IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK AND STEAM TRAM CARS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Augustus Mills, of Waterford, in the County of
Waterford, Ireland, Cashier of Waterford, Dungarvan, & Lismore Railway, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO RAILWAY ROLLING
STOCK AND STEAM TRAM CARS."
Sealed the 10th October 1879, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, and
dated the 19th March 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Augustus Mills at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th March 1879.
FRANCIS AUGUSTUS MILLS, of Waterford, in the County of Waterford, Ireland,
Cashier of Waterford, Dungarvan, & Lismore Railway. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
APPLICABLE TO RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK AND STEAM TRAM CARS."
My Invention has for its object the strengthening of carriages and other rolling
stock on railways and tramways in such a manner as to increase their power of
resistance to shocks and strains in a longitudinal direction, such as occur in cases of
collision or other impediments to the motion of trains, and prevent their liability to
be broken up, as at present, when accidents occur.
And my Invention consists in adapting and applying to such rolling stock
between the ordinary buffers with their fittings an additional buffing apparatus, so
as to strengthen, as required, the central part of the carriage, which is now left
unprotected, and is therefore liable to yield to any sudden shock or strain of great
violence. This additional buffing apparatus is intended to be so arranged as to
come into operation when the action of the ordinary buffers has been to a certain
extent exhausted, and it consists of two powerful spiral screw springs suitably fixed
to the frame of the carriage in the centre of its length, such spiral screw springs
being placed base to base, each spring being connected with a buffer driving rod
supported as required, and extending through the outer framing of the carriage at
each end, such rods being furnished with buffer heads as usual.

page_text: At the base of each spring is fitted a plate of steel or wrought iron, such plates
being in contact and receiving the pressure brought on the springs. If preferred a
block of wood or other suitable material may be inserted between the said metal
plates.
The said spiral screw springs are sufficiently powerful to yield only for a short 5
distance through the outer frame of the carriage.
The arrangement of additional buffing above referred to can be applied to existing
rolling stock, and would have the effect of stiffening and strengthening the several
carriages of a train in that part thereof which, being weak as at present, leaves
them exposed to fatal injury in cases of accident.
1

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Francis Augustus Mills in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
October 1879.
FRANCIS AUGUSTUS MILLS, of Waterford, in the County of Waterford, Ireland,
Cashier of Waterford, Dungarvan, and Lismore Railway. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
APPLICABLE TO RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK AND STEAM TRAM CARS."
My Invention of "Improvements in and Applicable to Railway Rolling Stock
and Steam Tram Cars" has for its object the strengthening of carriages and other
rolling stock on railways and tramways in such a manner as to increase their power
of resistance to shocks and strains in a longitudinal direction, such as occur in cases
of collision or other impediments to the motion of trains, and prevent their liability
to be broken up as at present when accidents occur.
And my Invention consists in adapting and applying to such rolling stock
outside. the ordinary buffers with their fittings an additional or auxiliary buffing
apparatus, so as to strengthen as required the central part of the carriage, which is
now left unprotected, and is therefore liable to yield to any sudden shock or strain
of great violence. This additional or auxiliary buffing apparatus is intended to be
so arranged as to come into operation when the action of the ordinary buffers has
been to a certain extent exhausted, and it consists of two powerful volute or spiral
screw springs suitably fixed to the frame of the carriage in the centre of its length,
such spiral or volute screw springs being placed base to base, each spring being
connected with a buffer driving rod supported as required, and extending through
the outer framing of the carriage at each end, such rods being furnished with buffer
heads as usual.
At the base of each spring is fitted a plate of steel or wrought iron, such plates
being in contact and receiving the pressure brought on the springs. If preferred a
block of wood or other suitable material may be inserted between the said metal
plates.
The said spiral or volute screw springs are sufficiently powerful to yield only
for a short distance, so that the buffer rods need only extend a short distance
through the outer frame of the carriage.
The arrangement of additional or auxiliary buffing apparatus above referred to
can be applied to existing rolling stock, and would have the effect of stiffening and
strengthening the several carriages of a train in that part thereof which, being
weak, as at present, leaves them exposed to fatal injury in cases of accident.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention I will proceed to describe
more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed by the aid of the
accompanying Drawings, in which is represented the mode of applying the
additional or auxiliary buffing apparatus to a railway carriage.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
In Fig. 1 is represented in elevation a portion of the frame of a railway carriage
with the additional or auxiliarly buffing apparatus applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a plan
showing half of the length of a carriage with one of the ordinary buffers and my
additional or auxiliary buffing apparatus applied outside the same; A, A, is the
frame of the carriage; B, B, are the ordinary buffers, the additional or auxiliary
huffing annaratury consists of town modo cesk having fitted to it~ inn

page_text: springs are inclosed in a box shewn in section. On reference to the Drawing it
will be perceived that the ordinary buffers B, B, extend farther from the ends of
the carriage frame than the heads F, F, of the additional or auxiliary buffing
apparatus, so that these buffer beads F, F, will take the pressure of any force acting
on them in a horizontal direction after the ordinary buffers have been driven
inwards to the extent of their projection beyond the heads F, F. The continued
pressure will now cause the additional buffing apparatus to act as an auxiliary
apparatus with a power of resistance proportioned to the great strength of the
springs D, D, working within a very limited range of movement, say about six
inches.
The mode of fitting the additional or auxiliary buffing apparatus may be varied
to suit different kinds of carriages or other rolling stock, and it may be added to
ordinary carriages, as required.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I claim as of my Invention
is, the adaptation and application to carriages and other rolling stock on railways
and tramways of additional or auxiliary buffing apparatus, as and for the purpose
or purposes herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Augustus Mills, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.