Method and Apparatus for Making Flat Coiled Springs.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Method and Apparatus for Making Flat Coiled Springs.
I, GEORGE KELLY, of Chicago, in the County of Cook, and State of Illinois, one of
the United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to he particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
In the usual method heretofore employed in the manufacture of flat coiled springs,
the wire or rod was first wound upon a flat mandrel of the required cross section,
into a flattened spiral spring of the required size and form, which while still upon the
mandrel was heated so as to draw the temper of the metal, and enable the flattened
convolutions of the spring to become set in proper relative position around the
mandrel; after which the spring was again heated and tempered in the ordinary
manner to form a completed spring. Such mode of manufacture was necessarily slow,
laborious and expensive.
As distinguished from the above the present invention consists in winding the
spring wire, rod or band into a spiral coil upon a flattened mandrel, and setting each
individual convolution or wrap of the spiral, as fast as formed, by suitable intermittent
pressure or impact.
The above results are attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, in which :
Figure 1, is a plan view of a machine, constructed in accordance with my present
invention;
Figure 2, a front elevation of the same, and
"
Figures 3, 4 and 5, diagram views of modified appliances for effecting the "set in
each individual convolution of the metal rod or bar, as the same is formed.
Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several views.
The preferred manner of carrying out the present invention in the mode of making
flat coiled springs, is illustrated in figures 1 and 2.
In this the flat mandrel 1, is secured by means of a chuck or other equivalent
means to the arbor 2, by which motion is imparted to the machine. On each side of
the mandrel 1, are arranged the cam shaped or lobular disks 3 and 4, the carrying
shafts 5 and 6, of which have bearing in the supporting head or frame of the machine
and gear with and are driven by the arbor 2, through gears 7, 8 and 9.
The periphery of the disks 3 and 4, are formed on epicycloid curves, so that at all
times contact will exist between the periphery of said disks, and the mandrel or the
coil of metal thereon. The effective setting pressure upon the individual coil or wrap
being an intermittent one, that occurs at the time when the edge of the flat mandrel
moves in the recess between contiguous lobes of the disk 3, to bend the coil of metal
around the mandrel's edge. Such setting pressure being repeated by the coaction of
the mandrel's edge, and the recess between the contiguous lobes of the auxiliary disk 4,
when such disk is employed.
22
"
In the arrangement illustrated in figures 1 and 2, the disk 3, will be the
"feeder in "
of the rod, wire or band, to coil the same upon the mandrel, and at
the same time impart by pressure the proper intermittent "setting to the coil or
wrap as formed; which intermittent " setting may be further intensified by the
auxiliary disk 4, which performs the additional function of a support for said mandrel
to hold it in axial position against the lateral pressure exerted against it by the
feeding in "disk 3.
Where round wire is being manipulated, these disks 3, and 4, will preferably be
grooved as shown, so as to have a surer and better bearing upon the wire; and prevent
any liability of flattening the same.

page_text: To insure an even and uniform space between the convolutions of the coil, I provide
either of the disks 3 or 4, preferably the disk 3, as shown, with a forward extension 10,
the periphery of which is formed on epicycloid curves, and which bears at all
times against the mandrel, and within the space against adjacent coils. By this
provision, an even spacing of the coils is effected, and at the same time, the
coils as formed are positively and automatically pushed off from the forming
mandrel.
In the construction shown in figure 2, the mandrel will make two revolutions to
one of the cam disk 3 or 4, and consequently such cam disks are formed with four
recesses or spaces around their periphery as shown. It is however evident that such
cam disks can be suitably proportioned with relation to the mandrel, so as to have
two, three or other suitable number of such depressions as may be found desirable,
and without departing from the spirit of this part of my invention.
دو
I do not limit my present mode of "setting" each coil or wrap as fast as formed to
the above described mechanism, as the said "setting" can be accomplished in a less
perfect degree by either of the following mechanisms.
A pair of intermittently reciprocating pressure heads 11, 11, arranged at each side
of the mandrel 1, and adapted to clamp and "set" the coil or wrap when the flat
surface of the mandrel assumes a position at right angles to the faces of such heads, as
illustrated in figure 3.
Or, a pair of intermittently moving levers 12, 12, having pressure faces 13, and acting
in a manner similar to the above, when the mandrel assumes a position parallel to the
faces 13, as illustrated in figure 4.
Or, a pair of hammers 14, acting on opposite sides of the mandrel, and operated
by suitable cams 15, to strike from the opposite sides a "setting" blow upon the coil
or wrap, when the mandrel assumes the proper position between the faces of such
hammers, as illustrated in figure 5.
With my present, improved mode and construction, a continuous flattened spiral
can be produced of any desired length; and owing to the setting of each individual
coil or wrap as fast as formed, the power required to operate the machine is
reduced to a minimum, and rendered uniform during a continued action of the
machine.
I am aware that prior to my invention it was common in making round coiled
springs, to press the same upon a rotating cylindrical mandrel by means of pressure
rollers arranged to travel parallel with the mandrel; the pressure upon the coils or
convolutions of wire, being constant and uniform. I therefore do not claim any such
mode or combination broadly; but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:
1. The herein described improvement in the art of making flattened spiral springs,
the same consisting in winding the spring upon a flattened mandrel and "setting"
by an intermittent pressure or impact, each individual coil or wrap as fast as
the same has been wound upon the flattened coiling mandrel, substantially as set
forth.
2. In a machine for making flattened spiral springs, the combination of the flattered
mandrel 1, and driving arbor 2, with the peripherally recessed "feeding in" disk 3,
adapted to coil or wrap the wire rod or band upon the mandrel, and impart the proper
"set" to the same, essentially as set forth.
3. In a machine for making flattened spiral springs, the combination of the
flattened mandrel 1, and driving arbor 2, with the pair of peripherally recessed cam
disks 3 and 4, adapted to coil or wrap the wire rod or band upon the mandrel, and
impart the proper "set" to the same, essentially as set forth.
4. In a machine.for making flattened spiral springs the combination of the flattened
mandrel 1, and driving arbor 2, with a pair of peripherally recessed cam disks 3.and 4,

page_text: carried upon shafts geared to the arbor 2, one of said disks being provided with a
forward extension 10, peripherally recessed, and adapted to bear against the mandrel
between the coils, essentially as set forth.
Dated this 25th day of April 1890
Herbert & Co.,
GEORGE KELLY.
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.