IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Dyer, of Regent Street, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
RAILWAY CARRIAGES."
Sealed the 5th April 1864, and dated the 6th October 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Dyer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th October 1863.
I, GEORGE DYER, of Regent Street, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUC-
TION OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of certain improvements in the construction of
railway carriages, the object being, firstly, to alter the line of concussion
in order to lessen the tendency of the carriages to overturn or rise on end
in the event of a collision; this I propose to effect by placing the buffers
of the carriages at a higher elevation than that at which they are now
situated, viz., on the framework; I propose to place them midway between
the framework and the roof of the carriage, or even higher. The buffer
springs should consist of curvilinear flat compound springs placed verti-.
cally against the ends and sides of the carriages, the buffer bearing on its

page_text: centre or convex surface, and diagonal stays should be placed at the front
and end of each carriage framework to take their proportion of strain.
Secondly, I propose to place the wheels at the sides of the carriages to
prevent oscillation and give increased steadiness and security.
Thirdly, I propose to make the wheels revolve on their axles instead of
being fixtures thereto, so as to prevent the danger attendant on travelling
round curves, and also to lessen the injurious results to the nervous system
of the passengers; I also propose to increase the diameter of the wheels
to about five feet or about equal to the base or breadth of the carriage, to
resist the overhanging weight and tendency to turn over, and to give
greater steadiness to the motion of the carriage generally. I propose to
give greater strength to the carriage by forming a central transverse par-
tition or division of a strong framework and diagonal stays, so that in the
event of a collision the carriage would have more power to resist its force,
and preserve the passengers from excessive injury.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Dyer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th April 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
DYER, of Regent Street, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said George Dyer, Her special licence that I, the
said George Dyer, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said George Dyer, 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 IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Dyer, 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

page_text: 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 said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Dyer, 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 the
following statement:-
My Invention consists of certain improvements in the construction of rail-
way carriages, the objects being, firstly, to alter or change the line of con-
cussion in order to lessen the tendency of the carriages to overturn or rise
on end in the event of a collision; this object I effect by the application of
additional buffers to the ends of the carriages fixed midway or higher between
the bottom framework and the roof of the carriage, or in some cases by buffers
so situated, and without the use of the ordinary buffers at the extremity of
the framework. The buffer springs may be curvilinear flat compound steel
springs placed vertically against the ends and sides of the carriages, the buffer
bearing against the centre or convex surfaces of the springs, and diagonal
stays should be placed at the front and end of each carriage frame to take
their proportion of strain; or the ordinary buffer springs may be used.
An improved construction of buffer applicable to railway carriages is
shewn at Fig. 2. a is the cylinder, and 6 the piston or plunger of the buffer
head c.
The largest diameter of the plunger fits the cylinder, but the
remainder is formed of three different diameters, as shewn, each section,
except the smallest, being enclosed in a spiral spring; the largest spiral bears
upon the shoulder d of the second or middle portion of the internal cylinder.
The intermediate spiral bears upon the shoulder e containing the smallest
portion of the plug, which ultimately acts against the small and most power-
ful spring of all contained in the space or cavity f, the first or largest spring
being the weakest. The plunger is steadied by the socket g, through which
it moves. It will thus be evident that the first or least pressure on the buffer
will be taken by the largest spring, the increasing pressure will then be
received by the second, and the ultimate or excessive pressure will be mainly
borne by the small powerful spring, and thus the buffer will afford a
compensatory reaction against the force of concussion.
Secondly, I propose to place the wheels at the sides of the carriages to
bring the centre of gravity within or between the wheels, and thus prevent
oscillation and give increased steadiness and security to the carriage.
Thirdly, I propose to make the wheels revolve on their axles instead of

page_text: being fixtures thereto, so as to prevent the danger attendant on travelling
round curves, and also to lessen the injurious results of oscillation upon the
nervous system of the passengers. I also propose to increase the diameter of
the wheels to about five feet, or about equal to the base or breadth of the
carriage, or less, as may be required to resist the overhanging weight and
tendency to overturn, and to give greater steadiness to the motion of the
carriage generally. I propose to give greater strength to the carriage by forming
an end of a strong vertical framework with diagonal stays, so that in the event
of a collision the carriage would have more power to resist its force and pressure,
and preserve the passengers from excessive injury; in like manner the frame-
work throughout the carriage may be constructed on the diagonal principle.
The last part of my Invention relates to improved forms of carriages or
trucks adapted to travel both on common roads and on railways; these
vehicles would be suitable for military or commercial purposes, where it
would be advantageous to dispense with the necessity of unloading good s
and transferring them to other vehicles. I therefore place the wheels at
the sides of the carriages or trucks, and form such wheels with a wide
flange, say, from two to three or four inches, in order that when not running
on the railway, they may find a sufficient bearing on common roads to su stain
and carry the load. Shafts should be attached to the trucks by hinged joints,
for the purpose of harnessing the horses, and the shafts would be pushed
back against the front of the carriage or truck. Or the shafts may be placed
underneath the carriage and supported by hooks, brackets, or chains.
In order to further explain the first part of my Invention, I annex an
illustrative Drawing, shewing a side elevation of two railway carriages with
my supplementary buffers attached. In the event of a collision, four points
of contact are presented with regard to each carriage, such points of contact
forming four corners of a square, or as nearly thereto as possible. This
adaptation of buffers will cause the carriages, in the event of a collision,
to remain on the line, whereas by the present system a collision causes
the carriages to rise and fall over one on the other. 1 prefer that the play
of the upper buffers shall be about half of that of the lower set.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I would remark, in conclusion, that I do
not limit myself to the exact details and configuration of parts I have
expressed and shewn, as the same may obviously be modified or varied with-
out departing from the principles of the Invention, since the dimensions of the
various parts described may be determined according as experience may

page_text: suggest; but what I claim as my Invention, and desire to be secured to me by the
herein in part recited Letters Patent, are, the general arrangement and combina-
tion of parts,substantially as specified and shewn, constituting the "Improve-
ments in the Construction of Kailway Carriages," as stated in the title hereof."
In witness whereof, I, the said George Dyer, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE,
Office for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.
GEORGE DYER. (1..S.)