Improvements in the Method of and Machinery or Apparatus for the Manufacture of Plate or Leaf Springs.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 19th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 30th June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Machinery or Apparatus for
the Manufacture of Plate or Leaf Springs.
We GEORGE WILLIAM WILLFORD of Don Bank House Attercliffe Sheffield
in the County of York Works Foreman and FRANK COCKING of Park Grange
Sheffield aforesaid Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of our invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PLATE OR LEAF SPRINGS" to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of plate or leaf
springs and consists of a machine worked by two hydraulic cylinders fixed in an
angular position together with a crosshead or camberhead and camberplate and a
table on which the plates are placed preparatory to being bent.
The table which is placed in a tank and will work automatically to any required
angle is secured to a piston rod or ram which works in a cylinder which cylinder is
fixed in the tank into which the table is lowered after the plates are bent for the
purpose of hardening them.
The bottom camberbed is bolted to the sides of the two cylinders and the top
crosshead or camberhead is attached to piston rods working from the cylinders one
on the right and one on the left hand side. The camberplates will each be in one
part and both are attached by means of adjustable set screws which screws will
have a joint at one end and to which will be attached a moveable shoe or segment
which may be adjusted to any radius or camber.
The table will form a base plate for the spring to rest on while it is being
pressed and after pressing the plates are separated on the table which will go back
to its level in the tank.
In carrying this invention into effect the tank will be fixed immediately under
the crosshead and camberplate and the table will be brought up under the said
crosshead and camberplate and the whole set of spring plates placed thereon.
Pressure is then let into the cylinders by means of valves which draws the cross-
head or camberhead down to the camberplate and presses the said plates into the
form of a complete spring and the table with the bent plates thereon is lowered
back into the tank for the purpose of hardening.
Any kind of wagon carriage or buffer spring may be bent on this machine.
TL dan of Ontoba 1802
Signed by the parties hereto
in the presence of
PERCY K. GARLICK,
Solicitor,
A
3
GEORGE W. WILLFORD.
FRANK COCKING.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Machinery or Apparatus for
the Manufacture of. Plate or Leaf Springs.
We GEORGE WILLIAM WILLFORD, late of Don Bank House, Attercliffe,
Sheffield in the County of York, and FRANK COCKING, both of Park House
Works, Attercliffe, aforesaid, trading as "Willford & Cocking," Spring Manu-
facturers, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
he following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in the method of manufacturing plate or
leaf springs, and consists of a machine worked by hydraulic power, in combination
with a cistern of water, the apparatus being fixed at such an angle, relatively to
the cistern, that the leaves or plates, under manipulation may be conveniently
lowered into the cistern for the purpose of hardening, and again raised therefrom;
the whole of the arrangements greatly facilitating the manufacture, and rendering
it more simple than heretofore.
Any kind of wagon, carriage, or buffer spring may be manufactured with our
improved machinery.
And in order that our said invention may be particularly described and
ascertained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which
similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a plan of the machine
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1
Fig. 3 is a side elevation
Fig. 4 is a detail side view, and Fig. 5 a similar end view of the piston, piston
rod, cross-head and side rods of one of the hydraulic cylinders C.
Fig. 6 is a plan of the camberhead F; Fig. 7 is a view taken at right angles to
Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is an end view of the same.
Fig. 9 is a plan of the camberbed B; Fig. 10 is a view at right angles to Fig. 9,
and Fig. 11 is an end view of the same.
Fig. 12 is a plan, Fig. 13 a side view and Fig. 14 an end view of one of the
cylinders C. C.
Fig. 15 is a plan view of the piston head, and Fig. 16 a side view of the piston
head and rod, fitted to the cylinders C. C. drawn to an enlarged scale.
Fig. 17 is a view of one of the rods E.
Fig. 18 is a plan, and Fig. 19 a side view of the cylinder J.
Figs. 20 and 21 are detail views of the shoes O. O. with the pivoted screws P.
attached thereto, and Figs. 22 and 23 are similar views of the shoes N and pivoted
screws P.
Figs. 24 and 25 are enlarged detail views of the screws P.
Fig. 26 is a plan, and Fig. 27 a side view of the top frame for supporting the
table L.
Fig. 29 is a plan, Fig. 28 a side view, and Fig. 30 an end view of the bottom
frame of the table L.
Fig. 31 is a plan showing one form of the table L with perforations to facilitate
the access of the water to the plates, when lowered into the tank for the purpose
of hardening, and Fig. 32 is an edge view of the same.
Fig. 33 is a plan shewing another method of constructing the plate L with
curved grooves for keeping the spring plates apart while being hardened, and
perforations for the passage of the water; and Fig. 34 is an end view of the
same.
Fig. 35 is a top view of the top frame L' of the table in a horizontal position;
Fig. 36 is a side view of the same, showing the top frame L', the bottom frame L'

page_text: angled for the purpose of tipping the table L, and the ram K, to which the whole
is fitted, and Fig. 37 is a bottom view, showing the underside of the bottom.
frame L³.
Fig. 38 is a plan, Fig. 39 a side view, and Fig. 40 an underside view, showing
the table L' placed at a suitable angle.
A is the foundation plate of the machine, to which the lower camberbed B and
hydraulic cylinders C. C. are bolted, as shewn in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.
D. D. are
cross-heads bolted to the piston rods M, and also to the connecting rods E. E..
The other ends of the rods E. E. are bolted to the upper camberbed F. The
rods E. E. are guided in ordinary guide bearings attached to the cylinders. These
röds are preferably formed square in section. G is a flexible camber-plate, secured
to the lower camberbed B by means of shoes O. O. and pivoted screws and
nuts P. P. His also a flexible camber-plate, similarly fitted to the upper camber-
bed F, by means of shoes N and pivoted screws and nuts P. P. Jis a vertical
hydraulic cylinder fitted with a plunger K. This cylinder stands in the water
tank I, as shewn by dotted lines in Fig. 3. The upper end of the plunger or
piston K is fitted with a frame L' (shown separately in Figs. 28, 29, 30, 37 and 40).
This frame L' supports a pivoted frame L (shown separately in Figs. 26, 27, 35
and 38). The lower frame L³ is so formed that the upper frame L' pivoted thereto-
is capable of assuming the angular position shown in Figs. 3 and 39 corresponding
with the angle of the cylinders C. C. and their fittings; or a horizontal position,
as shown in Fig. 36. The plate L' carries a table L (which may be formed either
as shown in Figs. 31 and 32, or in Figs. 33 and 34).
The usual valves and other ordinary appliances are fitted to the hydraulic
cylinders.
The angle of the cylinders and the position of the cistern I, are so arranged that
the plates L, L1 and L2 can be conveniently lowered into the tank or cistern with
the plates, for the purpose of hardening, and again raised therefrom.
The pivoted plate L' is so fitted to the frame L', that, when the plunger K rises,.
the pivoted plate L' comes directly under the camberbed, and is thereby caused to
assume the required angle, supporting the table L at the same angle, as shown in.
Fig. 3. While at this angle the spring plates are taken from the furnace, and
placed upon the table. Pressure is then admitted to the upper ends of the
cylinders, which forces down the upper camberheads F, and presses the spring
plates to the required camber. The upper camberhead F is then raised by the
reversal of the valves, the plates remaining on edge upon the table L. The
plunger K is then lowered, the table L falling into a horizontal position.
The plates are then distributed upon the table to ensure equal access of the water
when in the cistern for the purpose of hardening; the table with the plates being
lowered into the water for that purpose.
The corrugated table (Figs. 33 and 34) is useful in retaining the separated
plates, after bending, at suitable distances apart, and preventing their getting out
of shape while being hardened.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In the manufacture of plate or leaf springs, the improved method of sustaining
the heated plates upon an inclined table, and, while in such position, imparting
thereto the necessary camber; readjusting the plates upon the table in a horizontal
position, and lowering the same into a cistern of water for the purpose of hardening,
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
2. In the manufacture of plate or leaf springs, the combination of a cistern for
containing water; a vertical hydraulic cylinder fitted with a plunger carrying an
adjustable table for supporting the plates while under manipulation, and by
hydraulic machinery mounted at a suitable angle to operate upon the plates, and
enable the plates to be lowered into the cistern and again raised therefrom,

page_text: substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated by the
drawings.
3. In machinery or apparatus for the manufacture of plate or leaf springs, the
combination therewith of flexible plates G and H, each formed in one piece,
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
4. In machinery or apparatus for the manufacture of plate or leaf springs, the
combination therewith of plain or corrugated tables L, substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
5. The improvements in the method of, and machinery or apparatus for, the
manufacture of plate or leaf springs substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by the drawings.
Dated 17th February 1894.
GEORGE WILLIAM WILLFORD.
FRANK COCKING.