Improvements relating to Railway Buffers.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left. 25th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 13th Mav. 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by ALFRED BUCKINGHAM IBBOTSON, of Florence,
Italy, Merchant.]
Improvements relating to Railway Buffers.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
--
This invention relates to railway buffers, and has for its object to provide
improved means for securing the buffer plunger in its case, and to divert the
shock of recoil from the said plunger to the buffer spring. The said invention
relates more particularly to buffers of the kind described with reference to
Figures 22 and 23 of the drawings in the Specification of prior Letters Patent
granted to me dated 26th January 1888 No. 1223.
According to my present invention I provide improved devices for holding
firmly in position the divided retaining flange or collar described in the afore-
mentioned Specification, while arranging for transmission of the force of recoil
from the buffer plunger to the buffing spring, which devices are of a simpler,
more elastic, and more readily adjustable character, and are also less expensive
than the device shewn in the aforesaid Figures 22 and 23 in the locking sheath
arrangement heretofore used by me for this purpose. My improved retaining
devices are not dependent upon the pressure of the buffing spring for their
efficacy, and are so arranged that, while having arrangements for transmitting
the force of recoil from the buffer plunger to the buffing spring, in the event
of the collapse of the said buffing spring the buffer plunger is still retained in
its case as in the arrangement above referred to while at the same time, for
purposes of repair, the buffer can very easily be taken to pieces.
- In each and all of the following modes of carrying my invention into practice,
one arrangement by which I transmit the force of recoil from the buffer plunger
to the buffing spring is by leaving sufficient playing space between the divided
retaining flange or collar and the solid collar on the buffer plunger.
According to one mode of carrying my invention into effect I secure the divided
retaining flange or collar in position in the circumferential groove or gate,
provided in the buffer plunger to receive it, by means of an undivided metal
locking ring, socket, flanged disc, cylinder or cupped washer, which is attached
to the face of the said divided retaining flange or collar by a set screw or
screws or otherwise. I prefer to reduce the diameter of the divided retaining
flange or collar at one side, or in other words to provide a recess to receive
the undivided metal locking ring, socket, flanged disc, or cupped washer which
is passed over the said reduced part and is secured against the unreduced part
by the beforementioned set screw or screws or otherwise. According to another
arrangement I provide a circumferential groove around the periphery of the
divided retaining flange or collar and I slip into this groove a binding belt or
hoop the ends of which I bolt or otherwise secure together to prevent displace-
ment thereof. In a modification of this arrangement I replace the aforesaid
hoop by a split steel ring which can be sprung into position in the circum-
ferential groove and retained therein by its own elasticity.
A further mode of holding the divided retaining flange or collar according to
my invention is as follows:-
I provide in the periphery of the divided flange or collar one two or more
L-shaped grooves adapted to receive the heads of rivets, pins, or bolts which

page_text: are secured in and project from the inner circumference of an undivided metal
ring, socket, or cupped washer. The said washer is placed over the divided
flange or collar with its projecting heads of rivets, pins, or bolts entering the
transverse portion of the L-shaped grooves in the periphery of the divided
flange or collar.and is then turned so as to cause the said head or heads or
internally projecting pieces to enter the circumferential portion of the above-
mentioned L-shaped grooves and thereby lock the undivided ring, socket, or
cupped washer to. the divided flange or collar. The undivided locking ring,
socket, or cupped washer is then secured to the divided flange or collar by a
screw or otherwise to prevent its being accidentally turned back. I may
modify this arrangement by providing in the undivided locking ring, socket,
or cupped washer one or more L-shaped grooves adapted to engage with lugs
or pins projecting radially from the circumference of the divided flange or
collar, the said undivided ring, socket or cupped washer being secured to the
divided flange or collar when in the locked position by a screw or otherwise.
Dated this 27th day of May 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Railway Buffers
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:
This invention relates to railway buffers and comprises improvements having
especial reference to buffers of the kind described in those portions of the Specifi-
cation of prior Letters Patent granted to A. B. Ibbotson dated 26th January 1888,
No. 1223, which relate to Figures 22 and 23 of the drawings accompanying the
said Specification.
The object of the present invention is to construct simple and readily-adjustable
devices for application to buffers similar to that illustrated in the aforesaid
Figures 22 and 23; that is to say, in buffers in which the well-known divided
flange or collar fitting into grooves or gates in the neck of the buffer stem, is
enclosed and held firmly in position by a socket, flanged disc, cylinder, or cupped
washer, for the purpose of properly securing the buffer plunger in the case, the
said improved devices are employed in conjunction with the said sockets, discs,
cyunders or washers to keep the divided flange or collar in position.
The improved devices constructed according to the present invention are not
dependent upon the pressure of the buffing spring for their efficacy, and are so
arranged that while having arrangements for transmitting the force of recoil from
the buffer planger to the buffing spring, in the event of the collapse of the said
buffing spring the buffer plunger is still retained in its case as in the arrangement
above referred to while at the same time, for purposes of repair, the buffer can very
easily be taken to pieces.
By using only buffers in which means are employed for ensuring the retention of
the buffer plunger in the case in the event of collapse of the buffer-spring, which
is an occurrence not infrequent in practice, danger to railway servants and damage
to rolling stock, such as has resulted from the disengagement of the plungers in
other types of buffer, is obviated.
In each and all of the following modes of carrying my invention into practice,
one arrangement by which I transmit the force of recoil from the buffer plunger to
the buffing spring is by leaving sufficient playing space between the divided
retaining-flange or collar and the solid collar on the buffer plunger.

page_text: In order that my said invention may be clearly understood I will now proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein
Figures 1, 3, 5, 7 and 11 are sectional elevations of buffers fitted with
improvements according to my invention;
Figures 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are views of details of Figures 1, 3, 5, 7,
and 11, and are hereinafter particularly described.
In the said drawings, in which like reference letters are employed throughout to
indicate corresponding parts, A is the buffer box, 13 is the buffer plunger. C is
the aforesaid divided flange or collar. D is the undivided socket, flanged disc,
cylinder or cupped washer. E E are set screws. F is a binding hoop. GG are
lock nuts and bolts. H is a groove in the divided collar. I is a steel ring split
at J. K K are studs or rivets in the undivided cupped washer or the like. L Lare
right-angled grooves in the divided flanges or collars; M M are lugs or pins on
the divided flanges or collars. N N are right-angled gates or slots in the said
undivided socket or cupped washer. O is an annular groove in the buffer stem.
P is the buffing spring. Q is a space in the groove O not filled by the portions of
the divided flange or collar which project thereinto. R is a solid collar on the
buffer plunger.
With reference first to Figures 1 and 2, the collar C made in semicircular halves
is placed in the annular groove O and kept in place therein by the undivided
ring D which embraces the flanged portions C¹ of the collar C and is secured to
each of the halves of the said collar by set screws E, passed through holes in the
ring D and into the collar as shown. In Figure 2 the collar C and ring D are
shown secured to each other apart from the buffer.
In the construction illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 the divided collar C is wider
than the collar shown in Figures 1 and 2. It enters the groove O, and also
encircles the collar R on the plunger. The said collar C is provided with a
groove H in its outer circumference and is kept in place by the binding hoop F
provided with beut ends F; the said hoop is placed in the groove and its ends F¹
are connected by the bolt G, which is passed through them to prevent the said ends
from coming apart and thus to prevent the halves of the collar C from leaving the
groove 0.
The divided collar C, and the hoop F are shown, apart from the buffer,
in Figure 4.
In the apparatus illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 the several parts are similar to
those hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3 and 4, except that a ring 1,
divided at one part of its circumference as shown, is placed in the groove H to
keep the divided collar C in place. The said ring I is "sprung" into place in the
said groove H and grips the two halves of the collar C; when in place therein it
will not be subject to any force tending to move its free ends apart, and will con-
sequently always maintain its position, and keep the collar in place except when
the removal of the same is desired, in which case the ring I may easily be "sprung
and taken out by hand. In Figure 6 the collar C is shown apart from the buffer
with the ring I thereon; the appearance of the said ring when its ends are pulled
apart is indicated in chain lines.
"
In the buffer and appurtenances shown in Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10, the divided
collar C enters the groove O and encircles the flange R. Upon the outer circum-
ference of each half of the said collar C a right-angled channel L is formed. The
said channel is shown in plan in Figure 8 which is a plan of one half of the collar;
it is also shown in Figure 9, which is an end elevation of the collar C, apart from
the buffer. The two halves of the collar are kept in place by the cupped washer D,
shown apart from the buffer in end elevation in Figure 10. The said washer is
moved endwise over the collar C so that the heads of the two studs or rivets K
upon one flange of the washer pass into the said channels K, and is then rotated
until the said heads reach the closed ends of the channels. The said channels and
heads constitute a bayonet-joint and interlock the washer and the collar. When
the said washer D has been rotated into that position it is securely maintained

page_text: therein by the screw E which is passed through the hole E' in the washer, into one
portion of the collar C. As long as the washer is secured to the collar in the
manner described it is impossible for the said collar to leave the groove O.
In the modification shown in Figures 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 projections M are
formed on the halves of the collar C instead of upon the cupped washer D, which
is provided with right angled slots N to receive the said projections. The pro-
jections M and the grooves N constitute a bayonet joint for locking the collar C
and washer D in a manner similar to that described with reference to the last
preceding example. A screw E is employed, as in the said previous example, to
connect the cupped washer to the said collar C. Figures 12 and 13 are an
elevation and plan respectively of the collar C, and Figures 14 and 15 are similar
views respectively, of the washer D.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what claim is :-
1. The means for retaining the portions of the divided collar upon a buffer
plunger, substantially as herein before described, for the purpose specified.
2. A buffer provided with a divided collar and retaining device therefor, sub-
stantially as described with reference to any one of the forms or modifications
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
--
Dated this 25th day of March 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.