Improvements in Coupling-buffers for Railway Vehicles.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 11th June, 1887
Complete Left, 12th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 13th Apr., 1838
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coupling-buffers for Railway Vehicles.
I, GEORGE TURTON, of The Patent Buffer, Steel and File Works, Sheffield, in the
County of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to coupling-buffers for railway vehicles.
One object of my present invention is the application to link coupling-buffers, in
a simple and advantageous manner, of means for taking up the slack or drawing
together the buffer-heads of two vehicles after the connection of their coupling
devices, without affecting or interfering with the required freedom of the couplings in
passing around curves.
In the specifications of former Letters Patent granted to me, viz. :-No. 3113
dated 31st July A.D. 1879, No. 1975 dated 13th May A.D. 1880, and No. 4690
dated 26th October A.D. 1881, I have described coupling-buffers wherein provision is
made for taking up the slack by means of an excentric or excentrics fitted within the
buffer-head in such a manner that, when two buffers are coupled or connected, the
slack may be taken up by partially rotating the said excentric or excentrics.
I now
provide for taking up the slack in a similar manner in coupling-buffers designed to be
connected by the engagement of a hook, pin or other device in one buffer with a link
in the other buffer.
My present invention is, moreover, designed to improve the construction and
increase the efficiency of coupling-buffers of the kind or class described in my said
former specifications.
In coupling-buffers designed to be connected by means of a link and pin, I usually
provide a forked piece for a pair of jaws, which is arranged to slide within the
buffer-head, and in which I fit the excentric or excentrics, and through which the
said pin is to be passed after the link has been thrust between the two jaws. The
lower jaw is arranged to be supported upon a part of the buffer-head or upon a pin or
rod fixed therein, and its upper surface is curved or inclined to facilitate the entrance

page_text: of the link into, or its withdrawal from the space between the said jaws. The forked
or jaw piece is, in some instances, so formed that, when the buffers of two vehicles are
brought together, the link of one buffer can move into the space above the cross-bar
or excentric shaft of the other buffer, and jamming of the said link between the
buffers will thus be avoided. Moreover the link can be drawn up over the said cross-
bar or excentric-shaft to remove it from the buffer-head. I sometimes provide other
means for preventing the jamming of the link between the two buffers. The said
buffers are preferably made with side bars or draw-bars coupled or connected
to the cross-bar or excentric shaft, substantially as described in my said former
specifications.
According to a modification of my invention, I provide for the automatic coupling
or connection of the buffers of adjacent vehicles. For instance, I sometimes dispenso
with the aforesaid pin and employ, in place of the said forked or jaw piece, a hook
pivotted upon the said excentrics and an arm which is also pivotted thereon and which
is supported like the said jaw piece and has an inclined or curved upper surface to
facilitate the entrance of the link between the same and the hook. The hook is so
formed that the link will raise the said hook and the latter will then fall into engage-
ment with the said link. The hook is preferably adapted to enter a notch in the arm
beneath it, so that the tractive force applied to the link will be distributed between
the said hook and arm. In other instances, I use a hook which is pivotted to the
sliding forked or jaw piece. Or I employ any well-known or suitable device which is
adapted to engage with the said link and which may be fitted upon the excentric or
excentrics. In all cases, the slack may be taken up by partially rotating the said
excentric or excentrics.
Instead of arranging the excentrics and the weighted levers or handles for turning
the same so that the said levers hang vertically and are free to vibrate or swing, after
the slack has been taken up, I provide rests or supports for the said levers at either
end of their stroke or movement. Moreover I so arrange the said excentrics that
they will have more or less lead, that is to say,.so that they must be turned more or
less beyond the "dead centre" in order to take up the slack. The tractive force
applied to the coupling will tend to force the weighted lever against its rest or support.
I thus provide more effectually than heretofore for preventing accidental uncoupling of
the vehicles. The said rests or supports are preferably formed on, or attached to, the
side bars or draw-bars.
This feature of my invention is advantageously applicable to all kinds of coupling-
buffers. In applying it to a rigid coupling-buffer-head, I form or fix the said rests or
supports upon the buffer-head.
I prefer to make the said levers of the peculiar shape hereinafter mentioned, that
is to say, I bend or curve the said levers so that their free ends or handles will be
vertical when the slack has been taken up, and will, therefore, be in the most favourable
position for operating the said levers; and, when the buffers are uncoupled and the
levers thrown back, the said levers will occupy such a position that they will not be
liable to be jammed or otherwise affected when two vehicles are brought together with
sufficient force to compress the buffer-springs.
In some instances, I form the excentric or excentrics solidly on the cross-bar or shaft
instead of fixing the same thereon by means of keys as heretofore practised. When the
excentrics and cross-bar are thus formed in one piece, it is necessary to provide large
enough holes in the sides of the buffer-head to permit the passage of the excentrics
through the same. In this case, I prefer to make the side bars or draw-bars with
bosses or projections which extend into the said holes in the sides of the buffer-head.
In this manner, I provide very efficiently for supporting the excentrics and their shaft
within the buffer-head.
Instead of arranging the draw-bars one on each side of the buffer-head, 1 some-
times so arrange the said bars that they extend through the rear or inner end of the
buffer-head. I am thus enabled to make the buffer-head stronger than would other-
wise be practicable and to increase the space within the same.
I sometimes provide my improved coupling-buffers with springs so arranged that

page_text: they will serve both for buffing and drawing. For this purpose, I prefer to extend
the shank of the buffer through an oscillating box which is mounted upon trunnions
whereby it is supported in bearings attached to the bed or frame of the vehicle. I
arrange a spring in this box and fit a collar on the said shank to act in combination
with a shoulder on the said shank to compress the said spring. In the rear or inner
end of the said box I provide a sliding ferrule or sleeve against which bears one end
of the said spring and which is held upon the said shank by means of a nut screwed
thereon or by other suitable means. When tractive force is applied to the said shank,
the said spring will be compressed through the medium of the said nut and ferrule or
sleeve. The said oscillating box permits the required angular movement of the
coupling in passing around curves: I construct this box in such a manner that the
spring can be readily removed therefrom and replaced therein.
Dated this 11th day of June 1887
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coupling-buffers for Railway-vehicles.
I, GEORGE TURTON, of the Patent Buffer, Steel and File Works, Sheffield, in the
County of York, 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 coupling-buffers for railway-vehicles.
One object of my present invention is the application to link coupling-buffers, in a
simple and advantageous manner, of means for taking up the slack or drawing
together the buffer-heads of two vehicles after the connection of their coupling
devices, without affecting or interfering with the required freedom of movement
of the couplings in passing around curves.
In the specifications of former Letters Patent granted to me, viz. :-No. 3115
dated 31st July 1879, No. 1975 dated 13th May 1880, and No. 4690 dated
26th October 1881, I have described coupling-buffers wherein a hook in one buffer
is adapted to engage with a pin in an adjacent buffer for the purpose of coupling two
vehicles, and wherein provision is made for taking up the slack by the partial
rotation of an eccentric or eccentrics arranged within the buffer-head. I now
provide for taking up the slack in a similar manner in coupling-buffers designed
to be connected by the engagement of a link in one buffer with a hook, pin or other
device in an adjacent buffer.
Another object of my present invention is to provide more effectually than
heretofore for preventing accidental uncoupling of two vehicles by concussion
or vibration. For this purpose I so construct and arrange the parts that, when two
vehicles are coupled and the slack has been taken up, the eccentric or eccentrics will
have more or less "lead," that is to say, they will, in the operation of taking up the
slack, have been turned beyond the "dead centre ; and I provide a suitable stop or
stops against which the said eccentric or eccentrics or a lever or levers connected
therewith will be firmly held when tractive force is applied to the coupling, so that
the stronger the pull upon the coupling the more effectually will the eccentric
or eccentrics be held in their operative position.
My present invention is, moreover, designed to generally improve the construction
and increase the efficiency of coupling-buffers.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal central section.
Figure 1 a side elevation.
Figure 2 a plan, and
Figure 3 a front elevation showing one form of my improved coupling-buffer.
Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal central section, showing how the coupling link
may be withdrawn.
The remaining figures are hereinafter referred to and show other forms or
modifications of my invention.
is the buffer-head & the coupling link the coupling nin

page_text: Referring to Figures 1 to 4, d is a forked piece having a pair of jaws d¹, d² and
arranged to slide or move longitudinally within the buffer-hend a. In this forked
piece or jaw-piece are fitted the eccentrics e which are fixed on a shaft or cross-bar e¹.
The pin c is passed through the jaws d', d2 and through the link. The lower jaw d²
is arranged to be supported upon a part of the buffer-head a or upon a pin or rod
fixed therein, and its upper surface is curved or inclined to facilitate the entrance of
the link of an adjacent buffer into, or its withdrawal from, the space between the said
jaws d, d. The forked or jaw-piece d is, in some instances, so formed that, when
the buffers of two vehicles are brought together, the link & can move into the space f
provided in the forked or jaw-piece d above the eccentric-shaft or cross-bar e
(as shown in Figure 4) and jamming of the said link between the buffers will thus
be avoided. Moreover, the link can be drawn up over the said eccentric-shaft or
cross-bar e' to remove it from the buffer-head a. I sometimes provide other means
for preventing the jamming of the link between the two buffers. The buffer is
preferably made with side-bars or draw-bars g coupled or connected to the eccentric-
shaft or cross-bar el substantially as described in my said former specifications.
The said eccentric-shaft or cross-bar el is provided with weighted levers or handles h
for turning the same. These levers or handles h, instead of being arranged as hereto-
fore so that they hang vertically and are free to vibrate or swing after the slack
has been taken up, are provided with bosses having projections 2, as more clearly
shown in Figure 1ª, adapted to bear against projections g' upon the side-bars or
draw-bars when the said levers h are at either end of their stroke or movement.
In some instances, for example in a rigid coupling-buffer-head, the stops or
abutments are formed on the buffer-head." They may, however, be otherwise
arranged if desired.
The eccentrics e are so arranged that they will have more or less "lead" that is to
say, so that they must he turned more or less beyond the "dead centre" in order to
take up the slack. The tractive force applied to the coupling will, therefore, tend
to turn the said eccentrics still further beyond the "dead centre" and will thus
firmly hold the weighted levers h against the rests or supports g'.
The weighted levers or handles are preferably so bent or curwed that their free
ends will be in an angular or oblique position when the slack has been taken up and
will, therefore, be in the most favourable position for operating the same, and, when
the buffers are uncoupled, and the levers or handles thrown back, they will occupy
such a position as not to be liable to be jammed or otherwise affected when two
vehicles are brought together with sufficient force to compress the buffer-springs.
The buffing springs and slack springs and other parts not shown in Figures 1 to 4
are constructed and arranged substantially as described in my said former specifi-
cations or in any other convenient manner.
Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal central section showing a modification of my inven-
tion in which I provide a coupling pin or catch c attached by means of a hinge-joint at c¹
to an arm pivoted at d to lugs d³ attached to, or forming part of the upper jaw d
of the forked or jaw piece d. A hole c is provided in the lower jaw d into which
the extremity of the coupling pin or catch c will enter and thus obtain a bearing in
both of the said jaws d', d². The arm d³ is, moreover, provided with a loop or eye d
whereby a chain or cord may be attached thereto for facilitating the uncoupling
of two vehicles, when desired.
Figure 5* is a vertical longitudinal central section illustrating another modification of
my said invention wherein the lower jaw of the jaw-piece d is dispensed with and a link 1
is pivoted upon the eccentric-shaft or cross-bar el. A hole is provided in the neck
of the link for the extremity of the coupling pin or catch to drop into for
the purpose above specified.
Figures 6, 7 and 8 are respectively a vertical longitudinal central section, a front
elevation and a plan, showing another modification of my said invention wherein the
link 6 is pivoted upon the excentric-shaft or cross-bar e', a pin c being passed through
the jaw-piece d for the purpose of engaging with the link of an adjacent buffer. In
this case a single eccentric e is employed.

page_text: Figures 9, 10 and 11 are respectively a vertical longitudinal central section, a front
elevation, and a plan, showing a modification of my invention in which the
coupling-pin and forked piece or jaw-piece are dispensed with, and a hook i is pivoted
upon the eccentrics e and is adapted to engage with a link b. Figures 12, 13 and 14
are similar views showing a modification in which the hook is pivoted upon a single
eccentric e and a link is pivoted upon the eccentric-shaft or cross-bar el. Figure 15
is a similar view to Figure 12 showing a buffer with the hook placed in the reverse
position to that shown in Figures 12 to 14. It will be seen that these and some of
the other buffers herein described are designed to be coupled automatically when two
vehicles are brought together.
Figures 16, 17 and 18 are respectively a vertical longitudinal central section,
a plan and a front elevation, showing a modification of my invention in which
the hook is pivoted by means of the bolt or pin i¹ to a boss ; on the eccentric-strap j'
of the eccentric e. A forked piece k is, moreover, pivoted upon the eccentric e or the
shaft or cross-bar e', and has a link connected therewith by a hinge-joint at 1.
The said link is supported like the jaw-piece hereinbefore described, and is,
moreover, inclined so as to facilitate the entrance of the link b between the same and
the hook. The said hook i is so formed that the link will raise the said hook,
which will then fall into engagement with the said link b. The hook i is preferably
adapted to enter a notch or cavity in the solid part or neck of the link 6' so that the
tractive force applied to the link will be distributed between the hook i and
the link b¹.
Figures 19, 20, 21 and 22 are respectively a vertical longitudinal central section, a
side elevation, a plan, and a front elevation, showing a modification of my invention
in which the hook i is pivoted upon the eccentric e and the side-bars or draw-bars g
are passed through the rear or inner end of the buffer-head a and are attached, by
means of the loops or eyes 2, to the eccentric-shaft or cross-bar e¹. By passing the
draw-bars through the rear of the buffer-head as above described, I am enabled
to make the sides of the said buffer-head stronger than would otherwise be practicable
and to increase the space within the buffer-head. The buffer-head a is, moreover,
provided with an adjustable pin m for the hook of an adjacent buffer to engage with 3
one extremity of this pin m is provided with a suitable swivelling pin or catch n, to
prevent its accidental removal from the buffer-head a; the other extremity or head of
the said pin m has a ring or eye m¹² and is attached, by means of a suitable chain o,
to an eye o¹ upon the eccentric-shaft or cross-bar e¹, or otherwise. The bosses h¹ of
the weighted levers or handles h are provided with flat portions h² adapted to bear
against the projections g¹ upon the side-bars or draw-bars g in the manner hereinbefore
described. When the said side-bars or draw-bars g are not made with projections g¹,
suitable washers may be fitted upon the eccentric-shaft or cross-bar e between the
side-bars or draw-bars g and the lever-bosses h¹ to serve the purpose of the
projections g. It is obvious that the stops or abutments for the levers are applicable
to all kinds of coupling-buffers in which such levers or equivalent devices for operating
the eccentrics are employed.
Figures 23, 24, 25 and 26 are respectively a vertical longitudinal central section, a
side elevation, a plan partly in horizontal section, and a front elevation, showing
a modification of my invention in which the eccentric e is formed solidly or in one
piece with the eccentric-shaft or cross-bar e¹, instead of being fixed thereon by means
of keys or other suitable devices as heretofore practised. When the eccentric
or eccentrics and the shaft or cross-bar e¹ are thus formed in one piece, it is necessary
to provide in the sides of the buffer-head a, holes a large enough to permit the
passage of the eccentric or eccentrics e through the same. In this case, the side-bars
or draw-bars g are preferably made with bosses or projections g² which extend into
the said holes a¹ in the sides of the buffer-head a, thus providing very efficiently for
supporting the eccentric or eccentrics e and the shaft or cross-bar e within the
buffer-head a.
Figures 27, 28, 29, and 30 are respectively a vertical longitudinal central section,
a side elevation, a plan, and a front elevation, showing a modification of my invention in

page_text: q
which provide the coupling-buffer with a spring p so arranged that it will serve both
for buffing and drawing. For this purpose I prefer to extend the buffer rod or stem
through an oscillating box r which is mounted upon gudgeons or trunnions whereby it
is supported in bearings s attached to the bed or frame of the vehicle. The part q' of
the buffer rod or stem 7: which extends through the box r, is preferably made of
smaller diameter than that next the buffer-head a.
A collar u is fitted upon the part of the buffer rod or stem g against the shoulder
formed by the thicker portion of the said buffer rod or stem. In the rear or inner
end of the said box is a sliding ferrule or sleeve v provided with two collars v, 1²,
the collar being attached to, or forming part of the ferrule or sleeve » and situated
inside the box r. The spring is arranged between the collars v1.
The collar is held upon the buffer-rod or stem g by means of a nut w screwed
thereon and by a pin or cottare, or by other suitable means.
When tractive force is applied to the buffer rol or stem 7, the spring p will
be compressed through the medium of the said sliding ferrule or sleeve which bears
against the collar e', the oscillating box permitting the required angular movement
of the coupling in passing around curves. The spring p is also compressed when
pressure is applied to the buffer, as when two vehicles come together.
31
The box is, moreover, constructed in such a manner that the spring p can
be readily removed therefrom and replaced therein. The boss of each of the
weighted levers or handles h is provided with a projection which bears in one
position of the eccentric e against a pin or stud y fixed in the buffer-head a, or against
any other suitable projection either attached to, or forming part of the buffer head.
When the eccentrics e are in position to take up the slack, the said weighted levers
or handles h bear against the said pin or stud y as shown in Figure 28.
Figure 31 is a sectional side elevation, and Figure 32 a plan, showing a similar
arrangement of spring to that above described with reference to Figures 27 to 30,
but provided with a hook coupling similar to that described with reference to
Figures 19 to 22.
Figures 33 and 34 are perspective views showing modifications of my invention in
which the slack springs p are interposed between the eccentric-shaft or cross-bar e¹
and suitable projections or lugs y' upon the buffer-head a, or the flange of the said
buffer-head.
Figure 35 is a side elevation partly in section, and Figure 36 a plan, showing
a modification of my invention in which the buffer is provided with a hook adapted
to engage with a pin in an adjacent buffer.
The side-bars or draw-bars g in Figures 33 to 36 are formed as herein before
described with stops or abutments y' to limit the movement of the levers h.
Figures 37, 38 and 39 are respectively a sectional side elevation, a plan, and a
front elevation, showing another modification in which the hook i is provided with
a forked piece having a transverse pin or bar 12. This forked piece i¹ is arranged
so as to be at right angles to the hook i, thus if one coupling hook be thrown back the
forked piece is brought into position so that the other coupling hook i engages
with the pin or bar i² and vice versa.
It is obvious that other well known or suitable devices may be substituted for the
hook or pin above referred to, for engagement with the link. It is, moreover,
evident that the draw-bars and the springs may be arranged as described in either of
my said former specifications or in any other convenient manner, and that other
devices than eccentrics may, in some instances, be used for taking up slack by means
of the jaw-piece.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood
that claim -
First A coupling-buffer wherein one or more eccentrics are employed for the
purpose above specified, and the parts of which are so constructed and arranged that,
when two vehicles have been coupled and the slack has been taken up, the said

page_text: eccentric or eccentrics will have more or less "lead" and will, when tractive force is
applied to the coupling devices, be held firmly against a stop or stops, substantially
as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Second The combination, with one or more eccentrics formed or fixed on a shaft
or cross-bar provided with weighted levers, of stops or abutments for limiting the
movement of the said levers, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Third A coupling-buffer wherein the coupling pin, hook or other device is carried
by a forked piece or jaw-piece provided with means for taking up the slack, as, and
for the purpose,. above specified.
Fourth The employment of a forked piece or jaw-piece arranged to be moved to
and fro, within the buffer-head by means of an eccentric or eccentrics and provided
with a coupling pin, hook or the like (with or without stops or abutments for limiting
the movement of the said eccentric or eccentrics and with or without a coupling link)
all substantially as, and for the purposes, set forthi.
Fifth The modification of my invention which consists in so constructing the said
forked piece or jaw-piece that the link may be drawn up through the same, substan-
tially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Sixth A coupling-buffer wherein a link is pivoted upon the eccentric-shaft and
which is provided with a hook arranged to be moved to and fro within the buffer-
head by means of an eccentric or eccentrics, and adapted to engage with the coupling
link of an adjacent buffer, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Seventh A coupling-buffer wherein an arm provided with a coupling pin is pivoted
to the buffer-head or to a jaw-piece within the same, and wherein one or more
eccentrics or other means are provided for taking up the slack, substantially as, and
for the purpose, set forth.
Eighth A coupling-buffer wherein the side-rods or draw-bars extend through the
back of the buffer-head, substantially as set forth.
"
Ninth A coupling-buffer wherein the eccentric or eccentrics for taking up the
slack are formed solidly or in one piece with the eccentric-shaft or cross-bar and
wherein provision is made for the admission or introduction of the said shaft or
cross-bar and the eccentrics into the buffer-head, substantially as described.
Tenth A coupling-buffer provided with means, substantially as hereinbefore
described, for taking up the slack, and with a spring enclosed in a swivelling box
or the like which permits the requisite movement of the coupling devices when the
vehicles are passing around a curve, as above specified.
Eleventh The improved coupling-buffer consisting of the parts constructed and
combined substantially as described with reference to either of the forms or modifi-
cations shown in the accompanying drawings, for the purposes above specified.
Patert LOUIS VULN day O Baron IXXX
Patert LOIS SUED day of Barron LXXX
GEORGE TURTON.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.