IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING COLLISIONS ON RAIL- 33 PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Price, of the Midland Great Western Railway
of Ireland, and of Clonsilla, County of Dublin, in Ireland, Civil Engineer,
and Richard Edward Donovan, of Courtduffe, at Castle Knock, in the
County of Dublin, Ireland, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING COLLISIONS ON RAIL-
33
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Price and Richard
Edward Donovan at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 8th March 1864.
We, JAMES PRICE, of the Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland,
and of Clonsilla, County of Dublin, in Ireland, Civil Engineer, and RICHARD
EDWARD DONOVAN, of Courtduffe, at Castle Knock, in the County of Dublin,
Ireland, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING COLLISIONS ON
BAILWAYS, AND FOR LESSENING THE EFFECTS OF THE SAME," to be as follows:-
One part of our Invention has for its object the prevention or lessening of
the concussion arising from a moving train or locomotive engine running
against the blocked end of a terminus or blind siding, and consists in the
employment of either a sliding or rolling frame or of buffer rods at the end of
the terminus or siding, which frame or buffer rods by its or their motion on

page_text: a train or engine coming in contact with the same is or are caused to draw or
push bars, rods, or plates of iron, or other suitable material through one or
more fixed dies or against cutters so arranged as to draw out, compress, cut,
shear, or plane such bars, rods, or plates along one or more edges or surfaces ;
or we attach the dies or cutters to the moving frame or buffer rods, so as to
act in the before-described manner on one or more fixed bars, rods, or plates,
or upon the rails.
Another part of our Invention has for its object the prevention of or the
lessening of the concussion arising from collisions on railways generally, and
consists in fixing the before-mentioned die or dies or cutters to the moving
train, and causing it or them to act upon one or more bars, rods, or plates
also carried by the train, which bars, rods, or plates are capable of being
suddenly attached to the rails, sleepers, or other fixed points on the permanent
way by the ends of the former, provided with projections or recesses, being
pressed against the latter, which is or are provided-with-corresponding-recesses-
or projections, whereby the plates, rods, or bars are dragged through the dies
or against the cutters attached to the engine, carriages, or trucks of the train,
the momentum of the train being consequently expended in the drawing out,
compressing, cutting, shearing, or planing of such bars, rods, or plates, and
the train-stopped before a collision can take place. Or, in order to lessen
the concussion when a collision does take place, the said dies or cutters may
be attached to or connected with the buffer rods of the carriages, trucks, or
locomotive engine, whether such buffers have springs or are devoid of the same
and on the buffers coming in contact with an obstacle that would otherwise
cause a violent collision, the said dies or cutters are made, by the pushing in
of the buffer rods, to cut, compress, draw out, shear, or plane the edge or edges
or surfaces of one or more bars, rods, or plates, thereby expending the force
of the concussion.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Price and Richard Edward Donovan in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 7th September 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
PRICE, of the Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland, and of Clonsilla,
County of Dublin, in Ireland, Civil Engineer, and RICHARD EDWARD DONOVAN,
of Courtduffe, at Castle Kock, in the County of Dublin, Ireland, Gentleman,
send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand cight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said James Price and Richard Edward Donovan, Her special licence that we,
the said James Price and Richard Edward Donovan, our executors, adminis
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said James Price and Richard
Edward Donovan, our 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
THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING COLLISIONS ON RAILWAYS, AND FOR
LESSENING THE EFFECTS OF THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said James Price and Richard Edward Donovan, our executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their hands and
seals, or under the hand and scal of one of us or them, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, 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 we, the said James Price and Richard Edward
Donovan, do hereby declare the nature of the 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 accompanying Drawing, and to the figures and letters marked thereon
that is to say:-
One part of our Invention has for its object the prevention or lessening of
the concussion arising from a moving train or locomotive engine running
against the blocked end of a terminus or blind siding, and consists in the
employment of either a sliding or rolling frame or of buffer rods at the end
of the terminus or siding, which frame or buffer rods by its or their motion on
a train or engine coming in contact with the same is or are caused to draw
or push bars, rods, or plates of iron, or other suitable material through one
or more fixed dies or against cutters, so arranged as to draw out, compress,
cut, shear, or plane such bars, rods, or plates along one or more edges or sur-
faces; or we attach the dies or cutters to the moving frame or buffer rods, so
as to act in the before-described manner on one or more fixed bars, rods, or
plates, or upon the rails.

page_text: Another part of our Invention has for its object the prevention of or the
lessening of the concussion arising from collisions on railways generally, and
consists in fixing the before-mentioned die or dies or cutters to the moving
train, and causing it or them to act upon one or more bars, rods, or plates
also carried by the train, which bars, rods, or plates are capable of being
suddenly attached to the rails, chairs, sleepers, or other fixed points on
the permanent way, whereby the plates, rods, or bars are dragged through the
dies or against the cutters attached to the engine, carriages, or trucks of the
train, the momentum of the train being consequently expended in the drawing
out, compressing, cutting, shearing, or planing of such bars, rods, or plates,
and the train stopped before a collision can take place. Or the lies or cutters
fixed to the train may be made to act in a similar manner upon the rails or
sleepers of tho permanent way. Or, in order to lessen the concussion when a
collision does take place, the said dies or cutters may be attached to or con-
nected with the buffer rods of the carriages, trucks, or locomotive engine,
whether such buffers have springs or are devoid of the same, and on tho buffers
coming in contact with an obstacle that would otherwise cause a violent
collision, the said dies or cutters are made, by the pushing in of the buffer
rods, to cut, compress, draw out, shear, or plane the edge or edges or surfaces
of one or more bars, rods, platos, or of the rails or sleepers, thereby expending
the force of the concussion.
Figures 1 to 10 on the accompanying Drawings shew various modes of
carrying the first part of our Invention into practice. Figure 1 shews a side
elevation, Figure 2 shews a plan, and Figure 3 shews the front elevation of a
terminal stop of long range, that is, in which the stop can move a considerable
distance before bringing the train striking against it to a standstill.
A, A, is a strong wooden frame resting upon the rails B, B, from which it is
prevented from rising or moving sideways by means of the metal guides C, C.
To this frame is connected by means of the rods D, D, the metal bar E, the
end of which is passed through a framing F firmly secured to the permanent
way, and containing a steel die or cutters; G, G, are angle irons attached to
the sleepers and to the frame F carrying the dies, so as to hold the latter
securely on the permanent way. The bar E is made of such a width or thick-
ness that, in order to pass through the die in the frame F, a certain portion of
it must be sheared off or compressed, so that if a train of carriages strike with
considerable force against the frame A, then, in order that the latter may yield
to the pressure exerted upon it by the train and move backwards with the
same, the bar E must at the same time be dragged through the die at F; and
the momentum of the train will thus be expended gradually in overcoming

page_text: the resistance arising from the shearing or compressing of the bar E whilst
passing through the die. The distance through which the frame A moves
before the train is brought to a standstill, and consequently also the length
required for the bar E, will naturally depend upon the speed and weight of
train on striking, and on the amount of shearing or compression of the bar
that has to take place for the frame A to be capable of motion. It has been
found by experiment that a train of trucks having a total load of 20 tons, and
moving at a speed of twenty miles an hour, was brought to a standstill within
a distance of nine feet after striking against a frame to which was attached a
bar 8 inches wide and inch thick, which had to be dragged through a dio
that sheared off 3 inch on either side.
Figure 4 shews a side elevation, Figure 5 shews a plan, and Figure 6 shews
a front elevation of another arrangement for a terminal stop of long range.
In this case the bar E to be sheared is firmly attached to the rails B, B, by
means of the rod F, and passes through the die F, having moveable steel
cutters, and attached to the under side of the framing A, which rests, as
before, upon the rails B, B. The bar E is constructed as shewn in detail at
Figures 7 and 8; it consists of two pieces bolted together, between which are
fixed thin strips or plates e, e, the projecting portions of which latter are
sheared off on the die F being dragged along the bar by the motion of the
frame. The plates e, e, are made in short lengths, so that when any portion
of them has been sheared off by the striking of a train against the frame A,
they can readily be removed and replaced by new plates. I, I, are guides
attached to the frame A, through which the bar E passes. A sledge J, J,
shewn in dotted lines, may also be fixed to the framing A and rest upon the
rails, so as to catch the front wheels of the carriage, and thus increase the
resistance to the motion of the framing.
Figure 9 shews a side elevation, and Figure 10 a front elevation of a
terminal stop, with short range of motion. In this arrangement the framing
A is stationary, being fixed firmly to the permanent way B. It carries two
buffer rods E, E, passing through the dies F, F, fixed to the frame, and con-
tinued to the back of the latter, where they pass through guides I, I. To
the portions of the buffer rods projecting beyond the frame A are bolted
plates e, e, of such a form that when the buffer rods are forced back through
the steel dies F by the impact of a train, such plates are cut or sheared by the
dies, and thus serve to expend the force of the impact. When the plates e, e,
have been sheared in the manner described, they are unfastened from the.
buffer rods E, E, and are replaced by new ones.

page_text: Figure 11 shews a plan, and Figure 12 shews a sectional elevation of an
arrangement for carrying out the second part of our Invention.
A represents the under side of a carriage, locomotive engine, or truck, to
which is attached a die F carrying cutters, through which is passed the end
of the bar, plate, or rod E to be cut or sheared, and which is also carried by
the carriage A. To the extremity of this bar, plate, or rod are hinged other
bars C, C, having projections c, c, at their ends, and connected together by means
of strong hinged transverse bars D, D. The bars C, C, are ordinarily held
in the position shown in full lines in Figure 12 by means of a hook or catch G
laying hold in the middle of the binged transverse bars, so that these are
somewhat closed as indicated, whereby the ends of the bars C, C, are brought
nearer together than the distance between the inside edges of the rails B.
When a collision is imminent, the hook or catch G is turned, and tho
bars C and D let fall upon the permanent way between the rails, as indicated
by the full lines in Figure 11, and by dotted lines in Figure 12, whereby the
bars D, D, are spread out, and the projections c, c, made to catch against
the edges of the chairs H, I, or of the fish plates. If necessary the bars C
be provided with a tail C', which in coming against the under side of tho
die F prevents the bar C from falling beyond a certain position. The
lar, rod, or plate E becoming thus attached to the rails, the die F fixed
to the train is dragged along it, and thus expends the momentum of the train
in cutting, shearing, planing, or crushing the edges or surfaces of the bar,
rod, or plate. In order to prevent the hinged bars D, D, from closing
again, and thus allowing the projections c, c, to slip past the chairs or fish
plates, the central joint of the same is provided with spring catches, as shown
at Figure 13, which, when the bars D are spread out, catch into notches
formed in the joint.
may
Figures 14 to 20 shew arrangements of apparatus constructed according to
another modification of our Invention. Figure 14 shews a part sectional
side elevation, and Figure 15 shews a part sectional plan of one arrangement
in which the buffer rod E, being made to project some distance beyond the
buffer beam A of the carriage, truck, or engine, bas attached to it, in tho
manner indicated, a plate e projecting somewhat on either side, as shown in
plan; F is a die, having steel cutters f, f, fixed to the buffer beam A, of
which die a front view is shown at Figure 16; through this die the buffer rod E
passes and enters the casing B, serving as a guide, and of which a trans-
verse section is shewn at Figure 17. Inside this casing the rod E is divided
at x, and the back portion E' is connected by means of a hinged joint to tho

page_text: elliptic spring C, attached to the framing. Thus, the buffer on being struck
with the usual force to which buffers are subjected, will act upon the spring C
in the ordinary manner; if however it is struck with violence resulting from
a collision, then the rod E being in the first instance pushed backwards
until the point comes out of the casing B, the back portion E¹ is then
thrown downwards by a projection D on the same coming in contact with a
bolt G fixed to the framing, and the spring C is thereby put out of action,
thus preventing the recoil of the same, which is of moment in a collision.
The end of the projecting plate e baving by this time reached the die F, the
force of the collision is now expended gradually on the shearing or crushing
of the projecting portions of this plate, while the buffer rod is being forced
still further backwards through the die.
Figure 18 shews a similar arrangement as applied to buffers having spiral
or volute springs, the only difference being that as the range of the spring C
is so much smaller, the distance between the end of the plate e and the die
F, as also the length of the case B, and distance of the bolt G' from the
projection D, are each also smaller in proportion.
Figure 19 and Figure 20 shew respectively a sectional elevation and a
transverse section of another arrangement. The buffer rod E is here carried;
by a moveable case F working through the buffer beam A, and into a second:
casing B fixed to the framing of the carriage, in which casing are also:
fixed the plates e, e, to be sheared, being made to project inward for that pur-
pose as shewn, whilst the back end of the moveable frame F is slotted, as shewn
in the transverse section, so as to make room for them. The case F is provided
atf with a steel cutter, which would shear the projecting edges of the plates e; e,
if the frame F were driven backwards, and in front this frame is also provided.
with a spiral or volute spring C, which is acted upon by the shoulder on the.
buffer rod E. Thus, when struck with a moderate force, such as that to which
buffers are ordinarily subjected, the buffer rod E will simply compress the
spring C, whilst if it be struck with violence, such as would result from a
collision, the case F will be driven into the fixed case B, and the force of
the impact will be gradually expended on the shearing or crushing of the
projecting edges of the plates e, e, by the cutter f.
It will be evident that the before-described apparatus may be applied
either to the front or back end of a train only, or with greater effect.
between each or any two of the carriages or trucks composing the same.
Figures 21 to 28 shew arrangements in which, instead of the dies or cutters
fixed to the train being made to act upon bars, rods, or plates also carried by
the train, the former are caused to act upon bars or plates fixed to the per-

page_text: manent way or upon the rails or sleepers themselves. In Figure 21 A is a
strong bar hinged to the framing B of the carriage, engine, or truck at a,
änd provided at its extremity with a steel cutter C. It is ordinarily held in
the position shewn in full lines by being suspended by means of a link 6 from
á-hook or pin c attached to the framing B: The buffer rod D projects some
distance from the buffer beam E, and when struck with ordinary force acts in
the usual manner upon a spring not shewn, but when struck with violence
resulting from a collision, and thereby pushed further back than usual, a
projection e upon the buffer rod strikes the link 6 from the pin c, thus causing
the bar A to fall upon the plate, rail, or sleeper F immediately in front of the
wheel G of the carriage, whereby the cutter C is pressed against the surface of
the plate, rail, or sleeper F, and in cutting the surface of the same whilst being
dragged along in the direction of the arrow expends the momentum of the
train. A lever H attached to the carriage, engine, or truck may also be
provided for striking the link b off the pin-c,-and-thus-bringing the cutter.C
into action before any collision has taken place. Figure 22 shews an arrange-
ment precisely similar to that just described, with the exception that the bar A
is here held up by a spring I; and is brought into action by the projection e on
the buffer rod or by the lever H pressing it down until it grips the plate or
rail F. In Figure 23 the cutter Ċ is fixed to a bar A carried by guides J, K,
attached to the framing B of the carriage, engine, or truck, which bar, on a
collision being imminent, is forced down by turning the screw II, whereby the
cutter C is made to cut the surface of the plate, rail, or sleeper F, as before
described.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the best means
we are acquainted with of performing the same, we wish it to be understood
that we do not claim generally the gradual expending of the force of con-
cussion arising from collisions on railways by a bar or bars projecting from the
rolling stock being forced back and made to act in a destructive manner upon
plates, bars, or other bodies also attached to the rolling stock, as Letters
Patent have already been granted to one of us, bearing date the 6th December
1862, No. 3279, for certain means for carrying out such principle of action;
but what we claim is,―
First, gradually expending the force of concussion arising from a moving
train, locomotive engine, or truck running against the blocked end of a
terminus or blind siding, by causing an object, against which the train or
locomotive engine strikes, to make one or more bars, rods, or plates pass
through one or more dies or cutters, or one or more dies or cutters pass along
one. or more bars, whereby the said bars, rods, or plates are drawn out, com-

page_text: pressed, cut, sheared, or planed, or otherwise destructively acted upon in such
manner that the momentum of the train, locomotive, or truck is thereby
expended.
'
"
Second, constructing apparatus for stopping trains or locomotive engines_at
the blocked end of a terminus or blind siding in which the motion of a frame or
projecting bars, or buffers, against which the train or locomotive strikes, causes
one or more bars, rods, or plates to be drawn out, compressed, cut, sheared,
or planed, by being forced through one or more dies or against one or more
cutters, or by the dies or cutters being forced along theni.
Third, stopping or retarding the motion of railway trains, locomotive engines,
or trucks, by causing one or more dies or cutters carried by the same to act
either upon bars, rods, or plates also carried by the trains, engines, or trucks,
or upon plates, rails, or sleepers forming part of the permanent way, in such
manner as to expend the momentum of the train in cutting, shearing,
planing, or crushing one or more edges or surfaces of such rods, bars, plates,
rails, or sleepers.
Fourth, stopping or retarding the motion of railway trains, locomotive
engines, or trucks, by causing one or more bars, rods, or plates carried by the
same to be suddenly attached to the permanent way, and thereby to be drawn
through and cut, sheared, planed, compressed, or drawn out by dies or cutters
fixed to the train, engines, or truck in such manner that the momentum of the
train, engine, or truck is expended in the cutting, shearing, planing, com-
pressing, or drawing out of such bars, rods, or plates.
Fifth, constructing apparatus for stopping or retarding the motion of railway
trains, engines, or trucks, in which one or more bars, rods, or plates carried
by the trains, engines, or trucks are capable of being suddenly attached to the
permanent way, and are thereby caused to be dragged through and cut,
sheared, planed, compressed, or drawn out by dies or cutters fixed to the train,
engine, or truck.
Sixth, expending the force of concussion arising from collisions on railways,
by causing one or more bars, rods, or buffers projecting from the carriages,
engines, or trucks, in being forced backwards by the impact, to shear, plane,
compress, or draw out, or cause to be sheared, planed, compressed, or drawn
out, the edges or surfaces of one or more plates, rods, or bars also carried by
the carriages, engines, or trucks.
Seventh, constructing apparatus for lessening the effects of collisions on
railways, in which a bar or buffer projecting from the carriage, engine, or
truck, upon being forced back through striking the obstacle, forces one or
more plates or strips of metal attached thereto through one or more dies

page_text: or against cutters attached to the carriage, engine, or truck in such a manner
as to cause the edges or surfaces of the said plate or strip of metal to be cut,
sheared, planed, or compressed.
Eighth, constructing apparatus for lessening the effects of collisions on
railways, in which a bar or buffer projecting from the carriage, engine, or 5
truck, upon being forced back through striking the obstacle, forces one or
more cutters or dies attached thereto in such manner against one or more
plates attached to the carriage, engine, or truck as to cut, shear, plane, or
compress the edges or surfaces of the said plate or plates.
In witness whereof, we, the said James Price and Richard Edward 1
Donovan, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fifth day of
September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
Witness,
M. H. ORMSBY.
JAMES PRICE.
(LS..)
RICHARD E. DONOVAN. (LS.)