IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILROAD CAR SPRINGS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Perry Green Gardiner, of New York, in the
County and State of New York, in the United States of America,
for the
Invantion
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Perry, Green: Gardiner
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 3rd January 1873, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852:
"
TO. ALL. TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME; I, PERRY
GREEN GARDINER, of New York, in the County and State of New York,
in the United States of America, send-greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS
IN RAILROAD CAR SPRINGS," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant
unto me, my executors,, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters
Patent for the same, and have made solemn. Declaration that I am the
true and first Inventor thereof.

page_text: First. In hinging the bars of which the elliptical portion of the spring
is composed alternately upon the locking or joint pin, the upper bars
thus holding the lower bars at the desired separature or distance apart, 3
and vice versa, those on either side placed at equal spaces apart, and
parallel to each other and extending the whole length of the spring.
Second. In constructing the elliptical bars which constitute the two
sides of the spring with such a ratio to each other that there shall be an
even number of bars on one side and an uneven number on the other,

page_text: but the sum of the cross sections of the bars of either side of the spring
shall very closely approximate that of the other side, so as to both
equalize the strength of the two sides and balance or center the spring
upon the central bar of the odd numbers.
Third. In the construction of a central holding clip or clamp in two
parts, and so arranged as to admit the placing the bars within it, and
holding them in position, and allowing their elastic movement without
interfering with or endangering the action of the bars when under
pressure.
Fourth. In connecting the elliptical bars at the ends to the bolt or
pin by eyes formed. by bending the ends of the bars, and which eyes and
bolt form a hinge or joint upon which the ends of the bars play freely,
the bars on one side being bent around the bolt or pin in one direction,
and the bars on the opposite side of the elliptic being bent around the
pin in an opposite direction, and the eyes of the bars of each side
alternate with each other, so that the bars on one side are held at their
ends in their proper positions apart by the ends or eyes of the bars of the
other side of the spring.
Fifth. In combining with the elliptical square or round bar spring thus
constructed a vertical, spiral, and auxiliary spring and sectional bolt for
setting the spring and limiting the extent of the motion thereof, in the
manner herein-after described.
In order to explain this Invention as completely as possible, I now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying
the same into practical effect, reference being had to the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters of reference
marked thereon.
Figure I. is a vertical central horizontal section.
Figure II. is a vertical central section at right angles to that of
Figure I.
Figure III. is an exterior top view or plan.
And, Figure IV. is a detail view of the eves.
In all the Figures, similar letters represent similar parts.
In the Drawing the spring represented is a spring composed of four
bars on one side, and three on the other; either side of the spring

page_text: may be placed uppermost without altering its efficiency, the four bars
on one side shown in Fig. III., are represented by the even numbers
2, 2, 2, 2, and the three bars by the uneven numbers 1, 3, 5. In
Fig. I. is shown a side view of the whole length of the bars, the
smaller even number bar being 2, and the larger uneven 3; each series
of the bars on either half of the spring are parallel and at equal
distances from each other. These elliptical bars are held together at the
exact center line from the ends of the spring by the cast-iron clip or
clamp A. This clamp is divided horizontally into two parts, the lower m,
and the upper or cap n; suitable grooves are cut to receive the bars, as
shown in end section in Fig. II. These grooves are cut one half in
one face of the clamp, and the other half in the opposite face or cap n,
and the grooves in the outer half or cap n should be perfectly straight,
while on the inner half m of the clamp they should be gradually
deepened or curved in order to admit of the bending of the bars to the
required elliptical shape, as shown at a, Figure I. This curvature or
gradual deepening of the groove from the middle of the clamp leaves an
open space in the groove above the bar within the clamp for the play of
the bar without being cramped by the groove, and so as not to render
any breakage of the bar probable from the sharpness of the bearing of
the clamp, which might be the case were it not for the curve and
enlargement of the groove. The clamp A is made to press upon the
bars at the exact center between the ends, and holds them there only by
its pressure or friction bearing upon their central lines; this is accom-
plished by the screw bolts a³ passing through the outer half or cap n of
the clamp, and fastened into the inner half. It is to be observed in the
construction of the clips or clamps that whatever may be the ratio of the
number of bars on either side the clamps must have equal vertical
bearings under the load, so that there will be no uneven pressure. The
ends of the bars are jointed or hinged to the pin or bolt c, which has a
head and screw with nut to hold it in place in the usual manner.
eye is formed in each end of the bars by bending the end of the ba
around the pin c, as shown in Figs. I, & IV. at d, each alternate ba
being bent over the pin in an opposite direction. The bars of the two
sides of the elliptic being thus hinged alternately to the pin they are al
held in place and work freely under the elastic action of the spring, and
maintain their relative positions and uniform bearings. B is a stee
spiral auxiliary spring placed vertically between the two clamps A, an
having suitable bearings in the clamps A. Within the spiral coil is
An

page_text: bolt constructed in sections; one part thereof is a hollow cylindrical
tube b; and the other a pin or bolt 6', having at one end a head passing
through the neck of the sheath, and at its opposite end a nut by which
the spring is set and held together. The tube 6 is firmly united with
the inner section of the clamp A, and it slides when the spring is under
pressure within the cylindrical case 6³, attached to the opposite clamp A.
This arrangement of the bolt in sections as described is very useful in
limiting the extent of the elastic motion of the spring, especially that of
the spiral, for I have found by much practical experience that when the
coils of a spiral spring are forced by the pressure so as to come home, or
in other words so that the coils rest upon each other, the spring does
not resume its former and proper condition and soon looses its vitality.
In constructing the elliptical spring with the separate steel bars it
is important that whatever may be the number of the bars the ratio to
the opposite side should be preserved, and I prefer to leave an uneven
number on one side and an even number on the other, and at the same
time the strength of the two halves or sides of the spring should be
maintained to an exact equality as nearly as possible.
The central bar of the uneve numbers must constitute the central
line of the spring, for otherwise the spring will not have the necessary
central balance and equality of action and force on either side. If an
equal number of bars are used on each side of the spring in their
alternate positions, the clamps or clips have to be widened, one to receive
through it the additional bar, the other to balance and make an equal
bearing of the load on the clamp and spring.
The construction of the elliptic spring as above described combines
strength, elasticity, and durability, with lightness, beauty, facility of
tempering, and economy of materials, time, and labor; it materially
reduces the load on the large and heavy passenger cars, the difference in
weight alone between this spring and those of ordinary construction
being more than one-third; the spring is less liable to wear out from
friction; it can be made of any required strength and elastic power and
motion, and the cost of manufacture is very considerably reduced.
From the peculiarity of the construction of my spring from separate
bars instead of the usual flat leaves or plates, I call it by way of
distinction, "The parallel bars elliptic railroad car spring.”

page_text: Having now fully described and set forth my Invention, and the
manner in which the same is or may be used, I hereby declare that what
I claim as my Invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,―
First. An elliptical steel spring suitable for railroad cars in which the
separate bars forming the elliptical portion of the spring are alternately
hinged or set one upper bar next to a lower bar and vise versa, substan-
tially as set forth.
Second. The arrangement of the bars which constitute the two sides
or upper and lower parts in such a ratio to each other that one part
shall be composed of an even number of bars, and an uneven number on
the other part, preserving at the same time an equal strength and elastic
action in the upper and lower parts, substantially as described and
specified.
Third. The clamps A, A, for holding the bars and affording them a
suitable central bearing, constructed, arranged, and operating sub-
stantially in the manner and for the purposes described.
Fourth. The combination of the clamps A, A, having the sectional
guides 6, 6, and bolt 6' with the spiral spring B, the whole arranged and
operating substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Perry Green Gardiner, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.
PERRY GREEN GARDINER. (L.S.)
Witness,
HENRY E. ROEDER,
Solicitor of Patents,
302, Broadway, New York.