IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY BUFFER AND DRAW SPRINGS, AND IN BEARING SPRINGS FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES, AND IN THE USE OF THE SAME FOR CARRIAGES FOR COMMON ROADS, SUCH. SPRINGS BEING ADAPTED TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1870

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edward Otto and Newton Wilson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on
the 1st August 1870.
We, EDWARD OTTO, Engineer, of 144, High Holborn, in the County of
Middlesex, and NEWTON WILSON, Sewing Machine Manufacturer, of
144, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
RAILWAY BUFFER AND DRAW SPRINGS, AND IN BEARING SPRINGS FOR RAILWAY
CARRIAGES, AND IN THE USE OF THE SAME FOR CARRIAGES FOR COMMON ROADS, SUCH.
SPRINGS BEING ADAPTED TO OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
These improvements relate to the construction and conformation of
railway and common carriage bearing springs, and also buffer and draw
springs for railway carriages, and in the use of such springs for other.
purposes.
The main features of this Invention being the use of air in com-
bination with coautchouc or compound rubber, the rubber being made
into hollow cylinders or balls, either of which contain air under pressure,
these said cylinders or balls being placed within metallic casings and

page_text: a follower or piston at the end of the buffer rod is made to conform to
the curve at the top end of the cylinder or ball so that when the air
contained therein is compressed the sides of the casing prevent the air
from expanding laterally, ensuring thereby a longitudinal elastic column
of air of any power or stroke required in the direction of the stroke of
the piston or follower, the amount of resisting elastic power being
regulated by the length and diameter of the confined column of air and
the compression of the air in the cylinders or balls, which balls or
cylinders may be covered by a woven netting of cordage, or of any fibre,
or of leather, or any other material.
- The main features in construction and combination are represented in
the sectional diagram Figs. 1 and 2. A, A, A, represent the iron casing
of a buffer; B, B, the cover through which the buffer rod C, C, works;
D, D, the buffer head; E; E, the follower or piston resting on the end
of an inflated india-rubber ball or cylinder e compressed into the shape
of the buffer casing A. When the force of the train is on the buffer
head B then the piston or follower E compresses the air in the rubber
ball or casing in proportion to the initial force applied, and as the
follower advances air rushes in through the aperture F, passes the
inverted valve G, and fills the space H with air of whatever capacity it
may be, which valve has a small hole in it to let the air gradually out
again when the force is off the buffer heads. In order to prevent the
return force of the elastic column of air accumulated in the ball or
cylinder the air in the space H prevents the rapid return of the piston
or follower, and the whole elastic stroke or column of the buffer resumes
itself by the air being gradually let out through a small hole in the
inverted valve G, preventing at all times the sudden shock occasioned by
the return of the accumulated force of all the buffer springs when
constructed in like manner.
Draw springs made as herein described answering to both ends of the
carriage way may be constructed in a double form and bolted to the side
frames or elsewhere of the carriage with a partition between each piston,
or a buffer case made double may be also bolted inside the frame
answering both ends of the carriage. In cases where these springs are
used as bearing springs for either carriages for railways or common roads
they may be placed immediately over the axle or in pairs with a bearing
bar between the bearing on each spring, thus in any case adapting
springs of this construction to bearing springs for all kinds of carriages.

page_text: Various devices can be resorted to in arranging a valve in the rubber
balls or cylinders so as to inflate them with air of any tension, the same
valve being so arranged so as to inflate from the outside of the casing
if necessary.
We also claim the use of woollen or any other fabric or leather
intervening between the follower or piston and the rubber balls or
cylinders. For whatever purpose springs may be required the springs
herein described whenever suited may be applied, the main features of
this Invention being the construction and combination as herein
described and shown in the diagram referred to.