AN IMPROVED CARRIAGE SPRING
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Shuff, of No. 6, Albion Place, Upper Bristol Road,
Bath, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED CARRIAGE SPRING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Shuff at the Office
"AN
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th November 1878.
WILLIAM SHUFF, of No. 6, Albion Place, Upper Bristol Road, Bath.
IMPROVED CARRIAGE SPRING.”
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction and manufac-
ture of carriage springs, by means whereof they are not only rendered much more
flexible and far lighter in appearance, but they are also capable of being manu-
factured and produced with far greater economy in time, labour, and expense than
hitherto.
To carry out my Invention I proceed as follows:-I take a bar of ordinary spring
steel or other suitable metal, and having first rolled it into a suitable shape I then
cut off therefrom two suitable lengths and shape them respectively into an elliptical
form. I then form a suitable bolt hole or eye in each end of each of such lengths,
which I shall hereafter term the outer plates.
I then take two other lengths of similar or any other suitable metal, and shape
them into a concave form in the centre, gradually tapering off at their respective
ends to a convex form. These two last lengths form the inner plates of the carriage
spring, and are somewhat shorter than those forming the outer plates. I then form
a suitable eye or bolt hole in each end of one of such inner plates, while the
extremities of the corresponding inner plate are tapered off and elongated to a
sufficient degree to permit of their rolling round or lapping over the ends of the
first named inner plate. I then connect such outer and inner plates together at
each end by a pair of suitable shackle plates, bolted or otherwise properly fastened
together and adjusted in such a manner as to allow of the easy play to and fro of

page_text: both the inner and outer plates of the spring, so that they easily expand and contract
as circumstances require.
The operation of my improved carriage spring is as follows:-When superin-
cumbent weight is brought to bear upon the carriage spring the extremities of the
outer plates are forced forward, and so permit of their easy expansion, while the
inner plates have a corresponding travel imparted to them, and so not only is a far
greater degree of elasticity .obtained than heretofore, but the inner plates, from
their peculiar formation, serve to sustain and strengthen the outer plates when
expanded, and so all danger of the breaking of the spring is totally prevented.
Another advantage of my Invention is that by my improved principle of manu-
facture I dispense with all necessity for the use of a larger number of elliptical
metal plates laid one over the other, as now at present practised, thus saving not
only a large quantity of material, but also an immense amount of manual labour
and the cost incidental thereto.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
.
by the said William Shuff in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th May
1879.
WILLIAM SHUFF, of No. 6, Albion Place, Upper Bristol Road, Bath.
IMPROVED CARRIAGE SPRING."
"AN
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction and manufac-
ture of carriage springs, by means whereof they are not only rendered much more
flexible and far lighter in appearance, but they are also capable of being manu-
factured and produced with far greater economy in time, labour, and expense than
those hitherto in use.
And in order that my said Invention may be better understood and more
readily carried into effect, I will now with the aid of the accompanying Drawings,
which shew two views in front and back side elevation of one of my improved
springs, proceed more particularly to describe and ascertain the same.
In order to carry out my Invention I proceed as follows:-I take a bar of ordi-
nary spring steel or other suitable material, and having first rolled it into a convenient
shape, I then cut off therefrom two suitable lengths, so as to form thereout what are
hereafter termed the outer plates" (A) of the spring, and then shape them respec-
tively into an elliptical form, after which I form a suitable bolt hole or eye in each
end of each of such outer plates.
I then take two other lengths of similar spring steel or any other suitable material,
and I shape them into a concave form in the centre, as indicated at B in the accom-
panying Drawings, gradually tapering off at their respective ends into a convex
form, as shewn at C in such Drawings. These two last mentioned lengths form the
inner plates D. of the spring, and are somewhat shorter than those forming the
outer plates. I would here observe that in order to impart additional strength to
such inner plates the centre portions thereof are made thicker and stouter than the
ends, which are gradually tapered off, so as to give increased flexibility thereto. I
then form in each end of such inner plates D a suitable eye or bolt hole, while
the two extremities of the corresponding inner plate are sufficiently elongated
or lengthened to permit of their rolling round or lapping over the ends of the first
named inner plate, wherein the bolt holes are so formed as aforesaid. I then connect
such outer and inner plates together at each end by a pair of suitable shackle
plates bolted or otherwise properly fastened to such inner and outer plates by suit-
able bolts and nuts, which latter are adjusted in such a manner as to allow of the
easy play to and fro of both the inner and outer plates of the spring, so that they
easily expand and contract as circumstances require.
Or instead of using a pair of such shackle plates at each end, I sometimes prefer
to connect the inner and outer plates together by a single shackle plate only at each
end, as shewn in the accompanying Drawings at S, S, secured by suitable bolts and
nuts adjusted in the manner already described.
One advantage of this method of connecting the inner and outer plates of the
spring together is that the bolts are thereby prevented from becoming loose and
rattling, as is the case with ordinary carriage springs, as owing to the configuration
of the inner plates and the adjustment of the bolts there is always sufficient tension
upon the latter to keep them in position.
The operation of my improved carriage spring is as follows:-When superincum-
bent weight is brought to bear upon the carriage spring the extremities of the outer
plates A are forced forward, and so permit of their easy expansion, while the inner
plates D have a corresponding travel imparted to them, and thus not only is a far
greater degree of elasticity obtained than heretofore, but the inner plates, from
their peculiar formation, serve to sustain and strengthen the outer plates when
expanded, and so all danger of the breaking of the spring is totally prevented.
Another advantage of my Invention is that by my improved principle of con-

page_text: struction, I dispense with all necessity for the use of a large number of elliptical
metal plates laid one over the other as is now at present practised, thus saving not
only a large quantity of material, but also an immense amount of manual labor and
the cost, incidental thereto, and greatly increasing the lightness, elasticity, and
elegance of appearance of the spring.
My Invention may be readily applied to that form of spring known as the grass-
hopper spring, and to the hinder springs of carriages and other vehicles by removing
the inner plates from the same, and substituting therefor my improved inner plates,
as hereinbefore described, and only retaining the two outer plates of the original
spring, and fastening such inner and outer plates together in the manner already
described.
My improved spring may also be applied with equal advantage to railway and
tramway carriages and trucks, and also to bicycles and other similar vehicles, such
modifications of detail being made therein as the exigencies of the case may require.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details hereinbefore set forth, as the
same may be modified without departing from the principle of my Invention; what
I claim is,-
1°. The constructing an improved carriage spring, consisting of a combination of
two elliptical outer plates with two graduated inner plates of a partially concave
and convex form, and fastened together at their respective ends by one or more
suitable shackle plates, and otherwise suitable for use, as well on ordinary vehicles
as on railway and tramway carriages and trucks and bicycles, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated.
2º. I claim the application of my improved spring to existing carriage and other
springs, substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before set forth and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Shuff, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
Witness,
ELT & Co.,
British and Foreign Patent Office,
33, Southampton Buildings,
Holborn,
London, W.C.
WILLIAM SHUFF. (L.S.)