Improvements in Buffers for Railway Vehicles and for other purposes.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Buffers for Railway Vehicles and for other purposes.
I, GEORGE TURTON, 20, Montgomery Road, Sheffield, in the County of York,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to buffers which are chiefly designed for railway vehicles
but which are applicable for use in various cases where it is desirable to prevent or
diminish concussion.
My invention comprises various novel features whereby I considerably improve
the construction and increase the efficiency of the buffers, simplify and reduce
the cost of their manufacture, and increase their durability and the facility 01
restoring or re-adjusting them if injured or displaced.
In my Patents No. 193078 and No. 26748 I have described various methods of
construction for retaining the plunger inside the buffer case of what is known
as side buffers."
*
In the construction of my present improvements I first form a plunger of metal
the head shank and spindle of which are in one solid piece. I then turn a
collar"
groove on the shank near to the "shoulder" and spindle, I also form a
segmentally in two or more parts, the said collar being provided with a tongue or
rib on the inside, which tongue or rib is made to fit properly into the groove cut
in the shank of the said plunger. When in position a hole is drilled through the
segments of the collar and the centre of the plunger shank, preferably where the
groove is, and a proper sized bolt is passed through the said hole. The bolt is
provided with a head at one end and a lock nut at the other. By means of this
bolt the collar is firmly secured on to the plunger, the "back lash" of the plunger
(caused by the recoil of the spring) will be taken up entirely by the collar and
not by the bolt and nut. If the plunger shank be small and the bolt hole in
addition to the groove should so reduce the sectional area of the shank as to cause
weakness, then the bolt hole may be made on one side of the groove. A modifi-
cation of this part of my invention may be made by using two bolts instead of
one, the said bolts passing through the ends of the segments of the collar pre-
ferably in the groove and on each side of the plunger shank. In this case I may
take out a little more than the groove at each side of the plunger to make the same
compact, and to prevent the segments of the collar from turning round on the
plunger. I may further modify this part of my invention by dispensing with
bolts and nuts and substituting a convex ring which I shrink on the segments of
the collar when the same are in position, such ring being put on while hot, over
the centre of the collar and immediately above the aforesaid tongue and groove,
but so made and fixed as to leave a portion of the periphery of the collar clear and
uncovered on either side of it.
A further modification of my invention is that after the groove has been formed
in the plunger shank I may cut out one or a number of slots in the solid part of the
plunger rim nearest to the shoulder and spindle, the said slots being preferably of
a half circular form; and instead of making the collar in segments I may make it

page_text: in one piece, still having the tongue or rib inside. By cutting away certain
portions of this rib the other portions of it will appear as projections. These pro-
jections are made to coincide with the slots cut in the afore said rim on the plunger
shank, so that the collar may be placed in position on the shank of the plunger;
and then rotated a slight distance so that the projections of each of the parts will
become firmly fixed. In other words the projections on the inside of the solid
collar will (after passing through the corresponding slots or openings in the rim of
the plunger and the collar being then turned slightly to right or left) form a
perfect lock of the collar on the plunger, a small set screw may be applied at
any convenient place to prevent the collar moving back again until required; or
instead of using a set screw I may fill up the cavities with molten metal.
A further modification of my invention is made by forming the collar with a
groove on the inner side instead of a rib or tongue, which groove is similar to
and corresponds with the groove formed on the plunger shank. A suitable hole
is formed in the outer edge or in the side of the collar and through to the groove
on the inside, the collar is then threaded on to the plunger from the spindle end
until the grooves in collar and plunger exactly coincide. Through the hole in
the collar I then pass a number of balls, or cylindrical pieces of metal or other
substance, or I may pour molten metal into the said hole filling the two grooves
mentioned. When seperate pieces of metal or balls are used I fill up the hole with
a screw plug or bolt.
The above improvements and modifications I have described in connection with
what are known as solid plunger buffers, but they are also applicable to and may
be used in the construction of hollow or cylindrical plunger buffers.
Another part of my invention relate to improvements in what are known as side
buffers where the spindle of the plunger does not protrude through the back or
base plate, and which have been described in my Patent No. 193078 Fig. 6. In
forming the plunger I make it with head and shank only. In the rear of the
shank I drill a hole, and cut across the end of the said shank a dovetail groove.
The collar which is made solid has a hole drilled in the centre, and a head across
its surface on one side which fits into the dovetail groove in the end of the plunger,
and enters the same from the side. I rivet or otherwise fix in the back-plate at the
inside of the buffer a spindle upon which the spring is threaded. Then passing
the plunger shank into the neck of the buffer case and sliding on the collar
cross ways the spindle connected to the back plate is passed through the spring,
then through the hole in the sliding collar and into the hole in the plunger shank,
the latter is free to travel, but is at same time locked and retained in the buffer
case, the sliding collar being kept in true position by the spindle in the buffer
base, or back plate.
Doted this Wauntoanth Ja
D
1
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Buffers for Railway Vehicles and for other purposes.
I, GEORGE TURTON, of 20, Montgomery Road, Sheffield, in the County of
York, Engineer, 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;-
-
My invention relates to buffers chiefly designed for railway vehicles, but which
are applicable for use in various cases where it is desirable to prevent or diminish
concussion.

page_text: My invention provides improved means for retaining the plunger in the bumer
case, and comprises various novel features whereby I considerably improve the
construction and increase the efficiency of buffers, simplify and reduce the cost of
their manufacture, and increase their durability and the facility of restoring or
re-adjusting them if injured or displaced.
My improvements will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of a buffer constructed according to
my invention,
Figure 2 is a rear end view, and
Figure 3 is a side view of the plunger removed from its case.
Figure 4 is a side view of a portion of a plunger having the collar secured by
screws which do not pass completely through the shank.
Figure 5 illustrates a modified method of securing the retaining collar on the
shank, the collar being shown in section.
Figures 6 and 7, are side and rear end views respectively of a buffer plunger
illustrating another method of securing the retaining collar on the shank.
Figure 8 is a side elevation partly in longitudinal section of a buffer, illustrating
a further modification in which a complete or undivided ring is used as a retaining
collar.
Figure 9 is a face view of said ring.
Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13 are transverse sections of plungers having different
numbers and shapes of slots as, and for a purpose, hereinafter described.
Figure 14 is a side view of a buffer plunger having a retaining ring held in
place by balls, the ring being shown in section, and
Figure 15 is a transverse section of said ring and shank of the buffer.
Figure 16 is a longitudinal central section of another modified form of buffer,
and
Figure 17 is a rear view of the plunger of said buffer removed from its case.
Figure 18 illustrates partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal central
section, a buffer, of the type shown in Figure 16, furnished with a retaining ring
of the kind illustrated in Figures 8 and 9.
Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several figures.
In the Specifications of my prior Letters Patent Nos. 1930 of 1878 and 2674
of 1883 I have described various methods of retaining the plungers of what are
known as side buffers inside their buffer-cases, and these I now improve upon.
By my present invention according to one form of it illustrated in Figures 1,
2 and 3, I provide a metal plunger having the head, shank and spindle made in
one solid piece, and having an annular groove a in the shank b near to the
shoulder or end of the shank adjacent to the spindle c. For retaining the plunger
in its case I provide a collar d constructed in two or more parts and having a
tongue or rib e on the inside thereof, which tongue or rib is adapted to fit properly
in the aforesaid groove a. The segments of the collar are firmly secured to the
shank by a bolt f having a head at one end, and a lock-nut at the other, which
bolt is passed through a hole drilled in said shank and segments. The "back
lash" of the plunger (caused by the recoil of the spring) is taken up by the collar
and not by the bolt and nut. When there is not sufficient room in the buffer case
to allow of a bolt being passed completely through the shank, I may use two
screwed stud bolts one on each side of the plunger as indicated in Figure 4, the
said bolts passing clear through the collar and screwing into the plunger shank b.
If the plunger shank be small and the bolt hole passing through the grooved
part a would consequently so reduce the sectional area of the shank as to cause
undue weakness, the collar may be lengthened, and the bolt hole may be made
on one side of the groove as indicated in Figure 5. Two screws can also be used
in this modification as in the arrangement shown in Figure 4.
A modification of this part of my invention is made by using two bolts for
securing the collar, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the said bolts passing through

page_text: the ends of the segments of the collar, and preferably entering the groove a on
each side of the plunger shank. In this case to ensure compactness I may groove
the shank a little deeper at each side to allow the bolts to be brought closer
together. This construction also prevents the segments of the collar from turning
round on the plunger.
According to the modification of my invention illustrated in Figures 8 and 9,
I cut in the periphery of the shank 6 between the groove a and the shoulder or
end of the shank a slot or two or more slots g, and instead of constructing the
collar d in segments I make it in one complete ring as indicated in Figure 9, and
cut away certain portions of the rib e so that the other portions of said rib appear
as projections. These projections are made to coincide with the slots g on the
plunger shank, so that the collar may be placed in position on the shank, by sliding
it through the slots g, and be then rotated through a suitable angle to cause the
projections of the ring to engage with those of the shank. That is to say, the
projections e on the inside of the collar, after passing through the corresponding
slots or openings g in the plunger and after being turned to the right or left will
operate io lock the collar on the plunger. For securing the ring in its locked
position I provide a key piece k Figure 9 adapted to fit in one of the slots g and to
be secured to the ring d by a set-screw h, or I employ a locking screw j between
the ring and the shank as indicated in Figures 10 to 13, or instead of using a
screw may fill up the cavities g with molten metal, and so prevent the collar
from turning back.
Figures 10 to 13 are sections of plungers arranged with different numbers and
shapes of slots g.
In the modification illustrated in Figures 14 and 15 the collar d is formed with
a groove m of semi-circular section on the inner side instead of with a rib or
tongue. This groove is similar to and corresponds with the groove a of the
plunger shank. When the collar is threaded on the plunger from the spindle
end, and the grooves m and a brought together, the circular space thus formed
is filled with balls or with cylindrical pieces of metal or other substance, intro-
duced into said space through a hole p in the ring. Or I may pour molten metal
through the hole P to fill the two grooves m and a. When separate pieces of metal
or balls are used I subsequently stop the hole with a screw plug or bolt q.
The above improvements are described in connection with what are known as
solid plunger buffers, but they are also applicable to, and may be used in the con-
struction of, hollow or cylindrical plunger buffers.
Another part of my invention relates to improvements in what are known as side
buffers, such for example as those described in the Specifications of my prior
Patents No. 4310 of 1875 with reference to Figure 9 and No. 1930 of 1878 with
reference to Figure 6, in which the spindle of the plunger does not protrude
through the back or base-plate. In forming the plunger I make it with head and
shank only, see Figures 16 and 17, and in the rear of the shank I drill a hole r
and provide on opposite sides of the shank near the end thereof dovetail grooves s.
The collar d which is made solid, has a hole t drilled in the centre and is formed
with ribs or tongues which fit into the dovetail grooves s in the plunger, and
enter the same by sliding on from the side. I rivet or otherwise fix to the back-
plate w, inside the buffer case, a spindle c upon which the buffer spring is threaded.
To assemble the parts I pass the plunger shank into the neck of the buffer case,
and slide on the collar d cross-ways, the spindle c connected to the back plate w is
then passed through the buffer spring, and through the hole t in the collar into
the hole in the plunger shank. The shank is free to travel in and out through
the neck of the plunger case, but is prevented from complete withdrawal by the
collar d which is kept in position by the spindle c.
7°
Figure 18 shows the application of the collar d of Figure 8 to a buffer of the
type shown in Figure 16.
I may use any suitable shapes of cases with my improved buffers.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I
do not claim the annular groove in the plunger shank, nor the collar fitting in said
groove, but what I claim is: —
1. In a buffer, the segmental ring having an internal rib engaging with an
annular groove in the shank of the plunger, and secured on the plunger by a bolt
passing through the shank and segmental ring, as shown in Figures 1 and 5, or
by two bolts one at each side of the shank as shown in Figures 6 and 7, or by stud
screw bolts passing partly through the shank as in Figure 4, for the purpose
specified.
2. The modification wherein the retaining ring is a complete ring having one,
two or more internal projections adapted to pass through corresponding slots gin
the shank and to be locked by turning the ring on the shank, in combination with
the screws, or with the locking key k for fixing the ring in its locked position, as
described.
3. The combination with a buffer plunger of a collar retained thereon by means
of balls resting in an annular groove in the shank, and in a corresponding annular
groove in the collar, substantially as described.
4. A buffer plunger constructed with parallel grooves in the shank, in combina-
tion with a collar having ribs adapted to slide laterally in the said grooves, said
collar being retained in position by a spindle fixed on the back plate of the buffer
and projecting through the collar into the shank of the plunger, substantially as
described.
5. A buffer constructed as described with reference to one or other of the forms
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.