Improvements in Buffers for Railway and Tramway Vehicles and the like purposes.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Buffers for Railway and Tramway Vehicles and the
like purposes.
I, ROBERT EYRE, of 58, Albert Terrace Road, Sheffield, in the County of York,
Spring Maker, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to construct a buffer with a compound action
which can be adapted to either light or heavy work.
I carry out my invention as follows:-
Inside an outer buffer box or case which is provided with an inner flange at its
outer end, I arrange telescopically a shorter case or plunger which is provided with
an external flange at its inner end. The combined action of these flanges prevents
the inner case or plunger from being projected too far outwards. The outer end
of this inner case or plunger I form like an ordinary buffer box or case with a
concentric orifice through which I pass the buffer rod. This rod which is provided
with a collar is passed through the orifice from the interior of the case after which
a suitable buffer head is rivetted or otherwise secured thereon. The outer case is
provided with an external flange or with lugs at its base to which is secured the
base plate, or by means of which the case may be secured to the frame of the
vehicle. In combination with the forging arrangement of parts,
employ two
separate springs, one to actuate the buffer rod and the other to actuate the inner
case or secondary plunger.
The action of my improved buffer is as follows:-
As in an ordinary buffer the moving parts are by the action of the spring forced
to the end of their outward stroke, so that when subjected to external force or
percussion the buffer head with its rod are first forced inwards and if the spring
connected with the rod is not strong enough to resist the force so applied the
buffer head is forced up to the end of the secondary plunger which is thus also
forced inwards and if the force applied is sufficient the spring which actuates this
secondary plunger may be compressed until the back of the buffer head is brought
into contact with the end of the outer case. The parts so brought into contact
being of larger diameter and better able to resist the ultimate stress to which they
may be subjected than would be the case under similar circumstances with a
buffer as ordinarily constructed.
.
It will thus be seen that the primary action of the buffer would only be brought
into play when light duty was required as in slowing down speed or in the ordinary
stopping of a train, the secondary or compound action being brought into play
when heavy duty is required as in the sudden stoppage of a train or in shunting
and the like operations.
As a modification of the mode of construction herein previously described, I
sometimes form the buffer head with the rod in one piece and secure them to
the inner case by means of a screwed washer or nut and sometimes I employ a

page_text: cushioning ring or washer, between the said washer or nut and the internal end
of the case or between the back of the head and the external ends of the cases.
Dated this 25th day of October 1897.
R. HEBER RADFORD,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Buffers for Railway and Tramway Vehicles and the
like purposes.
I, ROBERT EYRE, of 58, Albert Terrace Road, Sheffield, in the County of York,
Spring Maker, 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:-
The object of my invention is to construct a buffer with a compound action
which can be adapted to either light or heavy work.
I carry out my invention in the manner illustrated in the accompanying sheet
of drawings, in which,
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved buffer in its normal position.
Fig. 2 is a similar view shewing it under compression as it would appear in
ordinary or light work.
Fig. 3 is a similar view shewing it under compression when employed in heavy
work.
Fig. 4 is a section of a modified arrangement shewing the buffer head, and the
rod constructed in one piece.
Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line A-B.
Fig. 6 is a section on the line C-D.
Fig. 7 is a plan looking on the head, half in section on the line E-F.
Fig. 8 is a plan looking on the base.
The same letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
Inside an outer buffer box or case, A, which is provided with an inner flange, B,
at its outer end, I arrange telescopically a shorter case or plunger, C, which is
provided with an external flange, 1), at its inner end. The combined action of
these flanges prevents the inner case or plunger from being projected too far
outwards. The outer end of this inner case or plunger I form like an ordinary
buffer box or case with a concentric orifice through which I pass the buffer rod, E.
This rod which is provided with a collar, F, is passed through the orifice from the
interior of the case after which a suitable buffer head, G, is rivetted or otherwise
secured thereon. The outer case is provided with an external flange, H, or with
lugs at its base to which is secured the base plate, I, or by means of which the case
may be secured to the frame of the vehicle. In combination with the foregoing
arrangement of parts, I employ two separate springs, J and K, one to actuate
the buffer rod and the other to actuate the inner case or secondary plunger.
The action of my improved buffer is as follows,
As in an ordinary buffer the moving parts are by the action of the spring forced
to the end of their outward stroke, so that when subjected to external force or
percussion the buffer head, G, with its rod, E, are first forced inwards and if the
spring J, connected with the rod, E, is not strong enough to resist the force so
applied the buffer head is forced up to the end of the secondary plunger, C, which
is thus also forced inwards and if the force applied is sufficient the spring, K, which
actuates this secondary plunger may be compressed until the back of the buffer
head, G, is brought into contact with the end of the outer case, A. The parts

page_text: so brought into contact being of larger diameter and better able to resist the
ultimate stress to which they may be subjected than would be the case under
similar circumstances with a buffer as ordinarily constructed.
It will thus be seen that the primary action of the buffer would only be brought
into play when light duty was required as in slowing down speed or in the ordinary
stopping of a train, as shewn in Fig. 2, the secondary or compound action being
brought into play when heavy duty is required as in the sudden stoppage of a
train or in shunting and the like operations, as is shewn in Fig. 3.
As a modification of the mode of construction herein previously described, I
sometimes form the buffer head with the rod E, in one piece (as illustrated in
Fig. 4) and secure them to the inner case by means of a screwed washer or nut, L.
and sometimes I employ a cushioning ring or washer, M, between the said washer
or nut, L, and the internal end of the case, C, or at the back of the base plate as
shewn in Fig. 8.
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
1. In buffers for railway and tramway vehicles and the like purposes, the
arrangement and combination of parts and appliances by means of which a com-
pound action may be obtained so that the buffer can be adapted to either light
or heavy work in the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein described
and illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7, of the accompanying sheet of drawings.
2. In buffers for railway and tramway vehicles and the like purposes as described.
in Claim 1, the arrangement and combination of parts and appliances in the
manner. and for the purposes substantially as herein described and illustrated in
Figs. 4 and 8, of the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1898.
R. HEBER RADFORD
Agent for the Applicant.