Improvements in the Method of and Machinery or Apparatus for the Manufacture of Plate or Leaf Springs.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Mar., 1895.
Complete Specification Left, 7th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 9th Jan., 1997
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Machinery or Apparatus for
the Manufacture of Plate or Leaf Springs.
I, FRANK SMITHARD BULL, of 209, Penistone Road Sheffield County of
Yorkshire, Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
.5-
Instead of fashioning or bending the spring plates by means of fixed top &
bottom model plates or blocks I do away with the top plates or model block by
using arms, levers, or rollers which are attached to a piston rod or screw, whichever
I find most convenient. These arms levers or rollers which I claim as the essentials
of my invention, upon being forced down upon the botton model plate or block &
the plates that have to be fashioned, open out & roll or bend the plates to the
desired camber. The pressure is maintained upon the arms, levers, or rollers.by
springs, or chain weights (if machine is built horizontally) the strength or weight
of which can be regulated in accordance with the pressure required to overcome.
the resistance of the plates to be bent.
My model or pattern plate or block is made of flexible material which can be
altered to suit cambers required for the various sizes of springs. Instead of
beading each plate upon its fellow plate I can by the interpolation or insertion of
other pieces of iron. steel or other material (made porous or otherwise) bend each
plate or several plates to one or different cambers as required for the better
construction of the spring being fashioned. The model or pattern plate or block is
securely held in its position by forks or stays which are fastened by bolts or
rachets or any contrivance as may be expedient for the purpose of holding the
model or pattern plate or block rigid during the motiou of the machine while it
performs the operation of bending the spring plates. The spring plates to be bent
are held in the necessary position by a vice like arrangement which is moved to
the required position by means of a screw or rods. To this vice like arrangement
is attached a V piece which first opens the arms, levers or rollers as they decend
upon the plates, after they are opened in this manner the fall or camber of the
model plate or block is sufficient to carry them forward.
Dated this 5th day of March 1896.
FRANK SMITHARD BULL.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in the Method of and Machinery or Apparatus for
the Manufacture of Plate or Leaf Springs.
J, FRANK SMITHARD BULL of 209 Penistone Road, Sheffield, County of
Yorkshire, Clerk do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same has to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in the method of and apparatus for
manufacturing leaf springs, and more particularly for bending such springs to the
desired curve or camber

page_text: The annexed sheets of drawings illustrate the invention.
Fig. 1, is a plan of the machine with the spring in position.
Fig. 2, side elevation of same.
Fig. 3, plan of "pattern plate" holder.
Fig. 4, elevation of same.
My invention relates to the construction and arrangement of an apparatus for
bending springs or spring plates to the desired curve or "camber," by means of
expanding pressing levers or arms forced forward against the spring which is held
up to an adjustable flexible camber plate bent to, the desired curve.
In Figure 1, A, is a stationary bed, and B is a movable table carrying the flexible
camber plate C, the centre of which is supported by the screw D, brackets E, and
plate, holders F, adjustable in the slots G.
This table slides upon the bearers H, and is moved and held up to position by
the screw 1.
The pressing arms J', and J, are pin jointed to a crossbead K, moving in
slides L, and operated by any suitable power, such as the piston rod, of a steam
cylinder.
The arms carry at their free ends, a roller M, which rolls, upon the spring
plates N, when the arms are forced forward and outwards to the position indicated
by dotted lines.
Side pressure is put upon the arms J', and J2, by the 'rollers O, and springs P,.
fixed upon the bed A.
The curved portion of the arms marked a, and indicated by dotted lines may
be made removable, so that other forms of roller path may, be substituted when
desired.
The camber plate or former C, I prefer to make of elastic steel, in order that it
may be curved to different cambers; the ends are passed through pivotted and.
slotted blocks Q, held in brackets F, more particularly shown in Figs. 3 & 4.
R, is a block of metal upon the bed A, against which the sprin plates are held
by the pressure of the screw D, its bevelled sides start the lateral movement of the
arms J & J.
The spring plates to be operated upon are held by the screw D, against the
opposing block R, and when the arms J', and J', are forced forward they are
separated by the inclined sides of the block, and owing to the curve of the camber
plate C, they travel to the right and left as indicated by the dotted outlines,
pressing the spring plates closely to the camber plate and giving them a corre-
sponding curve, afterwards returning to their normal position.
It is to be understood that where weights can be used instead of springs, such
substitution may be made if preferred.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim; is:-
1. The spring bending machine as herein before described and, shown.
2. In a spring bending machine as described and shown, the pressing arms J¹
and J2, having removable paths and means for the substitution of others for the
purpose specified.
3. In a spring bending machine, the combination of an elastic camber plate, a
central screw D, self adjusting pivotted supports F, Q, and sliding table B,
substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
Dated the 5th day of December 1896.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.