IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS POR RAILROAD, CARS, BUFFERS, AND VARIOUS OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Perry Green Gardiner, Engineer, of the City of
New York, in the State of New York, in the United States of
America, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS POR RAILROAD,
CARS, BUFFERS, AND VARIOUS OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 24th August 1869, and dated the 3rd July 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Perry Green Gardiner
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 3rd July 1869.
I, PERRY GREEN GARDINER, Engineer; of the City of New York, in
the State of New York, in the United States of America, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS
FOR RAILROAD CARS, BUFFERS, AND VARIOUS OTHER PURPOSES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to certain peculiar arrangements and com-
binations of india-rubber and metallic springs, and of metal springs
packed with india-rubber and various fibrous and elastic substances,
either separate or combined, whereby by a very small expenditure of
material very strong elastic and. powerful springs are produced...

page_text: To carry the said Invention into practice I combine an india-rubber
tube or cylinder with spiral metal springs in such a manner that the
rubber tube will be enclosed and supported internally and externally by
these spiral metal springs which are placed between two plates fastened
together by a central bolt, and which springs are acted upon simul- t
taneously by the load when the same is applied.
Further, in arranging an india-rubber ring or belt upon a suitable
bottom plate with a cover or cap placed upon the said ring or.belt
provided with an inner circular straight ring or flanch fitting into the
inside of the india-rubber ring, and with an external bell-shaped ring or
flanch in combination with a metal spring placed between the top and
bottom plates in the central part. At the outside of the bottom plate a
similar bell-shaped flanch is arranged, which top and bottom bell-shaped
flanches will gradually be filled by the india-rubber when the lead is
applied, and will thus support and strengthen the spring.
My Invention consists, further, in the arrangement of a casing
provided with a deep channel having the sides or walls either parallel,
or its outer side or wall slightly slanting outwards, which channel
encloses a series of india-rubber columns placed side by side upon a
suitable plate capable of entering the recess or channel for the purpose
of compressing the india-rubber columns when the load is applied. A
spiral spring is arranged between the bottom plate and top cap or casing
in the central part to assist and strengthen the spring.
The said Invention consists, further, in the employment of a inetal
spiral spring surrounding a cork cylinder which is forced into the spiral
spring under pressure, and in the arrangement of an india-rubber hollow
cylinder or tube surrounded by a spiral metal spring in combination
with clastic fibrous substances, such as wool, hair, sponge, cotton, or
their equivalents forced into the central part of the cylinder or tube.
The spiral spring surrounding the india-rubber tube increases the strength
and elasticity of the combination and retains the india-rubber tube or
spring in form, which spring being forced when the load is applied
between the coils of the metal spring protects the same from snapping or
other injury.
And further, my said Invention consists in the arrangement of a solid
or nearly solid india-rubber cylindrical spring surrounded by two or
more flat cylindrical metal springs placed inside of each other, in com-
bination with a suitable plunger acting upon the central india-rubber

page_text: spring. The load acting upon the plunger causes the india-rubber
spring to be compressed lengthwise and to bulge out sideways, where
the same being confined by the flat cylindrical springs will cause the
said springs to expand gradually, producing by the united strength
of all these metal springs and the india-rubber spring a very strong and
powerful spring by a very small expenditure of power.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Perry Green Gardiner in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 30th December 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PERRY
GREEN GARDINER, Engineer, of the City of New York, in the State of
New York, in the United States of America, send greeting.
.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Perry Green Gardiner, Her special licence that I,
the said Perry Green Gardiner, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Perry Green Gardiner, my 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
SPRINGS FOR RAILROAD CARS, BUFFERS, AND VARIOUS OTHER PURPOSES," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Perry Green Gardiner,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly 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 immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Perry Green Gardiner, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and

page_text: by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say-
My said Invention relates to certain peculiar arrangements and com-
binations of india-rubber and metallic springs, and of metallic springs
packed with india-rubber and various fibrous or elastic substances,
either separate or combined, whereby by a very small expenditure of
material very strong elastic and powerful springs are produced.
In carrying out this Invention I arrange an india-rubber ring or tube
confined on the outside and inside by spiral metal springs between
suitable plates fastened together by a central bolt, or by arranging an
india-rubber ring or belt between suitable plates fastened together by a
bolt, and provided with projecting rims, which will guide and partially
confine said india-rubber tube when compressed and combined with a
metallic spiral spring between the plates.
Further, by arranging a series of india-rubber columns side by side in
a circular channel provided on one plate and acted upon by another
plate, between which a spiral metallic spring is placed, said plates being
secured together by a suitable bolt.
And further, by packing metallic springs, either spiral or flat
cylindrical springs, with india-rubber, cork, cotton, or other elastic and
fibrous materials, either separate or combined, by which aforesaid
arrangements and combinations very soft and powerful springs are
produced by an expenditure of very little material.
In order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
I shall refer to the Figures on the Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed.
forming part of this Specification, & to the letters of reference marked
thereon.
Figure I. and II., Sheet I., represent section and plan of a spring
where an india-rubber ring or tube A is surrounded on the outside by a
spiral metallic spring B, and on the inside is confined by a similar metal
spring C and placed between two plates a and b, secured together by a
central bolt D* fitted into a central tube or boss c attached to the
bottom plate a, and extending some distance inside of the central spiral
spring C, so as to act as a guide for the same, and consequently for the
india-rubber ring A, preventing thereby any lateral motion or bending

page_text: sideways of said india-rubber spring A or of the metal springs B and C
when acted upon by a load and compressed. When the load is applied
to this spring the india-rubber ring A and metal springs B and C are
compressed simultaneously, and assist in supporting and strengthening
each other. The springs B and C, which confine the india-rubber
spring A both internally and externally, will act as effective guides for
said india-rubber ring A, and prevent the same from bulging bodily
either inside or outside, but will allow the rubber to be pressed out a
little between the coils of the external and internal springs B and C, and
thereby assist in supporting and strengthening said springs, while the
india-rubber belt A is held perfectly tight by the coils of the springs, so
that the remaining parts must move in a direct line with the load
applied, preventing thereby any friction between the india-rubber ring
and either the internal or external springs, which might destroy the
effectiveness of the india-rubber.
Figures III. and IV., Sheet I., represent section and plan of a spring
where an india-rubber ring or belt D is arranged upon a suitable bottom
plate d, having on its top a top plate e, provided with an inner circular
straight ring or deep flanchf fitting into the inside of the india-rubber
ring or belt D, and with an external circular bell-shaped ring or flanch E.
The inclination or shape of the inside of this bell-shaped ring can be
made more or less according to the nature or softness of the spring
required. A similar circular bell-shaped ring or flanch F but of a less
height is provided on the outside of the bottom plate d. Between the
bottom plate d and top plate e, inside of the circular flanch f, a spiral
metal spring G is placed, guided by the boss i on the bottom plate d, and
through which said boss i a suitable bolt g passes, by which the top and
bottom plates are fastened together. When the load is placed upon this
spring the metal spring G and the india-rubber ring or belt D are com-
pressed simultaneously. The inner flanch f on the top plate.e acts as a
guide to the inside of the india-rubber ring or belt D, and prevents any
lateral motion or bending of said belt. As the load increases the belt D
will clear the cylindrical ring or flanch f, and swell or bulge outwards,
except on either end, and thus gradually fill the bell-shaped openings or
space in the outer rings or flanches E and F, which form guides for this
india-rubber belt D, without interfering with the free action of the same
where not in contact, and between these flanches E and F which prevent
the bursting or other injury of the india-rubber. As soon as the load

page_text: diminishes the india-rubber belt D will gradually clear again the bell-
shaped rings E and F, and will thus act without any friction arising
either from the inner cylindrical flanch for from these bell-shaped
flanches E and F.
Figures V. and VI., Sheet I., represent section and plan of a spring,
where a suitable bottom plate H is arranged, upon which india-rubber
columns J are placed side by side in a circle, upon which a cap or
casing K is placed, provided with a deep circular channel, either with
parallel sides or walls h and k, or having its outer side h slightly
slanting outwards, and which latter is capable of passing over the
outside of the bottom plate H. The sides or walls h and k of this cir-
cular channel act as guides for the india-rubber columns J. Into the
central part of the casing between the bottom plate H and the cap K
a spiral spring L is placed, and the top and bottom forming the casing
are connected together by a suitable bolt m. When the load is placed
upon this spring the india-rubber columns J and the spiral spring L
will be compressed simultaneously. The india-rubber columns J which
are partially guided by the sides or walls h and k of the channel will
expand sideways into the space left between said columns. These
springs arranged, combined, and constructed as above described are
intended and applicable for body or journal springs for railroad cars
and for various other purposes, but if the same are required for buffer
or draw springs the central bolt and the central boss, through which
said bolt passes, are dispensed with, and the draw or huffer bolt is
passed through suitable openings in the top and bottom plates of the
casing, and will act then as a guide for the central spiral spring placed
in the casing, and prevent any lateral motion or bending of the spring
when under pressure.
.
Figures VII. and VIII., Sheet II., represent section and plan of a
spiral spring M, surrounding and confining a cork cylinder N, which
cork cylinder is forced into the coiled or spiral spring under a pressure
varying from 1000 pounds upwards according to the strength of the
spring required. The load acts on this spring upon the metal and cork
spring simultaneously. This combination produces a soft, powerful, and
very cheap spring..
Figures IX. and X., Sheet II., represents in section and plan a spiral
spring P, into which an india-rubber hollow cylinder or tube Q is
placed, the hollow space of which tube is filled with wool, hair, sponge,

page_text: cotton, or similar fibrous materials forced therein under a pressure of
2000 pounds, more or less, as the occasion and nature of the spring
may require. By the filling or packing of this hollow india-rubber
tube, after the same has been placed into and is surrounded by the spiral
metal spring P, the india-rubber will be partially forced between the
coils of the metal spring, and when the load is placed upon the spring,
the greater this load will be the more will the india-rubber be forced
between the coils, preventing thereby the metal spring from snapping
or otherwise being injured, and at the same time increases thereby the
strength of the spring. These springs, represented in Figures VII.
and IX., may be used as here represented, or the same may be arranged
in a nest, two, three, or more together, as represented in Figures XI.
and XII. on Sheet II., in section and plan, where either of these com-
binations in any desired number, may be placed upon a suitable bottom
plate R, with a top casing or cap S upon the top of the same. The
bottom plate R is provided with a central hub or boss T, through which
the bolt n passes, which connects the top and bottom casing together.
The outside of this hub or boss T is shaped in such a manner as to form
a guide at the inside to the lower part of the springs. The top casing
or cap S forms a guide on the outside to the upper part of said springs.
The bottom plate R only supports the springs, leaving the same at their
lower ends at the outside clear, and will allow any dust or dirt which may
settle there to be easily blown away and cleaned off, instead of allowing
it to accumulate and destroy the efficiency of the springs.
Figures XIII. and XIV., Sheet II., represent in section and plan
two, three, or more cylindrical flat metal springs Y, W, V, placed in
a suitable casing 10. These springs are placed one inside the other in
such a manner that the cut in each spring shall come opposite or
nearly so to the cut of the spring situated inside of the other. Into the
interior or central spring V a solid or nearly solid strong cylindrical
india-rubber spring Z is placed, resting upon a concave projection v in
the bottom of the casing w. The central metal spring V is made to
enclose the central india-rubber spring Z tightly, and in the same
manner the remaining metal springs fit tightly around their interior
metal springs. Upon the top of the india-rubber spring Z a plunger X
is made to act, provided with a projecting bolt x passing through the
top of the casing w. The metal springs are made somewhat longer
than the india-rubber spring Z, and act as a guide for this plunger X

page_text: The load acting upon the bolt x will cause the plunger X to compress
the central india-rubber spring Z, which being confined within the flat
metal springs Y, W, V, will cause these metal springs to expand, pro-
ducing by their united strength a very strong and powerful spring by a
very small expenditure of material. To strengthen this arrangement
of a spring still further, when very heavy weights or loads are to be
supported, three or more solid india-rubber springs or columns, about
of an inch or more in diameter, may be placed lengthways against the
outside of the external metal spring Y, fitted into suitable recesses made
in the casing.
Having now fully described and particularly ascertained the nature
of my Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be
used and carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what
I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The combination of an india-rubber tube or ring A, with central
metal spiral spring C and external metal spiral spring B, arranged in
the manner and for the purpose described.
Secondly. I claim the combination of an india-rubber ring or belt D
and internal metal spiral spring G, the bottom plate d with its external
bell-mouthed ring F, and the cover or cap e, with internal cylindrical
ring f, and external bell-mouthed ring E, arranged substantially as set
forth.
Thirdly. I claim the arrangement of a cap or casing K, constructed
with a circular channel unclosing a series of india-rubber columns J,
in combination with the bottom plate H and internal spiral spring L,
the whole being combined in the manner set forth.
Fourthly. I claim the combination of a cork cylinder N, surrounded
by a spiral metal spring M, substantially as described.
Fifthly. I claim the combination with an india-rubber hollow cylinder
or tube Q, surrounded by a spiral metal spring P, of an elastic substance
or substances, such as wool, hair, cotton, or other fibrous equivalents,
either single or several of them combined, forced under pressure into
the central hollow space of the india-rubber tube, in the manner and
for the purpose substantially as specified.
Sixthly. 1 claim the arrangement of an india-rubber spring Z, sur-

page_text: rounded by flat cylindrical metal springs Y, W, V, in combination with
a plunger X acting upon the india-rubber spring Z, the whole being
combined and operating together in the manner and for the purpose
substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Perry Green Gardiner, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of November One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
PERRY GREEN GARDINER. (L.S.)