IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LAMINATED STEEL SPRINGS CONNECTING SUCH SPRINGS TO THE AXLE BOXES OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND WAGONS AND TO OTHER SURFACES " AND IN PROVISIONAL SPATION
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Blackwell Hansell of Hanover Street Sheffield
in the County of York for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LAMINATED STEEL SPRINGS
CONNECTING SUCH SPRINGS TO THE AXLE BOXES OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES
AND WAGONS AND TO OTHER SURFACES "
AND
IN
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Blackwell Hansell
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th January 1882.
ROBERT BLACKWELL HANSELL of Hanover Street Sheffield in the County
of York IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
LAMINATED STEEL SPRINGS AND IN CONNECTING SUCH SPRINGS TO THE AXLE
BOXES OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND WAGONS AND TO OTHER SURFACES "
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus used in the manu-
facture of laminated steel springs and in connecting such springs to the axle boxes
of railway carriages and wagons and to other surfaces.
In order to connect laminated springs to the axle boxes of railway carriages
and wagons and to other surfaces I form the clip which is that part of the spring
that clips and binds the plates together in the centre and usually rests on the top
of the axle-box of a plain rectangular ring or clip with the opening large enough
to allow a loose plate being placed between it and the bottom spring plate.
The loose plate is bent so that the underside of its projecting ends are brought
to the same level as the underside or bottom of the rectangular ring hoop and
forms with it one continued bearing from side to side of the axle box or other
surface on which it may rest, the extreme ends of the loose plate are turned
down so as to clip over the sides of the axle box or they may be otherwise made
use of
In order to shape and harden or temper the steel plates of which the spring is
composed I make use of the following mechanical contrivance-a series of heavy
vertical weights are ranged in a row in proximity to one another-Below these
weights is a bed the upper surface of which can readily be adjusted so as to bring
LR C1

page_text: it to a curved form of any desired radius-The bed can also be raised by gearing
or other mechanical contrivance to move it up to the weights-The plate which
is to be shaped and tempered is when heated pressed upwards by the bed against
the weights so that the weights are made to bear their weight upon the plate
which then assumes a curved form in exact conformity with the surface of
the bed.
The weights are furnished with moveable feet which adjust themselves to the
surface of the plate-The weights are also made hollow at their lower ends and
while the plate is retained in a curved form by the vertical weights bearing upon
it I introduce a copious supply of water or hardening liquid into the hollows of
the vertical weights and by this means the spring plate may be hardened or it may
be so dealt with as to leave it of the desired temper and need no further manipu-
lation or if desired it may be bent only without the application of any hardening
or tempering substance.
In order to expeditiously fix the above described or other clip hook upon the
spring plates so as to firmly bind together the plates of which the spring is
composed I place the hoop when heated on to the centre of the built up spring by
passing it over one end as heretofore and then place the spring into a press the
ram or rams of which may be actuated by steam or hydraulic or other power-
two rams may be used placed at right angles to each other so as to operate upon
two sides of the hoop.
Opposite to the ram or rams there are corresponding adjustable anvils or
sustaining beds and the rams are made to act upon the hoop either simultaneously
or only one of them may be used as may be deemed desirable and in this way the
hoop is brought close up to the sides and top and bottom of the spring.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Blackwell Hansell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th July 1882.
"
ROBERT BLACKWELL HANSELL of Hanover Street Sheffield in the County of
York IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
LAMINATED STEEL SPRINGS AND IN CONNECTING SUCH SPRINGS TO THE AXLE
BOXES OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND WAGONS AND TO OTHER SURFACES "
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus used in the manu-
facture of laminated steel springs and in connecting such springs to the axle boxes;
of railway carriages and wagons and to other surfaces.
In order to connect laminated springs to the axle boxes of railway carriages
and wagons and to other surfaces I form the clip which is that part of the spring
that clips and binds the plates together in the centre and usually rests on the top
of the axle box of a plain rectangular ring or clip with the opening large enough
to allow a loose plate being placed between it and the bottom spring plate.
The loose plate is bent so that the underside of its projecting ends are brought
to the same level as the underside or bottom of the rectangular ring hoop and
forms with it one continued bearing from side to side of the axle box or other
surface on which it may rest; the extreme ends of the loose plate are turned down.
so as to clip over the sides of the axle box or they may be otherwise mado
use of.
In order to shape and harden or temper the steel plates of which the spring is
composed I make use of the following mechanical contrivance-a series of heavy
vertical weights are ranged in a row in proximity to one another. Below these
weights is a bed the upper surface of which can readily be adjusted so as to bring
it to a curved form of any desired radius. The bed can also be raised by gearing
or other mechanical contrivance to move it up to the weights.-The plate which is
to be shaped and tempered is when heated pressed upwards by the bed against
the weights so that the weights are inade to evenly bear their weight upon the
plate which then assumes a curved form in exact conformity with the surface of
the bed. The weights are furnished with moveable feet which adjust themselves to
the surface of the plate-The weights are also made hollow at their lower ends
and while the plate is retained in a curved formn by the vertical weights bearing
upon it introduce a copious supply of water or hardening liquid into the hollows
of the vertical weights and by this means the spring plate may be hardened or it
may be so dealt with as to leave it of the desired temper and need no further
manipulation or if desired it may be bent only without the application of any
hardening or tempering substance.
In order to expeditiously fix the above described or other clip hoop upon the
spring plates so as to firmly bind together the plates of which the spring is
composed I place the hoop when heated on to the centre of the built up spring by
passing it over one end as heretofore and then place the spring into a press the
ram or rams of which may be actuated by steam or hydraulic or other power-two
rams may be used placed at right angles to each other so as to operate upon two
sides of the hoop. Opposite to the ram or rams there are corresponding adjustable
anvils or sustaining beds and the rams are made to act upon the hoop either
simultaneously or only one of them may be used as may be deemed desirable and
in this way the hoop is brought close up to the sides and top and bottom of the
spring.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.

page_text: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a laminated steel wagon spring with the parts
in connection therewith, constructed and arranged in accordance with my
Invention.
Figure 2 shews for one half a plan and for the other half an underside view
of the same Figure 3 is a transverse section. Figure 4 is an end view of one of
the parts.
a, a, a, are the laminated steel blades. b is the loose plate and c, is the clip
which holds the parts together. The plate b, is so formed as to afford a wide
surface to rest upon the axle box or other support. d is a rivit pinning the parts
a, b, and c, together.
Figure 5 is an elevation of my machine for shaping, hardening and tempering
spring blades.
e is a frame, f, is a series of weights loosely held in the frame side by side, g, is
a bed built up of a series of separate parts. h is a holder in which the parts g. 9
can be fixed so as to give to the surface of the bed any curvature which may be
desired. is a spring blade resting upon the bed. is gearing by which the
holder h, can he made to slide with a parallel movement on the frame e, when the
blade has been laid upon the bed it is raised up to the weights f, which then
cause the blade to conform to the curvature of the bed.
Figure 6 is an elevation of my machine for closing the clip c, upon the blades a.
It consists of a frame upon which are two steam or hydraulic cylinders and m,
actuating rams n and o. The clip heated to a red heat is placed around the
spring blades and the whole is then submitted to the pressure of the rams --
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim :-
First. The combination of spring blades a, bearing plate band clip c,
substantially as described and illustrated by the Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Second. The machine for shaping hardening, and tempering spring blades
having an adjustable bed 7 and series of weights substantially as described and
illustrated by the Figure 5 of the Drawings.
Third. The machine for closing the clip upon the spring blades in which two
rams are brought to operate against the clip at right angles to each other
substantially as described and illustrated by Figure 6 of the Drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Robert Blackwell Hansell have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Sixth day of July in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.