US660503A - Car-coupling. - Google Patents

Description

No. 660,503. Patented Oct. 23, I900.

s. GEOGHEGAN,

CAR COUPLING.

(Application filed Mar. 12, 1900) (No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet l.

. I a"? g e g Q I Patented 0st. 23, I900.

9 Sheets-8heet 2.

8. GEOGHEGAN.

CAR COUPLING.

(Application filed Mar. 12, 1900.)

(No Model.)

1: cams Parzns co. Pnpwoumu, WASHINGTON, u c.

No. 660,503. Patented Oct. 23, I900.

S. GEDGHEGAN.

CAR COUPLING. (Application filed Mar. 12 1900.)-

9 Sheets-Sheet 3,

K-No Model.)

n: NORMS PETERS 1:0 vnofo-Lrruou wASNmc-Tum n c.

No. 660,503. Patented Oct. 23, I900. S. GEOGH'EGAN.

CAR COUPLING.

. (Application filed Mar. 12, 1900.) (No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 4.

THE "cams PETERS on. Pworouma. wAsmNaYon, n. c.

No. 660,503. Patented Oct. 23, I900.

S. GEUGHEGAN. CAR COUPLING.

(Application riled Mar. 12, 1900.) (No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 5.

m: npmls PETERS 00., mom-unto WASHINGTON, 11c.

Patented Oct. 23, I900. I

S. BEDGHEGAN. DAR COUPLING.

(Application filed. Int. 12, 1900.}

9 Sheets-Sheet 6.

(No Model.) I

THE yonms PUEM cu. mom-Lnua. WASHINGTON. B4 c.

No. 660,503. Patantad Oct. 23, I900. S. GEOGHEGAN.

GAR COUPLING.

(Application filed In. 12, 1900.)

9 Sheets-Sheet 7.

(No Model.)

TH: cams PETERS 00.. Puorodma, WASHNGTQN, u. c.

No. 660,503. Patented Oct. 23, I900.'

S. GEOGHEGAN.

'CAR COUPLING.

(Application filed Mar. 12, 1900.)

9 Sheets-She0t 8.

0 U N am 2 .t c 0 d e t n a t a P N A G F. H G 0 E G S 3 D n 6 6 0 N CAR COUPLING.

(Application filed Mar. 12, 1900.)

9 Sheets-Sheet 9,

(No Modem THE cams PETERS co FNOTO-LITHQ, wnsnmmou. n:v c.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAMUEL GEOGHEGAN, OF KILLINEY, IRELAND.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 660,503, dated October 23, 1900.

' Application filed March 12, 1900. Serial No- 8,334- (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL GEOGHEGAN, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Killiney, county of Dublin, Ireland, have invented Improvements in a Combined Coupling, Buffing, and Draw-Gear Apparatus for Railway or Similar Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in that class of combined coupling, buffing, and draw-gear apparatus for railway and similar vehicles that is capable of angular movement in various directions on the vehicle to which it is applied, as when passing around curves and during coupling, and which will admit of two vehicles provided with such apparatus being readily coupled not only when on straight portions of track, but also when one or both of them is or are on a curve and when the axes of the two buffer and draw bars on their respective vehicles are at different heights.

The objects of the invention are to effect the secure coupling of vehicles,and also it may be their train-pipes, automatically, so that when engaged they will constitute one or more rigid connections which shall be so proportioned as regards length of buffer-rod that even for long double bogie-vehicles the ends of the couplings can pull fromapointso near the center of the vehicle that under no ordinary circumstances would there be any chance of derailment or undue strain caused by the center line of the couplings being at too acute an angle to the center line of either vehicle; to avoid the objectionable rubbing action between the buffers, such as occurs with the ordinary buffers of vehicles used on main lines; to provide a coupling which will be suitable for vehicles traveling on curves down to a radius of six times the gage of the line; to have a secure and tight coupling without the aid of' tightening apparatus; to provide a coupling which will couple automatically on the smallest possible curves and the greatest usual differences of level in the couplings, and to provide a coupling which can be uncoupled, left uncoupled, or put in a position for recoupling from either side of the vehicle.

According to this invention each combined buffer and draw-bar which is mounted to move in an angular manner against the action of a spring, as heretofore, and is hereinafter called for brevity the buffer-rod, is provided at its outer end with a buffer-head of appropriate shape and dimensions to suit the curves of the track over which the ve hicles are to run and the differences of level between the axes of adjacent buifer -rods. The smaller the radii of the curves and the greater the differences of le e1 of the bufferrods the wider and deeper will the buiferheads be respectively made. The buffer-rod and head are provided with a pair or set of horns or projections that extend in directions away from the end of the vehicle to which the apparatus is applied and diverge from each otherin both vertical and lateral senses when in their normal or operative positions and which are so constructed that they constitute combined centering and coupling devices, the arrangement being such that when two vehicles, the buffer-rods of which are provided with devices of the kind referred to, are forced together portions of the devices carried by the buffer-rod of the one vehicle will become engaged with the buifer-head or with portions of the corresponding devices carried by the adjacent buffer-rod of the other vehicle, so as to automatically couple the two vehicles together, and should the axes of the two bufferrods previous [6 coupling be at an angle to one another or at different heights thcbu lfer-heads and horns will cooperate with one another to turn the said rods so as to bring them into line, after which the coupling portions of the horns will effect the coupling of the two vehicles, as before explained. For uncoupling the vehicles the horns of each set are by suitable means provided for the purpose and capable of being actuated from either side of the vehicle moved into an inoperative posit-iou-as, for example, by causing them to turn backward ahontseparate transverse axes or in a transverse direction about a common longitudinal axis. To allow each bufier-rod to movein an angular direction, as described, it is or may be mounted to work endwise through two bearings between which one or more combined bulfer and draw springs is or are interposed and one of which is made in the form of a sleeve that has a flared opening therethrough for the buffer-rod and works end wise in a third bearing that is carried by the head-stock or under-frame of the vehicle in such a manner that it can turn about a vertical axis, the other of the twofirst-mentioned bearings being connected to the third bearing in such a manner-as, for example, by boltsthat it can move endwise in either direction to a limited extent against or by the action of the combined bufier and draw spring or springs and can also move in an angular direction to a limited extent with the bufferrod that passes through it.

According to my invention I sometimes combine with apparatus for coupling vehicles together means for simultaneously coupling pipessuch as those used for pressure and vacuum brakes, passenger and guard com mu- .nication appliances, heating appliances, and

the like-the arrangement being such that the act of coupling the vehicles will also effect the coupling of the pipe or pipes. In carrying out this part of my invention as applied in combination with vehicle-couplers such as hereinbefore referred to each buffer-rod according to one arrangement is made hollow and is connected at its inner end to one or more lengths of flexible pipe and at its outer end to one or more flexible coupling devices adapted to make a close joint with a similar or appropriate coupling device or devices on an adjacent vehicle when the two vehicles are coupled together. These pipe-coupling devices may be of any suitable construction, or a flexible pipe or flexible pipes may extend through and be carried by the two hollow buffer-rods of a vehicle and be fitted with coupling devices at its or their outer ends.

Combined coupling, buffing, and draw-gear apparatus according to this invention can be constructed and arranged in various forms.

In the accompanying illustrative drawings, Figure 1 isa front elevation; Fig. 2, a side ele vation,partlyin longitudinal vertical section; and Fig. 3, a plan showing one construction of combined coupling,buffing,and draw-gear apparatusaccording to thisinveution. Fig. Lisa similar view to Fig. 2, but showing the coupling-hornsin theirinoperativepositions. Fig. 5 is a front elevation, Fig. 6 a central longitudinal vertical section, and Fig. 7a plan, showing another construction of my improved apparatus. Fig. Sis a similar view to Fig. 5, showing some of the parts in their inoperative positions. Figs. 9, l0, and 11 show, re spectively, in end elevation, side elevation, and plan part of a vehicle with a modified construction of coupling apparatus. Fig. 12 is a part plan showing a further modified construction. Figs. 13, 14, and 15 show detail views, hereinafter referred to.

As the combined apparatus at the respective ends of each vehicle in each arrangement are alike, it will be sufficient to describe only one apparatus of each arrangement.

Referring to l to 4, inclusive, a is the buffer-rod, formed with an outer enlarged end 17, provided with two coupling and centering horns c, that are, as shown, of outwardlycurved shape in plan and of curved or approximately-wedge shape in side elevation, the outer ends of the two horns diverging from each other and the inner ends thereof being arranged one above the other and fixed to separate spindles d, jou rnaled in the enlarged outer end or head 19 of the said buffer-rod. e is a flat transverse plate fixed to and forming part of the buffer-head b. This plate is arranged with its flat sides vertical, and is hereinafter called, for distinction, the buffer-plate. The two horns c are each recessed at fon the side next the buffer-plate 6, so as to form hook-like parts or shoulders g. The spindles 01 upon which the horns are fixed are provided with crankarms 77,, connected together by a coiled spring 70, and one of the said spindles is connected to or forms part of a transverse rock-shaft Z, the end portions of which are provided with handles m and extend through bearingsn, which may be carried by the buffer-plate c. The inner ends of the horns c or the spindles d to which they are fixed are so connected to gelheras, for example, by toothed wheels or segments 0 or other gearingthat when one spindle and horn are partly rotated in one direction the other spindle and horn will be simultaneously rotated in the opposite direction. The arrangement is such that when the horns are in their normal or operative position they diverge from each other in an outward direction, and their recessed portionsf are held against the top and bottom edges of the buffer-plate e by the coiled spring 70, as shown in Fig; 2, and by partly turning the rock-shaft l in one direction the two horns will be caused to simultaneously turn backward about the axes of the spindles (1 into theirinoperative positions, (shown in Fig. 4,) in which positions they will be held by the coiled spring is, which will by the partial rotation of the spindles d and crank-arms h have been moved to the opposite side of the plane containing the axes of the spindles to that at which it is located when it holds the horns in the operative positions, or the horns may be turned over when desired by lifting one by hand and depressing the other by foot.

The buffer-rod a is arranged to slide endwise through, but not to rotate in, two bearings, the outer of which is in the form of a collar or plate 19, against which the outer enlarged end I) of the buffer-rod abuts and the inner of which is in the form of a sleeve q, that has an outwardly-flaring hole r therethrough and a flange s at its outer end. Against the inner end of the sleeve g, which is madeconvex, as seen in side elevation, Fig. 2, bears a washer or plate t, that is carried by the inner end of the buffer-rod a and is kept in place by nuts v, screwed on the said buffer-rod. The sleeve q, forming the inner or second hearing, is mounted to slide endwise, but not to rotate, in a third bearing or center-pin to, that may be a casting, the upper and lower ends Z of which are of circular shape and fitted to turn against the action of springs 00, secured at one end to the said casting and at the other end to the head-stock of the vehicle about a vertical axis in holes 2 in bearings or plates 3, secured to top and bottom plates 4, forming part of or secured to the head-stock or underframeofthevehicle. Betweentheinnerbearing (1 and the outer bearingp and surrounding the buffer-rod ct is a coiled spring 6, that serves both as a butter-spring and as a drawspring and is held in a compressed state by tie-bolts 7, that are jointed at one end to lateral pins 8 on the outer bearingp and at the other ends extend loosely through flanges q on the third hearing or center-pin w and are provided with T-heads 10 or equivalent, that normally bear against the said flanges and limit the outward movements of the outer bearing 13 and the spring 6, while leaving the said outer bearing free to be forced inward against the said spring.

Vehicles provided at each end with apparatus of the kind just described are coupled together by the coupling and centering horns c of each apparatus on the adjacent ends of two vehicles, slipping over and under and engaging with the buffer-plate e of the other and adjacent apparatus, as shown in full and dotted lines in Fig. 2, so as to securely lock the two vehicles together. When one or both of the vehicles is or are on a curve at the time of coupling and the two buffer-rods a are consequently at an angle to one another, those ends of the butter-plates e on the two vehicles that are inside the curve, Fig. 3, will act against one another on that side of a line 12 12 (joining the vertical axes about which the two sets of apparatus turn) that is nearest the center of the curve, so as to cause the two buffer-rods a to be brought into line with each other, as seen in plan, the two sets of horns c' acting to bring the two rods ct into line, as seen in side elevation, if the rods a are at different heights previous to coupling.

The length of the buffer-plates e is in every case so proportioned that the said plates will meet on the proper side of the line 12 12, as stated. To uncouple the vehicles, the horns c c of each apparatus are turned backward into the inoperative position shown in Fig. 4 by means of the rock-shaft Z.

In the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, the twohorns c are formed in one with or fixed to the upper and lower portions of the butter-head b, so as to project over and under the buffer-plate e, fixed thereto, and so as to diverge in outward lateral and upward and downward directions, and each of them is recessed at fnear its inner end, so as to form a flat transversely-arranged surface or shoulder g, adapted to engage with the corresponding surface or shoulder on one or other of the horns c of similar apparatus on an adjacent vehicle. The combined horns c, butter-head b, and bufier-rod a, which is of circular cross-section, are mounted to rothe arrangement shown the said parts are adapted to be held in the operative or inoperative position at will by a pawl or catch 13, that is adapted (it may be under the action of a spring, but is not so shown) to enter one or other of two recesses 14: and 15 in the outer plate or bearing 19 and is connected to a trans verse rock-shaft Z,.earried by the butter-head b. The combined buffer and draw-spring 6 in this case is connected at its ends, which are bent for the purpose, to the inner and outer bearings q and 19, respectively, so that during coupling the horns c, buffer-head b, rod (1, and outer bearing p will be partly turned against the force of the said spring 6, which will react to hold the engaged horns c firmly together until the pawl or catch 13 on the buffer-head Z) is disengaged from the outer bearing-plate p to effect uncoupling of the horns and vehicles. In other respects the bearings 13 and q, center-pin w, and spring 6 are constructed and arranged as in the arrangement first herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive.

The constructions of butter-heads shown in the arrangements hereinbefore described are designed for use with vehicles intended to run over lines having curves of short radius. For ordinary railwaylines, the curves of which have a long radius, the buffer-heads can be made of much less width and of the ordinary circular shape, as seen in end view.

Figs. 9, 10, and 11 show an arrangement in which the buffer-head b is of ordinary circular shape, but provided with two oppositelyarranged combined centering and coupling horns c of the kind hereinbefore described, the said buffer-head and horns acting in the same manner as those hereinbefore described. In this example the buffer-head, with horns, is adapted to be rotated about the axis of the buffer rod to for the purpose of moving the centering and coupling horns into their inoperative positions by a flexible connector b, that is connected at its ends to opposite parts of the butter-head and is led around vertical guidepulleys b and under an operatingpulley b which is connected by links 19 to a transverse lever b When the bu Eer and horns are in their normal operative positions, the transverse lever is held in the horizontal position (shown in full linesin Fig.9) by fixed supports b and when it is desired to move the horns into their inoperative position one or other end of the lever is disengaged from the corresponding support I) and depressed, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 9, the 0pposite support I) being at this time used as a fulcrum. If it be desired to hold the horns in their inoperative position, the depressed end of the lever is engaged with the lower side of the corresponding support b. The two ends of the flexible connector b may be attached either directly to the buffer-head or, as shown, indirectly thereto through two bellcrank levers N, that are adapted when the flexible connector is pulled by the depression of the lever 17 to draw back two spring-pins 12 that normally project through the bufferhead and serve when such buffer-head is coupled to the buffer-head on an adjacent Vehicle to enter recesses in the latter head and prevent rotary motion between the two. Fig. 12 shows a modified arrangement wherein the flexible connector I) for rotating the bu Eterhead is led around horizontal guide-pulleys b and is or may be provided at one or at each side of the vehicle with a handle I)", by which the connector can be pulled laterally, as indicated in dotted lines, to rotate the buffer head to a sufficient extent to move the horns 0 into their inoperative positions.

The butter-rod a, in each case may be made hollow, as and for the purpose hereinbefore described. Figs. 5 to 8 show a hollow bufferrod the inner end of which is connected to a length of flexible piping l6 and the outer end of which is provided with a coupling device consisting in the example shown of a ring 17, of india rubber or other suitable flexible material, that is made of V-section and secured in place, as by a flanged bush 18, so that its interior is in connection with a passage 19 in the rod, the outer face of the coupling being adapted to make a close joint with another similar coupling device carried by the bufferrod of an adjacent Vehicle when the two vehiclcs are coupled together.

Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate an arrangement in which the hollow buffer-rod a is provided at its outer end I) with three coupling devices 17, each in connection with a separate trainpipe 16, extending through and carried by the hollow buffer-rod a, and each adapted to make a close joint with another similar coupling device carried by the buifer-rod a of an adjacent vehicle when the two vehicles are coupled together. Each pipe may be provided with a valve, whereby it can be opened and closed either automatically or by hand when the pipes on adjacent vehicles are respectively coupled and uncoupled. Fig. 15 shows an arrangement for this purpose wherein the bush 18 is formed with a seat 20 for avalve 21, that is normally pressed against such seat to close the end of the pipe by a coiled spring 22 and is adapted to be forced from its seat against the action of the spring to open the pipe by the star-shaped head 23 of its stem 24 abutting against the head and stem of a similar valve on an adjacent vehicle.

Coupling, buffing, and draw-gear apparatus of the kind herein described may be arranged at the center-line of the vehicle, or two sets of such apparatus may be used, arranged at opposite sides of the center-line of the vehicle.

What I claim is' 1. Combined coupling buffing and drawgear apparatus for railway and similar vehicles, comprisingabuffer-rod, means for carrying and supporting said rod in a normallyhorizontal position on a vehicle but so that it can move in horizontal and vertical directions and also in an endwise direction, a buffer-plate carried by said rod, and combined centering and coupling devices carried by said rod and plate and arranged above and below said buffer-plate and so as to extend away from the end of the vehicle to which said apparatus is applied and to diverge from each other in both vertical and lateral senses when in their operative positions, said bufl erplate and devices being each capable of acting against and codperating with similar parts of like apparatus on an adjacent vehicle to bring the two buffer-rods of the two apparatus into line, if they be not so, when the two vehicles are brought together, and said combined coupling and centering devices then acting to become automatically coupled to such second apparatus, substantially as described. I

2. Combined coupling buffing and drawgear apparatus for railway and similar vehicles, comprising a bufler-rod, means for carrying and supporting said rod in a normallyhorizon-tal position on a vehicle but so that it can move in horizontal and vertical directions and also in an endwise direction, a bufferplate carried by said rod, and adapted by contact with a similar buffer-plate on an adjacent vehicle to center the bufferand attached parts, combined centering and coupling devices carried by said rod and plate and arranged above and below said buffer-plate and so as to extend away from the end of the Vehicle to which said apparatus is applied and to diverge from each other in both vertical and lateral senses when in their operative positions, and means for moving said combined centering and coupling devices into their i11- operative position,substantially as described.

3. Combined coupling bnfling and drawgear apparatus for railway and similar vehicles, comprising a buifer-rod, means for carrying and supporting said rodin a normallyhorizontal position on a vehicle but so that it can move in horizontal and vertical directions and also in an endwise direction, a bufferplate carried by said buffer-rod, and adapted by contact with a similar buffer-plate on an adjacent vehicle to center the bufier-rod and attached parts, and a pair of coupling and centering horns that are carried by said buffer-rod, are arranged to project over and under said buffer-plate and to diverge from each other in both vertical and lateral senses when in their operative positions and are then capable of forming combined centering and coupling devices, substantially as described.

4. Combined coupling buffing and drawgear apparatus for railway and similar vehicles comprising a bufier-rod, means for carrying and supporting said rod in a normallyhorizontal position on a vehicle but so that it can move in horizontal and vertical directions and also in an endwise direction, a bu t'ferplate carried by said buffer-rod, and adapted by contact with a similar buffer-plate on an adjacent vehicle to center the buffer-rod and attached parts, combined centering and coupling horns carried by said buffer-rod,arranged above and below said buffer-plate and to diverge from each other both vertically and laterally and each formed with a hook-like engaging part, and means whereby said horns can be moved into an operative or inoperative position at will, substantially as de-' scribed.

5. Combined coupling buffing and drawgear apparatus for railway and similar vehicles comprising a rotary buffer-rod, means 'for carrying and supporting said rod in 21 normally-horizontal position on a vehicle but so that it can move in horizontal and vertical directions and also in an endwise direction, and can also be partly rotated about its own axis, a buffer-plate carried by said buffer-rod, and adapted by contact with a similar bufferplate on an adjacent vehicle to center the buffer-rod and attached parts, combined centering and coupling horns carried by said buffer-rod, arranged above and below said having a buffer-plate, adapted by contact with a similar buffer-plate on an adjacent vehicle to center the buffer-rod and attached parts, a pair of coupling and centering horns 0 carried by said rod and plate, arranged above and below said plate and to diverge from each other and formed with hook-like parts having abutment-surfaces g, means for supporting and carrying said rod in a nor mally-horizontal position but so that it can swivel in various directions and move endwise, and means capable of being operated from either side of the vehicle carrying said apparatus and of partly rotating said rod, plate and hooks, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

7. Combined coupling buffing and drawgear apparatus for railway and similar vehicles comprising a buffer-rod, means for carrying and supporting aid rod in a normallyhorizontal position on a vehicle but so that it can move in horizontal and vertical directions and also in an endwise direction, a bufferplate carried by said buffer-rod, and adapted by contact with a similar buffer-plate on. an adjacent vehicle to center the buffer-rod and attached part-s, vertically and laterally diverging horns 0 carried by said buffer rod and plate, arranged above and below the latter and having hook-like abutment-surfaces g, a holding device connected to said buffer-rod, buffer-plate and horns and adapted to be engaged with said carrying and supporting means in one or other of two positions corresponding to the operative and inoperative positions of said buffer-plate and horns, and means for operating said holding device and turning said buffer-plate and horns about the axis of said buffer-rod from either side of the vehicle, substantially as described.

8. In combined coupling buffing and drawgear apparatus for railway and similar vehicles, the combination with a buffer-rod, a butfer-plate adapted by contact with a similar buffer-plate on an adjacent vehicle to center the buffer-rod, and combined centering and coupling devices carried thereby and extending over and under said buffer-plate, of means for carrying, supporting and controlling the movements of said bufier-rod and attached parts, said means comprising bearings through which said buffer-rod extends and against one of which said buffer-plate abuts, the inner of said bearings having an outwardly-flaring passage therethrough for said rod and being carried by the vehicle, one or more combined bufier and draw springs located between said bearings, an abutment device carried by the inner end of said bulfei rod and bearing against the inner end of said inner bearing, means for limiting the outward movement of the other bearing, and means adapted to normally hold said bufferrod and attached parts in the mid or central position, substantially as described for the purposes specified.

9. In combined coupling bufling and drawgear apparatus for railway and similar vehicles, the combination with a buffer-rod, buffer-head and combined centering and coupling devices carried thereby, of means forearrying, supporting and controlling the movements of said buffer-rod and attached parts, said means comprising inner and outer bearin gs through which said buffer-rod extends and against the outer of which said bufierhead abuts, said inner bearing having an outwardly-flaring hole therethrough for said rod, a combined buffer and draw spring located between said bearings and surrounding said rod, an abutment device carried by said rod and bearing against the inner end of said i11- ner bearing, a third bearing arranged on the vehicle so as to turn about a vertical axis and through which said inner bearing can slide endwise but cannot rotate, means connecting said outer bearing to said third bearing and adapted to allow of inward, outward and angular movements of said outer bearing, and a spring deviceadapterl to normally hold said third bearing and attached parts in the mid or central position,substantially as described.

10. In combined coupling buffing and drawgear apparatus for railway and similar vehicles, the combination of a buffer-rod, abutferhead and combined centering and coupling devices carried by the outer end of said rod, an abutment device carried by the inner end of said rod, inner and outer bearings through which said rod extends, against the outer of which said buffer-head abuts and against the inner of which said abutment bears, a coiled combined bufferand draw spring located between and connected atits ends to said inner and outer bearings and surrounding said bu liter-rod, a third bearingth rough which said inner bearing can slide endwise but cannot rotate, means connecting said outer and third bearings so as to allow of limited inward, outward and angular movements of said outer bearing, upper and lower hearings carried by the vehicle to which the apparatus is applied and in which said third bearing is mounted to turn about a vertical axis, means adapted to normally hold or return said third bearing and attached parts in or to the mid or central position but capable of allowing said parts to move laterally, a pawl or catch mounted on said buffer-head and adapted to be engaged with either of two different parts of said outer bearing, and means adapted to dis engage said pawl or catch from one part of said outer bearing, to partly rotate the bufferhead and horns about the axis of said bufferrod, and to rengage said pawl or catch with another part of said outer bearing, substantially as described for the purposes specified.

11. In a railway or like vehicle, combined coupling buffing and draw-gear apparatus comprising the outer bearing 29 with recesses 14c and 15, the inner bearing q having a flaring hole therethrough, the bearing win which said bearing (1 can slide endwise but cannot rotate, upper and lower bearings carried by said vehicle and in which said bearing to is mounted to turn about a vertical axis, the tie-bolts 7 connecting said bearings p and w as described, the coiled spring 6 located between and connected at its ends to said bearings p and q, one or more springs controlling buffer-head b and adapted to enter either of the recesses 14 and 15 in said bearing p, and a handle Zjournaled in said buffer-head and to which said catch is fixed, substantially as described.

12. In combined coupling buffingand drawgear apparatus for railway and similar vehicles, a hollow butter-rod provided with a butfer-plate having a flat outer surface and with centering and coupling devices, means for carrying and supporting said rod in a normally-horizontal position on a vehicle but so that it can move in horizontal and vertical directions and also in an endwise direction, a train-pipe extending from the inner end of said hollow buffer-rod, and a pipecoupling device that is carried by and projects beyond the outer end of said bufierplate, is in communication with said trainpipe, and is adapted to make a close joint with an appropriate coupling device on the buffer-plateof an adjacent vehicle when the two vehicles carrying said devices are brought together, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

'13. In combined coupling buffing and drawgear apparatus for railway and similar vehicles, a hollow butter-rod provided with a buffer-head having a flat outer surface and with centering and coupling devices, means for carrying and supporting said rod in a normally-horizontal position on a vehicle but so that it can move in horizontal and vertical directions and also in an endwise direction, one or more train-pipes located within said hollow butter-rod and extending from the inner end thereof, and one or more pipe-coupling devices carried by and projecting beyond the said buffer-plate, connected to the outer end or ends of the train pipe or pipes and adapted to make a close joint with an appropriate coupling device ordevices on the buffer-plate of an adjacent vehicle when the two vehicles carrying said devices are brought together, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

14. In combined coupling buffing and drawgear apparatus for railway and similar vehicles, a hollow bu ffer-rod provided with a butfer-plate-having a fiat outer surface, and with centering and coupling devices arranged above and below said plate, means for carrying and so pporting said rod in a normally-horizontal position on a vehicle but so that it can move in horizontal and vertical directions and also in an endwise direction, a train-pipe extending from the inner end of said hollow bufferrod, a pipe-coupling device that is carried by and projecting beyond the outer end of said buffer-plate, is in communication with said train-pipe, and is adapted to make a close joint with an appropriate coupling device on an adjacent Vehicle when the two vehicles carrying said devices are brought together, and a valve adapted to close the outlet from said train-pipe when the corresponding pipe- Signed at 77 COl'Dhill, London, E. 0., England, this 27th day of February, 1900.

SAMUEL GEOGHEGAN.

Witnesses:

WM. 0. BROWN, I-I. MAYKELS.

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