AN IMPROVED SPRING COUPLING
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Winder, of Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Merchant, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED SPRING
COUPLING"
Sealed the 13th August 1869, and dated the 16th February 1869..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Winder at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 16th February 1869.
I, THOMAS WINDER, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED SPRING COUPLING," to be as follows :—
The object of my Invention is to provide a simple, durable, efficient,
and inexpensive spring coupling suitable for use in and in connection
with chains, ropes, carriages, or other parts made to move.
For this purpose I construct a hollow cylinder of metal or other strong
material and fit thereto a piston or its equivalent and piston rod. The
said piston rod passes through a firmly secured cylinder cover.
rounding the piston rod and between the cylinder cover and piston or its
ور
...
Sur-

page_text: equivalent I fit a cylinder of india-rubber or other elastic gum; or rings
or cones of the same material, separated by rigid plates if considered
desirable, can be employed. At or near the end of the cylinder and
also at or near the end of the piston rod eyes or other connecting agents
are formed to allow my said coupling to be connected into or to links or
other parts. Any sudden strain or jerk given to or thrown upon chains
or other parts fitted with or connected to my said coupling will, as
regards its damaging effect, be neutralized in consequence of the yield-
ing of the india-rubber. When fitted in tiller chains, in steering
apparatus, and for other purposes on board ship and in other places
where slackness of the chains or other parts is objectionable, I combine
with the above-described cylinder, piston, and elastic gum tightening
screws of any ordinary or convenient construction.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Winder in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 16th August 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
WINDER, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Thomas Winder, Her special licence
that I, the said Thomas Winder, my executors, adminis
my
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein ex-
pressed, should and lawfully might make use, exercise, and vend, with-
in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED SPRING
COUPLING," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas
Winder, my executors and 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

page_text: 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 Thomas Winder, 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 by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying
Sheet of illustrative Drawings, and to the Figures and letters marked
thereon, that is to say:―
The object of my Invention is to provide a simple, durable, efficient,
and inexpensive tension spring coupling suitable for use in and in
connection with chains, ropes, carriages, or other parts made to move.
For this purpose I construct a hollow cylinder of metal or other strong
material, and fit thereto a piston or its equivalent and piston rod. The
said piston rod passes through a firmly secured cylinder cover. Sur-
rounding the piston rod and between the cylinder cover and piston or its
equivalent I fit a cylinder of india-rubber or other elastic gum, hereafter
called rubber; or rings or cones of the same material, separated by rigid
plates if considered desirable, can be employed. At or near the end of
the cylinder and also at or near the end of the piston rod eyes or other
connecting agents are formed to allow my said coupling to be connected
into or to links or other parts. Any sudden strain or jerk given to my
said coupling will, as regards its damaging effect, be neutralized in con-
sequence of the yielding of the rubber. When fitted in tiller chains, in
steering apparatus, and for other purposes on board ship and in other
places where slackness of the chains or other parts is objectionable, I
combine with the above-described cylinder, piston, and rubber tighten-
ing screws of any ordinary or convenient construction.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 2 a side elevation of a spring
coupling constructed according to my Invention, a continuous cylinder
of rubber being used. a denotes the hollow cylinder, with connecting
eye b; c, cylinder cover, here shown screwed into the cylinder, it may
be otherwise secured; d, piston; e, piston rod, formed with connecting
eye f; g, rubber cylinder or spring.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 4 a side elevation of a modifi-
cation in which the spring is formed of several conical shaned lengths of

page_text: rubber separated by rigid plates or washers. A tightening screw is com-
bined in this modification. h is the cylinder; i, cylinder cover;
j, piston; k, hollow piston rod, with connecting eye l; m, conical-shaped
pieces of rubber; and n, separating washers. These together constitute
the spring. o, tightening screw, with connecting eye p; this screw works
in and through the end of the cylinder.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 6 a side elevation of another
modification strengthened for heavy strains by tie bolts and nuts passed
through the cylinder covers, the rubber spring being formed of several
cylindrical rings. q, cylinder; 7, covers; s, tie bolts and nuts; t, piston;
u, piston rod; v, rubber rings, these are shown of different diameters
with the object of providing a sensitive yet strong spring; w, separating
rigid pieces or washers; a, connecting eyes.
Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 8 a side elevation of another
modification similar to Figs. 5 and 6, the same letters being marked on
the equivalent parts, but provided with a tightening screw y.
The remaining views show the positions in which I prefer to place my
said spring couplings in steering gear when the steering is performed
from amidships and a quadrant tiller is used, see Fig. 9; when an
ordinary tiller and chains are used, see Fig. 10; and when screw gear is
used, see Fig. 11. In these three views z indicates the spring couplings.
The several modifications of my said spring couplings serve when in
use to check or deaden any sudden tensional strain which may be
imparted to the chains, ropes, or other mechanism or parts in or to which
they are attached or affixed by compression of the rubber springs, and
such rubber springs the instant the strain is relieved or withdrawn react
or expand to their normal condition, and hence keep the chains, ropes,
or other parts properly coupled. The tightening screws described and
shown are employed more particularly in cases where the chains, ropes,
or other parts are liable to stretch.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and particu-
larized the same by suitable details, I would have it understood that I do
not confine myself to the exact forms of all the parts shown, as it will
be obvious they may be varied. In illustration of this I may mention
(a) that the form of the rubber springs and their number might be
altered without impairing their efficiency, and (b) instead of connecting

page_text: eyes, hooks, shackles, or other connections may be used. What I claim
is the spring coupling herein described, substantially as shown on the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Winder, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
In the presence of
JOHN T. KING,
Patent Agent,
Liverpool.
THO. WINDER. (L.S.)