IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY BUFFERS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Tijou, of Upper Tollington Road, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY
BUFFERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Tijou at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th April 1880.
WILLIAM TIJOU, of Upper Tollington Road, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY BUFFERS."
This Invention relates to improvements in outside volute spring railway buffers,
and has for its object simplifying the construction by reducing the number of parts,
and facilitating the taking of the parts asunder for repairs or otherwise without
detaching the buffer from the vehicle.
According to my Invention I employ for the purpose of holding the parts
together and retaining the spring within the case and hollow part of the plunger
an outside solid ring of an L section composed of wrought iron, welded up or cast
malleable iron, cast iron, or cast steel. This ring fits the smaller diameter of the
plunger, which has a projecting shoulder or collar shrunk thereon at its inner portion,
Round
which shoulder works inside the case of the buffer in the usual manner.
the inner edge of the lip of the said solid ring which fits over the casing I form
in any suitable manner a series of two or more inner projections with intervening
slots or open spaces, and round the exterior of the outer end of the case I form in
any suitable manner other projections and intervening spaces corresponding to
those on the interior of the lip of the ring, thereby obtaining when the ring is in
position a species of bayonet joint, it being simply necessary when fitting the ring,
or when removing the same, to give a partial rotation thereto in one or other
direction, and to move the ring longitudinally along the plunger. The said pro-
jections are, by preference, slightly inclined on their contact surfaces so as to give
a draw to the ring and enable the same to be tightened up. The said ring may
be fixed by means of a set bolt screwed into the casing or otherwise. It is obvious
that in lieu of the bayonet joint arrangement with projections and spaces, the ring
may be adjusted in its place by internal and external screw threads. Or an
annular groove may be cut round the exterior of the casing, and two or more slots
made longitudinally from the said groove to the end of the casing.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in, pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Tijou in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th August
1880.
WILLIAM TIJOU, of Upper Tollington Road, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY BUFFERS."
My said Invention relates to certain improvements in outside spring railway
buffers, whereby greater economy and simplicity of construction with increased
strength are obtained by reducing the number of parts, whilst at the same time
increased facility is afforded for taking the parts asunder for repairs or other
purposes without detaching or disturbing the buffer case.
My improvements consist in the combination with outside spring railway buffers
of removeable retaining rings applied in a peculiar manner, either to the outside or
inside of the front end of the buffer case, for the purpose of maintaining the plunger
and spring within the case and receiving the thrust and recoil of the spring, the
said removeable retaining ring and case being specially constructed with a view to
the securing of the rings in position by a modification or adaptation of the well
known "bayonet joint" fastening, or by screwing the ring bodily onto or into the
end of the case, as found most convenient in practice. By the use of the means above
described for securing the removeable retaining ring to the case, the said ring,
whether fitted outside or inside the case, can be instantly loosened and detached, so
as to release the plunger and spring, and as readily tightened up again by the aid
of a wrench-bar or key for that purpose applied to the ring itself, it being simply
necessary in order to detach the ring from the case to turn the ring more or less,
and then slide it along the plunger, the operations being reversed when re-applying
the ring.
According to one mode of carrying out my Invention I employ an outside solid
removeable retaining ring of an L or other suitable section, composed of wrought
iron, welded up or cast malleable iron, cast iron, cast steel, or other suitable
material. This ring fits the smaller diameter of the plunger, which plunger has a
projecting shoulder or collar shrunk, welded, or otherwise secured or worked
thereon at its inner end, working inside the buffer case as is well understood.
Round the interior of the said solid retaining ring which fits over the end of the
case I form at the back end in any suitable manner a series of two or more
internal projections with intervening slots or open spaces, and round the exterior of
the outer end of the case I also form in any suitable manner other projections and
intervening spaces corresponding to those on the interior of the retaining ring,
thereby obtaining a species of "bayonet joint" fastening, the release of the
ring being accomplished by imparting a partial rotation thereto in either direction,
and then drawing the ring forward along the plunger, the operation being of course
reversed in securing the ring in position. The projections on the ring and case are
by preference slightly inclined on their retaining or contact faces, so as to givo a
draw to the ring and enable the same to be effectually tightened up.
According to a modified arrangement the outside solid retaining ring has a screw
thrend cut on the interior thereof, a corresponding screw thread being cut on the
exterior of the case at its front end, so as to enable the ring to be screwed bodily
onto the outside thereof.
Or the herein before described "bayonet joint " mode of fastening may be applied
to an inside retaining ring, in which arrangement the alternate projections and
spaces will be formed on the exterior of the ring and interior of the case.
Or the retaining ring may be screwed inside instead of outside the end of the
case by providing screw threads on the outside of the ring and corresponding
threads on the interior of the case.

page_text: In lieu of the before mentioned projections on the outside or inside of the case in
the "bayonet-joint" mode of attachment being formed so as to project beyond the
general outer or inner surface of the case, they may be made flush with the surface
of the case by forming an annular groove in the case round the outer or inner
circumference thereof a short distance back from the end of the case, and cutting
longitudinally, at suitable intervals, two or more slots or channels extending from
the extreme end of the case into the said annular groove.
Although I prefer to employ in all cases a solid removeable retaining ring made
in one piece, as increasing the strength, reducing the number of parts, and
simplifying the construction, it is obvious that the removeable retaining ring
secured by either of the methods above described may when applied internally be
divided longitudinally into two or more parts, the said parts being held together
when introduced by the surrounding case.
With a view to preventing any accidental turning of the outer or inner retaining
ring when adjusted in position I propose to employ an ordinary set screw, which
should be withdrawn wholly or partially before removing the ring.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the samo, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the explanatory Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed,
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the
Figures.
Fig. 1 (Sheet 1) of my Drawings represents a longitudinal section of one arrange-
ment of my improved outside spring milway buffer; Fig. 2 is a similar view
showing a buffer of slightly modified construction; Fig. 3 is a front end elevation
of the case without the plunger, suitable for both the arrangements shown in
Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a back end elevation detached of the outside solid retaining
ring hereinbefore referred to (also suitable for both the arrangements shown at
Figs. 1 and 2) for holding the parts together and receiving the thrust and recoil of
the spring; and Fig. 5 is a corresponding transverse section of the same taken along
the line 1-2, in Fig. 4.
a is the case; b, the plunger, here shown hollow; c, the spring, which may be of
metal in a volute or spiral form, or if desired of india rubber or of india rubber and
metal combined, as is well understood; d, a packing of wood or other suitable
material in one or more pieces inside the plunger, and having a metal plate d'
interposed between it and the spring, as is also well understood; e is the outside
solid ring, which I shall hereinafter more fully describe. In the arrangement,
Fig. 1, I first turn up the plunger parallel from end to end in a lathe, and then
introduce thereon the solid retaining ring e, which fits it loosely; I then shrink,
weld, or otherwise secure onto the inner end of the plunger the collar or shoulder f
and rivet or set over the end of the plunger, as shown, in order to secure the said
collar in its place when only shrunk on, and prevent it from moving longitudinally
along the plunger whilst under the action of the thrust or recoil of the spring.
The said collar or shoulder is afterwards turned so as to fit the case and form a
guide therein. In order to retain the plunger and spring together in their places
in the case, I employ a solid removeable retaining ring e having an internal
retaining flange c' on its outer or front side, and two or more (by preference four)
inner projections g, g, on its inner or rear end with intermediate spaces or
openings h, h, the said projections and spaces corresponding with similar spaces
g, g', and projections h', ', provided round the outer end of the case a (as shown
in Fig. 3.) Whilst the spring c is maintained slightly compressed by the
necessary weight or pressure acting on the plunger the ring e is secured or locked
to the end of the case a by passing the projections thereon through the spaces
between the projections on the case and then turning the ring partly round, which
latter operation may be accomplished by any convenient form of wrench or key,
a bole being provided in one side of the ring for the reception of the end of the
key, as will be readily understood. When the ring c has been thus fitted in
position the internal flange e' will form a stop to the collar or enlargement, and

page_text: thereby retain the spring and plunger in their places. If desired the collar f
forming the inner shoulder or enlargement of the plunger may be welded solid
therewith after the solid retaining ring e has been passed onto the plunger, as shown
in the sectional elevation at Fig. 2, in lieu of being merely shrunk thereon as
before mentioned. is a set screw passing through the solid retaining ring and
screwed into the case for the purpose of preventing the accidental turning of tho
ringe after it has been fixed in position.
Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of my improved buffer, illustrating a modified
construction or arrangement of the alternate projections and recesses or spaces on
the end of the buffer case, and Fig. 7 is a front end elevation of the case with the
said modification applied thereto. In this modification, in lieu of forming the
projections h¹ so as to project beyond the outside surface of the case a, as shown in
Fig. 3, I make such projections flush with the general exterior surface of the said
case by forming an annular groove at 7 (Fig. 6) round the exterior of the case, and
making two or more (by preference four) longitudinal slots or channels gl of any
desired width from the said groove to the end of the case. The solid retainining
ringe is in every respect the same as previously described with reference to
Figs. 4 and 5, and is applied in the same way. I have shown this ring in detail
back end elevation and cross section in Figs. 8 and 9 respectively, the section,
Fig. 9, being taken through the two opposite spaces or recesses h, h, or along the
line 3-4 in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a curvilinear sectional view of the ring e fitted in
its place on the case a, which is shown in side elevation, this Figure showing also
at m the slight inclination of the retaining contact surfaces of the projections
thereon for the purpose of enabling the ring to be tightened up, and also showing
the tapped hole and section of the set screw k.
Fig. 11 (Sheet 2) is a half longitudinal section and half elevation, and Fig. 12 a
half longitudinal section of my improved buffer, wherein I have shown the solid
retaining ring e as screwed bodily onto the outside of the end of the case a, the
rest of the parts being the same as those already described. Fig. 13 is a half front
end elevation of the case a, with the plunger and solid retaining ring e removed,
and a half transverse section of the plunger in its place, the retaining ring e
surrounding it being shown in elevation. Figs. 14 and 15 represent respectively a
detail back and elevation and transverse section of the screw threaded solid
retaining ring e, with the holes for the set screw and key shown in dotted lines in
Fig. 14.
Sheet 3 of my Drawings illustrates the application of my said Invention to solid
plunger buffers. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section and partial elevation of one
arrangement of solid plunger buffer, wherein the collar forming the shoulder or
enlargement and guide is shown as scrowed onto the inner end of the plunger, the
outside solid retaining ring e being also screwed bodily onto the exterior of the
front end of the case, as described with reference to Figs. 11 and 12; Fig. 17 is a
half longitudinal section showing the collar f as being forged in lieu of screwed
onto the inner end of the solid plunger after the outside solid retaining ring e has
been slipped over it. is a washer slipped onto the reduced end of the solid
plunger for the purpose of receiving the thrust and recoil of the spring. Fig. 18 is
a front end elevation of the case and outside solid retaining ring e with the stemn
of the plunger bin transverse section; Figa. 19 and 20 represent respectively a
detail back end elevation of the screw threaded outside solid retaining ring e and a
cross section of the same showing the holes for the screw key and set screw in
dotted lines in Fig. 19; Fig. 21 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 22 a balf section
of a solid plunger buffer showing the combination therewith of an outside solid
retaining ring e fitted and retained in position on the case a by the aid of alternate
projections and recesses or spaces in the said ring, and on the outside of the end of
the case respectively, as herein before described with reference to the hollow plunger
buffers (Figs. 1 and 2), the shoulder or collar f being screwed onto the plunger in 5
Fig. 21 and forged thereon in Fig. 22; Fig. 23 represents a front end elevation of
the case a with one half of the ring e removed, and the stem of the plunger in

page_text: section, corresponding to Fig. 21; Figs. 24 and 25 represent respectively in detail
a back end elevation of the outside solid retaining ring and a cross section of the
same along the line 1-2 in Fig. 24.
Fig. 26 (Sheet 4) is a longitudinal section of a hollow plunger buffer, showing a
modification in the form of my removeable retaining ring and mode of applying
the same to the case; Fig. 27 is a front end elevation of the case with a portion of
the retaining ring and plunger in position; Fig. 28 is a back end elevation of the
retaining ring detached; and Fig. 29 is a transverse section of the same. In the
modification here referred to the alternate projections g and spaces on the rear or
inner end of the ring are formed outside in lieu of inside the ring, and the corre-
sponding spaces or grooves y¹ and projections h¹ on the case are formed inside in
lieu of outside, as in Figs. 1 and 2, the arrangement of " bayonet joint" fastening
being simply reversed so as to accomodate the ring inside the case in lieu of
outside, as hereinbefore described. The internal flange e' on the front end of the
solid retaining ring e is still retained, so as to form a stop to the end of the enlarge-
ment or collar of the plunger b, and receive the thrust and recoil of the spring, as
herein before described, but in addition thereto I have provided the ring e with a
small external flange c", which takes its bearing against the end of the case a, and
is provided with one or more notches i round its circumference for the grip of a
key when tightening up or removing the ring.
Fig. 30 shows a similar arrangement of ring to that last described, with this
difference that in lieu of being "bayonet jointed" to the interior of the case a it is
screwed bodily therein, as shown by the Drawing.
Fig. 31 is a longitudinal section of a solid plunger buffer, with its shoulder or
enlargement forged or otherwise formed or fitted thereon, and showing the
application thereto of the same form of internally fitted "bayonet jointed " retaining
ring to that shown in Fig. 26; Fig. 32 is a front end elevation of the case corre-
sponding to Fig. 31; Fig. 33 is a back end elevation detached of the "bayonet
jointed "retaining ring shown in Fig. 31; and Fig. 34 is a transverse section of
the same taken along the line 1-2 in Fig. 33; Fig. 35 is a longitudinal section of
a solid plunger buffer similar to Fig. 31, but having an internally fitted retaining
ring, similar to that shown in Fig. 30, screwed bodily inside the case; and Fig. 36
is a half back end clevation detached of the screwed retaining ring shown in
Fig. 35.
I would here point out that in all the arrangements herein before described and
illustrated on Sheets 1 to 4 of my Drawings, the solid retaining ring e, whether
fitted outside or inside the case a, receives the thrust and recoil of the spring by
an internal flange e' formed on the outer or front end of the said ring, but in the
arrangements illustrated on Sheet 5 of iny Drawings, and which I shall now
proceed to describe, the thrust and recoil of the spring is received by the back or
rear end of the main body of the ring itself, the inner projecting flange e' being
dispensed with, and the body of the ring made to fit the plunger whether hollow
or solid.
Fig. 37 (Sheet 5) is a longitudinal section of a hollow plunger buffer wherein
the solid retaining ring e is made to fit accurately the plunger b, and is "bayonet
jointed," as hereinbefore described, to the interior of the case a, as in Fig. 26, but is
bored parallel throughout to fit the plunger, and projects inside the case, as shown,
so that the end of the enlargemeut or collar will abut under the action of the
spring against the inner end of the main body of the ring. This ring may, if
preferred, be formed with an external screw thread so as to screw into the end of
the case a, which is then provided with a corresponding internal screw thread, as
shown in Fig. 38.
Fig. 39 is a front end elevation of the case a corresponding to Fig. 37; Fig. 40
is a detached back end elevation of the solid retaining ring e, shown applied
in Fig. 37; and Fig. 41 is a transverse section of the same taken along the line 1-2
in Fig. 40.
Figs. 42 and 43 show the application to solid plunger buffers of similar retaining

page_text: rings receiving the thrust and recoil of the spring upon their rear ends, the collar
being shrunk onto the inner end of the plunger, and secured by rivetting over the
main body of the stem and by a transverse pin, as shown clearly in the Drawing,
Fig. 42, whilst in Fig. 43 the enlargement f is forged on solid. In this Figure the
spring is omitted in order to show the section of the tube or ferrule n which limits the
range or action of the spring, as is well understood; Fig. 44 is a front end elevation
of the case showing part of the retaining ring and plunger in position corresponding
to Fig. 42; Fig. 45 is a back end elevation detached of the retaining ring, shown
applied in Fig. 42; and Fig. 46 is a transverse section of the same taken along the
line 1-2 in Fig. 45.
It is obvious that any of the before mentioned retaining rings when fitted to tho
interior of the case by the heroinbefore described "bayonet joint" arrangement, or
by screwing bodily therein, may be made in two halves, or in three or more
segments of a circle, if desired, the parts or segments being held together by the
enclosing case, as will be readily understood, but I prefer to use a solid retaining
ring, that is to say, a perfect ring in one piece, as increasing the strength of the
ring and simplifying the construction by reducing to a minimum the number of
parts employed in the buffer.
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
effect, I would observe in conclusion that I am aware it has been proposed to
fit a bushing made in one or more parts within the forward end of the box or case
of a railway buffer in order to guide or support the plunger and to receive the
recoil of the spring, but such bushing was either permanently secured in the case
in such a manner as to prevent its ready removal and replacement from the outer
end thereof without more or less injuring or damaging the case, or it was secured
in the box or case by rivets or by screw bolts and nuts, thereby adding to the
number of parts and increasing the cost of manufacture. I am also aware that it
has been proposed to combine with a railway buffer case and a plunger having an
enlargement or collar on its rear or inner end a piece or pieces of metal, heated and
bent round the case so as to form an external ring, but without being joined at the
two ends, and therefore being wanting in the strength afforded by an absolutely
solid ring; this ring moreover was not capable of ready removal and replacement
without more or less distorting or injuring the same. I am also aware that it has
beon proposed to employ for the purpose above stated an outside removeable ring,
made in two or more hinged or jointed parts, and held together at the free ends by
screws or bolts to facilitate its removal and replacement, also an outside removeable
ring, made of steel, and nicked so as to be sprung into place on the end of the case,
and its free ends secured together by a bolt or rivet, but these arrangements are
more costly and less efficient, and involve the use of a greater number of parts than
the arrangements hereinbefore described as constituting my Invention. I there-
fore do not claim generally the combination with the cases of railway buffers of
either inside or outside retaining bushes or rings for receiving the recoil of the
spring; but what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the
Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The combination with outside spring railway buffers having hollow or
solid plungers of an outer solid removeable retaining ring when secured to the
outside of the front end of the buffer case by an arrangement of alternate projections
and spaces formed on the interior of the ring and exterior of the case respectively,
substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and illustrated by Figs.
1 to 10 (Sheet 1), and Figs. 21 to 25 (Sheet 3) of iny Drawings.
Secondly. The combination with outside spring railway buffers having hollow or
solid plungers of an outer solid removeable retaining ring when secured to the
outside of the front end of the buffer case by screw threads formed round the
interior of the ring and exterior of the case respectively, substantially us and
for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figs. 11 to 15 (Sheet 2),
and Figures 16 to 20 (Sheet 3) of my Drawings.

page_text: Thirdly. The combination with outside spring railway buffers having hollow or
solid plungers of an inner removeable retaining ring, whether made solid in ono
piece or divided into two or more parts longitudinally, when secured inside the
front end of the buffer case by an arrangement of alternate projections and spaces
formed on the outside of the ring, or of the parts composing the same, and round
the interior of the case respectively, substantially as and for the purpose herein before
described and illustrated by Figures 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33; and 34 (Sheet 4),
and Figs. 37, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, and 46 (Sheet 5) of my Drawings.
Fourthly. The combination with outside spring railway buffers having hollow or
solid plungers of an inner removeable retaining ring, whether made solid in one
piece or divided into two or more parts longitudinally, when secured to the inside
of the front end of the buffer case by screw threads formed round the exterior of
the ring, or parts composing the same, and the interior of the case respectively,
substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and illustrated by Figures
30, 35, and 36 (Sheet 4), and Figs. 38 and 43 (Sheet 5) of my Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Tijou, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirty first day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
A. E. ALEXANDER,
Clerk to Edwin P. Alexander,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
14, Southampton Buildings,
London, W.C.
WILLIAM TIJOU. (L.S.)