IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF RAILWAY AND OTHER SIMILAR SPRINGS, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Samuel Mellor, of Sheffield, in the County of York,
Pattern Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF RAILWAY AND OTHER SIMILAR SPRINGS, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN."
Sealed the 27th October 1877, and dated the 30th April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Samuel Mellor at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th April 1877.
JAMES SAMUEL MELLOR, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Pattern Maker.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF RAILWAY AND OTHER SIMILAR SPRINGS,
AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
My Invention relates to the bending and hardening of the plates of laminated
springs, such as are generally used as bearing springs for railway carriages, wagons,
and other similar vehicles, and consists of a peculiar construction of apparatus, and
of an improved method of bending the plates to the desired curve, and of hardening
them while they are held firmly by the pressure of the bending tools, whereby a
considerable saving in the cost of manufacture is obtained.
In carrying out my Invention I provide a suitably constructed tank, in the inside
and on the bottom of which I fix or secure a block, the upper face being curved to
the shape desired to be given to the spring plates. The face is divided into sections
or widths by longitudinal grooves or channels, such sections of the face corresponding
or nearly so to the width of the spring plates, and varying in number as may be
desired. Each section is also traversed by grooves by preference formed diagonally,
and running into the larger longitudinal grooves.
A top block, corresponding in the curve of its face to the botton block, and also
similarly provided with grooves or channels, is supported exactly over and above
the bottom block, and is raised, lowered, and pressed against the face of the bottom
block by any suitable means, such, for example, as steam or hydraulic pressure, &
hand-screw, lever, and the like. The top block may be modified by making it in
two parts, the lower part being secured to the upper part of some simple mechanical
contrivance. The faces of the two parts, where they come in contact, may be
formed exactly as the faces herein-before described, but of a different curve, to suit

page_text: the smaller plates of such springs, so that two sets may be operated upon at the
same time.
The operations are performed in the following manner:- -The plates being heated
in the usual way, are placed on the faces or sections of the bottom block, the top
block is then lowered upon them, and sufficient pressure applied to bend them to
the curve of the block faces. This being complete, a supply of water is forced or
admitted through openings provided in one or both ends of the tank and opposite
the longitudinal grooves in the blocks. The tank filling the water passes through
the diagonal grooves, and, coming into contact with a large proportion of the surface
of the spring plates, has the effect of hardening them. The plates being held to
their shape by the pressure on the blocks, it is evident that they cannot warp or
twist, to which defect they are liable when hardened by the ordinary means.
soon as desired, a large outlet is opened and the water rapidly discharged.
As
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Samuel Mellor in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th
October 1877.
JAMES SAMUEL MELLOR, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Pattern Maker.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF RAILWAY AND OTHER SIMILAR SPRINGS,
AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
My said Invention relates to the bending or shaping and hardening of the plates
or parts of laminated springs, such as are generally used as bearing springs for
railway carriages, wagons, and other similar vehicles, and consists of improved
methods of carrying out those operations, and of apparatus for the purpose, whereby
the hardening is effected, while the springs, plates, or parts of springs are under the
pressure of the bending or shaping dies. By this means all liability to the warping
or twisting of the plates during the operation of hardening is obviated, whilst a
considerable saving is effected in the cost of manufacture of the springs.
In order that my said Invention may be perfectly understood, I shall now proceed
particularly to describe the same as applied to the manufacture of railway springs,
and for that purpose shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of
Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in both the
Figures.
Figure 1 of my Drawings represents a sectional elevation of an apparatus con-
structed according to my said Invention for bending and hardening the plates of
springs, and Figure 2 is a detail plan of a portion of the same.
A is a suitable tank to contain the water for hardening, and of sufficient length
for the reception of two presses. B, B¹, are the presses, each fixed to and carried
by a frame C, supported by a chain D, which passes over pulleys E, E, suitably
fixed over head, and so arranged that when one press is pressed down and submerged
the other press is raised out of the water, the two presses balancing each other or
nearly so. Each press is provided with a top jaw F and bottom jaw F¹, the latter
being secured to the base of the frame C, whilst the top jaw F is fitted so as to be
capable of sliding vertically along rods G, G, attached to the bottom jaw F¹, and to
the beam or cross head H of the press.
The press is opened or closed by raising or lowering the top jaw F by means of
a screw I working in a nut K in the beam or cross head H and operated by a hand
wheel L.
The jaws are curved on their faces to suit the shape or camber of the required
spring or spring plate, and are provided with grooves or channels a, a, formed
diagonally across the faces, and a longitudinal groove b (see detail, Figure 2, shewing
the face of the bottom jaw), in order to allow the water to obtain access and come
in contact with the spring plate while under pressure. A centre vertical pin M is

page_text: provided on the bottom jaw, which pin passes through the bolt hole in the spring
plate into a corresponding hole or recess M' formed in the top jaw.
Each press is steadied by guide rods N, N, secured to the bottom of the tank A,
and supported at the top by means of stays O of angle or other iron, the base of
the frame C being perforated and passed over the rods N, N, so as to be capable of
sliding along the same.
The operations of bending and hardening with the aid of this apparatus, are
carried out in the following manner :-A spring plate is taken from the furnace and
placed between the jaws F, F¹, of the press B, which is raised out of the water, as
shewn in the Drawings, the centre pin M passing through the bolt hole in the plate
and into the hole or recess M' in the upper jaw, the jaws are then quickly brought
together, thereby bending the hot plate to the curved faces of the jaws, the press is
then forced down to the bottom of the tank, the jaws with the spring plates being
submerged. The other press B¹, being connected by the chain D, is raised as the
first descends, and a spring plate (marked P) placed in the jaws, as herein-before
described with reference to the press B, and the press B¹ in its turn, is forced down
into the position shewn in the Drawings, whereby the press B, with the hardened
plate, is raised, and so on in succession, the two presses being worked alternately.
The presses may be arranged to take more than one plate at a time if desirable,
and one press may also be used alone, the same being then balanced by a suitable
counterweight.
The jaws may be either solid, as shewn in the Drawings, or fitted with detachable
faces, and they may be of any desired curve, and arranged to hold different sections
of steel, such, for example, as half round, V shaped, and the like.
Hydraulic or other power may be used in lieu of the screws for operating the
press where more power is required for heavy work, and the apparatus may be
otherwise modified without departing from the principle of my said Invention.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion, that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent, is,-
First. Hardening springs or the plates or parts of springs of the description
herein mentioned while they are subjected to the pressure of bending or shaping
dies, substantially as herein-before described.
Second. The peculiar construction and arrangement of apparatus for bending or
shaping and hardening springs, or the plates or parts of springs, substantially as
herein-before described and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Samuel Mellor, have to this my Specifi-
cation set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of October, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
JAMES SAMUEL MELLOR. (LS.)