Improvements in Fixing in Place the Springs of Saddle-bars.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 17th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 14th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fixing in Place the Springs of Saddle-bars.
I, CHAPLIN LAWTON, of 82 Green Lane, Walsall in the County of Stafford,
Saddle-bar Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Heretofore, it has been the usual practice to fix a spring in place within a
saddle-bar by means of a rivet which passes through both sides of the groove of
the saddle bar within which the spring is contained and through the butt or
enlarged hinder or inner end of the spring. This, however, involves a good deal
of trouble and some care and skill, as first the holes for the rivet are drilled
through the sides of the groove of the saddle bar, and then the hinder end of the
spring is butted up against the inner end and bottom of the groove and held in
position while the position of the hole to be formed therethrough is accurately
marked through one of the holes formed through the sides of the groove, and
finally the hole for the rivet is drilled through the back end of the spring and the
rivet put
in place and riveted up. Moreover, a spring so fixed is very liable to
work loose, as the inner end of the spring cannot readily be accurately fitted to
the inner end and bottom of the groove and consequently generally, or frequently,
bears over a very small area, with the result that the bearing surfaces are
liable to yield or wear slightly under frequent movement of the outer end of the
spring.
Now, the object of this invention is to avoid the use of any rivet in fixing a
saddle-bar spring in place, and consequently the need for forming a hole for a
rivet either through the sides of the groove which receives the spring or through
the spring, and to render the fixing of the spring independent of support resulting
from bearing contact between the hinder end of the spring and the inner end and .
bottom of the groove.
.
The above object may be accomplished, according to this invention, by forming
a couple of studs, or a projection which is narrow compared with its length, at one
side of the inner or enlarged end of the spring, and forming a portion of the
length of the corresponding side of the groove of the saddle-bar sufficiently
opened out to allow the hinder end of the spring with the studs or projection to be
passed down into the groove, and then when the spring has been thus placed
within the groove hammering or pressing back such opened out portion of the side
of the groove, thus causing the ends of the stud, or the outer side of the projection,
to press somewhat into the side of the groove, whereby the spring is securely
fixed in place. The saddle bar is preferably made, as is usual, as a malleable
casting, and thus the metal thereof is comparatively soft and readily allows the
hard metal of the studs or projection to press into its substance.
preferred that the studs or projections shall be forced into the substance of the
metal of the saddle-bar as described, but it is obvious that if the metal of the side
of the groove is hammered or closed up sufficiently around the studs or projection
the spring will be held in place with considerable security. The groove may be
moulded with a portion of one side widened out as described, but to avoid the
special provision necessary for such purpose in the core, it is preferred to make
the groove of a parallel width throughout and to subsequently open out a portion
of one side to receive the studs or projection aforesaid.
It is
Two studs, or a projection of some length compared with its width, may be
formed on each side of the spring, and a portion of each side of the groove be

page_text: opened out to receive the inner end of the spring with such studs or projections,
such portions being each closed up to fix the spring; or a single stud may be
formed on each side of the spring, the stud on one side being in position out of
centre or coincidence with the other.
According to an application of the invention which answers the purpose thereof
to some extent, a stud may be formed to project on opposite sides of the hinder
end of the spring, the stud at one side having a coinmon axis with the stud on
the other side. In this case, however, the end of the spring must bear against
the end or bottom, or both the end and bottom, of the groove; and the modification
is not recommended, as though by its adoption much of the skill and care
required in riveting a spring in place is avoided, it is liable to the same
inconvenience in use as a spring which is fixed by riveting.
Dated this 16th day of May 1895.
STEPHEN
WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Fixing in Place the Springs of Saddle-bars.
I, CHAPLIN LAWTON, of 82 Green Lane, Walsall in the County of Stafford,
Saddle-bar Manufacturer, 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 :-
Heretofore it has been the usual practice to fix a spring in place within a saddle
bar by means of a. rivet which passes through both sides of the groove of the
saddle bar within which the spring is contained and through the butt or enlarged
hinder or inner end of the spring. This, however, involves a good deal of trouble
and some care and skill, as first the holes for the rivet are drilled through the sides
of the groove of the saddle bar, and then the hinder end of the spring is butted up
against the inner end and bottom of the groove and held in position while the
position of the hole to be formed therethrough is accurately marked through one
of the holes formed through the sides of the groove, and finally the hole for the
rivet is drilled through the butt or hinder end of the spring and the rivet put in
place and riveted up. Moreover, a spring so fixed is very liable to work loose,
as the inner end of the spring cannot readily be accurately fitted to the inner end
and bottom of the groove and consequently generally, or frequently, bears over a
very small area, with the result that the bearing surfaces are liable to yield or
wear slightly under frequent movement of the outer end of the spring.
Now, the object of this invention is to avoid the use of any rivet in fixing a
saddle-bar spring in place, and consequently the need for forming a hole for a rivet
either through the sides of the groove which receives the spring or through the
spring, and to render the fixing of the spring independent of support resulting
from bearing contact between the hinder end of the spring and the inner end and
bottom of the groove.
The broad principle of this invention consists in forming the inner or butt end
of the spring uneven at one or both of its side faces, and closing the inner end of
the groove somewhat to interlock with the uneven side or sides of the inner or butt
end of the spring.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, I will proceed to describe
practical applications thereof by the aid of the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a saddle bar, with the groove containing the spring
shewn in section.
Figure 2 is an underside view of the same saddle bar shewing the spring placed
in position within the groove, but not fixed.

page_text: Figure 3 is a corresponding view to Figure 2, but shews the spring fixed ready
for use.
Figure 4 is a section taken on line xx of Figure 1, but shews the spring in
position merely and not fixed;" and
Figure 5 is a corresponding section to Figure 4 shewing the spring fixed.
The saddle bar illustrated is of the ordinary or common type, and is shewn
simply by way of example. The application of the invention to other types of
saddle bar will be readily apparent, after the following description has been
perused, without need for further illustration or description.
The hinder or butt end a of the spring A is formed with a couple of studs b
projecting at one side face thereof, and a portion of the length of the groove c,
within which the spring is placed, measured from the inner end, is formed widened
out, as shewn by Figure 2, either in the original forging or casting or, preferably,
by forcing the sides apart by means of a wedge, to admit the projections 6 with
the inner end of the spring. When the spring has been placed within the groove c,
the widened-out portion of the groove is closed in somewhat, by hammering or
pressing, thus causing the ends of the studs b to press somewhat into the side of
the groove, as shewn by Figure 5, whereby the spring is securely fixed in place.
Whether the saddle bar is made as a forging or, as is preferred and as is now
usual, as a malleable casting, the metal thereof is comparatively soft and readily
allows the harder metal of the studa 6 to press into its substance. It is preferred
that the studs shall be forced into the substance of the metal of the saddle bar as
described, but it is obvious that if the metal of the side of the groove is hammered
or closed up sufficiently around, or partially around, the studs the spring will be
held in place with considerable security. It is preferred, in either case, to close up
the sides of the groove along the edges sufficiently to avoid any unsightly gaps
between the sides of the groove and the sides of the spring.
In lieu of the two studs b, a single projection which is narrow compared with
its length, or is otherwise formed with a side of sufficient length and straight or
sufficiently so, may be used; and, if desired, two of such studs, or such a projection,
may be used at each side of the spring.
Figure 6 shews, in side elevation, and Figure 7 in plan view, a spring having a
single stud 6 formed at each side of the inner or butt end a of the spring, the
stud on one side being out of centre with the other.
According to further applications of the invention which answer the purpose
thereof to some extent, a single round stud, or stud of other shape and of small
diameter, may be formed to project from the hinder end of the spring, or two of
such studs may be used projecting at opposite sides of the spring and having a
common axis; but in either of such cases the end of the spring must bear against
the end or bottom, or both the end and bottom, of the groove. Neither of such
applications therefore is recommended; as though by their adoption much of the
skill and care required in fixing, a špring in place in the ordinary manner is
avoided, they are liable to the same resulting inconvenience in the use of the
saddle bar as is experienced with a spring which has been fixed by riveting in the.
usual manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. Fixing the spring of a saddle bar by forming the inuer or butt end of the
spring uneven at one or both of its side faces and closing in the inner end of the
groove somewhat to interlock it with the uneven side or sides of the inner or butt
end of the spring, substantially as described.
2. Fixing the spring of a saddle bar by the aid of projections or a projection
from the hinder or butt end of the spring, the said projections or projection being
passed together with the spring into the groove of the bar, and the inner end of

page_text: the groove then closed up somewhat, to tighten the projections or projection
therein, substantially as described.
3. Fixing the spring of a saddle bar by the aid of projections from the hinder.
or butt end of the spring, according to the methods or modifications thereof
substantially as described and shewn by the drawings herewith.
Dated this 14th day of February 1896.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.