Improvements in Carriage Springs.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 22nd July, 1889-Accepted, 24th Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Carriage Springs.
I, JOHN STEPHENS of 1 Garden Cottages, Causeway, Egham in the County of
Surrey, Coach Smith, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
The object of the present invention is to produce a spring chiefly for various kinds
of vehicles which while giving considerable range is adapted for light or heavy loads
and is therefore more suitable for all round application than the usual form of
springs.
In carrying out my invention I prefer to employ a stay or frame preferably of iron
or steel which can be centrally secured to the body of the vehicle or whatever it has to
support, the arms of this frame extending in opposite directions from the centre, curved
and terminating in jaws or shackles to which are jointed the ends of a plate spring
flattened at the centre and extending with reverse curves to the jointed ends.
Extending between the flattened centre of the spring and the centre of the supporting
frame is a helical steel spring or rubber or other spring or buffer preferably carried
between circular caps secured respectively to the spring and frame in such manner as
to allow free play to the springs.
By this arrangement I find I can produce a spring well suited to carry out the
above mentioned requirements.
Dh oth
Oh 1000
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
A gente
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Carriage Springs.
1, JOHN STEPHENS of 1 Garden Cottages, Causeway, Egham, in the County of Surrey,
Coach Smith, 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 :-
The object of the present invention is to produce a spring chiefly for various kinds
of vehicles which while giving considerable range is adapted for light or heavy loads
and is therefore more suitable for all round application than the usual form of
springs.
In carrying out my invention I prefer to employ a stay or frame preferably of iron
or steel which can be centrally secured to the body of the vehicle or whatever it has to
support, the arms of this frame extending in opposite directions from the centre, curved
and terminating in jaws or shackles to which are jointed the ends of a plate spring
flattened at the céntre and extending with reverse curves to the jointed ends.
Extending between the flattened centre of the spring and the centre of the supporting
frame is a helical steel spring or rubber or other spring or buffer preferably carried
between circular caps secured respectively to the spring and frame in such manner as
to allow free play to the springs.
By this arrangement I find I can produce a spring well suited to carry out the
above mentioned requirements.
In the accompanying drawing I have represented a spring which will serve to show
how this invention may be carried into practice.
A is the frame having at its ends the jaws or equivalent A' to which the single
plate spring B is jointed by the bolts C or by other suitable means. If preferred
shackles may be introduced at these joints. The frame A may be secured to the body

page_text: of the vehicle in any convenient manner as by bolts passing through the flattened
portion A² or a larger portion of the upper portion of the frame A may be flattened to
afford accomodation for a larger number of bolts; or the frame A may be secured by
clamps or otherwise as found convenient.
Centrally between the ends of the spring and frame is placed a helical spring,
block of india-rubber or equivalent D, the ends of which as shown in the drawing
are carried upon the lugs E secured respectively to the spring and frame and entering
the hollow of the spring. It will be manifest, however, that other means of securing
the spring D may be employed, such for example as hollow cups into which the
spring fits instead of the lugs which fit into the spring. If desired these cups may
be made in the form of telescopic tubes or telescopic tubes may be used in addition
to the cups or lugs for the purpose of protecting the spring.
Instead of the single spiral spring shown, I may of course, if desired, employ
more than one and arrange these either telescopically or so as to intercolate the one
with the other.
It will be observed that the plate spring B is arranged with reverse curves F and Gat
each side of its centre, known in the trade as "double compass" by this means as the
one curve straightens under the load the other one bends still more so as to compensate
for the straightening of the other curve and keep the total length of the spring
correct.
It will be seen that by this arrangement of spring great flexibility and greater range
can be obtained than with the springs in ordinary use where a number of plates are
secured one upon the other and although it would be possible to employ the central
spring D in conjunction with a plate spring having several plates, yet it is preferable
to employ only a single plate spring on account of the greater flexibility, range,
lightness and simplicity. It may also be pointed out that with the ordinary laminated
plate spring rust freely accumulates between the plates and considerable wear is
occasioned by the plates working upon each other.
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
1. The complete coach spring substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawing, in which a single plate spring such as B, is combined with a
helical spring such as D.
2. In a coach spring the combination with a single plate spring such as B carried in
a frame such as A of a helical or other equivalent spring such as D between the frame
and spring substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
3. In a coach spring the combination with a "double compass" single plate spring
such as B of a central helical or other equivalent spring such as D substantially as
described.
4. The combination with a rigid frame such as A of a single plate Coach spring
with "double compass" substantially as described.
Dated this 22nd day of July 1889.
JOHN
STEPHENS.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.