IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward McCann, of Sheffield, in the West Riding of the
County of York, Spring Maker, for. the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SPRINGS."
J.
Sealed the 27th November 1877, and dated the 27th August 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward McCann at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th August 1877.
EDWARD MCCANN, of Sheffield, in the West Riding of the County of York,
Spring Maker.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS."
These improvements relate to springs for bearing and buffing purposes, adapted
to wagons, carriages, locomotives, and other railway. rolling stock, and to stationary
buffing apparatus, and to carriages, carts, lorries, and other road vehicles, and to
similar and other purposes. These improvements relate to that description of spring
known as "plate" or "leaf." As generally made and used the "plate" or
"leaf"
springs are composed of plates flat on the sides in cross section, and the plates are
"slotted and nibbed," or "ribbed and grooved," for the purpose of keeping them in
their proper positions and prevent their lateral movement.
These improvements consist in composing the spring of plates which are concave
and convex on the reverse sides in cross section, and making the top or back plate
flat on its upper surface and convex on its lower surface in cross section, and the
bottom or short plate flat on its bottom surface and concave on its upper surface in
cross section, and the intervening plates concave on their upper surfaces and convex
on their lower surfaces in cross section; or a spring constructed according to this
Invention can be made, of which the top or back plate is flat on its upper surface
and concave on its lower surface in cross section, and the bottom or short plate is
flat on its bottom surface and convex on its upper surface in cross section, and the
intervening plates are curved in cross section, having the concave side under and
the convex side uppermost.
Springs constructed as above specified can be fitted with plain or other suitable

page_text: hoops, or they can be used without hoops, and the plates can be held together by a
bolt or other suitable attachment.
Instead of the top and bottom plates being flat on one of their sides in cross
section they can be curved on both sides, and the hoops, if used, made of a
suitable shape to fit them; or the ordinary plain hoops can be used and packing
pieces inserted between the top and bottom plates, or one of them, and the hoop,
for the purpose of binding the plates together; or the top and bottom plates can be
flat on both sides in cross section, and the plates next thereto can be flat on one side
and curved on the reverse side in cross section, so as to fit up to the said top and
bottom plates, and the said top and bottom plates can be held in their proper
positions by the ordinary methods of "slotts and nibs," or "ribs and grooves;" or
instead of both the top and bottom plates being of the section above specified,
either the top or bottom plate can be so shaped and fitted.
Springs constructed according to this Invention can be made much lighter and at
less cost for labour than springs of the same capacity or resisting power constructed
of plates flat on both sides in cross section, or of plates with flat sides and "ribs
and grooves," as generally made and used.
The plates may be of any suitable curve or curves in cross section, or may be in
cross section of a configuration made up of straight lines and curves, or made up of
concave and convex curves on each side of the plate, but so as to impart a greater
resisting power to the spring formed of them than would be the case with a spring
of the same weight composed of flat plates.
The improved springs can be made of similar materials, and in a similar manner
to the springs in common use at this time; but owing to the configuration of the
plates composing them the necessity for "slotting and nibbing" or "ribbing and
grooving" them is wholly or in part obviated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward McCann in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th
February 1878.
EDWARD MCCANN, of Sheffield, in the West Riding of the County of York,
Spring Maker. IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS."
"
My Invention relates to plate or leaf springs in which two or more sections of
plates are employed for the purpose of constructing a spring which will be lighter
than a spring of ordinary construction and of equal efficiency.
"
or short
My Invention consists in the construction of springs in which the "back" or
long plate is convex on that side bearing against the next spring plate, and flat or
some other suitable formn on the reverse side, and in which the "bottom
plate is concave on that side bearing against the next spring plate, and flat or some
other suitable form on the reverse side, and in which the spring plates intervening
between the back" and "bottom" plates are concave on their upper surfaces and
convex on their lower surfaces.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, —
Figure No. 1 is a side view in elevation.
Figure No. 2 is a plan (that is to say, a half plan of the top of the spring, and a
half plan of the under side thereof).
Figure No. 3, an end view; and Figure No. 4, a vertical section (through the centre)
of my improved spring.
The ends of the improved springs can be arranged or formed for any description
of fastening, as in ordinary springs, and the improved springs can be fitted with
hoops if necessary or desirable.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is or can be carried into effect, I wish it to
be understood that what I claim as novel and secured to me by the herein in part
recited Letters Patent is, Improvements in Springs, as herein-before specified, and
described and illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward McCann, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
EDWARD MCCANN. (L.S.)
EDWARD MºCANN. (L.S.)