IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR CARRIAGES AND THE LIKE
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of
my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR CARRIAGES
AND THE LIKE," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to make a spring for buggies, carriages, baby-
carriages, and the like, which will be at the same time both a compression and
extension spring; and the invention consists, first, in the making of a compound
compression and extension spring consisting of a main spring and one or more
auxiliary springs, placed side by side, or separated, so as to have different longi-
tudinal axes; and, second, in the making of rigid attaching brackets of the peculiar
form shown, that is, with downwardly and upwardly projecting arms or extensions
respectively for securing the auxiliary springs.
In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 shows my compound compression and
extension spring when made of a main spring and two auxiliary springs, and
Figure 2 shows it when made of a main spring and one auxiliary spring. A is the
main spring, B the auxiliary spring, O the attaching brackets, and D the projecting
arins or extensions of the brackets
The several coils of my improved spring are made in the usual way, that is, a
wire of suitable kind and size is taken, and bent into a series of coils, the coils of
the main spring being preferably close or contiguous when in their normal position,
so that they cannot be opened or forced apart except by positive force, and the
coils of the auxiliary springs, being preferably open or apart when in their
normal position, so that they cannot be closed or forced together except by positive
force.
The attaching brackets are made in two parts or members, which are secured
respectively by screws or otherwise to the parts desired to be connected together,

page_text: as, for instance, the axle and bed of a buggy. As shown in Figure 1, each of these
members carries two projecting arms or extensions, adapted to receive and hold the
side or auxiliary springs, and as shown in Figure 2 each of them carries one such
arm or extension-one arm in either case projecting downwardly and to one side,
and the other projecting upwardly and to one side, and the two crossing but
preferably not in contact. These arms or extended portions may terminate in
circular castings or be otherwise adapted to receive the ends of the springs.. The
springs are secured in or to the brackets in any suitable manner; but I have found
a convenient method of securing them to consist in the use of a spiral thread, on
the inside of the bracket and circular castings, adapted to be inserted or screwed
between the end coils of the springs respectively.
It results from this peculiar construction that whenever the main spring is
operated upon so as to open or separate its coils, the ends of the projecting arms or
extensions will move toward each other so as to compress or squeeze together the
coils of the auxiliary spring or springs, or vice versa; so that the compression of
one or all of the auxiliary springs compensates for the extension of the main spring.
In other words, as the main spring is opened and extended, the auxiliary springs
or springs will be correspondingly closed and pressed together. The several portions
of the spring will in this way assist in receiving or bearing the strain or weight;
in the one case by opening the coils and in the other by correspondingly closing
them.
This is the principal idea of the invention no matter to what uses the spring may
be applied, whether to buggies, carriages, or other objects in which coiled springs
are used, though modifications of the principal may be made, as, for instance, the
number of auxiliary springs may be increased, or the coils of the main spring may
be open or apart and the coils of the auxiliary springs close or contiguous, but,
whatever modifications be made, the parts should always operate so that, as the
coils of one spring are being opened or extended, the coils of another will be closed
or compressed.
The particular advantages of my compound compression and extension spring are
its compensating qualities and the safety it affords from accidents by breakage. As
the coils of the main spring are opened, the coils of the auxiliary spring or springs are
correspondingly closed, so that, as the one becomes weakened, the increasing tension
produced in the other affords sufficient compensation to preserve the average
strength and tension of the spring. If either the main or auxiliary' springs become
broken by a sudden strain or accident, the other will receive the weight and
prevent the two parts of the object connected together from becoming detached
and separated.
This compound compression and extension spring is an improvement upon the
one described in the specification of former Letters Patent dated June 9, 1885
No 7046 and, although subordinate thereto, has special advantages of its own,
particularly in that it permits the making of a shorter spring.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is
First. As a new article of manufacture, a compound compression and extension
spring, comprising a main spring, an auxiliary spring or springs, and attaching
brackets, the main spring and the auxiliary spring or springs having different
longitudinal axes, and being respectively extension and compression springs,
substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Second. As a new article of manufacture, a compound compression and extension
spring, comprising a main spring, an auxiliary spring or springs, and two attaching
brackets, the bracket at the top of the main spring having a downwardly projecting
or arms, and the bracket at the bottom of the main spring having an
upwardly projecting arm or arms, and the main spring and the auxiliary spring
arm

page_text: or springs having different longitudinal axes, substantially as, and for the purpose,
set forth.
Third. As a new article of manufacture, a spring attachment for buggies,
carriages, and other objects comprising a main spring, one or more auxiliary
springs, and two attaching brackets, the bracket at the top of the main spring
having a downwardly projecting arm or arms, and the bracket at the bottom of the
main spring having an upwardly projecting arm or arms, such arms terminating
in circular castings to receive the ends of the springs, substantially as, and for the
purpose, set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.