Improvements in or connected with Springs specially Adapted for Vehicles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 10th May, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Springs specially Adapted for
Vehicles.
1, GEORGE FENNELL, of 1 Allison Road, Acton, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, which has been commu-
nicated to me from abroad by Gerald Martin Fennell, of 258 Broadway, New York,
United States of America, Gentleman, and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention has for object, a new method of constructing springs.
The invention is specially adapted for supporting the body of a vehicle for obtaining
a direct up and down clastic action and producing ease and comfort to the occupants
by obviating undue lateral and fore and aft oscillations.
The invention will be clearly understood by the annexed drawings of which
Figure 1 is a detached view of the spring complete and capable of being fitted to
any article.
As an example of one use for such a spring, I show at Figure 2 a representation
of the bottom of a vehicle with five springs in position, one spring being removed to
show the dished portion of the transverse plate, in the hollow of which, the spiral or
helical portion of the spring is partially lodged.
Figure 3 is a view of a bearing suitable for the spring when attached to a
vehicle.
Figure 4 shows a vertical section of sufficient of, say a cart body with a transverse
spring in position.
I have only, by way of example, indicated the spring affixed to a vehicle for
supporting the body, but it can be adapted for soats, or as draught or pull springs
of vehicles, as springs for chair seats, also seats and couches for railway carriages,
and generally for all purposes for which it can be applied.
Each spring A is axially extended at its ends to form journals a, a, which are
seated in bearings E.
The inner journal of each spring is extended to form the reversely-bent attachment-
arm C, which is provided with a flattened end c, nearly at right angles to said
arm C, and perforated for the securing bolts c', whereby the arm is fastened. This
reversely-bent arm C extends along the entire length of the spring body portion
back to the edge of the body, where it is secured thereto.
The outer journal of each spring is extended and bent at b, to form the oblique
lever-arm B, the end of which is pivotted to a hanger F secured to the gear-bar or
side bar M. The lever-arm is pivotted directly to the head of the hanger, and said
head is turned obliquely inward, so that its inclination will correspond with that of
said lever-arm.
In order to provide room for the upper portions of the spiral springs, the cleats
of the body are recessed, as indicated at o'.
The bearings E are provided with bearing blocks e which are secured in position
upon the journal of the springs by the bent upper ends of the bolts H, said bent
upper ends engaging the grooved holders e².
The lever-arm B extends obliquely downward, outward, and forward, as shown, and
as the reversely-bent attachment-arm C is also bent around forward of the coil portion
of the spring it is apparent that the weight of the load tends to close the spring.
The spring consists of the lever-arm, the spiral body, and the attachment-arm, and
it has not only the spiral action, but the torsional effect of the reversed attachment-
arm. It will also be apparent that the working points or points of pressure on the
body are at its outer edge or sill as the bent end of the attachment-arm is in line with

page_text: said edge, as is also the outer bearing of the spring. In this combination it will be
observed that it is designed to extend the lever-arms of the forward and of the rear
springs forward and obliquely downward, so that they will have uniform parallel
motion; and when these springs are applied to carts it is apparent that the load at
each downward movement thereof is shifted a little backward, so that the horse is in a
measure relieved during the downward movements.
The parallel arrangement of the springs renders it an easy matter to add or remove
a pair of springs, according to the weight of the load. When the wagon carriage or
other vehicle Z is designed to carry loads of various weights, it is provided with extra
bearings and hangers and with extra springs, which can be quickly removed when a
light load is to be carried, and when the load is heavy, readily replaced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The spring consisting of the spiral body portion, the outer journal-extension of said
body portion bent downward and forward and outward, forming an oblique lever-arm,
the inner journal-extension, and the reversely-bent attachment-arm extending there-
from along the entire length of the spiral body portion, and also forward in the same
general direction as the said lever-arm and having the flattened bent end provided
with fastening perforations, substantially as specified with reference to Figure 1 of the
annexed drawings.
2. The combination with the vehicle body having the bearings E and the side gear
bars of the front and rear spiral springs laterally arranged in pairs, as shown, and
having the reversely-bent attachment-arms secured to the outer edges of the body-and-
the oblique lever-arms passing through bearings at the outer edges of the body
and extending downward, outward, and forward to each other and pivotted directly
to the oblique heads of the hangers of the gear-bars, said reversely bent attachment-
arms and lever-arms extending forward in the same general direction, substantially as
specified.
T
1
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said George Fennell.