Buffers

A railway side buffer comprises a telescopic casing consisting of a cylinder (11) which is closed at its outer end by a buffer plate (10) and which slides within a closed ended cylindrical casing part (12). The end of the cylinder (11) within the casing part (12) is closed by a ring (14). A plunger comprises a rod (15) which abuts the end wall of the casing part (12) and slides within the bore of the ring (14), and a piston head (18) which slides within the bore (17) of the cylinder (11). The cylinder space (26) between the piston head (18) and the buffer plate (10) is a compression chamber. The annular cylinder space (25) between the piston head (18) and the ring (14) is a reservoir within an annular gas-filled space (32). The liquid in the reservoir and the gas are in direct contact. A spring closed ring valve (21) on the piston rod (15) allows flow from the compression chamber (26) to the reservoir (25), damping that flow, and prevents flow in the reverse direction.