Patent GB-548052-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the manufacture of springs
IPC: B21F3/04
Filed: 1941-03-20
Abstract: 548,052. Coiling springs. ENGLISH STEEL CORPORATION, Ltd., and FIELDING, R. March 20, 1941, No. 3806. [Class 83 (iv)] In a machine for coiling springs of the kind in which the material is coiled on a mandrel the pitch being predetermined by a former coil rotated to control axial movement of the material along the mandrel, the material passes through an eye on a slide which is guided to slide in a reciprocatory path parallel with the axes of the mandrel and former coil and carries a device for engaging the former coil. The mandrel 21 which projects from a headstock 24 and is provided with an extension constituting the former coil 22 is driven by spur and rope gear from a motor. It co-operates with an eye piece 46 carried by one of the bars 33 of a frame 33-36 which is reciprocated in roller carrying brackets 37, 38 by a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 98 or by springs. The eye piece consists of a bifurcated bracket 46, Fig. 7, carried by a rod secured by a screw to a collar 42 fixed to the bar 33 and provided with a bevelled roller 47 and a cylindrical roller 48 which feeds the coil 41 axially of the mandrel. The frame is provided at the end 36 with an abutment finger 50, Fig. 5, for engaging the former coil, the finger being slidable radially by fluid operated cylinder 54 and being provided with a stop to engage an adjustable slotted stop plate. The cylinder is controlled by a rotary valve on the stem of which is provided a pair of cams 61, 62 in different planes, which respectively engage stops 63 in a bar 65 suspended from a fixed beam 31 at the opposite ends of the stroke. The material is clamped to the mandrel by a pivoted arm 80, Fig. 9, carried by a disc 74 secured to a hollow shaft 67 which is pressed forward by springs 94 in a bearing 68 in a saddle 28 so as to engage the non- circular socket 76 therein with a similar spigot 77 on the end of the mandrel. The arm 80, co-operates with a flange 79 carried by the shaft 67. The arm 80 is normally held out of action by a spring-controlled slide bar 84 but is operated to grip the material by the inclined end 87 of a plunger 88 which is rotatable with the shaft 67 but is axially moved relatively thereto by a fluid pressure cylinder 91 carried by the saddle. The last convolution of the coil is pressed on the mandrel by a roller 106 carried by a cross slide 29 mounted in adjustable guides on the saddle. At the end of the coiling operation the cam 61 engages the stop 63, Fig. 1, so as to withdraw the finger 50 and the valve 105 is closed so as to exhaust pressure from the right hand end of the cylinder 98. The plunger 88 is then withdrawn by operation of a valve 103 connected with cylinder 91. The plunger 88 first releases the clamping arm 80 and its shoulder 92, Fig. 9, then engages an adjustable sleeve 93 screwed into the shaft 67 so as to retract the shaft against the action of the springs 94 to separate the shaft from the mandrel 21. The saddle 28 is then retracted by a cylinder 73, Fig. 1, controlled by a valve 101 so as to allow the coil to be removed. The parts are then returned to operative position. To effect this the valve 105 is opened to admit pressure to the left of the cylinder 98 to return the frame 33-36, the finger 50 being automatically pushed forward when the cam 62 engages the other end stop. The saddle is then returned by operating the valve 101 and the compressed air in the cylinder 91 is released to allow the springs 94 to push the cylinder 67 forwards to connect the spigot 77 and socket 76. The plunger 88 is finally returned by operation of the valve 103 to clamp the leading end of another length of material.