AN IMPROVED SPRING FOR RAILROAD AND OTHER CARRIAGES, AND FOR OTHER USES AND APPLICATIONS WHERE SPRINGS ARE REQUIRED
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Philo D. Mickles, of Syracuse, State of New York,
United States of America, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED SPRING
FOR RAILROAD AND OTHER CARRIAGES, AND FOR OTHER USES AND APPLICATIONS
WHERE SPRINGS ARE REQUIRED.-A communication from Danforth Johnson,
of Chicago, State of Illinois, U. S. A.
Sealed the 25th January 1860, and dated the 26th July 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Philo D. Mickles at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th July 1859.
I, PHILO D. MICKLES, of Syracuse, State of New York, United States of
America, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED SPRING FOR RAILROAD AND OTHER CARRIAGES, AND FOR OTHER USES
AND APPLICATIONS WHERE SPRINGS ARE REQUIRED," to be as follows:-
The distinguishing feature of this Invention consists in producing a spring
which shall have all the elasticity and quickness of vibration of the elliptic
spring, with vastly increased power, united with lightness of material, cheap-
ness of construction, and great durability.
The spring is formed of flat spring steel, coiled or wound about itself in the
form of a circle, a greater or less number of times according to the power or

page_text: force of the spring desired, and the ends of which are clasped or bolted
together; such shape is seen at Figur 1. When applied to use, such spring
is supported from the top or bottom, according as most convenient, or as best
adapted to the particular circumstances of any case, by a block or frame B of
any material, which is curved or rounded at one end to fit the curve of the
inside of such spring, and the other end of which extends to about the middle
of such spring when at rest.
A block or frame C of like general form, and to which is connected the
body of the carriage or the thing to be subjected to the action of the spring,
occupies the space between the supporting frame referred to and the other
side of the spring. These two parts B and C just about fill the space natu-
rally between the opposite sides of the spring; they are also made narrower
than the diameter of the spring to allow of tho elongation hereafter mentioned.
If now weight or pressure be applied to the carriage resting on the part D,
which is attached to the part 'C, its effect is to elongate the circle A more or
less according to the weight applied. Action of the spring is thus secured by
the elongation of the circle into.an ellipse, and such elongation is produced
by pressure from within, and not from pressure applied from without to com-
press the circle. All the elasticity and sensitiveness of the elliptic spring is
secured, while the strength or sustaining power of spring is vastly increased.
From careful experiment it is found that one hundred and fifty pounds
applied within a circle, as above described, will elongate the circle, or compress
the opposite sides to only about the same extent as the application of fifteen
pounds upon the outside of the circle. The difference between the applica-
tion of power from the outside to compress the circle, and from the inside to
elongate it, is as the difference between a given power applied to an elbow
joint lever, the resistance being at its ends, and the same power applied to
the ends of such a lever, resistance being at the joint.
What is claimed is the use and application of a spring constructed substan-
tially as & operating upon the principles set forth.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of July, A.D. 1859, in the
twenty-third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Philo D. Mickles, Her special license that
I, the said Philo D. Mickles, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Philo D. Mickles, my executors, administrators,
& 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 Inven-
tion of "AN IMPROVED SPRING FOR RAILROAD AND OTHER CARRIAGES, AND FOR
OTHER USES AND APPLICATIONS WHERE SPRINGS ARE REQUIRED," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Philo D. Mickles, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, 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 Philo D. Mickles, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what inanner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being made to the Drawings accompanying this Specifica-
tion, that is to say:-
The distinguishing feature or character of this Invention consists in pro-
ducing a spring, which is circular in form, and generally endless or of a
continuous piece, and which is composed or made up of one or more leaves
arranged or laid upon each other, and to which power or pressure is applied
from within to elongate it, and which has all the elasticity and quickness of
vibration of the elliptic spring, with greatly increased power, united with light-
ness of material, cheapness of construction, and great durability.
Fig. 1 represents a spring in its natural shape and condition; Fig. 2 shews
such spring when pressure is applied to it or elongated; Figs. 3, 4, represent
a combination of two such springs.
The spring A is made of flat spring steel of any desired or required thick-
ness, according to the use to which to be applied, coiled or wound upon itself
in a circular form or shape, a greater or less number of times according to
the power or strength required; the ends being clasped or bolted together,
or upon the leaves to keep the whole in proper position, and to better render
available and effectual the elasticity of all the leaves. Within such spring

page_text: are placed two head blocks or supports, or pressure blocks B and C, the length
of which are about equal to the radius of the spring; they should not, however,
absolutely meet each other, but should be a little distance apart, so as to allow
of the reaction of the spring, when happening, beyond its natural circular
position. The ends of these pressure or bearing blocks resting against the
springs are curved, so as to allow of the elongation of the springs, and the
extent of such elongation may be varied by the form of such curves. For
general purposes the form of an isometric ellipse, drawn by six circle arcs, is
deemed most preferable. One of these pressure or bearing blocks is to be
attached to the running gear of a carriage, or to the fixed part of any thing
to which the spring is to be applied, and the other connects with the body of
the carriage, or with the thing which is to be acted upon by the spring.
In the Drawings the block B is supposed to be fixed, while the other C
is connected through the bar D with anything intended to receive the clas-
ticity of the spring. The sensitiveness or stiffness of the spring will also be
affected more or less according as the parts B and C have a sharper or blunter
curve, and a narrower or broader seat upon the inner periphery of the spring.
If now weight or pressure be applied to the bar D connected with the
part C, the effect will be to elongate the spring, or press it out into the general
form of an ellipse, as shewn in Fig. 2. As soon, however, as the weight or
pressure is lifted or removed, the natural action or tendency of the spring will
be to assume the circular form. The action of the spring is thus produced by
its alternate elongation into an ellipse, and its contraction to or towards a circle.
Such action or vibration, it will also be observed, is secured by extending or
elongating such spring into an ellipse by means of pressure applied from within,
and not from pressure applied from without to compress the circle. The effect
of the pressure is therefore to produce an elliptic spring, and thus secure all
the sensitiveness of that kind of spring. It will also be apparent, upon proper
consideration, that the spring will be most sensitive when but slightly elon-
gated, or when there is but little weight or pressure applied to it, and that it
will be the most powerful when the most elongated, or when there is the
greatest weight upon it. Such action & effect is the reverse of that found
in the ordinary elliptic spring, to which pressure is applied from without to
compress it. The action of the spring, however, is not necessarily dependant
upon or the result of the completeness of the circle. The spring may be
severed at its opposite sides upon the parts B and C, and still its action be
the same, or it may be formed of leaves of varying lengths, as the ordi-
nary elliptic spring. The circular shape is however deemed preferable.
The important feature of its construction consists in the application of

page_text: force or power from within to elongate it, instead of from without to
compress it.
By applying the pressure from within to elongate the spring instead of from
without, the sustaining power of the spring is vastly increased. Careful experi-
ments prove that it will take many times as much power applied from within,
as described, to compress the sides or elongate the spring to the same extent as
when applied from without. The mechanical difference between the application
of power from within to elongate the spring, and that applied from without,
as in the ordinary elliptic spring, to compress it, is as power applied at the ends
of a curved or elbow joint lover to extend it, the resistance being at the elbow
joint, compared with power applied to the joint to press it down, resistance
being at the end. The position of the power applied does not, however,
prejudicially affect or diminish the elasticity.or sensitiveness of the spring.
Figs. 3, 4, shew a combination of two such springs placed together, and so
arranged in respect to each other, that as one is elongated, the other shall
assume more nearly the position of a circle, and as the former reacts or returns
towards its circular form, the latter will be elongated. In Fig. 3 the heavy
lines shew the position of one spring partly elongated by pressure within it,
and the dotted lines shew the relative position and condition of the other
spring. In Fig. 4 the heavy lines shew that spring as it has reacted and
taken more nearly the circular form, which action or motion has caused
the other spring to be elongated. As will thus be apparent, there is an elon-
gation of one spring or the other both when pressure is applied and also when
it intermits, or there is a reaction of the spring to which the pressure is
applied, and at the same time the force or power which causes either spring
to elongate is assisted or strengthened by the contractile power of the other.
The whole action of any spring, when composed of two springs so arranged in
respect to each other, is thus rendered more uniform and equal, and all sudden
jerks or movements are rendered impossible, and its motions are far more
pleasant, and also more firm and reliable. This spring may be applied to all
uses where springs are desired, and from the largest and most powerful to
very light ones, fitted for a child's carriage or for any slight service. Such
springs are, however, peculiarly adapted to use on railway carriages, and
especially for bumper springs. They can readily be so placed as to receive
pressure from any direction, and their construction is not only very economical,
but great strength of spring can be secured with lightness of material, and in
addition there is great durability. These springs will also be found particu-
larly useful in all places where it is necessary there should be sensitiveness to

page_text: the slightest weight or pressure, but where, at the same time, there should be
sufficient strength to resist the greatest pressure.
What is claimed as new, and that which is desired to be protected, is, the
spring A, composed or made up of one or more leaves or plates arranged or
laid upon each other, substantially as described, and in combination therewith
the application of power or pressure from within to elongate it, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
And also the arrangement and combination of two or more springs, placed
substantially as described in respect to each other, so that one shall contract
as the other is elongated, and vice versa, whereby a more pleasant, uniform,
and effective action is secured.
In witness whereof, I, the said Philo D. Mickles, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of January, A.D. 1860.
(L.S.) PHILO D. MICKLES.