US242196A - Vehicle-spring - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R E I R G W W Vehicle Spring.

No. 242,196. Patented May 31,1881.

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(No Model.)

' W. W. GRIER.

Vehicle Spring. No. 242,196. I Patented May 31,1881.

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plates, f and f,

h. The plates f" and f? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. GRIER, OF HULTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

VEHICLE-SPRING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,196, dated May 31, 1881. Application filed April 30, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom "it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. GRIER, of Hulton, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful'Improvement in Vehicles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the fifth-wheel and the front springs of a vehicle of my improved construction. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the same. Fig. 3 1s a plan view of the fifth-wheel. Figs. 4 and 5 are plan views of the front and rear axles and springs, respectively; and Fig. 6 is a side view of the pillowblock and spring.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

The springs a are each composed of a flat plate or plates, preferably of even thickness throughout its length, having a straight or slightly-curved inner side, a, which when the spring is in position is parallel,or nearly so, to the axle b, and an outer side, M, which is tapered from the middle to the ends, so that it is wide at the middle and narrow at the ends. They are preferably cutout of sheet-steel 5 but they may be hammered or rolled out, if preferred. They are then bent to the curve shown in Fig. l or to any other desired curve. They are attached to pivoted shackles a, one at'each side of the axle b, with thin straight sides a next and parallel, or nearly'so, to the axle. The

shackles c are fastened to the axlesnear to the collars d, and are pivoted to the axles by clips 0 extending around them.

The fifth-wheel f is composed of two bolsterone of which, f, is bolted to the upper frame, 9, of the fifth-wheel, and the other, f by diagonal arms f to the outer edges of the springs a. They are further fastened to the springs by braces h, extendingdown- Ward to theinner edges of the springs, and fastened to the springs and to the arms by bolts are secured together by the king-bolt z and nut k.

Bolted to the diagonal arms f, at or near their shoulders, are two plates, 1, extending in opposite directions. The outer end of each plate I is bent over and turned back parallel to the plate, as at I, so as to form a yoke, 1 around the circles or rings in of the fifth-wheel. A bifurcated block, 0, of wood or other elastic material, is inserted between the plate l and itsleaf l, with its ends against the rings m. A bolt, p, extends up from the spring a through the plate land its leaf 1 and through the slot 0 of the block 0, and is secured by nuts 12 and p By screwing down the nut p the leaf Z clamps down on the rings m and takes up any slack that may occur from wear, the block 0 yielding sufliciently for that purpose. A pillowblock, q, of wood, is inserted between the plate I and the outer edge of the spring a, which block is traversed by the bolt p, Fig. 3.

This construction, raising the fifth wheel above the axle and the springs, permits the latter in their downward vibration to clear and pass the axle b, which, as is apparent in Fig. 2, will pass between and above the springs a a considerable distance before it encounters the end of the king-bolt or the under part of the fifth-wheel. The arms f 3 with the plate f constitute an arched truss which is light and strong.

A similar construction may be used in attaching the body to the springs at the rear axle, excepting that no fifth wheel is used there, a flat plate being substituted for the plate f The operation of the springs made and applied in this way is extremely easy, not only givinga fine spring action, butguardingagainst or easing the sudden jerks or rebounds of the springs, so objectionable in many vehicles, and in some worse than the total absence of sprin gs. I attribute this feature to the wide bearing of the body on the springs, their taper form and longer arch, the use of the arched truss enabling me to lengthen their curve. Especial advantage is perceived when the wheel strikes a stone or is stopped suddenly, as then the jar is much less than in the former constructions of this kind of vehicle.

As heretofore made, vehicles of this kind had a bar or block of wood extending across the axle from spring to spring between the bolts 1), being Inortised into the blocks q at its ends. This bar being fastened to the springs prevented their vibration past and below the axle. I dispense with it by my improved construction, which permits the vibration of the springs below a horizontal plane hisecting the spindles of the axle. The form and degree of the arch of the truss may be varied at will. The bolster-plates may be castings or drop-forgings.

A vehicle of my improved construction is not only easy in riding, but very strong and durable, not being racked or jarred to pieces by the too severe straining of the load on the gear. The longitudinal thrust of the body upon the springs when suddenly stopped does not strain or distort the latter as when narrow plates are used, but is taken up by a torsional action of the wide springs. These springs may be made up of several plates, which, however, are preferably of uniform \vidth.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. lhc combination of'a vehicle-a x1e and two lateral springs arranged parallel thereto, or nearly so, said springs being wide in the mid dle, narrow at the ends, and fastened to the axles by pivoted shackles at each end, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination, in a vehicle having lateral springs extending on both sides of and fastened to the axle, of an arched truss connected to the springs and sustaining the fifthwheel, and yokes fastened to the arms of the truss and extending around the circle-plates of the fifth-wheel, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. The combination of the axle, a lateral spring arranged on each side thereof and suspended thereto, and an arched truss for sustaining the body fastened to the springs, so as to permit the springs to vibrate below the axle, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM W. GRIER.

Witnesses:

T. B. KERR, JAMES II. Pon'rn.

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