GB176726A - Improvements relating to couplings for railway and like vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

176,726. Mitchell, J., and Cossey, J. C. G. July 19, 1921. Couplings, automatic and non-automatic.-In a coupling for a railway vehicle ona coupler head is arranged to receive a locking-bar adapted to rotate in its own plane, within the coupler head the interior surface of the bar near its engaging end being wedge-shaped to engage with the opposing coupler hook or link; the external periphery of the bar in the form of a circular are being guided in and transmitting the draft stresses to correspondingly-formed bearing-surfaces provided on the coupler head. The curved locking-bar 5 is housed in a horizontal groove 6 in the coupler head 2 formed by the flange 8 on the coupler head and casings 9, 10 bolted to the sides. In the centre of the locking-bar 5 is a stem 16 on which a spring 15 is mounted, one end abutting against stops 17, 18 on the coupler head and the other against the abutment 19 on the locking-bar. In setting the coupling for automatic engagement, the pivoted handles 22 on the locking-bar 5 are moved round against the pressure of the spring 15 until the pivoted latch 30 is pushed into engagement with the slot 46 on the locking-bar 5 by the plunger 43. On impact of the opposing coupler, the hook 20, or link, strikes the end 41 of the pivoted latch 30 and disengages it from the locking-bar, which then revolves by the action of its spring 15 into engagement with the hook and automatically tightens the coupling, as the end of the locking-bar is wedge-shaped. To enable the coupling to be set whilst the point of the hook is still in engagement with the end 41 of the latch, a pivoted gravity latch 38 below the latch 30 engages a slot 49 on the underside of the locking-bar, which is in advance of the slot 46. On withdrawal of the nose 27 of the hook from engagement with the end 41 of the latch, the plunger 43 acts on the opposite end 42, and the point 50 pushes the latch 38 out of engagement and allows the latch 30 to engage in its slot 46. On further rearward movement of the hook, the point 27 slides up the incline 29.