A NEW OR IMPROVED RAILWAY VEHICLE FOR CUSHIONING AND ABSORBING THE SHOCKS IN RAILWAY TRAINS DURING COLLISION to be as follows
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
We, ROBERT HILL, of Glasgow in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Writer
to Her Majesty's Signet, and JOHN DARLING of Glasgow aforesaid, Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED
RAILWAY VEHICLE FOR CUSHIONING AND ABSORBING THE SHOCKS IN RAILWAY
TRAINS DURING COLLISION to be as follows :-
"
This Invention, which relates to a new or improved Railway vehicle for
cushioning and absorbing or reducing the shocks and destruction to life and
property caused by collisions between trains on Railways, consists of an elastically
constructed vehicle, which may be a carriage van or wagon, one, two or more of
which is or are placed in a train at intervals, or together, as required according to
the length of the train.
The improved railway vehicle is composed of two end compartments and a
central compartment of rigid structure and each of which compartments is mounted
upon one or two pairs of wheels so as to run upon a line of Railway. Between
these three compartments of rigid structure there are situated two other compart-
iments the frames of which, relatively with the frames of the rigid part of the
vehicle, are so made as to be capable of sliding longitudinally in or upon or side
by side of each other, the corresponding compartments being made to slide one
within the other telescopically. Between these sliding parts of the framing spiral
springs, or equivalent springs of the requisite length, strength and capacity for a
sufficient degree of longitudinal extension or compression, are situated so that when
a severe blow, such as the blow due to what is commonly known as a collision on
a Railway takes place, the force of such blow is converted into the mechanical act
of compressing the said springs to the extent due to the intensity of the blow, and
to enable this to be absorbed or retained in the said springs, or in other words to
prevent the dangerous effects of the recoil which is commonly produced in a train
of carriages not provided with an elastic vehicle, such as that which constitutes
this Invention, these springs are retained in the compressed position by means of
hooks or equivalent catches which enter holes or ratchet teeth upon the frames and
retain them in that position. The rigid compartments it is intended should be used
for holding luggage and parcels.

page_text: It is to be understood that in place of constructing the elastic vehicle constituting
this Invention of three rigid compartments and two elastic compartments as
herein before described it may be composed of one or more rigid compartments and
one or more elastic compartments.
For the purpose of enabling the draw bars of the said elastic vehicles to assume
at once the length which will correspond to the altered length of the elastic vehicles
after being shortened or compressed by collision the draw-bars are after a manner
analogous to the framings of the vehicle also arranged to slide in or upon or at the
side of each other whilst they are also provided with springs for absorbing and
retaining the shock due to the temporary alteration in their relative positions
longitudinally and with automatic hooks or catches which enter holes or ratchets
to retain them.
And the said draw-bars, springs and catches as herein mentioned may, if made of
sufficient strength, be used alone or for retaining the springs at the framings in
compression.
For the purpose of releasing the springs from compression the elastic vehicle is
provided with a releasing brake, which acting upon the springs enables them to be
released gradually as distinct from suddenly.
With reference to the equivalents of spiral springs which are hereinbefore
mentioned we mean by such equivalent compressed air springs each consisting of a
piston working in a cylinder and acting elastically against compressed air on one
or both sides of the piston and with or without a communication for the passage
of air from one side of the piston to the opposite side, or from the cylinder to a
receiver, or by means of a valve which when opened by the compression of the air
due to the force of collision allows a portion of the compressed air to escape into
the atmosphere. When air springs are used they may be released gradually by
means of a connection with the pump forming part of the air brake's apparatus
with which trains are now usually provided.

page_text: We, ROBERT HILL, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Writer
to Her Majesty's Signet, and JOHN DARLING, of Glasgow, aforesaid, Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of our said invention for A NEW OR IMPROVED RAILWAY
VEHICLE FOR CUSHIONING AND ABSORBING THE SHOCKS IN RAILWAY TRAINS
DURING COLLISION and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
Our Invention which relates to a new or improved Railway Vehicle for cushioning
and absorbing or reducing the shock and destruction to life and property caused by
interruptions to running trains or by collisions between trains on Railways consists
of an elastically constructed vehicle which may be a carriage, van, or wagon, one,
two or more of which is or are placed in a train at intervals, or together as required
according to the length of the train.
In order that our said Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect wo will describe the drawings thereof hereunto annexed :—
Figure 1, is a diagrammatic view of one form of Railway Vehicle in its normal
extended position constructed according to our present Invention.
Figure 2, is a side elevation of a more simple form of the said railway vehicle
when in such extended position.
Figures 3, and 4, are respectively a side and an end elevation of the said vehicle
when in a completely compressed position.
Figure 5, is a plan of the telescopic framing of the said railway vehicle.
Figures 6, and 7, are respectively a side elevation and a plan of a releasing
apparatus used in connection with the improved railway vehicle.
Figure 8, represents in side elevation the mechanical means of applying a
compressed air spring for the purposes of our Invention.
The improved railway vehicle as sbewn in diagram at Figure 1, is composed of
the two end compartments a, and the central compartment b, each of which
compartments is mounted upon one pair of wheels c, (or two pairs of such wheels c,
may be placed under each of the compartments a, a, and b) so as to run upon a
line of Railway.-Between these three rigid compartments a, and b, there are
situated the two other compartments so arranged relatively with the said rigid
compartments a, and b, as to be capable of sliding longitudinally, in, or upon, or side
by side of each other; the adjacent compartiments being made to slide within the
others telescopically.-Between the sliding parts of the framing e, upon which the
beforementioned compartments are mounted, spiral springs of the requisite length,
strength and capacity for a sufficient degree of longitudinal extension or compression
are situated, so that when a severe blow, such as the blow due to what is commonly
known as a collision on a railway, takes place, the force of such blow is converted
into the mechanical act of compressing the said springs to the extent due to the
intensity of the blow.
In place of constructing the elastic vehicle of three rigid compartiments a, and b,
and two telescopic compartments d, as represented at Figure 1, we may construct
the said vehicle of one or more rigid compartments and one or more telescopic
compartments.-Figures 2, 3, and 4, represent a railway vehicle composed of one
rigid compartiment f, and two sliding or telescopic compartments g.-With referenco
to these Figures it is seen that the framing upon which the compartments of the
Railway Vehicle are secured, is constructed with the central rigid portion h,
preferably of cylindrical form either provided with one or more pairs of wheels c,

page_text: (or each or any section of the framing may be provided with bogies.)-Into the
ends of this central portion h, the tubes i, are free to slide, and into the outer ends
of these tubes i, the tubes or pistons j, secured to the transverse or buffer beams k,
are free to slide.
Within this telescopic arrangement of framing there is provided a series of
springs l, as represented in dotted lines at Figure 2.-These springs are of pro-
gressive strengths, that is to say, the springs at the outer ends are weaker than
those at the centre of the framing, the approach from the minimum to the maximum
of strength being gradual; a series of springs of increasing strength being provided
from the outer springs inwards to the central spring or that having the highest
resistance to compression or vice versa, the graduation of the springs may be from
the weakest at the centre to the strongest at the extremities.-The springs at the
centre bear or rest against the rigid block w.
It is to be understood that in place of constructing our elastic railway vehicle
with end compartments on the telescoping or compressing apparatus as hereinbefore
described, such end telescoping compartments may be dispensed with, and the
central compartment alone be used so that the end Elastic parts of the framing are
not mounted with a compartment thereon.-In this case the construction of the
elastic railway carriage is identical with that shewn at Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5, of
the annexed drawings, excepting that the end compartments g, are dispensed with,
the bottom or floor thereof only being mounted upon the sliding portion of the
framing and this construction is that which we prefer to adopt, whilst the floor
also is not necessarily used.
For the purpose of retaining the springs 7, in the position corresponding to the
degree of compression into which they have been forced by the effects of a collision,
or in other words, to prevent the effects of a recoil which is commonly produced in a
train of carriages of the usual construction and not provided with an elastic vehicle
such as that which constitutes our present Invention, these springs 7, are retained
in the compressed position by means of hooks or equivalent catches.-An arrange-
ment of mechanism such as is suitable for so retaining the springs, is represented
in side elevation at Figure 6, and in plan at Figure 7.-This arrangement consists
of the screw shaft m, upon which there are formed screw threads whose helices
have opposite directions, that is to say, which are right hand and left hand screws
respectively. This screw shaft m, is mounted horizontally in the bearings n, upon
the rigid portion of the framing of the vehicle in such manner as to be capable of
rotation. At the centre of this screw shaft m, the hand wheel o, is provided.―
The bearings n, are preferably formed in one piece, with the guides p, wherein the
plates q, are free to slide longitudinally.--The outer ends of these plates q, are
secured to the beams k, (Figures 1, 2, and 3,) and the inner ends are provided with
the two spring books or pawls 7, which normally bear upon the plain portion of
the shaft m, but when pushed inwards against the pressure of the springs 1,
(Figures 1, 2, and 3,) engage with the threads of this shaft; upon the rotation of
which in the required direction they with the parts of the telescoping framing are
pressed outwards towards and into their relative normal positions.-The draw bars
used in connection with the improved elastic vehicle may be similarly formed
telescopic with their corresponding complements of springs and a retaining device,
but we prefer to connect the coupling hooks to the beams k, in the ordinary manner,
that is to say, with the usual draw springs between the nut and washer, upon the
draw-bar of the said hook, and the inner side of the said beam.
With reference to the equivalents of spiral springs which are hereinbefore
mentioned, we mean by such equivalent compressed air springs such as are
indicated by the apparatus shewn at Figure 8.-This apparatus consists of the
pistons 8, working or free to work within the cylinders t, and acting elastically
against compressed air at the back of the pistons 8, under which arrangement the
motion of the pistons s, in the cylinders during a collision transfers the air to the
opposite sides of the said pistons, through the passage u, communicating with both
ends of the said cylinders, or through a small hole in the pistons themselves.-The

page_text: displaced air may be led from the said cylinders t, to a receiver, or discharged
through spring or equivalent valves which, when opened by the compression of the
air due to the forcing inwards of the pistons 8, allow a portion of such compressed
air to escape into the atmosphere. The outer ends of the piston rods v, are attached
to the end framings k, of the railway vehicle.
When air springs are employed, the air spring apparatus may be charged with
compressed air from the air brake receiver, which also after a collision enables the
compressible parts of the apparatus to be restored to their normal position by
turning on into the cylinders a quantity of compressed air to supply the place of
that which has been caused to escape or has been transferred by the collision.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
First. A Railway Vehicle which we prefer to call the Anti-collision Railway
Carriage, in which the essential feature is, that it is so constructed as to be capable
of considerable longitudinal elastic compression at the instant of a shock or collision
whereby the mechanical force or work due to the blow of collision is absorbed
by the springs of the said carriage as they are longitudinally compressed,
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the annexed sheets o!
Drawings.
Second. In the Anti-collision railway Carriage the mechanism for preventing
recoil by providing for the retaining of the springs in their compressed state and
allowing of their gradual release substantially as herein before described with
reference to the annexed sheets of Drawings.