IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND OTHER VEHICLES."
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Shuff, of Bath, in the County of Somerset, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND
OTHER VEHICLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Shuff at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th June 1879.
WILLIAM SHUFF, of Bath, in the County of Somerset. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SPRINGS FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND OTHER VEHICLES."
This Invention has for its object to construct an improved railway carriage spring
whereby great economy in time, labour, and material is effected, at the same time
that it possesses equal strength combined with increased elasticity as the railway
carriage springs in present use.
Such improved spring consists of three plates only, one whereof, which forms the
base plate of the spring, being made of an elliptical shape, whilst the other two
plates, which form the side plates of the spring, are made of a partially concave
and convex form. All three plates are of a graduated thickness, being made
stout in the centre and tapering towards either end, so as to impart resiliency
thereto.
Suitable brackets are affixed to the bottom of the railway carriage, truck, or
wagon, to which the three plates forming the spring are fastened by means of
shackle plates, nuts and bolts, or otherwise, in any suitable and convenient manner
and position.
By this simple and effective construction a spring possessing immense strength
and elasticity is obtained at a cost comparatively nominal as compared with that of
the springs at present in use on railway carriages, wagons, trucks, and other similar
vehicles.

page_text: My improved spring can also be readily adapted to bicycles by reversing the
position thereof and making the elliptical plate which forms the base plate of the
railway carriage spring the upper or top plate of the bicycle spring. Thus when
such spring is fastened on the backbone of the bicycle in an oblique position, such
elliptical upper plate expands when depressed with the weight of the rider, while a
slot formed in its lower end (which works on a suitable roller or its equivalent)
allows of its easy downward travel over the backbone of the machine when so
depressed, at the same time that the two side plates of the spring serve to impart
strength and rigidity thereto, and by this means the advantage of a strong yet
highly flexible spring particularly adapted for use on bicycles is secured.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Shuff in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th December
1879.
WILLIAM SHUFF, of Bath, in the County of Somerset.
SPRINGS FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND OTHER VEHICLES."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
This Invention relates, firstly, to an improved construction of railway carriage
spring whereby great economy in time, labour, and material is effected, at the same
time that equal strength combined with increased elasticity is obtained. I will
now with the aid of the accompanying Drawings proceed to describe such
Invention.
Such improved spring consists of three plates only (thus effecting an immense
Baving of material), one of which is made of an elliptic shape and forms the base
plate (a) of the spring, whilst the remaining two plates (b, b,) are of a compound
concave and convex shape, and form the upper or side plates of the spring. Such
latter plates are made both thinner and narrower than the base plate, which is of a
graduated form, being of any required thickness in the centre while it tapers
towards either end to a corresponding width to the upper or side plates (b, b), which
are of equal substance and elasticity throughout, the base plate thus being rendered
more elastic at the ends than in the centre, where the full pressure of the superin-
cumbent weight placed upon it takes its bearing.
Suitable body irons (c,c,) are fixed to the bottom of the vehicle, to which the
springs are attached by coupling plates (6¹) fitted with nuts and bolts arranged in
any convenient manner and position.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings shews a side elevation of one of my im-
proved railway carriage springs with the two curvilinear plates (b, b,) placed one
above the other; Figure 2 shews a similar view of such spring fitted to a railway
carriage; Figure 3 shews the same spring with the two curvilinear plates (b,b,)
placed as side plates. Preferably I place such curvilinear plates one above the
other, as shewn at Figures 1, 2, but the arrangement shewn at Figure 3 is more
particularly applicable when the position of the body irons (c, c¹,) allows insufficient
height to so place such plates one above the other.
The springs are attached to the vehicle by coupling plates (b') and body irons
(c, c), as before mentioned. In so fitting them their front ends receive the loop
heads (d) of the body irons, while their hinder ends are furnished with additional
shackle plates (d') to receive the pipe eyes (d²) of the hind scroll irons, which
allows of the shoulders of the binder body irons (c³) being made larger than those of
the front ones to allow of the easy travel of the spring plates (a), (b), as they expand.
By this simple and effective construction a spring possessing immense strength
and elasticity is obtained at a cost comparatively nominal when compared with that
of the railway carriage springs at present in use.
The second part of my Invention relates to adapting such improved spring to
bicycles. This I do by reversing the position thereof, and making the elliptic base
plate (a) the top or saddle plate of the bicycle spring. Thus when such spring is
fastened on the backbone of the bicycle in an oblique position, such elliptic top plate
expands when depressed with the rider's weight, while the loop head (e) formed in
its lower end works on a small roller (f) or its equivalent, and permits of its easy
downward travel over the backbone of the machine. In such improved bicycle
spring the curvilinear plates (b, b,) form the two side plates of the spring, and im-
part strength and rigidity thereto. By this improved arrangement a strong yet
highly flexible spring particularly adapted for use on bicycles is obtained, as
vents the unpleasant jumping now experienced over rough roads and crossings.
Figure 4 shews one of my improved bicycles springs in side elevation. g,g', therein
pre-

page_text: is merely a wooden frame-work to hold the spring in the oblique position in which
it would be fitted when applied to a bicycle.
I claim as novel and as my Invention,―
1. Constructing a spring of three plates only adapted for railway carriages, trucks,
and other similar vehicles, arranged as herein before described and illustrated.
2°. Constructing a spring of three plates adapted for bicycles, arranged as herein-
before described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Shuff, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Third day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
Witness,
ELT & Co.,
British and Foreign Patent Office,
33, Southampton Buildings,
Holborn,
London,
W.C.
WILLIAM SHUFF. (L.B.)