Improvements in or relating to Springs.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 29th Oct., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Springs.
I, ELIJAH JOHN FADER, Mining Engineer, of 28, Hatton Garden, in the
County of Middlesex, 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:
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According to this invention a spring is formed of a strip of metal bent into a
series of planes which are arranged in a zigzag, each individual plane being
itself also bent or kinked so that when the spring is compressed it will first
of all yield to a moderate pressure and afterwards when the lines of the bends
or kinks in the individual planes are in contact the spring will have the power
of giving yet further but only under very much increased pressure. If desired
single plate springs may be formed by bending diagonally rectangular or other
shaped plates, the spring action being exerted when pressure is so put upon the
plate as to tend to flatten it out.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a spring constructed in accordance with
this invention.
Figure 2 is a similar view of the same spring when compressed so as to bring
the secondary action of the spring into play.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a plate spring constructed in accordance
with this invention.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
A flat strip of metal of convenient width is bent in a sigzag or undulating
way so as to form a series of planes A, B, C, D, E, which make suitable angles
with each other. Each plane is bent or kinked on preferably a diagonal line
such as A1 A2, B1 B2, C¹ C², D¹ D³ and E¹³, the bend forming the planes into
two triangular planes A3 A, B3 B4 and so on. When a spring thus constructed
is subjected to pressure, the angles formed by the sections A B C D E are
reduced until the ridge formed by the bend in each section A¹ A3, B¹ B³ and
so on, are brought in contact with the corresponding ridge in the next adjacent
section. When the spring shown in Figure 1 is compressed to the extent shown
in Figure 2, the ridge B1 B2 will come in contact with the ridge C¹ C³ where
they cross each other, namely, at the point indicated by the letter F in Figure 2,
the other ridges in the several sections coming in contact with the ridges in
their adjacent sections in a similar way. If the spring thus compressed be now
subjected to further pressure, the sections A B C D E and so on, tend to flatten
so as to bring the parts of each section A³ A+ and so on into one plane.
Where a single plate spring is required, a flat plate G is bent or kinked, con-
veniently diagonally on the line G₁ G³, so as to cause the two parts G3 G* of the
plate to lie in different planes. By inserting a plate thus bent between two
bodies, the plate will act as a spring, inasmuch as it will resist the tendency
to flatten it out. Where it is desired that a plate spring thus formed should be
01

page_text: inserted together with one of the bodies between which it is to be placed, a
portion of the plate may be turned up at right angles to the plane of one part
thereof so as to give a hold to enable the plate to be drawn or thrust into position
together with the body against which it lies.
If desired a long spring plate may be formed by bending or kinking a strip
of metal into a series of plates such as that shown in Figure 3, the effect being
much the same as if several plates such as G were inserted in the position
required between two bodies. It will be understood that the bend or kink need
not necessarily run diagonally across the plate, but may be arranged trans-
versely or longitudinally of a strip or otherwise as found convenient. If desired
a plate may be provided with two diagonal or other bends or kinks which cross
each other at some convenient angle.
Springs constructed in accordance with this invention are capable of very
varied application.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is―
1. A spring formed of a strip of metal bent into a series of planes arranged
in a zigzag each plane being itself also bent or kinked substantially as described.
2. A spring formed of a strip of metal bent into a series of planes arranged
in a zigzag each plane being itself also bent diagonally substantially as described.
3. The complete spring substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 1
and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
4. A spring formed of a plate bent diagonally substantially as described and
illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 10th day of September 1898.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.