IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR RAILWAY AND OTHER CARRIAGES
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International
Patent Office," Southampton Buildings, London, Consulting
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS CHIEFLY
DESIGNED FOR RAILWAY AND OTHER CARRIAGES."-A communication from
abroad by Patrick Sarsfield Devlan, of the City and State of New
Jersey, and Isaac Pennington Wendell and Stephen Paschall
Morris Tasker, both of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at
**the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 15th December 1870, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," Southampton
Buildings, London, Consulting Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SPRINGS CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR RAILWAY AND OTHER CARRIAGES," and have

page_text: petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made
solemn Declaration that it has been communicated to me from abroad
by Patrick Sarsfield Devlan, of the City and State of New Jersey, and
Isaac Pennington Wendell, and Stephen Paschall Morris Tasker, both of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement:
J
The nature of this Invention consists in the combination of a
hollow cylinder or cylinders formed of india-rubber or similar material
with a metallic case and piston in such a manner that the pressure
excrted upon the piston or pistons shall be counteracted by the rubber
cylinder and the air contained within its cavity. I form a recess or
recesses around the periphery of the rubber cylinder to contain air
which balances the air on the inside of the same, and also increases the
capacity of the spring. The rubber cylinder is made to fit the metallic
case so as to move freely therein, but is made sufficiently tight by the
pressure upon it to prevent the escape of air from the case, so as to
obtain the whole elastic force of the air in combination with the resisting
force of the rubber. Heretofore air springs have been a failure in
consequence of the impracticability of getting air-tight joints; this
difficulty is overcome by the use of the india-rubber cylinder at the
same time the elastic force of the same is utilized as above stated, thus
producing a powerful combined spring and at the same time giving great
sensitiveness to its elastic force. These springs are not only applicable
for railway and other land carriages, but also for a variety of other
purposes in the arts.
To enable others skilled in the art to which this Invention appertains
to make a practicable application thereof a detailed description of the
same will now be given.
In the accompanying Drawing, which make a part of this Specification,
Figure 1 is an end view of a single combined spring applicable for a
railway carriage spring, but which may also be used for other purposes;
Figure 2 is a section at the line x, x, of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an
end view of the gum cylinder B; Figure 4 is a side view of the same;

page_text: Figure 5 is an end view of a double spring designed chiefly for carriages
or wagons; Figure 6 is a side view of the same; Figure 7 is an end
view of a series of springs combined and arranged in such a manner as
to form a buffer for a railway carriage; Figures 8 and 9 are side and
edge views of the same; Figure 10 is an end view of the draw bar L
and buffer ; Figures 11 and 12 are edge and side views of the same.
Like letters in all the Figures indicate the same parts.
-In Figures 1 and 2 a single combined spring is represented adapted
for railway carriages, but susceptible of being applied to other purposes.
A is a metallic case open at one end; B is a hollow gum cylinder open
at each end. The latter is slightly less in diameter than the former
to allow of a free passage into and movement in the same in the operation
of the combined spring, the end pressure exerted upon it being sufficient
to make an air-tight joint to prevent the escape of air from the case A;
O is a piston which moves freely in the case A in its reciprocating
movement. D is a plate which rests upon the inner side of the bottom a
of the case A, and on which the inner end of the cylinder B rests. It
is used to obviate the necessity of trueing the said face of the bottom a.
The plate D is provided with a central tube E of sufficient size to resist
and guide the inner periphery of the cylinder B as the latter is con-
tracted and expanded in its length. One or more recesses 6 are formed
in the periphery of the cylinder B, as seen in detail in Figures 3 and 4, to
contain air to counteract the outer pressure of the air in the inside of the
same. In the Drawings the recesses b are represented of spiral form yet
they may be made of any other convenient form. A single annular
space answers the purpose. The case A has elbow ears d, d, which are
provided with screws F, F, the ends of which connect with the vertical
grooves e, e, of the piston C, the grooves being closed at their lower ends
as seen in Figure 2 to prevent the disengagement of the piston from the
case in sudden upward movements. The piston C is provided with an
air valve G to allow the passage of air into the combined air chamber in
case of the formation of a vacuum whereby the chamber is made self-
filling. The operation of the combined spring is as follows :— -When
applied to railway carriages each journal box has a spring in connection
between its top and the pedestal plate or flange, the springs reacting
against the weight of the car in the usual manner, by which the gum
cylinders B are contracted in length as they yield to the weight, and'
being pressed at their outer ends outward against the inside of the

page_text: case A the same is made air-tight so as to confine the whole amount
of air contained within and around the cylinders and in the chambers
of the piston C as a sensitively elastic force in combination with the
elastic force of the gum cylinders. Hence it will appear that the
combined spring possesses great power of resistance, and is at the same
time of great elasticity, having all the sensitiveness of the rubber and of
the air combined.
In Figures 5 and 6 a double cylinder spring is represented, the internal
construction being like that of the single spring cylinder above described.
The flanges g and g¹ of the case A. and piston C are constructed in
adaptation to carriages or wagons. In making the connection the
flanges g of the case are confined in the axletree by means of staples.
The flanges 9 of the twin pistons C, C, are provided with holes h, h,
for the connection of one end of stay rods; the other end of the
stays are confined to the lower side of the frame of the body of the
vehicle.
In Figures 7, 8, and 9, a series of springs is represented in connection
with the twin double cylinder cases A, A, that have a permanent con-
nection with the bed plate J. Said plate is bolted to the under side of
one of the platforms of the carriage, there being holes i for that purpose.
The outer ends of the pistons C are secured by means of screw bolts j
to the arms k, k, k, k, of the draw bar L which is shown in detail in
Figures 10, 11, and 12. One end of the draw bar is provided with a
buffer, which has a socket m to form a connection with the contiguous
end of the next carriage in the usual manner; there being a gum
cylinder B in each end of the cases A a double action is given to the
buffer whereby the sudden jerk in starting a train is overcome.
In the
Drawing the rubber springs B are represented of cylindrical form. This
form is preferable, yet it will be seen that other forms may take its place
when desired, and the same result be accomplished. Any desirable
number of cylinders and pistons may be used, or diversity in the
construction and arrangement of the parts adopted in the combined
springs in adaptation to the variety of uses to which they are applied.
The combined plate D and tube E may be dispensed with if
desired. The circumferential recess or recesses b may also be dispensed
with.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to

page_text: First. A spring composed of the case A, one or more hollow springs B
of a cylindrical or equivalent form, and composed of india-rubber or
other elastic material (with or without the circumferential recesses b)
and the piston or pistons C substantially in the manner and for the
purpose above set forth.
Second. One or more recesses 6 in the periphery of the gum
cylinder or spring B, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Third. The combination of the hollow piston Q with the case A
and elastic cylinder B, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The combination of the air valve G with the hollow
piston C substantially in the manner and for the purpose above
described.
Fifth. The combination and arrangement of the cases A, cylinders B,
and pistons C with the bed plate J and draw bar L, as and for the
purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy.
Witness,
E. C. JACKSON.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)