IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS FOR CARRIAGES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Imray, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SPRINGS FOR CARRIAGES." A communication from abroad by Edouard
Delessert. of Paris, France.
Sealed the 12th December 1879, and dated the 27th September 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Imray at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th September 1879.
JOHN IMRAY, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS FOR CARRIAGES." [A communication
from abroad by Edouard Delessert, of Paris, France.]
As springs are usually applied in carriages they have to support the weight of
the body of the carriage, and consequently must be of such strength that they are
deficient in sensitiveness. This Invention relates to a mode of applying springs in
carriages whereby this defect is remedied. For this purpose the seat and footboard
are suspended from the roof by cords or rods, portions of which are elastic, being
made either as helical metal springs or as caoutchouc springs, or these cords or rods
may hang from blade springs attached to the roof. In order to steady the seat and
footboard elastic balls or rollers may be placed under them and between them and
the carriage body, which may rest on the usual external springs, though with the
arrangement described such springs are unnecessary. The spring suspension of the
seat and footboard is applicable in private or railway carriages, or generally in
vehicles carrying passengers.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Imray in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th December
1879.
JOHN IMRAY, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS FOR CARRIAGES." A communication
from abroad by Edouard Delessert, of Paris, France.
As springs are usually applied in carriages they have to support the weight of
the body of the carriage, and consequently must be of such strength that they are
deficient in sensitiveness. This Invention relates to a mode of applying springs in
carriages whereby this defect is remedied. For this purpose the seat and footboard
are suspended from the roof by cords or rods, portions of which are elastic, being
made either as helical metal springs or as caoutchouc springs, or these cords or rods
may hang from blade springs attached to the roof. In order to steady the seat and
footboard, elastic balls or rollers may be placed under them and between them and
the carriage body, which may rest on the usual external springs, though with the
arrangement described such springs are unnecessary. The spring suspension of the
seat and footboard is applicable in private or in railway carriages, or generally in
vehicles carrying passengers.
Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal and a transverse section of a single seat vehicle,
such as a brougham, to which this Invention is applied, for the suspension of the
seat from which the footboard is suspended; Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal and a
transverse section of a similar vehicle, having the seat suspended at four points, and
the footboard rigidly attached to the seat; Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal and a
transverse section of a similar vehicle, with a seat for two persons. In these three
sets of Figures the same letters are employed to indicate corresponding parts.
The seat C is suspended from the roof of the vehicle by cords or rods A, having
parts of their length helical, or caoutchouc springs B, as in Figs. 1 and 2, or being
suspended from blade springs B, as in Fig. 3. Between the seat so suspended and
the carriage framing are placed elastic balls E, to prevent severe shocks, such as
might be produced if the seat struck the fixed framing, and additional balls G, H,
and J, for this purpose may be arranged, as shewn in Fig. 3. The lateral oscillations
of the seat may be limited by oblique cords D, as shewn in Fig. 2. The Invention
may be applied to railway carriages, as shewn by the part longitudinal section,
Fig. 4, and part transverse section, Fig. 5, the latter shewing the framing of the
seat without its cushions. In this construction there is arranged within the fixed
body of the compartment a moveable framing supporting the seats, backs, and arm-
rests B, and C, and D, and the floor for the feet A. This frame is strengthened by
angle brackets and stays f, and its upper back bars E are suspended by rods t and
springs attached to the upper part of the body of the carriage. These rods and
springs may, if desired, be concealed behind a cloth or other lining. Behind the
back and sides of the moveable seat frames are placed caoutchouc pads c to deaden
shocks longitudinally and transversely.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent,
I claim,-
First. Suspending the seat and footboard of a carriage by springs from the upper
part of the carriage body, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Second. In combination with the seat and footboard of a carriage suspended by
springs from the upper part of the carriage body the use of elastic balls or pads

page_text: interposed between the body and the suspended parts, substantially as and for the
purpose herein set forth.
Third. The construction of a compartment of a railway carriage with its seats
and footboard suspended by springs, as herein described with reference to Figs. 4
and 5 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Imray, have hereunto set my hand and
Beal, this Thirteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.
JOHN IMRAY. (L.S.)