Patent GB-796902-A (GB)
Title: A machine for adjusting, repairing and determining the characteristics of laminated springs, particularly springs for mechanically propelled vehicles
IPC: F16F1/02
Filed: 1956-05-24
Abstract: 796,902. Making springs curving; altering physical structure; hammering. LUCA, P. DE May 24, 1956 [May 29, 1955], No. 16042/56. Classes 83 (2) and 83 (4). [Also in Group XXXII] The invention relates to a machine for bending and peening the leaves of laminated springs. The machine may also be used for testing springs (see Group XXXII) and for assembling and dismantling springs. The machine comprises a slide 3 vertically reciprocable in a frame 1, 2 by means of an hydraulic piston and cylinder 10, 9. This is connected by the ports A, B of a 4-way control cock D (Fig. 7) to either an hydraulic reservoir S or a pump P driven by gearing (Fig. 5, not shown) from a reversible electric motor 12. The hydraulic circuit includes also a pressure gauge M, a regulating valve V operated by an electromagnet E energized by a relay R. The latter is energized by the engagement of contacts F, F<SP>1</SP> adapted to be closed when a particular reading is attained on the pressure gauge M. The slide 3 carries two clamping brackets 4, 6 which may be secured rigidly to the slide 3 by means of manually operated clamps 5, 7 or may be unclamped and slidable. An upper roller 23 is carried by a bracket 21 pivotally mounted on the machine frame at 22. A pair of rollers 20, 20<SP>1</SP>, are adapted to be driven through gearing from the motor 12. In order to carry out the bending of a spring lamination, it is placed as shown in Fig. 1 between the rollers 20, 20<SP>1</SP> and the roller 23. The bracket 6 is clamped to the slide 3, which is brought down by operation of the cylinder 9 to bear on the bracket 21 of the roller 23 as shown in Fig. 4. Auxiliary rollers 24, 24<SP>1</SP> are connected by linkages to the slide 3 in such a way that these rollers rise and fall in opposite direction to the movement of the slide 3. The lamination is positioned laterally by means of vertically disposed rollers 25, 25<SP>1</SP>. The lamination is rolled backwards and forwards by the action of the rollers 20, 20<SP>1</SP> driven by the motor 12. A disconnectable coupling is disposed between the motor 12 and the operating shaft of a reciprocating hammer 30, the striker of which is disposed between the rollers 20, 20<SP>1</SP> so that it can be operated on the under-surface of a lamination clamped as described above. The strike 30 is actuated against spring loading by means of a cam 32. When the hammer is not required it is retained by a stop 35. The peening of the whole area of the spring is effected by movement of the spring longitudinally under the action of the rollers 20, 20<SP>1</SP> and by transverse movement of the hammer under the action of a linkage 38, 39, 37 actuated by laterally-extending teeth 10a carried by a gear 16 driven from the motor 12. In order to assemble a spring, the leaves are stacked up on the lower bracket 6, which is disengaged from the slide 3. The bracket 4 is brought down by the slide so that the laminations are gripped at their central positions. The bracket 6 is in abutment with the bracket 21 as shown in Fig. 4. It is then clamped to the slide 3 which is raised sufficiently to enable a spring securing bolt to be passed through the aligned holes formed in the laminations. Apertures are formed in the brackets 4, 6 for this purpose. A reverse process is employed on dismantling the spring. A modified arrangement for clamping the upper roller 23 is shown in Fig. 12. A roller 53 integral with the arm 21 carrying the roller 23, is journalled on an eccentric roller 52 rotatable by means of a manual lever 52<SP>1</SP>. The sleeve 52 is journalled on a further eccentric sleeve 51, rotatable by a lever 51<SP>1</SP>, and in turn rotatably mounted on a pin 50 eccentrically mounted in a bracket 49 rigid with the slide 3. The pin 50 is rotatable by means of a lever 50<SP>1</SP>. The position of the roller 23 may be thus adjusted by suitable manipulation of the levers 50<SP>1</SP>, 51<SP>1</SP> and 52. In a modified construction of machine, the slide 3 is raised by the action of a coiled spring, and is lowered as before by the action of the hydraulic cylinder 9. This permits a simplified hydraulic system (Fig. 15, not shown). The mechanical hammer 30 described above may alternatively be operated by pneumatic, hydraulic or electric means.