IMPROVEMENTS IN BUFFERS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Henry Hepburn, of Sheffield, in the County of
York, Locomotive Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BUFFERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Henry Hepburn at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th January 1876.
ROBERT HENRY HEPBURN, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Locomotive
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BUFFERS."
My Invention relates to improvements in buffers for railway purposes, having
for their object obtaining simplicity of construction combined with facility and
economy in the inanufacture, and it consists,-
1st. In casting the "case" of the buffer in metal round the ram between the
head and collar, such ram (which may be either solid or hollow) being formed with
its head, rod, and collar all in one piece.
2ndly. In constructing buffer cases in two parts, secured and held together by
iron or steel hoops.
3rdly. In constructing buffer cases (by preference of wrought iron) in two halves
forming jaws, each of which is provided at the part where they meet with a semi-
circular or other suitably shaped aperture, the jaws being arranged in such a manner
as to admit of their being forced apart or separated to a suflicient distance for the
passage through the apertures of a collar of an oblong or other required form provided
on the rod, and of their being subsequently secured by bolts and nuts or similar means.
For the facility of manufacture the two main portions of the case may be con-
structed of such a shape that when fitted together two of the sides are left open,
oue or both of which may be subsequently closed with a plate or cover.
4thly. In constructing buffers with a self-acting locking collar in the following
manner: The case, which may be constructed of either wrought or cast iron, is pro-
vided with a mouth or aperture through which the ram is to work, and which mouth
or aperture I form with two enlargements or key ways opposite to each other to
admit of the passage of projections, either formed on or fitted to the inner extremity
of the ram, but by preference fitted to the same, by passing a key through a trans-
verse slot made in the ram. In inserting the ram in its place in the case the
spring and a push plate placed in front of the spring (and more fully hereinafter
described are forced back a short distance, and the extremity of the rod or ram,
with the projections is first passed through the enlarged mouth or aperture.
D

page_text: The ram is then turned a quarter round, so as to bring the projections opposite the
solid portions of the case surrounding the mouth. A short portion of the ram
close to the projections and on the side nearest the extremity of the rod is made
of a square or oblong section, corresponding with a similar shaped hole in the
push plate before mentioned, and the spring being allowed to expand it forces
forward the push plate on to the squared portion of the ram. In order to main-
tain the ram in its present position and to prevent it from turning so that its lugs
or proje tions would come opposite the corresponding apertures or keyways the
push plate is provided with arms which extend across the case, and the flattened
or otherwise suitably shaped ends of which bearing and sliding against the corre-
spondly shaped sides of the case effectually prevent any revolving movement of the
ram.
5thly. In constructing back plates of buffers (when made separately from the
other portions of the case, and of either wrought iron, cast iron, or steel) of a
stronger section at that part against which the base of the spring bears than at
the ends or those parts that are simply of use in securing the buffer case to the
vehicle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the said Letters Patent filed
by the said Robert Henry Hepburn in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd July 1876.
ROBERT HENRY HEPBURN, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Locomotive
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BUFFERS."
My said Invention relates to improvements in buffers for railway purposes,
having for their object obtaining simplicity of construction combined with facility
and economy in the manufacture, and it consists―
1st. In casting the "case" of the buffer in metal round the ram between the
head and collar, such ram, which may be either solid or hollow, being formed with
its head, rod, and collar all in one piece.
2ndly. In constructing buffer cases in two parts, secured and held together by
iron or steel hoops.
3rdly. In constructing buffer cases (by preference of wrought iron) in two halves
forming jaws, each of which is provided at the part where they meet with a semi-
circular or other suitably shaped aperture, the jaws being arranged in such a manner
as to admit of their being forced apart or separated to a sufficient distance for the
passage through the apertures of a collar of an oblong form provided on the rod,
and of their being subsequently secured by bolts and nuts or similar means.
4thly. In constructing the cases and rams of buffers in such a manner that the
ram after its insertion in the case shall be retained therein by receiving a partial
rotatory motion, and in providing means whereby the ram shall then be auto-
matically locked so as to prevent any rotatory motion in the reverse direction.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of my Drawings represents a horizontal section, and Figure 2 a trans-
verse section of a buffer constructed in accordance with the first part of my
Invention.
Figure 3 represents a horizontal section, and Figure 4 a transverse section of a
buffer constructed according to the second part of my Invention.
Figure represents a horizontal section; Figure 6, a transverse section; and
Figure 6a, a detail of a buffer constructed according to the third part of my
Invention.
And Figure 7 represents a horizontal section, and Figure 8 a transverse section
of a buffer constructed in accordance with the fourth part of my Invention.

page_text: In carrying out the first part of my Invention I construct the ram A (Figures 1
and 2) with its head a and collar b, with or without the rod c, all in one piece; and
I cast the case B in metal round the ram A between the head a and the collar,
whereby I am enabled whilst securing the advantages of a collar and a head in
one piece with the ram to enclose the ram in its case without the employment of
bushes and similar contrivances. The case B may be reinforced with a strengthening
collar or hoop d of wrought iron or steel if desired.
According to the second part of my Invention, which is illustrated by Figures 3
and +, I obtain the advantage of employing a ram with the collar and head in
one piece therewith without casting the case round the ram, by constructing the
case (of either wrought iron or cast iron) in two parts B, B', which are placed
round the rain A, and secured or held together by iron or steel hoops d, d. In
the example shewn in the Drawing the rain A and its rod are represented as
made hollow and as screwed together, but it is obvious that they may be made solid
and formed in one if desired.
In carrying out the third part of my Invention, which is illustrated by Figures 5,
6 and 6a, I construct the buffer case in two halves B, B', formning jaws which are
firmly secured at their extremity by rivets e or otherwise to the end plate C of the
buffer, so as to be capable of being opened or sprung apart, and are provided at
the part which fits round the rain A with recesses at ff, respectively of a semi-
cylindrical or other shape, such that they together form an aperture corresponding
in section with the ram. The ram A is provided with two projections g, g', on
opposite sides (shewn clearly in the detail Figure 6a), which together with the
body of the ram produce an oblong section at the part where they are situate.
When it is required to introduce the ram A into the case the jaws B, B', are
sprung open or forced apart to a sufficient distance for the passage through the
aperture, of the cblong party, g', after which they are closed again and
secured by bolts and nuts / or similar means; a loose push plate may be provided,
as shewn at i, to receive the action of the spring D. For the facility of manufac-
ture the two jaws are by preference constructed of such a shape that when fitted
together the sides k, l, are left open, one or both of which may be subsequently
closed with a plate or cover if desired.
In carrying out the fourth part of my Invention I construct the buffer in the
manner next herein-after described, reference being had to Figures 7 and 8 of the
accompanying Drawings.
The case B, which may be constructed of either wrought or cast iron, is pro-
vided with a mouth or aperture through which the ram A is to work, and which
mouth or aperture I form with two enlargements or keyways m, m, opposite to
each other to admit of the passage of projections m, n, either formed on or fitted to
the inner extremity of the ram A, but by preference fitted to the same by passing
a key through a transverse slot made in the ram. In inserting the ram A in its
place in the case B, the spring D and a push plate E placed in front of the spring
are forced back a short distance, and the extremity of the rode of the ram A with
the projections n, m, is first passed through the enlarged mouth or aperture, after
which the ram A is turned a quarter round, so as to bring the projections n, n,
opposite the solid portions of the case surrounding the mouth, as shewn in the
Drawing; a short portion of the ram close to the projections n, n, is made of a
square or oblong section, as shewn at el, corresponding with a similar shaped hole
in the push plate E, and the spring D being allowed to expand it forces forward
the push plate E on the squared portion c¹ of the ram. In order to maintain the
ram A in that position and prevent it from turning so that its projections m, n,
would come opposite the corresponding apertures or keyways m, m, the push plate E
is provided with extensions o, o, of a flattened shape which bear and slide against
the correspondingly shaped sides of the case, and thus effectually resist any ten-
dency to a revolving movement of the ram.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into

page_text: effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. Casting the cases of buffers round their rams, substantially as and for the
purpose herein-before described.
2ndly. Constructing the cases of buffers in two parts, secured and held together
by hoops, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before described.
3rdly. The combination in a buffer of a ram having two projections on opposite
sides, forming together with the ram an oblong contour, and of two jaws constituting
the case, and each provided at its point of contiguity with the other jaw with a
recess, together forining an aperture corresponding in scction with the ram; the
jaws being arranged in such a manner as to admit of their being forced apart or
separated to a sufficient distance for the passage through the aperture of the ram
with its projections, and of their being subsequently secured together, substantially
as herein-before described.
4thly. Constructing the cases and rams of buffers in such a manner that the ram
after its insertion in the case shall be retained therein, by receiving a partial
rotatory motion, and combining with a case and a ram so constructed a push plate
operating automatically so as to lock the ram and prevent any rotatory motion in
the reverse direction, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whercof, I, the said Robert Henry Hepburn, have to this my Speci-
fication set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of July, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.