AN IMPROVEMENT IN COVERING SPRINGS FOR CLOTHING, AND IN MEANS FOR MANUFACTURING
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Timothy Sheldon Sperry, of the City of New York,
in the United States of America, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT
IN COVERING SPRINGS FOR CLOTHING, AND IN MEANS FOR MANUFACTURING
"
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Timothy Sheldon Sperry
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 6th March 1865, pursuant to the 9th Section of
the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, TIMOTHY
SHELDON SPERRY, of the City of New York, in the United States of America,
send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN
COVERED SPRINGS FOR CLOTHING, AND IN MEANS FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME,
APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER PURPOSES," and have petitioned Her Majesty to
grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters
Patent for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that I am the first
and true Inventor thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said. Timothy Sheldon Sperry, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification under my hand and seal
fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in

page_text: what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement:-
}
My Invention consists, firstly, in the employment of slender wire in lieu of
fibrous material for the covering of springs for clothing, more especially the
tempered flat-steel wire known as skirt wire.
Secondly, in a method of feeding forward the central or main wire in cover-
ing the same by the simple act of winding the covering wire around it.
Thirdly, in a certain arrangement of an abutment extending around very
close to the inner wire in machines for so feeding, so that the coils of covering
wire as they are successively applied wedge themselves directly between the
abutment and the coils previously laid.
Fourthly, in means for restraining a too rapid feed or longitudinal motion of
the main wire by a backward draught of the covering wire as it is wound on, so
as to avoid risk of open spaces in the covering.
And, fifthly, in means of holding the inner wire firmly against the twisting
strain at a point very close to where the covering wire is applied, so
that a powerful tension may be given the covering wire or wires if
necessary.
With reference to the first part of my Invention the covering wire should
be flexible and of such material (tinned iron or brass by preference) that it
may be applied by winding or by braiding, and will form a durable covering.
The wire covering may be made very attractive in appearance, and is not readily
soiled or deranged. Its effect in preserving the inner wire from corrosion may
be increased by coating the interior wire with a thin layer of varnish, fatty
matter, or other preservative coating before or at the time of applying the covering
wire, and the brilliancy and cleanliness of the covering may be increased by a
thin coating of precious metal.
Secondly, the feeding forward of the inner wire by the act of winding on,
the covering wire may be made to operate successfully, even when the wire
used for covering is of variable diameter. A rigidly uniform feed cannot move
such main wire at a proper rate at all times, but at the points where the covering
wire is of increased diameter, or where for any reason the feed is too slow, the
covering wire is liable to ride upon itself and form two or more layers, and where
the covering wire is more slender it is liable to present spaces where the main
wire is exposed. I obtain a feed by the act of winding on the covering wire,
which is self-acting and self-adjusting. I effect this by causing each coil of the
covering wire to press forward against the coils previously laid on, and thus
urge it forward exactly at the same rate as the work proceeds.
Thirdly, by placing a suitable fixed surface or abutment extending around

page_text: very close to the main wire at the point where the covering is applied, I
compel each covering wire to wedge or force itself directly between a. coil,
previously laid and the abutment, so as to obtain a high degree of steadiness,
uniformity and exactness in the feeding, and in the entire covering operation, and,
avoid the irregular starting forward or intermittent motion which would be liable
to occur were the feeding effected by simply allowing the covering wire or wires.
to pull forward at an angle.
Fourthly, I restrain the feed motion thus obtained, and prevent the main
wire from accidentally starting forward too rapidly at any time by winding
on the covering wire in such position that it is drawn by the tension not
in a plane at right angles to the axis, but always at an angle backward
or in a direction adverse to the feeding motion of the main wire. I effect
this by preference by the use of a guide for each covering wire (when more
than one strand of covering wire is applied), carrying the guides around
with the bobbins which contain the covering wire, and holding them in such
position on the plate or wheel which performs the revolutions that the covering
wire carried through each guide shall draw the main wire always slightly
backward to hold each coil firmly back against the abutment until it is forced
away by the wedging or insinuating action of the succeeding coil or coils.
The second, third, and fourth parts of my Invention may be applied to
covering piano wire, or to covering other wire or rods, or to covering cord or
other analogous material with wire, by applying the cord, etc. within the
machine in the same manner as the spring above referred to, so as to cause it
to be fed in the same manner by the act of winding on the covering wire.
Fifthly, when the main wire is flat like skirt wire I prevent it from twisting
under the tension of the covering wire or wires by confining it closely within.
a corresponding hole as nearly as practicable to the point where the
covering wire is wound on. I prefer to cause my main or central wire.
to travel vertically upward through a hollow post which is stationary,
and which at its upper end is closely fitted to the main wire on all
sides. The winding of the covering wire on any given part of the main wire.
is effected at the moment the said part emerges from the upper end of the post.
I prefer to make the upper end of the fixed post in the form of a conical or
swelled head or cap, screwed on in the manner of a nut.
Its conoidal form
favors the slightly angular or back draught of the covering wire, and brings
the abutment immediately against the main wire, and its cap-like character
by extending across the upper end of the hollow post, allows a very close
fitting around the flat wire A. In case of covering round wire or any object
which cannot be held against the twisting strain by the shape of the aperture

page_text: in the top or head of the post, I can introduce one or more pairs of grooved
wheels within the post or head, or as close to the point of winding as is
practicable, the wheels being adapted to allow an easy longitudinal motion of
the enclosed or main wire, but to resist a twisting movement thereof.
Such being the nature and object of my Invention, I will proceed to describe
more in detail the manner in which the same is to be performed, and in
order that the method of carrying the Invention into practical effect may
be fully explained and perfectly understood, I have annexed hereunto a
Sheet of illustrative Drawings, and have marked the same with figures and
letters of reference corresponding with those in the following explanation
thereof.
Fig. 1 is an enlarged view of a piece of covered spring suitable for hoops
for ladies' skirts, the covering being of slender round wire wound around the
fiat tempered steel which forms the main wire; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal
section ; and Fig. 3 a cross section of the same; Fig. 4 is a central
vertical section through the machine which I employ for applying such cover-
ing. The section is on the line S, S, in Fig. 5; Fig. 5 is an elevation
of the same machine; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the same machine entire ;
Fig. 7 is a plan view of the cap nut which serves as a head for the post
through which the main wire is drawn (Figs. 4 to 7, represent the parts
one half size); Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the head of the post of
the machine, and of a portion of the covered spring in the act of being
covered.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the Drawings.
A represents the inner flat steel spring or main wire made and tempered in
the usual manner for use in the interior of skirt wire. By skirt wire I mean
the covered wire from which the hoops of ladies' skirts are made. The flat
wire A may be either single or double as may be desirable, but is represented
as single. This main wire is covered by metal wire B, which may be wound
on as shown in the Drawing, by the means to be described below or by other
suitable means. Or the covering wire may be braided on by suitable ma-
chinery, as cotton yarn is usually applied, or the covering wire may be applied
in any
other known manner, so as to form a clean durable and metallic covering
and protection for the main wire A. It is difficult or impracticable to coat the
main wire A with brass, tin, silver, or the like, without impairing the temper
of the spring. But for my covering wire B I can use soft wire, and may coat
it in any manner known in the arts to increase its beauty and protect it from
corrosion. I use by preference iron or brass wire tinned or coated over with
zinc, and by using such wire, a covering can be produced which will give to

page_text: the skirt wire a very handsome appearance, and which will be very durable..
A slight silver coat will still further increase its cleanly and attractive appear-
ance; but if the use of such wire should be too expensive for general use.
ordinary plain iron or brass wire may be used, and if the same is thin enough
and properly annealed, it can be laid on by braiding, by a suitable braiding
machine like cotton yarn or other fibrous material. I find that the covering.
wire can be applied very satisfactorily by simply winding it tightly upon the.
main wire by the aid of the machine represented; C is a frame of cast iron or
other suitable material adapted to support a vertical post D, which is hollow.
and stationary and bears a collar E, which is fixed securely by the small
screw e. The post D is encircled by a clutch H, which may be turned partially
around by the lever H¹. Above this clutch and also above the pulley G and
the collar E, is a freely revolving wheel F, and above this is a head or cap d', d,.
firmly screwed upon the top of the post D. Rotation is imparted at will to the:
wheel F by a belt M, running from any convenient power not represented
around the pulley G, which is thrown into or out of contact with the wheel by
the clutch lever H. This clutch is raised and lowered by partially rotating it.
horizontally, so that the projection h will sink into or rise out of the hollow c..
A simple friction clutch as represented is preferable because it does not produce
a sudden start which might cause injury to the wire, and to the working parts.
When the partial rotation of the clutch H lowers the pulley G, the wheel F
rests on the collar E and stops. In the wheel F are fixed two or any other
desired number of pins f, which carry the
shown in the Drawing.
These spools contain the covering wire or wires B, and turn upon the pins f
5 being held down by springs i. The pressure of each spring i is adjusted by the
nut ¹, or other suitable means, so as to induce the requisite tension on the
wire B, as it is drawn off. When more than one wire B is used, the several
wires are laid parallel around the main wire A, and form but one layer or
covering, thus enabling me to cover and move forward the main wire faster in
proportion, as more covering wires are used. When two or a greater number
of wires are used, the pins f, carrying the spools I are distributed at equal
distances apart in a circle on the wheel F. After the covering wires B are
drawn from the spools I, they pass through guides J, attached to the disk F.
The number of these guides correspond to the number of spools used, each
5 covering wire passing through a separate guide. The cap nut d forms the
upper end of the post D, and rises in the center in a rounded or conical pro-
jection indicated by d, to a point slightly above the cyes in the guides J. A
small hole extends upwards through this conical projectiond in the line of the axis,
and is of corresponding form to the main or inner wire A, and fits very closely
spools I, as

page_text: thereto, but it allows the wire A to travel through. The arrangement of the
parts is such that the covering wire B, in being wound upon the main wire A,
acts as a wedge to force itself continually between the surface of the conical
projection d and the coils previously wound. In this wedging it exerts an
upward pressure on the main wire A, forcing it longitudinally upwards to an
extent equal to the diameter of the covering wire, and thus the main wire A
is rendered self-feeding. The guides J, or equivalents therefor, may be made
adjustable up and down to allow for different thicknesses of the nut d'. I can.
make these guides simply of steel, as of steel wire formed into a ring at the
upper end and hardened and smoothed, or I can make them with smooth rings
or eyes of any suitable metal, or of glass or jewels properly mounted. I make.
them adjustable, by ordinary means both in hight and in radial position, and
adjust each such position between its spool I and the projection d as shall lay
the covering wire most evenly without unnecessarily rubbing and scraping the
surface of the covering wire in its passage through the guide. I can dispense
with these guides altogether by using shorter spools I, and making higher pro-
jections d than those represented. I believe it preferable to retain the guides
in most cases, but to make the eyes therein very large and very smoothly
rounded, and to carry the top of the projection d to such hight as to be nearly
or quite level with the top of the spools.
Having now fully described my Invention, what I claim as new therein, and
desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:-
First, I claim the employment of slender wire B in lieu of fibrous material
for the coverings of covered springs for clothing, more especially the tempered
flat wire known as covered skirt wire, substantially in the manner herein shown
and described.
Second, I claim in applying such covering the within described method
of feeding along the central or main wire, by causing each coil of the covering
wire to exert a sufficient pressure against the coils previously laid.
Third, I claim the abutment d surrounding and close to the main wire or
core A, and so arranged relatively thereto and to the path of the spools
I that the covering wire shall wedge itself directly between said abutment,
and the coils previously laid in the manner and for the purpose herein
specified.
Fourth, I claim the downward or backward draught of the covering wire or
wire B, in combination with the abutment d, and with the operating parts F, I, i,
or their equivalents substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set
fortli.
Fiftb, I claim holding the inner wire or core A so as to resist the twisting

page_text: strain at a point immediately adjacent to the winding substantially as and for
the purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof I, have hereunto set my hand and seal this Four-
teenth day of February, A.D. 1865.
TIMOTHY SHELDON SPERRY. (L.S.)