The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-05-17
CAR RIDES WITH EASE, |
SPRINGS RELIEVE JOLT
Clever Patent Of Louis Mayer a
Success; Has Been Tried.

From Thursdays Daily.
Driving an eight cylinder, seventy
horse power, seven passenger car
with a newly patented set of springs
that almost eliminate any jar at all,
is the pleasant experience of Louis
! Mayer of the Mayer Brothers Foun-
dry company. Mr.. Mayer has just
taken out patent from his own in
vention, Oh a set or springs for au-
tomobiles, and has built car for
himself, using these springs. He
took friend, Mayor Taylor and two
newspaper men out for a ride yes
terday just to prove what the
springs would do. Driving at fast
rate over, some of the toughest of
roads, yet without hardly any bump
ing at all, was one of the expert
ences of the occupants of the car.
Springs Are Concealed.
These springs are entirely con-
cealed and operate against plunger
rods, OH the ends and sides of which
are toggle links, connecting the
spring plungers with the axel posts
proper. This absorbs the jar, SO
that the springs also serve the pur-
pose of shock absorber. The body
of the automobile hangs on these
springs similar to a hammock with
spring at each end of the rope.
The springs are always under COM
preston, which places the car in
easy control and does away with
any jar. The toggles are made up
of parallel horizonal links and parcel
lei verticle links. The ends of the
links are pivoted to anchor brack-
! cts, while the ends of the links are
also pivoted.
Claims Made For Device.
Mr.. Mayer makes the, following
claims for this machine: The com
bination with vehicle running gear
and body frame, both thereof haV-
| ing brackets, of normally buckled
toggles of the running gear and
frame, plungers pivotally connected
the intermediate joints of the tog-
giles, springs reacting against the
plungers and against the body frame
and nuts on the ends of the plung-
ers for adjusting the tension of the
springs.
The cooperating axially aligned
springs on the opposite sides of the
vehicle hold the so-called horizontal
! links aligned i'm horizontal plane
and normally react through the
links. Hence, they exert force tend
ing to prevent the body frame from
moving downward and furthermore,
they exert force which tends to hold
the vehicle frame from being raised.
The tension of the springs will u.s.
ually be such that they will carry
the load with the toggles in normal
positions while on a smooth road
or while standing still, but will
yield to relieve the vehicle body
from jars in running over rough
roads, over distractions or ruts in
the roads. The spring devices are
not only efficient in resisting down
ward strains but they are well
adapted to resist recoil or return
movements under reactions of the
springs in as much as they do not
return to normal position against
positive stops.
/ II one ofthe springs should be
broken, the vehicle frame will not
be dropped but the spring connec-
ton for the broken spring will sim
Iply lose it's residence and will
maintain normal position.
Involve But Small Cost.
The springs involve but small
cost and are easily repaired. Mr.
Mayer has made the automobile at
the foundry and intends to let his
patent be used on royalty basis
except for the manufacture or
small number at the local foundry
for small manufacturers. He has ap
piled for patents in Canada, Eng
land, Germany, France and the
United States. He has secured pat
ents in Canada, France and the
United States, his patent number IL
the United States being l,OOS,42z
When asked why he made elgh'
cylinders for his car, Mr.. Mayer
-:,..r1,, Iouubo d ond said that II