SYDNEY CHARLES PRITCHARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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