IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ELLIPTIC SPRINGB, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the Firm of Hughes
and Son, Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ELLIPTIC SPRINGB,
AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."-A communication from abroad
by Benjamin Tyler Henry, of New Haven, State of Connecticut,
United States of America.
Sealed the 27th May 1870, and dated the 30th November 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas Hughes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 30th November 1869.
I, EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent
Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ELLIPTIC
SPRINGS, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," a communication to me
from abroad by Benjamin Tyler Henry, of New Haven, State of Con-
necticut, United States of America, to be as follows:--
This Invention is designed to avoid the great friction and wear which
exists in the common elliptic springs such as are formed from several

page_text: leaves overlaying each other, as also to produce a spring of greater
elasticity at a less cost; and my Invention consists in forming the plate of
the spring of nearly an equal thickness, and raising upon the surface one
or more ribs diminishing in height towards the ends.
I prefer to roll the springs in a common rolling mill, one roll of which
shall be of a circumference equal at least to the length of the spring to
be rolled; and in the said roll there is formed a concave groove beginning
at nothing and gradually growing deeper towards the centre, then
gradually diminishing to nothing at the other end. Through rolls thus
constructed the steel is passed, forming a flat plate having a rib in the
centre, the said rib diminishing in height from the centre toward either
end, while the plate may be of nearly an equal thickness and the rib
sufficient to give the required strength to the single plate.
If preferred more than one rib may be employed, and a flat leaf may be
placed beneath the spring thus formed, or a leaf having upon its under
surface a cavity corresponding to the rib may be placed upon the top for
the purpose of strengthening the spring, yet it is better to make the rib
and plate sufficiently strong as not to require the use of other leaves.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 30th May 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent Agents, 123,
Chancery Lane, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of November, 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 Edward Thomas Hughes, Her special
licence that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Thomas
Hughes, 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

page_text: Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ELLIPTIC SPRINGS AND IN APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREIN," a communication to me from abroad by Benjamin
Tyler Henry, of New Haven, State of Connecticut, United States of
America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward
Thomas Hughes, 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 Edward Thomas Hughes, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, that is to say:-
This Invention is designed to avoid the great friction and wear which
exists in the common elliptic spring such as are formed from several
leaves overlaying each other, as also to produce a spring of greater
clasticity at a less cost; and the Invention consists in forming the plate
of the spring of nearly an equal thickness, and raising upon the surface
one or more ribs diminishing in height toward the ends. On the
accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is a side view of the spring; Fig. 2, a
top view; Fig. 3, a longitudinal central section; and Fig. 4, a transverse
central section.
I prefer to roll the springs in a common rolling mill, one roll of which
shall be of a circumference equal at least to the length of the spring to
be rolled, and in the said roll there is formed a concave groove beginning
at nothing and gradually growing deeper to the centre, then gradually
diminishing to nothing at the place of beginning. Through rolls thus
constructed the steel is passed forming a flat plate a, and the groove in
the one roll forming a rib d in the centre, as seen in Fig. 4, the said rib
diminishing in height from the centre toward either end, as seen in
Figs. 1 & 3, while the plate may be of nearly an equal thickness and
the rib sufficient to give the required strength to the single plate.
If preferred more than one rib may be employed, and a flat leaf may
be placed beneath the spring thus formed, or a leaf having upon its under
-surface a cavity corresponding to the rib may be placed upon the top for

page_text: the purpose of strengthening the spring, yet it is better to make the rib
and plate sufficiently strong so as not to require the use of other leaves.
Other and perhaps better means than that described in the production
of this spring may be employed, yet this plan is the best known to
me.
I have described the rib as having a convex surface as seen in Fig. 4,
and this I prefer as it gives to the spring a neater and more finished
appearance than would be were the rib of different form, yet the form
of the rib is no part of the Invention.
I claim, an elliptic spring having one or more ribs d formed upon its
surface, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have here-
unto set my hand and seal. this Twenty-seventh day of May.