Improvements in and relating to Springs for Vehicles.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Springs for Vehicles.
I, FRANK MAPPIN of Sheaf Works, Sheffield in the County of York, Manu-
facturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in and relating to springs for vehicles
such as railway rolling stock, omnibuses and the like.
I have illustrated my invention in the annexed sheet of drawings in which,
Fig. 1, is an elevation of a spring, of suitable construction for omnibuses.
Fig. 2, is an enlarged view of the end cap in perspective.
Fig. 3, view of strap or buckle for holding a series or cluster of springs.
Fig. 4, end view, and section of same.
In carrying out my invention in the construction of a spring well adapted for
supporting the bodies of omnibuses and illustrated in Fig. 1, of the drawings I make
a solid elliptic spring A, (that is, of one continuous piece of steel) and I strengthen
it by a series of spring plates B and B¹, placed outside the ellipse, and by other
curved spring plates C, and C³, placed inside the ends of the ellipse.
The firstnamed plates are secured by hoops D, and D', of the usual construction
or of a special construction if preferred, and the end or curved plates C, and C¹, are
secured by a specially constructed cap E, and which is also shown enlarged in the
perspective view Fig. 2.
This cap is constructed with a view to neatness and compactness, combined with
lightness and strength.
It is curved both on the outside and in the inside to correspond with the curved
configuration of the end of the elliptical spring A, and is made with projecting
ends F, which pass beyond the sides of the spring.
In each end a recess is made, marked G, to receive the head and shank of a
bolt H, and a gate I, is cast or cut out to receive a cross bar J, through which the
screw threaded ends of the bolts H, pass and receive nuts K, which secure the
various parts firmly together.
In some cases a series or cluster of springs constructed as before described, are
required to be secured together side by side with a space between them, and at
the present time it is usual to put a hoop D, round each spring as shown in Fig. 1.
These hoops are being made with a dovetailed projection and corresponding
recess, and require considerable skill and time to put them together, and I propose
to avoid this cost to a certain extent in the following manner; I make a com-
bination hoop as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, which for example is shown constructed
for 4 springs.
It consists of a bottom plate L, with the ends turned up, and provided with a
dovetailed recess seen in Fig. 4; a top plate M, has a dovetailed bit, also seen in
Fig. 4, to fit into the said recess.
Spacing pieces N, divide the hoop or buckle into the required number of openings
for the springs, and bolts H, are passed through these pieces and the top and bottom
plates to secure the parts together.
The various parts of the before described hoop or buckle may be forged or cast
as may be found most suitable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it to be understood
that I do not claim the solid elliptical construction of the spring broadly, nor an end
cap of any construction whatever, but what I do claim is :-
1. An elliptical spring made as herein before described, and having end caps E,

page_text: with recessed bolts H, and crossbar J, for the purpose specified, as set forth and
shown.
2. A cap for the ends of elliptical springs having recesses for the heads and
shanks of the crossbar bolts, as described and shown.
3. A hoop or buckle for cluster springs, made substantially as hereinbefore 5
described, and shown in Figs. 3 & 4.
Dated 21st day of November 1892.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Agent for Applicant.