US1130219A - Flexible spring-coupling. - Google Patents

Description

G. ULVEN. FLEXIBLE SPRING COUPLING. APPLICATION FILED $32114, 1914.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

lV/T/YEJJEJ e W Z M M w m A J as ORRIS PETERS CO., FHOTC-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, D. c

TTEI) STATES PATENT GFFICE.

CHRISTIAN ULvnN, OF s1. PAUnMINNnsoTA, ASSI'GNOR TO MINNEAPOLIS IRON sronn COMPANY, or MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION.

FLEXIBLE SPRING-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

Application filed. September 14, 1914. Serial Nb. 861,488.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN ULvnN,

citizen of the United States, resident of St.

Paul, county of Ramsey, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flexible Spring-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a flexible coupling similar to the one shown and described in my pending application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 855,813, filed August 8, 1914, but adapted particularly for use with a half elliptic spring or a full elliptic, without a scroll.

A further object is to provide a coupling circular in form and of sustantially uniform diameter at all points, to the end that it will be uniformly flexed when subjected to the pressure of the load, thereby causing an even distribution of the strain and producing a better cushioning effect.

The invention consists generally in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure l is a side view of a half elliptic spring on the side bar of a vehicle, showing my invention applied to one end of the spring and connecting it with the bar, Fig. 2 is a similar view, illustrating the adaptation of the idea to an ordinary full elliptic spring, Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line wa of Fig. 1.

In the drawing, 2 represents the side bar of a vehicle frame and of the type usually used on automobiles, and 3 is a half elliptic spring having the usual pin or bolt connection at one end with the bar 2. At the other end of the spring I provide a coupling 5 of spring steel of suitable gage, having loops at each end forming eyes 6 and 7, the ends of the coupling lapping by one another. The eye 7 of the outer end has a pin 8 which pivotally connects it with the spring 3. The opposite eye has a similar pin that is mounted in straps 9 which extend up upon each side of the coupling and are pivotally connected at their upper ends to a bar 2. These straps form pivotal connections between the bar and the inner eye of the coupling and when pressure is applied to the bar it will be transmitted through the straps to the coupling and will be distributed throughout the entire length thereof, a downward pull being exerted on the vend of the coupling connected with the spring 3 corresponding substantially to the pressure exerted on the coupling from the weight on the vehicle bar 2. The coupling will be put under tension or flexed, yielding sutficiently to have a cushioning efiect on the vehicle bar and will take up any shock or jar resulting from the passage of: the vehicle over rough pavements or uneven roads.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated the application of the invention to a full elliptic spring. The straps 9, instead of being attachedat their upper ends to the vehicle side bar, are pivotally connected to the upper section 10 of the spring.

I have found that by making the coupling in the form of a substantially perfect circle of uniform diameter throughout, that a much better result can be obtained than where the coupling is of irregular diameter for the reason that the true circle will be uniformly flexed at all points and the strain thereon will be uniformly distributed, and there will be less danger of shock or jar resulting from contact of one portion of the coupling with another during the flexing operation. This will be evident from an examination of Fig. 1 of the drawing, where it will be noted that the pivotal connection of the straps with the inner end of the coupling is at a point where the application of the load to the coupling will result in gradu ally reducing the diameter of the coil and flexing the coupling evenly at all points without danger of bringing the opposing parts of the coupling in contact with one another and thereby interfering with its cushioning effect. I have also found that by making the single convolution there is no danger of lateral oscillation of the vehicle body resulting from vibration of the coil.

The coupling may, of course, be made of any suitable gage of steel and its size may be modified to suit varying conditions, and in various ways the details of construction may be changed and still be within the scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

The combination, with a section of vehicle spring, of a flexible coupling, circular in form and composed of a single helical convolution having its ends lapping by one another, the outer end of the convolution being pivotally connected with said spring section, straps pivotally connected at one end with the inner end of said convolution and extendmg upwardly on each side of said outer end, andra membenconnected with the opposite end of said spring sectlon and arranged above the same and pivotally concoplel of this patent nay be obtained for near the top thereof adjacent to theouter end for allowing a maximum of uniform flexing and an equal distribution of the strain.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of September, 19%.

. CHRISTIANULVEN.

Witnesses:

EDWARD A. PAUL, GENEVIEVE E. SORENSEN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

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