IMPROVEMENTS IN BUFFERS FOR RAILWAY WAGGONS, RAILWAY CARRIAGES &C
Year: 1884

page_text: I, WILLIAM BOUCHER of Bullo Pill near Newnham, in the County of Gloucester,
Railway Waggon Builder, do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BUFFERS FOR RAILWAY WAGGONS, RAILWAY CARRIAGES &C."
to be as follows:-
My buffer is constructed of cast iron or other suitable metal or material and
consists of a ram working inside a cylinder in the manner hereafter described.
From end to end inside of cylinder and opposite one another are grooves in
which travel studs fitted at back end of ram for the purpose of keeping the ram
and cylinder in connection. Two flat keys pass through the grooves of cylinder in
front of studs on ram which hold the ram in cylinder; and the spring for bearing
the compression I construct of steel of an angle section or india rubber may be
used. The cylinder has a solid plain back and is connected to waggon by bolts.
By the use of my buffer much labor is saved in the process of repacking, it not
being necessary, as is now the case, to disconnect the cylinder from the waggon, a
means generally involving one or more bolts being broken or damaged, but by.
simply taking out the two flat keys above described which pass across the
cylinder, the ram may be easily removed.
The ordinary mode of connecting the cylinder and ram is by means of a bolt
passing from inside of ram through the back of cylinder, leaving either a large nut
or key at end of bolt to be let into the timber of waggon, thus injuring the end
pieces of waggon. This is entirely obviated by the arrangement of grooves and
studs in my buffer, as before described.
By making my springs of an angle section great saving in the wear and tear of
same is effected and strength is also gained. The springs as now made get broken
owing to the small part passing too far through the large part. In my springs
this is prevented as the angle forms a stop and the strain is equally distributed.
Dated this Third day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty four.

page_text: I, WILLIAM BOUCHER of Bullo Pill near Newnham, in the County of Gloucester,
Railway Waggon Builder, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BUFFERS FOR RAILWAY WAGGONS, RAILWAY CARRIAGES &c."
and in what manner the same is performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement; reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, that is to say:-
My buffer is constructed of cast iron, wrought iron or other suitable metal or
material and consists of a ram or plunger working inside a cylinder in the manner
hereinafter described.
When cast iron is used in the construction of my buffer, I cause grooves to be
made from end to end inside of cylinder, opposite one another, and studs are fitted
at back end of ram for the purpose of keeping the ram and cylinder in connection.
These studs travel in the grooves aforesaid. Two flat keys pass through the
aforesaid grooves in cylinder, in front of the studs on ram which hold the ram in
cylinder; and the spring for bearing the compression I construct of steel of an
angle section, or india rubber may be used. The cylinder has a solid plain back
and is connected to waggon or carriage by bolts. By the use of this my buffer
'much labor is saved in the process of repacking, it not being necessary, as is now
the case, to disconnect the cylinder from the waggon or carriage, a means generally
involving one or more bolts being broken or damaged; but by simply taking out
the two flat keys above described which pass across the cylinder, the ram may be
easily removed.
The ordinary mode of connecting the cylinder and ram is by means of a bolt
passing from inside of ram through the back of cylinder, leaving either a large
nut or a key at end of bolt to be let into the timber of waggon or carriage, thus
injuring the end pieces of waggon or carriage. This is entirely obviated by the
arrangement of grooves and studs in my buffer as above described.
When making my buffer of wrot iron I prefer, instead of having the before
mentioned grooves from end to end of cylinder, to make two flats upon the plunger
opposite to one another, extending from under head of said plunger to within a
short distance of the back end. The said plunger I form of a piece of wrought
iron (say, about 2 inches thick) bent round to a ring and welded together, leaving
an aperture through the centre, into which a bolt passes to keep the packing in
position as in other arrangements. The head of plunger I weld on in the ordinary
manner. The cylinder I make with a double back, rivetted or welded together.
The wrot iron plunger of buffers as ordinarily constructed is made of thin iron
bent round and welded and has a back welded in. Upon receiving a hard blow,
the back gets driven in and expands the plunger, and jambs the spring or packing,
thereby rendering same useless. Now by making the plunger in accordance with
this my Invention, the advantages obtained are that my plunger is as firm and
rigid as though it were solid, and it is impossible to expand same by the back
being driven in. Another advantage in this my Invention is that the keys
connecting the plunger to cylinder are exposed to view. Should they at any time
have a tendency to bend or break, it would be observable and thereby safety is
obtained.
Wrot iron plungers have been made entirely solid but only of a small size
(from 2" to 3"). These plungers are apt to bend and consequently the spring
or packing does not receive a fair blow and is thereby broken. This cannot occur
in my buffer, as my plunger as above described will not bend, consequently the
spring always receives a level blow.

page_text: By making my springs of an angle section great saving in the wear and tear of
same is effected, and strength is also gained. The springs as now made get
broken, owing to the small part passing too far through the large part. In my
springs this is prevented as the angle forms a stop, and the strain is evenly
distributed.
And in order that this my Invention may be more fully understood, reference
is had to the accompanying Drawings and to the letters of reference marked
thereon, that is to say :-
Figure 1, Sheet 1 is a longitudinal section of my buffer as constructed in cast
iron. A being the cylinder, B the plunger; a the grooves running from end to
end of cylinder A; 6 are the studs fitted at back end of plunger B travelling in
groove a; c flat key in front of studs b.
Figure 2 is a front end view of my buffer.
Figure 3, Sheet 2, is a longitudinal section of my buffer with wrot iron plunger.
A being the cylinder; B the wrot iron plunger; a the flats on plunger B; b the
bolt keeping packing in position; and c the flat keys.
Figure 4, Sheet 2, is a section of angle shaped compression spring on an enlarged
scale.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
First. The construction of the cylinders of railway buffers with longitudinal
grooves upon the inside of cylinder, and the fitting of studs at back end of plunger,
which studs travel in said grooves substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
set forth and described.
Second. The placing of flat keys through the aforesaid grooves of cylinder, in
front of the studs at back end of plunger, substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore set forth and described."
Third. Forming flats upon the outer circumference of plunger in lieu of the
grooves in the cylinder aforesaid, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
set forth and described.
Fourth. Making the compression springs of an angle section, substantially as
and for the purposes herein before set forth and described.
Fifth. The general construction and arrangement of railway buffers, substantially
as herein before set forth and described.
Dated this outl
1