IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Goodman Sheward, of Lavington Lodge, Petersham,
in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY
ROLLING STOCK."
Sealed the 24th April 1878, and dated the 2nd November 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Goodman Sheward
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd November 1877.
EDWARD GOODMAN SHEWARD, of Lavington Lodge, Petersham, in the County of
Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK."
This Invention has for its object improvements in railway rolling stock.
As injectors are at present constructed, it is very troublesome to remove obstruc-.
tions by which from time to time their action is liable to be deranged. To obviate
this, I form the injector with an outer cylindrical case or barrel which by permanent
joints I connect with the steam supply, the water inlet, and the outlet leading to
the boiler. The water inlet and outlet are by lateral openings in the cylindrical
case near the extremities; the steam connection is at one end of the case, and the
other end is closed by means of a cover which is readily removed.
The working parts of the injector are fixed into an inner barrel which is of a
piece with the cover, and is fitted within the outer case already described.. The
whole of the interior and working parts of the injector can thus be readily drawn
out, and then the examination and the removal of any obstruction is easy, or,
if desired, spare working parts may be inserted into the permanently fixed outer
case.
employ central couplings and buffers. The buffer rod is tubular and surrounds
the draw rod, which is forked at its end and carries a transverse axis extending
1

page_text: out on either side through slots in the sides of the buffer; these slots are of such
dimensions as to allow to the draw bar a certain length of play independent of the
buffer. In the centre of the axis, carried by the forked end of the draw bar, an
eccentric is fixed.
In the case of two opposing buffers, one of the eccentrics carries the draft hook,
so that it is free to turn about the eccentric, whilst the other eccentric serves as the
pin upon which the draft hook catches. Each of the axes also has at its end an
arm which is weighted so as to cause it to hang pendant, except when it is raised
for the purpose of coupling. By raising the arms the eccentrics are turned so as to
cause their centres to approach the one to the other, and then the hook can pass
freely over the draft pin when the buffer heads are in contact but the springs
uncompressed.
When the weighted arms are put down, the buffer heads are pressed together
closely; some tension is placed upon the springs of the draw bars and a close
coupling is effected. Nevertheless there is the freedom necessary for passing curves,
as the buffers and draw bars can play independently the one of the other.
It will be observed that when the strain upon the draw bar is heavy, the buffer
springs serve to relieve it.
The buffer heads are slotted for the passage of the draft hooks, and the slot is
so formed that when the vehicles are uncoupled, the hook is supported in such
a position that the coupling may take place when the buffers come into contact.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Goodmau Sheward in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd May. 1878.
.
EDWARD GOODMAN SHEWARD, of Lavington Lodge, Petersham, in the County of
Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK."
This Invention has for its object improvements in railway rolling stock.
I employ central couplings and buffers. The buffer rod is tubular and surrounds
the draw rod, which is forked at its end and carries a transverse axis extending
out on either side through slots in the sides of the buffer. These slots are of such
dimensions as to allow to the draw bar a certain length of play independent of the
buffer. In the centre of the axis, carried by the forked end of the draw bar, an
eccentric is fixed.
In the case of two opposing buffers, one of the eccentrics carries the draft hook,
so that it is free to turn about the eccentric, whilst the other eccentric serves as the
pin upon which the draft hook catches. Each of the axes also has at its end an
arm which is weighted so as to cause it to hang pendant except when it is raised
for the purpose of coupling. By raising the arms, the eccentrics are turned so as to
cause their centres to approach the one to the other, and then the hook can pass.
freely over the draft pin when the buffer heads are in contact, but the springs
uncompressed.
When the weighted arms are put down, the buffer heads are pressed together
closely, some tension is placed upon the springs of the draw bars, and a close
coupling is effected. Nevertheless there is the freedom necessary for passing curves
as the buffers and draw bars can play independently the one of the other.
It will be observed that when the strain upon the draw bar is heavy, the buffer
springs serve to relieve it.
The buffer heads are slotted for the passage of the draft hooks, and the slot is
so formed that when the vehicles are uncoupled, the hook is supported in such a
position that the coupling may take place when the buffers come into contact.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation, and Figure 2 is an horizontal section of a central
buffer and coupling arranged according to my Invention; Figures 3 and 4 are
transverse vertical sections taken respectively on the lines 1, 1, and 2, 2, in
Figures 1 and 2.
a, a, is a portion of the frame of the carriage or vehicle; it has fixed to it the
box b, in which is contained the buffer spring c consisting of discs of vulcanized
india-rubber separated by washers c¹, c¹; d is the tubular buffer rod passing
through the fixed guide a¹, and also through the parts a, b, and c. The buffer rod
has upon it a collar at d¹ abutting upon the moveable cover or end plate b¹ of the
spring box.
e is the draw bar passing freely through the buffer rod and receiving the key f.
The key f passes through slots in the sides of the tubular buffer rod d, and abuts
upon the other moveable cover or end plate 62 of the spring box. The draw bar is
forked at its fore end where it is contained within the buffer head, and it carries
the transverse axis g, the ends of which pass out through slots in the sides of the
buffer head. These slots and the slots through which the key f passes allow (within
a certain range) free movement of the draw bar and buffer rod independently the
one of the other. On the end of the axis g the weighted arm h is fixed, and at its
other extremity there is a turn button i to prevent it accidentally escaping from its
place, but allowing of its easy removal.

page_text: The central part of the axis g is square, and it here receives upon it the eccentric
k on which the hook catches, or which (as the case may be) serves as an axis to
carry the hook l. The eccentrics are so arranged upon the axes g, that when the
arms h are raised, the centres of the eccentrics approach each other.
The buffer heads are slotted, as shown, for the passage of the books.
In Figures 1 and 2, the draw bar is represented as broken off at its inner end;
it may either be continued and connected with the ordinary draw bar spring, or it
may terminate after passing through the spring box b, in which case the rings c, c,
are the only springs employed. When this latter arrangement is adopted, I make
the buffer rod square on the exterior and give a similar form to the hole in the
guide a to prevent the buffer turning.
In place of using india-rubber disc springs, coiled or other steel springs may be
employed.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I claim,-
:
First. The construction of central buffers and couplings with the draw bar
passing through the buffer rod, and with both free to play under the control
of a spring or springs, and independently the one of the other, substantially, as
described.
Second. The construction of central buffers and couplings with the draw bar
and buffer rod having independent play, and with hook and pin attachments capable
of being tightened and locked by eccentrics, substantially as described.
Third. The construction of central buffers and couplings, substantially as described,
and represented in the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Goodman Sheward, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
EDWARD G. SHEWARD. (L.S.)