Improved Spring Buffer for Steering Gear.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 24th Apr., 1900-Accepted, 24th Sept., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Spring Buffer for Steering Gear.
CHARLES STEPHEN PORTER, Jr., 6, Eamont Gardens, West Hartlepool, Fore-
man Blacksmith, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
A steel spring fitted with two semi-circular & one flat bar through the
centre of spring and fitted with outer caps to which rollers are attached whereby
the spring is supported and conveyed clear of the ships deck having a loose
revolving motion direct central strain simple in construction no outside bars
or plates & removable by disconnection of one bolt only. The whole to be
made of the best steel or iron.
To be fitted with two caps at each end when required the inner caps and the
outer caps.
By fitting the inner caps only, together with the aforesaid bars and a piece
called the locking piece the spring may be complete by the use of one bolt.
Further, by fitting both inner & outer caps revolving roller brackets can be
fitted readily upon them to which rollers are attached allowing the spring to
turn freely upon its own axis & also of supporting and conveying springs clear
of the ship's deck the aforesaid bars being either lengthened or the springs
shortened as may be found necessary.
Dated this 10th day of July 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Spring Buffer for Steering Gear.
I, CHARLES STEPHEN PORTER, Junior, Foreman Blacksmith, of 6, Eamont
Gardens, West Hartlepool, in the County of Durham, 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 spring buffers for ships' steering gear, which_buffers
are coupled between two chains, ropes, bars and so forth to take up shock.
My object is to construct a buffer of simple and durable construction.
I will fully describe my invention with the aid of the accompanying drawings,
which illustrate the construction of buffer that I find most effective. Of these
drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2 is a plan, chiefly in central section;
Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing half views at the ends of the buffer; and
Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the bars hereafter described.
A is a spiral spring through which are passed, from one end, two bars B, B,
Price 8d.l

page_text: segmental in cross section, and from the other end, between the bars B, B,
a bar C having flat sides and round edges. These bars are made of a size such
that when assembled as explained they form a solid core to the spring as shown
best in Figs. 2 and 4, thus avoiding the use of external restraining devices
hindering the buffer accommodating itself to twists; ensuring a direct central
strain; and reducing the risk of the spring breaking to a minimum.
The bars B, C, B secure the components of the buffer together, and also con-
nect the buffer to the chains or other objects, for which purposes each bar B is
fashioned with agib-head b at one end, and an eye at the other, whilst the
bar C is similarly furnished with a T-head and an eye c¹; these heads replace
the customary screws,and nuts; thereby avoiding the disadvantages attending
same.
Threaded over the bars B, C, B, and disposed at each end thereof, is a cap or
recessed washer D, a roller-carrying bracket E, and another cap or recessed
washer F. The inner cap D surrounds the end of the spring, and next to it is
arranged the bracket E, which is seated upon the hoss of the outer cap F against
which the heads b, b or c bear and so secure the said parts together and compress
the spring when a shock is imparted to the chains or the like, which are coupled
to the ends of the buffer, one being connected to a locking link G secured to the
eyes 6, 61 by a bolt g, and the other to the eye c¹. The end g of the piece or
link G is shaped as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 for bearing against the head of the
bar C, and so press the components lightly but firmly together in the first
instance, and in this way avoid the disadvantage of the slackness that would at
times occur were it not fitted and a pull came upon the buffer. By displacing
the bolt g, it will be seen the buffer may be at once taken to pieces.
The bracket E carries a spindle e pinned in the fork thereof so as not to rotate.
and upon it is revolubly mounted a roller & whereon the buffer is supported
upon the deck or equivalent so that it may run along same, while to meet the
effect of twist in the chains or the like the fit of the bracket E between the
caps D and F and upon the boss of the latter is made easy so that the spring,
bars and caps may revolve as a whole to adapt themselves to the twist, whereby
damage to the buffer or connections is prevented.
Holes and recesses for lubricating are suitably provided, as indicated, at 62
and 2 in the figures.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The combination of parts constituting the improved spring buffer, all con-
structed and adapted for use, substantially as described in reference to the
accompanying drawings.
2. In a spring buffer, the combination with the spring, the headed bars and
the inner caps, of the brackets carrying rollers, and the outer caps, all arranged
substantially as and for the purposes described in reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of Anril 1900