IMPROVED MECHANICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR STOPPING OR RETARDING RAILWAY CARRIAGES, WAGGONS, AND TRUCKS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Voight, of Aldershot, in the County of Berks,
for the Invention of "IMPROVED MECHANICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR STOPPING
OR RETARDING RAILWAY CARRIAGES, WAGGONS, AND TRUCKS."
Sealed the 6th April 1866, and dated the 9th October 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Voight at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th
October 1865.
I, GEORGE VOIGHT, of Aldershot, in the County of Berks, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED MECHANICAL ARRANGEMENTS
FOR STOPPING OR RETARDING RAILWAY CARRIAGES, WAGGONS, AND TRUCKS," to be
as follows:-
My Invention consists in causing the buffer rods to work the brakes, to
accomplish which I lower the buffers and buffer rods to a level with the axles
of the wheels, so that the brake blocks, which are affixed to the ends of the
buffer rods come directly opposite the flanges of the wheels. In order that
the buffer rods may be so lowered, the main framing of the carriage should
be prolonged downwards, and the buffer rods made to work easily through
bearings placed in the said projecting portion. To prevent the carriages from
rushing upon each other, distance pieces may be fitted to the back and front
framing of each carriage, and may be made to fold up out of the way when
not required; the said distance pieces being of such a length that the brake

page_text: blocks may come against the flanges of the wheels when the buffers of any
carriage are pressed by the previous or following carriage or carriages. These
distance pieces may be constructed of wood or metal, and attached by suitable
hinges to the framing, so that when not required they can be folded back
against the ends of the carriage or truck. As soon as the train is stopped, or
a uniform retarded speed is obtained, the carriages adjust themselves, and so
relieve the wheels from the action of the brakes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Voight in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th April 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
VOIGHT, of Aldershot, in the County of Berks, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said George Voight, Her special licence that I, the said George Voight,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
George Voight, 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 "IMPROVED MECHANICAL
ARRANGEMENTS FOR STOPPING OR RETARDING RAILWAY CARRIAGES, WAGGONS, AND
TRUCKS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Voight,
my executors or administrators, by an, instrument in writing under my, or
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
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Voight, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My Invention consists in causing the buffer rods to work the brakes, to

page_text: accomplish which I lower the buffers and buffer rods to a level with the axles
of the wheels, so that the brake blocks, which are affixed to the ends of the
buffer rods, come directly opposite the flanges of the wheels. In order that
the buffer rods may be so lowered, the main framing of the carriage should
be prolonged downwards, and the buffer rods made to work easily through
bearings placed in the said projecting portion. To prevent the carriages rushing
upon each other, distance pieces may be fitted to the back and front framing
of each carriage, and may be made to fold up out of the way when not
required; the said distance pieces being of such a length that the brake blocks
may come against the flanges of the wheels when the buffers of any carriage
are pressed by the previous or following carriage or carriages. These distance
pieces may be constructed of wood or metal, and attached by suitable hinges
to the framing, so that when not required they can be folded back against the
ends of the carriage or truck. As soon as the train is stopped, or a uniform
retarded speed is obtained, the carriages adjust themselves, and so relieve the
wheels from the action of the brakes.
Having thus far described the nature and object of my said Invention, I shall
now proceed to explain the same more minutely, and in order thereto I shall
refer to the accompanying Drawings, and to the figures and letters of reference
marked thereon.
Figs. 1 and 2 exhibit two different modes of carrying out my Invention.
In Fig. 1, A, A, is a whole carriage or truck, and B is a part of the next or
following carriage; C, C, are the buffers with the buffer rods D, D, &c.,
running easily in grooves E, E, &c. These buffer rods are furnished with a
projecting portion slotted to the shape shown at F. This slot carries within
it one arm of the double lever H, which is supported by suitable framework
on the hinge G. When pressure is exerted against the buffers, and the buffer
rods are urged in any direction, the double lever H is turned, and the brake
blocks I, 1, come against the wheels K, K', according to the direction in
which it is forced.
In Fig. 2 similar letters denote similar parts in Fig. 1. The brake blocks
are in this case situated at the ends, and are pressed against the wheels K, K',
by a toothed rack attached to the buffer rods working in the top part of the
lever H, and the brake blocks are brought up against the wheels in the same
manner as before.
There may be several means of accomplishing the object effected by these
two modes, but as I have now particularly described and illustrated my
Invention, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention to be
protected by Her Majesty's Letters Patent, the "Improved Mechanical

page_text: Arrangements for Stopping or Retarding Railway Carriages, Waggons, and
Trucks," herein-before described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Voight, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
HENRY BROWNE,
Serj. 2nd Dragoons,
Newbridge.
GEORGE VOIGHT. (LS.)