Im- PROVEMENTS IN CAOUTCHOUC SPRINGS FOR LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES AND TENDERS RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND WAGONS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Lee Corlett, of No. 106, Summer Hill,'
in the City of Dublin, Gentleman, for the Invention of "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN CAOUTCHOUC SPRINGS FOR LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES AND
TENDERS RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND WAGONS
Sealed the 29th March 1854, and dated the 3rd January 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Lee Corlett
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on, the 3rd January 1854.
I, HENRY LEE CORLETT, of No. 106, Summer Hill, in the City of
Dublin, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CAOUTCHOUC SPRINGS FOR LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES AND'
TENDERS, RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND WAGGONS," to be as follows (that is
to say)-
Whereas caoutchouc springs for locomotive engines and tenders,
railway carriages, and waggons have hitherto been formed of one or
more rings or cylinders of caoutchouc, having one hole through the
centre, the transverse section being a solid ring. The said 'improve-

page_text: ments consist in introducing a number of cells or holes of any form or
shape, as may be found desireable, which cells or holes will run longi-
tudinally or in the direction. of the spring's action, thus rendering the
spring more yielding, flexible, and elastic than any hitherto in use.
The said improvements also extend to the form of the metal casing
in which, in most cases, the caoutchouc spring will be enclosed, in sim-
plifying its construction, and rendering it impossible for the flanges to
fall out, as is frequently the case with those heretofore adopted.
+
•
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the eonditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Lee Corlett in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 18th June 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
HENRY LEE CORLETT, of No. 106, Summer Hill, in the City of Dublin,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by
Her Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the
seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto me, the said Henry Lee Corlett, Her special
licence that I, the said Henry Lee Corlett, my executors, administra-
tors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Lee Corlett, my
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 " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CAOUTCHOUC SPRINGS FOR LOCOMOTIVE. ENGINES AND TENDERS,
RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND WAGGONS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Henry Lee Corlett, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office

page_text: within six calendar months next.and. immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Lee. Corlett, 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:
My improvements in caoutchouc springs are two-fold; first; in the
form and manner. in which the caoutchouc. is applied for buffing,
bearing, and draw-springs; and, secondly, in the form of, the metal
casings or boxes in which the caoutchouc is enclosed when used for
buffing and draw-springs. The first of these improvements consists.in
perforating with a number of holes or cells of any form or: shape, a
cylinder or other convenient form of vulcanized, or otherwise elastically
prepared-caoutchouc in the direction of the spring's action, thereby
rendering it more yielding, flexible, and elastic than any: caoutchouc
springs hitherto in use, the effective action and length of stroke
being considerably increased, while at the same time the iniatory action
of the spring is rendered gentle, though when by. compression the cells
become closed up, the spring is capable of sustaining. a. very great
weight or impinging force while retaining its elasticity. When.the
range of stroke is to, be considerable I form the spring of a number of
these cellular cylinders, introducing between each a disc. of caoutchouc
of a denser and less elastic description than that composing the cellular
cylinders, or these intermediate discs may be formed of any fibrous
material spun or woven together, gutta percha, cast or wrought iron,
or wood, or any other suitable material.
The second part of my improvements consists in the form of the
metal casings or boxes, in which, when used as buffing and draw
springs, the caoutchouc springs, as above described, will be generally
enclosed, though, when preferred, these casings. may be dispensed
with without impairing the effect. of the springs. These casings
consist of two principal parts, a cylinder and. piston or plunger of
cast iron, together with the back plate on which the spring impinges;
the cylinder having an internal projection, and the piston or plunger
á corresponding external projection on the end next the spring, which,

page_text: when the piston or plunger is inserted from the back of the cylinder
and the cylinder being bolted in its place, renders it impossible
for the piston to .drop out. And my Invention is fully described
by the following Specification, and by the aid of Drawings hereunto
annexed, that is to say:-Figure 1 illustrates, in longitudinal eleva-
tion and section, a buffing spring and case, shewn partly externally
-and partly in internal section; and Figure 2, a transverse section of the
same through the cylinder and caoutchouc spring. A, A, is the
caoutchouc spring; and B, B, the cells or holes; C, C, the metal
cylinder, having an internal projection c, which, in conjunction with
the corresponding projection F, retains the piston E, in its proper place
and prevents the possibility of its dropping out; in putting the spring
and casing together, the piston is inserted from the back, and after the
timber cap G, is rivetted on the caoutchouc spring A, and the back
plate H, are placed in the position shewn in Figure 1. Figure 3, is a
longitudinal elevation and section of a buffing spring similar to Figure 1,
but having an increased range of action, A, A, being two cellular
cylinders of vulcanized caoutchouc, same as in Figure 1, having a disc I,
of denser and less elastic caoutchouc, interposed between them for the
purpose of preventing too much lateral expansion. Figure 4, is a
longitudinal elevation and section of a buffing spring, similar to
Figure 1, but having a considerably increased range of action, A, A, A, A,
being cellular caoutchouc cylinders; I, I, I, being interposing discs of
gutta percha or other material, as herein-before mentioned, and L, is a
wrought iron bolt to keep the springs in their proper place. Figure 5,
is an elevation and longitudinal section; and Figure 6, a transverse
section of a draw spring; A, A, is the cylinder of vulcanized caoutchouc,
and B, B, the cells or holes; C, a metal cylinder, with an internal
projection c, which, in conjunction with the corresponding projection F,
retains the piston E, in its place and prevents the possibility of its
dropping out; H, is a back plate, similar to that described in Figure 1.
Figure 7, is an elevation and longitudinal section; and Figure 8, a
.transverse section of a draw spring, similar to Figure 5, but having an
increased range of action, A, A, being two cellular cylinders of vulcanized
caoutchouc, the same as in Figure 5, having a disc I, interposed

page_text: between them, which may be caoutchouc, gutta percha, cast or wrought
iron, or any spun or woven fibrous material; K, is a ferule of cast or
wrought iron inserted in the disc I, and encircling the draw rod L.
Figure 9, is a full size longitudinal section, and Figure 10, a full size
transverse section of a buffing spring; A, A, are the cellular caoutchouc
cylinders; I, I, the solid intermediate disc of caoutchouc; B, B, the
cells; K, K, the metal ferule; and L, L, a wrought iron bolt, as
described in Figure 4. Figures 11, 12, and 13, are full size transverse
sections of other patterns of cellular vulcanized caoutchouc cylinders
suitable for either bearing, buffing, or draw springs. By this description
and annexed illustrative Drawings any competent person may construct
these my improved caoutchouc springs.
Having now described my improvements in caoutchouc springs, I,
the said Henry Lee Corlett, wish it to be distinctly understood that
I do not claim the application of vulcanized caoutchouc for engine,
tender, carriage, or waggon springs in any other form than that herein
described, that is to say, with cells; neither do I claim the use of
intermediate discs made of cast or wrought iron or gutta percha; but
I do claim the application of intermediate dises made of caoutchouc,
wood, or any fibrous material spun or woven to the required form,
used either in connexion or otherwise with cellular caoutchouc cylinders,
as herein-before described. I also claim the peculiar form of the metal
casings or cylinders in which the caoutchouc springs are enclosed,
together with the form of the pistons or plungers of the buffing and
draw springs; these pistons or plungers being inserted from the back
of the cylinders, and having a projection to retain them in their places,
as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Lee Corlett, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
HENRY LEE CORLETT. (L.S.)