ROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY CARRIAGE, BUPPER, AND OTHER SPRINGS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Frederick Henson, of New Cavendish Street,
Portland Place, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY CARRIAGE, BUPPER, AND OTHER
SPRINGS,"
Sealed the 17th October 1860, and dated the 16th July 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Frederick Henson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th July 16.
1, WILLIAM FREDERICK HENSON, of New Cavendish Street, Portland Place
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY CARRIAGE, BUFFER, AND
OTHER SPRINGS," to be as follows:-
Springs for railway and other carriages, and for buffers, and various other
purposes are frequently constructed by rolling or winding a flat, or round,
parallel, or taper steel bar into a conical spiral form. The pressure is applied
in such a manner as to flatten the cone by causing its apex to approach its
base. Springs have also been made of a flat steel bar wound into a flat spiral
or volute form, in which case the application of pressure tended to force the
centre away from the outer coils and to cause the spring to assume the form
of a cone. These springs when overstrained are apt to break near the centre,
[Price 8d.]

page_text: or in some of the inner coils. By my Invention I apply a conical or conoidal
plunger or piece of metal or other suitable material with a spiral step or
groove, somewhat similar to the fusee of a watch, in such a manner that as
the pressure on the volute spring increases this conical plunger comes in
contact with the convolutions of the spring one after another, commencing
with the central convolutions and terminating with the exterior ones, until all
farther motion of the spring is arrested. The central convolutions are thus
first relieved from the progressive increase of the pressure, and the pressure
which can come upon each convolution may thus be properly proportioned to
its power of resistance. The aforesaid plunger may be made solid or hollow,
and it may be of conical or conoidal form, or it may be a segment of a sphere,
or other form of revolution depending on the form of the spring, and on the
parallel or tapering form of the steel of which it is inade, and the form which
the spring acquires when exposed to the full pressure which it is calculated to
sustain. Thus, if a conical spiral spring is employed, which is still of a conical
form when exposed to the full pressure the aforesaid plunger may be of a
hollow, conical, spherical, or other suitable form. When the spring is to be
exposed to tension or compression on two opposite sides, I sometimes employ
a conical plunger on each side of the spring. When it is required to support
the outer rings or convolutions of the spring, before giving support to the inner
convolutions, I employ a fixed conical or conoidal piece, which receives the
convolutions in succession, commencing with the exterior ones. When the
exterior of the spring is fixed to the buffer or moveable part, the position of
the aforesaid plunger will be reversed, and it will be fixed in the box or other
fixed part of the apparatus. The spring may be made of flat or round steel
or wire, or of a bar of square or other suitable sectional form, and be either
parallel or taper. I also construct conical, conoidal, or similar spiral and
volute springs of lozenge-shape, or of tubes or trough-shaped bars of steel in
lieu of solid bars, so as to obtain great elasticity with a small weight of metal.
The aforesaid plunger may be grooved in the same form as the bar or tube.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Frederick Henson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 15th January 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
FREDERICK HENSON, of New Cavendish Street, Portland Place, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Frederick Henson, Her special licence that I, the said William
Frederick Henson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said William Frederick Henson, iny executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY CARRIAGE, BUPPER, AND
SPRINGS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Frederick Henson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particu.
larly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
OTHER
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Frederick Henson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
Springs for railway and other carriages, and for buffers, and various other
purposes, are frequently constructed by rolling or winding a flat, parallel, or
taper steel bar into a conical spiral form. The pressure is applied in such a
manner as to flatteu the cone by causing its apex toapproach its base. Springs
have also been made of a flat steel bar wound into a flat, spiral, or volute form,
in which case the application of pressure tended to force the centre away from
the outer coil and to cause the spring to assume the form of a cone. These
springs, when overstrained, are apt to break near the centre, or in some of the
inner coils. By my Invention I apply a conical or conoidal plunger, or piece
of metal, or other suitable material with a spiral step or groove, somewhat
similar to the fusee of a watch, in such a manner that as the pressure on the
volute spring increases, this conical plunger comes in contact with the convo-
lutions of the spring one after another, commencing with the contral convolu-
tions and terminating with the exterior ones until all further motion of the
spring is arrested. The central convolutions are thus first relieved from the pro-

page_text: gressive increase of the pressure, and the pressure which can come upon each
convolution may thus be properly proportioned to its power of resistance. The
aforesaid plunger may be made solid or hollow, and it may be of conical or
conoidal form, or it may be a segment of a sphere or other form of revolution
depending on the form of the spring, and on the parallel or tapering form of
the steel of which it is made, and the form which the spring acquires when
exposed to the full pressure which it is calculated to sustain. Thus, ifa conical
spiral spring is employed, which is still of a conical form when exposed to the
full pressure, the aforesaid plunger may be of a hollow conical, spherical, or
other suitable forın. When the spring is to be exposed to tension or compres-
sion on two oposite sides, I sometimes employ a conical plunger on each side
of the spring. When it is required to support the outer rings or convolutions
of the spring before giving support to the inner convolutions I employ a fixed
conical or convidal piece, which receives the convolutions in succession, com-
mencing with the exterior ones. When the exterior of the spring is fixed to
the buffer, or moveable part, the position of the aforesaid plunger will be
reversed, and it will be fixed in the box or other fixed part of the apparatus.
The spring may be made of flat or round steel or wire, or of a bar of square or
other suitable sectional form, and be either parallel or taper. I also construct
conical, conoidal, or similar spiral and valute springs of lozenge-shape, or of
tubes or trough-shaped bars of steel in lieu of solid bars, so as to obtain great
elasticity with a small weight of metal. The aforesaid plunger may be grooved
to the same form as the bar or tube.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing is a longitudinal section of a buffer
spring constructed according to my Invention; Figure 2 is an end view of the
same.
A is the head or moveable part of the buffer, and B is the box or fixed
part, which is attached to the carriage or other vehicle; C is a strong rod
attached to the buffer head A, and guided in the box B; D is a volute made
by winding a square or rectangular bar of steel upon a mandril, and causing
each coil to wind upon the preceding one. The coils separate a little when
removed from the mandril, which allows thein freedom of action. This steel
volute is hardened and tempered in the usual manner. It is placed inside
the box B, resting against a shoulder E on the side of the box, which shoulder
is eased or sloped off a little at the part where the coil leaves it. So far
the spring is similar to other volute springs which have been made or pro-
posed. The rod C has a shoulder in the centre, which rests against theinside of
the conical or conoidal plunger F, and which hasa spiral step corresponding to
the volute D. The depth of the step varies according to the amount of motion or

page_text: deflection which each coil of the spring is capable of bearing with safety.
Thus, it the inner coils will safely bear a deflection or motion between each coil
equal to one-third of that which the outer coils will safely bear, the depth of the
inner steps will only be one-third of that of the outer ones; so, if the volute
be formed of a steel bar or round rod tapering or becoming thinuer towards
the centre, the inner coils will bear a greater amount of deflection, and the
depth of the inner steps may be increased. Thus the spiral conoidal plunger
should be made of such form that it may fit the volute when each coil of the
volute is deflected to the full extent consistent with safety.
Figure 3 shows a longitudinal section through a buffer spring, which is
made to rest with its central coil against a fixed conical or conoidal support F;
Figure 4 is an end view of the same. The rod C has a shoulder in the centre,
which rests against the cup G,so that on the buffer A being pressed inwards,
the edge of the cup G presses against the outside coil of the volute spring D,
thereby causing it to assume a conical or conoidal form as each coil comes into
contact with the stepped surface of the fixed support F. Figure 5 shows a
ring or framework attached to the rod C, in lieu of the cup G in Figure 3,
and is used for the same purpose.
Figure 6 shows a section of a volute spring formed of steel, of a round
section; Figure 7 shows an end view of a volute spring, such as is shown in
Figures 1, 3, and 8.
Figure 8 is a longitudinal section of a "draw-by" apparatus for a railway
carriage. The two "draw-by" bars H, H, are not shown full length, but
broken. In this case the volute spring D is fixed to the box I, I, and is
acted upon by either of the conical or conoidal plungers F, F, according to
which of the "draw-by" bars H, H, are pulled, as the two plungers F, F,
are fixed to the "draw-by" bar.
Figure 10 shows a longitudinal section of a "draw-by" apparatus, having
a double-ended conical plunger F, F, fixed to the "draw-by" bar, and
arranged to act upon either of two conical spiral springs J, J, which are
fixed to the case I, I. The dotted lines F¹, F', show the plunger in the
position it would take if the spring were fully drawn out in one direction.
The springs to be used as above described may be made of bars of steel of
any suitable sectional form, and either parallel or taper in their length.
Figure 11 shows a front view of a spring of a rectangular but tapering
section; Figure 12 shows a cross section of the same. Figure 13 shows a
conical spring of a rectangular but tapering section. Figure 14 shows the
front view of a volute spring of a solid oval section, the greater diameter being
in the direction of the strain; Figure 15 shows a section of the same

page_text: Figure 16 shows a conical spring of the same section as Figure 14. Figure 17
shows the section of a volute spring of a solid oval section, the smaller
diameter being in the direction of the strain. Figure 18 shows a conical
spring of the same section as Figure 17.
In cases in which it is desired to obtain great elasticity and strength with
a very small weight of metal, I construct conical, conoidal, or similar spiral
and volute springs of steel of a trough shape or section, either with a square
groove, or a semicircular or curved shaped groove,so that they may have great
stiffness with a small section of metal. Such steel may be prepared with great
convenience and economy either by rolling it to the desired section, or by
rolling it in a flattened form, and then curving it up by passing it between
rolls suitably formed, or by drawing it through a die; and bars of such steel
may be more curved or hollowed at one end than at the other, so as to give
a variation in the degree of stiffness at the two ends of the bar. In other
cases, where it is desired to use the least possible quantity of steel, I use
hollow tubes, either solid or with a split or slit down one side, and which may
be flattened inore at one end than the other, so as to have a circular section
at one end, and an oval one at the other; or one end may be flattened in one
direction, and the other end be flattened at right angles, so that the spring
when bent up into form may be deeper at one end than the other.
Figure 19 shows a conical spring of a trough-shaped section, with a curved
groove. Figure 20 shows a conical spring of a trough-shaped section, with a
square groove. Figure 21 shows a conical spring of the same section as
Figure 19 for the middle coil, but with the section gradually flattened out
towards the outer coil, and the sides closed together towards the inuer coil.
Figure 22 shows a spring of the same section as Figure 21, but with the
manner of flattening reversed. Figure 23 shows a conical spring of a hollow
tubular section. Figure 24 shows a conical spring of a hollow tubular section
for the inner coil, but with the section gradually flattened out towards the
outer coil. Figure 25 shows a conical spring of a hollow tubular section for
the outer coil, but with the section flattened out towards the inner coil. Or
the two ends of a similar spring may be flattened out in contrary directions,
while the centre of the length has a circular section. The aforesaid plungers
or supports for the springs may be ground to fit the springs, or they may be
partly cut away so as to leave at intervals such surfaces as may be required
to press against the springs, and so relieve them from excessive strain atany
part; thus a number of ribs or radial flauges with notches in them will serve
the purpose of giving due support to the springs.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the mode of

page_text: carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not
claim the forming spiral, conical, conoidal, or volute springs of flat, round, or
taper steel bars; but what I claim is,-
Firstly, the applying a conical or convidal plunger or support to such
springs, so that it shall come in contact with the convolutions of the spring
one after another, commencing with the central convolutions, and terminating
with the exterior ones.
Secondly, the forming spiral, conical, conoidal, volute, or other springs of
steel of a hollow tubular section, either solid or with a split or slit, on one
side.
Thirdly, the forming of spiral, conical, conoidal, volute, or other springs of
steel of a trough or grooved section.
Fourthly, the forming of spiral, conical, conoidal, volute, or other springs
of a hollow tubular section at one end, and gradually flattened towards the
other end.
Fifthly, the forming of spiral, conical, conoidal, volute, or other springs of
a trough or grooved section, with the sides flattened together towards the one
end, and opened out towards the other end.
Sixthly, I also claim the use of the above-described conical plunger or
support in connection with any of the springs, as mentioned in claims 2,
3, 4, and 5.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Frederick Henson, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
WILLIAM FREDERIGK HENSON. (L.S.)