IMPROVEMENTS IN BUFFING APPARATUS
Year: 1888

page_text: I, GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE, Jr., of Pittsburgh, in the County of Allegheny, State of
Pennsylvania, and United States of America, manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN BUFFING APPARATUS and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
My present invention relates to certain improvements in buffing apparatus designed
to be interposed between a stationary and movable body or between two bodies
approaching each other either from opposite directions, or between two bodies moving
in the same direction, but at different rates of speed. The invention has for its object
a construction of buffing apparatus whether applied to the draw-bars or buffers of cars
or for other purposes, wherein a frictional resistance is employed either in combination
with a spring resistance or alone for the purpose of modifying the momentum and
impact of the meeting or separating bodies.
:
In the accompanying drawings Figures 1 and 2, are views, in side elevation and
top plan respectively, of an ordinary coupler, having my improved buffing device
applied thereto; Figs. 3 and 4, similar views showing my invention applied to the
Janney type of coupler; Fig. 5, a sectional elevation of my improved buffing
mechanism, the section being taken on the line a-x, Fig. 7; Figs. 6 and 7, transverse
sections on the lines y-y and -2, Fig. 5, respectively; Figs. 8 and 9, perspective
detail views of the wedge block and one of the carriers; Fig. 10, a sectional detail
view showing the manner of securing the friction plates; Figs. 11 and 12, sectional
views on the same plane as Fig. 5, showing a portion of the buffing apparatus on an
enlarged scale, the mechanism being in normal position in Fig. 11, and under com-
pression in Fig. 12; Figs. 13 and 14, views in side elevation and plan, showing the
form of my apparatus designed for tension and compression, applied to the Janney
of coupler Figs. 15 to 19 inclusive, are similar views to Figs. 5 to 9, showing the
tension and compression form of apparatus; Fig. 20 shows a portion of the end of a
car, one of the buffers of which is shown in section, with my improvements applied
thereto; Fig. 21 is a plan view, partly in section, of the devices shown in Fig. 20;
Fig. 22, a perspective view of the wedge block; Figs. 23 and 24, sectional views on
the lines and y—y, Fig. 20, showing the frictional apparatus for the buffers on an
enlarged scale, and Fig. 25, a view, partly in end elevation and partly in section, of
the buffer mechanism.
Referring to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive, the buffing mechanism

page_text: is arranged within a casting A, the rear or left hand end 1, Fig. 5, thereof, being
cylindrical, and the opposite end 2, being rectangular as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The
inner walls of the rectangular portion are recessed as shown, for the reception of a
series of plates 3, held in their places by bolts 4, distance strips being arranged between
adjacent plates. In order that a certain freedom of movement of the plates may be
allowed, the portion of the bolt 4 passing through the plates is made somewhat larger
than the remaining portion thereof, thereby forming a shoulder, constructed to bear
against the wall of the casting, and prevent the plates from being tightly clamped
together, the enlarged portion being somewhat longer than the combined thickness of
the plates 4 and the distance blocks. Between the plates 3, of each of the series, are
arranged similar plates 5, having their outer ends bolted to carrier blocks 6, said
plates 5 being separated by distance strips, as above described in connection with the
plates 3, said plates and strips being bolted to the carriers 6 by bolts 7, constructed
similarly to the bolts 4, or by rivets. The distance strips between the plates 3, and
those between the plates 5, are made of a thickness slightly less than the thickness of
the plates 3 and 5, so as to permit of the plates 3 and 5 moving towards each other as
herein described, without any appreciable flexure. In the construction shown in
Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, I employ four sets of plates 3 and a corresponding number of
carriers 6, with their sets of plates 5. On the inner ends of the carriers 6, are formed
a series of wedge like or inclined faces 8, which engage with correspondingly
shaped faces formed on the sides of the wedge block 9. See Fig. 8. Through
this wedge block passes the draft pin 10, connected to the draw-bar or coupler 11,
at its outer end, and between the outer end of the wedge block and a follower
plate 12, at the end of the coupler, is arranged a spring 13, of a length sufficient,
when the apparatus is in normal position, as shown in Fig. 5, to extend from the
front end of the wedge block 9 to a point beyond the carrier block 6. This
spring 13 is made of sufficient strength to afford a considerable resistance as against
the inward movement of the draft pin. Although I prefer to interpose a follower
plate between the draw pin and the spring, as hereinbefore stated, it is evident
that the end of the draw bar or coupler may be made of sufficient size, or the buffing
apparatus may be so proportioned as to effect all the functions as hereinafter stated,
of the plate 12.
In the cylindrical end 1 of the casting A, I arrange a set of spiral springs, 14
and 15, of the form ordinarily used for the draw-gear of cars. Between the outer
ends of the springs 14 and 15 and the rear end of the carrier 6, is arranged a
buffing block 16, which may be formed in one or in two sections as desired, said
buffing block serving not only to transmit motion from the carrier block 6 to the
springs and 15, but also as an abutment against which said springs bear when
tension is applied to the draft pin 10, the buffing block being provided with outwardly
projecting flanges 17, arranged to engage shoulders 18, formed at the ends of the
cylindrical portion 1 of the casting. At the left hand end of the spiral springs 14 and 15
is arranged a draw plate 19, to which the draft pin 10 is so connected as to press said
plate against the springs 14 and 15 when tension is applied to the draft pin. Between
the timber 20 that carries the center plate of the car and the rear end of the casting A,
is interposed a casting 21, serving to resist the action of the springs when they are
compressed by the rearward movement of the draw bar 11.
The casting A is supported by bolts 22, serving to secure it to the longitudinal
centre-sills of the car, said bolts being reinforced as against any rearward movement
of the casting by the diagonally arranged bolts 23, which pass through the end sill of
the car, and by bolts 24, which reinforce the bolts 22 as against any outward move-
ment of the casting when tension is exerted upon the draw bar or coupler.
The operation of the apparatus as hereinbefore described, is substantially as follows.
When tension is exerted upon the draw-head coupler, for the purpose of pulling the
car, the draft pin 10, through its connection with the draft plate 19, compresses the
springs 14 and 15, the forward end of said springs bearing against the block 16, which,
in turn, bears against the shoulder 18 of the casting A. During this exertion of
tension upon the draft pin, the casting A is held, as against forward movement, by the

page_text: bolts 22 and 24 arranged as above described. Upon the application of pressure to
the draw head or coupler, either by the same coming in contact with the draw head
or coupler of an adjacent car, or with a stationary object, which pressure or force is
often excessive and destructive, not only to the draft rigging of the car, but also to
the car itself, the first inward movement of the draw-bar and with it the follower
plate 12, compresses the spring 13 until the follower plate 12 comes in contact with the
forward ends of the carrier blocks 6. In this connection it should be stated that the
spring 13 is constructed to afford as great a preliminary resistance to the inward
movement of the draw head as the size of the apparatus will admit. The compressive
force exerted upon the spring 13 is communicated, through said spring, to the wedge
block 9, thereby forcing said block inwardly or to the left in Fig. 5, in which inward
movement, by reason of the engagement of the inclined faces of the block with the
correspondingly shaped faces of the carriers 6, said carriers are forced outwardly,
thereby tightly compressing the interwoven or alternately arranged plates 3 and 5,
between the carriers and the walls of the casting A. If a greater inward pressure is
exerted upon the draw-head than is required to compress the spring 13, the follower
plate 12 will come in contact with the forward ends of the carrier blocks 6, and will
tend to force said blocks inwardly, and to cause the plates 5 to slide between the
plates 3, but such sliding motion is resisted by the enormous friction produced by the
compression of the plates 3 and 5. In case the inward force acting upon the draw-bar
is sufficient to ovorcome the combined resistance of the spring 13 and the friction
resistance presented by the plates 3 and 5, the inner ends of the carriers will, in their
movement, push the block 16 to the left, or in an inward direction, which movement
of the block 16 will be resisted by the springs 14 and 15. Hence it will be seen that
in case of a severe shock or blow being imparted to the draw-bar, such shock is first
modified or checked by the tension of the spring 13, then by the frictional resistance
of the plates 3 and 5, and then or simultaneously with the exertion of such frictional
resistance, by the springs 14 and 15.
The degree or amount of frictional resistance exerted by the plates 3 and 5, to any
inward movement of the carriers, is dependent, not only upon the tension of the
spring 13, but also upon the angle or degree of inclination of the engaging faces of
the carriers and wedge block, as will be readily understood. These faces are preferably
made of such an inclination, as regards their line of movement, that when the wedge
block is relieved from the inward pressure of the spring 13, said block will be moved
forward automatically by the reaction of the plates 3 and 5 and assume its normal
position, as shown in Figs. 5 and 11. The relative position of the wedge block, carriers,
and friction plates 3 and 5, when an excessive pressure has been applied to the
spring 13, is clearly shown in Fig. 12. As soon as the draw-head is relieved of the
inwardly acting force, the carriers and plates 5 are returned to normal position by
the releasing action of the springs 14 and 15, acting through the block 16, it being
understood that the wedge block has first returned to its normal position as above
stated, thereby relieving the plates 3 and 5 of the compressive force placed thereupon
by the movement of the carrier.
The amount of frictional resistance presented by the plates 3 and 5 when forced
together, is dependent upon the area of surface of the two sets of plates, 3 and 5, in
contact with each other, and the compressive force exerted upon said plates, by the
action of the wedge block 9. Hence, it will be readily understood that by changing
the angle or inclination of the engaging faces of the wedge block and carriers, and by
increasing the number of plates, the frictional resistance can be greatly increased.
The drawing shows five plates in each of the sets, and by making each of said plates one
half the thickness shown and doubling the number of plates, double the frictional
resistance can be obtained, without altering the angle of the engaging faces of the
wedge block and carriers. By slightly increasing the angle of the inclined faces of
the wedge block and carriers to the line of movement of the wedge block, the com-
pressive action exerted by the wedge block, when the latter is shifted inwardly, will be
increased, thereby still further increasing the frictional resistance exerted by the
plates 3 and 5. The plates 3 and 5 can be made of steel, iron, or any other suitable

page_text: material, and, as the apparatus is so constructed that these plates come into action only
when an extraordinary blow is given to the draw-head, the wear upon these plates will
be comparatively small.
In order to institute an increasing resistance as the carriers 6 are forced inwardly,
the side walls of the portion 2 of the casting A may be made inclined, so that a
wedging action will take place when the carriers and plates 5 are forced inwardly, which
wedging action would, through the inclined faces of the carriers and wedge block,
cause the wedge block to move forward to the right in Fig. 5, as the carriers & move
inwardly, thereby increasing the compression of the spring 13, though it will probably
be found in practice that it is more advantageous and economical to give an equal
pressure to the spring 13, from the time the carriers begin their inward movement,
until the end of such movement, except with such variation as may result from the
resistance of the springs 14 and 15.
Referring to Figs 1 and 3 it will be seen that the bolts 23, for convenience are
threaded at each end, and that on the front of the end sill of the car there is placed a
wrought iron plate 25, against which a washer having a bevelled face is arranged, in
order to provide a fair bearing for the nuts. At the same time the strap 26 which is
usually employed for the purpose of holding the draw-bar in its place, is held in its
position by bolts which pass entirely through the end sill, thereby giving the greatest
possible strength in resistance to the action of the whole apparatus. It will be
noticed that the bolts 23 and 22, as well as the casting 21 and the timber 20, all
act together in offering resistance when a great inward force is applied to the
draw-bar.
The apparatus hereinbefore described, and illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, is
designed to modify and limit the inward movements only of the draw-bead by the
employment of frictional resistance. Figs. 13 to 19 inclusive, illustrate a form
of apparatus, wherein provision is made for the modification and limitation by
frictional resistance, of both inward and outward movements of the draw-head or
coupler.
The casting A2 is arranged to slide upon parallel rods 27, (see Figs. 13, 14, 16
and 17), said rods having their rear ends secured to the casting 21 a, and their front
ends to the brackets 28, which are firmly bolted to the timbers of the car as shown.
The casting 21 a is secured to the center bearing timber 20 by bolts 29 as indicated in
Figs. 13 and 14. If a tensional force be applied to the draw-head while the several
parts of the apparatus are in the position shown in Fig. 15, the draft pin 10, which is
in engagement with the casting A2, will draw said casting along the rods 27, the
movement of the casting A2, acting through the spring 14, causing the carriers 6 to
move to the right in Fig. 15, said carriers sliding over the wedge block 9, and being
forced outwardly by the engagement of their inclined faces with those of the wedge
block, thereby forcing the plates 3 and 5 tightly together. As soon as the forward
ends of the carriers come in contact with the follower plate 12, which is also arranged
to slide upon the bars 27, and interposed between the spring 13 and the rear ends of
the draw-bar and brackets 28, any further movement of the casting A2 to the right
will cause the plates 3 to slide along the plates 5, under the frictional resistance
induced by the compression of the plates 3 and 5, the spring 14 being, at the
same time, compressed between the rear end of the casting and the bearing block 16,
interposed between the rear ends of the carriers 6 and the front end of the
spring 14.
When the draw-head is subjected to an inwardly acting or compressive force, the
operation of the apparatus is similar to that described in connection with the con-
struction shown in Figs. 1 to 9, and hereinbefore fully set forth.
The modification shown in Figs. 20 to 25 inclusive, is equally applicable to the
buffers of cars. The casting A³, within which is arranged the operative mechanism, is
preferably rectangular in cross section, and is bolted to the buffer beam 30, as shown
in Figs. 21 and 24. The operative mechanism is substantially similar to that shown
in Figs 15 to 18 inclusive, and herein before described, except that two sets of friction
plates and two carriers are employed, the wedge block being correspondingly constructed.

page_text: The buffer apparatus being designed to be employed only in modifying and limiting
an inwardly acting force, the casting A³ is stationary, the buffer 31 being movable,
as described in connection with the draw-head 11 in the construction shown, in
Figs. 1 to 9.
It will be obvious that any number of carriers and sets of friction plates may be
employed, and that the cross-sectional shape of the friction plates, carriers and wedge
block may be changed or modified as desired.
If desired the draw-head may be made to shift the wedge 9 without the
intervention of the spring 13, in which case the angles of the inclined faces of
the wedge and carriers must be such as to prevent unduly great pressure on the
plates 3 and 5.
In the preferred organization and operation of the apparatus described, the spring 13,
when acted on compressively, and during the time the follower plate 12 and carriers 6
are approaching each other, or coming into engagement, so acts as to shift the wedge
block or blocks 9 sufficiently to bring the intercalating or overlapping plates into the
desired tightness of contact, so that, as thereafter the described movement is continued,
such plates shall slide on and between each other with a degree or amount of frictional
resistance, as may be required, but preferably without any, or if any with but com-
paratively little increase of such resistance by an increase of tightness of gripping
contact of the plates on each other, though the latter feature may be employed
as already stated, if desired. And it is believed to be better to so proportion
and shape the devices that the greater part or at least a considerable part of the
work of arresting motion, should be done by the frictional resistance of the plates,
partly for the reason that on the cessation of the motion there is no such violent
or dangerous rebound, as occurs when springs are the sole reliance for that purpose;
and it is a generally admitted fact that oftentimes, the rebound is more dangerous and
destructive than the original impact. And the feature of improvement thus referred
to, is one of great practical value.
The main characteristic features of my invention are two mechanical devices or
members, parts of which overlap or intercalate with each other, and suitable means, as
for example, an incline, or wedge or a series of wedges, operating transversely to the
general direction of movement, so as to clamp together, more or less tightly, as desired,
such intercalating or overlapping parts. The number of such parts or plates as I have
termed them, may be varied at pleasure, though it will be readily understood that there
must be at least one on one of the members, and two on the other, in order to get the
transverse clamping effect described, but for this purpose, the interior wall of the box
or case A which contains the plate or plates, and the outer or back face of the carrier 6,
when the arrangement is as illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, become frictional resistance
surfaces, and mechanically considered, become plates or the equivalents thereof for the
purposes of the present invention.
It will also be noted that the first or preliminary movement of the operative power,
will force the frictional members into operative relation with each other. And it will
be further noticed that I provide first a resilient resistance, which is immediately
supplemented by a frictional resistance, and that the latter is, when desired, reinforced
by a second resilient resistance.
I am aware that it is not new to interpose between the independently movable ends
of a mechanical device, springs and inclines, so that as one member noves relatively
to the other, the springs shall travel up or down the inclines. Such construction is
hereby disclaimed. It does not contain any transverse clamping action of any kind,
nor any intercalating parts capable of being clamped.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1st. In a buffer mechanism, the combination of two parts or members, one capable
of some longitudinal motion toward or from the other, intercalating or overlapping
frictional resistance plates between the two, and a suitable wedge-like clamping

page_text: mechanism, operative in a direction transverse to the line of draft or resistance for
forcing the plates of the opposite members into the desired frictional engagement,
substantially as set forth.
2nd. In a buffer mechanism, the combination of two parts or members, one capable
of some longitudinal motion toward or from the other, intercalating or overlapping
frictional resistance plates between the two, and a suitable wedge like clamping
mechanism, automatically operative in a direction transverse to the line of draft or
resistance for forcing the plates of the opposite members into the desired frictional
engagement, substantially as set forth.
3rd. In a buffer apparatus, the combination of two parts or members, one capable of
somo longitudinal motion toward or from the other, intercalating or overlapping plates
between the two, a wedge-like clamping mechanism operative in a direction transverse
to the line of draft or resistance for forcing the plates of the two members into the desired
frictional engagement, and a spring for actuating the clamping mechanism, substan-
tially as set forth.
4th. In combination with the ordinary spring or springs and with the draft or
resistance mechanism of a buffer apparatus, automatically operative frictional
resistance mechanism, consisting of a stationary member, a movable member,
interposed intercalating or overlapping plates, a transversely acting wedge-like
clamping mechanism, and a spring for actuating the clamping mechanism, sub-
stantially as set forth."
5th. In a buffer apparatus, the orderly arrangement in the line of oporation, of first,
a spring, adapted to perform the double function of a resistance spring and a clamp-
actuating device, second, two frictional resistance members and a transversely acting
wedge-like clamping mechanism, and third, buffer springs such as are usually employed
in such mechanism, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 20th day of November A.D. 1888.
Witnesses:
J. SNOWDEN BELL.
F. E. GAITHER.
GEO. WESTINGHOUSE, JNR.
Abel & Imray,
Agents for the Applicant,
28, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.