Improvements in the Construction of Springs for Railway Carriages and various purposes, and in Spring Washers for Looking Nuts.
Year: 1891

page_text: The decision of the Comptroller-General, of the 10th day of March 1898, allowed',
under Section 18 of the Patents, &o. Aot, 1883, an Amendment of this
Specification.
Date of Application, 15th July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 14th Apr., 1892-Accepted, 4th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL. SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Springs for Railway Carriages
and various purposes, and in Spring Washers for Looking Nuts.
I, EDWARD CHARLES IBBOTSON of 59 Norfolk Street, Sheffield in the County
of York, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention consists in the combination of spring plates of a peculiar con-
struction, so arranged as to form a spring of great power and efficiency, giving
also sufficient deflection and suitable for railway carriages and other like purposes.
I employ a box or receiver in which are arranged a series of segmental curved
and straight plates, suitably, hardened and tempered.
In one arrangement they are placed alternately, the extremities of two.curved
plates bearing against an intermediate straight plate, and the convex surface of the
outer curved plate in contact with the convex surface of another.
The next of the series consisting of two curved plates with an intermediate
straight or chord plate against which the extremities bear.
T'he plates employed may be oblong, round, square or polygonal, presenting two
or more points of contact at their extremities. The base, box, or receiver is made
especially for the uses required.
I may increase the strength of such springs by placing two or more curved plates
together on each side of the straight intermediate plate, (each additional plate
having also an increased curve if the plates are much thicker in centre) or I may
construct the spring without any intermediate or chord, plate, in that case the
extremities of two curved or centre plates may bear against each other, one might
be smaller than its opposite plate or they may be made lop-sided.
I curve elongated plates across their breadth from side to side.
In some cases
I may also curve them both in their breadth and their length, but always such
bends or curves to be made to give spring and full deflection of each of such
curves.
This as well as bending or curving elongated plates breadthways for strength
and deflection in combination I believe to be novel. 1. propose to bend or curve
square, round or polygonal plates in one direction only, with the option of bonding
the corners only, of such as square, triangular, or any other shape having prominent
corners, on a line drawn from the centre of each edge, all plates where practicable
I prefer to be made thicker in the centre.
Round, square or polygonal plates may be used for look nut washers with one
two or more holes in them, suitably bent in one direction only or having the corners
bent from a line drawn from the centre of each squaro edge, those for two holes or
more may be bent both longways and breadthways.combined but this is optional.
To prevent friction in the use of such plates as above described when enclosed
in a case, box or receiver, I may pass a rod through the centre of such plates, and
I would prefer where one rod is used to make it of a section. square, or polygonal.

page_text: When two or more. rods are used the centre of the plates are left clear for the
depression of the spring, such rods would be secured at both ends of the receiver
and the plates would thus be held in place and slide upon them.
In making these plates I may leave a projection in the centre of the curved side
of such plates or both sides which would slide in a corresponding hollow formed in
or secured to the side of the receiver, or I may make a hollow or gap in the centre
of the bent side or sides of such plates which would then slide upon a rod or
strip or strips secured to the receiver.
If I use one centre round rod projecting from the base plate or otherwise, I
provide narrow strips on the receiver, on which the plates would slide and be
kept in place. Prominent parts may be left on the plates to slide upon the sides
of the receiver arranged for this purpose, any such plans being used singly or in
combination.
I may in some cases use curved plates in suitable combination in forming my
spring such as, for instance, I may form my spring of plates as above mentioned in
the following manner, I place a square, round or any plate whose length and
breadth are equal with its concave side. downwards (or upwards as the case may
be,) the next plate is placed with its concave side downwards, resting on the line of
the convex of the first plate crossways.
The third and following plates are arranged to work in like manner, each plate
with the edges of its concave side resting upon the line of the convex of the
previous plate. The springs being supported on a base plate, or in a cup shaped
receiver only, the plates being held in place by a rod of a section square, or
polygonal or any shape but round, and secured to the base plate, such rods may
have a solid head or a secured nut or washer to hold the plates toward the base.
I wish it to be understood that I may combine any of the beforementioned plates
in the formation of a spring for any purpose.
If used in a case they may have such provisions as before suggested. If used
as an outside buffer spring the buffer rod may pass through them and extend a
short distance under the carriage, and such extension of the bar
may pass through
& guide.
As bearing springs, they may have projecting pieces to work in a slide or slides

page_text: "
Fig. triangular plate.
Fig. 8, spring of round plates.
Fig. 9, spring plate with metal attachment.
In one arrangement see Fig. 3, the plates are placed alternately, the extremities
of two curved plates A, bearing against an intermediate straight plate B, and
the convex surface of the outer curved plate in contact with the convex surface,
of another C.
.
The next of the series consists of two curved plates with an intermediate straight
or chord plate as before, against which the extremities bear.
The plates employed may be oblong, round, square, or polygonal presenting
two or more points of contact at their extremities.
If I use a box, or receiver it is mado especially for any use required.
I may increase the strength of such springs by placing two or more curved plates
of equal or diminishing strength together on each side of the straight inter-
mediate plate sco Fig. 6, (each additional plate having also an increased curve if
the plates are thicker in the centre) or I may construct the spring without any
intermediate or chord plate, in that case the extremities of the two inner curved
plates inay bear against each other, one may be smaller than its opposite plate
or they may be made lop sided. I curve elongated plates across their breadth,
from side to side as in Fig. 1.
1 may also curve them both in their breadth and their length, as in Fig. 2, but
always such bends or curves to be made to give spring and full deflection of
ench of such curves.
This as well as bending or curving elongated plates breadthways for strength
and deflection in combination, I believe to be novel. I propose to bend or
curve square, round or polygonal plates, in one direction only as in Fig. 1, with
the option of bending the corners of such as square, triangular, or any other
ahape having prominent corners, on a line drawn from the centre of each edge
see Fig. 7, all plates where practicable I prefer to be made thick in the centre.
When I use plates of equal thickness, I may fasten to them a piece of metal
either lengthways or breadthways, provided with prominent ends to slide in grooves
in the case or receiver or vice versa, see Fig. 9.
Round, square, or polygonal plates may be used for lock nut wasliers with one,
two, or more holes in them, suitably bent in one direction only, or having the
corners bent from, a line drawn from the centre of each square edge Fig. 7,
those for two holes or more, may be bent both longways and breadthways combined,
as in Fig. 2.
:
1
To prevent friction (one of the chief objects of my invention) in the use of
such plates as above described when enclosed in a case, box, or receiver, I pass
a rod through the centre of such plates, and where ono rod is used I make it
square or polygonal, or I may use more than one rod if desirable.
When two or more rods are used the centre of the plates are left clear for the
depression of the spring, such, rods may be secured at both ends of the receiver
and the plates would thus be held in place and slide upon them.
I
may also leave a projecting piece of steel in the centre of the curved side of
Buch plates, or on both sides or ends see Fig. 4, which would slide in a corre
sponding hollow formed in the side of the receiver, or I may make a hollow or gap
see Fig. 5, in the centre of the bent ends or sides of such plates which would then
slide upon a rod or strip or strips secured to the receiver.
i,
If I use a single round rod projecting from the base plate, I provide narrow
strips on the receiver, on which the plates would slide and be kept in place.
Prominent parts may be formed on any part of the plates to slide upon the sides
of the receiver arranged for this purpose, any such plans being used singly or in
combination.

page_text: I may when there is no case or box, use such curved plates as described in
suitable combination in forming a spring, for example, I may form a spring of
plates as above mentioned in the following manner, I place a square, round or any
form of plate whose length and breadth are equal, with its concave side down-
wards (or upwards if preferred,) the next plate is placed with its concave-side
downwards resting crossways on the centre line of the convex side of the first
plate, see Fig. 8.
The third and following plates are arranged to work in like manner, each plate
with the edges of its concave side resting upon the centre of the line of the convex
side of the previous plate.
The springs being supported on a base plate, or in a cup shaped receiver only,
and the plates held in place by a rod of square, or polygonal section or any shape
but round,,secured to the base plate.
This is one way of a many in which I propose to use my plates for springs. In
all cases the plates act as separate individual springs.
If the plates are without a case or receiver one bar may pass through them, the
bar should be therefore square or polygonal to hold the plates in place, or two or
more rods might be used for that purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1-The construction of a spring for railway carriages and other purposes, used
in a case or otherwise, of steel plates curved in the manner hereinbefore described,
arranged in series either with or without a chord plate, and retained in their
relative positions by one or more rods passing through them, or with other
provisions as described if desirable, see Figs. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
2-In the construction of a spring for railway and other purposes, of series of
curved plates whether thick in the centre, or not, and which are placed one over
another in the same direction in alternato sets giving an increased bend to each
additional plate from the base or first plate, for the purpose of compression, sub-
stantially as herein before described, see Fig. 6.
3-A spring for such purposes as before described, made from separate curved or
bent plates as in Fig. 8, and either with or without a receiver, and retained in
position by square or polygonal rod passed through them. If a round rod is desired
then I use other provisions mentioned in Claim I.
4-A spring made from plates of steel having corners (such as square or
triangular for example) either bent or curved in one direction only or having the
corners alone bent down, substantially as hereinbefore 'described, and as illustrated
in Fig. 7.
5-A spring for railway and other purposes in which the elongated plates are
bent both lengthways and breadthways for the purposes of elasticity, deflection and
strength, such as shown in Fig. 2.
6-A lock nut elastic washer for one bolt made from any of the before mentioned
plates bent in one direction only, and if for two bolts from an elongated plate bent
lengthways and breadthways or corners bent as Fig. 7.
7--In the construction of springs as before described attaching to the spring
plates (when of equal thickness) either lengthways or cross ways flat pieces of
metal to strengthen same, and in some cases to hold them in place by projecting
ends, see Fig. 9.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.