Improvements in Buffers.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Mar, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 20th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 25th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Buffers.
J, SAMUEL WATKIN CARLTON of Radzr House, 9 Eaton Crescent, Swansea, in the
County of Glamorgan, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows :—
The springs of buffers such as used for railway purposes are liable to take a
permanent set so that the buffer hoals become loose, that is to say, are not retained
in the forward or outward positions that they normally ought to occupy when in
efficient working order.
Now my invention has reference to means for automatically compensating for the
slack caused by permanent set of the buffer springs. For this purpose I provide a
supplementary spring or springs that normally will not offer any resistance to the
stroke of the buffer head in working and in connection with the supplementary spring
or springs I provide a wedge automatically controlled by a spring or springs in such
a way that should a permanent set of the ordinary buffer springs occur, the plate or
surface that forms the abutment against which the springs act at the inner end will
be automatically moved towards the buffer head by the wedge acting through the
supplementary spring or springs thus taking up the slack, and taking the pressure
thrown upon the abutment before mentioned from the part against which it normally
bears and causing that pressure to be received by the wedge through the supplementary
spring or springs, which is or are then brought into play in aid of the ordinary buffer
springs which may be of any suitable kind such as india rubber springs.
Dated this 20th day of March 1889
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Buffers.
I, SAMUEL WATKIN CARLTON, of Radzr House, 9 Eaton Crescent, Swansea, in the
County of Glamorgan, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invent on and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
The springs of buffers such as used for railway purposes are liable to take a
permanent set so that the buffer heads become loose, that is to say, are not retained
in the forward or outward positions that they normally ought to occupy when in
efficient working order.
Now my invention has reference to means for automatically compensating for the
slack caused by permanent set of the buffer spring. For this purpose I provide a
supplementary spring or springs that normally will not offer any resistance to the
stroke of the buffer head in working, and in connection with the supplementary
spring or springs 1 provide a wedge automatically controlled by a spring or springs
in such a way that should a permanent set of the ordinary buffer springs occur, the
plate or surface that forms the abutment against which the springs act at the inner
end will be automatically moved towards the buffer head by the wedge acting through
the supplementary spring or springs, thus taking up the slack and taking the pressure
thrown upon the abutment before mentioned from the part against which it normally
bears, and causing that pressure to be received by the wedge through the supple-
mentary spring or springs, which is or are then brought into play in aid of the
ordinary buffer springs which may be of any suitable kind such as india rubber
springs

page_text: In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of so much of a buffer and the cross
bearer and sole bar of a vehicle as is necessary to illustrate the application thereto
of my invention.
Fig. 2 is a cross section on the Tine a b Fig. 1.
1 is part of a buffer rod, having on it a compound buffer spring consisting of a
number of springs 2 each shewn as of india rubber having moulded in it a per-
forated cupped plate 2ª according to one of the constructions described in the
specification of G. Spencer's Patent No. 758 of 1877. Other forms of buffer springs
may he used as for example coiled, or volute steel springs. 2b 2b are plates between
the said several springs. The compound spring is arranged to be compressed between
a plate 3 that is directly acted upon by the shoulder 1 of the buffer rod and a
plate 4 that forms an abutment and bears against one end of a tubular distance piece 5
the other end of which rests against an inclined plate 6. This plate 6 is carried by a
block 7 secured to a cross bearer 8 of the underframe of the vehicle. 9 is a supple-
mentary spring similar in construction to the springs 2, 2*; it is mounted upon the
tubular distance piece 5, between the plate 4 and another plate 10. 11 is a wedge
arranged to fit between the inclined plate 6 and the plate 10. This wedge is slotted
for the passage of the buffer rod and distance piece and is provided with a rod 12
carrying a nut and washer 13 against which acts one end of a spring 14 the other
end of which acts against a washer 16 that bears against a fixed plate 15. With this
construction if the buffer springs 2 take a permanent set, the spring 14 will auto-
matically draw down the wedge 11 which through the plate 10 and supplementary
spring will then move the plate 4 forwards so as to take up the slack. The wedge
will then serve as the abutment to take the pressure, transmitted through the buffer
springs and through the supplementary spring which is then brought into action
to aid the buffer springs. As will be obvious two or more supplementary springs 9
can be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a buffer the combination with the buffer rod and buffer spring or springs, of
a supplementary spring or springs and a wedge automatically controlled by another
spring the arrangement being such as to automatically compensate for slack caused by
permanent set of the buffer spring or springs.
2. My improved buffer constructed with a supplementary spring and wedge
controlled by another spring as herein before described and shewn in the drawings
annexed for the purpose specified.
Dated this 20th day of December 1880
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.