IMPROVEMENTS IN ASSISTANT BEARING SPRINGS FOR LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, RAILWAY CARRIAGES, WAGGONS, AND TRUCKS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Attock, Engineer, of Stratford, Essex, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ASSISTANT BEARING SPRINGS FOR LOCOMOTIVE
ENGINES, RAILWAY CARRIAGES, WAGGONS, AND TRUCKS."
Sealed the 29th December 1863, and dated the 81st August 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Attock at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 31st
August 1863.
I, GEORGE ATTOCK, Engineer, of Stratford, Essex, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ASSISTANT BEARING SPRINGS
FOR LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, RAILWAY CARRIAGES, WAGGONS, AND TRUCKS," to be as
follows:-
My improvements consist of a mode or modes of applying india-rubber or
steel springs between the under frame and body of carriages and trucks and
engines to isolate the wheels and under frame from the body, and by this means
to diminish the vibrations and shocks to which the body is subject from the
inequalities of the road; for this purpose I attach to the side timbers of the
under frame a number of iron brackets, each of which carries an india-rubber
or steel spring. To the under side frame of the body over each bracket I
attach wrought-iron guide bolts which pass through the springs and holes. in
the brackets, and so retain the body in place. At each corner of the carriago
the guide bolts are made longer than the intermediate bolts, and are provided
with screw ends and nuts, so as to hold down or confine the action of the

page_text: springs; all the rods may be furnished with screw ends and nuts, but I think
the four corners all that is required. I prefer to use these springs at the sides
only, but they may be placed at the ends as well, or they may be distributed
over the inside or transverse timbers as well if thought desirable. The guide
rods may
be fixed to the brackets and work into guides attached to the body
france, or into holes in the body frame, but I much prefer the first-mentioned
arrangement. As an additional safeguard I place a wrought-iron bracket inside
the frame attached to the body frame provided with a slot, in which a bolt is
secured to the headstock of the under frame.
The same or a similar arrangement can be applied to engines and tenders,
only that in such cases the under frame, in which the wheels and axles work,
must be made separate from the frame to which the engine or tender body is
fixed, so as to interpose the assistant bearing springs. Of course any kind of
spring or suitable elastic substance may be used as described, but the kind I.
prefer is the patented india-rubber cones of George Spencer as giving the
best action and being, safe in use; and the date of George Spencer's Patent is
July 22, 1853, and numbered 1733.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Attock in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th
February 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
ATTOCK, Engineer, of Stratford, Essex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for. Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said George Attock, Her special licence that I, the said George
Attock, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said George Attock, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ASSISTANT BEARING SPRIGGS FOR LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, RAILWAY CARRIAGES,
WAGGONS, AND TRUCKS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
George Attock, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing

page_text: 'under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 George Attock, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My improvements consist of a mode or modes of applying india-rubber or
steel springs between the under frame and body of carriages, trucks, and engines,
to isolate the wheels and under frame from the body, and by this means to
diminish the vibration and shocks to which the body is subject from the
inequalities of the road. For this purpose I attach to the side timbers of the
under frame four or more iron brackets, each of which carries an india-rubber
or steel spring. To the under side frame of the body over each bracket I
attach wrought-iron guide bolts, which pass through the springs and holes
in the brackets, and so retain the body in place. At each corner of the
carriage the guide bolts are made longer than the intermediate bolts and are
provided with screw ends and nuts and rebound springs, so as to hold down or
coufine the action of the springs. All the rods may be furnished with screw
ends and nuts and rebound springs, but I think the four corners all that is
required. I prefer to use these springs at the sides only, but they may be
placed at the ends as well, or they may be distributed over the inside or
transverse timbers as shown in Figures 2 in the Drawing as well if thought
desirable. The guide rods may be fixed to the brackets and work into guides
attached to the body frame, or into holes in the body frame, but I much
prefer the first-mentioned arrangement. As an additional safeguard I place
a wrought-iron bracket inside the frame attached to the body frame provided
with a slot, in which a bolt is secured to the headstock of the under frame.
The same or a similar arrangement can be applied to engines and tenders,
only that in such cases the under frame, in which the wheels and axles work,
must be made separate from the frame to which the engine or tender body is
fixed, so as to interpose the assistant bearing springs. Of course any kind of
spring or suitable elastic substance may be used as described, but the kind I
prefer is the patented india-rubber cones of George Spencer, as giving the
best action and being safe in use; and the date of George Spencer's Patent is
July 22nd, 1858, No. 1783.
In the Drawing annexed Figures 1 show the mode I prefer to use in

page_text: applying these springs. A is the side timber of under frame of carriage, truck,
or engine; B is the bracket to carry the spring; C, D, is a cup plate secured
to the frame of carriage body, through which the guide bolt E passes, and is
secured to the body frame F.as shown. I arrange these on each side of
under frame of carriage, either inside or outside, the number used being
regulated by the weight of body and passengers.
Figures 2 shows another modification of my Invention, and is intended to be
used in cases where the frame of body does not project over the under frame.
In this case flat blocks of the india-rubber or elastic substance, either square,
round, or other convenient form, are placed at intervals between the top of
under frame and the bottom of body frame, the usual bolts to connect tho
body and under frame passing through the blocks. I find a considerable
amelioration of the jar from this plan, but that shown in Figures 1 is much
*more perfect in action. One form of these is shown in Figures 2, in which C
is the spring of india-rubber or other elastic material.
CHORCE ATTOCK Gol
GEORGE ATTOCK