Improvements in Buffer Guides for Railway and like Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Buffer Guides for Railway and like Vehicles.
WILLIAM AUSTIN 42 Eland Road Lavender Hill, S. W. Civil Engineers Assistant
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention bas for its object the reduction of friction and the free and easy
working of what are known as spindle buffers (for railway rolling stock and such
like vehicles) and at the same time prevents the buffer rod from being bent when
under pressure. This buffer guide may be made in iron or steel or other metal,
and is composed of a cup shaped cylindrical guide with lugs, or other provision for
bolting the same to the vehicle.. Into this guide I introduce a number of steel or
other metal balls or rollers, and I retain these in position in the buffer guide by means
of a washer corresponding in size and shape to the buffer guide, into the cup part
of which it will pass easily. This washer is cast or otherwise formed with a number of
recesses on its face, the number of these recesses being determined by the number
of balls or rollers used. The buffer guide and the washer have each a hole through
the centre of suitable size and through which the buffer rod passes, these holes being
made sufficiently large to clear the buffer rod and to allow the balls or rollers to
touch and guide the buffer rod. This guide can be used also to advantage for
retaining buffers (known as spindle buffers) in their position without the use of nuts
or cotters on or through the inner end of the buffer rod. To use the guide for this
purpose longitudinal cavities are formed in the buffer spindle, the balls dropping into
these cavities and also projecting into the buffer guide retain the buffer spindle in its
position without the use of nuts and cotters as previously stated. The cavities in the
buffer rod must be of sufficient length to allow of full stroke of buffer and still
allow a clearance between the end of the recesses and the balls.
D92-1 day of March 1806
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Buffer Guides for Railway and like Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM AUSTIN of 42 Eland Road New Wandsworth S.W. Engineers Assistant
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 and on reference to the accompanying drawings :-
This invention relates to improvements in buffer guides for railway and like
vehicles.
The buffer guide according to this invention is composed of an outer cup or case
with flanges having bolt holes for securing it to the underframe of the vehicle. This
cup or case can be made cylindrical or other shape and having a hole through the
centre for the buffer rod to pass through, but larger than the buffer rod. Into this

page_text: cup or case I put a ball carrier of cylindrical or other shape corresponding to the
shape of the cup or case. This ball carrier has a hole through the centre for the
buffer rod to pass through and has in its face recesses formed of sufficient depth
to receive the round balls. These recesses are formed with openings towards and
into the hole through which the buffer rod passes. These openings are made to
allow the round balls to project into the centre hole & engage the buffer rod thus
taking the wear on the balls, and at the same time guide the buffer rods as herein-
after described and shown on accompanying drawings, but are made in different
forms to suit the vehicles to which they may he fitted. The outer case and ball
carriers may be made of cast iron or other metal, and the balls of steel or other
metal, but preferably of steel.
Figure 1. is a front elevation of buffer guide.
Figure 2. is a cross section showing the buffer guide with the buffer rod passing
through it, and the guide being bolted to the timber cross bar or headstock of the
vehicle to which it may be attached. In this arrangement the outer case 1. is
formed with a cup corresponding to the shape of the ball carrier 2. and of suitable
depth to receive same.
Figure 3. shows the ball carrier which has formed in its face recesses 3. for the
reception of the balls 6. These recesses are made with openings towards the hole 4.
(through which the buffer rod 5. passes) for the purpose of allowing the balls 6. to
project and guide the buffer rod 5. and prevent it. from wearing against any other
object except the balls 6., and these recesses 3. must be of such size and form that
the balls 6. cannot fall out when the buffer rod 5. is taken.out.
Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7, show a buffer guide corresponding to above but modified
in shape to make it suitable for securing to the sole bar of tlie vehicle to which it
may be attached. Figure 4 is the front elevation, Figure 5 is the side elevation, and
Figure 6 the plan, Figure 7 being a modified form of ball carrier.
These ball-guides can be fitted to, metal, underframes as well as to timber, under-
frames.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is. to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1st.) To insure buffers of railway & like vehicles working smoothly and with a
minimum of friction, and
(2nd.) At the same time act as a guide to the buffer rods, insuring them working
in a straight line, and
(3rd.) Preventing any liability of the buffer rod bending when in work.
Dated this 10th day of December 1896.
WILLIAM AUSTIN,
42 Eland Road, New Wandsworth, S.W.