Bolts to Buffers
The photographs show four M30 bolts which produce 3 sets (12) of buffer components. The bolt is cut into three sections to produce first, a hexagon head with a short plain shank, secondly a centre section with a plain shank and a reduced diameter where the thread is turned down, and a third section with a plain diameter once the tread is turned down.
The hexagon head section, once forged and machined, becomes the oval headed buffers of the Clayton. A die cast stock, with step and retaining plate, completes the assembly.
The twin diameter section became the buffer stock for the LMS 20T Goods Brake Van.
The plain section becomes the buffer stock for a set of Dowty buffers.
The hexagon head section is the reason for using the M30 bolt, and the second and third sections are just 'bonus' materials due to the length of the bolt. The LMS and Dowty buffers could just as easily be produced from round bar material.
The photographs show four M30 bolts which produce 3 sets (12) of buffer components. The bolt is cut into three sections to produce first, a hexagon head with a short plain shank, secondly a centre section with a plain shank and a reduced diameter where the thread is turned down, and a third section with a plain diameter once the tread is turned down.
The hexagon head section, once forged and machined, becomes the oval headed buffers of the Clayton. A die cast stock, with step and retaining plate, completes the assembly.
The twin diameter section became the buffer stock for the LMS 20T Goods Brake Van.
The plain section becomes the buffer stock for a set of Dowty buffers.
The hexagon head section is the reason for using the M30 bolt, and the second and third sections are just 'bonus' materials due to the length of the bolt. The LMS and Dowty buffers could just as easily be produced from round bar material.
The three photographs below show larger heads being added to the buffers used on the BR Faverdale 20T Goods Brake Van. The original buffers were produced using the forged head hexagon bolt idea, and although it worked well the M12 bolt did not produce a large enough head diameter. Therefore the heads were reduced in diameter in the lathe and new flat discs were made and added to the existing forgings.