Improvements in and relating to Central Buffer and Draw Gear Apparatus, suitable for Railway and like Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Central Buffer and Draw Gear
Apparatus, suitable for Railway and like Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM RICHARD SUMPTION JONES, of 3, Whitehall Court, Whitehall, in the
County of London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention has reference to a construction of central buffer, and draw gear
apparatus that can be readily coupled and tightened up with similar apparatus on
either end of an adjacent vehicle, both on a straight track and on curves, whether
or not the length of the vehicles to be coupled be equal or approximately so, and
whether the central buffers on the adjacent ends of two vehicles be of equal or
unequal heights, the construction of the apparatus inoreover being such that it can
be used with vehicles fitted with ordinary draw hooks and with ordinary side buffers
that may be of different lengths within the usual limits.
Central buffer and draw gear apparatus embodying my invention comprises a
combined buffer and draw bar rod that is mounted on the end of a vehicle and is
acted upon by buffer and draw springs in such a way that it can turn horizontally or
vertical but cannot rotate about its axis. A suitable arrangement for this purpose is
described in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 8355 of 1892. The rod at its
outer end carries a buffer head which is formed with a vertical passage and is provided
with a pin upon which is journalled a coupling hook which may resemble that
illustrated in the said former specification. The pin is screwed into the sides of the
head and is provided near its ends with a collar and lock nut, or with two lock nuts
arranged to bear against the respective sides of the head, and the coupling hook is
mounted on a reduced portion of the pin near one side of and within the buffer head.
Arranged to work longitudinally in slots in the sides of the buffer head is a transverse
pin or block designed to engage with the coupling hook of similar apparatus on an
adjacent vehicle and which for this reason is hereinafter called for distinction the
coupling block. This block when in its forward position will permit the coupling
hook on an adjacent vehicle to slide readily over it so as to become engaged therewith
or disengaged therefrom according as the vehicles are brought together or moved
apart, and when moved backward after the coupling hook has been engaged with it,
will prevent the disengagement of the said hook with which it can then be tightened
up so as to prevent any slack between adjacent buffer faces. For moving the coupling
block longitudinally in the buffer head there are mounted, according to one
arrangement, on the outwardly projecting ends of the coupling block at opposite sides
of the buffer head, a pair of levers the upper ends of which are connected by links
to the upper ends of another pair of levers which are journalled upon the outwardly
projecting ends of the pin upon which coupling hook is mounted. To and between
the lower ends of each pair of levers is journalled a nut with which engages one end

page_text: of a right and left handed screw provided at its central part with a pulley or toothed
wheel adapted to be operated through suitable mechanism from either side of the
vehicle at will. In one arrangement the screw is provided with a pulley connected
by open and cross chains, belts or the like with carriers arranged at the respective
sides of the vehicle and which may be adapted to be operated by hand. The axis of
the coupling hook pin and coupling block are preferably arranged in the same
horizontal plane, which may also contain the axis of the buffer rod when this rod is
in its normal position.
To enable the coupling hook to be lifted into a position in which it will uncouple
automatically from the coupling block when two coupled vehicles are moved apart,
there is arranged below the coupling block an elevator which according to one construc-
tion comprises a bent lever one arm of which, the shorter, is arranged to be operated
by the said coupling block when the same is moved forward and to then cause the
other or longer arm to act either directly, or indirectly through another lever or
equivalent, against the coupling hook and lift it into a position in which it will move
over the block when the previously coupled vehicles are moved apart. The sides of
the buffer head are or may advantageously be connected and strengthened, at a point
below the pin and block, above referred to, by a bolt, rivet or the like that passes
through them and is fitted with a tubular distance piece.
Apparatus of the kind described is made double ended so that it can be effectively
engaged with similar apparatus on an adjacent vehicle whichever end of the latter is
presented to it.
Two ensure the coupling of two sets of coupling apparatus of the kind described
when the vehicles to which they are applied are brought together, even if the buffer
heads are at different heights, or out of line by reason of the vehicles being of different
lengths and on a curve, each head is provided on one side at its lower part with a
flange like extension or lug that is inclined laterally to the axis of the head and has
its upper side inclined backwardly and upwardly. The opposite side of the head is
formed at its upper part with a projecting flange or shoulder under which the flange-
like extension or lug on the opposite buffer head can pass. The arrangement is such
that assuming a pair of buffer heads when brought together are at different heights,
then the flange like extension or lug on one head will pass under and act against the
projecting flange or shoulder on the opposite head with the result that the two heads
will be moved vertically with reference to each other in such a way that the axes of
the buffer rods and heads will be brought into line so that effective coupling of the
hooks with the least amount of slack can take place. Should the buffer heads be out
of line horizontally with each other for the reason stated, the head of the one will slide
against the inclined inner face of the flange-like extension or lug on the other until
the faces of the buffer heads come together at one point about which the faces will
turn as a centre until they become parallel with each other when effective coupling
can take place as before.
Each buffer head is or may be connected by one or more safety chains to the
adjacent end of the vehicle so that should the draw rod break, the safety chain or
chains will come into operation as a safety appliance in the usual way.
In one arrangement there are two safety chains connected at one end to the head-
stock of the vehicle to which the apparatus is applied and at the other end to the
outwardly projecting ends of the coupling hook spindle.
The buffer head is or may be also provided with means such as a pair of links or
shackles by which it can be connected to the safety chains on the end of an ordinary
and adjacent vehicle unprovided with my apparatus. When links are used they may
conveniently be carried by a pair of eyes formed on plates that are secured by rivets
to the opposite outer sides of the buffer head and are formed with shoulders that abut
against the lower surface of the buffer head. When shackles are used they may be
pivoted directly to the sides of the buffer head.
To enable my apparatus to be coupled up with the draw hook of ordinary. vehicles
having side buffers of different length, and the coupling to be tightened up, I provide
. each head with a screw coupling device provided with a coupling shackle adapted to

page_text: be engaged with a draw hook on an adjacent vehicle, after which the connection can be
tightened up by rotating the screw.
In one arrangement of this kind, one end of a right and left hand screw works
through a screw threaded hole or nut in the bottom of a socket piece formed in one
with or secured to the central portion of the coupling block, the other end of the
screw working through a nut to which is jointed a shackle of ordinary form, the
arrangement being such that normally the screw and shackle hang down with the top
of the screw below the top of the coupling block so as not to interfere with the coupling
and uncoupling operations. The central portion of the screw is provided with suitable
means by which it can be rotated, in the ordinary manner for tightening up the
coupling. When the socket piece and nut are formed in one with the coupling
block, as I prefer, the inner surface of one side of the buffer head may be formed
with a groove connecting with the longitudinal slot in that side, so that the coupling
block can, by canting, be readily placed in position without unduly weakening the
buffer head.
As will be obvious the details of construction may be variously modified.
Improvements in and relating to Central Buffer and Draw Gear
Apparatus, suitable for Railway and like Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM RICHARD SUMPTION JONES, of 3 Whitehall Court, Whitehall, in the
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 :-
This invention has reference to a construction of central buffer and draw gear
apparatus that can be readily coupled and tightened up with similar apparatus on
either end of an adjacent vehicle, both on a straight track and on curves, whether
or not the length of the vehicles to be coupled be equal or approximately so, and
whether the central buffers on the adjacent ends of two vehicles be of equal or
unequal heights, the construction of the apparatus moreover being such that it can
be used with vehicles fitted with ordinary drawhooks and with ordinary side buffers
that may be of different lengths within the usual limits.
Fig. 1 shows in side elevation central buffer and draw gear apparatus according to
this invention applied to the adjacent ends of two vehicles. Fig. 2 is a plan of such
apparatus, parts of which are, however, for the sake of clearness, omitted. Fig. 3 is
an end view of one of the central buffer heads and connections. Figs. 4 and 5 are
cross sections on the lines A A and B B respectively of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 shows partly
in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section and Fig. 7 partly in plan and
partly in horizontal section, and both to a larger scale than Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, a
pair of coupling hooks with their pivot pins and elevators and the coupling blocks
with which they engage, other parts of the apparatus being shown in dotted lines.
Fig. 8 is a diagram showing in end view how the. apparatus..can. be worked.from
either side of the vehicle to which it is applied.

page_text: I shall now describe in detail the construction of the buffer head and connected
parts shown at the right hand side of Figs. 1 and 2. The various parts of the buffer
and connections shown at the left hand side of these figures are similar to the right
hand ones, and are marked with the same reference figures with the addition of the
letter a.
•
Central buffer and draw gear apparatus according to my invention comprises a
combined buffer and draw bar rod 1 that is mounted on the end of a vehicle 2 and is
acted upon by buffer and draw springs in such a way that it can turn horizontally or
vertically but cannot rotate about its axis as now well understood with central buffers.
A suitable arrangement for this purpose is described in the Specification of Letters
Patent No. 8355 of 1892. The rod 1 at its outer end carries a buffer head 5 which is
formed with a vertical passage 6 and is provided with a transverse pin 7 upon which
is journalled a coupling hook 8 which may, as shown, resemble that illustrated in
the said former specification. The pin 7 is screwed into the sides of the head 5
(Fig. 5) and is provided near its ends with a collar 9 and lock nut 10 or it may be
with two lock nuts, arranged to bear against the respective sides of the head, and the
coupling hook 8 is mounted on a reduced portion of the pin near one side of and
within the buffer head as shown. Arranged to work in a longitudinal direction in
horizontal slots 11 in the sides of the buffer head is a transverse pin or block 12
designed to engage, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with the coupling hook 8ª of similar
apparatus on an adjacent vehicle 2ª and which for this reason is hereinafter called for
distinction the coupling block. This block when in its forward or outer position will
permit the coupling hook 8" on an adjacent vehicle 2ª to slide readily over it so as to
become engaged therewith or disengaged therefrom according as the vehicles are
brought together or moved apart, and when moved backward after the coupling hook
has been engaged with it, will prevent the disengagement of the said hook with
which it can then be tightened up so as to prevent any slack between adjacent
buffer faces.
For moving the coupling block 12 longitudinally in the buffer head 5, there are
mounted, according to the arrangement shown, on the outwardly projecting ends of
the coupling block 12 at opposite sides of the buffer head 5 (Fig. 4), a pair of levers 13
the upper ends of which are connected by links 14 to the upper ends of another
pair of levers 15 (Fig. 5) which are journalled upon the outwardly projecting ends of
the pin 7 upon which the coupling hook 8 is mounted. To and between the lower
ends of each pair of levers 13 and 15 is journalled a nut 16 with which engages one
end of a right and left handed screw 17 provided at its central part with a pulley or
toothed wheel 18 adapted to be operated through suitable mechanism from either
side of the vehicle at will. In the arrangement shown, the screw 17 is provided with
a pulley 18 connected by open and cross chains 19 and 20 or by belts or the like with
carriers which are shown as pulleys 21 arranged at the respective sides of the vehicle
so that they can be readily operated by hand it may be by hand wheels as shown.
As will be seen, by the use of the open and crossed chains or their equivalents, rotation
of the wheel 21 at either side of the vehicle in one and the same direction will effect
the tightening up of the corresponding coupling block with the hook engaged there-
with, and rotation of either wheel in the opposite direction will slacken the connec-
tion between the said parts. The axes of the coupling hook pin 7 and coupling
block 12 are preferably as shown, arranged in the same horizontal plane, which
may also contain the axis of the buffer rod 1 when this rod is in its normal position.
To enable the coupling hook 8 to be lifted into a position in which it will uncouple
automatically from the coupling block when two coupled vehicles are moved apart,
there is arranged below the coupling block an elevator which according to the
construction shown in Figs. 1 and 6 comprises a bent lever one arm 22 of which, the
shorter, is arranged in the path of the said coupling block 12 so as to be operated
thereby when the same is moved forward and to then cause the other or longer
arm 23 to act either directly, as shown, or it may be indirectly, against the coupling
book and lift it into a position in which it will move over the block when the

page_text: previously coupled vebicles are moved apart. The sides of the buffer head are or
may advantageously be connected and strengthened, at a point below the pin 1 and
block 12 by a rivet 25, bolt or the like that passes through them and is fitted with a
tubular distance piece 26.
Apparatus of the kind described is as shown made double ended so that it can be
effectively engaged with similar apparatus on an adjacent vehicle whichever end of
the latter is presented to it.
To ensure the coupling of two central buffer heads of the kind described when the
vehicles to which they are applied are brought together, even if the buffer heads are
at different heights, or out of line by reason of the vehicles being of different lengths
and on a curve, each buffer head is provided on one side at its lower part with a
flange like extension or lug 27 that is inclined laterally to the axis of the head and
has its upper side 28 inclined backwardly and upwardly. The opposite side of the
head is formed at its upper part with a projecting flange or shoulder 29 under which
the flange-like extension or lug 27 on the opposite buffer head can pass. The
arrangement is such that assuming a pair of buffer heads, when brought together are
at different heights, then the flange like extension or lug 27 on one head will pass
under and act against the projecting flange or shoulder 29 on the opposite head with
the result that the two heads will be moved vertically with reference to each other in
such a way that the axes of the buffer rods 1 and heads 5 will be brought into line so
that effective coupling of the hooks 8, 8* with the least amount of slack can take
place. Should the buffer heads be out of line horizontally with each other for the
reason stated, the head of the one will slide against the inclined inner face of the
flange-like extension or lug 27 on the other until the faces of the buffer heads come
together at one point about which the faces will turn as a centre until they become
parallel with each other when effective coupling can take place as before. As will be
obvious the flange like extension or lug 27 on each buffer head may be placed at the
upper part of one side of the head, if the projecting flange or shoulder 29 be placed
at the lower part of the opposite side of the buffer head.
Each buffer head is or may be connected by one or more safety chains to
the adjacent end of the vehicle so that should the draw rod 1 break, the safety chain
or chains will come into operation as a safety appliance in the usual way.
In the arrangement shown there are two safety chains 30 connected at one end to
the headstock of the vehicle to which the apparatus is applied and at the other end to
the outwardly projecting ends of the coupling hook spindle 7.
The buffer head is or may be also provided with means such as a pair of links or
shackles 31 by which it can be connected to the safety chains on the end of an
ordinary and adjacent vehicle unprovided with iny apparatus. When links are used
they may conveniently be carried by a pair of eyes 32 formed on plates that are
secured by rivets 33 to the opposite outer sides of the buffer head and are formed with
shoulders 34 that abut against the lower surface of the buffer head. When shackles
are used instead of links they may be pivoted directly to the sides of the buffer head
in a manner that will be readily understood without drawings.
To enable my apparatus to be coupled up with the draw hook of ordinary vehicles
having side buffers of different length, and the coupling to be tightened up, I provide
each buffer head 5 with a screw coupling device provided with a coupling shackle
adapted to be engaged with a draw hook on an adjacent vehicle, after which the con-
nection can be tightened up by rotating the screw.
In one arrangement of this kind shown in Figs. 1 and 3, one end of a right and left
hand screw 35 works through a screw threaded hole or nut in the bottom of a socket,
piece 36 formed in one piece with the coupling block 12, the other end of the screw
working through a nut 37 to which is jointed a shackle 38 of ordinary form, the
arrangement being such that normally the screw and shackle hang down with the top
of the screw 35 below the top of the coupling block so as not to interfere with the
coupling and uncoupling operations. The central portion of the screw is provided
with suitable means, such as the weighted hinged rod 39, by which it can be rotated in

page_text: the ordinary manner for tightening up the coupling. When the socket piece and nut 37
are formed in one with the coupling block, as I prefer and as shown in the draw-
ings, the inner surface of one side of the buffer head may be formed with a groove 40
connecting with the longitudinal slot 11 in that side, so that the coupling block 12
can, by canting, be readily placed in position without unduly weakening the buffer
head.
The details of construction may be variously modified without departing from the
essential features of my invention.
As will be obvious central buffer and draw gear apparatus of the kind hereinbefore
described is adapted to meet all the practical requirements liable to be met with in
ordinary railway working.
Having now particularly described and
ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
I. In central buffer and draw gear apparatus for railway and like vehicles, the com-
bination with a coupling hook mounted on a fixed pin and a longitudinally
adjustable pin or block adapted to engage with the coupling hook of an adjacent
vehicle, of a right and left handed screw adapted to move the said coupling pin or
block longitudinally in either direction and means substantially as described and
shown whereby the screw can be operated from either side of the vehicle for the
purposes specified.
2. In central buffer and draw gear apparatus for railway and like vehicles, the com-
bination with a longitudinally movable coupling pin or block adapted to engage with
a coupling hook on an adjacent vehicle, of an elevator arranged to be operated by
movement of the coupling pin or block or of a movable part connected therewith and to
then lift the said coupling hook of an adjacent vehicle into a position in which it will
uncouple automatically from the coupling pin or block when the two previously
coupled vehicles are moved apart, substantially as herein described..
3. In central buffer and draw gear apparatus for railway and like vehicles, providing
the buffer head on one side with a flange-like extension or lug that is inclined
laterally to the axis of the buffer head and has its upper edge inclined, and on the
other side with a projecting flange or shoulder under which the flange-like extension
or lug of an opposite buffer head on an adjacent vehicle can pass, the arrangement
being such that when two buffer heads constructed as described are brought together
coupling will take place even if the buffer heads are at different heights, or out of line
by reason of the vehicles being of different lengths and on a curve, substantially as
herein described.
4. The combination with central buffer and draw gear apparatus for railway and
like vehicles, of one or more safety chains connected to the buffer head and to the
adjacent end of the vehicle to which the said apparatus is applied and adapted to
come into operation in the event of fracture of the buffer rod, substantially as herein
described.
5. Providing the buffer head of central buffer and draw gear apparatus for railway
or like vehicles with a pair of links or shackles whereby the said head can be
connected to the safety chains on the end of an ordinary vehicle unprovided with
central buffer and draw gear apparatus, substantially as herein described.
6. In central buffer and draw gear apparatus for railway and like vehicles, the
combination with a longitudinally adjustable coupling pin or block adapted to engage
with a coupling hook on an adjacent vehicle, of a screw coupling device adapted to
work through a socket piece or nut on the coupling pin or block and provided with
a coupling shackle adapted to be engaged with an ordinary draw bar hook on an
adjacent vehicle, the arrangement being such that after the coupling shackle has
been connected with the draw hook the connected parts can be tightened up in
the usual manner, substantially as described.
7. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting my improved central

page_text: buffer and draw gear apparatus constructed and operating substantially as
herein before described with reference to and shown in the drawings annexed.
1
Santabo 1907
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.