Improvements in Buffer Guides.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1898
Improvements in Buffer Guides.
I, WILLIAM ALEXANDER AUSTIN, of 42, Eland Road, New Wandsworth, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide in a simple cheap and efficient manner
for guiding the rods of buffers such as employed for railway carriages and for other
purposes.
. To this end I provide plates formed with circular holes for the passage of the buffer
rod and with recesses in which are fitted bushes made of suitable metal preferably
bronze of the kind commercially known as Stone's Patent Bronze.
And in order that the invention may be fully understood I now proceed to explain
how it may be carried into practical effect as represented in the accompanying
illustrative drawings, whereof :-
Fig. 1 shows in elevation a buffer guide according to this invention suitable for
fixing to the headstock of a railway vehicle.
Fig. 2 shows a section in a plane at right angles to Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows in elevation a buffer guide according to this invention suitable for
fixing to a transverse member of a railway vehicle underframe.
Fig. 4 shows a section in a plane at right angles to Fig. 3.
The
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, A is a plate formed with holes B for bolting to the
headstock or other part to which the guide is to be secured, and with a central
hole C of appreciably larger diameter than the buffer rod (not shown) this hole
being formed for a part of its length (a to b) of smaller diameter than for the
remainder of its length and with a shoulder D. E is a bush of suitable metal,
(preferably, as already stated, Stone's Patent Bronze). The internal diameter of
this bush is such that the buffer rod can slide easily through it, and the external
diameter of the bush for a part of its length is such as to fit within the smaller
diameter (a to b) of the hole C of the plate A. The bush is formed with a
shoulder adapted to bear against the shoulder D of the plate A.
surface E¹ of the bush E is flush with the surface A¹ of the plate A, so that
when this surface is placed against a headstock or equivalent and the plate A
is secured thereto, the bush E will be kept in its place. I find it convenient to make
the plate of steel or wrought iron, producing the central formation to receive the
bush E by pressing the plate whilst at a suitable temperature between appropriate
dies, having first formed a central hole through it (or the hole may be made after the
pressing operation). But I do not limit myself to this method of manufacture. The
plate A might be of cast metal. Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be seen that
the plate is of a different form to that represented in Fig. 1, and that there are four
bolt holes through it. This plate is suitable for attachment as already stated to a
transverse member of a railway vehicle frame.
So far as regards the central formation the plate is similar to that described with
reference to Figs. 1 and 2, and the bush is of like formation and fits in like manner

page_text: into the central hole of the plate the shoulder of the bush bearing against the
shoulder of the plate.
I have in Figs. 3 and 4 marked with the same letters of reference employed in
regard to Figs. 1 and 2 the various parts of the guide, so that the construction and
arrangement will be readily understood from the description already given.
G is a filling up plate which may conveniently be used to afford an enlarged
bearing for springs.
I do not limit myself to the precise formation of the exterior of the bush and the
seating for it in plate A, as these parts may be otherwise shaped (for example conical)
so long as there be provision for preventing movement of the bush in the direction
of its axis after it and the plate have been fixed in position for use.
Usually in a railway vehicle there would be for each buffer rod a guide according
to Figs. 1 and 2 on the back of the headstock and one according to Figs. 3 and 4 on
the front of the transverse member of the carriage under frame immediately in rear
of the buffer springs, so that the springs would bear against plate G.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A buffer guide in which a bush adapted to surround the buffer rod is fitted
within and retained in place by means of a plate adapted to be secured to a headstock
or other part of a vehicle underframe or to any other suitable support.
2. My improved buffer rod guides as hereinabove described with reference to and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Ninth day of March 1898.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.