IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF SPRINGS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Julien François Belleville, of Rue d'Orleans-Batignoles,
No. 101, at Paris, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF SPRINGS."
Sealed the 1st May 1866, and dated the 14th March 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Julien François Belleville
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 14th March 1866.
I, JULIEN FRANÇOIS BELLEVILLE, of Rue d'Orléans-Batignoles, No. 101, at
Paris, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF SPRINGS," to be
as follows:
My Invention consists in constructing steel and other springs of the form
of hollow truncated cones, open at both ends, and in arranging such springs
in couples, in such manner that the edges of their bases rest upon each other,
in which position they are held by means of a central bolt fitting easily into
Such pairs of
the holes at the small diameters of the truncated cones.
truncated cones may either be used singly, or two or more such pairs may be
placed one above the other upon the central bolt, so as to obtain any required

page_text: amount of elasticity. Such elastic action of the spring is obtained by exerting
the pressure upon the small diameters of each pair of truncated concs,
whereby they will be flattened down more or less, the degree of conicity
being such that they will eventually, if the pressure is sufficiently powerful,
assume the form of two discs resting with their entire surface upon each
other, in which position the double spring assumes the forin of a block of
metal offering very great resistance to further deflection.
It will be seen that the advantages of this form of spring are, firstly, that
in its action no friction has to be overcome, inasmuch as the outer expanding
edges of the truncated cones rest upon and expand with each other; and,
secondly, that owing to the before-described arrangement, whereby each spring
of one pair is made to rest with its entire surface upon the other one, if a
certain pressure is put upon it, the springs cannot be deteriorated by deflecting
them beyond their clastic limits.
It is essential for the perfect action of these springs that the line which
generates the surface of the cone should be perfectly straight. In some cases,
where an increased power is required, and where the springs cannot be made
larger than a certain diameter, such increased power may be obtained by
placing one or more such pairs within the other pair.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filel
by the said Julien François Belleville in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 5th June 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JULIEN
FRANÇOIS BELLEVILLE, of Rue d'Orleans-Batignoles, No. 101, at Paris, Civil
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Julien François Belleville, Her special licence that I, the
said Julien François Belleville, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Julien François Belleville, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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

page_text: Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT
OF SPRINGS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Julien
François Belleville, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Julien François Belleville, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing,
and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say :—
My Invention consists in constructing steel and other springs of the form
of hollow truncated cones, open at both ends, and in arranging such springs
in couples in such manner that the edges of their bases rest upon each other,
in which position they are held by means of a central bolt fitting easily into
the holes at the small diameters of the truncated cones. Such pairs of
truncated cones may either be used singly, or two or more such pairs may be
placed one above the other upon the central bolt, so as to obtain any required
amount of elasticity. Such elastic action of the spring is obtained by
exerting the pressure upon the small diameters of each pair of truncated cones,
whereby they will be flattened down more or less, the degree of conicity being
such that they will eventually, if the pressure is sufficiently powerful, assume
the form of two discs resting with their entire surface upon each other, in
which position the double spring assumes the form of a block of metal,
offering very great resistance to further deflection.
It will be seen that the advantages of this form of spring are, firstly, that
in its action no friction has to be overcome, inasmuch as the outer expanding
edges of the truncated cones rest upon and expand with each other; and,
secondly, that owing to the before-described arrangement, whereby each
spring of one pair is made to rest with its entire surface upon the other one,
if a certain pressure is put upon it, the springs cannot be deteriorated by
deflecting thein beyond their elastic limits.
It is essential for the perfect action of these springs that the line which
generates the surface of the cone should be perfectly straight. In some cases,
where an increasel power is required, and where the springs cannot be made

page_text: larger than a certain diameter, such increased power may be obtained by
placing one or more such pairs within the other pair, in other cases, pairs of
springs of different thicknesses may be combined in one compound spring.
On the accompanying Drawing is shown the construction and arrangement
of my improved springs.
Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a number of springs placed together on
a bolt; Figure 2 shows a vertical section, and Figure 3 shows a plan of the
same; Figure 4 shows a side view of one of the springs detached, and
Figure 5 shows a section of the same.
Each of the parts a, a, constitutes a spring formed of a metal disc having
the form of a truncated cone. These springs are placed together in couples
in such a manner that the edges of their bases rest upon each other, as
shown; and to obtain a compound spring of greater or less power a number
of these couples are placed one above the other upon a bolt passing through
the central holes.
This system of springs is only of practical use if certain dimensions and
proportions are observed in their construction. Thus, for instance, if the
side c, d, of the frustrum is too great in proportion to the thickness of the
discs these will collapse suddenly when pressure is put upon them, and will
turn inside out without being gradually flattened down so as to eventually
assume the form of a flat disc. This deformation will take place all the
sooner the greater the proportion between the side c, d, and the thickness of
the disc is. Thus, for instance, the collapsing will take place more rapidly if the
-dimension of the side c, d, is twenty-five times than if it is only twenty times
that of the thickness of the disc. In reducing this proportion below the point
where the sudden deformation commences to take place a spring is obtained
of which the tension is very irregular, and which does not afford a degree of
.motion proportionate to the load, the result being that the motion is consider-
able at first and becomes less and less, and that the material is not used to
the best advantage. It is only when the proportion of the side of the frustrum
to the thickness of the disc is reduced to a sufficient extent that a spring is
obtained of which the motion is proportionate to the load, and in which the
material is made use of to the best advantage, this being such that a spring
power of from 15 to 20 lbs. should be obtained for every one pound of material
in the spring.
Experience has shown, firstly, that the deformation of the discs is produced
if their thickness is only about one-fifteenth part of the side of the frustrum ;
secondly, that if the proportion is reduced to from one-tenth to one-twelfth no

page_text: deformation is produced, but the motion is irregular and the power obtained
from a certain weight of material is small; thirdly, that in order to obtain
good springs affording a very regular motion, and proportionate to the load, and
in which the material is used to the best advantage, the proportion between
the thickness and the side of the frustrum should not be much above one-eighth,
and should by preference be somewhat below that figure, as, for instance,
to of an inch in thickness to 13 inches length of side of frustrum.
The central hole of the spring should not be much above 1 inches diameter,
which will generally be found to allow of the use of a bolt sufficiently strong
for all purposes. In order that the springs may be compressed to a flat disc
without passing beyond their elastic limits, and consequently without rupturing
them or lessening their degree of conicity, such degree of conicity or the height
of the frustrum, should not exceed one-tenth of its side, the normal proportion
being about one-twelfth. As before stated it is essential for the perfect action
of these springs that the side of the frustrum or line generating the cone should
be perfectly straight. In order to insure this it is necessary in manufacturing
these springs to dish them, or produce the conical form by means of two dies
having the exact degree of conicity required, between which they are stamped
either in a cold or a hot condition, but by preference red hot. The dies are
guided in their motion by means of a central spindle, and are by preference
made to finish off the springs at one operation by acting as punches for punching
ont the central hole and as cutters for trimming the outer circumference.
The best results have hitherto been obtained from such springs when made
of Bessemer steel; otlier more expensive kinds of steel have been tried with
less favorable results.
Such improved springs may be readily employed in all cases where ordinary
springs are used, and are particularly advantageous when applied to the rolling
stock of railways, as buffer, draw bar, and carriage springs, also for the
purposes of artillery, to absorb the recoil of the gun carriage, particularly on
board ships. They may also be applied to cranes, to prevent fractures from
sudden shocks, and to many other purposes, particularly where springs are
required affording considerable motion and power with a small diameter.
Having now described the nature of this Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, what I claim is,―
First, the manufacture of springs of the form of hollow truncated cones,
as herein-before described, with reference to the accompanying Drawing.
Second, arranging such springs in pairs with the edges of their large
diameters resting upon each other, as herein-before described.

page_text: Third, combining one or more such pairs upon a central bolt so as to
obtain a compound spring of any required power, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Julien François Belleville, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
CH. ARMENGAUD,
Ingenieur Civil,
Boulev'. de Strasbourg,
No. 23, à Paris,
J. F. BELLEVILLE. (L.S.,