Improvements in the Construction of India Rubber Buffer Springs or Pads for use on Railway Rolling Stock and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Dec., 1892-Accepted, 4th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of India Rubber Buffer Springs or
Pads for use on Railway Rolling Stock and the like.
I JOHN EBENEZER HOPKINSON of 15 Walbrook in the City and County
of London, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows: =
My invention relates to an improved form or construction of india rubber spring
or pad and is more especially applicable to that class of springs known as buffer
springs in which one or more pads or springs of india rubber are used in combination
with a suitable metallic plate or ring for locomotive engines, railway carriages
trucks and other similar vehicles. Springs constructed according to my invention
possess not only greater elasticity but are far more durable and lighter.
In order to obtain these results I propose to form upon either side of the metallic
plate a projecting ring or band of india rubber preferably of a conical section, or I
may make the band of a square or rectangular section and pierce the same with a
number of holes or recesses, the whole forming a series of air chambers, or cushions,
or in lieu of making a continuous band I may form a number of conical projections
or pads of rubber on either side of the metallic plate, such projections or pads
being arranged in a circular form around the metallic plate or ring and upon each
side of the same.
The particular form to which I now give preference is that of a band or ring
having a conical section its base being in contact with the surface of the metallic
plate or ring and its open or abutting face shaped so as to present a curved or
semicircular front.
The sides of the projecting band or pad may be flat or tapered or slightly rounded,
the amount of taper being equal on either side or otherwise as desired.
Dated this 24th day of March 1892.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of India Rubber Buffer Springs or
Pads for use on Railway Rolling Stock and the like.
1, JOHN EBENEZER HOPKINSON of 15 Walbrook in the City and County of
London, Engineer 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 improvements in the construction of india rubber buffer
springs or pads for use on railway rolling stock and the like, especially applicable to
that class of springs known as buffer springs, and in which one or more pads or
springs of india rubber are used in combination with a suitable metallic plate or
ring and it consists essentially in giving to the india rubber, from the metallic plate
or ring forming base a spherical or oval form so that the apex or point of impact in
driving in the spring, pad or pads, is always of a curved form and less in diameter
than the base, thus, upon the head of the spring being driven in, there is an increase
of diameter of the spring or pad which is reduced say to a half circle when driven
home, whereby I obtain a resistance increasing in relative proportion to the pressure,
also more durability, in that the surface of contact with intervening plate or
Pina al

page_text: adjoining india rubber spring is considerably reduced, further, lightness and
by reason of the lessened bulk of india rubber.
economy,
I will now proceed to describe various forms of application of my invention with
reference to the accompanying drawing upon which,
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a buffer.
Figure 2. an end elevation of same.
Figure 3. illustrates a spring formed of a number of elliptical pads or projections.
Figure 4. being a vertical section through the same.
A, indicating the metallic ring or plate forming base. B, oval india rubber ring
forming spring. C, elliptical projections or pads of india rubber. D, base of
india rubber ring B. E, apex of same.
It will be seen that I form upon either side of the metallic plate A, a projecting
ring or band of india rubber B, of an elliptical or oval section; or in lieu of making
a continuous band I may form a number of elliptical or oval projections or pads Cof
india rubber on either side of the metallic plate A, such projections or pads being
arranged in a circular form around the metallic plate or ring A and upon each side
of the same.
The particular form to which I now give preference is that of a band or ring
having an elliptical or oval section, its base D being in contact with the surface of
the metallic plate or ring A, and its apex or abutting face E, shaped so as to
present a curved or semicircular front.
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 :-
1. An india rubber buffer spring consisting of an elliptical or oval band, or'ring,
of india rubber (B) in combination with a metallic plate or ring (A) in the manner
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, of the
accompanying drawing.
2. An india rubber buffer spring consisting of a series of elliptical or oval pads
of india rubber (C) in combination with a metallic plate or ring (A) all constructed
and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to
Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1892.