IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELED CARRIAGES AND IN PANELS, AND SPRINGS FOR CARRIAGES AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1847

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, CHARLES
DE BERGUE, of Arthur Street West, in the City of London, Engineer, and JOHN
COOPE HADDAN, of No. 11, Upper Woburn Place, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Royal
Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Eighth day of April, in the tenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto us, the said Charles De Bergue and John Coope Haddan, our exors,
adiňors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and autho-
rity, that we, the said Charles De Bergue and John Coope Haddan, our exors,
adiñors, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Charles De Bergue and
John Coope Haddan, our exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, our Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELED CARRIAGES AND IN PANELS, AND
SPRINGS FOR CARRIAGES AND OTHER PURPOSES," within England, Wales, and
the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey,
Alderney, Sark, and Man, and also in all Her said Majesty's Colonies and
Plantations abroad; in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso
obliging us, the said Charles De Bergue and John Coope Haddan, particularly
to describe and ascertain the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner

page_text: the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under our hands and
seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, and to cause the same to be
inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent, as, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that, in compliance with the said proviso, we, the said
Charles De Bergue and John Coope Haddan, do hereby declare that the nature
of our said Invention and the manner in which the same is to be performed
are particularly described and ascertained in and by this present Specification
or instrument in writing, which is intended to be signed and sealed by us or by
the 'one of us, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to
the several figures and letters or characters marked thereon (that is to say) :-
Our invention consists,―
Firstly, in an improved mode of constructing the framework of railway
carriages.
Secondly, in: an improved mode of manufacturing papier machée panels to
be used for carriages and other purposes.
Thirdly, in improved modes of constructing steel springs for carriages and
other purposes.
Fourthly, of an improved side or bearing spring for railway and other
carriages.
Fifthly, in an improved buffing spring or apparatus for railway stations.
Sixthly, in an improved spring to be applied to gun breechings.
Seventhly, in an improved spring to be applied to the standing rigging of ships.
Firstly, our improved mode of constructing the framework of railway car-
riages consists in fitting and joining together the pieces of timber of which
such framework is composed by means of improved cylindrical tenons and
mortises, and an improved mode of making the shoulders and faces which are
intended to fit together square and true, for the purpose of effecting which
we use a machine or apparatus and tools for forming the cylindrical tenons and
corresponding mortices above referred to, and for facing the timber at the
places where these joints occur. In constructing tenons and mortices of the
ordinary forms for putting together the framing of railway carriages, much
labor is expended in planing the timbers and fitting them together, but by
our invention such planing ceases to be absolutely necessary, and if proper
tools are used, such as are herein-after referred to, the accuracy of the fitting
will be ensured, and no facing of the timbers will be requisite for putting them
together beyond what such tools will effect. This will be better understood by
reference to Figure T., in the accompanying Drawings, which shews a plan view

page_text: of the timbers constituting the mane under framing of a railway waggon, put
together as herein-after described. It will be observed that the sides of these
timbers which are not exposed externally to view are not planed up, but in
order to render the fitting accurate, a flat surface or facing is made at each of
the places where there is any junction of the timbers. Figure II. is a side
view of one end of a piece of timber, before being operated upon, but having
the position of two of the tenons intended to be formed thereon denoted by
dotted lines. Figure III., a side view of the tool for the formation of such
tenons, and making the shoulders or ends of the pieces of timber square and
true. Figure IV., a side view shewing the last mentioned tool in the act of
cutting one of such tenons. Figure V. is a side view of the end of a piece of
timber, shewing two of the tenons completed, formed, and the shoulder or end
of the timber made square and true. Figure VI. is a side or front view of a
portion of a piece of timber, having two of our improved mortices formed
therein for receiving two tenons, such as shewn in Figure V., and being also
faced square and true, for the purpose of receiving and fitting the shoulder or
end of a piece of timber, such as shewn in Figure V. Figure VII. is a
side elevation, and VIII. an end or plan view of the tool for the formation
of our improved mortices, and for facing the timber at such places. The
action of the morticing and facing tool is shewn (though on a smaller scale) in
the following Figures: Figure IX. is an end or side elevation of the machine
or apparatus which we employ to work the tools for the formation of both
tenons and mortices, but exhibiting the application of the tool or cutter for the
formation of the latter only. Part of this view is represented in section, in
order to render it the more explanatory. Figure X. is a plan view of the said
machine or apparatus. Figure XI. is a side view of portions thereof (denoted
by the letters or marks of reference thereon), but intended chiefly as a diagram
to explain the action of the lever D, D*, D3, hereafter referred to. In all
these Figures similar characters or marks of reference are used to denote similar
parts. A is the upper portion of a strong table or frame work, upon which
the machine rests. B is the bed plate; C, C, standards for the axis of the
lever or casting D, D*, D. This lever is cast all in one peice, and consists
(besides the part marked D) of three arms D*, D*, D*, two of which support
or carry the cutter shaft E in suitable bearings E*, E*, and of one longer arm
D2, at the end of which the power is to be applied for altering the position
of the cutter shaft E, as occasion may require, for the purpose herein-after
described. Fis a guide piece, through which one end of the arm D³, of the
lever works. Holes are formed in this guide piece, and suitably placed, so as
that when a pin is passed through one of them, and at the same time through

page_text: the said end of the lever, the said lever (and with it the cutter shaft E also)
may be held in the required position. G, is a strap or band passing over a
pulley on the shaft E, and by which it may be driven by the power of a steam
engine or any suitable prime mover. The shaft E carries either of the tools
or cutters, that is to say, for forming either tenons or mortices, and has liberty
to slide endways in either direction in its bearings E*, E*. I is a screw
working through a correspondingly threaded female screw in the third arm D*
of the lever. This screw is turned by means of a small wheel I*, and by it
the tool or cutter may be gradually caused to act upon its work. K is a head
stock or casting, constructed so as to hold the timbers to be operated upon
either longitudinally or transversely with regard to the direction of the cutter
shaft E. In Figures IX. and X. the timber to be operated upon is represented
as lying at right angles with the cutter shaft. The former of these Figures
having the headstock and the timber represented in section shows two of our
improved mortices formed in the said timber. K✶ is the plate or table of the
headstock K upon which the timber rests. L is a screw furnished with a
lever or handle L*, by turning which the timber will be firmly held. The dotted
lines in those Figures shew the position of a piece of timber, the end of which
is presented to the cutter shaft, the end of such piece of timber passing through a
hole formed for that purpose in the headstock or casting K, but whether the
timber be presented longitudinally or transversely, it will require in either case
other supports, which may be supplied according to circumstances in any suit-
able manner. By reference to the Figure XI. the action of the lever D, D*, D,
may be more readily comprehended; the full lines shew it in such a position
as to place the cutter shaft suitably for the formation of the lower of two
tenons or mortices disposed on the timbers as represented at Figures II., V.,
and VI., and the dotted line 1, 2, (Figure XI.) shews the lever in such a posi-
tion as to place the cutter shaft suitably for the formation of the upper of two
such two tenons or mortices. The red line 3, 4, is a horizontal line intended
to show that the angle of vibration equal on either side thereof, and consc-
quently that the direction of a line passing the two centres or positions of
action of the cutter shaft would be vertical, as represented by the red line 5, 6.
The tool or cutter M, represented in the Figure III., is for the purpose of
forming our cylindrical tenons, and fits on to or over the end of the cutter
shaft E, to which it may be fixed firmly by means of a screw M. This tool
or cutter so fixed will, when presented to its work, and caused to operate thereon,
cut away or remove portions of the wood, leaving 3. cylindrically shaped portion
remaining, and projecting out from a flat surface, as represented most clearly in
Figure V.; this cylindrically shaped remaining portion constitutes our improved

page_text: tenon. The tool or cutter N, N*, represented in Figures VII., VIII, IX., and
X., is for the purpose of forming our hollow cylindrical or corresponding mor-
tices, and facing the timbers at such parts. It consists of two portions, that
marked N fits into the end of the cutter shaft E, to which it may be fixed
5 firmly by means of a pin passing through both, and that marked N*, being
somewhat similar to the tool or cutter M, like it fits on to or over the end
of the said cutter shaft, and may be fixed firmly thereto in a similar manner.
The portion N of the tool is similar to the "bit" or centre bit, commonly used
by carpenters for boring holes in wood, and it is this portion which forms the
hole or mortice, and the portion N* of the tools serves to face or render the
adjoining portions of the timber square and true with respect to the mortice, so
as to fit the square shoulder of the tenon. The depth of the mortices will of
course depend on the dimension O (see Figure. VII.), and this should be
about the same with the dimension P (see Figure III.), or a trifle greater,
in order to the formation of a properly corresponding tenon: The dimensions
O*, Figure VII.) should also be about the same with the dimension P*,
(Figure III.), in order that the diameter of the mortices and tenons may cor-
respond. From what has been above stated, and from the particular descrip-
tion herein-before given of the Figure XI., it is evident that if properly
corresponding tools or cutters be used on the end of the cutter shaft E, the
one for the formation of pairs of tenons on the ends of timbers longitudi-
nally presented against it, and the other for the formation of pairs of mortices
on the sides of timbers transversely presented against it, such tenons will
accurately fit such mortices, and correspond with them also as regards their
relative positions, the one to the other of each of such pairs. And this accurate
fitting will be obtained without any planing of the surfaces of the timbers or
the labor which the ordinary plan for the formation of tenons and mortices of
necessity requires. A line passing the centres of the pairs of tenons or
mortices need not be vertical, as mentioned in the description of Figure IX.,
but might be oblique or even horizontal, if circumstances should render
desirable to arrange the machinery in a different manner. This machinery
may be arranged so as to make more than two of such tenons or mortices as
aforesaid side by side; thus three, four, or even more might be grouped toge-
ther, and in some cases perhaps a single tenon and mortice might be employed.
We hereby claim as of the said first part of our Invention the mode of con-
structing the framework for railway carriages by means of cylindrical tenons
and mortices made in the pieces of timber of which they are constructed in
manner herein-before described.
Secondly, our mode of manufacturing papier machée panels to be used for

page_text: carriages and other purposes, consists in drying such panels in metal frames for
the purpose of making them flat and even. A piece of papier machée intended
to be used as a panel, whilst it remains moist, is to be placed in a suitable
frame, by which it may be held flat, and in that position it must be kept until
it has been sufficiently dried, as the moisture evaporates the papier machée
will shrink, and its edges being firmly held by the frame the panel will be
rendered flat and even. We recommend that the bolts which pass through
and fix the frames together, should likewise pass through the panel itself.
This will be understood more clearly by reference to those Figures of the
Drawing which illustrate this part of our Invention. Figure XII. is an edge
view of a pair of the frames, and Figure XIII. a plan or face view of the
same. In each of these Figures A and A are the frames, B and B are the
bolts, and C and C are the nuts which fit over the ends of the bolts and fasten
the two frames together. And we hereby claim as of the said second part of
our Invention the mode of drying papier machée panels in frames in inauner
and for the purposes aforesaid.
Thirdly, we will now describe our improved modes of constructing steel
springs for carriages and other purposes. This we shall shew more clearly by
a review of what has previously been donė. Figures XIV. and XV. represent
side and inverted plan views respectively of an old form of steel spring. This
kind of spring is formed of a number of flat pieces of steel of various lengths,
arranged as shewn, such pieces being cut from flat strips or plates of the metal,
and it will be observed that from the point or place where one plate overlaps
another to the end thereof, each plate is chamfered off, and gradually
diminishes in thickness. This is effected by hammering the ends of the pieces
so cut off while they are in a heated state. Now, the only object of this
gradual diminution in thickness is to obtain what may be termed a taper of
clasticity, and the objection to this spring is that in the heating of the plates
for the purpose of tempering them, the thin ends are liable to be burnt before
the other portions become red hot, and in consequence of this many of the
plates are spoilt. In order, therefore, to overcome this objection, and at the
same time to retain the required taper of elasticity, the spring represented in
the inverted plan view, Figure XVI., was introduced. Figure XVII. is a side
elevation of this spring. It will be observed from the latter Figure that the
plates of which the spring is composed are of equal thickness throughout their
entire length, and that consequently the objection as to tempering before re-
ferred to is obviated. The required taper of elasticity is obtained by cutting
or forming the ends of the plates into the shape shewn in Figure XVI. This
is found to answer extremely well; but it is evident that in cutting the pieces

page_text: of which the spring is composed. out of flat plates of steel there is a waste of
metal: The object of our improvement is to avoid this waste of material, and
at the same time to retain the essential advantages possessed by the form of
spring lastly above described; and this we effect by cutting or forming the
plates as represented in Figure XVIII., from which it is evident that in cutting
the pieces out of a plate of metal there is little or no waste, and less trouble is
incurred in the operation, as one single cut, while it separates two pieces from
each other, forms at the same time the required shape for two ends (one end
of each) of the said plates. The angle at which this cut is made must be
varied according to the degree of flexibility which the spring may be required
to possess; the more acute the angle of the point is made the more flexible the
spring will be. We have shewn in Figures XVIII., XIX., and XX. of the
said Drawings different modes of arranging our plates for forming springs, the
one or other of which may be adopted as may be deemed most convenient.
We consider that in some cases, and particularly for "buffers," the arrange-
ment of the plates of a spring, as shewn in Figure XVIII., will be found ser-
viceable, as this arrangement renders one side of the spring somewhat stronger
than the other, which may prevent or obviate the tendency to "rise up,"
which buffer springs frequently possess. And we claim as of the said third
part of our Invention the mode of constructing steel springs for carriages and
other purposes in manner herein-before described.
Fourthly, our improved side or bearing spring for railway and other car-
riages consists of a combination of slings with pieces of India rubber, for the
purpose of suspending the bodies of such carriages, and we have shewn, by
way of illustration, in the said Drawings the mode in which we effect this
combination. Figure XXI. is a sectional side clevation of a spring con-
structed according to this part of our Invention, and shewing the manner in
which it is attached to the under frame of a carriage. Figure XXII. is a
plan of the same spring and some of the parts connected with it, some of such
parts being shewn in section as taken through the line Z, Z, in Figure XXI.
Figure XXIII. is a transverse section taken as denoted by the line Y, Y, in
Figure XXI. Figure XXIV. is an end view of the upper portion of an axle box
to which the spring is to be attached. Figure XXV. is a side elevation of the same
portion of an axle box. Figure XXVI. is an inverted plan view of the same por-
tion; A, A, is part of the side of the frame, or "sole bar" of the under frame of a
railway carriage. B, B, are two pairs of wrought iron struts or supports, which
clip the sole bar A, A, to which they are securely bolted, these struts answering a
to the "scroll irons" at present in use for supporting the under
carriage. C, C, are two hollow metal boxes or cylinders which, by means of
similar
purpose
..

page_text: their lugs D, D, are rivetted or bolted to the lower extremities of the struts
B, B. The middle of each of these boxes is formed with a tube or pipe C
round which are placed two Indian rubber rings, E, E, which are made so as to
leave spaces between the insides of the rings and the tube C*, and between the
outsides of the rings and the insides of the boxes C, C, for the purpose of
allowing the India rubber, when compressed, to expand laterally. An annular
metallic plate F is placed between the said rings, this plate being furnished
with two small bosses, so as to keep the rings in their proper positions, concen-
tric with the boxes and tubes. G, G, are strong annular metallic plates, which
slide upon the tubes C*, C*, and which pass freely within the boxes C, C.
Each of these plates is furnished with two bosses; a small one placed towards
the interior of the box, and a large one placed on the outside so as to project
sufficiently beyond the tube C upon which it is placed, and allow it to be
pressed within the box by the double nuts at the end of the bolt H, passing
through the tube. The India rubber used for these springs must be prepared
in such a way as to be rendered permanently elastic, by some of the processes
which are now adopted for that purpose. Slide bolts H and H pass through
the tubes C*, C*, within which they are made to slide with facility, These
bolts are furnished at their ends which are nearest to the axle with shackles,
H*, H*, and at their other ends with double screw nuts I, I, which fit close up
against the bosses or projections G*, G*, on the plates G, G, so that when the
carriage body is suspended upon the axle box, by means of the slings or links
P and P, the plates G and G may press upon the India rubber rings contained
in the box, which will thus act as a spring when the carriage is in motion.
K is the axle box, provided with a chamber K* on the top to contain the
grease or lubricating material. L is a plate perforated with a square hole,
made to fit round the grease chamber on the top of the axle box, to which it
is firmly secured by bolts and nuts M, M, which pass through the said plate
and the axle box, and also through the under cap N of the axle box, which is
thereby supported, and serves to protect the journal from the effects of dust, &c.
The plate L overlaps the axle box on each side thereof, thereby forming
two projecting arms, L, L*, which are to be bent downwards, as shewn in the
Drawing. The arms L. L*, are furnished with shackles O, O, similar to the
shackles H*, H*, and with which they are connected by the slings or links P, P,
by which the under frame of the carriage will be slung and supported upon
the
axle box, so that the weight of the carriage may rest upon the axle.
or braces B, B, are strengthened, and rendered firm and steady by
bar Q, connected by pins R, R, to the said bars or braces B, B.
or strut is not only thus connected with the bars or braces B, B, but also with
The bars
a strut or
This bar

page_text: the lower ends of the two prongs of the axle guard S, which is also
strengthened thereby. The axle guard S is not intended to be used for
governing the motion of the axle box as in the ordinary way, that object being
sufficiently attained by the slings or links P, P, the axle guard being merely
intended as a safeguard against accident. In order that the bolts H, H, may
work easily and smoothly in the tubes C*, C*, oil or other lubricating material
must be introduced at the upper end of each tube, but several small holes
must be drilled through the large boss of each annular plate G, so as to ensure
the escape of any excess of oil or other lubricating material from the inside of
the tube, and prevent its coming in contact with the Indian rubber, which it
would most probably injure. The rings of India rubber are shewn in
Figure XXI., as they will appear when compressed by the weight of a loaded
carriage body, and when the carriage is in motion the expansion and contrac-
tion of those rings will, by means of the slings or links P, P, act as a spring
both perpendicularly and laterally, as well as slightly in a longitudinal direc-
tion. In the construction of this kind of spring, although we have only shown
two pairs of India rubber rings in the Drawing, three or more of such rings
may be used, if desired, or one only of such rings may be used in each cylin-
drical box. The angle of deflexion of the springs (from a horizontal line)
shown in Figure XXI. is twenty-two and a half degrees, which gives about
one inch perpendicular motion for every quarter inch compression on each pair
of rings, and the nuts are intended as a means of adjustment to obtain pre-
ciscly the angle required, which may be varied so as to raise the carriage body
and increase the tension of the springs. When this spring is intended to be
applied to carriages such as run upon common roads, and the axles of which
do not revolve, the axle box must be dispensed with, and the axle guard will
not in all cases be necessary, and the plate L, to which the slings are attached,
must be bolted to the axle. The struts B, B, may in this case be varied in
shape, so as to be suitable to the particular description of carriage to which the
spring is to be attached. The dimensions of the India rubber rings must in
every case be accommodated to the weight which the spring will have to bear.
And wo hereby claim, as of this fourth part of our Invention, the mode
or modes of constructing side or bearing springs for railway and other car-
riages, by combining slings, with picces of India rubber as herein-before
described.
Fifthly, our improved buffing apparatus for arresting or stopping engines,
carriages, or trains at a terminus or station of a railway is shewn in
Figures XXVII. and XXVIII. of the Drawings hereunto annexed. Figure
XXVII. is a plan, and Figure XXVIII. a side elevation of the apparatus.

page_text: A, A, are two walls constructed of brickwork or solid masonry, and running
parallel to the rails, leaving between them just sufficient width to admit the
passage of the engines or carriages. B, B, are strong posts of oak or other
timber, one at each end of each wall. C, C, are cappings or planks of
timber, which surmount the walls A, A, and are "tenoned" at their ends
into the parts B, B, and properly secured at intervals along their length. D, D,
are two iron rods or bolts, which pass through the parts, and being screwed up
tightly by their nuts, brace all firmly together. E is a cross beam of sufficient
strength fixed at such a height as to receive the blow of the engine or carriage
buffers, and sliding upon the rods D, D. If necessary, it may be provided
with supporting wheels or rollers to run on the wooden cappings C, C, in order
to raise the rods D, D, should they have a tendency to bag down. Immedi-
ately behind this cross beam E, and upon the rods D, D, are vulcanized India
rubber rings F, F, and separating plates G, G, extending the whole length of
the said rods, (although for convenience a part only are shewn in the Figures,)
so that when the blow of an engine, carriage, or train is received by the cross
beam E, it is transferred to the rings F, F, which become compressed thereby
and form a very powerful spring, which will be found an efficacious buffer for
the purposes for which it is intended. The length of the stroke on this plan
may be carried to any required extent which the limits of the station will permit,
though it is probable that for all practical purposes a run of six or eight fect
will be found amply sufficient. To prevent the recoil which a spring of such
length and power would occasion, racks H, H, are fixed near to and in a direc-
tion parallel to the rods D, D, and "palls" or catches I, I, are fixed to the
cross beam E, which take into the teeth of the said rack; this will sufficiently
retain the cross beam E, in the position into which it is forced up, until released
by proper tackling for that purpose, but which it is considered unnecessary to
represent in the Drawing. Or another method of preventing the recoil of this
buffing apparatus might be by chains or ropes attached to the cross beam E,
and passing with two or three coils over a strong fixed bar at the opposite end
of the apparatus, whereby a comparatively small weight attached to the ends of
such chains or ropes would be sufficient to effectually retain the cross beam in
the position into which it might be forced up, and from which position it might
be released by simply raising the weight by a crane or any convenient
apparatus for the purpose. As, however, the method of preventing the recoil,
and the means of release form no part of our Invention, we do not confine our-
selves to the specific plans described for effecting these objects, and they are
instanced only to afford information as to methods of employing our improved
station buffing apparatus. Where a shorter stroke is considered necessary, a

page_text: simple and efficacious station buffing apparatus may be constructed on the prin-
ciple of the ordinary carriage buffer, (as shewn in side view in Figure XXIX.,)
but of a size and strength adapted to the length of stroke required. And
we hereby claim, as of this fifth part of our said Invention, the mode or modes
of constructing buffing apparatus in manner herein-before described.
Sixthly, our improved spring to be applied to gun breechings" is repre-
sented in Figures XXX., XXXI., and XXXII., of the said Drawings.
Figure XXX., is a transverse sectional view of a portion of a ship exhibiting
our improved spring as applied to a breeching, the object of such breeching
being to check the backward motion of guns when they recoil after being fired,
and our springs are applied for the purpose of preventing breechings from being
broken by the sudden jerk or strain put upon them when the gun is fired. The
improved springs which we apply to such breechings are made of Indian rubber
rendered permanently elastic as before mentioned, which have the effect of more
gradually checking the backward motion referred to than can be effected by
the breechings as at present constructed. Figure XXXI. is a side elevation
of parts shewn in section in Figure XXX., and denoted by similar lette'; of
reference. Figure XXXII. is a plan of the same parts. A, (Figure XXX.)
is a gun mounted on a carriage B, and secured as shewn by a rope C, and
pullies D, D*. E, E, mark receptacles for the Indian rubber rings F, F, and
plates G, G, placed between them to the pulley D, and to one end of the rope
C, are attached rods which pass through the said rings and plates, and termi-
nate in a stronger plate F*, F*, between which and the receptacles E E, the
rings undergo compression, and exercise their clastic property. The same
arrangement exists on both sides of the gun, although the Drawing (Figure
XXX.,) represents, and we have herein above described it, as existing only
on one side thereof. And we claim, as of the sixth part of our said
Invention, the improved springs applied to gun breechings as herein-before
described.
Seventhly, our improved spring to be applied to the standing rigging of ships,
is represented in Figure XXXIII. of the said Drawings, which shews a side
elevation of a portion of the side of a ship and of its "shrouds." In shrouds
formed of wire, rope, or chain, the variations in the lengths of the shrouds, caused
by variations in temperature and other causes, renders it desirable that they should
be furnished with springs. These springs we make of India rubber rendered
permanently elastic as before mentioned, and we apply them to the bottoms of
the shrouds, as shewn in the Figure, or to the tops if found more convenient.
A, A, Figure XXXIII., are wire rope or selvagee wire "shrouds." B, B, are
the "dead eyes."
C, C, are vulcanized Indian rubber rings and plates similar

page_text: to those referred to in the various applications above described, and attached to
dead eyes" or rigging by rods passing through them, and terminating in
or connected with a plate between which and the part marked D, D, (which
may be of any suitable construction,) the rings undergo compression and exer-
cise their clastic property. These springs may be applied in a similar manner
to back stays and other standing rigging of ships. And we hereby claim as of
the seventh part of our said Invention, the improved spring applied to the
standing rigging of ships in manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Charles De Bergue and John Coope
Haddan, have hereunto set our hands and seals, or the one of us has
hereunto set his hand and scal, this Eighth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.