Apparatus for Mitigating the Force of Railway Collisions:
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 26th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Mitigating the Force of Railway Collisions:
I, FREDERICK SHAPLEY, of 6 Park Street, in the City and County of Bristols
Confectioner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:--
The apparatus for mitigating the force of railway collisions, to which this
invention relates, consists in a vessel of leather or india-rubber divided by vertical'
partitions of wood into compartments and charged with compressed: air:
This vessel is designed to be laid longitudinally in a truck or on a platform, such
truck or platform to constitute part of a train and to be placed immediately behind
the engine.
Consequently, in event of a collision, that portion of the train which is in rear of
the said vessel is shielded thereby from the full force of the impact.
The object of dividing the vessel into compartments is to provide a series of
separate cushions each of which offers independent resistance to compression..
The compartments are charged with compressed air through a. pipe which com-
municates with each compartment by a branch fitted with a stop valve. The air.
may be pumped from the engine or be otherwise supplied to the vessel.
71
1000
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol Bank Buildings, Bristol, Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Mitigating the Force of Railway Collisions.
I, FREDERICK SHAPLEY, of 6 Park Street Viaduct, in the City and County
of Bristol, Confectioner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The apparatus for mitigating the force and destructive effect of collisions between
railway trains in which this invention consists is a vessel. or structure of leather or
india-rubber divided by vertical partitions of wood strengthened by iron or steel.
The compartments are designed to be charged with air compressed to any required
degree. The compartments into which the structure is divided are charged with
air through a main flexible pipe which communicates with each compartment by a
separate branch pipe. The vessel, which is fitted with a framework of iron or steel,
is either mounted on a frame or frames fitted with wheels to run on a railway, or it
is carried on a platform or truck fitted with such wheels. The apparatus thus
mounted and charged with air is designed to form part of a train and to be
coupled to the vehicles thereof. One or more of such vessels may he used in
a train.
In event of a collision the apparatus serves as a cushion or buffer to reduce the
force and destructive effect of the impact.
The object of dividing the vessel into compartments is to provide a series of
cushions each of which offers independent resistance to collapse. The air for
charging the apparatus may be pumped from a locomotive engine or otherwise
supplied.
In the accompanying drawing,
Fig. 1 represents a part side elevation and part longitudinal section of the
appliance which constitutes this invention.
Fig. 2 represents a plan, and
Fig. 3 a part transverse section.

page_text: The apparatus consists of a vessel or structure of india-rubber or leather divided
into compartments a by partitions b, Fig. 1, of wood strengthened by iron or steel.
The vessel, which is fitted with a frame c of iron or steel, is either mounted on
bogie trucks d, as shewn in the drawing, or is carried in a truck or on a wheeled
platform, and is designed to form part of a passenger or goods train.
One or more of such appliances may be incorporated in a train. Each com-
partment is separately supplied with air compressed to any required degree. The
main air supply pipe e is carried below the body of the appliance, and to each com-
partment is connected a branch pipe e'. The branch pipes e' are provided with ball
or other suitable valves to prevent return through the pipes of the air with which
the chambers are charged. Safety valves f are provided for each chamber to
prevent charging beyond a given pressure.
The side members of the frame within which the vessel is contained are hinged
as at c¹ and the frame is capable of compression and extension on the hinges. At
each end of the apparatus are supporting brackets g.
In event of a collision, the structure serves as a cushion or buffer to shield the
other vehicles of the train of which it forms a part from the full force and destructive
effect of the impact or shock.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
An appliance for the purpose of mitigating the force and destructive effect of
collisions between railway trains or between a train and a fixed object, the said
appliance being designed to form part of a train and consisting of a flexible structure
supported in a suitable compressible frame and mounted on wheels and composed of
a series of compartments formed by vertical partitions, each compartment having
a branch pipe communicating with a main pipe whereby the structure is supplied
with compressed air for inflating the compartments, substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of September 1891.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol Bank Buildings, Bristol, Agent.