IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PLATE OR LEAF SPRINGS to be as follows:-
Year: 1884

page_text: I GEORGE WILLIAM WILLFORD of 54 Leigh Street Attercliffe, Sheffield, Yorkshire
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE METHOD OF AND MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF
PLATE OR LEAF SPRINGS to be as follows:-
"
This Invention relates to Improvements in the Method of, and machinery or
apparatus for the manufacture of plate or leaf springs and further relates to
improvements in the Inventions for which I obtained Letters Patent N° 1155 dated
the 22nd day of March 1879, and N° 2678 dated the 30th day of May 1883, the
object of my Improvements being the manufacture of plate or leaf springs by
machinery or apparatus which will obviate the necessity of fitting by hand labor
after the spring plates leave the Machine.
The improvements consist firstly of a carriage for removing the spring plates
from the bending machine; secondly of a table with endless chain and studs,
or their equivalents, for separating the plates from one another during the process
of hardening; and, thirdly of a second set of curving dies, or their equivalents,
for giving the required camber to the bent plates; the plates being first bent in the
bending machine to a greater camber than they are required ultimately to be, and
being adjusted, set out or the camber reduced, by the said second set of curving
dies.
the
The carriage consists of a frame mounted on wheels moving to and from the
bending machine in guides fixed to the table, to the front of the carriage is fitted a
set of hinged prongs by which the set of spring plates are lifted off the bending
machine and turned over edge ways, or deposited flat ways, on to the table; the set
of prongs are by preference actuated by a rod and hand wheel; the table is fitted
with a pair of adjustable side bars or angle irons set obliquely to the longitudinal
centre line thereof being adjustable by bolts in slots in the table or otherwise;
ends of the bars nearest to the bending machine are wider apart than the ends
furthest therefrom; the table is fitted with one or more endless chains, working on
rollers at each end thereof, to these chains are fitted studs which are adjustable
hereon and which project upwards from the table, the chain or chains are actuated
by gearing and hand wheel; as a modification the studs can be fixed to eccentrics
which will have an equivalent action. In using this apparatus the prongs are
D...nli

page_text: inserted under the set of bent spring plates in the bending machine, and the prongs
being turned backwards the set of spring plates is deposited on the table, the
endless chain is then set in motion and the plates of the springs are placed in
position so that each plate is carried forward separately by a stud until it is stopped
ly the side bars which retain it in position while being hardened; By this
arrangement the plates are held firmly at the extreme ends by the side bars, and
in the centre by the stud, thus preventing them twisting or scallering while being
hardened. The table as above described is mounted on the ram of a hydraulic
cylinder and is lowered into a tank as described in my said former patents.
According to my present improvements the tank can be placed at the back of the
bending machine instead of under it, one set of plates being hardened as another
set is being bent. When the set of plates has been bent to a greater camber (or
less radius) than they are required ultimately to bé, and are hardened as above
described, the plates are heated and subjected to pressure in a second set of dies
by which their camber is reduced, for the purpose of ensuring the perfect fitting of
the plates and dispensing with hand labor.
By preference a second set of dies will be used for the second operation of
bending the plates but. it is obvious that this operation can be performed by the
set of dies in the bending machine above described the said dies being set to the
required camber or curve.
The machinery for bending the spring plates will be substantially as described
in my said former Letters Patent but the dies' will be (practically) solid and the
camber plates will, or can, be in one. piece, instead of the said dies and camber
plates being in parts and being moveable as therein specified.

page_text: I, GEORGE WILLIAM WILLFORD, of 54 Leigh Street, Attercliffe, Sheffield, in the
County of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF PLATE OR LEAF SPRINGS, and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to improvements in the method of and machinery or
apparatus for the manufacture of plate or leaf springs, from what are known as
forged plates.
The improvements being the manufacture of plate or leaf springs by machinery
or apparatus which will obviate the necessity of filling by hand labor after the
spring plates leave the machine.
This invention consists essentially in the construction of a machine with a
pressure cylinder, piston, and rod, with a pair of dies of novel construction, the
upper die and crosshead being connected to the piston rod by a cotter or bolt, and
the lower die resting on a central platform.
The improvements consist-Firstly-in the. bending of the heated plates' in the
bending machine to.a greater camber than they are ultimately required to be.
Secondly, of a table with endless chain and studs or their equivalents, for
separating the plates from one another during the process of hardening.
Thirdly, of a moveable carriage for removing the spring plates from the bending
machine.
Fourthly, of a second set of curving dies or their equivalents, for giving the
required camber.
The carriage consists of a frame mounted on wheels, moving to and from the
bending machine in guides fixed to the table; to the front of the carriage is fitted
a set of hinged bearers, by which the set of spring plates are lifted off the, bending
machine and turned over edgeways, or deposited flat ways, on the table; the set
of bearers are, by preference, actuated by a rod or hand wheel. The table is fitted
with a pair of adjustable side bars or angle irons set obliquely to the longitudinal
centre line thereof, being adjustable by bolts in slots in the table or otherwise; the
ends of the bars nearest to the bending machine, are wider apart than the ends
furthest therefrom. The table is fitted with one or more endless chains working
on a wheel or pulley at each end thereof; to these chains are fitted studs which
are adjustable thereon, and wbich project upwards from the table; the chain or
chains are actuated by gearing and hand wheel; as a modification, the studs can
be fitted to excentrics which will have an equivalent action. In using this
apparatus the hinged bearers are inserted under the set of bent spring plates in the
bending machine, and the bearers being drawn backwards, the set of spring plates
are deposited on the table, the endless chain is then set in motion and the plates of
the spring are placed in position so that each plate is carried forward separately
by a stud, until it is stopped by the side bars or angle irons which retain it in.
position while being hardened. By this arrangement the plates are held firmly at
the extreme ends by the side bars, and in the centre by the stud, thus preventing.
them twisting or scallering while being hardened.

page_text: •
The table as above described is mounted on the ram of a hydraulic cylinder, and
is lowered into a tank, with the heated plates on, to harden them.
According to my improvement the tank can be placed at the back of the
bending machine instead of under it, one set of plates being hardened while
another is being bent. When the set of plates have been bent to a greater
camber (or less radius) than they are required ultimately to be, and are hardened
as above described; the plates are heated to temper them and subject them to
pressure in a second set of dies by which their camber is. reduced for the purpose
of ensuring the perfect fitting of the plates and dispensing with hand labor. By
preference a second set of dies will be used for the second operation of bending the
plates, but it is obvious that this operation can be performed by the set of dies in
the bending machine above described, the said dies being set to the required camber
or curve.
The improved machine for making springs is illustrated by the accompanying
drawings, of which the following is a description, the same letter in the different
views referring to the same detail part :-
•
A is the cylinder, B piston rod, C crosshead secured to piston rod B by bolt or
cotter D. E, E. are the guide bars for crosshead C. E. F. are the columns,
G. G¹. are the top and bottom tic plates, H is the tank, I is the fixed platform on
which the bottom die rests. J. J. J. are the columns which support the fixed
platform I, K is the table and ram, L is the pressure cylinder, M is the bottom
plate, N. N'. are the moving die plates, 1. 2. are the moving camber plates sup-
ported by adjustable screws 4, eight of which are shewn, 3 are two brackets in
which the ends of the eccentric shaft rotate, and which support the said eccentrics
and the die plates N. N¹, the brackets 3 are bolted to the bottom plate M.
P P¹ are two cam shafts, or eccentrics, geared together by spur wheels Q. Q¹, the
shaft being constructed at one end with a square to receive a spanner or the boss
of a hand wheel. R is the top camber plate connected to the crosshead C by
adjustable set screws S, the camber plate R is fitted with adjustable studs T, of
which there are shewn 34 but much less would do, the studs are secured to the
camber plate and adjusted for any form of spring by nuts and lock nuts. In using
this machine the crosshead C with top die is raised and the set of spring plates as
shewn in figure I are placed on the camber plates 1. 2. (each plate passing over
centre pins U, keeping them in position) the piston rod B with crosshead C is
forced down by the hydraulic pressure or other equivalent pressure in the cylinder,
and the straight spring plates are thereby bent to the form of the camber
plates 1. 2., the piston rod B and crosshead C are then raised; the die plates N. N':
are lowered by the eccentric shaft L being turned from left to right, by which
movement-the-cccentric-L-is-turned-from-right-to-left by the spur wheels Q. Q'
the eccentric cams acting on the lower sides of the slots in the die plates N. N'.,
the lowering of the bottom die leaving a space between the said camber plates 1. 2.
and the bottom plate of the set of spring plates; the bars V are then brought under
the bottom plate of the set of bent spring plates, pressure is then admitted into the
cylinder L and the ram is raised, and at the same time the bars V raising the set
of bent spring plates clear of the centre pin, the carriage W is then moved back
into its original position, the bars V with the set of spring plates are then turned
over upon the pin X and rest upon the frame Y level with the table Z, the studs or
stops a. are then rotated round the pullies b. by the hand wheel c. and slide each
plate separately onto the table Z, and hold them firm while being hardened, the
ends of the plates, being also held firmly against the angle d., the set of bent spring
plates are then lowered into tank H to harden, and by the time the said set of bent
spring plates are hardened, another set of spring plates are being pressed under
the crosshead C and are ready for removal in the same manner as already
described.
"
Fig. 1. is a front view in elevation of machine shewing the spring ready for
bending.
Fig. 2. is an end view of spring bending machine

page_text: Fig. 3. is a side view in elevation of table shewing the moveable carriage and the
hinged bearers for taking the hot spring, from under the pressing cylinder onto
the table, which is lowered into the tank thereby hardening the spring.
Fig. 4. is a front view in elevation shewing the carriage and the pin for
seperating the spring plates, also the angles for holding the spring plates in a secure
position while being hardened.
Fig. 5. is a side view in elevation shewing the position of carriage and spring
when turned over, the spring plates are then ready for distributing on table, and
lowering into tank to harden.
Fig. 6. is a sectional plan at or about the top of the tank, with half of table
removed, shewing the fixed central platform, moveable carriage, and hinged bearers,
by which the set of spring plates are lifted off the bending machine.
Fig. 7. is an enlarged plan of endless chain, shewing pin or stud and links, also
the mode of securing the pin to the links. b is the pin secured to links G by nut H,
and can be moved right or left to suit the camber of any plate.
Fig. 8. is an enlarged view in elevation of endless chain for taking the bent
spring plates onto the table, and bolding the said plates in a firm position while
being hardened.
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
Firstly, Improvements in a spring making machine, the combination of a pressure
cylinder, piston rod, crosshead, moving table and ram, fixed platform, tank, shaft,
and hand wheel, substantially as shewn and described for the purpose set forth.
Secondly, In a spring making machine the construction and combination of
crosshead, camber plate, studs, set screws with loose-blocks for screws to rest in, on
the camber plate, the screws being secured by nuts and lock nuts, substantially as
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Thirdly, in a spring making machine the construction of the bottom die consisting
of the combination of eccentric shafts, spur wheels, carried by brackets, bolted to
the bottoin plate in which the ends of the eccentric rotate, and which support the
said eccentrics and die plates, the brackets being bolted to the bottom plate, the
shaft being constructed at one end with a square to receive a spanner or the boss
of a hand wheel, right and left camber plates, set screws, substantially as shewn and
described for the purpose set forth.
Fourthly, in a spring bending machine the construction consisting of a moveable
carriage, for moving the spring plates from the bending machine; also a table with
endless chain and studs or their equivalent, for separating the plates from each
other during the process of hardening, and of a second set of curving dies for giving
the required camber to the bent plates. The carriage consists of a frame mounted
on wheels moving to and from the bending machine in guides fixed to the table;
to the front of the carriage is. fitted a set of hinged bearers, by which the set of
spring plates are lifted off the bending machine; the bearers are by preference,
actuated by a rod or hand wheel substantially as shown and described for the
purpose set forth.
Fifthly, In a spring making machine the construction and combination being as
irstly, secondly, thirdly, and fourthly, claimed, described, and illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.