John S. Foggett: The Manufacture of Steel Carriage Springs.

John Kemp and Co., London, 1886, 23 Seiten Text mit 2 Skizzen und 6 Falttafeln mit zahlreichen Bildern. Gebunden Leinen.

Essay über die Herstellung von Wagenfedern aus Stahl "It being the desire of the Worshipful Company of Coachmakers that the subject matter of this essay shall be clearly understood by the ordinary workman, the writer has endeavoured to fulfil that condition. Nothing is submitted that has not been verified by actual practice or experiment. The origin and history of springs could not be profitably discussed as part of an essay occupying not more than 18 pages of foolscap, nor would it serve any practical purpose to deal with it. It may, however, be judicious as contributing to the completeness of the treatise to show by illustration some of the chief shapes in use last century, but which are now entirely obsolete, the explanation pertaining to them being as short as possible. If further information is required about old-fashioned plans of spring suspension, it may be found in Felton's work (published 1794), to which the writer acknowledges his indebtedness for some information on this part of the subject. By a carriage-spring we understand an elastic plate or plates of steel interposed between the body of the carriage and the axle, to diminish the effects of concussion, so that sudden blows and shocks caused by unevenness in the roads, and the wheels encountering obstacles in their passage, shall not be transmitted to the body. The carriage is thus made easy and comfortable for the occupants. On some roads the rolling of the wheels is checked at every line of stones, and the motion is merely a succession of jolts as the wheels jump from one ridge to another. Even on the best roads obstacles to the regular and continuous progress of the wheels continually present themselves, and if the carriage were not provided with springs the concussion and vibration would very soon destroy it by starting the joints of the framework. Thus a second advantage is gained by the use of the springs—viz., the preservation of the body of the carriage from wear and tear ...".