Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Fitting the Plates of Laminated Springs.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 21st Feb., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Fitting the
Plates of Laminated Springs.
We, STEEL, PEECH & TOZER Limited, of Phoenix Bessemer Steel Works, The
Ickles near Sheffield, in the County of York, Steel Manufacturers, and SAMUEL
OAKES, 159 Pitsmoor Road, Sheffield, aforesaid, Spring Manager, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
First premising that the present method employed in fitting the plates of
laminated springs, is to first prepare a back plate properly set and prepared;
the second plate suitably heated is pinched in with tongs upon the back plate, on
either side throughout its entire length, after which it is hardened and tempered,
then fitted with the hammer on the anvil according to the ability of the workman,
who then uses it to "pinch" the next plate upon, and thus the process is repeated
until the "hand fitted "spring is completed.
The object of this invention is to produce an apparatus that shall largely if not
entirely dispense with the use of the hammer and what may be termed skilled
labour, and by the use of which springs may be constructed with greater uniformity,
better finish, and in less time, than when made by ordinary methods.
"
We propose to use a strong metal plate supported horizontally upon a frame, and
upon one end we fix rolls suitable for pinching in the spring plates, the
necessary driving gear being under the plate, but these rolls form no part of our
invention.
At the other end of the said plate, and on the underside, or connected therewith,
we fix a shaft with suitable driving gear, and having also an eccentric cam, provided
with a clutch or other equivalent means of throwing it in or out of gear, preferably
by means of a foot lever placed in a suitable position for the workman.
A cranked lever is so arranged that its longest arm will engage with the before
mentioned cam, the end of the other arm passes through a slot formed in the plate,
and is connected with a slide block working on the face of the plate or table; thus
when the eccentric cam is revolving a horizontal reciprocating action is imparted to
the slide block, the movement being according to the throw of the cam, and the
proportions of the cranked lever.
The metal plate or table is perforated with suitable holes or slots to receive
adjustable dogs fitted with screws and shoes, with or without antifriction rollers ;
these dogs are placed at any suitable distance apart, to suit the different
lengths of spring plates to be operated upon, and should be equidistant from the
slide block.
The modus operandi is as follows; having provided a suitably curved back plate,
technically called a "crib," a heated spring plate is brought from the furnace, placed
behind the backplate or crib and the two plates are passed through the rolls, which
accomplishes the operation of "pinching in."
The two plates are then placed in position with the centre of the plates in front
of the before mentioned slide block, and the ends against the shoes of the adjustable
dogs.
When the cam is caused to revolve, by the workman pressing down the foot lever
and thus throwing the clutch into gear, the lever forces forward the slide-block and
the two spring plates the required distance to produce the necessary camber; the
return of the slide block permits the elastic backplate to resume its original shape
and position.
The hot plate, which has been curved, is then withdrawn, and is hardened and
tempered in the usual manner, and now forms a
"crib" upon
which the next spring
plate is pinched, the same process being repeated until the spring is completed.

page_text: We wish it to be understood that we do not confine ourselves to the exact
mechanical details described, as they may be considerably varied in carrying out our
invention, which consists in giving the desired camber to spring plates by mechanical
means and without the use of the hammer and anvil.
Dated the 1st day of October 1889.
ROBT. F. DRURY, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Fitting the
Plates of Laminated Springs.
We, STEEL PEECH & TOZER, Limited, of the Ickles, Sheffield in the County of
York, Steel Manufacturers, and SAMUEL OAKES, 159 Pitsmoor Road, Sheffield
aforesaid, Spring Manager, 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 present method employed in fitting the plates of laminated springs, is to first
prepare a back plate properly set and otherwise prepared; when the second plate is
suitably heated it is pinched in with tongs, upon the said backplate on either side
throughout its entire length, after which it is hardened and tempered, then fitted on
the anvil according to the ability of the workman, who then uses the plate so shaped,
to "pinch" the next plate upon, and this process is repeated until the "hand fitted
spring is completed.
"
The object of this invention is to produce an apparatus that shall largely if not
entirely dispense with the use of hammering, or what may be termed skilled labour,
and by the use of which apparatus springs may be constructed with greater
uniformity, better finish, and in less time than when made by ordinary methods.
The annexed sheet of drawings illustrates an apparatus made according to our
invention, similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in any of the figures in
which they occur.
Fig. 1, is a front elevation of the apparatus.
Fig. 2, is a plan of same.
Fig. 3, is an end elevation of same, part shown in section through centre of ram.
In carrying out our invention we make a strong metal plate, or table A, supported
horizontally upon a framework B of any suitable construction, such as that shown.
The said plate or table is provided with a number of holes C, or slots if preferred
made through its face, to receive two removable dogs D, which are provided with
screws E for adjustment, said screws having heads F with convex faces, or being
otherwise constructed for the spring plates to bear against.
These dogs may be placed in any of the holes or slots, to bring them in the
required position to suit the various length of spring plates to be fitted, their relative
positions being clearly shown in Fig. 2.
A slide-block or ram G is fixed in slides upon the table A, in a central position,
and can be adjusted by the nuts upon the screw H.
Under the table A we fix the mechanism for imparting a reciprocating movement
to the ram G, when required; this may conveniently be driven from a shaft I, which
should be provided with a clutch motion, or other equivalent means, to enable the
shaft to be thrown out of gear, but this is not absolutely necessary. J is a cam or
eccentric upon the shaft I, and by means of the slide bar K, and the cranked arm L,
gives a horizontal movement to the catch bar M.
The vertical lever N, rocks upon a fulcrum O, its short upper end being connected
with the ram G, and its long arm engaging with the open slot in the catch bar M
before mentioned; the action of this mechanism when in gear, is to move the ram G,
to and fro in its slides.
As this movement is only required at intervals and when the spring plates are in

page_text: position, it is requisite that the starting and stopping should be under the control of
the workman, and for this purpose we arrange a foot lever P, provided with a
flanged roller Q, upon which the catch bar M rests; a spring such as R, raises the
foot lever, and lifts the catch bar out of gear with the pin of the vertical lever N, and
stops the action of the ram. When the workman presses down the foot lever P,
the catchhar engages with the pin of the vertical lever N, which operates the cam.
Having adjusted the screwdogs D, and provided a suitably curved back plate,
technically called a "crib," a heated springplate is brought from the furnace, placed
behind the "crib" and "pinched in" by rolls in the usual manner, which forms no
part of our invention.
.
The two plates are then placed in position upon the table A, with the ends against
the heads of the screws E, in the position shown in Fig. 2, but with the plates close
together; the workman puts his foot upon the treadle P, causing the catchbar M
to engage with the vertical lever N, and move the ram G forward. The ram coming
in contact with the spring plates forces them forward to the extent of its travel,
giving them the desired amount of camber, and its return permits the elastic back
plate to resume its original shape and position.
upon
which
The hot spring plate which has thus been curved or fitted is then withdrawn to be
" crib "
hardened and tempered in the usual manner and now forms a
the next spring plate is pinched, the same process being repeated until all the plates
are fitted.
We wish it to be clearly understood that although we have described the con-
struction of a machine or apparatus well suited for, and capable of carrying out our
improved method of fitting the plates of laminated springs, we do not bind ourselves
to the mechanical details as illustrated.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
.
1st. In the manufacture of laminated springs the method of giving the desired
camber to, and "fitting "the plates of such springs, by the mechanical means,
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
"
2nd. An apparatus for fitting "and curving the plates of laminated springs,
consisting of a plate or table provided with a sliding ram G, screw dogs D, capable
of adjustment; to any desired position on the table, and mechanical driving gear of
any suitable construction, and means to instantly stop and start same, substantially as
herein before described and illustrated.
Dated the
1000
ROBT. F. DRURY, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicants.