Improvements in Mounting the Bodies of Railway Carriages, Tramcars, and similar Vehicles.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 14th June, 1887
Complete Left, 13th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 13th Apr., 1888
Improvements in Mounting the Bodies of Railway Carriages,
Tramcars, and similar Vehicles.
1, ALPHONSE LUCIEN FERAUD, of 8, Place des Batignolles, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to railway carriages, tramcars and similar vehicles, furnished
with plate or
lapped" springs between their bodies or under frames and axles,
and consists in an improved method of suspending the bodies from the extremities of
such springs.
"
According to the usual mode of attachment, the links whereby the body or under
frame of the carriage is suspended from the springs are either vertical or incline
outwards and downwards from the extremities of the main spring plate.
In a railway carriage having its body or under frame suspended according to my
improved method, the links attached to the extremities of the main spring plate incline
inwards and downwards. By these means, the stress, instead of being borne in great
part by the main plate, is more perfectly distributed over the several plates whereof
the spring is composed. A carriage so mounted is improved in elasticity of suspension
and its working rendered less harsh.
Dated
2
1507
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: CUDLI LEIE DI MULTICALJUN
Improvements in Mounting the Bodies of Railway-carriages,
Tramcars, and similar Vehicles.
I, ALPHONSE LUCIEN FÉRAUD, of 8, Place des Batignolles, Paris, in the Republic
of France, Engineer, 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:—
This invention relates to railway-carriages, tramcars and similar vehicles, furnished
with plate or lapped' springs between their bodies or under frames and axles, and
consists in an improved method of suspending the bodies from the extremities of such
springs.
The accompanying drawing represents in side elevation a railway-carriage having
three pairs of wheels, to one of which my improved method of mounting is applied.
According to the usual mode of attachment, the links whereby the body or under
frame of the carriage is suspended from the springs are either vertical or incline
outwards and downwards from the extremities of the main spring-plates. These
methods of arranging the links are illustrated at a a and b respectively; the latter
having the following defects :-Owing to the horizontal strain exerted by the links or
straps, each main spring-plate is subjected to much more stress than the other plates,
and requires (amongst other measures) to be increased in section at the sacrifice of
flexibility; a want of smoothness in the running of the carriage resulting. Further-
more, until the spring becomes flattened, the carriage-body descends a greater distance
than the looped or eyed extremities of the main blade or plate, thereby entailing
inconvenience where the space available for the spring is restricted. The method of
arrangement shown at a a remedies to a certain extent the defects above mentioned,
but is open to objection on the ground of instability or unsteadiness and would involve
the addition of extra parts, such for example as stop-pieces.
In a railway-carriage having its body or under frame suspended according to my
improved method, the links attached to the extremities of each main spring-plate
incline inwards and downwards, as shown at c c. By these means, the stress on the
main spring-plates is diminished and is more perfectly distributed over the several
plates whereof the springs are composed. Moreover, until the bearing-springs become
flattened, the carriage-body descends a less distance than the extremities of the main
blades with which the links engage. A carriage-body mounted in the improved
manner described is improved in elasticity of suspension and its working rendered
less harsh.
As the result of experiment, I have ascertained that the mere alteration in the
method of mounting a carriage-body from that indicated at bb to that shewn at cc
(the inclination of the links or straps being equal in both cases) nearly doubles the
flexibility of the loaded spring. This considerable increase in the flexibility of the
bearing-springs enables the suspension of carriage-frames upon secondary frames,
together with the numerous isolated springs incidental thereto, to be avoided;

page_text: economy in construction and cost of maintenance being thereby effected. For the
same reason, springs which have hitherto been considered too heavy may be brought
into use, the flexibility of each spring being altered within certain limits by merely
varying the inclination of its links or straps. Instability or unsteadiness of the
carriage-body is at the same time avoided.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. The improved method of mounting the bodies of railway-carriages, tramcars and
similar vehicles, substantially as herein described.
2. In suspending the body of a railway-carriage, tramcar or similar vehicle, con-
necting the under frame thereof with the extremities of the main spring-plates by
means of links or straps which incline inwards and downwards, substantially as and
for the purposes herein described.