IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SPRING MECHANISM OF TWO WHEELED VEHICLES OR CARRIAGES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, THOMAS EVANS, the Younger, 57 Argyle Street, Birkenhead, in the County of
Chester, and 16 Colquitt Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Carriage
Builder, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE SPRING MECHANISM OF TWO WHEELED VEHICLES OR CARRIAGES," to be as
follows:-
This invention is designed with the object of securing freedom from the vibration
and knce motions so objectionable in ordinary-two wheeled conveyances.
In consists in hanging the vehicle by means of a C spring on each side, combined
with a cross spring at the front and attached thereto. I prefer to combine the two
by means of an india rubber cross shackle, but do not confine myself to this, as in
place of this cross shackle a spoon end and robin or the ordinary dee or barrel
shackle can be used. The india rubber shackle is preferable however as it tends
still further to cut off the vibration from the body of the vehicle. The cross spring
is made specially to resist the shocks that would naturally be received by a
carriage hung on C springs alone.. The carriage body can be attached to or
suspended from the cross spring and hind C's by either rigid, hinged or flexible
attachments,

page_text: Figure 3 plan of springs.
Figure 4 detailed view of coupling for connecting the two springs,
In these A is a C spring fitted with leather supporting strap B. The flat end a
of this spring passes under one side of the body of the carriage or vehicle almost
its entire length the C shaped or curved part of the spring being placed at the
back and the end a passing toward the front. D is a small ratchet with pawl for
securing and tightening or regulating the supporting strap B. The spring is
connected to the axle at or about the spot indicated on the drawing by the letter E,
by a clip and block of suitable or ordinary construction. F is the front spring
which passes transversely under the foot board, or front portion of the body of the
carriage or vehicle, and is attached to it by means of a bolt or clip at or near the
position indicated by the letter G in the drawing. The front spring F is.connected
at its ends to the C springs.A, one at either end by means of cross shackles H.
For this purpose, the ordinary dee or barrel shackle known in the trade or instead
of it a spoon end and robin is used but I prefer a cross shackle of special
construction shewn in Figure 4. The ends b of each spring are curved in barrel
form to receive a bolt c. From the bolt in the spring A is suspended a U or
channel shaped clip I, upon which is placed in contrary direction and inverted,
a clip J of similar shape connecting with the bolt through the end of the spring F
and from which it is suspended; a flanged india rubber block K is fitted in between
the two clips I and J forming the cross shackle. The india rubber shackle assists
the springs to cut off the vibrations from the body of the vehicle.
The front or cross spring is made specially to resist the shocks that would other-
wise reach the body of a vehicle hung on C springs alone attached to the back,
with a more or less rigid attachment at front.

page_text: The carriage body can be attached to, or suspended from the cross spring and
hind C's by either rigid hinged or flexible attachments.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I desire that it should
be clearly understood that I am aware that C springs have been used for two
wheeled vehicles, and I do not broadly claim the use of the same, nor do I claim
the general combination of springs of ordinary construction, shackled to springs
running transversely or across the vehicle as such are in use, but I declare that
what I claim is
1. The manufacture and use of the improved spring mechanism for two wheeled
vehicles or carriages consisting of two C springs, passing longitudinally under the
body of the vehicle in combination with a cross or transverse spring to which they
are shackled substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. The manufacture and use of the improved cross shackle for connecting the
longitudinal and transverse springs of two wheeled vehicles, consisting of two clips
or single shackles having a pad of india rubber placed between them, substantially
as described and shown.