An Improved Spring Flat or Device for use in Securing Springs to Axles for Road Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: An Improved Spring Flat or Device for use in Securing Springs to
Axles for Road Vehicles.
I, JAMES REGINALD CHURCHILL of Hathersage in the County of Derby
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:--
My Invention relates to a spring Flat of the kind which is not integral with
the axle of the vehicle to which it is applied.
As is well known to all carriage builders, this kind of flat embraces the axle
and holds it firmly against the spring on the vehicle-generally with the inter-
vention of a wood block-a spring clip embracing the flat, wood block and spring;
and holding all three together. It is usual to pin the Flat to the axle, to ensure
that the latter shall not alter its position when once it is in place. Such a flat
is forged, and, as a rule, is either clumsy or heavy; and often both.
According to my Invention, I make my Improved spring Flat (hereinafter
referred to as the Improved Flat) of Malleable Cast Iron, Cast Steel, or other
suitable metal, and I form it so that there is a good accomodation for the Wood
Block between it and the spring. I provide serrations or projections in the
casting for my Improved Flat-to receive and retain in position the spring Clip
or equivalent. In one form, I make my Improved Flat of a Channel Section;
thus giving, with least weight, the best results for my purpose. I, also, so
form the corners of my Improved Flat, where it is intended to embrace the axle,
that, if the axle be indented in the direction of its length, for a distance equal
to the width of my Improved Flat and in a manner to correspond with the round-
ing of the corners of the same, the said axle can be securely prevented from
moving relatively to my Improved Flat, and this without any objectionable
pinning, by placing my Improved Flat so that it embraces the axle at-the-part-
having the indentation described..
I.also produce an equivalent effect by providing any suitable projection on my
Improved Flat; which projection can engage in a corresponding depression in
the axle; in such a way that, when held together by the spring Clip, it is
impossible for the axle and my Improved Flat to change their relative position.
It goes without saying, that, in usual practice, there are as many springs and
spring Flats as wheels in a vehicle.
nd this 16th day of December 1906

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Spring Flat or Device for use in Securing Springs to
Axles for Road Vehicles.
I, JAMES REGINALD CHURCHILL of Hathersage in the County of Derbyshire;
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention 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 an improved spring flat or device for use in securing
springs to axles for Road vehicles, and of the kind which is not integral with
the axle to which it is applied.
This kind of spring flat embraces the axle and holds it firmly against the
spring on the vehicle-generally with the intervention of a wood block-a spring
clip embracing the flat, wood block and spring and holding all three together.
It is usual to pin the flat to the axle to insure that they shall not alter their
relative position when once in place.
According to my Invention, I make my Improved spring flat (hereinafter
referred to as the Improved flat) of Malleable Cast Iron, cast steel or other
suitable metal, and preferably of a channel section.
Referring to the drawings:-
Fig. I shows the Improved Flat in elevation-with a view of the cross section
of the axle where it is applied.
The Improved flat is indicated by 1. and the axle by 2.
"
Figs. II & III show sections on the lines X. Y. and A. B. respectively.
Fig. IV shows the Improved flat in plan.
Fig. V shows, in elevation, part of an axle to which the Improved flat is
applied the latter being shown in section.
I provide good accomodation for the wood block generally interposed between
the Improved flat and the spring-the total area of the plan at Fig. IV being
available for this purpose when the axle is in position. I provide projections 3 & 4
Figs. I & IV which retain in position the spring clips, or equivalents, used in
this connection.
As usually made, spring flats have only provision equivalent to that given by
the projections 3 on my Improved flat--the result being that the spring-clips
are liable to slip out of position. By means of the projections 3 and 4, I provide
spaces in which the spring clips can be firmly placed. There may, of course,
be more projections, such as 4, than I show in the accompanying drawings and
a consequently larger number of spaces in which the spring clips may be placed.
At 5 Fig. I I show the Improved Flat 1 curved in the corners where it embraces
the axle 2. This axle is square, as usually made, at this portion of its length;
but at 5 Figs I and V I show this square axle indented on two of its edges for
a distance equal to the width of the Improved flat, and in a manner to correspond
with the rounding of the corners of the same. By this means, when 'the Improved
flat is put into. position on the axle, it is impossible for it to move relatively
thereto in an axial direction. Thus the need for pinning the improved flat to
the axle is obviated. The modification of the corners of the Improved flat need
not necessarily be for its whole width-it might take the form of gussets which
could fit into corresponding depressions in the axle.

page_text: 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:-
"The Improved spring Flat or Device, substantially as shown at and described
with reference to the accompanying drawings."
Dated this 16th day of September 1897.