How railway buffer works?

Question

I've searched tones of railway websites to find out what a buffer mechanism is and how it works, but I could find nothing, even there is nothing worth mentioning in “wikipedia”, “How Stuff Works” and similar websites.

I just want to know HOW they damp the impact energy. I know it has something to do with friction, but the exact mechanism is not clear to me.

Can anyone guide me through this please?

Answer 1

Automatic wedge to adjust slack between buffer on engine and tender.

You can see the actual patient for this device at http://www.freepatentsonline.com/1830365...

also check out

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffer_(rai...

Answer 2

I was a rail car fitter. On old designs there are spring plates, about 6 made from rubber with an enomous nut (about 6 inch in width) to undo. Nowadays its like a car suspension but it works the same. The Draw bar would hold the hook, some have a catch but generally its the same.

Answer 3

Some contain metal springs, some contain rubber cushions called "biscuits" sandwiched between steel plates.  More modern buffers have hydraulic shock absorbers like those on a motorcar or lorry.

The cushioning absorbs the kinetic energy of the carriage's motion and turns it into heat and sound energy which are dissipated to the atmosphere.

Answer 4

They are spring loaded. The piece fitted to the wagon or carriage is effectively a sleeve inside which is a coil spring. The buffer bit - with the round or oval face - sits inside this sleeve against the spring. In the old days of UK railways and unfitted (no brakes) freights you could hear  whole freight trains clattering as they stopped and each wagon ran into the one in front and the spring damped the energy.

Answer 5

this  is  all that it does not work like a  shock aborbers ,a mechanical compression it being maintained for a short course time and gets released after that,by the dead weight  and wheel friction ,the release is a comfortable exprience