Improvements in Springs for Railway and like Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 4th Mar., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Springs for Railway and like Vehicles.
I, ALVIN CARR MCCORD, of No. 84, Van Buren Street, Chicago, in the County
of Cook and State of Illinois, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention relates to spring cushions, primarily adapted for use in the con-
struction of railway vehicles. The spring cushion of my invention is particularly
serviceable in connection with car trucks and buffers.
In the construction of car trucks, bolsters have been supported either upon
coiled springs, or upon elliptic springs. The elliptic springs possess an advan-
tage over the coiled springs when the latter are unaccompanied by auxiliary
devices, in that by their use each jolting movement of the car truck will be
accompanied by a single movement of the bolster, while with the coiled springs
each jolting movement of the car truck is accompanied by several movements
of the bolster and the car body mounted thereon. Elliptic springs, however, are.
much more expensive than the coiled springs and are of much 'shorter life.
Attempts have heretofore been made to associate auxiliary devices for dampening
the vibrations of the coiled springs to produce substantially the same result as is.
secured by the more expensive elliptic springs. Auxiliary frictional devices have
been associated with coiled springs for this purpose; these frictional devices,
however, have been operated by means totally independent of the coiled springs
and the parts between which the same are interposed.
It is the object of my invention greatly to simplify the construction of spring
cushions employing coiled springs and to create frictional pressure through the
agency of the coiled springs, the coiled springs serving as the medium through.
which the cushioned parts operate to secure the required friction. By means of
my invention, I am enabled to dispense with all auxiliary means for creating fric-
tion, the coiled spring performing the double function of cushioning separated
parts and of creating the necessary friction. By means of my invention, I am
enabled practically to secure the results obtained by the use of elliptic springs,
and am at the same time enabled to produce a spring cushion which is cheaper
and which will last longer than the elliptic springs heretofore used. In the
construction of trucks for supporting passenger coaches, locomotives and freight
cars for conveying delicate and perishable freight, where it is necessary that
the jolting movements of the bolster be minimized, I find that I am enabled to
employ the device of my invention in place of the elliptic springs heretofore
most generally used, securing practically the same results.
Generally speaking, the invention comprises a coiled spring interposed between
the parts to be cushioned, as, for example, the spring plank and bolster of a
truck and a friction lever frictionally engaging, or adapted frictionally to
engage, a suitable friction surface, said friction lever being adapted to be operated
by the coiled spring.

page_text: I will explain my invention more particularly by reference to the accompany-
ing drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of a swing-motion truck with the device
of my invention in place;
Figure 2 is a sectional view of a spring cushion constructed in accordance
with my invention;
Figure 3 is an elevation of one of the friction levers;
Figure 4 is a similar view with the friction lever rocked upon its pivot in the
position it might assume when frictionally engaging the sleeve;
Figure 5 is a sectional view of the sleeve on line 5-5 of Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a bottom view of one of the friction levers;
Figure 7 is a sectional view on line 7-7 of Figure 3;
Figure 8 is a sectional view of a modified form of spring cushion constructed
in accordance with my invention;
Figure 9 is a sectional view of another form of spring cushion constructed in
accordance with my invention.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the different figures.
I have shown the preferred form of my device in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7,
and I will first describe the invention in connection with these figures.
In Figure 1 I have illustrated my invention as being applied to a well-known
swing-motion diamond freight car truck. The invention, however, is capable of
use with other forms of car trucks and for other purposes. I have shown but
one spring a of a group which is interposed between the bolster b and spring
plank . As the construction and arrangement of the spring plank bearing 62,
column bolt 3, column guide and transom 74 and the arch bars 65 are well
known to those skilled in the art, I do not deem further mention thereof to be
essential. The spring is preferably constructed of round-bar steel flattened at
each end, the spring being in the form of a spiral. I preferably employ as one
friction element a sleeve c which is preferably surrounded by the spring. For
the other friction element I preferably employ two flanged or hell-crank friction
levers d d, which are preferably opposed, each having an arm d¹ extending within
the sleeve, and a second arm d² engaged at its outer portion or periphery by
one end of the spring. The latter arms are shaped as shown most clearly in
Figures 2, 3, 4 and 6. The arms of the levers extending within the sleeve are
semi-circular in cross-section, as shown in Figure 7, the levers when assembled
forming a longitudinally-split tube, the arms forming a flange to the tube.
I preferably provide a lever plate e upon which to rest the arms d². The faces
of the arms that engage the lever plate are cut away, as shown most clearly
in Figures 3 and 4, to provide fulcra d³ about which the friction levers may be
rocked. Those portions of the arms that engage the spring a are preferably
inclined from the periphery toward the center, so that the spring will only engage
the arms at the periphery when the levers are unexpanded, so that upon the
application of force to the springs the friction levers may be rocked and brought
into engagement with the friction sleeve. The lever plate is mounted, in the
application of the invention shown in Figure 1, upon the spring plank, and the
sleeve is fastened to the bolster, the sleeve being preferably flanged at its upper
end. The friction elements d₁d care each preferably provided with chilled
inserts dd c¹ to increase the durability of these parts. The inserts carried by
the levers are adapted frictionally to engage the inserts in the sleeve.
While I have illustrated the spring cushion of my invention as being disposed
between the bolster and spring plank of a car truck, it is obvious that it may
be disposed between other parts whose relative movement is to be retarded or to
reduce the number of vibrations.
It will be observed that the coiled spring a performs the double function of
cushioning the separated parts and of transmitting to the friction levers any
force impressed upon the coiled spring by the separated parts. Thus the coiled
spring, upon its compression, is the means of securing frictional pressure between

page_text: the elements of the friction device. The frictional pressure varies with the load
or pressure upon the spring.
In the construction shown in Figures 8 and 9, I dispense with the sleeve c and
cause the friction levers directly to frictionally engage the coiled spring, the por-
tion of the coiled spring thus engaged by the levers constituting a friction element.
The levers shown in Figures 8 and 9 may be of substantially the same shape as
those shown in Figures 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7, with the exception that they are adapted
to engage the coiled spring directly, rather than a sleeve within the coiled spring,
the parts of these levers similar to the parts shown in Figures 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7
being given the same letters of reference. In Figure 9 I have shown the levers
each as
being composed of two parts; the semi-circular friction elements d'à',
instead of being formed integrally with the levers, are pivotally or flexibly sup-
ported thereon, each friction element d¹ carrying an enlargement d engaging a
corresponding recess formed in the extensions de rigidly supported upon the
arms. In the form of my improved device shown in Figures 8 and 9 I prefer-
ably employ square bar steel for the coiled spring, to give increased surface with
which the friction elements are adapted to engage.
It will be apparent that by means of my invention no auxiliary devices need
be employed for securing frictional pressure between the elements of the friction
device, the separated parts being adapted to furnish the necessary force. When
the device of my invention is employed in car trucks, the coiled spring is con-
stantly under pressure, whereby the frictional elements are constantly maintained
in engagement; the frictional pressure varying according to the degree of com-
pression of the spring. While I have illustrated the sleeve c as being provided
with a flange, it is obvious that other means may be employed for securing an
engagement between the sleeve and the spring. It is obvious that changes may
be made in my improved spring cushion without departing from the spirit of my
invention, and I do not therefore desire to be limited to the precise construction
shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim
is:
-
1. The combination with the coiled spring a, of the sleeve and friction levers,
the pressure of the spring acting upon the said friction levers to cause frictional
pressure varying with the load against the sleeve, substantially as described.
2. The combination with the coiled spring a, of a friction element and friction
lever mechanism, the pressure of the spring acting upon the said friction lever
mechanism to cause frictional pressure varying with the load against the friction
element, substantially as described.
3. The combination with the coiled spring a, of the sleeve e surrounded by
the spring, and friction levers d d extending within the sleeve and engaged by
the spring, the pressure of the spring acting upon said levers to cause frictional
pressure varying with the load against the interior of the sleeve, substantially as
described.
4. The combination with the coiled spring a, of a sleeve e surrounded by the
spring, and opposed friction bell crank levers d d, an arm of each of which
extends within the sleeve, the remaining arm of each lever being engaged by
the spring, the pressure of the spring acting upon said levers to cause frictional
pressure varying with the load against the interior of the sleeve, substantially as
described.
5. A spring cushion comprising a sleeve, a lever plate, flanged levers carried
upon the lever plate, the said levers and sleeves having frictional engaging sur-
faces, and a coiled spring interposed between and engaging the sleeve and levers
which causes the latter frictionally to engage the sleeve, substantially as described.
6. A spring cushion comprising a flanged sleeve, a lever plate, bell crank levers
pivotally supported upon the lever plate, an arm of each of said levers extending

page_text: within the sleeve, the arms within the sleeve being capable of outward expansion
and of frictional engagement with the interior of the sleeve, and a coiled spring
interposed between the remaining arms of the levers and the flange of the sleeve,
which spring serves to cause the arms within the sleeve to expand and frictionally
engage the interior of the sleeve, substantially as described.
7. In a spring cushion, the combination with a friction element c, of a lever
adapted for frictional engagement therewith, and a coiled spring engaging and
interposed between the lever and said friction element and serving frictionally to
engage said lever and friction element, substantially as described.
8. In a spring cushion, the combination with a friction element c, of a bell
crank lever, one of whose arms is adapted for frictional engagement with said
friction element, and a coiled spring interposed between the remaining arm of
the lever and said friction element and serving frictionally to engage said lever
and friction element, substantially as described.
9. In a spring cushion, the combination with a coiled spring interposed between
the parts to be cushioned, of a friction element, and a lever engaged by the
spring and thereby brought into frictional engagement with the friction element,
substantially as described.
10. In a spring cushion, the combination with a coiled spring interposed between
the parts to be cushioned, of a friction element, and a bell crank lever, said lever
having one arm engaged by said spring and its remaining arm forced into fric-
tional engagement with said friction element by said spring, substantially as
described.
11. In a spring cushion, the combination with a coiled spring interposed between
the parts to be cushioned, of a friction lever frictionally engaging, or adapted
frictionally to engage, a surface, said friction lever being adapted to be operated
by said springs, substantially as described.
12. In a spring cushion, the combination with a coiled spring interposed between
the parts to be cushioned, of a friction lever frictionally engaging, or adapted
frictionally to engage, said coiled spring, said friction lever being adapted to be
operated by said spring, substantially as described.
13. In a spring cushion, the combination with a coiled spring interposed between
the parts to be cushioned, of a bell crank lever having one arm extending within
and surrounded by the spring, said arm being adapted to engage the spring,
the said coiled spring engaging the other arm of the lever and serving thereby to
force the first aforesaid arm into frictional contact with the coiled spring, sub-
stantially as described.
14. In a spring cushion, the combination with a coiled spring, of a lever operated
thereby, and a friction element flexibly supported upon said lever, which lever is
adapted through the agency of said spring to force the friction element into
contact with a friction surface, substantially as described.
15. In a spring cushion, the combination with a coiled spring, of a lever operated
thereby, and a friction element flexibly carried by the lever and adapted friction-
ally to engage the coiled spring through the agency of the lever and coiled spring,
substantially as described.
16. In a spring cushion, the combination with a coiled spring interposed between
the parts to be cushioned, of a friction part brought by the said spring into fric-
tional engagement therewith, substantially as described.
Dated E. ORAL
Toniame 1900
ALVIN CARR MCCORD.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
ALVIN CARR MCCORD.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.