IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING BUFFERS FOR LOCOMOTIVES, CARRIAGES, AND OTHER WHEELED VEHICLES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Jackson, Secretary to the Midland Railway
Carriage and Wagon Company Limited of Birmingham in the county of
Warwick for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING BUFFERS FOR
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Jackson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th September 1883.
EDWARD JACKSON. Secretary to the Midland Railway Carriage and Wagon
Company Limited of Birmingham in the County of Warwick, "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SPRING BUFFERS FOR RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES, CARRIAGES, WAGONS AND OTHER
WHEELED VEHICLES."
My Invention consists in constructing and arranging the parts of the said
buffers, in the manner hereinafter described; whereby, great simplicity of
construction and efficiency of action, and also facility in removing the plunger
from its case, in taking the buffer to pieces for repairing, or for other purposes,
are secured; while the said buffers so constructed are little liable to derangement,
and the wear and tear reduced to a minimum
The parts of the buffer consist essentially of two cylinders, viz; the case and
the plunger working telescopically, one within the other-The buffer case consists
of a wrought or cast metal cylinder, in which the plunger works; and open at both
ends; with a broad flange at that end of the case to be attached or connected to
the locomotive carriage, wagon or other wheeled vehicle. The other or front end,
has a broad internal flange running through a short distance from the mouth
thereof, that is to say; the inside case is reduced in diameter for a short distance
from the front or mouth end; to form a stop or shoulder for preventing the
withdrawal of the plunger shank, as hereinafter described. That part of larger
diameter being equal to the range of the plunger in its case
The plunger consists of a hollow cylinder made solid with its head; the cylinder
end being open, and the head end closed, against which said closed end, a coiled
or other spring bears in its front abutment when lying axially in the chamber of

page_text: the said plunger and case-The diameter of the plunger shank being equal to the
reduced internal diameter of the case, while its extreme open end is rabbated or
stepped, (slightly undercut) and upon which a detachable collar or ring is
(preferably) shrunk of an outside diameter equal to the inside of the case. Or
an annular groove may be cut around the end of the plunger cylinder, for the
attachment of the ring to the said cylinder end.
In putting the parts together the plunger cylinder or shank is introduced into
the case from the front; the separate ring or collar is then introduced, and from
the back open end of the case shrunk upon the rabbated or stepped end of the
plunger cylinder, and the extreme end of the said cylinder turned over upon the
side of the collar; thus effectually securing the ring thereon; and thereby
preventing the detachment of the plunger from its case, by the collar abuting
against the shoulder of the flange at the mouth of the said case
The spring is then introduced and the back plate affixed in its place, which
forms the back abutment for the spring
The solid headed plunger can now work freely within its case; the coiled or
other spring in its hollow axis, extending from the back plate to the closed end
of the head-On compressing the spring, the plunger collar traverses the inside
case, while the whole thrust of concussion rests upon the spring itself
When it is required to withdraw the plunger from its case for examination or
repair, it is only necessary to displace the turned up end of the cylinder; and then
remove the ring from its end, when the said plunger can be readily removed from
its case
T-
.
By the above construction, buffers are more cheaply manufactured, are more
efficient in their action and are not liable to get out of order, by oscillation or
torsion imparted by lateral or side impact, in consequence of their hollow cylindrical
structure
According to another of my improvements I produce or construct the said
buffers in the following way. Around the plain cylinder of the said plunger
herein-before described I cast the casing of the buffer, thereby enclosing the ring
within the case, and connecting the plunger and case together. To prevent the
flange at the mouth end of the case contracting or. binding too closely, on cooling
upon the plunger shank, that part I cover with a coating of plumbago loam or
other suituable material

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Jackson in the Patent Office on the 10th March 1884.
EDWARD JACKSON Secretary to the Midland Railway Carriage and Wagon
Company, Limited of Birmingham in the County of Warwick "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SPRING BUFFERS FOR RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES, CARRIAGES, WAGONS, AND OTHER
WHEELED VEHICLES."
@ 2
My invention consists in constructing and arranging the parts of the said buffers
in the manner hereinafter described; whereby, great simplicity of construction and
efficiency of action, and also facility in removing the plunger from its case, in
taking the buffer to pieces for repairing or for other purposes are secured; while
the said buffers so constructed are little liable to derangement, and the wear and
tear reduced to a minimum
The parts of the buffer consist essentially of two cylinders viz:-the case and
the plunger working telescopically one within the other. The buffer case consists
of a wrought or cast metal cylinder in which the plunger works and is open at
both ends, with a broad flange at that end of the case to be attached or connected
to the locomotive, carriage, wagon or other wheeled vehicle. The other or front
end has a broad internal flange running through a short distance from the mouth
thereof; that is to say, the inside case is reduced in diameter for a short from the
front or mouth end, to form a stop or shoulder for preventing the withdrawal of
the plunger-shank, as herein-after described, that part of larger diameter being
equal to the range of the plunger in its case.
The plunger consists of a hollow cylinder made solid with its head; the cylinder
end being open, and the head end closed, against which said closed end, a coiled or
other spring bears in its front abuttment when lying axially in the chamber of the
said plunger and case. The diameter of the plunger shank being equal to the
reduced internal diameter of the case, while its extreme open end is rabbated or
stepped (slightly undercut) and upon which, a detachable collar or ring is (preferably)
sunk of an outside diameter equal to the inside of the case, or an annular groove
may be cut around the end of the plunger cylinder, for the attachment of the ring
to the said cylinder end.
In putting the parts together, the plunger cylinder or shank is introduced into
the case from the front, the separate ring or collar is then introduced and from
the back open end of the case shrunk upon the rabbated or stepped end of the
plunger cylinder, and the extreme end of the said cylinder turned over upon the
side of the collar, thus effectually securing the ring thereon, and thereby preventing
the detachment of the plunger from its case, by the collar abutting against the
shoulder of the flange, and at the mouth of the said case. The spring is then
introduced and the back plate affixed in its place, which forms the back abuttment
for the spring.
The solid headed hollow plunger can now work freely within its case, the coiled
or other spring in its hollow axis extending from the back plate to the closed end
of the head. On compressing the spring, the plunger collar traverses the inside
case, while the whole thrust of concussion rests upon the spring itself until the
back of the buffer head strikes against the buffer outside case.
When it is required to withdraw the plunger from its case for examination or
repair, it is only necessary to displace the turned up end of the cylinder, and then
remove the ring from its end, when the said plunger can be readily removed from
its case.
By the above construction, buffers are more cheaply manufactured, are more
efficient in their action, and are not liable to get out of order by oscillation or

page_text: torsion imparted by lateral or side impact in consequence of their hollow cylindrical
structure.
According to another of my improvements, I produce or construct the said buffers
in the following way.
Around the plain Cylinder of the said plunger herein-before described, I cast
the casing of the buffer, thereby enclosing the ring within the case, and connecting.
the plunger and case together. To prevent the flange at the mouth end of the case
contracting or binding too closely, on cooling upon the plunger shank, that part I
cover with a coating of plumbago loam or other suitable material
Having explained the nature of my invention, I will proceed to describe with
reference to the accompanying Drawings, the manner in which the same is to be
performed
Figure 1 represents in longitudinal vertical section with the spring in elevation,
Figure 2 represents in transverse vertical section taken in the dotted lines ȧ b,
a wrought iron spring buffer, constructed according to my invention. Figure 3
shows the plunger of Figure 2 in elevation, and part of the casing separately; and
Figures 3, 4 and 5 show the whole parts of the buffer separately. The other
Figures represent modifications which I will hereinafter describe
The same letters indicate the same parts in each of the figures of the Drawings.
a is the case, and b is the plunger working telescopically one within the other.
The case or cylinder a is made of wrought iron, and is open at both ends. The
back end a has a flange, to which the back plate o is attached, which forms the
abuttment for the coiled spring d, which receives the concussion or shock from an
adjacent buffer. Bolts a pass both through the flange a and back plate c for the
attachment of the buffer to a railway carriage or other vehicle. The other or front
end of the case a has a broad internal flange a³; that is the inside case is reduced in
diameter for a short distance from the mouth of the case to form a stop or shoulder a*
against which the detachable collar or ring e abutts for preventing the withdrawal
of the plunger shank from its case, as best seen in Figures 1 and 3
The plunger b consists of a hollow cylinder, made solid with its head, the cylinder
head being opened, while its head end is closed against which a coiled spring
bears in its front abuttment, when lying axially within the combined plunger and
cylinder described, constituting the buffer.
In putting the parts together, the solid plunger Figure 4 with its shank
rabbated (slightly cut) at its extreme end and marked bis introduced into the
.open case a Figure 6 from the front, the separate or detachable ring or collar e
Figure 5 is then introduced and from the back open end of the case shrunk upon
the slightly undercut rabbated end 6* of the shank of the plunger. The metal of
the extreme end 63 of the shank of the plunger is then turned over and upon the
side of the collar or ring e and marked * Figure 1 thereby effectually securing the
ring upon the end of the shank of the plunger as described and represented, and so
preventing the detachment of the plunger from its case, by the ring or collar e
described, abutting against the shoulder of the flange at of the case a.
spring e, is then introduced and the plate c which forms the back abuttment to
the spring, is affixed to the flange a³ of the case
The
In Figure 2 the ring e and the rolled over end 6 of the shank of the plunger is
represented in back elevation.
The solid head of the plunger a can now work freely within its case, so that on
compressing the spring, the collar e traverses the inside of the case while the whole
thrust of concussion is upon the spring, supported by the back plate until the buffer
head strikes against the outside case.
When it is required to withdraw the plunger b from its case a for repair, it is
only necessary to displace or remove the turned up end of the plunger shank, and
then remove the ring or collar from its end, the plunger can then be withdrawn
from its case.
Figure 7 shows a buffer partly in longitudinal vertical section constructed
according to another of my improvements in which the casing a is made of cast

page_text: metal, which is produced by casting the case around the plain cylinder of the
buffer and so closing the ring or collar e within the said case and thereby
connecting the plunger and case together. Or the case may be cast separately, and
the plunger fitted therein, in the way described with respect to Figure 1.
Figure 8 shows an end view of Figure 7 partly in section.
Figure 9 shows in section both the buffer and case made of cast metal. The
ring e may be attached to the said plunger shank as represented by shrinking or
contracting the said ring with an annular groove, or, the ring may be attached to
the shank during its process of casting, and the plunger and ring may be connected
to each other in the ways described with respect to Figure 7
Figure 10 shews in section a buffer constructed according to another part of my
improvements in which the shank and ring of the plunger is cast in one piece, b is
the shank of the plunger and e is the ring for preventing the withdrawal of the
plunger from its case (The head of the plunger may be made separate from the
shank, and afterwards affixed thereto) or the whole of the said plunger may be
made in one piece and cast within its case.
Figure 11 shows a solid cast plunger in which the head is made separate from
the shank.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner in which
the same is to be performed I wish it to be understood that I claim as my
invention
First, Constructing combining and arranging of parts of spring buffers, for
railway locomotives, carriages, wagons and other wheeled vehicles, as
described and illustrated in Figures 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. and 6 of the accom-
panying Drawings, that is to say, preventing the withdrawal of the
plunger from its case by means of a detachable ring or collar shrunk
or placed upon a slightly undercut rabbated end of the shank of the
plunger and affixed thereto by turning or rolling over the extreme end
of the metal of the said shank upon the outer face of the ring, and so
preventing the withdrawal of the plunger from its case
Secondly The general arrangement or combination of the parts of spring
buffers as illustrated in figures 1 and 2, 7 and 8 of the accompanying
Drawings, that is to say, the combination of a detachable ring
marked e with the solid plunger b working telescopically within the
case a, and having a broad flange a³ at its front end, for the purposes
herein before described
Thirdly Constructing spring buffers as represented in Figure 9 of the
Drawings in which the solid plunger and its case is made of cast metal
the annular ring e being attached to the shank of the plunger by being
shrunk thereon, or attached thereto during the process of casting, also
casting the collar or flange e in one piece with the plunger as described
and set forth in Figures 10 and 11 of the Drawings
In witness whereof I the said Edward Jackson have hereunto set my hand and
seal this sixth day of March in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and eighty four.
Witness
HENRY SKERRETT
Patent Agent
6 Livery Street
Birmingham.
EDWARD JACKSON (LS.)