Improved Apparatus for Making Clips for Springs of Carriages.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Feb., 1887
Complete Left, 6th Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 8th Nov., 1887
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Making Clips for Springs of Carriages.
GEORGE SKIDMORE, 139, Oxford Street Mesty Croft Wednesbury, Staff. Fitter
& Turner, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR MAKING CLIPS FOR SPRINGS OF CARRIAGES to be as follows:-
A die is provided with Slot hole in centre, with loose dies inserted to allow the
various kinds and sizes of Clips to be made in the one larger die. The dies which
are inserted are, (a) A centre mandril die of the width of the Clip required (b). A
pair of side dies regulated with set screws from ends of large block. The Clip is
first bent into shape, being arched top and is then placed on centre mandril and
the side dies are then screwed or wedged to hold the Clip firmly in position, leaving
more metal in the crown than is needed to make a square clip in the usual way. The
inside top corners of side dies, are mitred off, as is also a top die which is left the
shape of the Clip to be made. The top die is fixed in a sliding Hammer or press,
and is then forced or dropped down on to the Clip. The surplus Iron left in the
Crown, is then forced by this process outwards to the corners, leaving the corners
perfectly square, and not cut in, as they are, when made by hand. The process would
also effect a large saving in the cost of manufacture, allowing the maker to sell a
better article, at a lower price, than he has hitherto been able to do.
Dated this Seventeenth day of February One thousand eight hundred and

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Making Clips for Springs of Carriages.
I GEORGE SKIDMORE 139 Oxford Street Mesty Croft, Wednesbury in the County
of Stafford Fitter and Turner do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention has for its object an improved apparatus for making clips for the
springs of carriages and other vehicles requiring such springs.
A die is provided with slot hole in centre with loose die inserted to allow the
various kinds and sizes of clips to be made in the one larger die. The dies inserted
are a centre mandril die of the width of clip required, a pair of side dies regulated
with set screws from end of large block. The clip is first bent into U shape with
arched top and then placed on centre mandril and the side dies are then screwed or
wedged to hold the clip firmly in position leaving more metal in the crown than is
needed to make a square clip in the usual way. The inside top corners of side dies
are mitred off as is also a top die which is left the shape of the clip to be made.
The top die is fixed in a sliding hammer or press and then is forced down onto
the clip.
The surplus iron left is then forced outwards into the corners and left
the shape of the impression of the side and top dies combined. The advantages
of this clip are that being strengthened at the angles by this process they can be
made much better and cheaper and are better for use than the old method of
making clips for springs of axles.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practice I have appended hereunto two sheets of drawings which illustrate
one set of tools and also the material for forming one clip with the various processes
shown through which the material passes before it is finished i.e. so far as my
apparatus is intended to
carry it.
Figure 1 shows a piece of iron A cut off to a proper length for making a clip.
Figure 2 shows the same piece A simply bent round to the curved top a¹ before
entering my apparatus.
Figure 3 shows the clip formed with its perfect mitre corners a² and a³ as it leaves
my apparatus.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal_sectional elevation on the line C. D showing the die
block M and the top tool K immediately over it ready to form the clip A with the
centre die m' and the side dies m² and m³.
Figure 5 is a cross section on the line E F showing the die block M and central
die m¹.
Figure 6 is a plan of the die block M with the bent material A as shown at Figure 2
in position but with the top die or tool K removed.
The die block M is cast or formed with a hole m therein in which the steel or other
die blocks m¹, m² m² fit. The centre die m¹ has a centre projection on each side as
shown in plan Figure 6 corresponding with recesses in the sides of the said hole m'

page_text: so that when it is dropped into its place and the screws n¹n³ are sent before it becomes
practically a fixture for the time being. The two dies m³ and m³ drop into plain holes
and have hollowed faces which fit against the round curved or other face of the piece A
and they may be allowed to give liberty for the entrance of A by screwing back the
pins n' or n or by screwing them forward to tighten the piece A. The operation is as
follows:-
The piece A Figure 1 is simply bent round with tongs as shown at Figure 2 and it
is then placed in the mould M when the dies m³ m³ are screwed up tightly against
it. Immediately these side dies are well fixed the top tool K comes down and with
one blow brings the metal contained in the bow a' a' down into the clip and so form
the sharp angles or mitres a² a³ thus saving a great lot of forging and hammering
and making a better finished clip. Of course a second or more blows may be given
if found necessary with or without water to put on a finish and face.
The part a¹ is of course heated in the fire while straight. Probably in very soft
metal clips might be made cold in this manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :——
The improved apparatus or process for making clips for the springs of carriages
and other vehicles of the die M fitted with tools and moving parts m² and m³ by which
the part A is firmly secured while the part a¹ is formed into the corners a³ and a³
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Dated this 5th day of October 1887.