A BUFFER BREAK FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES OR TRUCKS ATTACHED TO LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, WHETHER ONE OR MORE ENGINES, FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF GOODS OR PASSENGERS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Lukyn the elder, of Broad Street, in the
Town and County of the Town of Nottingham, Dentist, for the Invention
of "A BUFFER BREAK FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES OR TRUCKS ATTACHED TO
LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, WHETHER ONE OR MORE ENGINES, FOR THE CONVEYANCE
OF GOODS OR PASSENGERS."
Sealed the 8th May 1857, and dated the 12th November 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Lukyn at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
12th November 1856.
I, WILLIAM LUKYN the elder, of Broad Street, in the Town & County of
the Town of Nottingham, Dentist, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "A BUFFER BREAK FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES OR TRUCKS ATTACHED.
TO LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, WHETHER ONE OR MORE ENGINES, FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF
GOODS OR PASSENGERS," to be as follows --
To retard the speed of locomotive engines, & to retard the speed of
carriages attached thereto, so as to diminish the shock occasioned by collision,
I apply a powerful iron arm or bar, securely attached to the iron rod, carrying
the buffer at one end, and at the other end of the arm or bar I attach a break
near the wheel; and which iron arm or bar is attached to each buffer of every

page_text: carriage, so that upon a concussion on the railway by carriages, the collapsing
of the springs in connexion with the buffers brings the break in contact with
each wheel in succession.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of tho Letters Patent, filed
by tho said William Lukyn in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th May 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
LUKYN (the elder,) of Broad Street, in the Town and County of the Town of
Nottingham, Dentist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Iler Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto mo, the said
William Lukyn (the elder), Her special licenco that I, the said William Lukyn
(the cller), my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Lukyn (the elder.) 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 "A BUFFER
BREAK FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES OR TRUCKS ATTACHED TO LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES,
WHETHER ONE OR MORE ENGINES, FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF GOODS OR PASSENGERS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Lukyn the
elder, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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
suid Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Lukyn (the elder,) do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by tho
following statement, that is to say:-
In stopping a railway train, the fireman having put on the break in the
ordinary manner, the impetus of the train forces itself upon the tender, thereby
causing the buffers to recede.

page_text: My Invention consists in applying a break in such a manner as to diminish
the shock occasioned by the collision of the carriages on each other. For this
purpose I introduce upon the buffer shaft or rod a helical or spiral spring A, as
shown in Fig. 1 & 2, and of sufficient power and strength to resist a pressure
of two tons, more or less, as best adapted to resist the weight and velocity of
the train. Goods and heavy trains would require more powerful springs than
express or light trains. The buffer shaft or rod is kept in its position by the
buffer box, as now in use. At the opposite extremity's of the shaft or rod a
wrought iron guide or bearing A, A, is attached to the framework of the
carriage to resist the action of the springs, as shown in Fig. 1 & 2, and to
thrust back the buffer to its original position. The iron rod or bar connecting
the buffer shaft with the break is formed by two springs and levers. The two
springs B connect the buffer shaft with the lever C by two pins and cotters of
suitable strength, as shown, acting upon lever C, communicating with the
lever D, which forces the break upon the wheel. The break is regulated by a
coupling nut H, having a right and left-hand screw cut within and connecting
the levers C&D, Figs. 1 & 2. The whole of the levers are enclosed in a
cast iron box E, E, as shown in Fig. 1, 2, & 5, and a boss E, E, Fig. 5,
cast outside the box, receives the bearings of the two lever shafts, as shown'
in Fig. 5. The box is securely attached to the framework of the carriage by
bolts and screws, as shown. In starting the train, the pressure being taken
off the first carriage, the spiral or helical spring A, Fig. 1 & 2, forces tho
buffer outwards, which brings the lever C forward, communicating with lever
D, and liberating the wheel from the break. The same action takes place in
gradual and controul'd succession throughout the whole line of carriages,
whether worked by one or more engines.
In shunting the train, the stop blocks F, Fig. 3, slide over the buffer shaft
or rod, and the flange or collar to be attached to the buffer shaft or rod, as
shown in plan, Fig. 1 & 3, thus preventing the buffer receding, and con-
sequently the break from acting upon the wheel.
The stop blocks, Fig. 3, act in communication with the lever G, Fig. 4,
attached to the tender, as shown, communicating with the rod H, Fig. 4, 5,
passing along the centre of each carriage, and which rod is secured in its
position by brackets or guides affixed to the framework, the rods are connected
by coupling links I, as shown in Fig. 3 & 5.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim as of
my Invention or the exclusive use of any of the parts herein described and
represented when taken separately, and not employed in combination. But I

page_text: claim as my Invention the connection of the break with the buffer shaft or rod
by means of the several parts and apparatus combined and arranged as above
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Lukyn (the elder), have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord 5
1857
WILLIAM LUKYN. (L.B.)