IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND MACHINERY FOR USE IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF SPRINGS communica
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake
"
& Co Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND MACHINERY FOR USE IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF SPRINGS communicated to him from abroad by Charles' Mace
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd July 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND MACHINERY
FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SPRINGS [a communication to him from
abroad by Charles Mace of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania United States of America]
"
This invention relates to machinery and apparatus for use in the manufacture of
springs specially adapted. for spring motors, but it can also be used in the
manufacture of other forms of springs
The said invention comprises a machine provided with cam-wheels, in combi-
nation with feed rollers and other devices, whereby, sheets, or strips of steel, of
any desirable length, are brought, each into a continuous coil-being softened by
passing through a heating chamber preparatory to the coiling operation. They are
afterwards passed through the machine and heating and chilling chambers and
subjected to, a proper heat, continuously for tempering them, all as hereinafter
described
In carrying the said invention into practice I provide the machine with
horizontal frames having connecting posts between them and with, vertical frames.
Between the horizontal frames are feed rollers which convey the spring sheets
forward during the coiling and tempering operations between suitable guide
rollers. I.also provide a movable friction-roller, the journals of which have sliding
bearings in slots; in the horizontal frames. Cam-wheels are arranged on a shaft
and press upon the sliding bearings as the cam shaft is making one revolution

page_text: forcing the said friction roller upon the spring plate and giving the requisite
lateral movement thereto to coil it from end to end as it is fed forward by the feed
rollers the said cams having the proper curve to cause the increase in the size of
the coil of the spring.
The journal bearings of one feed roller have a fixed position in the horizontal
frames, but the bearings of the other feed roller are permitted to slide in the said
slots being acted upon by springs to cause the requisite pressure upon the spring-
sheet to ensure an accurate feeding of the same. The pressure is regulated by
means of set screws. The revolution of the feed rollers is imparted by means of
suitable gearing and as the feed-rollers are revolved the spring-sheet is fed forward
with suitable velocity for it to be properly heated for softening as it passes through
the heating chamber preparatory to being coiled by the action of the cam-wheels
above described. Simultaneously with the forward movement of the spring sheet
in its passage through the heating chamber the cam-wheels are revolved by means.
of the connection of their shaft with one of the feed-rollers, there being a thread
on the neck of the upper end of the said roller which gears into a pinion on the
upper end of an inclined shaft, the other end of the shaft having a worm which
gears into a pinion on the upper end of the said cam-shaft. The gearing of the
cam-shaft is constructed to give the right velocity to the shaft to terminate the
action of the cam-wheels upon the spring sheet when the coiling is finished. As
the spring is coiled and advances from the coiling devices, carriers are connected
with each convolution the wheels resting upon the floor to prevent friction and
thus facilitate the free movement of the spring.
"
171
In constructing the heating apparatus I provide a pipe for supplying the heating
chamber with gas, which is introduced through a hose connected with an inlet, by
means of a flange the pipe having a stop-cock for cutting off the supply of gas.
For the purpose of rendering the heating chamber movable the gas supply-pipe is
made in sections which are connected with cross sections. Projecting from the
said sections is a series of vertical pipes which are provided at their lower ends
with nozzles connected with suitable openings in the vertical sides of the heating
chamber whereby jets of flame are thrown on the opposite sides of the spring-
sheet to uniformly heat it as it passes through the said chamber. The pipes have
stop-cocks at their upper ends to regulate the supply of gas to the burners,..
In order to provide for changing the position of the heating chamber as hereinafter
described; there are universal joints at the junctions of the sections_
An air-pipe is provided through which air is forced by any suitable device into
the heating chamber to promote the combustion of the gas, the air entering the
inlet from a hose connected with a flange. The pipe is provided with a stop-cock
for cutting off the supply of air. For the same purpose hereinbefore described this
pipe is also made in sections, the latter having branch pipes. Projecting from the
branch pipes is a series of pipes which, at their lower ends, are provided with a
nozzle which is connected with openings in the vertical sides of the heating
chamber whereby jets of air are forced into it to promote the combustion of the
gas which is supplied through a nozzle, the intensity of the jets being regulated by
means of a stop-cock. To give flexibility to the air-pipe for the same purpose as
stated in relation to the gas-pipe there are universal joints having keys. These
universal joints and keys are exactly like those of the gas-pipe.
When the coiling of the spring is completed the guide rollers and the coiling
device consisting of the presser roller and the shaft having the coiling cams are
removed out of the way and the spring reversed in its position; and the outer end
is connected with the feed-rollers, the heating chamber being adjusted into proper
position for such connection by the gas pipe, and air pipe turning on the keys
respectively, the pipes being turned around by means of a yoke and vertical rod
provided with a friction-wheel on its upper end resting on an elevated railway or
by other suitable device. The heating chamber is further adjusted, as may be
necessary to suit the coil of the spring as it passes through the chamber, by giving

page_text: the outer sections of the air and gas pipes a suitable turn from time to time on the
keys respectively.
As the spring is passed through the heating chamber it is subjected to the proper
heat for tempering, and as it passes through the cooling chamber it is chilled by a
blast of cold air which is forced through a hose connected with a flange of the
inlet opening, and passes thence into the chamber and through small openings
onto the opposite side of the spring
A circular railway is provided upon which the chilling chamber is placed aud
arranged in proper relation to the heating chamber and shifted from time to time
as may be necessary; as the point at which the spring turns in coiling is where
the feed rollers impinge on its surface, the railway is made concentric with the
said points. and hence the chilling chamber is readily adjusted to the spring at
any point of the coil as the spring passes through it.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Patent Office on the 3rd January
.1884.
71
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND MACHINERY
FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SPRINGS."-A communication to me from
abroad by Charles Mace, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
This invention relates to apparatus for use in the manufacture of springs specially
adapted for spring motors, but it can also be used in the manufacture of other
springs.
The said invention comprises a machine provided with cam-wheels in combina-
tion with feed rollers and other devices, whereby, sheets, or strips of steel, of any
desirable length, are brought, cach into a continuous coil, being softened by passing
through a heating chamber preparatory to the coiling operation. They are after-
wards passed through the machine and heating and chilling chambers and
subjected to a proper heat, continuously, for tempering them, all as hereinafter
described
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1, is a plan of a machine constructed according to this invention.
Figure 2, is a front elevation and
Figure 3, is a side elevation of the same.
Figure 4, is a diagram of a portion of the inner end of a coiled spring and the
coiling and heating devices and the heating chamber.
Figure 5, is a side elevation of the same
Figure 6, is a vertical section of a universal joint having a key
Figures 7 and 8, are respectively a top view and vertical section of a sliding
journal bearing of the front feed roller.
Figures 9 and 10 are similar views of one of the bearings of the presser
roller.
Figure 11, is a diagram showing the spring plate connected with the feed rollers
heating chamber and coiling devices
Figures 12 and 13 are elevations at right angles to each other of the chilling
chamber.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
The standing parts of the machine are the horizontal frames A and A¹ connected
together by posts a, a, a, a and housings B, B.
C C¹ indicate feed rollers which convey the spring sheets D forward during the
coiling and tempering operations between the guide rollers C2 C2
Ca indicates a movable friction roller the journals of which have bearings bb
which slide in the slots c, c, in the horizontal frames A and A¹. One of the
sliding bearings is shown in Figures 9 and 10.
E E indicate cam-wheels which are arranged on the shaft F and press upon the
sliding bearings bb as the cam shaft is revolving, forcing the said friction roller C³
upon the spring plate D, and giving the requisite lateral movement thereto to coil
it from end to end as it is fed forward by the feed rollers C and C¹. The said cam
wheels have the proper curve to cause the desired gradual increase in the size of
the coil of the spring.
The journal bearings of feed roller C have a fixed position in the horizontal
frames A A, but the bearings 62 63 of the roller C¹ are permitted to slide in the
slots c¹, c¹, being acted upon by the springs.d, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, to

page_text: cause the requisite pressure upon the spring sheet D, to ensure an accurate feeding.
of the same. The pressure is regulated by means of the set screws e e as represented.
in figures 1 and 2.
The revolution of the said rollers C and C is imparted by means of a shaft G;.
having a pinion H, gearing into the wheel I, on the shaft C; a pinion H¹ on the
said shaft gearing into a wheel I¹ on the shaft G₁; and a bevel pinion H2 on the
said shaft gearing into the crown wheel. I on the upper end of the feed roller C
The said roller has a geared connection. with the rollers C³, by means of the spur
wheels I and I, respectively, on the lower ends of said rollers. As the feed rollers
are revolved in the direction of the arrows Figure 4 the spring sheet D, is fed
forward with suitable velocity for it to be properly heated for softening as it passes
through the heating chamber L preparatory to being coiled by the action of the
cam-wheels E, E, above described
Simultaneously with the forward movement of the spring sheet D in its passage
through the heating chamber L, the cam-wheels are revolved by means of the
connection of the shaft F with the feed roller C¹ there, being. a. thread on the neck
of the upper end. of the said roller C¹ which engages with a pinion. H³ on the upper
end of an inclined shaft G³-the other end of the shaft having a worm f, which
gears into a pinion H4, on the upper end of the said cam-shaft. The gearing of the
cam-shaft is such as to give the right velocity to the shaft to terminate the action
of the cam-wheels upon the spring sheet D, when the coiling is finished
As the spring D₁ is coiled and advances from the coiling devices, carriers J, are
connected with each convolution as represented in the diagram figure 4, the wheels
resting upon the floor to prevent friction and thus facilitate the free movement of
the spring.
In constructing the heating apparatus I provide a pipe M for supplying the
heating chamber L, with gas, which is introduced through a hose connected with
the inlet h by means of a flange -the pipe having a stop cock j for cutting off
the supply of gas. For the purpose of rendering the heating chamber movable, the
pipe M, as shown in the drawings, is made in sections 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, and in
sections 6, 6, which are connected with the cross sections 5, as more clearly shown
in Figure 1.
Projecting from the sections 6, 6, is. a series of vertical pipes M', which-pipes are
provided at their lower ends with nozzles l, connected with suitable openings in the
vertical sides m, m, of the heating chamber L, whereby, jets of flame are-thrown
on the opposite sides of the spring, sheet D, as seen in. Figure 4, to uniformly heat
it as it passes through the said chamber.. The pipes have stop cocks., at their
upper ends to regulate the supply of gas to the burners.
.
To give flexibility to the pipe M so as to provide for changing the position of the
heating chamber L as hereinafter described, there is a universal joint N, atithe
junction of the sections 2, and 3, made by means of the key O, and a like joint N¹
at the junction of the sections 3 and 4, having a key O'. One of the joints and a
key is shown in detail in Figure 6..
1
P indicates an air pipe through which air is forced by any suitable device. into
the heating chamber L, to promote the combustion of the gas, the air entering the
inlet ¹, from à hose connected with the flange . The pipe is provided with a
stop cock 2 for cutting off the supply of air. For the same purpose as stated in
relation to the gas pipe M, this pipe is also made in sections which are indicated
by the letters a¹, a², a³, a,.and as the latter having branch pipes as, as, as more
clearly seen in Figure 1. Projecting from the branch pipes a, a is a series of
pipes P1, P1 which at their lower ends are provided with nozzles ", which are
connected with openings in the vertical sides mm, of the heating chamber L,
whereby, jets of air are forced into it to promote the combustion of the gas which
is supplied through the nozzles l, of the pipes M the intensity of the jets being
regulated by means of the stop cocks j³. To give flexibility to the air pipe P, for
the same purpose as stated in relation to the gas pipe M there is an universal

page_text: joint N, at the junction of the sections a² and a³, and a like joint' N³ at the
junction of the sections a³ and at; having respectively keys 02, and 0³. These
universal joints and keys are exactly like those of the gas pipe M shewn in detail
in Figure. 6.
When the coiling of the spring D, is completed, the guide rollers C2, C, and the
coiling device, consisting of the presser roller C³, and the shaft F, having the
coiling cams E, E, are removed out of the way, and the spring reversed in its
position. The outer end is connected with the feed rollers C, C as représented in
the diagram figure 11, the heating chamber L, being adjusted into proper position
for such connection by the gas pipe M, and air pipe P turning on the keys O and O2
respectively, the pipes being turned around by means of the yoke R and vertical
rod R provided with a friction wheel on its upper end running on an elevated
railway R2; or by other suitable device. The heating chamber is further adjusted
(as may be necessary to suit the coil of the spring as it passes through the chamber)
by giving the outer sections of the pipes M, and P, a suitable turn from time to
time on the keys O,.and:0³, respectively.
As the spring D¹ is passed through the heating chamber L it is subjected to the
proper heat for tempering and as it passes through the cooling chamber, L', shown
in position in the diagram, figure 11, and in detail in figures 12 and 13, it is chilled
by a blast of cold air which is forced through a hose connected with the
flange 2, of the inlet h², and passes thence througli perforations in the branches and
acts upon the opposite sides of the spring.
:
S indicates a circular railway upon which the chilling chamber L', is placed and
arranged as shown, in proper relation to the heating chamber L, and shifted from
time to time as may be necessary. As the point at which the spring turns in
coiling is where the feed rollers impinge on its surface, the railway is made
concentric with the said point and hence the chilling chamber is readily adjusted to
the spring at any point of the coil as the spring passes through it.
I am aware that the plan of heating and chilling straight springs continuously
as they are passed through a stationary heating chamber and a chilling chamber in
combination therewith is not new as such a plan is described in the specification of
United States Patent of Hiram A Kimball dated Feb. 15 A.D. 1881, and
numbered 237754. But the peculiar construction of the heating and chilling
apparatus, whereby, portability is given to the heating and chilling chambers which
adapts them to tempering coil springs is novel
3
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I claim
•
First. The cam wheels E, E, in combination with feeding mechanism and a presser
device, whereby sheets or strips of steel as they are fed forward are continuously
coiled, substantially as described.
Second. The cam wheels E. E, in combination with the feed rollers C. C, the
guide rollers C², 02, and the presser roller C³ for coiling sheets or strips of steel;
substantially as described.
Third. The combination of the driving shaft G having a pinion H, and the train
of wheels for operating the feed rollers C and C¹, substantially in the manner and
for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The combination of the shaft F of the cam-wheels E, E, with the feed
roller C, the thread e on the neck of the upper end of the said roller, the said
thread gearing into the pinion H³ on the upper end of the inclined shaft G³, and
the worm fon the lower end of the shaft G³. gearing into the pinion H* on the
upper end of the cam shaft F, substantially in the manner, and for the purpose, set
forth.
Fifth. The combination of coiling mechanism substantially as described and the
heating apparatus, for coiling springs by a continuous operation, substantially as

page_text: Sixth. The carriers J, in combination with the spring D¹, for facilitating the
movement of the said spring as it passes from the coiling device, substantially as
described.
Seventh. The combination of the gas pipes M, and the air pipe P, made in
sections and having universal joints N, N1, N2, and Ns, with keys 0, 0¹ 02, and 0³,
with the heating chamber L, substantially as described and for the purpose set
forth.
Eighth. The portable chilling chamber L¹, in combination with the heating
chamber L, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Ninth. The combination of the portable chilling chamber L, with the railway
track S, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my hand
and seal this third day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty four.