IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Southampton Buildings, London, Patent Agents, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES."
-A communication from abroad by Richard Vose, of the City and
State of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 10th March 1871, and dated the 27th October 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th October 1870.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Southampton Buildings, London, Patent Agents, do hereby declaré the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS FOR RAILWAY
CARRIAGES," a communication, to be as follows:-
The said improvements consist, first, in the use of longitudinally
grooved, channelled, twisted, or otherwise irregularly shaped bars in the
manufacture of spiral or helical springs for the purpose of obtaining
thereby springs of much greater strength, toughness, elasticity, and

page_text: durability, with a given weight of metal than has ever before been
produced, such spring to be used in combination with india-rubber,
wool, or other elastic or fibrous material or otherwise as may be thought
desirable.
It is well known to artificers in metal that steel and many other
metals are refined and rendered tough and elastic in proportion to the
degree of thinness into which the metal is hammered or rolled, and that
the greater the surface exposed to the action of the tempering agency
the more perfect is the tempering process, and consequently the more
reliable are the strength and clasticity of steel thus wrought and
tempered. To this end in manufacturing my improved spring I cause.
the bar of steel or other metal of which it is made to be grooved,
indented, or fluted, which may be done by properly constructed rolls in
the process of rolling the bar. When the bar has been thus formed the
spring is to be coiled spirally or helically, as may be desired, in the
ordinary way.
Springs thus constructed will be found to take a better
and more uniform temper, to be more elastic, less liable to break, and
capable of bearing a greater burden in proportion to the metal they
contain than those made of straight or uncorrugated bars.
The said improvements consist, secondly, in forming a spring of a bar
of metal that is tapered in width and thickness, or both, from end to
end, and coiling the same spirally either upon a conical mandril, thus
giving to the exterior of the spring a cylindrical and to the interior a
conical form, or upon a cylindrical mandril, thus giving to the exterior a
conical and to the interior a cylindrical form. In either form it is
evident that the upper coils are the most sensitive, and that under light
pressure they will have a quick and easy elasticity; but as the load is
increased the lower stronger coils are successively brought into action in
proportion as the increased burden demands increased power of re-
sistance, thus forming a spring that under a light burden has a quickly
responsive and easy elasticity, but is, at the same time capable of
bearing a heavy burden without exhausting its vitality. In cases where.
springs are required which shall possess a double range of movement.
with self-graduating elastic force, they may be made of metallic bars
that are tapered either from their centre to their ends, or from the ends
to the centre. Experience teaches that all kinds of spiral springs have.
but little durability when the coils are allowed to come into actual
contact with each other; such contact repeated in the form of concussive

page_text: of the steel, impairing its elasticity, and making it brittle and liable to
fracture.
To prevent this result my said improvements consist, thirdly, in
interposing between the several folds a packing of india-rubber, gutta
percha, wool, felt, or other elastic or fibrous material.
The said improvements consist, fourthly, in so combining a rubber
centre or core within an encircling metallic spiral spring that the
rubber shall adhere and be firmly united to the coils of the metallic
spring, and also in one mode of obtaining this result by curing or
vulcanizing the rubber while in contact with the metallic spring.
Heretofore in all cases where a rubber core has been combined with the
interior of a spiral coil, the two have been merely placed in juxta-
position without being in any manner made to adhere together, the
finished india-rubber column being inserted within the perfected metallic
spring. Experiments have proved that the power and efficiency of such
a combination are very materially increased by uniting the india-rubber
and the metal, and causing them to adhere together throughout the
entire length of the metallic bar, so that the two shall become as one
piece, forming a single spring that combines within itself the separate
peculiarities of the two elements of which it is composed. In practice I
first form the metallic coil in the usual manner. I then fashion a
mass of crude india-rubber or gutta percha into a column of the same
length of the spring, and of a diameter that will just fit into the core
of the spring. This column should be spirally grooved on its outer
surface corresponding to the coils of the spring. For this purpose I
use a mould or sectional case, having on its inner wall spiral projections.
By inserting the column of rubber into the metal spring and enclosing
both in the case or mould the spiral projections reaching the rubber
between the coils of the metal spring, imbed themselves in the rubber
column, thus forming a spiral groove therein, and pressing the rubber
tightly against the coils of the metal spring. The rubber having had
combined with it a proper proportion of sulphur for suitably vulcanizing
it, is then "cured" within the case by being submitted to the action of a
proper degree of heat. If, preferred however a spiral groove may be.
made in the column of crude rubber after it is inserted in the spring by
winding spirally a cord tightly around it between the folds of the
spring: In this operation the spring should be first tempered several

page_text: :
degrees higher than is required in the completed spring, so that the
heat to which it is subjected in the process of "curing" the rubber.
shall draw the temper and leave the spring properly tempered for use.
If preferred, instead of causing the rubber to adhere to the spring in the
process of "curing," the rubber column may be first completed, grooved,
and vulcanized, then inserted in the metallic coil, and made to adhere
to the coil by some suitable adhesive cement. I prefer to interpose
between the coils of the metal spring an elastic packing to prevent the
coils from being brought in contact with each other under pressure.
This may be done by a spiral projecting fin formed on the rubber
column, and extending outward from the bottom of the spiral groove
between the coils of the metal spring. These springs thus constructed
should be furnished with a suitable seat for the bottom to rest in, and
a cap at the top for a bearing, or they may be placed and held cach
in a case, the lower end resting upon a plunger, movable within the
case, and whose basc or stem rests upon the general support of the
spring, and works through an opening in the lower cap of the case,
thus permitting the entire case to move down over the plunger as the
spring is collapsed, or they may nest in a group within a series of cells
held in a case. This case is formed of two sections, an upper and a
lower section, cach section containing parts of the several cells so
arranged that when the upper section is placed over and upon the
lower one the portion of each cell in the one section forms with its
corresponding portion in the other a complete cell. This case is so
constructed also that the partitions constituting the inner walls of the
cells of the upper section are extended outward, and made to fit into
the lower section, so as to form the interior walls of the cells of the
lower section, by which device a strong and solid bearing is provided
independent of the sides of the case, limiting the downward motion of
the upper section, and consequently limiting also the compression of
the springs in the case. The entire inner walls of the two rows of cells
are cast solid with and form a part of the upper section. The walls
of the several cells are formed on one side by the curved sides of the
case, and on the other by a partition, which is hollowed out opposite
each cell. This partition is of greater depth than the section of the
case of which it forms a part, so that when the two sections are put
together the said partition extends down into the lower section, thus
forming the inner walls of the cells; the projections in the inside of
the lower section coincide with projections of the said partition, thus

page_text: completing the circle of the cells. The upper section is made a little
larger than the lower, and is allowed to shut down over it like the
cover of a box, thus permitting it to rise and fall without uncovering
the springs. The vertical length of the partition is so proportioned to
the length of the springs and to the depth of the two sections of the box,
that when the upper section is pressed downward compressing the
springs, the lower end of the partition will strike against the bottom of
the lower section before the coils of the spring are brought together, and
before the top of the upper sections comes in contact with the upper
surface of the rim of the lower section. The bottom of the lower
and the top of the upper section being solid iron plates cast whole
with the sides and ends of each respectively form suitable seats and
bearings for the several springs. The two sections are held together by
bolts and nuts passing through holes in the case, the heads being
recessed into the upper section so as to allow it to rise and fall with
the play of the springs. I may use any suitable case instead of that
above described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 26th April 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Southampton
Buildings, London, Patent Agents, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence
that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, 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 Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS. IN-

page_text: SPRINGS FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES," a communication to me from abroad by
Richard Vose, of the City and State of New York, United States of
America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Robert Lake, 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 William Robert Lake, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings forming a part of this Specification :-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of an improved metal spiral spring, the
bar of which it is made being grooved, channelled, twisted, or otherwise
irregularly shaped; Figure 2 is a side view of a fluted metallic bar
used in the manufacture of the said spring; and Figure 3 is a cross
section of the same.
Figure 4 is a top view, and Figure 5 a side view of the ends of a
bar of metal tapering both in width and thickness, of which I make
another form of improved metal spiral spring.
Figure 6 is a side elevation, and Figure 7, a central vertical section
of the improved spiral spring formed by coiling the said tapering bar
upon a conical mandril.
Figure 8 is a side elevation, and Figure 9, a central section of a spiral
spring formed of the same bar when coiled upon a cylindrical mandril.
Figures 10 and 11 are respectively an elevation and cross section of
an improved spiral spring formed of a grooved tapering bar of metal
coiled on a conical mandril, and perfected by the interposition of india-
rubber or some fibrous material between the coils.
Figures 12 and 13 represent other forms of taper metallic bars (the
one increasing from its centre each way, and the other increasing from
either end towards the centre), of which my said improved spiral spring
may be formed.

page_text: Figure 14 represents a section and an elevation of improved com-
bined spiral and rubber springs arranged in a group and properly
capped; Figure 15 represents a section and an elevation of the same
springs having a modified form of rubber centre, to be more par-
ticularly described hereafter; Figure 16 is a sectional view of the same
springs placed within a capped cylinder or case designed to be used
alone; Figure 17 is an elevation of the said case containing the spring,
shown in Figure 16..
Figure 18 is a horizontal section, and Figure 19 a plan of Figures 16
and 17.
Figures 20 and 21 are plans of a case designed to contain a group
of the said springs, Figure 20 showing the upper surface of the cover,
the cover being on, and Figure 21 showing a top view of the case with
the cover off.
Figure 22. is a perspective view of the upper section of a modified and
improved case for containing a group of spiral springs; Figure 23 is a
similar view of the lower section of the same case; Figure 24 is a per-
spective view of the same case, the two sections being put together and
a portion being cut away to show one of the group of springs within;
Figure 25 is a central sectional view of the same case..
Figure 26 is a central sectional view showing an improved method of
spirally grooving the outer surface of an india-rubber core enclosed
within a spiral metal spring preparatory to "curing" the rubber and
causing it to adhere to the steel spring.
Figure 27 is a top face view of the mould or die employed in grooving
the said rubber core and attaching it to the spiral spring.
The said improvements in railway carriage springs consist, first, in
the use of longitudinally grooved, channelled, twisted, or otherwise
irregularly shaped bars in the manufacture of spiral or helical springs,
for the purpose of obtaining thereby springs of much greater strength,
toughness, elasticity, and durability with a given weight of metal
than has ever before been produced, such springs to be used in com-
bination with india-rubber, wool, or other elastic or fibrous material,
or otherwise, as may be thought desirable.
It is well known to artificers in metal that steel and many
other metals are refined and rendered tough and elastic in proportion
to the degree of thinness into which the metal is liammered. or rolled,

page_text: and that the greater the surface exposed to the action of the tempering
agency the more. perfect is the tempering process, and consequently
the more reliable are the strength and elasticity of the steel thus
wrought and tempered. To this end in manufacturing my improved
spring represented by Figure 1, I cause the bar of steel or other metal
of which it is made to be grooved, indented, or fluted, as represented
in said Figures 1, 2, and 3, which may be done by properly constructed
rolls in the process of rolling the bar. When the bar has been thus
formed the spring is to be coiled spirally or helically, as may be desired,
in the ordinary way. Springs thus constructed will be found to take
a better and more uniform temper, to be more elastic, less liable to break,
and capable of bearing a greater burden in proportion to the metal they
contain than those made of straight or uncorrugated bars.
The said improvements consist, secondly, in forming a spring out of
a bar of metal that is tapered in width and thickness, one or both, from 1
end to end, and coiling the same spirally, either upon a conical
mandril, thus giving to the exterior of the spring a cylindrical, and
to the interior a conical form, as seen in Figures 6 and 7, or upon a
cylindrical mandril, thus giving to the exterior a conical and to the
interior a cylindrical form, as seen in Figures 8 and 9. In either form 2
it is evident that the upper coils are the most sensitive, and that under
light pressure they will have a quick and easy elasticity; but as the
load is increased the lower stronger coils are successively brought into
action in proportion as the increased burden demands increased power
of resistance, thus forming a spring that under a light burden has a 2
quickly responsive and easy elasticity, but is at the same time capable
of bearing a heavy burden without exhausting its vitality.
The spring represented in Figures 6 and 7 possesses the advantage
of equal bearings at both ends, and gives a greater range or scale of
elastic play than any other, but for heavy steady pressure and work that 3
represented by Figures 8 and 9 will perhaps be preferable.
In cases where springs are required which shall possess a double
range of movement with self-graduating elastic force they may be made
of metallic bars that are tapered either from their centre to their ends,
as seen in Figure 13, or from the ends to the centre, as seen in Figure 12. 3
The former shape will give to the two ends of the spring equally greater
sensitiveness than to the centre, the coils from either end towards the

page_text: centre being by an increasing burden called into action, and the latter
will be just the reverse.
Experience teaches that all kinds of spiral springs have but little
durability when the coils are allowed to come into actual contact with
cach other, such contact repeated in the form of concussive blows, as
it will be in a spring, quickly changing the molecular structure of
the steel, impairing its elasticity, and making it brittle and liable to
fracture.
To prevent this result my said improvements consist, thirdly, in
interposing between the several folds a packing of india-rubber, gutta
percha, wool, felt, or other elastic or fibrous material, as seen in Figures
10 and 11.
The said improvements consist, fourthly, in so combining a rubber
centre or core within an encircling metallic spiral spring that the
rubber shall adhere and be firmly united to the coils of the metallic
spring, and also in one mode of obtaining this result by curing or
vulcanizing the rubber while in contact with the metallic spring.
Heretofore in all cases where a rubber core has been combined with
the interior of a spiral coil the two have been merely placed in juxta-
position without being in any manner made to adhere together, the
finished india-rubber column being inserted within the perfected metallic
spring. Experiments have proved that the power and efficiency of such
a combination are very materially increased by uniting the india-rubber
and the metal, and causing them to adhere together throughout the
entire length of the metallic bar, so that the two shall become as one
piece forming a single spring that combines within itself the separate -
peculiarities of the two elements of which it is composed.
In practice I first form the metallic coil a in the usual manner; I
then fashion a mass of crude india-rubber or gutta percha into a column
of the same length as the spring and of a diameter that will just fit into
the core of the spring. This column should be spirally grooved on its
outer surface, as shown in the Drawings corresponding to the coils of
the spring. A convenient mode of doing this is shown in Figure 26
which represents a mould or sectional case having on its inner wall
spiral projections 6 like the thread of a screw.
By inserting the column of rubber, Figure 28, into the metal spring
and enclosing both in the case or mould A, Figure 26, the spiral pro-

page_text: jections reaching the rubber between the coils of the metal spring
imbed themselves in the rubber column, thus forming a spiral groove
therein and pressing the rubber tightly against the coils of the metal
spring. The rubber having had combined with it a proper proportion
of sulphur for suitably vulcanizing it, is then "cured" within the case
by being submitted to the action of a proper degree of heat, when the
rubber will be at the same time vulcanized or cured and made to become
firmly adherent to the metal spring. If preferred, however, a spiral
groove may be made in the column of crude rubber after it is inserted in
the spring by winding spirally a cord tightly around it between the folds
of the spring, so that it is embedded in it and retained there until the
rubber is cured. In this operation the spring should be first tempered
several degrees higher than is required in the completed spring, so that
the heat to which it is subjected in the process of “curing" the rubber
shall draw the temper and leave the spring properly tempered for use.
If preferred instead of causing the rubber to adhere to the spring in
the process of "curing" the rubber column may be first completed,
grooved, and vulcanized, then inserted in the metallic coil and made to
adhere to the coil by some suitable adhesive cement. The former
method I would recommend as preferable.
The construction described also furnishes a convenient opportunity for
interposing between the coils of the metal spring an elastic packing to
prevent the coils from being brought in contact with each other under
pressure. This may be done by a spiral projecting fin c, Figure 15,
formed on the rubber column and extending outward from the bottom
of the spiral groove between the coils of the metal spring. These
springs thus constructed should be furnished with a suitable seat for the
bottom to rest in, and a cap at the top for a bearing, as shown in
Figure 14, or they may be placed and held each in a case B, as shown
in Figure 16, the lower end resting upon a plunger B¹ moveable within
the case and whose base or stern rests upon the general support of the
spring and works through an opening in the lower cap of the case,
thus permitting the entire case to move down over the plunger as the
spring is collapsed, or they may rest in a group within a series of cells
in a case.

page_text: section, each section containing parts of the several cells, so arranged
that when the upper section is placed over and upon the lower one
the portion of each cell in the one section forms with its corresponding
portion in the other a complete cell. This case is so constructed also
that the partitions constituting the inner walls of the cells of the upper
section are extended outward and made to fit into the lower section so
as to form the interior walls of the cells of the lower section, by which
device a strong and solid bearing is provided independent of the sides.
of the case, limiting the downward motion of the upper section and
consequently limiting also the compression of the springs in the case.
In this case, as shown by the Drawings, the entire inner walls of the
two rows of cells are cast solid with and form a part of the upper
section. The walls of the several cells are formed on one side by the curved
sides of the case and on the other by the partition C, which is hollowed
out opposite each cell, as represented. This partition is of greater depth
than the section of the case of which it forms a part, so that when the
two sections are put together the said partition extends down into the
lower section, thus forming the inner walls of the cells. The projections
dd, ee, ff, in the inside of the lower section coincide with the pro-
jections d¹d, e¹e¹, ƒ¹ƒ³, of the partition C, thus completing the circle
of the cells D D', EE', FF. The upper section being made a little
larger than the lower is allowed to shut down over it like the cover
of a box, thus permitting it to rise and fall without uncovering the
springs. The vertical length of the partition is so proportioned to the
length of the springs, and to the depth of the two sections of the box
that when the upper section is pressed downward compressing the
springs the lower end of the partition will strike against the bottom of
the lower section before the coils of the spring are brought together
and before the top of the upper section comes in contact with the upper
surface of the rim of the lower section. The walls of the case and the
springs are thus both protected against injury resulting from overloading
the springs. It is evident also that the partition C extending as it does
into the lower section and fitting in between the projections dd, ee,
ff, will prevent the rim of the upper section from being brought in
contact with the sides or ends of the lower section by any lateral
pressure or side thrust, by which contact they would be liable to be
broken. The bottom of the lower and the top of the upper section being
solid iron plates cast whole with the sides and ends of each respectively,
form suitable seats and bearings for the several springs. The two

page_text: sections are held together by bolts and nuts passing through holes g g,
in the case, the heads being recessed into the upper section, so as to
allow it to rise and fall with the play of the springs.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I claim,-
First. The use of longitudinally indented, grooved, or channelled
metallic bars or rods when formed into spiral or helical springs of
substantially the shape herein set forth.
Second. The use of a metallic bar varying in width and thickness
either from end to end or from the centre to the ends when coiled 1
into a helical spring substantially in the manner and for the purpose
set forth.
Third. The combination of a column of india-rubber with the interior
of a spiral metal spring when the rubber and the metal are connected
together along the entire length of the metallic coil in the manner and 1
for the purpose herein specified.
Fourth. The use in combination with the interior of a coiled metallic
spring of a column of india-rubber that is spirally grooved as and for
the purpose herein set forth.
Fifth. The use in combination with the interior of a coiled metallic 2
spring of a column of india-rubber that has on its surface a spiral fin
projecting between the coils of the spring substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
Sixth. The enclosing of a coiled metallic spring a, Figure 16, in a
case B combined with the plunger B' substantially as and for the
specified.
purpose
Seventh. The grouping together of several coiled metal springs or
of springs formed of a column of rubber or both combined within
separate cells in a metallic case substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Eighth. Grouping within a box or case a number of springs that are
formed by combining a spiral metal coil with an india-rubber core or
centre substantially as described.
2
3
Ninth. Placing a plain cylinder or column of sulphurized india-rubber
or gutta percha within a coiled metallic spring and then grooving the 35

page_text: said cylinder and more perfectly combining it with the said metal
spring preparatory to subjecting it to the requisite curing or vulcanizing
process, in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein set
forth.
'
In witness whercof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of April, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one.
0 Witness,
E. C. JACKSON.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)