Year: 1886

page_text: I, FREDERICK JOHN TALBOT, Managing Director, Ibbotson, Brothers & Co.
Limited, Globe Steel Works, Sheffield, in. the County of York, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to railway-buffers and is designed to improve their con-
struction and thereby impart to them great strength, durability, and efficiency,
and, at the same time, facilitate the removal of the plunger from, and its replace-
ment in, the buffer box or case.
In some railway-buffers as heretofore made, there is a separately constructed
bush secured in the neck of the box or case to serve as a bearing or guide and stop
for the plunger-rod, which has on it a collar within the said box or case. One
object of my present invention is to obviate the necessity for employing a separate
bush. For this purpose I sometimes make the box or case with an internal flange,
guide or bearing which is formed by bending or folding the metal of the said box
or case as hereinafter described.
In some buffers, as heretofore constructed, if the plunger is strained (which is
the invariable result in case of accident) it cannot be removed without considerable
difficulty and expense, and great injury to the buffer.
What is known as a screwed collar has been used to retain the plunger in the
box or case, but such collars are expensive and are very objectionable for the
reason that, to prevent the unscrewing of the said collars by vibration, the plunger-
rods have to be rivetted or clinched over after the said collars have been screwed
thereon; therefore the difficulty of removing the plunger is practically the same as
if a solid collar were used.
By my invention, the security of a solid collar is combined with extreme facility
of removal of the plunger, and the cost of manufacture is considerably reduced.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal central section of one form of my improved
buffer, showing the plunger in elevation.
Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line ax, x, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the nut shown in Figure 1.
Figure 4 is an edge view, and
Figure 5 a face view of a lever or key hereinafter described.

page_text: Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal central section through the box or case of a
buffer, showing the plunger in elevation, and illustrating a modification of my
invention.
Figure 7 is a transverse section on the line x¹, x1, Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a side elevation of the nut shown in Figure 6.
Figure 9 is a vertical longitudinal central section of another form of my improved
buffer, showing the plunger partly in elevation.
Figure 10 is a transverse section on the line a³, x³, Figure 9.
Figure 11 is a side elevation of part of the plunger shown in Figure 9.
Figure 12 is a similar view to Figure 9, illustrating further modifications of my
invention.
Figure 13 is a transverse section on the line x³, x³, Figure 12.
Figure 14 is a transverse section on the line y; y, Figure 12.
Figure 15 is a vertical longitudinal central section of another form of my
improved buffer, showing the plunger in elevation.
Figure 16 is a transverse section on the line 24, x², Figure 15.
Figures 17, 19 and 20 are face views, drawn to an enlarged scale, and
Figures 18 and 21 are longitudinal central sections, also drawn to an enlarged
scale, showing different forms of nuts hereinafter described.
Figure 22 is a vertical longitudinal central section of another form or modification
of my improved buffer, with the plunger shown in elevation.
Figure 23 is a section on the line 2, z, Figure 22.
Figure 24 is a vertical longitudinal central section through a buffer box or case,
showing the plunger and nut in elevation, and illustrating another modification of
my invention.
Figure 25 is a section on the line x, x³, Figure 24.
Figure 26 is a vertical longitudinal central section of another form or modification
of my improved buffer with the plunger shown in elevation.
Figures 27, 29 and 31 are transverse sections on the line 28, x, Figure 26, and
Figures 28, 30 and 32 are side elevations showing details of construction.
Figure 33 is a vertical longitudinal central section of another form or modification
of my improved buffer with the plunger shown in elevation.
Figure 34 is a side elevation of a plunger with a lock-nut shown in section
thereon and illustrating a further modification of my invention.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
a is the box or case; b is the plunger; c is the spring, which is omitted in
Figures 6, 9, 12, 24, 26 and 33 of the drawings; d is the base-plate or back plate
of the said box or case.
a' is the internal flange, guide or bearing in the neck of the buffer box or case.
This guide or bearing is, in some instances, formed by bending or folding over the
plate from which the said box or case is made, previous to the formation of the
latter.
In other instances, I form the buffer box or case and the guide or bearing for the
plunger from a solid piece of wrought iron or steel, by rolling or stamping. I thus
produce a weldless box or case having all the advantages of, but stronger and
cheaper than, those above described. In both instances the said guide or bearing
is an integral part of the box or case. There is, therefore, no loose part, and, the
whole being made of wrought iron or steel, there is less liability to fracture or
derangement than when a separate cast metal bush or throat-piece is used. This
internal flange performs the double purpose of a guide for the plunger and a stop
or abutment for the nut, hereinafter described, which retains the plunger in the
box or case.
In the buffer shown in Figures 1 and 2, instead of using a collar on the plunger-
rod b, I form a screw-thread b' on the said rod and fit thereon a lock-nute (such,
for example, as that known as "Ibbotson's lock-nut") which is slit as at e¹; the said
nut and the screw-threaded portion of the plunger are so formed relatively to each
other that the said nut, in the operation of screwing up the same upon the plunger,

page_text: will expand at its slit end and thus fit the screw-threaded portion of the plunger
with such tight frictional gripping force as will withstand the loosening effect of
any vibration to which the buffer may be subjected.
Either the nut or the plunger may be formed with incomplete screw-threads or
with screw-threads smaller at one end than at the other end; or with ordinary
threads, the hole at the slit end of the nut being smaller than the screw-threaded
part of the plunger; or the configuration of the screw-threads of both the nut and
the plunger may be varied, the difference between the nut and the screw-threaded
part of the plunger being such that, when the nut is screwed home, the requisite
resistance to unscrewing will be ensured.
In the buffer shown in Figures 1 and 2, the slit end of the nut is next the base-
plate d; in the buffer shown in Figures 6 and 7, it is next the plunger-rod b¹ and is
of such external diameter that it fits within the guide or bearing a¹. In the latter
case, the screw-threads of the plunger are larger at that part which fits within the
slit portion of the nut.
In Figures 1, 2, 6, 7, the difference in diameter is on the top of the threads
only. The diameter on the bottom of the threads remaining the same throughout
the nut and the screwed end of the plunger.
To facilitate the operation of screwing the nut e on or off the plunger, I provide
a lever or key f, Figures 4 and 5, which is formed with a hole f¹ so that it can
be fitted over the spindle 63 of the plunger b, and which is provided with a
projection to enter a notch e³ formed in the nut e as shown in Figures 2, 17
and 20.
In the buffer shown in Figures 9 and 10, the spindle 63 is made separately from
the plunger-rod 61 and has a screw-threaded end 64, which is screwed into a socket e
formed at the end of the plunger-rod b¹. This socket serves as a lock-nut and is
slit like the nut above described for the purpose specified. The spindle 63 has an
enlarged end or head 66 which cannot pass through the hole in the base-plate and
thus secures the plunger in the buffer. g is a washer which is placed upon the
spindle 63 and bears against the end of the guide or bearing a¹ which thus serves
as an abutment for the buffer-spring in its recoil.
Figures 12 and 13 show another form of buffer wherein the plunger-rod and
spindle are made separately. The spindle 63 has, in this instance, a fixed collar be
to serve as a stop for the plunger; and the guide for the plunger is formed by
twice bending or folding over the plate from which the box or case a is to be
formed, as shown at a¹.
I sometimes make the box or case a corrugated longitudinally as shown in
Figures 12, 14, 15 and 16; I thus greatly increase the strength and durability of
the buffer as compared with those wherein the box or case is made without
corrugations.
In each of the buffers above described, the nut or outer portion expands at its
slit end when forced over the plunger-rod or inner portion, or when the inner
portion is forced into it, the screw-threaded parts being so arranged relatively to
each other as to ensure this result, and the slits in the outer portion being formed
of the requisite depth to permit the above described action. There is also a slight
cutting action or reduction of the threads.
Figures 15 and 16 show a buffer of that class wherein the spindle 63 is shortened
so that, on compression of the buffer, the said spindle will not project beyond the
base-plated. A tubular guide h for the said spindle is, in this instance, secured
in the said base-plate. This guide is screw-threaded externally and is slit at its
rear end as at h¹, and the screw-threads on the said guide are increased in diameter
towards the rear end thereof, or the hole in the base-plate is reduced in diameter
towards this end, or either the guide or the base-plate is provided with incomplete
screw-threads, 50 that, when the said guide is screwed into the base-plate, its slit
end will be contracted and it will not be liable to be loosened by vibration. In the
buffer shown in these Figures, a metal ring a' is inserted between the neck of the
box or case a and the flange, guide or bearing a¹, and is welded in place.

page_text: Figures 22 and 23 show a buffer in which the plunger is retained in the box or
case by means of a lock-nute which is screwed upon the spindle 63 and secures
the same to the spring c. This spring is so formed that one or more of its larger
coils are in contact with the inner surface of the box or case, but its smaller coils
are, under normal conditions, out of contact therewith, as shown; therefore, on the
recoil of the plunger, the smaller coils of the said spring will act as an elastic
cushion and thus prevent or diminish the shock produced by such recoil, which, in
ordinary buffers, often breaks or distorts some of the parts.
This
Figures 24 and 25 show another form of buffer wherein the flange or guide a' is
shortened and the nut e is fitted to slide in the neck of the box or case a.
arrangement is very advantageous when a long stroke of the plunger is required
in a short buffer.
Figure 26 shows a modification of my invention wherein the plunger is retained
in the buffer box or case a by means of a split or incomplete ring k formed with
an internal flange k¹ which fits into an annular groove or channel b7 in the plunger-
rod b'. This ring is opened sufficiently to permit its flange to pass over the end
of the plunger-rod, and, after the said rod has been inserted in the buffer box or
case, the said ring is fitted and closed upon it. This ring is preferably made of
spring steel. It is, in some instances, more effectually secured upon the plunger
rod by means of a dovetailed piece inserted in corresponding recesses or cavities
in the ends of the ring, as shown in Figures 27 and 28, and rivetted or clinched
over at its extremities. Or the ends of the ring k are secured to the plunger-rod b¹
by means of a screw m, as shown in Figures 29 and 30, or are united by means of
a rivet n, as shown in Figures 31 and 32. Or other suitable means are provided
for retaining the said ring in place.
In Figure 33, I have shown a modification of my invention wherein the lock-
nute is screwed upon the plunger rod b¹ and is fitted to slide in the neck of the
box or case a, for the purpose of guiding the plunger. The said nut has a conical
flange or other projection which abuts against the box or case a and retains the
plunger therein. This modification of my invention affords the great advantage
that, when the sliding surfaces become worn, the said nut can be removed and a
Dew nut substituted therefor. In the modification of my invention shown in
Figure 34, the plunger-rod b¹ is enlarged at 68 so that it will fit with a capability
of to-and-fro movement in the neck of the buffer box or case.
I sometimes provide the base-plate with a bush i of hardened steel or other
metal as shown in Figure 33 to guide, or assist in guiding, the plunger and thus
prevent wear of the base-plate. This bush is expanded at its slit end or otherwise
constructed, and screwed into the said base-plate like the guide h above described,
so that it will not be loosened by vibration.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. A railway-buffer which has a guide or bearing for the plunger formed by
bending or folding the metal of the box or case at the neck thereof, substantially
in the manner above set forth.
Second. A railway-buffer wherein the plunger-rod or spindle is provided with
a lock-nut of the kind or class above described, for the purpose specified.
Third. A railway-buffer wherein the plunger-rod or shank and the spindle are
made separately and the spindle is screwed into a slit socket formed on the said
rod or shank, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Fourth. The modification of my improved railway-buffer wherein I employ a
corrugated box or case, as, and for the purpose, specified.
Fifth. The tubular guide h screw-threaded and slit at its rear end so that, when
screwed into the base-plate of the buffer, it will be contracted and thus firmly held
therein, as, and for the purpose, specified.

page_text: Sixth. The combination, with the base-plate, of a metal bush screw-threaded
and slit as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Seventh. The improvement in the manufacture of the box or case of my
improved buffer, consisting in forming the same from a solid piece of metal by
rolling or stamping and without welding, as above set forth.
Eighth. The modification of my invention wherein the nut is fitted to slide in
the neck of the box or case and is formed with a flange or projection for retaining
the plunger therein, substantially as described with reference to Figure 33 or
Figure 34 of the drawings, for the purpose specified.
Ninth. The combination, with the plunger having the annular groove or channel,
of the split ring having the flange fitting into the said groove or channel, as, and
for the purpose, specified.
Tenth. The improved railway-buffer consisting of the parts constructed and
combined substantially as described with reference to either of the forms or
modifications shown in the accompanying drawings.
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.