IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF "
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT
to
PATENT to William Warcup, of Lyndhurst Villa,
Coronation Road, Bristol, in the County of Somerset, Contractor,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Warcup
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 26th May 1853.
I, WILLIAM WARCUP, of Lyndhurst Villa, Coronation Road, Bristol,
in the County of Somerset, Contractor, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SPRINGS
POR CARRIAGES AND SIMILAR PURPOSES" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of railway
carriage, buffer, draw, and other springs in a more convenient and
effective form than hitherto, by the combination of V or open angular
spring blades with intervening metal plates, the whole being contained
in a box or outer shell cover, in which oil is placed to assist the smooth

page_text: working of the spring. As applied for the bearing spring of a railway
carriage, a broad and deep but narrow metal box is bolted edgewise to
the carriage framing on the under side. This box is in internal hori-
zontal section just the size of the intended spring plates, and in the
bottom of the box is first laid a wedge piece of metal to suit the angle of
the spring. On this plate one of these double angular springs
is laid down horizontally, and over its upper free blade are laid one or
more flat blade pieces. Above this is a reversed double angular spring,
and this is continued until the required depth is made up. The last or
uppermost spring abuts against the lower side of the carriage framing,
whilst the axle brass is attached to the bottom of the box. Such springs
may be variously modified, and are suitable for a great variety of
purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Warcup in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 26th November 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
WILLIAM WARCUP, of Lyndhurst Villa, Coronation Road, Bristol, in
the County of Somerset, Contractor, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Warcup, Her special license
that I, the said William Warcup, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Warcup, my executors,
administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter 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 THE CONSTRUCTION OF SPRINGS FOR CARRIAGES AND SIMILAR PURPOSES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Warcup,

page_text: by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 William Warcup, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
Say:
My said Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of
railway carriage, buffer, draw, and other springs in a more convenient
and effective form than has been hitherto accomplished by the combi-
nation of V or double open angular spring blades, the whole being
contained in a box or outer shell cover. As applied for the bearing
spring of a railway carriage, a deep but narrow metal box serves to
contain the springs, and forms the axle box for the journals. This box is
retained in its position by guard irons bolted in the usual way to the
sides of the truck or carriage. The springs are composed of series of
plates bent into the V form, and are coupled together by joint pieces,
and a pin and roller inserted into the bend of the plates to form a more
regular action. When the springs are under pressure one or more tier
of springs can be used, if required, as illustrated in the Drawings. Such
springs may be variously modified, and are suitable for a great variety
of purposes. Figure 1, on my Sheet of Drawings, is a complete side or
longitudinal elevation of a railway waggon or truck of the ordinary con-
struction as fitted up with my improved bearing springs and buffers.
Figure 2, is a plan of the spring box in detail on a larger scale, showing
the arrangement of the springs in the box. Figure 3, is a correspond-
ing section of the axle box with its bearing spring attached. Figure 4,
is an end view of the same. Figure 5, is a side elevation and plan of
a bearing spring detached, and shows the spring as made of four thick-
nesses of steel, and coupled at the apex with roller joint piece clip A, and
pin. Figure 6, is an elevation of a single plate spring detached.

page_text: Figure 7, is a side elevation of a single blade spring, with a square
block at its apex, and rivetted thereto. Figure 8, represents a plan
and side elevation of a single V spring, fitted with its clip piece A, and
roller B, which is tightened up by the key C. Figure 9, is a side
elevation of another modification of V spring, wherein the blades are
rivetted together at their apex. To the under side of the longitudinal
frame beams A, of the waggon, and at the proper position to suit each
axle, are bolted the guard irons B, B, the connection with the timber
framing being formed through the upper flanges of the guard irons, and
into or through the beam A. The bottom of the spring boxes C, C, are
cast with a suitable gab or recess for holding the upper or bearing axle
brass, together with its corresponding botton piece or reversed cap D,
bolted up tothe brass to complete the journal circle; the two sides E, E,
of the recess or horn answering as retainers for the bearing. A tie
rod F, keyed up to the bottom of the guard irons, serves to unite the
two irons and keep them firm and steady. The spring box is cast in
one piece with the gab or recess to receive the gun metal bearing and
iron cap to the same. The bottom blades or arms of the lower series of
springs F', have a firm and steady bearing upon the bottom of the
spring box C, whilst their upper free arms act against the under side
of the separating plate G. The upper series of springs are arranged in
like manner resting on the surface of the intermediate plate, and
bearing against the under side of the beam A, as shewn in Figure 1.
The position assumed by the springs when under great pressure is
indicated by dotted lines in Figure 3, of the Drawings. The vacuities
of the spring box may be filled up with oil or other suitable easy
working lubricating fluid, and forming at the same time the grease box
for the journals. The deflection of the twelve springs as seen at
Fig. 3. takes place when under pressure simultaneously in each tier,
and it will be seen that the lower blades of the spring deflect the same.
as the upper blades, giving the amount of vertical traverse required in
the truck or carriage. Fig. 10, represents a vertical section; and
Fig. 11, a corresponding transverse section of another modification of
the arrangement of the springs in the box. From this figure it will
be seen that the first and second tier of springs force the bottom press

page_text: directly against the under side of the cast iron bearing piece A. At the
same time the set of springs B, B, receive a separate and distinct
pressure from the ends of the guard iron plates at C, C, such pressure
being transmitted at the sides of the spring box at the points D, D.
Fig. 12, represents a vertical section, and Fig. 13, a correspond-
ing transverse section of a spring box fitted with side springs A, A,
which bear against the inner sides of the guard irons, and act as buffers
to each distinct carriage wheel, such spring box being fitted with
bearing springs constructed on any of the principles herein-before
described. Fig. 14, represents a plan, and Fig. 15, a section of an
arrangement of double open V spring, as applied to draw bars and
buffers. A, is a cast iron frame firmly secured to the body of the
carriage, and formed with three fixed bearings B, through which the
draw bar or buffer bar C. slides. This bar is fitted with collars D,
which bear against each alternate spring, a division piece E, being
fitted between each pair for the purpose herein-before described. By the
adoption of this system of construction, an excellent, safe, and cheap
spring is obtained, whilst there is nothing in it to get out of order, and
it can be readily varied or modified to suit any intended load or work.
In the elevation of the waggon, Fig. 1, I have represented the bear-
ing of one axle as being covered up by a front cap H, to retain the
grease at journal, and preserve the parts from dust. It will be obvious
to the practical engineer that combined, springs of this class may be
arranged under various alternations of parts, and that the same general
principle of combination is very suitable for all or most kinds of railway
and other springs now in use.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine
or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have
had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be made
therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of my
Invention; but what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent, is,-

page_text: First, the general arrangement and construction of carriage and
other springs, as herein-before described.
Second, the application and use of V or open angular metal blade
springs placed in a box or holder in the manner and for the purposes
hercin-before described.
Third, the system or mode of constructing railway and other car-
riage springs with or by means of a combination of V or open angular
blade springs.
Fourth, the application and use of single springs as described in
reference to Figures 7, 8, and 9, on my Sheet of Drawings.
Fifth, the application and use of the herein-before described springs
for buffers or draw bar springs, as herein-before described.
Sixth, the application and use of the V or open bladed spring for the
prevention of side shocks, and to act as a buffer to cach axle box and
wheel, as before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Warcup, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Thirty-first day of October, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
WILLIAM WARCUP. (L.S.)