Improvements in Devices for Preventing Rattling in Thill- Couplings.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1896-Accepted, 8th Aug., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Preventing Rattling in Thill-
Couplings.
1, JOHN WILLARD WILLARD, of the town of Pittsford, in the County of
Rutland and State of Vermont, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 :-
This invention relates to an improvement in devices for taking up the wear and
thereby preventing rattling in thill-couplings for vehicles; and it consists in the
improved construction hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, in which-
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved anti-rattler placed in
position, the axle, clip, and a portion of the socket on the thill-iron being
represented in transverse vertical section.
Figure 2 is a section taken on line a, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the anti-rattler removed.
Figure 4 is a section taken on line y, Figure 1.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts:
A represents an axle, B the clip, C the thill, C₁ the thill-socket, and c the bolt
securing the thill to the lugs a connecting with the axle.
The anti-rattler consists of a spring-steel plate bent into substantially the form
shown, that is to say, into two members D and E. The member D is the one
which is next the axle, and the member E is that which is next the thill. The
inember D has its upper end curved at D' outwardly toward the clip B, and such
end is preferably provided with a band or pocket E' which forms a sheath and
covers the member at that point, and hence comes into direct contact with the
portion B' which extends over the clip and the portion a' which connects the lugs a.
The member D is bent inward at D", thence down at d and again outward at d',
thus producing a recessed portion F which is furnished with a slot consisting of the
substantially round portion f and elongation f. From the point d' the member D
curves outward again at H forming a nearly circular bend or loop and narrowing
at the point d and again broadening at the point g on the member E. This
broadening ceases at the point g' and the member E is substantially or nearly
straight until it reaches the point 1 where the said member bends slightly inward
forming a slight horizontal groove, and then outward at J constituting a horizontal
shoulder. From this point the member curves inward and upward on substantially
an arc of a circle at K, and this portion is preferably covered and protected by a
band or pocket L made of elastic material and which comes in direct contact with
the socket C¹ of the thill.
The member E is provided with a screw-threaded perforation N, and a screw P
engages the thread in said perforation and extends to the portion F of the member D
and thence, by means of an annular groove or neck P' through the slot ff, said
screw being provided on its end with a flange P of sufficient diameter to overlap
the edges of the elongated portion f¹ of the slot. The screw is provided with a
suitable handle or thumb piece P.
To expand the anti-rattler, that is to say, to force apart the members, the screw
is turned toward the right thus forcing the member D outward by means of the
shoulder P next the groove P. To contract the anti-rattler, turn the screw to
the left, and the flange P will draw the member D toward the member E. Thus

page_text: the screw or bolt P both contracts and expands the device. In order to place the
device in the position indicated in Figure 1, it is sufficiently contracted, and then
after having been placed in such position, is expanded sufficiently to prevent its
dropping or escaping. When in such position the curved portion or lip D' of the
member D-which may be protected or not as desired by the elastic pocket or
band E-bears against the portions B' and a' as above described and prevents the
member D from slipping down, and the curved portion K-which may be provided
or not as desired with the pocket or band L-fits and bears against the socket C¹
of the thill. The lower portion of the anti-rattler is kept well back toward the
axle by means of the shoulder J which effectually prevents the member E from
riding upon the thill. The recessed portion F of the inember D provides space
for the flange or head P" of the bolt P, thus allowing the anti-rattler to be thrown
well back toward the carriage, and preventing the device from being conspicuous.
In assembling the parts, the flange or head P of the bolt or serew P is passed
through the portion f of the slot and moves into the upper portion of the part f
thereof and then as the device is contracted moves still further down into the
elongation f¹, and up as the device is expanded. The portion therefore not
only serves to hold by its edges the head P, but also provides for vertical play
thereof.
The spring or bend at H is of suitable size and strength-determined by the
thickness and the width of the metal and the size of its curvature-to enable the
anti-rattler to be put into the shaft-coupling without setting or breaking.
The spring is preferably tempered with the screw in position, at the greatest
spread that will be ever required in the shaft-coupling to stop the rattle. The
screw or bolt enables the members to be readily drawn together, so that the spring
can be inserted without the use of any mechanical appliances, and the spring is so
formed that the screw can be turned to a point where the natural spring of the
anti-rattler relieves the pressure from the screw and holds the device in position
upon the shaft-coupling."
The rubber bands or pockets E¹ L are intended to produce the peculiar and
desirable "dead" effect which is the result of the combination of a metallic and a
rubber spring.
The entire device can be cheaply and quickly made, easily inserted, withdrawn
and adjusted, and is not liable to get out of repair.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. An anti-rattler for thill couplings, comprising two members, and mechanism
extending from one said member into engagement with the other and adapted by
such engagement to contract or expand the anti-rattler, that is, move the members
toward or from each other, substantially as described.
2. An anti-rattler for thill couplings, comprising a piece of sheet-metal bent
back upon itself into two members, and a bolt or screw extending from one member
into engagement with the other and adapted by such engagement to contract or
expand the anti-rattler, that is to draw the members toward each other or force
them apart, as desired, substantially as set forth.
3. An anti-rattler for thill couplings, comprising a piece of sheet-metal bent
back upon itself into two members, one member being provided with a screw-
threaded hole and the other with a plain hole, and the bolt or screw P engaging in
the threaded opening in the one member and provided with an annular groove P
and head or flange P whereby the other member is engaged by reason of said
grooved portion lying in the plain hole therein and is adapted to be forced inward
said bead or flange and outward by the shoulder P produced by the forming
of said annular groove, substantially as described.
4. The herein described improved anti-rattler, comprising the member E
provided with the threaded hole N, the member D provided with the plain hole f

page_text: elongated into the extension f¹, and the bolt or screw P provided with the annular
groove Pl and head or flange P", said screw engaging with the threaded opening N
and extending by means of said annular groove through the opening ff', said
opening being large enough to allow of relative vertical play by the screw and
having its extension narrow enough to allow the edges of the said flange or head to
overlap the edges of said extension, substantially as set forth.
5. The herein described improved anti-rattler, comprising a piece of sheet-metal
bent back upon itself into two members D and E, and a bolt or screw connecting
said members and adapted to contract or expand the same, the said member D
which when the anti-rattler is in position, is at the rear, that is to say, nearer to
the axle, being formed with the forward or inward bend d and rearward or down-
ward bend d whereby a recess F is formed at the point where the said bolt or
screw engages said member D, whereby space is afforded for the projecting end or
head of said bolt or screw without preventing the anti-rattler from lying
or extending rearward toward the axle, substantially as described.
6. In an anti-rattler consisting of a plate bent into two members, the combination
with one or both of said members, of an encircling band or sheath constructed of
elastic material and applied to the upper end of said member, whereby said elastic
band or sheath is interposed between said member and the carriage, substantially
as set forth.
Dated this Oth dau of Man 1000
JOHN WILLARD WILLARD.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.