Improvements in and relating to Couplings for Railway Vehicles and the like

13,202. Burridge, C., and Brown, H. June 28. Couplings, automatic. -The ordinary buffers a, b are slotted to receive a pivoted coupling-book c and a crosspin d. The hook has an inclined surface at its outer end, so that, when two cars are brought together, it is lifted into engagement with the cross-pin. The slot in the buffer a also receives a pivoted arm e, bearing against a downward projection f on the coupling-hook, and having a curved end. A lever g, having a curved upper end to engage the coupling- hook, is pivoted in the slot in the buffer b. Minor sliding buffers h, j, k, and l are pressed outwards by springs. The buffers h, l are slotted to receive the ends of uncoupling- levers n and levers p engaging the levers e and g and supporting-guides r. Weighted lever arms s, pivoted to cross-bars on the underframes, carry catches u which normally rest on the levers p but drop when these levers are operated to raise the hook c. The free end of each lever s carries a pendant pivoted arm w capable of turning inwards only and having an inclined bottom surface engaged by a pin x on the side of the connecting-rod 1, so as to free the catch u when the cars have been sufficiently parted. To uncouple a wagon from the engine, the connecting-rods 1 are operated by a lever. A rod 1 extends under each car, and has bifurcated ends carrying a pivoted arm 2, with a cross-pin 3 to engage a recess 4, and a pivoted arm 11 having a curved forward end to engage the curved under surface of the arm 2. The curved bottom of the arm e rests on and, when operated, releases the arm 2, the arm g, in a similar manner, resting on and operating the arm 11. A sliding rod is mounted on each connecting-rod, its ends being near and operating the levers e, g. A pair of arms, pivoted on each side of a rod 1 which is held centrally by springs, carry cross-rods, adapted to engage notches in the connecting-rod and sliding-rod so as to couple them together, and other rods engaging slots in the buffers j and k. Small antifriction rollers may be placed between the coupling-rods and sliding-rods.