Improvements in or in connection with Buffers and Draw-bars for Railway and other Similar Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in or in connection with Buffers and Draw-bars for
Railway and other Similar Vehicles.
We, WILLIAM RICHARD SUMPTION JONES, of 3 Whitehall Court, Westminster,
in the County of London, Engineer, and EVERARD RICHARD CALTHROP, of 56
Naylor Street Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
we have
In order that either of a pair of centrally arranged and connected buffer and
draw-bar rods on adjacent railway or other similar vehicles, may turn laterally
relatively to the underframes of the vehicle upon which it is mounted, without
putting undue stress on the rod and buffer and draw springs when passing around
curves of short radius, and so that the displaced rod shall be automatically
brought back to its normal position in a simple and ready manner,
described in the specification of another application for Letters Patent filed by us
No. 20429 of 1895, the provision on the head-stock or other part of the under-
frame of a vehicle against which the buffer spring and draw bar spring act, of
cam or inclined surface upon which the sockets or holders or equivalent parts
secured to the adjacent ends of the spring are arranged to turn laterally and
through which the buffer or draw-bar rod or combined buffer and draw-bar rod
extends, the arrangement being such that when the said rod is turned or displaced
sideways in either direction relatively to the vehicle on which, it is mounted,
in order that it may remain, when passing around a curve, in line with the
buffer or an adjacent vehicle draw-bar rod to which it is connected, the spring
socket or holder or equivalent part will be caused to travel or mount the said cam
or inclined surfaces sideways to permit such movement to readily take place add.
will, by such movement further compress the spring on one side or the other,
according to the direction of movement, the energy thereby stored in the spring
serving to automatically return the rod to its central or normal position at the
right time. To enable a greater deviation of the rod to take place and yet
ensure the automatic return of the rod to its central position, auxiliary controll-
ing springs are provided according to our previous invention, in connection
with the said spring sockets holders or equivalent parts, these springs being so
arranged as to be compressed on the further deviation of the rods beyond that
provided for by the cam or inclined surfaces.
Now this invention has for object inter alia to provide for a maximum devia-
ation of the rods with automatic return of the rods at the right time, without the use
of auxiliary controlling springs.
For this purpose one of each of the spring sockets, holders or equivalent parts
(hereinafter called the socket) and the headstock or other part of the underframe of

page_text: the vehicle (hereinafter called the headstock) against which it acts, are so relatively
formed and arranged that the former can rock or tilt on the latter, which serves
as a fulcrum therefor, to provide for the further deviation or turning of the buffer
and draw-bar rod, that may be required beyond that provided for by the ordinary
plug between the rod and socket the part about which the socket turns being
arranged at any convenient distance from the centre of the socket. By this arrange-
ment, upon slight turning of the rod to one side or the other, the
spring will be further compressed on one side and then
upon further
deviation of the rod, the whole of the spring will be further compressed, the
pressure of the spring being greater on the part of the socket at one side of the
said turning point or fulcrum than on the part at the other side thereof with the
result that the sockets and rod will be readily returned to the central or normal
position when permitted to do so by the connected vehicles entering upon a straight
portion of line.
As will be obvious the sockets and the parts of the headstock against which
they bear can be constructed in various ways to enable the above mentioned
action to take place.
In one arrangement, the base of the socket connected to the inner and larger
end of the conical buffer spring has a central- flat bearing surface that normally
rests against a flat bearing plate on the headstock and at opposite sides of the
said central.flat surface, are two surfaces that are inclined thereto, the two angles
or. ridges between the said. surfaces serving as turning points about which the.
socket can turn horizontally in either direction. A rib and corresponding recess
formed the one on the socket and the: other on the bearing plate serve to ensure the
socket being normally held in its proper position and to guide it to this position
after being turned to one side or the other.
In another arrangement the said socket is formed at its base with a concavé
bearing surface or with inclined surfaces mounted to normally rest against a
convex bearing surface or inclined surfaces on a perforated plate fixed to the
headstock as in any of the arrangements shown in our said former specification.
The ends of the concave bearing surface or inclined surfaces on the socket are made
of rounded or convex form, and the surface of the bearing plate at the two sides
of the convex bearing surface or inclined surfaces thereon are made. Hat and
arranged near to the rounded or convex edges on the socket, the arrangement being
such. that upon slight deviation of the combined buffer and draw bar rod from its
central position the buffer and draw springs will be further compressed on one side
or the other, according to the direction of movement, as in our former arrange-
ments, and upon further deviation of the rod one or other of the rounded or convex
edges at the bearing surface or surfaces on the socket will come in contact with
the adjacent flat surface on the bearing plate which will then serve as a fulcruin
upon, which the said socket will turn to permit of the, further sideways movement
of the rod, the difference in pressure of the buffer spring on the parts of the socket
at the two sides of the fulcrum serving to ensure the return of the socket and rod
to their central position at the required time. The socket and bearing plate for
the draw spring may be similarly arranged, or be arranged as described in our
said former specification.
In another, arrangement, the bearing plate is formed with a central' recess
having, as seen in plau, inclined sides terminating in rounded ridges or projections;
and the spring socket is formed with an extension that bears against the inner
end of the recess, which may be flat, and also has inclined sides, the base of the
socket normally-bearing simultaneously upon the two rounded ridges or pro-
jections each of which is adapted to serve as a fulcrum upon which the socket can
turn when the-same is moved sufficiently far toward it by deviation of the combined
buffer and draw-bar rod.
י.
In a modified arrangement the bearing plate and socket are formed the one
with a recess and the other with a projection each having inclined sides as in the

page_text: last arrangement, but the base of the socket does not rest normally on the two
ridges at the side of the recess in the bearing plate. In this case one or other
of the sides of the projection will turn upon the adjacent side of the recess or
ridge on the bearing plate when, the socket is turned towards the same.
In a modification of this arrangement the projection and recess are reversed in
position that is to say the projection is on the headstock and the
base of the socket.
recess in the
7
When the projection and recess do not fit each other the central position
of the socket normally may be ensured by a rib and recess as in the first arrange-
ment, herein described.
In another arrangement the bases of the buffer and draw spring sockets iest
against flat or rounded surfaces on the headstock and are formed with central
tubular extensions that pass partly through the headstock and one in line with
each other, the hole in the headstock through which such extensions pass being.
flared outward and laterally to permit of the required horizontal turning move..
rient of the sockets with the combined buffer and draw, bar, rod which passes
through them.
ved.
In a modification of this arrangement the tubular extensions of the two sockets
are arranged telescopically one within the other.
In another construction for carrying out the object of this invention, the socket
bears against an elastic cushion, or fulerum that may be in the form of a ring
of india rubber, or coiled or other form of spring placed between the base of the
socket and the bearing plate between which two parts there is not direct contact,
as in the arrangements hereinbefore described, the elasticity of the cushion, or
fulcrum serving to provide for all required deviations of the combined, buffer and
draw-bar rod and for automatically returning the rod and attached parts to their
central position at the required times.
In a further construction, the combined buffer and draw-bar rod extends through
a sleeve the ends of which are adapted to serve as or are provided with sockets to
receive and hold the adjacent ends of the buffer and draw springs and, which is
ovided with a pair of vertically arrange trunnions mounted in bearings,
formed in top and bottom plates and arranged as near as possible to the outer
side of the headstock so that the centre of motion shall be as near as possible
to the said outer side of the headstock. Between a flange or extension on the sleeve
and the headstock is or are arranged one or more springs that serve to control the
turning movement of the sleeve and rod in a horizontal direction and to return the
parts to their central position when permitted to do so. The springs may be in the
form of vertical blocks of india rubber arranged at the respective sides of the
sleeve and held in position by bolts extending through the headstock and a
flanged bearing plate attached thereto. In this case the oppositely arranged sur-
faces of the headstock or bearing plate, and sleeve flange between which each block
of india rubber is placed may be inclined inwardly and towards each other so
that when the sleeve and rod are turned to one side or the other the ends of the
spring that then comes into action will be brought more or less parallel with each
other and so prevent injurious deformation of such. spring. In lieu of india rubber
springs, coiled metal springs may be used; also in lieu of two or more springs,
a single annular spring of suitable material such as india rubber or metal may
be used arranged to surround the sleeve. The springs, and the flanged part, of the
sleeve against which they act, are preferably arranged at the inner side of the
headstock but may if desired be arranged at the outer side thereof,
1800
+

page_text: Improvements in or in connection with Buffers and Draw-bars for
Railway and other Similar Vehicles.
We, WILLIAM RICHARD SUMPTION JONES, of 3 Whitehall Court, Westminster,
in the County of London, Engineer, and EVERARD RICHARD CALTHROP, of 56
Naylor Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following s
statement:-
of
Letters
Patent
we have
to
us
In order that either of a pair of centrally arranged and connected buffer and
draw-bar rods on adjacent railway or other similar vehicles, may turn laterally
relatively to the underframes of the vehicle upon which it is mounted, without
putting undue stress on the rod and buffer and draw springs when passing around
curves of short radius, and so that the displaced rod shall be automatically
brought back to its normal position in a simple and ready manner,
described in the specification
granted
No. 20429 of 1895, the provision on the head-stock or other part of the under-
frame of a vehicle against which the buffer spring and draw bar spring act, of
cam or inclined surfaces upon which the sockets or holders or equivalent parts
secured to the adjacent ends of the spring are arranged to turn laterally and
through which the buffer or draw-bar rod or combined buffer and draw-bar rod
extends, the arrangement being such that when the said rod is turned or displaced
sideways in either direction relatively to the vehicle on which it is mounted,
in order that it may remain, when passing around a curve, in line with the
buffer or an adjacent vehicle draw-bar rod to which it is connected, the spring
socket or holder or equivalent part will be caused to travel or mount the said cam
or inclined surfaces sideways to permit such movement to readily take place and
will, by such movement further compress the spring on one side or the other,
according to the direction of movement, the energy thereby stored in the spring
serving to automatically return the rod to the central or normal position at the
right time. To enable a greater deviation of the rod to take place and yet
ensure the automatic return of the rod to its central position, auxiliary controll-
ing springs are, according to our previous invention, provided in connection
with the said spring sockets, holders or equivalent parts, these springs being so
arranged as to be compressed on the further deviation of the rods beyond that
provided for by the cam or inclined surfaces.
Now this invention has for object inter alia to provide for a maximum devia-
tion of the rods with automatic return thereof at the right time, without the use
of auxiliary controlling springs.
For this purpose one or each of the spring sockets, holders or equivalent parts
(hereinafter called the socket) and the headstock or other part of the underframe of
the vehicle (hereinafter called the headstock) against which it acts, are so relatively
formed and arranged that the former can rock or tilt on the latter, which serves
as a fulcrum therefor to provide for the further deviation or turning of the buffer
and draw-bar rod, that may be required beyond that provided for by the ordinary
plug between the rod and socket, the part about which the socket turns being
arranged at any convenient distance from the centre of the socket. By this arrange-
ment, upon slight turning of the rod to one side or the other, the compressed spring
will be further compressed on that side to which it is turned, and then upon further
deviation of the rod, the whole of the spring will be further compressed, the
pressure of the spring being greater on the part of the socket at one side of the

page_text: ssid turning point or fulcrum than on the part at the other or opposite side
thereof with the result that the socket and rod will he readily returned to the
central or normal position when permitted to do so by the connected vehicles
entering upon a straight portion of line.
As will be obvious the sockets and the parts of the headstock against which
they bear, can be constructed in various ways to enable the above mentioned
action to take place.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 shows in sectional plan so much of a central buffer and draw-bar
apparatus as is necessary to illustrate the nature of our present improvements
therein. Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1 but with the movable parts in a
different position.
1 is the socket connected to the inner and larger end of the conical buffer
spring 2. This socket is formed at its base with a concave bearing surface 1"
(or it may be with inclined surfaces as hereinafter described) mounted to normally
rest against a convex bearing surface 3 (or inclined surfaces) on a perforated
plate 3 that is fixed to the headstock 4 in any suitable way, as in any of the
arrangements shown in our said former specification. The ends 1 of the concave
hearing surface 1" on the socket are made of rounded or convex form as shown, and
the surface 3 of the bearing plate at the two sides of the convex bearing surface 3
thereon are made flat and arranged near to, or it may be actually touching the
rounded or convex edges 1b on the socket. By this arrangement it will be seen
that upon slight deviation of the combined buffer and draw bar rod 5 from its
central position (Fig. 1), the compressed buffer and draw springs 2 and 6 will
be further compressed on one side or the other, according to the direction of move-
ment. as in our former arrangements, and upon further deviation of the rod, one
or other of the rounded or convex edges 1b on the socket 1 will come in contact
with the adjacent flat surface 3 on the bearing plate 3 which will then serve as a
fulerum upon which the said socket can turn to permit of the further sideways
movement of the rod into the position indicated for example in Fig. 2, the
difference in pressure of the buffer spring 2 on the parts of the socket 1 at the two
sides of the fulcrum serving to ensure the return of the socket, rod and attached
parts to their.central positions at the required time. The socket 7 and bearing
plate 8 for the draw spring 6 may as shown, be similarly constructed and arranged;
or they may be arranged as described in our said former specification.
Fig. 3 is a part sectional plan showing a modified arrangement in which the
base of the socket 1 for the inner and larger end of the conical buffer spring has
a central flat bearing surface 1" that normally rests against a flat bearing
plate 3 on the headstock 4. At opposite sides of the said central
flat surface, 1" are two surfaces 1 that are inclined thereto, the two
angles or ridges 1b between the said surfaces 1 and 1 serving as turning points
about which the socket can turn horizontally in either direction.
Fig. 4 shows an arrangement similar to that represented in Fig. 3, but in which
the central flat bearing surface 1 is formed on a projecting part of the plate 3
which is provided at opposite. sides with inclined surfaces 3 diverging from the
inclined surfaces 14 on the socket. A rib 9 and corresponding recess 9" formed
the one on the socket 1 and the other on the bearing plate 3 serve in each of the
arrangements shown in Figs. 3 and 4 to ensure the socket being normally held
in its proper position and to guide it to this position after being turned to one side
or the other of the centre line of the vehicle to which the apparatus is applied.
Fig. 5 is a part sectional plan showing another arrangement in which the
, bearing plate 3 is formed with a central recess 3°, having, as seen in plan, in-
clined slides 3 terminating in rounded ridges or projections 3, and the spring
socket 1 is formed with an extension 1° that bears against the inner and it may
be flattened end of the recess 3°, and also has inclined sides 1d, the base of the
socket normally bearing simultaneously upon the two rounded ridges or projec
tions 3 each of which is adapted to serve as a fulcrum upon which the socket can

page_text: turn when the same is moved sufficiently far toward it by deviation of the combined
buffer and draw-bar rod 5.
Fig. 6 is a part sectional plan showing a modified arrangement in which the
bearing plate 3 and the socket 1 are formed the one with a recess 3 and the other
with a
projection 1 each having inclined sides as in the last arrangement, but
the base of the socket does not rest normally on the two ridges, 30, at the side of
the recess in the bearing plate. In this case one or other of, the sides 14 of the
projection 1° will turn upon the adjacent side 3d of the recess 3° or ridge, 3° on
the bearing plate 3 when the socket is turned towards the same.
Fig. 7 shows a modification of the last described arrangement in which the
projection 1° and recess 3° are reversed in position, that is to say, the, projection is
on the plate 3 or the headstock and the recess in the base of the socket 1.
When the projection and recess do not fit each other, the central position of the
socket normally may be ensured by a rib and recess as in the arrangements
shown in Figs. 3 and 4.
Fig. 8 shows another arrangement in which the bases of the buffer, and draw
spring sockets 1 and 7 rest against flat, rounded, or, as shown, inclined surfaces 3°
on the plate 3 fixed to the headstock 4 and are formed with central tubular ex-
tensions 1, 7* respectively that pass partly through the headstock and are in, line
with each other, the hole in the headstock or plate through which such extensions
pass being flared outward and laterally to permit of the required horizontal
turning movement of the sockets with the combined buffer and draw-bar rod 5
which passes through them.
Fig. 9 shows a modification of this arrangement in which the tubular ex
tensions 1, 7* of the two sockets 1 and 7 are arranged telescopically one within the
other.
The mode of operation of the various modified arrangements herein before
described is similar to that of the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
Fig. 10 is a sectional plan and Fig. 11 an end elevation as seen from the inner
end of the buffer and draw bar apparatus showing a further construction' in
which the combined buffer and draw-bar rod 5 extends through a sleeve 10 the
ends of which are adapted to serve as or are provided with sockets 1 and 7 to receive
and hold the adjacent ends of the buffer and draw springs and which is pro-
vided with a pair of vertically arranged trunnions 11, 11° mounted in bearings 12,
12 formed in top and bottom plates 13, 13" and arranged as near as possible to
tlie outer side of the headstock 4 so that the centre of motion of the rod 5 and
attached parts shall be as near as possible to the said outer side of the headstock.
Between a flange or extension 14 on the sleeve 10 and the headstock 4, is or are
arranged one or more springs that serve to control the turning movement of the
sleeve and rod in a horizontal direction and to return the parts to their central
position when permitted to do so. The springs may, as shown at the right hand
side of Fig. 10, be each in the form of a vertical block 15 of india rubber, arranged
at one or other side of the sleeve 10 and held in position by a bolt, 16 extend-
ing through the headstock and a flanged bearing plate 4 attached thereto. In
this case the oppositely arranged surfaces of the headstock, or bearing plate,4°
and sleeve flange 14 between which each. block of india rubber is placed, may he
inclined inwardly and towards each other as shown so that when the sleeve and rod
are turned to one side or the other, the ends of the spring that then comes into
action will be brought more or less parallel with, each other and so prevent
injurious deformation of such spring. In lieu of india rubber springs, coiled metal
springs may be used; one such spring 15" is shown at the left hand side of Fig. 10.
Also in lieu of two or more springs, a single annular spring of suitable material
such as india rubber or metal may be used arranged to surround the sleeve 10
between the flanged part thereof and the headstock or bearing plate 4. The
springs, and the flanged part 14 of the sleeve against which they act, are preferably
arranged at the inner side of the headstock, as in the example shown, but may if
desired be arranged at the outer side thereof..

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that we
claim is:
1. Central buffer and draw-bar apparatus in which the socket that carries the
inner end of the buffer spring and the headstock against which it acts are so
relatively formed and arranged that the former can rock or tilt on the latter as
a fulcrum to provide for the further deviation or turning of the buffer and draw-bar
rod that may be required beyond that provided for by the ordinary play between
the rod and socket-substantially as hereinabove described with reference to the
drawings.
2. Central buffer and draw-bar apparatus of the kind referred to in the preceding
claim having the buffer spring socket and headstock or plate attached thereto
constructed, arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference respectively to and shown in Figs. 1 and 2; in Fig. 3; in Fig. 4; in
Fig. 5; in Fig. 6; in Fig. 7; in Fig. 8; and in Fig. 9 of the drawings annexed.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the improved com-
bined buffer and draw-bar apparatus shown in and described with reference to
Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawings annexed.
Dated this 3rd day of June 1897.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.