IMPROVEMENTS IN BUFFERS FOR DIMINISHING THE SHOCK IN THE COLLISION OF RAILWAY TRAINS
Year: 1853

page_text: with the application for Letters Patent was not given within the
time prescribed by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Pritchard at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th November 1853.
I, WILLIAM PRITCHARD, of Clerkenwell, in the County of Middlesex,
Cabinet Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BUFFERS FOR DIMINISHING THE SHOCK IN THE COLLISION
OF RAILWAY TRAINS" to be as follows:-
My said Invention consists in a peculiar arrangement of spring
buffers, which being attached to the framework of the locomotive at
one end of a railway train, and also to the framework of the last
carriage or other vehicle, will, on coming into collision with a train
similarly provided, so far diminish the shock consequent thereon that
the usual serious loss of life and property will be materially lessened, if
not altogether prevented. And for the better understanding of my
said Invention I will now proceed to describe the same in detail.

page_text: First, in regard to the buffer apparatus itself. It consists externally
of an oblong, square, or other shaped box, of any convenient dimensions,
within which moves a square bar, passing through a round face plate
at the front end of the box, and in which a square hole is cut for the
purpose, and at the end of the protruding bar is another circular face
plate, which may be covered with vulcanized india-rubber, leather,
wood, or other suitable material. Now in ordinary buffers, the square
bar would be made to spring backwards and forwards with every con-
cussion, but the principle of my intproved buffer differs from this action,
for at each stroke it is only pushed inwards, and so remains until
released by certain screws, and it can then be casily withdrawn, as I
shall now explain. On two opposite sides of the square bar a broad
rack is inserted or cut into the metal of the square bar, each tooth of
the rack being an inclined plane one inch long or thereabouts, and on
each side of the inside of the box enclosing the square bar three broad,
flat, strong steel springs are firmly fixed, each spring terminating in a
thick notched end of steel, the form of which is regulated by the
inclined plane toothed racks in which they work, and to the teeth of
which they are placed in a reverse direction, allowing a certain degree
of liberty to push the bar inwards, the six steel notched tips of the six
springs each rising up the short inclines, and in passing over each
tooth is thereby effectually locked and prevented from returning. It is
evident, therefore, that by this arrangement I obtain the full power of
six or more springs, if required, their resistance being increased in pro-
portion as they are impelled up the inclines of the racks. When the
square bar is pushed as far as it can go, I provide by a nut and screw
at the back of each steel notched catch at the end of each spring, the
screws passing outwards through the two sides of the box, that when
all the nuts are screwed up the springs are thereby released from the
rack into recesses on the inside of the box; the square bar can then be
easily withdrawn, and the buffer reset by again releasing the springs.
Secondly, in respect to the application and use of my improved
buffers, I would observe that I recommend one set for the front of the
locomotive and one set for the back of the last carriage or other
vehicle, so that the train at either end shall be provided with two

page_text: buffers, one on each end of the side framing, and kept extended by
setting the notched head of, each of the farthest springs in the first
inclined rack tooth on each side of the square bars. It is obvious that
when thus provided the train is prepared for a collision either way,
and that this improved arrangement of buffers will act to lessen or
destroy the shock consequent on two trains running against each other
not being so provided. I do not restrict myself to any particular
materials or situation for these buffers; but what I do claim as my
Invention is, namely,―
The peculiar arrangement of a spring railway train buffer, as