SPRINGS FOR RAILROAD CARS, AND FOR CARRIAGES, AND FOR MANY OTHER PURPOSES FOR WHICH SPRINGS ARE USED OR REQUIRED
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander T. Watson, of the Town of Middleton, in
the County of Richmond and State of New York, United States of
America, for the Invention of "SPRINGS FOR RAILROAD CARS, AND FOR
CARRIAGES, AND FOR MANY OTHER PURPOSES FOR WHICH SPRINGS ARE USED OR
REQUIRED."
Sealed the 2nd July 1861, and dated the 16th May 1861.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alexander T. Watson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declaration,
on the 16th May 1861, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent Law
Amendment Act, 1852.
KNOW ALL MEN THAT, WHEREAS I, ALEXANDER T. WATSON, of the
Town of Middleton, in the County of Richmond and State of New York, United
States of America, have invented a new and useful Invention for "SPRINGS FOR
RAILROAD CARS, AND FOR CARRIAGES, AND FOR MANY OTHER PURPOSES FOR WHICH
SPRINGS ARE USED OR REQUIRED." And whereas I am desirous of obtaining Letters
Patent of Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, giving and granting
unto me, the said Alexander T. Watson, Her special license that I, the said
Alexander T. Watson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, or my said executors, administrators; or assigns, may agree with,
and no others, from time to time during the term in said Letters Patent, to be
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within

page_text: பர வச
the said Invention.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander T. Watson, 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, that is to say: -
My spring consists of a framework or setting for holding the steel springs,
and of the steel plates which constitute the elastic or operating part of the
spring.
The Drawing hereto annexed, and forming part of this my Specification,
represents a side elevation of the spring, and any vertical section through the
spring parallel to the face would represent the same figure, excepting that
portion represented by the semicircular line a, a, which would not be repre-
sented by such section.
The framework or setting of the spring is shewn in the Drawing at A, A,
and it consists of an upper and lower part, made exactly alike in shape, size,
and weight, and usually of cast iron of good quality, though other metal or a
composition may be used. These frame pieces constitute the top and bottom
of the spring. Between these pieces are placed, in a vertical position, the steel
springs 1, 2, 3. These are made from steel plates of the width of the frame
(usually for body springs of railway carriages about three and one half inches).
These plates are shaped into curves of the form shewn in the Drawing, for
producing which proper moulds are to be prepared to give the shape by
pressure. These springs or blades should have the upper and lower curves in
each blade alike. Each blade upon a side, however, is formed upon a different
curve or curves from the adjoining blade, and the inner springs or blades (1, 1,
in the Drawing), should be formed nearer to a straight line than the next one
in position to it on the same side; in other words, on a curve or curves of
larger radius, and the next blade in order on the same side should be formed
upon a curve of larger radius or nearer to a straight line than the next blade
adjoining on the same side. The set of blades on either side should be made
exactly the same in curves and in length and thickness as those corresponding
on the opposite side. The inner blades 1, 1, are longer by a thirty-second of
one inch than the blades 2, 2, and these are longer by the same difference
than the outside plates 3, 3. The blades, when they approach these ends, are
made straight and vertical; the frame pieces are formed with recesses or jaws
b, b, baving fluted surfaces c, c, in which the ends of the springs have their
bearings, and in which they are held. The form of the blades is such and the
position of the recesses or jaws b, b, that when the weight is applied the line

page_text: of the weight or pressure is within the curves, so that the action of the blades
within the extremities when under pressure is outwards, that is, the elastic
action of each blade on one side is opposite to that of the corresponding blade
on the opposite side.
To prevent wearing, the ends of the plates or. blades are rounded off by
grinding or filing. The frame pieces A, A, are made so as to give abundant
room for the play of the blades, as shewn at the line d, d; at the same time
the faces d; d, are near enough to the exterior blades to give them a support
in case of extreme pressure upon and bending of the spring, near the points.
when they come in contact with it. The frames may be made with or without
an interlocking joint; as shewn at e, e, (the red dotted lines shewing the joint),
which joint when used renders the spring more secure against the effect of any.
horizontal swaying of the car, but I do not regard it as essential.. To prevent
the blades from working out of place, the flange piece or plate shewn by the
line a, a, is cast upon and with the frame, or it may be made separately and-
fastened by a screw or bolt. The upper frame piece (where the spring is for
the body spring of a railroad car) is fastened to the under side of the bolster of
the car by bolts or screws (g, g,) and the lower or bottom frame piece to the
stirrup directly and vertically under the other, so that the two parts work
together in the same vertical line.
V
. It will be seen from the foregoing arrangement and shape of the blades that
when the pressure is applied to the spring, and it begins to act, that the first,
resistance will come from the pair of blades which are longest and nearest to a
straight line; or in other words, that the elastic action of the pair of interior,
blades will be first exerted, and that then the elastic force of resistance of the:
next pair of blades (2, 2;) will be called into action. Thus, the elastic force or:
action will be gradually and progressively exerted or drawn upon according as
the weight is increased, the spring thus graduating itself to the load; the line
of pressure always by this arrangement falling within the curves, the elastic
action will be outwards or apart from the centre. In this manner the elastic
action is diffused over the whole blade, and the parts of the blade operate in
different directions, that is, the central parts of the blade have a tendency to:
straighten while towards the ends the curves of the blade bend more to a curve.
P, P, are openings in the jaws of the frames to permit water to flow out, as in
winter ice might form and impede or choke the action of the b'ades at their
ends; i, i, is an elongation of the frames for the bearing to support the car in
the event of the breaking or setting of the blades.
In the Drawing the height of the spring represented is about eleven and a
half inches, and is at rest, and the spring is intended for a railway carriage

page_text: body spring; the play of the spring would be about one inch and a half to two
inches, but it will bear more; the width of the plates or blades is about three
and a half inches; the thickness of the interior plates (3, 3,) is three-six-
teenths of an inch; that of the other two plates (2, 1,) one-eighth and one-
thirty-second of an inch. Journal springs must be made smaller with proper
proportions, so as to fit the jaws of the pedestal or box in which they are to
work. I do not consider it necessary to have more blades to the spring than
three on cach side. These springs are specially intended for railroad passenger
and freight cars, but I do not mean to confine their use to railroads, as they
may be advantageously used for carriages, fire engines, steam engines, and
many other uses for which springs are. required. The sizes and dimensions
given are such as are adapted to large size railway cars, & the varying
weight when empty or full, or partly full of passengers or freight. The blades
used must be adapted in size and thickness, and sometimes in number, to the
weight they are to carry and the kind of carriage, or use for which they are
intended.
Having thus described: my Invention and the construction of the spring and
its manner of operation, what I claim as my Invention is,-
First, the manner of combining and arranging the spring blades in pairs
vertically, as described.
Second, I claim the form of the casting or frame A, A, by which the
spring is held in position and made to operate in the manner described.
Third, I claim the forming the blades of curves of different radii, as
described, so as to give to one set of blades a greater approximation to a
straight line than the next adjoining set of blades, whereby the elastic action
and power of the spring is progressive as the pressure increases.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander T. Watson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of March, A.D. Eighteen
hundred and sixty-one.