IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUC- TION OF RAILWAY BUFFERS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Turton, of Sheffield, in the County of York,
Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUC-
TION OF RAILWAY BUFFERS."
Sealed the 11th October 1878, and dated the 14th May 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Turton at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th May 1878.
GEORGE TURTON, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Mechanical Engineer. " IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY BUFFERS."
This Invention relates to buffers for railway purposes, and consists chiefly in the
novel construction of parts of the buffers described in the Specification of my former
Letters Patent, dated March 28, A.D. 1874, No. 1091.
One of the important and peculiar features of the buffers described in the said
former Specification is the fitting of the neck or outer end of the case with a
bushing of malleable cast iron or other suitable metal, and the forming of a solid
collar on the plunger. This construction of the buffers has been found very advan-
tageous with regard to strength and durability and otherwise. But it sometimes
happens that a plunger is broken or injured, and it is therefore very desirable that
the buffer should be readily and economically repaired.
According to my present Invention I provide the means, whereby in case of
breaking or injuring the plungers of such buffers, the same may be quickly and
conveniently fitted with a new plunger.
The manner in which I accomplish this object is as follows, that is to say :-I
forge or otherwise form the buffer head with a plunger or stem of suitable diameter
and length to replace the one that has been broken. But instead of forming a solid
collar thereon, I form the collar separately, and secure the same upon the plunger,
as herein-after described.
To prepare the plunger to receive this collar, I turn a portion of the plunger to a
diameter less than that of the external portion of the said plunger, thereby forming

page_text: a shoulder on the same. This turned or reduced portion has cut on it a screw
thread, and on the end of the said reduced portion farthest from the shoulder is
turned a lip or flange. The collar which is made in the form of a ring is bored or
turned to give it the required internal diameter, and has formed in it a screw thread
corresponding with that turned on the said plunger, and is countersunk or recessed
on one or both of its sides.
The screwed portion of the said plunger is of a length that exceeds the width of
the said collar for a purpose herein-after specified. These plungers may be formed
with an extension to pass into or through the back plate of the buffer, or may be
made without this extension.
When a buffer is to be repaired, the case is removed from the carriage or
waggon, and the broken or injured plunger taken out of the saune. Then the new
plunger is passed through the bush into the case, and the aforesaid loose or separate
collar is placed on the screw-threaded portion of the said plunger, and screwed
thereon tightly up to the shoulder on the said plunger. Then the lip or end of
this screwed portion which projects through the said collar is by a suitable hammer
or other implement rivetted down, either in a cold or hot state, tightly upon the
collar all around the same, the said collar thus being securely and immovably fixed
on the plunger which will then be in all respects as strong and durable as if formed
with a solid collar.
It is obvious that this Invention may be adopted in the construction of new
buffers.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Gerge Turton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th November
1878.
CEORGE TURTON, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Mechanical Engineer. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY BUFFERS."
This Invention relates to buffers for railway purposes, and consists chiefly in the
novel construction of parts of the buffers described in the Specification of my former
Letters Patent, dated March 28, A.D. 1874, No. 1091.
One of the important and poculiar features of the buffers described in the said
former Specification is the fitting of the neck or outer end of the case with a
bushing of malleable cast iron or other suitable metal, and the forming of a solid
collar on the plunger stem or spindle. This construction of the buffers has been
found very advantageous with regard to their strength and durability and other-
wise. But sometimes accidents happen, whereby a plunger is broken or injured,
and it is therefore very desirable that the same should be readily and economically
repaired.
According to my present Invention I provide the means, whereby in case of
breaking or injuring the plunger, the buffer may be quickly and conveniently.
fitted with a new plunger.
The manner in which I accomplish this object is fully and clearly set forth
in the following description, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, which
shows various forms of my buffers with plungers constructed according to this
Invention.
Figure 1 is a side view partly in section of a wrought-iron plunger of a
buffer with a collar applied to the same, according to this Invention, as herein-
after described.
Figure 2 shews the said collar detached.
The remaining Figures are sectional side views of buffers fitted with my improved
plungers.
a is the buffer case; b is the plunger; c is the back plate. I forge or otherwise
form the said plunger with a head band stem of suitable diameter and length.
But instead of forming a solid collar thereon as described in any said former Specifi-
cation, I form the collar d separately, and secure the same upon the plunger, as
herein-after described.
To prepare the said plunger to receive the collar d, I turn a portion of the same
at 63 to a diameter less than that of the other portion of the said plunger, as shewn,
thereby forming a shoulder at b. This turned or reduced portion has a screw thread
on it, and at its end at b³ is formed in a lip or flange. The collar d, which is made
in the form of a ring, is bored or turned to give it the required internal diameter, and
has formed in it a screw thread to fit tightly on the screw thread turned on the said
plunger, and the said collar is countersunk or recessed on one or both of its sides
at d'
The screwed or screw-threaded portion 63 of the said plunger is of a length ex-
ceeding the width of the said collar for a purpose herein-after specified. These
plungers may be formed with an extension 6, to pass into or through the back.
plate c of the buffer, as shewn in Figures 3, 4, 5, or may be made without this
extension.
It is obvious that my present Invention may be adopted in the construction of
new buffers, although it is chiefly designed to be used for repairing buffers originally
constructed as described in my former Specification.
When a buffer is to be repaired the case a is removed from the carriage or wagon,
and the broken or injured plunger taken out of the said case. Then the stem of the
new plunger is passed through the bush finto the case a, and the aforesaid loose or
separate collar & is placed on the screw-threaded portion of the said plunger, and
screwed thereon tightly up to the shoulder 6' on the said plunger.

page_text: To facilitate the screwing on of this collar I may form a hole in the same for the
reception of a pin, and after placing the pin therein apply a bar or lever to the same,
as shewn in Figures 10 and 1b. Or the said pin may be formed or fixed on the bar
or lever. Or the said collar may be screwed upon the plunger stem by means of
any other suitable implement. Then the lip or end 65 of this screwed portion which
projects through the collar d is, by a suitable hammer or other implement,
rivetted down tightly upon the said collar all around the same, the said collar
thus being securely and immovably fixed on the plunger which will then be in
all respects as strong and durable as if formed with a solid collar.
If desired the said collar may be heated, to expand it before screwing it on the
plunger stem. By this manner of securing the collar on the plunger stem, I render
the same nearly, if not quite, as strong as if the collar were forced solidly on the
stem, and I combine the advantages of strength and durability, with facility of
repairing the plungers, which advantages cannot be obtained by the use of pins
passing through the collar and stem, or by other devices heretofore employed.
In Figures 3 and 4 I have shewn my Invention applied to buffers whose cases a
are provided with bushes f, as described in my said former Specification, but in
Figure 5 I have shown an ordinary buffer with the case a formed in one piece, that
is to say, without a bush, and I wish it understood that my Invention is applicable
to buffers of this form.
In Figure 6 I have shewn the said Invention applied to a buffer whose plunger
stem or spindle 63 is hollow, or has a central hole bored or drilled therein, and a pin
or bolt fixed in the back plate c and projecting into the said hole.
g
In Figure 7 my Invention is shewn as applied to a buffer which has a central
tube h formed on or secured to and projecting from the back plate c, in which tube
the end or extension be of the stem be fits and works. This buffer may have an
ordinary solid case, as shewn in Figure 5, or a case provided with a bush, as shewn
in Figures 3, 4, and 6.
In Figure 8 I have shewn the said Invention applied to what is termed an inside
buffer. In this form of buffer the springs may be placed around the spindle or
stem 6 within the case a; or the springs may be arranged at the end of the said
stem or spindle within the carriage frame.
The springs may be of steel, india-rubber, or other material, and of any suitable
form.
Having tbus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I clain,-
First. In the construction of a plunger for a railway buffer, the application to the
same of a collar or ring made separately and with a screw thread therein, and
countersunk or recessed at its side or sides, and which is secured on the stem or
spindle of the plunger by screwing the said collar thereon, and then rivetting the
end of the screwed portion of the stem upon or over the said collar, as above set
forth.
Second. A buffer with a bush in the end of its case, as above described, or whoso
case has the part through which the plunger stem passes formed solid with the
other part of the case, as shewn in Figure 5 of the Drawing, and which is pro-
vided with a plunger fitted with a collar inside the said case, as and for the
purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Turton, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twelfth day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand