IMPROVEMENT IN CAR SPRINGS
Year: 1886

page_text: I, CHARLES T. SCHOEN of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, in the
United States of America, Spring Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of
my invention for IMPROVEMENT IN CAR SPRINGS, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:―
My invention relates to a special character of construction of Springs adapted
for railway-cars, and it not only involves the feature of a lever or levers combined
with the spiral or other spring or springs employed, but under novel conditions
which will presently be stated, and in which the top plate (whether one or more
such plates be used) is fulcrumed to the metal bottom plate; or in other words,
the top plate preferably of metal is not only a lever, but is also attached to the
bottom plate, such bottom plate affording a fulcrum bearing for the lever or levers;
the plates and their interposed springs, (whether such springs be of metal or
rubber and whether spiral or not) when combined constituting a completed
structure all ready for transportation or for being applied directly to the car.
My improved structure also embodies the principle of self-adaptation to the
varying weight or pressure of the load, through the instrumentality of the lever or
levers, and whereby it has the requisite variable capacity for resisting such weight
or pressure; and besides, the entire spring in all its parts is self contained, and
requires no special construction or framing for its use.
In the drawings-
•
Figure 1, is a side elevation of a form of my improved car spring, having two
levers and several spirals, and showing the levers in their normal position.
Figure 1*, a detail.
Figure 2, an elevation of the same, showing the levers when pressed to a hori-
zontal position.
Figure 3, an elevation showing the levers and spring when forced down lower
than in Figure 2.
Figure 4, is a plan view.
Figure 5, is a plan view of the bottom plate detached,
Figure 6, a view showing the underside of one of the levers,

page_text: Figure 7, a view of one of the spirals showing the incline of its top, as adapted
for the incline of the lever.
Figures 8, 9, 10 & 11, are respectively an elevation partly in section; an under-
side view of a top plate; a top view of the bottom plate; and a cross section, all
on a reduced scale, of one of my improved structures having but one lever and
one coiled spring, the spring being omitted in Figure 11.
Figure 12, is a side elevation showing an arrangement in which the levers are
reversed.
Figure 13, a top view (reduced) of one of such levers.
Figure 14, a top view (reduced) of the other of such levers; and
Figure 15, a top view (reduced) of both levers, when in place, and when the
spring is compressed so as to bring both levers to the same horizontal plane.
Referring first to figures 1 to 7 inclusive:—A, is the lower plate which supports
the remainder of the structure. B, B, are upper lever plates which may be
fulcrumed or pivoted, or connected to the lower plate, in any way which will serve
to hold them to such lower plate, and yet permit them to move as levers on their
fulcra, or preferably upon a common axis or fulcrum C:
D, D, are spiral springs, placed upon the lower plate, and between it and each
of the lever plates B.
It is preferable that the lower plate A and the lever plates B, should each have
a recess or a rim, as shown at e, e, adapted for receiving within it, the upper and
lower end respectively of the spirals. The lower plate A is shown as having pro-
jections or lugs f, f, to which the inner ends of the levers are bolted; the bolt
serving as the fulcrum, It will be evident that each lever may be independently
fulcrumed or hinged to the plate A, instead of both levers having a common.
fulcrum.
The outer or free ends of the levers normally incline upwards when the car is
empty or lightly loaded, and they project beyond the spirals or coiled springs, and
the initial pressure of the weight or load is upon the outer ends of the levers.
Inasmuch as the levers are set at an incline, the upper ends of the spirals are on
an angle parallel to such incline, and the end of the bars from which the spirals
are made being tapered down lighter than the remaining portion, such end yields
readily and assumes a line parallel to the lower end of the spiral when a sufficient
pressure is applied to bring the inclined upper plate into a horizontal line; that is,
parallel with the lower plate; and at which point the lever effect of the upper
plate ceases, and the whole resisting power of the spirals is thereafter exerted
under any further pressure or load; and the lower plate sustains all the pressure
at every stage.
It will be understood that the leverage of the levers of the upper plates, is
greatest when the weight is least, because the point of contact of the bolster g,
with the lever, is then farthest from the fulcrum of the lever; and as every
increase of weight or pressure brings this point of contact nearer to the fulcrum,
this leverage diminishes, and the result is as nearly as practicable an, equality of
action at all times on the springs, whether the load be little or much; a continued
increase of weight or pressure shortening the leverage from its maximum to zero;
the latter point being reached when the upper and lower plates are brought to a
parallelism and at which point the upper plates act no longer as levers, the springs
at this stage, taking all the pressure and weight, unassisted by any leverage
whatever; and the under plate always, holding the levers and supporting all.
In my construction, the power of the spiral springs which sustain the load, is
thoroughly graduated. The initial pressure is applied at the outer ends of the
upper plate (or plates, if more than one be used), their inner ends being fulcrumed
at or near the centre of the lower plate. This causes the springs to yield softly
and easily, and as the load, is increased and the levers consequently borne down-
wards, their operative leverage is proportionately shortened, thus causing the spring

page_text: to adapt itself automatically to sustain. either an increasing or a decreasing
load. The levers as before stated, ceasing to act as such when parallel with their
attached under plate, they are then relieved of undue strain; and by having the
levers capable of being moved bodily downward, whilst in this position of
parallelism they are then relieved of undue strain, and further direct pressure
upon the spring is permitted. This is provided for by having the bolt or axis C,
supported in vertically elongated holes or. slots h, or by any other equivalent
mechanical means, which will permit the lever to have a vertically shifting
fulcrum.
The lower plate is provided with holes 2, by which it may be readily secured to
a car; and as the spirals do not rest on any wooden part of a car, any damage or
wearing away of such wood work by the spring or its adjacent parts, is avoided.
In Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, I have illustrated the same invention with a singlo
upper plate fulcrumed to the lower or bed plate; the principle of action being
substantially the same as heretofore stated. In this form it is advisable to use a
bolt or rod, to hold the plates from separating too far; and this rod may be
provided with an adjusting nut k, as shown, the bolt head and the nut being
preferably sunk in cavities in the plates.
In Figure 1, I have also shown a similar rod, nut, and cups or cavities, and
which may be used in any of my forms of construction.
In the arrangement of levers as shown in Fig. 12, their fulcra being farther
removed from the centre, as great a length of the levers is allowed, and yet all
within the length of the lower plate:-this in some cases is an advantage, on
account of the limited space allowed in a car for a spring.
Figures 13, 14 and 15, illustrate the levers applicable for Figure 12; Fig. 13,
having a recess or groove k, to receive the free end of the other lever; and
Figure 14, having recesses m, m, to receive the two projecting ends of the lever
shown in Figure 13. When the springs are compressed to the same level or
horizontal position, they are thus both enabled to lie flush or in the same plane.
Two or more concentric spiral springs may if desired, be used in the place of a
single spiral.
Preferably the flange on the top plate or lever plate should be considerably
deeper (say from two to three times) at the front end of the plate, than at its
other end; thus better holding the spirals to place when the lever is inclined; and
also to give additional strength to the lever where needed; the flange on the
lower plate may be of even height all around and about as high as the rear part
of the flange of the top lever plate. My improved structure entire, can be readily
adapted to passenger, freight, or other cars; and it has the further important
advantage, that it is easily interchangeable with other springs.
In my invention, the pressure on the lever or levers is received by an under
plate, to which the upper plates or levers are fulcrumed, thereby bringing the
strain upon the spiral or spirals and on the plates without relation to the other
parts of the car. It will be observed that in my construction, the bearing (or
fulcrum points) of the lever, is not a fixed or immovable one; but that whenever
the levers are so borne down as to become substantially horizontal, they then lose
their fulcrum bearings, and are at once free to be moved downward away from
such bearings by force of any additional weight or pressure; conditions which
cannot exist where the fulcrum is a positively fixed one.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is-
1. A car-spring in combination with top and bottom plate or plates, the
top plate or plates being fulcrumed to the bottom plate, and the ends of the plate
or plates being free so that they can move freely as their angles change by com-
pression of the spring.

page_text: 2. In a car-spring, a lever or levers, in combination with a bottom plate, the
lever or levers being applied, substantially as set forth, whereby the spiral or
other spring shall be self-graduating relatively to the varying load or pressure.
Dated this Fourth day of Anoush 1986.
Executed and certified to before me this
Fourth day of August A.D. 1886,
WM. H. LEWIS,
Notary Public.