IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR APPARATUS FOR SETTING CARRIAGE SPRINGS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Garrett Tongue, of the Firm of Tongue &
Birkbeck, Patent Agents & Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
" IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR APPARATUS FOR SETTING CARRIAGE
SPRINGS." A communication from abroad by Thomas B. De Forest,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Garrett Tongue
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 24th November 1875.
I, JOHN GARRETT TONGUE, of the Firm of Tongue and Birkbeck,
Patent Agents and Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR APPARATUS FOR SETTING
CARRIAGE SPRINGS," a communication to me from abroad by Thomas B.
De Forest, of Birmingham, Connecticut, United States of America, to be
as follows:-

page_text: "
"
as I setting," that is, giving to the "back" and "leaves the requisite
curvature. The process of setting has usually been done by two men,
who take the heated part of the spring and bend it over a thin former of
about the same width of the spring, and clamp the end firmly thereon.
Then each man (one on each side) takes a pair of tongs and continually
bites or pinches the spring and former from end to end until the spring
is completely set down upon the former. This is a very laborious
operation, and necessarily slow, as must be all hand labor.
The object of this Invention is to mechanically set the spring, and it
consists in the employment of an adjustable former composed of a
series of vertical sections, so that different curvatures may be given to
the "former," combined with a corresponding series of vertical weights
toward and against which the former rises, so that the said weights,
beginning at the center, will successively bear upon the spring from
the center outward, suitable mechanism being employed for operating
the said combination of parts.
From the bed of the machine two uprights rise connected at the top
by a beam, a slide being arranged between the uprights, so as to move
freely up and down, being moved by a vertical screw at each. end driven
by a driving shaft and pinions. This shaft is caused to revolve by power
applied to pulleys running in opposite directions loosely on the shaft,
and caused to engage with the shaft by a clutch thrown into either
pulley, according to the direction in which the slide is to be moved in
the usual manner for imparting reverse motion to a driving shaft
through oppositely revolving pulleys. On the slide the "former" is
arranged, consisting of a series of vertical pieces. The center one has com-
bined with it a segmental rack actuated by a handle, so that by raising
or lowering the lever the center piece will be raised or lowered accord-
ingly. This center piece is provided with a stud corresponding to the
center perforation in the leaves of the spring. The several pieces are 3
clamped by a transverse key, the friction of the one upon the other
thus produced being sufficient to retain them in any position in which
they may be adjusted. On the top of the slide there are two adjustable
holders; these holders are each constructed with a hook or stud to
engage with the respective ends of the former plate, and are arranged so
as to slide freely longitudinally on the slide.
This "former" is substantially that usually employed for setting the
first leaf or back of the spring. Its two ends are engaged with the

page_text: holders, and then the center piece is raised until the requisite curvature
is given to the "former," then the other pieces are brought up close
against the under side of the "former," and there securely clamped to
hold them in that position. The key which clamps the former pieces is
arranged to be actuated by a lever, but any other clamping device
which will hold the former pieces in place will serve the same purpose.
"
In the beam there is arranged a succession of weights directly over
the "
former; these are independent of each other, and so as to bo
moved vertically independent of each other.
After the leaf to be set has been placed upon the "former" the driving
shaft is thrown into gear to cause the slide to rise, carrying the former
with the leaf up to the weights, the center striking first, and so on each
successive weight to the right and left until the whole surface of the
leaf is borne upon by the weights, and these weights are sufficiently heavy
to force and set the leaf down upon the former.
In order to retain the leaf in its proper horizontal position on the
former during the process of setting, several of these weights are forked
at their lower end so as to extend down each side of the leaf, and prevent
its being turned out of line.
In order to provide for slight transverse irregularities in the surface of
the leaf the weights are constructed with a hinged end, but in any case
the end of the weights is made concave transversely, so as to insure a
firm bearing upon the edge of the leaf to be set. A water tube is
arranged running in from one side and through slots in the weights.
This tube is perforated, so as to allow water to escape on to the weights,
and the weights are constructed with vertical grooves between them,
through which the water will run on to the spring.
So soon as the spring is completely forced on to the former by the
weights water is permitted to flow into the tube, and discharged down
on to and so as to cool the spring and complete the setting operation;
then the former is lowered, the leaf removed, and the second introduced,
and so on.
In order to allow the steam to escape, which will naturally bo
generated from the water which flows on to the hot leaf upwardly,
inclined transverse grooves are made in the side of the weights from
the water passage.

page_text: The number of weights introduced into the machine are sufficient for
the longest leaf; therefore when a shorter leaf is to be set a portion of
the weights should be removed. To do this two adjustable stops are
arranged upon a right-and-left screw upon the back side of the machine.
Those stops extending forward beneath the weights are adjusted by
turning a hand wheel upon the front of the machine, so as to bring
them close up to the end of the leaf to be set, and so that, when in that
condition the slide and the former are raised, these stops will strike the
weights outside the extent of the leaf to be set, and raise those out of
the way.
In order to make the connection or disconnection of the power
automatic the clutch is attached to a lever from which a rod extends
vertically, and on this is an upper dog and a lower dog, and on the slide
an arm, which when the slide is raised to its highest point will strike
the upper dog and throw off the power, and when it is returned will
strike the lower dog and disconnect the power at its lowest point, it
being thrown into gear for movement by the hand of the operator.
The former, as before described, may be used to advantage in the
usual hand or other process; therefore the Invention is not confined to
this particular construction of "former," or to the particular setting
apparatus herein described.
The succession of weights may in like manner, according to this
Invention ho used with other formers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Garrett Tongue in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 23rd May 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
GARRETT TONGUE, of the Firm of Tongue and Birkbeck, Patent Agents
and Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the

page_text: thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said John Garrett Tongue, Her
special license that I, the said John Garrett Tongue, executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Garrett Tongue, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR APPARATUS FOR SETTING
CARRIAGE SPRINGS," a (communication to me from abroad by Thomas ¨ B.
De Forest, of Birmingham, Connecticut, United States of America,) upon.
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Garrett Tongue,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Garrett Tongue, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to .improvements in machines or apparatus for
performing that part of the work on carriage springs technically known
as "setting," that is, giving to the "back" and "leaves" the requisite
curvature. The process of setting has usually been done by two men,
who take the heated part of the spring and bend it over a thin "former
of about the same width of the spring, and clamp the cnd firmly
thereon. Then each man (one on each side) takes a pair of tongs, and
continually bites or pinches the spring and "former" from end to end
until the spring is completely set down upon the "former." This is a
very laborious operation, and necessarily slow.
Now the object of this Invention is to mechanically set the spring,
and it consists in the employment of an adjustable "former" composed
of a series of vertical sections, so that different curvatures may be given
to the "former," combined with a corresponding series of vertical

page_text: "
weights, toward and against which the the "former rises, so that the
said weights, beginning at the centre, will successively bear upon the
spring from the centre outward, suitable mechanism being employed for
operating the said combination of parts.
weights, toward and against which the the "former" rises, so that the
said weights, beginning at the centre, will successively bear upon the
spring from the centre outward, suitable mechanism being employed for
operating the said combination of parts.
And in order that this Invention may be clearly understood and
readily carried into practice, I will proceed to describe the Drawings
hovonnte annexed
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front view; Figure 2 shows the reverse side of the lower
portion of the machine; Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 being detached views
of some of the parts.
A is the bed of the machine; two uprights B rise, connected at the
top by a beam C; D is a slide arranged between the uprights so as to
move freely up and down, being moved by a vertical screw E at cach
end, driven by the driving shaft E' and pinions E³, as shown in Figure 1.
This shaft is caused to revolve by any suitable motive power applied to
the pulleys E and E' running in opposite directions loosely on the shaft,
and caused to engage with the shaft by a clutch E³, thrown into either
pulley according to the direction in which the slide is to be moved, in
the usual manner for imparting reverse motion to a driving shaft through
oppositely revolving pulleys. On the slide D the "former" is arranged,
consisting of a series of vertical pieces a. The centre one d has com-
bined with it a segmental rack F (see Figure 7), actuated by a handle F',
so that by the raising or lowering of the lever the centre piece & will be
raised or lowered accordingly. This centre picce is provided with a
stud b, corresponding to the centre perforation in the leaves of the
spring. The several pieces a are clamped by a transverse key G, as
shown in Figure 3, the friction of the one upon the other thus produced
being sufficient to retain them in any position in which they may
bc adjusted. On the top of the slide D there are two adjustable
holders H, H³. These holders are each constructed with a hook or
stud e to engage with the respective ends of the "former plate” H³,
and are arranged so as to slide freely longitudinally on the slide D.
This "former" is substantially that usually employed for setting the
first leaf or back of the spring. Its two ends are engaged with the
holders H, H', and then the centre piece d is raised until the requisite

page_text: curvature is given to the "former," then the other pieces a are brought
up close against the under side of the "former," and there securely
clamped to hold them in that position. The key G which thus clamps
the "former" pieces is arranged to be actuated by a lever G¹, but any
other clamping device which will hold the "former" pieces in place
will serve the same purpose.
In the beam C there is arranged a succession of weights f directly
over the "former"; these are independent of each other, and so as to
be moved vertically and independently of each other.
After the leaf to be set has been placed upon the "former," the driving
shaft is thrown into gear to cause the slide D to rise, carrying the
"former" with the leaf up to the weights f, the centre striking first,
and so on, each successive weight to the right and left, until the whole
surface of the leaf is borne upon by the weights, and these weights are
sufficiently heavy to force and set the leaf down upon the "former."
In order to retain the leaf in its proper horizontal position on the
"former" during the process of setting, several of these weights are
forked at their lower end, as shown in Figure 5, so as to extend.
down each side of the leaf, and thus prevent its being turned out of
line.
In order to provide for slight transverse irregularities in the surface
of the leaf the weights are constructed with a hinged end m, as shown
in Figure 6, but in any case the end of the weights is made concave
transversely, as shown in Figure 4, so as to insure a firm bearing upon the
edge of the leaf to be set. I is a water tube passing in from one side
and through slots I' in the weights, as shown in Figure 4. This tube is
perforated so as to allow water to escape on to the weights, and the
weights are constructed with vertical grooves ≫ between them, as shown
in Figure 6, through which the water will run on to the spring.
So soon as the spring is completely forced on to the "former" by the
weights, water is permitted to flow into the tube I, and discharged down
on to and so as to cool the spring and complete the setting operation;
then the "former" is lowered, the leaf removed, and the second intro-
duced, and so on.
In order to allow the steam to escape, generated from the water which
flows on to the hot leaf, upwardly inclined transverse grooves » are made
in the side of the weights from the water passage.

page_text: The number of weights introduced into the machine are sufficient for
the longest leaf, therefore when a shorter leaf is to be set a portion of
the weights should be removed. To do this two adjustable stops & are
arranged upon a right and left-hand screw s¹ upon the back side of the
machine. These stops, extending forward beneath the weights, are
adjusted by turning the hand wheel s² upon the front of the machine,
so as to bring them close up to the end of the leaf to be set, and so that
when in that condition the slide D and the "former are raised, these
stops will strike the weights outside the extent of the leaf to be set and
raise those out of the way.
39
In order to make the connection or disconnection of the power auto-
matic the clutch is attached to a lever T, from which a rod T extends
vertically, and on this there is an upper dog t and a lower dog t, and on
the slide an arm t, which when the slide is raised to its highest point
will strike the upper dog and throw off the power, and when it is
returned will strike the lower dog & and disconnect the power at its
lowest point, it being thrown into gear for movement by the hand of the
operator.
:
The "former," as before described, may be used to advantage in the
usual hand or other process. The Invention is not limited to this par-
ticular construction of "former" or to the particular setting apparatus
herein described.
The above-described arrangement of weights may in like manner,
according to this Invention, be used with other arrangements of
"formers" without departing from the novelty of this Invention.
What I claim under the above in part recited Letters Patent is,-
"
-
First. In combination with a "former for setting carriage springs
of a series of vertical weights arranged to force the leaf on to the
"former," substantially in the manner as and for the purpose herein
set forth and represented in the Drawings annexed.
Second. In combination with a "former" for setting carriage springs
of a series of vertical weights, the lower or bearing ends constructed
transversely concave, so as to bear upon the edges of the leaf, sub-
stantially as herein-before described and represented in the Drawings
annexed.
Third. In combination with a "former" for setting carriage springs
of a series of vertical weights, the lower ends of which are hinged so as

page_text: to turn transversely, substantially as herein-before described and repre-
sented in the Drawings annexed.
Fourth. In combination with a "former" for setting carriage springs
of a series of vertical weights, constructed with internal grooves, and
provided with a water supply so as to allow a free flow of water on to
the set spring, substantially as herein-before described and represented
in the Drawings annexed.
Fifth. In combination with a "former" for setting carriage springs
and a series of vertical weights for forcing the leaf on to the "former,"
the adjustable stops 8, 8³, substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before described and represented in the Drawings annexed.
Sixth. The general arrangement and combination of apparatus for
setting carriage springs, substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described and represented in the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Garrett Tongue, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
six.
JOHN GARRETT TONGUE. (L.S.)