IMPROVE- MENTS IN BUFFERS, ALSO APPLICABLE TO BEARING AND OTHER SPRINGS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to. Louis Sterne, of Great Queen Street, in the
City of Westminster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BUFFERS, ALSO APPLICABLE TO BEARING AND OTHER SPRINGS."
Sealed the 8th February 1870, and dated the 17th December 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louis Sterne at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th December 1869.
I, LOUIS STERNE, of Great Queen Street, in the City of Westminster,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN BUFFERS, ALSO APPLICABLE TO BEARING AND OTHER SPRINGS," to
be as follows:-
My Invention consists in constructing buffers with two, three, or other
suitable number of springs, each of which is composed of a pair of
steel or other spring metallic plates of particular form and united in a
particular manner. These plates are flat in the middle, while the
remainder is curved so as to present a concave form, and they have a
central aperture. The flat parts of the two plates are secured respec-

page_text: tively to the two sides, of a metallic disc or washer by rivets or
other fastenings, the concave face of each plate being outwards, or
this disc may be dispensed with and the flat parts of the plate be
fastened directly to each other. Two or more of the springs thus con-
structed are passed over a rod in a box in which a plunger on the buffer
rod works, the edges of the plates of each spring being thus in contact
with the edges of those next adjoining. When the buffer head is
driven inwards the curved portions of the plates yield and absorb the
blow, allowing the plunger to move towards the inner end of the
box, and when the pressure on the buffer head ceases the plates by
resuming their normal shape and position return the plunger to the
outer end of the box. I prefer that each plate be divided by radial
divisions extending from the outer edge either to the central aperture or
only to the flat part into four or other suitable number of sections.
My Invention further consists in making the plates laminated, that is
to say, in forming each plate of several superposed plates in a similar
way to an ordinary bearing spring.
My Invention further consists in constructing buffers of several plates,
between each adjoining two of which three or other suitable number
of spiral springs are interposed, one set of springs by preference
"breaking joint" with the set or sets next adjoining. The springs may be
let into the plates, and the plates and springs are fitted in a box in which
a plunger on the buffer rod works.
My improvements herein-before described also apply to bearing springs,
draw springs, and other springs, the rod carrying the plunger being in
the case of draw springs connected to the draw bar, and in the case
of bearing springs attached to the body of the carriage or weight to be
borne.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the
thirty-third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Louis Sterne, Her special
licence that I, the said Louis Sterne, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Louis Sterne, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BUFFERS, ALSO APPLICABLE TO BEARING AND OTHER SPRINGS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Louis Sterne, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Louis Sterne, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, that is to say:-
My Invention consists in constructing buffers with two, three, or
other suitable number of springs, each of which is composed of a pair
of steel or other spring metallic plates of particular form and united in
a particular manner. These plates are flat in the middle, while the
remainder is curved so as to present a concave form, and they have a
central aperture. The flat parts of the two plates are secured respec-
tively to the two sides of a metallic disc or washer by rivets or other
fastenings, the concave face of each plate being outwards, or this diso
may be dispensed with and the flat parts of the plates be fastened
directly to each other. Two or more of the springs thus constructed
are passed over a rod in a box in which a plunger on the buffer, rod
works, the edges of the plates of each spring being thus in contact
with the edges of those next adjoining or with plates which may be

page_text: interposed between every two adjoining springs. When the buffer head
is driven inwards the curved portions of the spring plates yield and
absorb the blow, allowing the plunger to move towards the inner end of
the box, and when the pressure on the buffer head ceases the plates by
resuming their normal shape and position return the plunger to the
outer end of the box. Each spring plate may be divided by radial
divisions extending from the outer edge either to the central aperture
or only to the flat part into four or other suitable number of sections.
My Invention further consists in making the plates laminated, that is
to say, in forming each plate of several superposed plates in a similar
way to an ordinary bearing spring.
'
Figure A. of the accompanying Drawings represents in plan and in
section a laminated spring constructed according to my Invention. C, C,
are two sets of laminated plates secured to each other by rivets, as shown.
These plates are flat in the middle, while the remainder is curved so as
to present a concave surface as shown. d, d, are plates between which
the spring c, c, is interposed. Any required number of these springs
with or without interposed plates d, d, are passed over a rod in a box
in which a plunger on the buffer rod works. When the buffer head is
driven inwards the curved portions of the plates yield and absorb the
blow, allowing the plunger to move towards the inner end of the box,
and when the pressure on the buffer head ceases the plates by resuming
their normal shape and position return the plunger to the outer end of
the box. The plates c, c, may be circular or of any other desired form,
and the peripheries or outer portions may, as thought best, be divided by
radial divisions or by having portions removed therefrom, as shown in
Figure A. Figure B. represents a spring adapted for use in a rectangular
box.
In constructing springs according to my Invention with single or
non-laminated plates, as first herein-before described, the plates are in
section of the form of one of the separate plates c, shown in Figures A.
and B. or substantially so.
My Invention further consists in constructing buffers of several plates,
between each adjoining two of which three or other suitable number of
spiral springs are interposed, one set of springs by preference "breaking
joint" with the set or sets next adjoining. The springs may be let into
the plates, and the plates and springs are fitted in a box in which a

page_text: plunger on the buffer rod works. Figure C. represents a half section of a
buffer constructed according to this part of my Invention. c, c, are
spiral springs interposed between plates D, D, as just explained, the
springs being let into recesses provided for the purpose in these plates.
e is the buffer rod.
My improvements herein-before described also apply to bearing springs,
draw springs, and other springs, the rod carrying the plunger being in
the case of draw springs connected to the draw bar, and in the case of
bearing springs attached to the body of the carriage or weight to be
borne.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,―
Constructing buffers and bearing and other springs with two, three,
or other suitable number of springs, each composed of a pair of spring
metallic plates of particular form and united in a particular manner,
substantially as herein-before described.
I claim especially the employment of laminated spring plates, sub-
stantially as herein-before described and shown in Figures A. and B.
I also claim constructing buffers and bearing and other springs
substantially as herein-before described with reference to Figure C.
In witness whereof, I, the said Louis Sterne, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of June One thousand eight
hundred and seventy.
5 Witness,
J. C. MEWBURN,
Patent Agent,
172, Fleet Street,
London.
L. STERNE. (L.S.)