IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FITTING OR SETTING ELLIPTIC SPRINGS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, of the Firm of Harris
and Mills, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FITTING OR
SETTING ELLIPTIC SPRINGS." A communication from abroad by John Seaman
Pessenger, of Birmingham, in the County of New Haven and State of Con-
necticut, Elliptic Spring Maker, and George Washington Pesinger, of Brooklyn,
Eastern District, in the County of Kings and State of New York, Merchant,
both in the United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard
'
> "
A com-
Mills at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th October 1876.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. 'IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FITTING' OR 'SETTING' ELLIPTIC SPRINGS.'
munication from abroad by John Seaman Pessenger, of Birmingham, in the County
of New Haven and State of Connecticut, Elliptic Spring Maker, and Georgo
Washington Pesinger, of Brooklyn Eastern District, in the County of Kings, and
State of New York, Merchant, both in the United States of America.
This Invention relates to the manufacture of elliptic springs for railway cars,
road waggons, and carriages, and other vehicles, and for other uses; and more par-
ticularly to the work of "fitting" or "setting" each plate and leaf, which consists
in giving thereto the required curvature and set, which is the last operation before
tempering, after which the parts are assembled for testing.
The old method of "fitting
"
or "setting" is to clamp the heated plate or leaf on
a thin former of its own width, and then pinch or bite it by means of tongs until
it is completely "fitted" down upon the former. Two men work together on each
piece, and the operation is necessarily laborious and expensive. A greater objection
to this process consists however in its slowness, which causes great loss of stock
through the failure of the plates and leaves to temper properly after it. This is
owing to the heat of the plate or leaf falling below the proper tempering point
during the protracted fitting operation.

page_text: The present improvements relate as such to attempts which have been made to
do said work economically and in a superior manner by mechanical means.
The improved machine has a flexible upper die composed of sliding weights or
hammers. Beneath this a sliding bed works in vertical guides, and is reciprocated
by peculiar mechanism under controul of a treadle. Said sliding bed carries one
of a set of interchangeable positive formers of peculiar construction, and the
heated plate or leaf is carried by the latter, and driven by the movement of the bed
against the faces of the hammers above.
The peculiar objects of this Invention are,-
-
First. To perform simultaneously the operation of "fitting" or "setting" the
plate or leaf and the operation of straightening the same edgewise.
Secondly. To chill the bent plate or leaf on its bottom or concave side, so as to
cause it to retain its concave form more perfectly, and by the same means to keep
the former cool and to remove the scale from the top of the former.
Thirdly. To employ interchangeable positive "formers" adapted to be cast and
to be readily applied and removed without careful adjustment.
Fourthly. To so operate the sliding cross head or bed which carries the "former"
as that the heated spring plate or leaf shall receive distinct blows from the suc-
cessive weights or hammers which constitute the flexible upper die in order to
effect a positive displacement of hot metal outward from the middle, as in hand
pinching.
Fifthly. To provide for stopping the rapidly reciprocating former either up, so as
to hold the plate or leaf a moment under the pressure of the weights or hammers,
or down, in position for removing the plate or leaf and introducing another at the
will of the operator without using his hands.
And, Finally. To provide for straightening the heated plates or leaves edgewise,
and "fitting" or "setting" the same with such rapidity that they can be brought
to the proper temper by their subsequent immersion in the tempering bath with
superior certainty, besides the other advantages of more rapid work.
The improved machine accomplishes said objects, and is also simple and
economical in its construction and operation.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 30th April 1877.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FITTING OR SETTING ELLIPTIC SPRINGS." A communi-
cation from abroad by John Seaman Pessenger, of Birmingham, in the County
of New Haven and State of Connecticut, Elliptic Spring Maker, and George
Washington Pesinger, of Brooklyn Eastern District, in the County of Kings and
State of New York, Merchant, both in the United States of America.
This Invention relates to the manufacture of elliptic springs for railway cars,
road wagons, and carriages, and other vehicles, and for other uses; and more par-
ticularly to the work of "fitting" or "setting" each plate and leaf, which consists in
giving thereto the required curvature and set. This is the last operation before
tempering, after which the parts are assembled for testing.
The old method of fitting or setting is to clamp the heated plate or leaf on a thin
former of its own width, and then pinch or bite it by means of tongs until it is
completely fitted down upon the former. Two men work together on each piece,
and the operation is necessarily laborious and expensive. A greater objection to
this process consists however in its slowness, which causes great loss of stock through
the failure of the plates and leaves to temper properly after it. This is owing to

page_text: the heat of the plate or leaf falling below the proper tempering point during the
protracted fitting operation.
The present improvements relate as such to attempts which have been made to do
said work economically and in a superior manner by mechanical means.
The improved machine has a flexible upper die composed, of sliding weights or
hammers. Beneath this a sliding bed works in vertical guides, and is reciprocated
by peculiar mechanism under control of a treadle. Said sliding bed carries one
of a set of interchangeable positive formers of peculiar 'construction, and the heated
plate or leaf is carried by the latter and driven by the movement of the bed against
the faces of the hammers above.
The peculiar objects of this Invention are,-
First. To perform simultaneously the operation of fitting or setting the plate or
leaf and the operation of straightening the same edgewise.
Secondly. To chill the bent plate or leaf on its bottom or concave side, so as to
cause it to retain its form more perfectly, and by the same means to keep the former
cool and to remove scale from the top of the former.
Thirdly. To employ interchangeable positive formers adapted to be cast and to
be readily applied and removed without careful adjustment.
Fourthly. To so operate the sliding cross head or bed which carries the former
as that the heated spring plate or leaf shall receive distinct blows from the suc-
cessive weights or hammers which constitute the flexible upper die, in order to
effect a positive displacement of the hot metal outward from the middle as in hand
pinching.
Fifthly. To provide for stopping the rapidly reciprocated former either up, so as
to hold the plate or leaf a moment under the pressure of the weights or hammers,
or down, in position for removing the plate or leaf and introducing another at the
will of the operator without using his hands.
And, Finally. To provide for straighening the heated plates or leaves edgewise,
and fitting or setting the same with such rapidity that they can be brought to the
proper temper by their subsequent immersion in the tempering bath with superior
certainty, besides the other advantages of more rapid work.
The improved machine accomplishes said objects, and is also simple and
economical in its construction and operation, as herein-after set forth.
And in order that the said Invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed, aided by the accompanying Drawings, more fully
to describe the same.
Figure 1 is a front view of this improved machine partly in vertical section; Figure 2
represents a vertical transverse section on the line 2-2, Figure 1; Figure 3 repre-
sents a vertical transverse section on the line 3-3, Figure 1, showing the clutch
niechanism.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the clutch sleeve or hub.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the sliding weights or hammers.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a former.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several Figures.
The frame of this improved machine is composed of an oblong base A, a pair of
uprights A2, A3, at the ends of the base, and a pair of flat cross pieces A4, A5, at the
top of the uprights, making in all five castings securely united by bolts, as shewn
in Figures 1 and 2.
At a certain point a cast-iron cross head or sliding bed B is arranged between
the uprights A2, A³. Shoulders at the ends of the sliding bed are planed, aud
vertical planed ways 2 are provided therefor on the inner surfaces of the uprights;
its upper surface is planed also to render it perfectly level, and is provided with a
depression or socket y to adapt it to receive interchangeable "positive formers" F,,
the bottoms of which are correspondingly planed, and provided with projections or

page_text: tenons x adapted to fit snugly in the socket y at its respective ends.
are adapted to be cast to nearly or quite the required shape as regards their upper
surfaces, but may be readily perfected by planing.
A sufficient number of formers will be provided to "fit" the various sets of plates
and leaves for springs of different sizes within the limits of each individual machine;
one is shown detached in Figure 6. Besides the convex surfaces w of the required
curve and the usual centre pins v to occupy the rivet holes in the plates and leaves,
the formers F have been constructed with marginal flanges u to gauge the edges of
each plate or leaf.
The flanges of each former are bevilled slightly on the inside, and are reduced in
depth towards the middle. The front flange is also made somewhat the lowest, and
is cut away to form a tongs space t to facilitate introducing and removing the
plate or leaves; one of the latter is shewn in position in Figure 1, as at the end of
the fitting operation.
The sliding bed B, carrying one of the formers as shewn, works beneath a flexible
upper die composed of sliding weights or hammers H guided by the cross pieces
A4, A5, of the frame, and by edge guides or keys K, K, (Figure 1). The hammers
work independently of each other by gravity and inertia; each one is about half
an inch thick, and is a simple solid casting of the required weight. Shoulders & are
provided to rest on the top of the frame, and below these the width of the hammers
The upper
is determined by the depth of the uprights A2, A3, from front to rear.
ends of the hammers above said shoulders can be made of any preferred width and
form, provided an equal balance be maintained.
For fitting the plates and leaves of elliptic springs for railway cars, a weight of
one hundred pounds per hammer is considered sufficient; for those of the general
class of elliptic springs, such as are used on carriages and wagons, seventy-five pounds
per hammer, and for those of seat springs, thirty pounds per hammer. This gives a
blow of two hundred pounds weight per lineal inch in railway work, one hundred and
fifty pounds per inch in general work, and sixty pounds per inch in seat work,
besides the momentum of the sliding bed and formers.
To limit the area of surfaces on the hammers requiring planing, narrow longi-
tudinal stripes have been formed on each, as represented in Figures 2 and 5;
these with the edges are planed. The inner and upper surfaces of the cross pieces
A', A, and the faces of the keys K are likewise finished.
The lower ends of the hammers are reduced in width as represented at q, so as to
fit between the flanges of the narrowest former which they are adapted for, and the
extreme lower end or face of each is made slightly concave so as to ensure an
effective bearing at the edges of the plate or leaf. The face of the middle hammer
is cut away still further to fit over the centre pin v as indicated in Figure 2.
When short formers are used, one or more hammers at each end of the series will
be elevated out of the way, and supported by blocks placed beneath the shoulder 8
on the cross piece A. Provision is thus made for fitting spring plates and leaves
of different proportions, so that those of each spring shall be of the required form
and have the required dependence on each other, and for simultaneously straightening
the plates and leaves edgewise, as heretofore done by hand hammering preliminary
to the fitting operation.
The positive formers F for use in the combination above described may be cast
solid, but it is deemed preferable to core them out, as represented, so as to form
passages p for cold air or water discharging through the convex tops of the
formers.
When air is to be used the core holes at the ends of each former are plugged, and
the end of a hose leading from a blower is inserted in the middle hole, as in the
illustration.
When water is to be used the middle hole will be plugged, and the water will be
conducted to the former at one end and carried off to the tempering tub at the
other; which is used will depend upon the quality of steel being worked. The
effect of thus applying air or water is to chill the fitted plates or leaves on the

page_text: bottom or concave side, so as to prevent them from straightening out of their proper
form or set, and at the same time to keep the former cool and to remove scale.
The air or water may flow continuously, but when the latter is allowed to escape at
top, like the air, the water will preferredly be admitted for a moment before each
plate or leaf is removed, and then cut off by a valve in the supply pipe.
A horizontal shaft S mounted in journal bearings o on the back of the frame at
about mid height is provided at one end with a driving pulley P, and at its other
end with a transmitting pinion P2; the latter meshes with a loose gear or spur
wheel W on a parallel shaft S² below the sliding bed B. A clutch C provides for
uniting the spur wheel to its shaft at will, the spur wheel receiving a continuous
motion from the driving pulley. A pair of cams C2 are keyed on this shaft S³
beneath the ends of the sliding bed, and the latter is provided with friction rollers n
to rest on the cams.
Provision is thus made for imparting a relatively fast reciprocating motion to the
sliding bed B as compared with one raised and lowered by screws.
The primary
object of this is to clevate the former and superimposed spring plate or leaf so
rapidly as that the latter will receive distinct blows from each of the hammers H
when it comes in contact therewith. The hot metal is thus displaced outward so as
to insure a perfect fit or set.
The cams C2 may be circular discs bored eccentrically, but the periphery of each
is preferably flattened somewhat at its highest point to facilitate stopping the bed
and former in elevated position so as to hold the plate or leaf under pressure for a
moment when this is deemed advisable.
the wear.
Provision for stopping the bed up or down at will without using the hands is
made in the clutch mechanism, which will now be described with references to
Figures 1, 3, and 4. The spur wheel W has a solid hub of proper proportions, which
is slotted to receive the clutch pin m. A steel taper piece (Figure 1) drawn into
place by a screw nut is inserted at the rear end of this slot to prevent or receive
The clutch pin slides through a heavy flange on a sleeve k, which is
keyed on the shaft S2 behind the hub of the loose wheel. A sliding sleeve or
hub j embraces the contracted portion of the keyed sleeve behind its flange and
carries the clutch pin; behind this clutch sleeve a pair of straight springs i are
arranged, tending to project it so as to unite the loose wheel and shaft. These
springs are attached at their lower ends to the upright A³ by screws or bolts on
each side of the housing of the shaft S2; below the clutch sleeve a bracket h is
similarly supported; through this a vertical bolt g slides. A spirral spring f within
the bracket tends to elevate the bolt g, and the bolt is depressed at will by a
treadle T to which its lower end is attached.
The clutch sleeve has two flanges projecting beyond its smaller periphery; its
outer flange next to that of the keyed sleeve / is plain; its inner or rear flange has
a pair of cam projections e corresponding in position with the highest and lowest
points of the cams C², and of sufficient depth to draw the clutch pin out of the loose
wheel when either of them comes in contact with the elevated bolt g, as represented
in Figure 1; this stops the shaft S².
When the pressure of the foot is applied to the treadle T, the bolt is retracted,
and the released clutch sleeve is projected by the springs i driving the clutch pin m
into its hole in the loose wheel at the first coincidence of the two, which causes the
shaft S2 and cams C2 to receive motion.
If the foot is removed from the treadle at once the bed if started from its lower
position will stop up.
If the foot is kept on the treadle until the bed begins to descend and then
removed, the bed will stop down, and by simply continuing to hold the treadle
down the stroke may be repeated two or more times without stopping.
In the manufacture of machines according to this Invention, one or more of the
peculiar features may be omitted or modified, and the proportions and other
mechanical details will be treated as variable.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and the mode in which

page_text: the same is carried into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim
is,―
First. A positive former for use in fitting or setting elliptic springs in combination
with a flexible upper die or series of weights or hammers, the former being con-
structed with an upper surface of the required shape, and marginal flanges to gauge
the edges of the spring plate or leaf, substantially as herein illustrated and
described.
Second. A positive former constructed with passages for air or water to provide
for chilling the bottom or concave side of the bent plate or leaf, and for removing
scale, and for keeping the former cool in the manner herein set forth.
Third. A sliding bed adapted to receive interchangable formers in combination
with a flexible upper die composed of weights or hammers, two or more of which
can be supported in elevated position to adapt the series to a short former, sub-
stantially as herein described.
Fourth. The combination of the driving pulley P, and shaft S, pinion P¹, spur
wheel W, a clutch C, the shaft S2, and cams C², arranged and operating substantially
as herein shown and described, for reciprocating the sliding bed so that the spring
plate or leaf shall receive distinct blows from the successive weights or hammers
for the displacement of the hot metal, as set forth.
Fifth. The sliding clutch sleeve j projected by springs, and retracted by the action
of a cam flange and spring bolt under control of a treadle, substantially as herein
specified, in combination with the inner keyed sleeve k, spur wheel W, shaft S2, and
cams C2, for stopping the sliding bed in its elevated or lowered position at will in
the manner set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.

page_text: Fig. 1.
2
H
K