IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY CARRIAGES
Year: 1853

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jacob Vale Asbury'
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,"
on the 4th February 1853.
I, JACOB VALE ASBURY, of Enfield, in the County of. Middlesex,
Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY CARRIAGES" to be as follows:-
The object of this carriage is, to prevent injury to passengers,
under collision, by bringing the. momentum and the vis inertia to
bear on each other simultaneously, so.as to prevent concussion wlien
contact between these. two opposing forces takes place. This prin-
ciple is effected by. machinery placed within the framework of the
carriage with double action and direct horizontal motion, and pos
sessing several degrees of power, and which are called forth conse..
cutively as the forces of impact and pressure increase, so that a
progressive and increasing resistance is transmitted from carriage to

page_text: carriage throughout the train; and whether a train in advance is at
rest or progressing with less speed, or two trains meet each other
of different weight and velocity, the greater momentum will be
carried onwards; for the object of this Invention is not abruptly to
stop a train, but to transfer its motion until an equilibrium is
established.
The machinery connected therewith is constructed and arranged as
follows: The longitudinal and other timbers comprising the frame
which supports the body of the carriage I bring within a few inches of
the rails, allowing a sufficient and proper communication with the
axleboxes for the ordinary supply of lubricating materials; besides
which I extend the longitudinal portion of the frame the length of the
compartments set apart for the convenience of passengers only, and not
over the whole length to the buffer plank, as is the general practice, at
which points or ends of the frame I introduce a sliding frame; the
bars or guides keeping the same in position I make of iron or other
suitable material, properly stayed by tie rods, angle irons, or other
convenient method for connecting it to the buffer plank. Both ends;
of the carriage being similarly provided with the said sliding
frames constitutes a double action, which action is assisted by three
cylindrical buffers on each buffer plank, the shells or outer cylinders:
comprising a portion of the said buffers, being bolted or otherwise
properly fixed to the frames. Placed within the shells are spiral
springs of equal diameter, at all points corresponding in their outer
diameters with the inner diameters of the shells; and each of the.
said spiral springs are of a lesser length than the shells in which,
they are contained, for the specific purposes of acting as a collar
or receptacle for another cylinder, which I denominate the buffer.
The inner end of the said concentric cylinder or buffer is provided
with a sole plate disc or impinging plate, cast or wrought on, which
acts by way of pistons on the outer end of the spiral springs.
The outer end of the said concentric cylinders or buffers are packed
with india-rubber or other elastic substance or substances in the
manner of a cushion. On the inside of each of the said spiral springs
I place a block or cylinder of india-rubber, corresponding in dia-
meter and length (nearly) with the inner diameters and lengths'of-

page_text: •
the said spiral springs, through which cylinders or blocks are holes or
apertures, corresponding in diameter with that of certain rods, bars,
or tubes, which rods are continuations of the concentric cylinders
or buffers before described. These rods pass through the respective
centres of the india-rubber blocks, through the back of the shells and
sliding frames at each end to the inside or bed of the carriage, that
is, the portion contained within the lines of the longitudinal timbers,
the further use and action of which I describe hereafter. Placed
immediately within the end timbers of the carriage frame, and in a
line with each of the before-mentioned shells and buffers, are three
metal cylinders open at the end nearest to the rear of the buffer
shells, the open ends being made with flanges, so that a cover to
cach may be bolted on, or in such a manner that a cross bar or
plate, either separate or extending over all, might be attached for
the purpose of a guide. Each of these cylinders are bolted firmly
to the carriage frame, so that they are immoveable; each cylinder to
contain a spiral spring of the same construction as the buffer.
springs, before described, the interior of each spring to be packed
with an elastic substance as before. At the rear of these, at each
end, are three other cylinders still in the same line with the buffers,
containing, in lieu of the springs and packing, elastic packing only,
accurately fitting the said cylinders, and of the same length of the
cylinders, saving a sufficiency of space for the admission of a plate
disc or piston mentioned hereafter; these, as before, to be bolted or
otherwise attached to the carriage frame, also a cross bar or plate
by way of guide. Immediately in the rear of these packed cylinders
is another row precisely similar to the last mentioned in every
respect.
Thus far I have described three rows of cylinders, making twelve
in number, packed cylinders, and six spring packed cylinders within
the frame of the carriage, besides six spring packed and cushion
capped buffer cylinders. Now I do not intend to confine myself to
the above arrangement, neither in respect to number of each nor po-
sition. The rods, bars, or tubes in connection with the buffers, after
having passed through the rear of the buffer shells and sliding

page_text: frames, are each continued to the outside of the third row of cylin-
ders (within the frame), but on that portion of the rod immediately
in contact with the spring and packing of the first row (cach end)
of cylinders, and the intermediate and terminating rows, also
immediately at the rear of each row, are discs or plates of metal
firmly keyed, slotted, or cottared on each rod at such positions;
the difference only between the fore and back plates being in their
diameters, the lesser ones equalling the diameter of the inside of
the cylinders, and the larger of any required form or proportion in
connection with diagonals or cross bars by way of stays to the
machinery.
On that portion of the sliding frames before described, being
those immediately in contact with the end compartments, I add to
each an ornamental division (less the diameter of the carriage by
the width of the timber), bolted or fixed to the iron and timber
work comprising the frames, which ornamental division, when
moved forward, becomes recessed in the central frame during the
periods of impact and pressure, but return to their original position
when the powers cease to act.
Besides the use of the fixed metal cylinders containing springs
and packing or packings alone, I superadd blocks or sliding frames
(independent of the sliding frames before mentioned), of india-rub-.
ber, gutta percha, felt, cotton, or any elastic gum or fabric, succes-
sive layers interposed betwixt the impinging portion of the sliding
frames when used in conjunction or otherwise with elliptical
springs, placed in pairs, triples, or quadruples, as the case may be,
to be used in any position without prejudice to the spiral springs or
the packed cylinders.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said Jacob Vale Asbury in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 4th August 1835.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JACOB VALE ASBURY, of Enfield, in the County of Middlesex, Sur-
geon, send greeting.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JACOB VALE ASBURY, of Enfield, in the County of Middlesex, Sur-
geon, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
sixteenth year of Hei reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Jacob Vale Asbury, Her
special licence that I, the said Jacob Vale Asbury, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Jacob Vale
Asbury, 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 RAILWAY CARRIAGES," upon the condi-
tion (amongst others) that I, the said Jacob Vale Asbury, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 I, the said Jacob Vale Asbury, 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 (that is to say):
The object of this carriage is to prevent injury to passengers by
bringing the momentum and the vis inertia to bear on each other
simultaneously, so as to prevent concussion when contact between
these two opposing forces takes place. This principle is effected by
machinery placed in the framework of the carriage with double action
and direct horizontal motion, and possessing several degrees of
power, and which are called forth consecutively as the forces of im-
pact and pressure increase, so that a progressive and increasing
resistance is transmitted from carriage to carriage throughout the
train, and whether a train in advance is at rest, or progressing with

page_text: less speed, or two trains meet each other of different weight and
velocity, the greater momentum will be carried onwards; for the
object of this Invention is not abruptly to stop a train, but to
transfer its motion until an equilibrium is established.
The machinery connected therewith is constructed and arranged as
follows: The longitudinal and other timbers comprising the frame
which supports the body of the carriage, I bring within a few inches of
the rails, allowing a sufficient and proper communication with the
axle boxes for the ordinary supply of lubricating material; besides
which I extend the longitudinal portion of the frame the length of
the compartments set apart for the convenience of passengers only,
and not over the whole length to the buffer plank, as is the general
practice, at which points or ends of the frame I introduce a sliding
frame; the bars or guides keeping the same in position I make of
iron or other suitable material, properly stayed by tie rods, angle
irons, or other convenient method for connecting it to the buffer
plank. Both ends of the carriage being similarly provided with the
said sliding frames constitutes a double action, which action is
assisted by three cylindrical buffers on each buffer plank, the shells
or outer cylinders comprising a portion of the said buffers, being
bolted or otherwise properly fixed to the frames. Placed within the
shells are spiral springs of equal diameter, at all points correspond-.
ing in their order with the inner diameters of the shells; and each
of the said spiral springs are of a lesser length than the shells in
which they are contained, for the specific purpose of acting as a
collar or receptacle for another cylinder, I denominate the buffer.
The inner end of the said concentric cylinder or buffer is provided
with a sole plate disc or impinging plate, cast or wrought on,
which acts by way of pistons on the outer end of the spiral springs.
The outer end of the concentric cylinders or buffers are packed.
with india-rubber or other elastic substance in the manner of a
cushion. On the inside of each of the said spiral springs, I place a
block or cylinder of india-rubber, corresponding in diameter and
length (nearly) with the inner diameter and lengths of the said

page_text: spiral springs, through which cylinders or blocks are holes or aper-
tures corresponding in diameter with that of certain rods, bars, or
tubes, which rods are continuations of the concentric cylinders or
buffers before described. These rods pass through the respective
centres of the india-rubber blocks, through the back of the shells
and sliding frames, at each end of the inside or bed of the carriage;
that is, the portion contained within the lines of the longitudinal tim-
bers, the further use and action of which I describe hereafter. Placed
immediately within the end timbers of the carriage frame, and in a
line with each of the before-mentioned shells and buffers, are three
metal cylinders, open at the end nearest to the rear of the buffer
shells, the open ends being made with flanges, so that a cover to
cach may be bolted on, or in such a manner that a cross bar or plate,
cither separate or extending over all, might be attached for the
purpose of a guide. Each of these cylinders are bolted firmly to the
carriage frame, so that they are immoveable; each cylinder to con-
tain a spiral spring of the same construction as the buffer springs
before described; the interior of each spring to be packed with an
elastic substance, as before. At the rear of these at each end are
three other cylinders; still in the same line with the buffers, contain-
ing in lieu of the springs and packing elastic packing only, leaving
a sufficient space within the cylinder for the admission of a plate
disc or piston mentioned hereafter; these, as before, to be bolted or
otherwise attached to the carriage frame, also a cross bar or plate by
way
of guide. Immediately in the rear of these packed cylinders is
another row precisely similar to the last-mentioned in every respect.
Thus far I have described three rows of cylinders, making twelve
in number, packed cylinders, and six spring packed cylinders within
the frame of the carriage, besides six spring packed and cushion:
capped buffer cylinders. I do not intend to confine myself to the
above arrangement, neither in respect to number of each nor position:
The rods, bars, or tubes in connection with the buffers, after having
passed through the rear of the buffer shells and sliding frames, are
each continued to the outside of the third row of cylinders (within

page_text: the frame), but on that portion of the rod immediately in contact with
the spring and packing of the first row (each end) of cylinders, and
the intermediate and terminating rows, also immediately at the
rear of each of the front rows, are discs or plates of metal, firmly
keyed, slotted, or cottared on each rod at such positions, the differ-
ence only between the fore and back plates being in their diameters,
the lesser ones equalling the diameters of the inside of the cylinders,
and the larger of any required form or proportion in connection
with diagonals or cross bars by way of stays to the machinery.
On that portion of the sliding frames before described, being those
immediately in contact with the end compartments, I add to cach
an ornamental division (less the diameter of the carriage by the
width of the timber), bolted or fixed to the iron and timber work
comprising the frame, which ornamental division, when moved for-
ward, becomes recessed in the central fraine during the periods of
impact and pressure, but return to their original position when the
powers cease to act.
Besides the use of the fixed metal cylinders' containing springs
and packing or packings alone, I superadd blocks or sliding frames
(independent of the sliding frames before mentioned, of india-
rubber, gutta percha, félt, cotton, or any elastic guin or fabric, in
successive layers interposed betwixt the impinging portion of the
sliding frames, when used in conjunction or otherwise with elliptical
springs, placed in pairs, triples, or quadruples, as the case may be, to
be used in any position without prejudice to the spiral springs or
the packed cylinders."
By the above description the nature of my Invention will be
readily understood; at the same time various detailed. .variations
may be made in the carrying the Invention fully into practice.
Instead of the sliding frame or ornamental division, the buffer
rods may remain bare, in accordance with the usual custom (instead
of recessing the said sliding frames into the end compartments of
the body of the carriage, which will not in any way interfere with
the general principle involved in the Provisional Specification hiercto-
fore filed by me), so that the stationary buffer plank shall in the usual

page_text: manner be firmly attached to the longitudinal and other timbers
comprising the frame of the said carriage, and the spring or volute
contained within the said buffer shell may be used independent of the
india-rubber block, ring, or cylinder, so that the spring and india-
rubber cushion, may be used together, as well as making use of the
cross bar or plate. By way of guide to the buffer rods, I make use
only of the plain disc or plate or piston, keyed, cottared, sett, screwed,
or bolted on to the stud buffer rod, the said disc plate or piston being
made in one piece or otherwise, to communicate the impinging force
simultaneously to each of the said powers contained within the three
cylinders comprising the first row within the longitudinal timbers
of the carriage frame. The outer concentric cylinders or casings
containing the springs and packings, I cast in one piece, providing
each of the said cylinders in the first row with slots for two thirds
their length, in order to allow the plate or disc to move forward its
assigned distance; and over and above the said cylinders, I wish to
use in conjunction oblong shells cast with the same, containing
india-rubber packing, gutta percha, and iron recessed plates, conse-
cutively or otherwise, to assist and allow the said india-rubber
packing to be compressed within the limit of the final pitch of the
springs; that is, the amount of metal contained: within the spring
longitudinally when driven home, so as to increase the resisting
power of this self-acting compound carriage frame.
In the three cylinders comprising the second row in the same
plane within the inner diameter of the spiral spring, I. make use of
the india-rubber blocks or rings, with the gutta percha and wrought
iron plates as before mentioned, for the first row of cylinders; and I
make use of cast iron plates to bolt the outer cylinders to, instead
of the longitudinal timbers of the carriage frame, in order to allow.
sufficient room for the action of the wheels.
In the third row of cylinders, in addition to the india-rubber
packing, I use gutta percha and wrought iron recessed plates, as
before described; besides which, to increase the power according to
the first row of cylinders, oblong cases of iron, cast with the said
cylinders in one piece, filled with india-rubber, (leaving room for

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING..
a, the cylinders containing the spiral springs for the first and
second power; b, b, the outer concentric cylinders containing the
recessed iron plates and gutta percha ditto plates, and vulcanized
india-rubber rings; c, oblong boxes cast with the cylinders contain-
ing iron and gutta percha recessed plates, and vulcanized india-
rubber blocks; d, vulcanized india-rubber blocks and rings; e, gutta
percha recessed plates; f, iron ditto, ditto; g, the impinging plate or
piston, wrought in one piece, and keyed on to the buffer rods, so that
when the buffer rods are moved forward, the plate moves with them,
and acts upon the springs, &c. &c. contained within the oblong.
boxes and the cylinders; h, the impinging plates for the second
power, (i. e.) the second row of cylinders are separate for each cylin
der, and each plate being keyed on to the buffer. rod, in the same:
line with itself. The impinging plate for the third power (the
central cylinders and oblong boxes) is forged in one piece, and acts
upon each box and cylinder in that rod simultaneously, being keyed
or otherwise fixed to the three buffer rods. The cylinders and

page_text: boxes are slotted to allow of the passage of the plate of the first row
of cylinders and boxes; the slot is in the
1st row
length, 24 inches,
2nd row
3rd Do.
i, the buffer rods, having hollow or recessed ends to transmit the
momentum from power to power by allowing the rod in the same.
line and plane to be moved forward after each recessed rod. has
been moved the limit of the length of its hollow; j, the hollow end
of-the--buffer rods;-k, recessed buffer (iron or timber)...plates:
attached to the end planks of the carriage frame; 1, sliding buffer
plank; m, buffer shells containing spiral springs; n, india-rubber
cusheon attached to moveable or sliding portion of buffer; o, cross
timbers of the carriage frame; p,longitudinal ditto; 9, end ditto; r,
cylinders containing springs and packing and recessed iron plates to
sustain the perpendicular weight of the carriage in lieu of elliptical
springs; s, iron bars, the two outer ones passing into the cylinders
for a certain distance, the centre bar or rod passing through its
cylinder, and attached to or forming a part of the under side of the
axle box; t, t, the axle boxes; u, the wheels filled up with timber; v,
the cylinders of the third power, containing gutta percha and iron
recessed plates, and vulcanized india-rubber blocks; w, oblong
boxes cast in one piece with the cylinders containing gutta percha
and iron recessed plates and vulcanized india-rubber blocks; x, the
metal of the cylinders and boxes; z, the spiral springs; al, blocks of
vulcanized india-rubber contained within the back end of the cylin-
ders for the first power, (i. e.) the first row of cylinders and boxes to
act as draw springs, the blocks being acted upon by a plate 2, keyed
or otherwise fixed to the buffer rod 1; 3, india-rubber blocks acting
as draw springs when the moveable buffer plank is coupled up to
that of another carriage; 4, the spiral springs contained within the

page_text: buffer shells; 5, the frame of the carriage composed of timber with
wrought iron plates bolted on.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jacob Vale Asbury, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this 2nd day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
three
Witness,
S. CARPMAEL.
J. V. ASBURY. (L.S.)