AN APPARATUS TO PREVENT THE JERKS AND COUNTERACT THE STRAINS INCIDENTAL TO CHAINS, ROPES, LIFTS, HOISTS, CABLES, OR OTHER WEIGHING, LIFTING, HOISTING, HAULING, TOWING, OR MOORING ARRANGEMENT
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Meredith Jones, Engineer, of No. 106, Fenchurch St.,
London, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "AN APPARATUS
TO PREVENT THE JERKS AND COUNTERACT THE STRAINS INCIDENTAL TO
CHAINS, ROPES, LIFTS, HOISTS, CABLES, OR OTHER WEIGHING, LIFTING,
HOISTING, HAULING, TOWING, OR MOORING ARRANGEMENT."
Sealed the 11th November 1879, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor,
and dated the 19th April 1879.
Sealed the 11th November 1879, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor,
and dated the 19th April 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Meredith Jones at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th April 1879.
MEREDITH JONES, Engineer, of No. 106, Fenchurch St., London, in the County
of Middlesex. "AN APPARATUS TO PREVENT THE JERKS AND COUNTERACT THE
STRAINS INCIDENTAL TO CHAINS, ROPES, LIFTS, HOISTS, CABLES, OR OTHER
WEIGHING, LIFTING, HOISTING, HAULING, TOWING, OR MOORING ARRANGEMENT."
My Invention has for its object the prevention of accidents and the reduction of
wear and tear in apparatus for moving or restraining heavy material, and consists
of a hollow cylinder (with a suitable attachment) provided with a piston on the
rod of which is formed a hook or other arrangement for further attachment. A
spring or springs of metal, india rubber, or other elastic material is placed inside
the cylinder, and when used the weight or strain is received and supported by the
spring or springs and the air chambers above and below the piston, either together
or separately. Suitable valves are also provided for the regulation of the ingress
and egress of air to the cylinder.
Under some conditions I would effect the proposed object by placing a hollow
ball of elastic material between two part hemispheres of metal constructed so as to
grasp the ball, and with the necessary arrangements for attachment.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Meredith Jones in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th November
1879.
MEREDITH JONES, Engineer, of 106, Fenchurch Street, London, in the County of
Middlesex. "AN APPARATUS TO PREVENT THE JERKS AND COUNTERACT THE
STRAINS INCIDENTAL TO CHAINS, ROPES, LIFTS, HOISTS, CABLES, OR OTHER
WEIGHING, LIFTING, HOISTING, HAULING, TOWING, OR MOORING ARRANGEMENT.'
">
My Invention has for its objects the prevention of accidents and the reduction of
wear and tear in apparatus for moving or restraining heavy material, and consists
of a hollow cylinder with a suitable attachment provided with a piston, on the rod
of which is formed a hook or other arrangement for further attachment. A spring,
or springs of metal, or india rubber, or other elastic material is placed inside the
cylinder, and when used the weights or strains are received and supported by the
spring or springs and the air chambers above and below the piston, either together
or separately. Suitable valves are also provided for the regulation of ingress and
egress of air to the cylinders.
Figure 1 of the annexed Drawings represents the apparatus as applied to railway
carriages or trucks for the purpose of a draw spring and central buffer combined.
The end of the cylinder A is of a spherical form and moves in a suitable
socketed connection B with flange for bolting to the carriage frame or timbers.
The piston C is provided with two cupped leathers D, D, or other suitable
packing, and is fitted tightly into the cylinder, the leather or packing being
secured by a screwed nut E on the end E¹ of piston rod F or by other suitable
arrangements.
The end G of the piston rod outside of the cylinder is provided with a cross
head H with convex and concave cones I and J for attachment to similar crossheads
H on the rods F' of the apparatus on the carriage to be connected therewith.
A lever K working on a fulcrum L fixed on each cross-head is provided for
moving and fixing the cottar bolts M for connecting and disconnecting the carriages
from the platform or sides.
The cover N of the cylinder A has a gland O with a cupped leather or other
suitable packing for the piston rod, and the gland is formed with a long sleeve P
carrying studs Q working in shallow grooves R in the piston rod to prevent its
turning in the cylinder. Valves or passages S for the admission of air are provided
about midlength of the cylinder, so that each end of the cylinder is alternately
filled with air at the return of the piston.
On local or made up trains one cylinder and piston rod would suffice, in which
case the outer end of the piston rod would be of spherical form and could be con-
nected to the adjoining carriage in the manner shown in Figure 2.
Figure 3 shows a modification of the plan described with reference to Figure 1.
In this view the Invention is shown applied to the outside buffers T instead of the
central ones, and the draw hook U is connected with the piston rod F by means of
the cross bar V.
I may also with slight modifications apply the Invention as a substitute for
bearing springs of carriages.
Figure 4 shows the application of the Invention to cranes, hoists, or other lifting
or lowering apparatus.
In this case the piston is single acting, and to ensure the return of the piston to
its normal position in case of a leakage of air a spring is employed either above the
piston or below if preferred.
Figure 5 shows the Invention as intended to be applied to a tram car. Tho
piston rod F is here shown provided with a screw thread at each end to receive an
attachment by which it may be connected to the draw bar of the car.

page_text: It is obvious that my Invention is with very slight modification susceptible of a
great variety of applications.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,―
The apparatus hereinbefore described and substantially as shown in the annexed
Drawings, or any mere modification thereof, to prevent the jerks and counteract the
strain incidental to chains, ropes, lifts, hoists, cables, or other weighing, lifting,
hoisting, hauling, towing, or mooring arrangement.
In witness whereof, I, the said Meredith Jones, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of November, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy nine.
MEREDITH JONES. (Ls.)