IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLYING SPRINGS OR WEIGHTS POR THE PURPOSE OR CLOSING DOORS, OR RESISTING SHOCKS, STRAINS, OR PRESSURE
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Frederick Hipkins, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Manufacturer, and John Britten, of Birmingham,
aforesaid, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLYING
SPRINGS OR WEIGHTS POR THE PURPOSE OR CLOSING DOORS, OR RESISTING
SHOCKS, STRAINS, OR PRESSURE."
Sealed the 14th January 1857, and dated the 18th July 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Frederick Hipkins
and John Britten at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 18th July 1856.
We, GEORGE FREDERICK HIPKINS, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer, and JOHN BRITTEN, of Birmingham, aforesaid,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPLYING SPRINGS OR WEIGHTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CLOSING DOORS, OR
RESISTING SHOCKS, STRAINS, OR PRESSURE," to be as follows:-
Our Invention consists, firstly, in applying springs to the purposes described
in the title, in such a manner as to cause them to act with a proportionally
increased power at those points where power is most required, or with a
proportionally decreased power at those points where power is least required.
We effect this object by interposing inclined planes, combs, shifting fulcrums,
knuckles, levers, or some similar arrangement, between the springs and one or
both points of resistance. In some cases we render these appliances un-
A

page_text: necessary, by so making and fixing the springs as to enable them to assume,
where power is most required, a position well suited for resistance, and to
assume, where power is less required, a position less suited for resistance.
Our Invention consists, secondly, in the use of appliances similar to the
above in cases where weights are used in lieu of springs for closing doors.
Our Invention consists, thirdly, in certain methods of adjusting the tension
or bearings of the above springs when used for the purpose of closing doors.
This we effect by the use of adjusting screws or sliding plates placed between
the springs and one or both points of resistance.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Frederick Hipkins and John Britten in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 17th January 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, GEORGE
FREDERICK HIPKINS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer,
and JOHN BRITTEN, of Birmingham, aforesaid, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
George Frederick Hipkins and John Britten, Her special licence that we, the
said George Frederick Hipkins and John Britten, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said George Frederick Hipkins
and John Britten, our executors, administrators, and 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
APPLYING SPRINGS OR WEIGHTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CLOSING DOORS, OR RESISTING
SHOCKS, STRAINS, OR PRESSURE," upon the condition (amongst others) that we,
the said George Frederick Hipkins and John Britten, our executors or ad-
ministrators, by an instrument in writing under our or their hands and seals,
or under the hand and seal of one of us or them, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Britten, on behalf of myself and
the said George Frederick Hipkins, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to
say:
Before describing our improved door springs we will explain the use
to which certain terms are applied in this branch of our Specification. By
spring or door spring is always meant the entire apparatus used for closing a
door, except in cases where the context indicates that the word spring signifies
only the elastic member of such apparatus. By the post abutment of a door
spring is meant the part by which it is held to the door post. By the door
abutment is meant the part by which the spring is attached to or pressed
against the door. By foundation plate is meant any plate which forms a
foundation for the parts more immediately concerned in the action of the
apparatus described. By "horn" is meant any part fixed to and projecting
from a foundation plate, and forming part of the apparatus described. By
a doubled knuckle or doubled Stanhope lever is meant the arrangement of
knuckles or levers used in the Columbian printing press. By an open knuckle
or open Stanhope lever is meant the vertical arrangement of knuckles used in
the Albion and other similar printing presses. By knuckle or Stanhope lever
is meant either form of knuckle, unless the context indicates some one form
to be meant. By the term axis of the door, or the door's centre of motion,
is meant any point of a vertical line of indefinite length passing through the
centre pins of the hinges on which the door swings.
In reference to some of the improvements we shall describe, we would
explain that there are at present in use two distinct classes of door springs
suitable for being applied behind or at the backs of doors. In the one class
the spring is fixed only to the door post, and merely bears or presses against
the door, and the spring is complete in itself whether pressing against the door
or not. In the other class the spring requires to be screwed both to the door
post and also to the door; and the spring being incomplete until thus fixed, the
door and its hinges may be said to form parts of the door spring. The common
arm spring is an example of the first class of springs, and the springs known as
the paragon door spring. The piston door spring and the telescope door
spring are examples of the second class. It is a distinguishing characteristic of
the second class of springs, that, instead of pressing the door in the direction in
which the latter is intended to move, they press.it in a direction transverse
thereto, that is, in a direction from the binges or axis towards the latch; and
in consequence of pressing in this direction, these latter springs, when fixed to

page_text: doors, have a great tendency to press the doors from their hinges. In order to
obviate this difficulty, we construct this second class of springs so as to enable
them to act as above described of the common arm spring, and when so con-
structed we speak of them as being arm springs, or as acting like arm
springs.
Figure 1 illustrates the way in which the above object is accomplished in
reference to the telescope spring, and from this Figure and the following
description it will be easily understood how a similar object may be attained
with other springs of this class. The parts a, a, b, b, c, c¹, represent respec-
tively the door post abutment, the telescope, and the door abutment of a
telescope door spring. In an ordinary telescope door spring the part c, c¹,
would require to be screwed to the back of the door, and our improvement
consists in obviating this necessity, by lengthening the part c¹ so as to admit of
its being hinged to the door post abutment, as shewn by the rod or plate d, d',
the said rod or plate being broken away at d¹ to illustrate more clearly the
difference between the telescope spring as usually constructed, and as con-
structed with our improvements. As the collective part d, d', c', press against
the door like the arm of a common arm spring, we denominate it the arm of
the spring; and it is to be observed that since the hinge d may be placed in or
near the axis of the door, the end c¹ of this arm will not have occasion to
travel over the door while the latter is being opened, as does the roller of a
common arm spring, hence the end c¹ will not require a roller. Nevertheless,
whatever means be used for preventing accidental separation between the arm'
and the door must be such as to allow of a slight motion of the arm over the
surface of the door, in the event of the axis of the arm not being fixed in the
exact line of the axis of the door; a staple fitting loosely over the arm,
or a screw fitting loosely in a slot of the arm, will answer the required
purpose.
We are aware that it has been attempted to obviate the evils
above named as appertaining to this class of springs by hinging the door
abutments to the post abutments, and we therefore do not claim as our Inven-
tion any such use of hinges, but only claim their use in connection with
arrangements for holding the arm against the door sufficiently to prevent com-
plete separation, and yet to allow of any change in the relative position of the
door and the arm that may be rendered necessary by the binge of the arm not
being fixed in the exact line of the door hinges. In adapting the paragon
spring and the piston spring for acting as arm springs, it will simply be neces-
sary to proceed as above described of the telescope spring, elongating the door
abutment plate, if necessary to do so.
Figure 2 is a plan of another of our improved arm springs for closing doors.

page_text: a is a foundation plate to be screwed to the back of the door post; b, one of
two horns projecting horizontally from the foundation plate c; c', a rod, hinged
between the horns by the pin d. The part c of this rod is large enough to
fit the inside of a tube e, but from the point f it takes the size and shape
shewn by the dotted lines, thereby affording a collar f, which acts as one
abutment to a helical spring contained within the tube, the other abutment
being the inner surface of the cap 9, which fits firmly on the tube. The
helical spring has thus a tendency to push the abutment g in the direction of
the arrow z, but the said abutment being prevented from moving in that direc-
tion by two lateral tie rods, one of which, h³, h, is shewn, the result is a
tendency of the abutment g to move in the direction of the arc g, n, and in so
moving it must of necessity impart a similar motion to the roller i on the end
of the rod c, c', which roller is intended to press against the back of the door.
Under this arrangement the effective power or leverage of the helical spring
contained within the tube e will be in the ratio of the angle formed by the tie
rods h', h, and the main rods c, c¹. This angle will be greatest when the
door is closed, and as the door opens will gradually grow smaller, until when
the door is quite open the rods c, c¹, and the tie rods h¹, h, will both occupy
the position shewn by the dotted line y, h', and the angle above spoken of will
then disappear, and the spring will then cease to exert any influence on the
door. This spring may be modified by hinging the tube e to the horns b, and
connecting the side rods h', h, with the main rod e, c', (which in this case
would be arranged to slide to and fro within the tube e.) So also the roller i
may be mounted on the end of a rod screwed or fixed to the end of the tube e,
and the helical spring be worked by rod and chain bearings, similar to those
used in Britten's patent Stanhope, door springs as hitherto sold, or to those
used in Gerishe's patent door springs as hitherto sold. The spring may also
be further modified by dispensing with the roller i and the tie rods h¹, h, and
passing the end c¹ of the rod c, c', through a suitable hole in a bracket or horn
screwed to and projecting from the door in such a manner as to allow the
helical spring contained within the tube to press against or find an abutment
in the said horn or bracket; but a spring thus constructed would have a
tendency to press the door from its hinges, and therefore we prefer the former
arrangements. The horns of this spring are fixed to the foundation plate in
such a manner as to allow of the spring being turned so as to lie parallel with
the door post at times when it is desired to relieve the door from the action of
the spring. The mode of effecting this object is shewn in Figure 3, which is a
side elevation of such improved plate and horns without the spring or the pins
d, h. .a, the plate; b, b, the horns; c, a pin or rivet holding the horns to the

page_text: plate with sufficient force to resist the action of the spring, and yet loosely
enough to allow the horns to turn round in the manner of a swivel.
Figure 4 is a plan of another of our improved door springs suitable for
acting as an arm spring. This and the two following springs are constructed
on the principle generally adopted in the construction of trough hinges, some-
times called swing hinges; the principle consisting in forcing one or more rollers
against an irregular incline, the irregularity in the incline being the means
whereby the spring is made to act with great power when the door is closed,
and with decreased power when the door is partially or wholly opened. a is a
foundation plate, to be screwed to the back of the door post; b, a horn, pro-
jecting from the foundation plate, and having a suitable irregular incline c, c, c',
on one edge of it; d, d, an arm or lever, hinged to the foundation plate, and
having a roller e at the opposite end, which roller is intended to press against
and travel on the back of the door; f, f, a shouldered rod, working through
guides g, g, and forced in the direction of the arrow z by the helical spring h.
On the end of this rod is mounted a roller i, intended to work against the
irregular incline c, c, c¹, and also one or a pair of rollers k, intended to carry
the rod f, f, and prevent it from rubbing against the arm d, d. It will be seen
that as the end of the arm d, d, passes through the arc f, n, the roller i and
the rod on which it is mounted will by the incline c, c, c', be forced in a
direction the reverse of that in which the spring acts, and the spring being
thus compressed, will, by its effort to expand, force the arm d, d, in the
direction n, f, and thereby cause it to close the door, and hold it closed with
a force determined conjointly by the force of the spring h, and the depth of the
depression c¹, into which the roller is projected.
Figure 5 is a plan of another of our improved door springs. a is a founda-
tion plate, to be screwed to the door post in such a position as to place the
pin e in or near the axis of the door; b, a horn, projecting from the plate a,
and having an irregular incline c, c¹, c¹¹, on one edge of it; d, d', an arm,
intended to lie parallel to and in contact with the back of the door, and
hinged to the foundation plate by the pin e; f, a flat spring, rivetted at one
end to the arm d, and having a roller i mounted on the other end, and acting
in the direction of the arrow . As the point d' moves through the arc d', n,
the roller i will be forced by the incline c, c¹, c¹¹, in the direction of the arrow y
and so compress the spring f, which in its effort to recover its position will
produce a tendency to a reverse motion in the point d', and so cause it to
close the door, against which the arm d, d', will be pressing. This spring
is to be so proportioned, that when the arm d, d, is by the opening of the
door brought into a position at or about right angles to its present position

page_text: the roller i will be brought beyond the part c¹, and thereby be enabled to pass
onward to the point c". By this means the spring f will be released from the
extreme tension to which it will be subject prior to its passing the point c¹.
The spring is to be forked from i to z, to admit of its passing over or on each
side of the horn 6. This spring may be modified by mounting the roller i on
the end of a radius rod hinged to the arm d, d, and using a flat, a convolute,
or a helical spring to force such rod in the direction of the arrow z.
It may
also be further modified by dispensing with the arm d, d', and screwing the
spring directly to the door, but in this case the spring would have a tendency
to press the door from its hinges. Both this and the spring previously described
may be modified by making the inclines to travel instead of the rollers i, i, but
we prefer the arrangements here shewn.
Figure 6 is an elevation of another of our improved arm springs. a, a, is
a foundation plate, intended to rest against the back of the door about half
way between the axis and the latch; a', a", a narrow strip of metal, rivetted to
or forming part of the plate a, a, and continued to the axis of the door, and
there hinged to the door-post abutment g, in the manner described of the
arm d, d', Figure 5; k, a strap or staple, fixed over and loosely confining the
part a', al; b, b, a horse-shoe shaped spring, secured to the plate a, a, by
means of the staple c, and having on either end a roller d, d; e, a wedge, of
irregular form, fixed to the end of a rod f, and guided in a horizontal direction
by flanges 1, 1, turned up from or rivetted on the plate a, a, at right angles to
the surface of the said plate. This rod is hinged to the door-post abutment g,
and the hinge is so placed as to stand out about two inches from the axis of
the door. This difference in the relative position of the rod's and the door's
centres of motion will cause the wedge e to travel in the direction of the
arrow when the door is being opened, just as the roller of a common arm
spring travels; but this travelling of the wedge will be resisted by the
rollers d, d, being pressed against the sides or edges of the wedge by the
spring b, b, and from that resistance will result a tendency of the door to close
or remain closed. The spring may be modified by dispensing with the part
a, a", and screwing the plate a, a, to the door, but under such arrangement
the spring would have a tendency to press the door from its hinges, and we
therefore prefer the arrangement here shewn.
.
Figure 7 and some of the succeeding Figures represent improvements in a
description of door spring for which a Patent was granted to John Britten,
one of the present Patentees, in the year One thousand eight hundred and forty-
eight, and which springs are now known as Britten's patent Stanhope door
springs. a, Figure 7, represents a part of the face of the door in a closed

page_text: position; b, b, the door post; c, the axis of the door; d, a foundation plate,
fixed to the door post; k, one of the horns projecting from the foundation
plate; e, a tube, hinged or working on the pin o. In the inside of this tube a
helical spring is placed, and supplied with rod and chain bearings, similar to
'those alluded to in the description of Figure 2. The one end of the said chain
is held to the horns k by the pin a, and the spring thus made to pull the tube e
towards x, and thereby made to cause the hook j at the farther end of the tube
to move, or have a tendency to move, through the arc n, f, in the direction of
the arrow. The hook j being connected with the door a by the link g and a
hook, represented by the dotted line h, i, it is obvious that as the hook j is
pulled through the arc n, j, by the action of the helical spring, the said hook j
must thereby pull the door in the direction of the arrow y. It is also obvious
that the power with which the hook will act on the door will increase as it
approximates to the position shewn in the Drawing, and decrease as it moves
'towards n, by the opening of the door a. It is of great importance that the
distance between the hook j and the door should be such, that when the tube
arrives in the position shewn in the Drawing the door should be closed and a
firm tension exerted on the link g. With the view of enabling this object to
be readily attained by the workman in fixing the spring, the hook h, i, is to be
furnished with a screw of sufficient depth of thread to enable it to resist the
strain upon it, and being thus furnished, the workman may, by screwing it
more or less deeply into the door, produce the requisite tension on the link g.
It will be seen, that with a spring constructed as here shewn, the tube e and
the link g will form a doubled knuckle or Stanhope lever, similar to those used
in the Columbian printing press, the tube acting as the compressive member
and the link as the tensive member of such knuckle.
Figure. 8 represents another improved method of applying the Stanhope
lever to the purpose of closing doors. a, a, is a foundation plate intended to
be fixed to the under side of the lintel, and therefore in a position the reverse
of what is shewn in the Drawing; b, a tube hinged to the foundation plate
by the pin c, and baving inside of it a helical spring furnished with rod and
chain bearings, so as to pull the hook f in the direction n, f. The dotted line e
represents a cord or chain attached to the hook f, and working over a pulley g.
The dotted lines h, i, represent a screw and nut to which the cord is to be
attached, and which screw is intended to pass through the door at a point very
near to the top, and about eight inches from the door's axis, and to be held in
its place by the nut i, which nut will also afford the means of obtaining the
requisite motion on the cord e when the door is closed, and the tube b is in
the position shown in the Drawing. Under this arrangement the tube and the

page_text: cord c form respectively the compressive and the tensive members of a double
knuckle, as described in reference to Figure 7. The advantage gained by
substituting the cord and pulley for the link g, Figure 7, is that of enabling the
point of draught to be situated farther from the axis of the door, and hence
to reduce the strain on the working parts. This spring would be fixed to
the lintel with the hook f towards the latch post, and the roller g towards
the hinge post.
Figure 9 is another arrangement of Stanhope levers. a, the door; b, the
door post; c, the axis of the door; d, the foundation plate screwed to the door;
e, the compressive member of the knuckle; f, the tensive member ; 9, the
abutment screw; h, a flat spring, screwed to the back of the door, and pulling
the member e in the direction of the arrow by means of a cord or chain, re-
presented by the dotted line i. The action of this spring is similar to that last
described, except that it is fixed to the door instead of to the door post. Another
of our improved springs is constructed and applied in a manner similar to that
last described, except that the knuckle e is impelled in the direction of the
arrow by the tortion of a straight wire about four feet long, one end of which
is fixed to the knuckle at d and the other end fixed to the door. The mode
of constructing and applying ordinary tortion springs is well known, and
therefore no further description is needed here. This spring may also be
modified in the manner shown in Figure 12, which is a Diagram of the centre
lines of the spring so modified. The line a represents the front surface of the
door; b, the surface of the door post; and c, the axis of the door; d, a horn
projecting from the door, and forming one abutment of a helical spring e; f, k,
a rod working through a hole in the horn d, and having a collar n, which acts
as an abutment to the spring e; g, h, the compressive member of the knuckle,
working on a centre h, and having an elbow h, k, pinned or hinged at k to the
rod f, k; g, m, the tensive member of the knuckle, attached to the door post
at the point m. As thus constructed, the act of opening the door will cause
the point k, and with it the end k of the rod f, k, to pass through the arc of a
circle, represented by the dotted line k, o, by which means the points h, k, and
f will, when the door is about square open, be brought into a straight line, and
the door will then be relieved from the action of the spring, or rather the
spring will then have a tendency to hold the door open instead of to close it.
We would explain here, that almost all forms of the Stanhope door spring are
capable of being thus made to act as door porters; but as the description here
given will enable any person of ordinary intelligence to adjust the proportions
and parts of other Stanhope springs so as to produce the effect here described,
we do not think it necessary to supply further description. We wish it to be

page_text: understood, however, that we claim as our Invention the construction of any
and all the Stanhope door springs in such manner as to enable the parts which
compress the elastic member of the door spring to pass to or beyond a dead or
inoperative centre when the door is nearly or wholly open.
Figure 10 represents a mode of combining the Stanhope lever with the
ordinary weight, cord, and pulley. a is a pulley, working on its centre c, which
centre is to be fixed by any convenient means to the lintel of the door frame;
b, a semicircular and rigid piece of metal, which we call a claw, clipping the
pulley, and having one end d attached to a cord, represented by the dotted
line d, d, and which cord is intended to pass over a second pulley, and to be
provided with a weight, in the manner of an ordinary cord and weight as used
for closing doors. The other end e of the claw b is connected with a screw,
represented by the dotted line e, e¹, which is intended to be fixed to the door.
The apparatus will occupy the position shewn in the Drawing when the door
is closed, and when in that position the portion of the pulley represented by
the dotted line d, c, will act as the compressive member of a Stanhope lever,
and the claw b will act as the tensive member. The effective power of the
weight suspended from the cord d, d¹, will, therefore, be materially increased
while the door is shut, but so soon as the door becomes opened a few inches,
the claw 6 will pass from the pulley, and its place be supplied by a portion of
the cord d, d¹, and the weight will then cease to act with more than the force
immediately due to its own weight. This method of closing a door may be
modified by substituting for the pulley a a box containing a convolute spring
of sufficient elasticity to admit of two or three revolutions being given to the
box, and also substituting for the cord d, d, a tape, strap, or chain passing
round the said spring box; or the tape may be dispensed with, and the claw b
be lengthened and hinged directly to a short arm projecting from the spring
box in the direction of the arrow. But if made on this latter plan the spring
must be fixed very near to the door's axis, whereas if made with a tape and
very elastic spring, or with a cord and weight, the apparatus may be fixed at
some distance from the axis of the door, thereby obtaining the advantages
described in reference to Figure 8.
Figure 11 is a plan of an improved door spring which we denominate a bow-
string spring. a, the foundation plate; b, one of the horns; d, d', a bow-
shaped spring, of steel or other suitable material, the ends of which are hinged
or jointed to the parts b, c. It will be seen that this bow-shaped spring in its
effort to straighten itself will force the point c (intended to rest against the
door) in the direction of the arrow, and thereby close the door or hold it
closed. It will also be seen that the nearer the spring approaches to a straight

page_text: line the better will it be disposed for resisting the end to end pressure to
which it is subjected, and that the more it departs from that position, as it
will do when the door is being opened, the less effectually will it be disposed
for resisting such pressure. This door spring will also become weaker or
wholly inert as the door opens, on account of the arms c, c', arriving at or near
the part b, when an effect will be produced in the leverage of the spring,
similar to that described in reference to Figure 2. This spring may be modi-
fied by substituting for the bow shaped spring d, d', an open knuckle, as repre-
sented by the dotted lines c, d, and d, b, hinged together at or about the
part d, the member d, b, being made to move in the direction of the arrow d
by a box or convolute spring on the axis b, or a helical spring mounted as
described in reference to Figure 2. As thus arranged, the two rods c, d,
and d, b, will have a tendency to approach the position of one straight line,
and will thereby operate on the point c in the manner described of the bow-
shaped spring d, d'.
Figure 13 is a plan of an improvement on what are called Gerishe's spring
hinges, having for its chief object to cause the tension chain to pass to or
beyond a dead or inoperative centre when the door is about square open. g the
hinge pin, or centre of motion; a, a', the flaps of the hinge, cranked outwards
to allow of a certain required distance between the pins b and c; d, a rigid
link or rod, cranked at the part d', and forming the outermost link of the
tension chain, by which the spring of the hinge is compressed; c, a part of the
spring tube fixed to the flap a¹. The hinge is here shown in the position it
will occupy when the door is closed; and supposing a to be the moving flap of
the hinge, then as the door opens the pin 6 will move through the arc b, n,
and when it arrives at or about the point n, the centre line of the link d will
occupy the position shown by the dotted line m, n, a portion of the hinge being
cut away at that part to allow of this result. The pins b, g, and c will then be
in or about a straight line, and the spring will therefore cease to exert any
closing influence on the door.
Figure 14 represents an improved means of attaching the foundation plates
of arm springs to door posts. a is an inner foundation plate to be screwed to
the door post; b, an outer foundation plate, on which horns or any other
required projection may be fixed; c, one of two or more rivets, fixed into the
plate a, with their heads at such distance as to allow the edge of the plate b to
be passed under them, the said plate being forked or slotted to admit of its
passing the shanks of the rivets; d, a screw screwed into and through the plate
b, and bearing with its point in a suitable cavity on the plate a, such cavity
being necessary to prevent lateral motion. By screwing this screw more or less

page_text: deeply through the plate a the angle between the two plates may be increased
or decreased at pleasure, and the roller end of the arm be thereby made to
pitch more or less fully towards the door, so as to procure a firm pressure on
the door when the latter is closed, and the spring in a position to exert its
maximum of power. Springs furnished with this, or some similar abutment,
will have the advantage of being easily removed from the doors or door posts.
This abutment may be modified in various ways. First, a hook or hooks may be
turned up from the plate a to receive and hold the edge of the plate b, in lieu
of the rivets c. Second, the edge d of the plate b may be placed in contact with
the plate a, and the opposite edge c be made to stand out from the plate a, as
the edge a does in the Drawing; and the required pitch of the arm of the
spring may then be produced by screwing the edge c towards the plate a.
Third, the inner plate a may be dispensed with, and the pitch of the plate b, in
reference to the arm of the spring, be such, that while the roller of the arm shall
be pressing against the back of a closed door, and the back edge of the plate b
be pressing against the door post in a line flush with the said closed door, the
forward edge of the plate 6 shall stand out about inch from the line of the
said door and post. The pitch of the arm may then be adjusted to any degree
by driving the screws of the forward edge of the plate 6 more or less deeply
into the post. Fourth, the required inclination of the plate 6 may be effected
by a suitable wedge or packing placed between the backward edge of the plate
b and the door post. Fifth, the plate a, or some suitable substitute, may be
made to stand out from the door post at right angles from the position shown
in the Drawing, and the plate 6 be so arranged in connection with the parts to
which it is connected so as to admit of it also taking a similar or nearly similar
position. The two parts a and b may then be connected as above described,
and their angles of inclination to each other varied, as above described.
b
We will now proceed to describe our Invention of improved means of
applying springs to the purposes of resisting shocks or strains, or sudden or
continuous pressure.
Figure 15 represents an open knuckle, similar in principle to that already
described under the name of an open knuckle, but which, for the uses now
about to be described, will be made to operate in a manner the reverse of what
is the case with knuckles used in door springs and printing presses; that is to
say, in a door spring or a printing press the motive power is employed to force
the three axes of the knuckle into or towards the position of one straight line,
and the force to be resisted or overcome by the motive power has a tendency
to force the two members of the knuckle into or retain them in a position at
an angle with each other; but in the uses to which the knuckle is applied in

page_text: the following part of this Specification, the motive power will operate to draw
the knuckles towards or retain them in an angular position, and the force to
be resisted or overcome will have a tendency to draw them into or towards a
straight line. A knuckle thus operated by a powerful spring of steel or com-
pressed air may be applied to the purpose of lessening the shocks sustained by
ships or other floating vessels while riding at anchor in rough weather, and
which apparatus when so applied we denominate a marine buffer. For this
purpose, the end a, Figure 15, must be hinged or pinned to the mainmast, or
some firm part of the vessel, and the part to be pinned or otherwise attached
to the cable, and the part c be drawn or forced in the direction of the arrow.
by a powerful spring; then, as the draft on the part 6 produced by the cable
stretches the knuckle a, c, b, into or towards the position of a straight line, the
leverage of the knuckle will increase in favor of the spring, and become almost
infinite when the knuckle arrives at or very near a straight line.
b
A similar varying effect to that above described, so far as relates to the
leverage with which a spring acts, may be attained by substituting for the
knuckle a curved plate or strap of steel, or other elastic metal, occupying
the position of the dotted curve line a, e, b, Figure 15. Such curved plate
or strap would form virtually the knuckle and the spring in one part; and
hence, in the following description, any remarks or claims applying to knuckles
combined with springs will include or apply to curved springs thus acting in
the manner of knuckles; and so also remarks applying to curved springs
acting in the manner above described will also include or apply to knuckles;
and this will be the case, whether the said curved springs consist of or contain
only one large curve, or of a number of smaller curves or corrugations. We are
aware that it has been proposed to use plates or straps of steel having one or
more curves and one or more angles in them for the purpose of traction springs;
and we therefore wish it to be understood, that so far as relates to traction
springs made of curved plates or straps drawn lengthways, we limit our claim
to straps of such strength and curvature as will admit of the said straps when
applied to their proper uses being forced into or near a straight line, or drawn
wholly or nearly home, without injury to any of their parts. When we speak
of curved plates or straps suitable for acting as knuckles, it will be understood
we mean such as we have specifically described. We would observe, too, that
either the knuckles or the springs here spoken of may be used in pairs, if it be
found convenient or desirable to do so; the second or duplicate knuckle being
placed opposite to its companion, in the position of the dotted lines a, c, b,
Figure 15.
Having thus described the principle involved in the application of knuckles

page_text: or curved springs operated on by a lengthward draft to the purpose of resisting
the straining of a vessel at anchor, the means of employing such appliances in
other ways and for other purposes, may be understood from the Diagrams,
Figures 15 to 22 inclusive, which, with the exception of Figure 15, represent
the centre lines of the working parts of the several Inventions described, the
arrow c in each case representing the direction in which the spring acts.
b
b
The arrangement shown in Figure 15 is equally applicable to the purposes of
a draw spring for railway and other carriages. When used for this purpose
the part a should be attached to some convenient part of the under surface of
the carriage, and the part 6 to the draw bar, the said part 6 being furnished
with a suitable guide to prevent its being drawn sideways by the action of the
spring and knuckle. We are aware that it has been proposed to use-plates or
straps of steel, having one or more curves and one or more angles in them, for the
purpose of traction springs, and we therefore wish it to be understood, that-so-far-as
relates-to-truction-springs-made-of-curved-plates or straps drawn lengthways, we
limit our claim to straps-of-such-strength, curvature, as will admit of the said
straps being forced-into-or-near-a-straight line without injury to any of their-parts;
and-when-we-speak of curved plates or straps suitable for ceting as knuckles,-it-will
be understood we mean only such as kere-specially-described.
Figure 16 represents the centre lines of a knuckle applied to the purposes
of a railway buffer. d, the buffer head; d, b, the buffer rod; and a, c, b, the
knuckle. The part a must be fixed to a suitable part of the carriage near to
the buffer head, and the part 6 be guided to prevent the knuckle and spring.
from drawing it out of place.
Figure 17 represents a means of converting the coupling chains of railway
trucks and carriages into knuckles, or their equivalents. a, a', represent the
ends of two carriages b, b; and 61, 61, the coupling chains; and c, a helical or
other suitable spring acting in the direction of the arrow heads.
Figure 18 represents a means of using the knuckles in the construction of
bearing springs for carriages. a, c, b, the knuckle; a, d, and d, b, two rigid bars,
hinged at d, and there rested on and secured to the axle box (by which is
meant the block of metal or other material in which the axle revolves);
a, b, are the parts on which the carriage is to rest, and at which, by pressing
these points outwards, the strain will be thrown on the knuckle.
Figure 19 represents another method of using knuckles in the construction
of bearing springs. And we would here explain, in reference to this and some
of the following Figures, that where parts are duplicates of other parts we shall
in some cases leave the duplicate parts without letters of reference, and
describe only one series of parts, leaving the duty discharged by the unlettered

page_text: parts to be understood from those which are lettered and described. d, d, is
the under surface of the carriage; b, a, one of two or more downward pro-
jections from the carriage, which we call legs, and which legs are to be stayed
or otherwise made strong enough to bear the lateral strain to which they will
be subjected by the action of the spring and knuckle; e, e¹, a short horizontal
bar or plate, intended to rest on the axle box, and to be secured to the same;
a, e, a link or hinged bar, connecting the leg b, a, with the plate e, e', which
again is hinged to the knuckle e¹, c, f, and which knuckle is at the end f
hinged and connected with parts which are duplicates of those at the opposite
end. The centre c of the knuckle being forced downwards by some suitable
spring, having one abutment on the under surface of the carriage, it will result
that the downward pressure of the leg b, a, and its fellow, will draw the wheels
towards the legs, and thereby draw the centre c of the knuckle upwards, and
so tend to straighten it. A carriage thus mounted would not require axle
guides, as the tendency of the link a, e, and its fellows, to approach a vertical
position, would always keep the wheels in their proper place under the carriage,
and at the same time allow the wheels a beneficial degree of lateral motion.
Figure 20 represents another mode of using knuckles or curved springs in
the construction of bearing springs, and in this case curved springs are
represented as being better adapted to the purpose than knuckles. d, d, the
under surface of the carriage; b, a, and b, a¹, two legs; e, e¹, the horizontal
plate; ff, two curved springs acting in the direction of the arrows. The
plate e, e¹, is to be placed over the axle box, as described with reference to
Figure 19, and the springs to be hinged respectively to the legs and the plate
at the several points a, e, and e', a¹.
In Figure 21, a, b, e, and a¹, b', e¹, represent two L-shaped levers intended
to be fixed to the axle boxes at the points b, b', which points will form the
fulcrums of the said levers. The ends a, a¹, are to be hinged to the under side
of the carriage d, d, and the ends e, e¹, to the respective ends of the knuckle
e, c, e¹.
In Figure 22 this arrangement is modified by reversing the levers a, b, e,
so as throw the knuckle e, c, e¹, below the level of the axles. In this, as in
the foregoing case, the axle boxes are to be fixed to the lever at the point b.
Another mode of applying these knuckles or curved springs, which we claim
as our Invention, consists in substituting them for the straps by which carriages
are suspended, from what are commonly called C springs, but when the said
knuckles or clastic straps are so used, rigid supports may for the sake of
cconomy be substituted for the C springs.
In some cases we prefer substituting for the single curved or corrugated

page_text: strap, above alluded to, as serving the conjoint purpose of a knuckle and
spring, a chain formed of a series of elastic plates curved, but not corrugated,
and hinged or hooked to each other, so as to form a sort of chain.
Another of our Inventions consists in the method of constructing the elastic
straps of corrugated steel, which have been herein alluded to. In constructing
these straps, we use steel of an eighth of an inch thickness, and in some cases
as thin as a sixteenth of an inch, or a thirty-second of an inch, or even much
thinner than that, and compensate for the extreme thinness by using a large
number of plates or straps, and making very short curves in them, that is,
curves or corrugations of short radius. It is not feasible to define the exact
curve which should be used for steel of different thicknesses, because much
will depend on the quality of the steel; but, as a general rule, we make the
curves to be the shortest into which the plate, when flat and properly hardened
and tempered, may be bent without injuring its elasticity. Having prepared
a sufficient number of these curved straps for the purpose required, we anoint
them with oil or other unctuous material, and then lay them together as closely
as possible, and rivet their ends in one mass firmly to whatsoever connections
may be convenient to the purpose in view, and finally we cover them with
leather, or some other suitable substance, in order to protect them from the
weather, taking care that such covering be so applied as to admit of the
elongation and contraction of the spring when under use.
The advantage
gained by this method of constructing elastic metal straps for the purposes
herein set forth will be rendered intelligible by explaining the effect produced
on a plate of steel by bending it in the highest degree in which such plate may
be bent without having its elasticity injured. The effect so produced is that of
compressing the inner part of the curve and stretching the ontter part to the
greatest extent to which the metal will admit of being so compressed or stretched;
but at a point about midway between the two sides there would lie a line of
metal undergoing neither compression or extension, and from that point
outwards the successive layers would undergo only a gradually increasing com-
pression on the one side and tension on the other. It follows, then, that the
only parts of a bended steel plate that are in full working order are the extreme
outer surfaces, and hence, the thicker such bent plate is the greater will be the
amount of waste or partially ineffective metal contained within it. In applying
this principle of subdivision to the construction of buffer, bearing, and draw
springs, so as to develope it in connection with the principle explained
with reference to Figure 23, we take a considerable number of thin corrugated
plates, varying in number as the said plates may be thicker or thinner, and
lay them together with their corrugations fitting into each other; then a similar

page_text: number of such plates with their corrugations similarly fitting each other,
and we place this second lot of plates over or against the first lot in such
manner as to reverse the corrugations, that is, to make the outter curves of the
one set meet the outer curves of the other set, and the inner curves of the one
set meet or face the inner curves of the other set, as shown by the Diagram,
Figure 31, and we repeat these layers or successive sets to any extent
required, taking care that where a short but powerful stroke is required we
make the sets to consist of a greater number of plates than in cases where a
long and more pliable stroke is required. In order to preserve the successive
sets in the proper position relatively to each other, we hinge the ends of the
outer plate of each set to the ends of the outer plate of the set lying in
contact with it. Under this arrangement the extreme plates of each of the
extreme sets will when compressing or relaxing require to slide over the solid
surfaces against which they will press; and in order to prevent these plates
from being thereby injured, we furnish them with bearings of well oiled wood,
or of brass, or some other metal, over which such plates may slide more easily
than over bare iron or steel. As the extreme thinness of the plates used in a
buffer of this description will expose them to rapid injury if they become wet,
we take care to prevent or lessen this liability by supplying the boxes in which
the springs are placed with stuffing boxes to keep out wet; or we provide
them with a neck casing or tube of leather or other suitable material, the
ends of such tube being firmly fixed or bound round the parts of the box,
the one end to the moving part and the other end to the fixed part, in such
manner that the said tube may double or wrinkle up when the apparatus is
under compression, and stretch out again when the pressure is removed. When
constructing bearing springs on this plan we make the boxes which contain
the spring without any opening above the level of the spring.
We are aware
that dish-shaped plates, corrugated radially, have been proposed to be used for
the foregoing purposes, and we therefore do not claim such form of corru-
gation; but what we claim in reference to this part of our Invention is, the
employment of elastic plates for buffer and other springs having corrugations
running crossways, or lengthways, or diagonally; also the subdivision of the
metal used into thinner and more numerous plates than have been used in
any kind of buffer or bearing springs; also the hinging of or similarly
attaching the outward plates of the several sets together at their ends; and
this we claim, whether the plates be corrugated or only bent in one curve;
also the provision described for facilitating the sliding of the extreme plates
over their bearings, and also the means of preventing injury from the weather.
The Diagram, Figure 23, represents another mode of applying springs to

page_text: the purposes of resisting shocks and strains, which, like the methods already
described, enables the leverage to increase in favor of the spring as the latter
becomes more and more compressed. The Figure shows the application of the
Invention to the construction of a very simple form of buffer. a, a, a', a', the
outline of the carriage; b, c, b', a curved spring, of about equal thickness in all
parts, and having from the point b to b¹ the form of a segment of a circle
when at rest. The parts from 6, 6', outwards are curved in the reverse direc-
tion to form the striking surface of the buffer; but these parts may, if deemed
advisable, be furnished with regular buffer heads of rods, as shown by the
dotted line e', e, or with other buffer heads fixed directly to the ends of the
spring. The advantage of this arrangement is derived from the fact, that as
the spring b, c, b', becomes compressed it becomes gradually straightened
against the flat surface a, a, the parts nearest the centre being just straight-
ened, and so on, towards the outer ends, the leverage or effective power of the
spring increasing rapidly as the points of contact with the flat surface
approaches the points b, b¹.
Figures 24, 25, 26, 27, and 30 are Diagrams of the centre lines of various
arrangements for applying the above principle to the construction of bearing
springs for railway and other carriages. In each of these Figures d, d, repre-
sents the under surface of the carriage, or of some flat surface parallel with
the under surface of the carriage; and also in each Figure c represents the
point which is supposed to find a bearing on the axletree, and to stand at
such a distance above the axletree as may be rendered necessary by the
relative nature of the spring and the other bearings. In Figure 24 the
curve line a, e, b, represents a curve spring fixed at e to the surface d, d;
and the curve line a, c, b, a similar spring fixed at c to a straight bar f, f.
In Figure 25, a, e, and e, a, represent two curve springs fixed to the surface
d, d, and resting on a suitable bearing at c in such a manner as to allow the
ends e to slide to and fro as the springs become depressed or relaxed by
variations in the weight or strain sustained by them. In Figure 30, d, d,
represent two inclined surfaces fixed to and projecting below the carriage
a, b; b', a', two curve springs fixed at the points a, a', and hinged at b, b¹, to
links or rods, which again are hinged to a horizontal plate e, e'. The action
of this spring is similar to that last described (Figure 25), with the exception
that the ends b, b¹, are hinged to rods instead of being made to slide on a flat
surface. In Figure 26, a, a, a, a, represent four curve springs rivetted or
otherwise fixed firmly together at b, b, and hinged together at e, c. These
springs in the act of compression will find varying bearings on each other,
which will produce the same effect as when one curved surface becomes

page_text: strengthened by being pressed against a flat surface, as described with refer-
ence to Figure 23. This spring would serve the purpose of the curved plates or
straps already described by making b, b, the point of draught. In Figure 27,
c, e, c', represent a curve spring fixed to the surface d, d, and bearing with the
end c on one axle, and with the end c' on another axle, the said latter bear-
ings c, c¹, being arranged to slide or move endways during the strengthening
or elongation of the spring c, e, c', when under pressure.
One of our improved springs, chiefly is applicable to beds, sofas, and chair
seats, but which may also be applied to other purposes if made proportionally
strong, is constructed as follows:-We take a strap of steel or other suit-
able metal of such length, thickness, and width as may be necessary for the
purpose to which the spring is intended to be applied to, and divide or cut
this strap lengthways, or rather diagonally into two pieces, more or less
tapered, as may be required; we then coil one of these pieces into the
form of a convolute spring, and then draw the inner part of the coil out-
wards into the form of a cone, and harden and temper it in that shape.
A spring thus constructed has the property of rapidly increasing in strength
as the spring becomes compressed, and is thereby well adapted to the purposes
above named.
Figures 28 and 29 are Diagrams representing the centre lines of the work-
ing parts of springs suitable for beds, sofas, and seats, which springs operate
on principles similar to the curve springs already described. In Figure 28,
a, a, b, b, &c, c, are three pairs of curve springs, similar to those described
with reference to Figure 24, hinged or similarly attached at the points a, b, c,
and rivetted together at the points d, d; e is the upper surface of the lath
or board which supports the spring, and to which the spring is to be fixed at
the point f; 9, 9, a flat platform of wood or other suitable material, rivetted
to the upper spring at the point h. This spring may be modified by substi-
tuting.corrugated plates for plates of one curve. In Figure 29, a, a, is the
upper surface of the laths, as viewed endwards of the said laths; b, b', and c', c,
two curved springs designed to act in the manner of knuckles, as already
described with reference to Figure 15. These springs are to be hinged to the
laths a, a, at the points b, b, and also hinged to a horizontal plate 6', c', at the
points b', c. d is a platform to receive the pressure from above, and to be
kept in a vertical or nearly vertical position, being connected with the webs or
sacking on which the mattrass or bed would be laid; and e, a. rod passing into
or through a hole in the plate b, c, and being supported there by a collar near
to its lower end. As thus arranged, a superincumbent weight will have a
tendency to force the springs and horizontal plate towards the position and
DO

page_text: shape of the dotted lines b, z, z, c, and in so doing will greatly increase their
power of resisting the load borne by them.
Another of our Inventions, applicable to beds or bedsteads, consists in rivet-
ting a curve spring on to one or both ends of a common metallic bedstead
lath, so as to impart a slight degree of elasticity thereto. Such spring may,.
if deemed more desirable, be introduced at any other part of the lath, the
same being divided into two parts to admit the spring.
Having now described the nature of our Inventions, and the means by which
they may be reduced to practice, we would have it understood that we do not
confine ourselves to the details herein given, so long as the general principles
are observed or acted on. For example, when we speak of or represent a
spring as being fixed to a door post or lintel, we claim the fixing such spring
to the door instead of the post or lintel, it if should be found more convenient
so to fix it. So also when we speak of or represent an incline as being fixed
and a roller as being made to travel over it, we claim any reversal of such
arrangement, whereby the roller may be made to revolve on a fixed centre and
the incline be made to travel over it. So also in reference to our improved
means of resisting shocks or strains, when we speak of a railway carriage,
we include any other carriages to which the said apparatus may be applicable;
and if we speak of a part being fixed to an axle box, we include any arrange-
ment suitable for fixing such part to the axle, if the latter should be fixed as
in common road carriages. In particular we claim,―
First, the method of making springs of the class represented by the paragon
door spring, the telescope door spring, and the piston door spring to act as
arm springs, or any modified form in which the door abutments of such springs
are tied or connected with the door post abutments and loosely connected with
the door.
Second, the springs described with reference to Figure 2, and any modified
form of such springs, in which a helical spring is made to operate directly on
an arm in such manner that the bearings of the spring may arrive at or near
a dead or inoperative centre when the door is fully open. And we claim this,
whether the said arm be an appendage or part of the door spring, or whether
the parts of the door spring collectively form the arm.
Third, the springs described with reference to Figures 4, 5, and 6, or any
modified forms thereof, in which a roller, guided by one or more other rollers
or by one or more radius rods, is made to work against an irregular incline,
for the purpose of operating on an arm suitable for pressing against the backs
of doors, or any such equivalent to or substitute for an arm, as is indicated in
the foregoing claim. We also claim the springs described with reference to

page_text: Figure 6, whether they be made to act as arm springs or not; and also the
mode of relaxing the spring when the door is full open, as described with
reference to Figure 5..
Fourth, the spring described with reference to Figure 7, or any modified
form, in which a case containing a helical or other spring is made to act as one
member of a doubled knuckle.
Fifth, the spring described with reference to Figure 8, or any modified form
thereof, in which a knuckle is made to act in combination with a cord or chain
and a pulley.
Sixth, the spring described with reference to Figure 9, or any modified
form, in which a knuckle on one side of a door is actuated by a spring or
weight situated wholly or partially on the other or opposite side of the door;
also any modified form in which a knuckle is actuated by a tortion spring;
also the modified form of Figure 9, described with reference to the Diagram,
Figure 12, and the means there described, for making Stanhope springs act as
door porters.
Seventh, the springs or apparatus described with reference to Figure 10, or
any modified form, in which knuckles are actuated by cords and weights.
Eighth, the spring described as the bowstring spring, whether acting as an
arm spring or not; also the modified form in which an open knuckle is sub-
stituted for the bow-shaped spring..
Ninth, the spring described as an improvement on Gerishe's door spring.
Tenth, the modes of fixing arm springs of the class herein described, and
adjusting their pitch, described with reference to Figure 14, and of adjusting
the tension of the tensive member of Stanhope knuckles, described with
reference to Figures 7 and 8.
Eleventh, the application of knuckles and of curved or corrugated straps
of elastic metal arranged so as to act on the principle of stretched knuckles,
and formed, as therein described, to the construction of marine or ship buffers,
and railway carriage buffers and draw springs.
Twelfth, the means described for applying the above-named knuckles and
curved or corrugated straps of elastic metal to the construction of bearing
springs for carriages, and also any modified form of the same in which the end
or ends of such knuckles or curved straps, or the end or ends of a series of the
same are attached to the carriage directly, or by links or legs, in such manner
as to make the said carriage to be or to furnish the abutments of the said
knuckles or curved straps, or the means whereby the ends of the same are
stretched out or prevented from approaching together.
Thirteenth, the means described for constructing and casing compound

page_text: corrugated straps of steel or other elastic metal; and also the elastic chain,
described as a substitute for a single curved or corrugated strap.
Fourteenth, the means of constructing buffers with thin corrugated plates,
as described.
Fifteenth, the springs described with reference to Figures 23, 24, 25, 26,
27, and 30, or any modified form, in which plates, singly or in layers, not con-
fined in boxes of such strength and curvature as will admit of their being
forced into or near a straight line, or their being forced wholly or nearly home
without injuring them, are made to change their leverage by being straightened
against each other or against flat surfaces; also any modified form in which
an equivalent effect is produced by making straight plates to bend over curved
surfaces, or in which plates of irregular shape are made to bend to and cor-
respond with irregular surfaces, so as to produce similar effects.
Sixteenth, the method of making bed and other similar springs of taper
plates, wound into a conico-convolute form or shape.
Seventeenth, the methods of making bed and other similar springs, described
with reference to Figures 28 and 29, and any modified form thereof, involving
the principles explained with reference to Figures 15 and 23.
Eighteenth, the method of making elastic bed laths, described. We also
clain the application of a similar spring to other bed sackings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Britten, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
JOHN BRITTEN. (L.S.)