Improvements in Spring Making Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 10th Feb., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spring Making Machines.
We, SAMUEL ESDAILE SHAW, of 374, Harewood Street, in the City of Brad-
ford, Wire Drawer, and JAMES BEDFORD, of Moorfield House, Bingley, Solicitor,
both in the County of York, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is to construct spring machines for the manu-
facture of spiral springs for use in window blind cords, driving bands for spin-
ning frames and other suitable purposes in the manner shown and described by
British Patent No. 73799¹ so that besides being able to manufacture a spring of
any length or diameter, the pitch of the helix or spiral of such spring may be
varied as desired.
Hitherto it has been customary in manufacturing the aforesaid springs, to
make the springs in short lengths and of a very fine pitch, and afterwards open
the springs by hand as desired, according to the purpose for which they are
required.
By our invention we are enabled to turn out spiral springs of varying dia-
meters, of any required length and of one uniform pitch of helix throughout.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of a spring machine with our improvements
applied.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged front view of our improved mechanism for making springs.
Fig. 4 is a side view of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a full sized detail showing means for fixing or setting the pitch of
the helix.
Upon a suitable table A is fixed the ordinary headstock B, carrying the spindle
and die holder C, screwed into one end of this spindle or die holder is a suitable
die D), in which is placed preferably a taper pin or stud E, of a diameter according
to the spring required.
Mounted in front of the die D is a suitable disc F, an arm F¹ of which slides
within a leg of the headstock, and is adjusted and fixed by a nut F2, the face of
this disc contains curved grooves and slots G, attached to this disc is a second die H
in the form of a plate in which are varying sizes of holes or perforations H',
through one of these holes projects the taper pin E before described according to
the diameter of the spring required, the die is attached to the disc by thumb-
screws, and studs J within the aforesaid curved grooves.
Behind this disc F is mounted a suitable bracket K, in which is an adjustable
guide pulley K', and when desired, a further guide pulley L is fixed upon the
disc F as shown at Figs. 2 and 3, the object of which will be subsequently
described.
A tension pulley M mounted in a carrier bracket M¹ and operated by thumb-
screw M regulates the tension of the driving belt as desired.

page_text: The action is as follows:-We employ a length of wire P of a guage corres-
ponding to the pitch of helix required, and after attaching one end to a hook or
other projection R preferably upon the bracket K, we pass the same round the
taper pin E, and then attach the other end to another projection. S upon the
disc the wire T of which the spring is about to be made is brought from the
wincel not shown, and led forward as indicated and also passed around the taper
pin, but between the strands of the aforesaid wire P, the spring wire is then
wrapped several times around the pin and the driving strap U placed upon it,
when the machine is ready for starting.
Upon motion being communicated to the shaft U₁ by means of fast and loose
pulleys V, driven from a broad pulley upon the main driving shaft W of the
machine, the pulley W communicating by belt W2 with a small pulley X upon
the spindle, operates the same at great speed, a-small-pulley Y upon the other
end of the shaft U₁, drives a belt U, (which passes over the guide pulleys K'
and L) and the pin E at a reduced rate of speed, by this variation in speed of the
taper pin and the belt which passes over same, the spring is formed and cast off
the end of the pin, which, being taper is done with great facility; as the thick-
ness of the wire P varies, the pitch of the helix if the spring is varied accordingly.
Where very delicate springs are required, a very fine pin is employed, and to
prevent the same from breaking under the strain of the belt, we fix guide
pulleys K and L upon each side as before described, to take the extra strain
off the pin by these means the most delicate springs can be made. When strong
pins are employed the pulley L upon the disc may be dispensed with, the pulley K¹
upon the bracket raised, and the belt pass from same over the pin as shown in
dotted lines at Fig. 2.
Both the disc and bracket are adjustable one to the other according to the
size of spring being made.
A guide Z is used to prevent the strap from slipping off the. pin, and to keep
the same to its work.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1. In spring machines, the use and employment of a disc F, plate H, pin E,
guide pulley K' with or without pulley L, and strap U, in combination with a
wire 1', in the manner and for the purposes, substantially as set forth.
2. In spring machines, the use and employment of a pin E, plate H, and
strap U, in combination with the wire P, operated and operating for the purposes
substantially as set forth.
3. In spring machines the use and employment of a wire P, for the purposes
set forth.
Dated this Tenth day of October 1899
JOHN E. WALSH,
Waterhouse Chambers, Crossley Street, Halifax,
Patent Agent for the Applicants.