IMPROVEMENTS IN ELASTIC BEDS FOR POWER PRESSES AND IN SPRINGS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louis Sterne and James Baird Handyside, both of the
Crown Iron Works, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, Engineers, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELASTIC BEDS FOR POWER PRESSES AND
IN SPRINGS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louis Sterne and James
Baird Handyside at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th
March 1880.
LOUIS STERNE and JAMES BAIRD HANDYSIDE, both of the Crown Iron Works,
Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELASTIC
BEDS FOR POWER PRESSES AND IN SPRINGS."
Our Invention has reference primarily to elastic beds for power presses. In the
Specification of former Letters Patent for "Improvements in Presses," granted to
James Baird Handyside, and dated 5th September 1878, No. 3515, a press is
described which bas an elastic or yielding bed formed by a hydraulic ram, cylinder,
and air vessel. Elastic beds of this construction are expensive and liable to get
out of order. Now according to our Invention we form an elastic bed by inter-
posing between top and bottom plates which constitute the bed of the press a
number of metal or india rubber or combined metal and rubber springs of spiral,
volute, laminated, or other suitable form, but by preference the improved junction
rubber springs hereinafter described. We employ as many of these junction rubber
or other springs as the size of the press requires, and we form recesses in the top
and bottom plates of the bed to receive their upper and lower ends respectively.
The top plate of the bed is free to descend within a certain limit on suitable guides,
and when pressure is brought upon it such pressure is absorbed by the springs
constituting the elastic bed; should the material under pressure be of a yielding
nature the springs will keep up the pressure.
Junction rubber springs as heretofore made consist of washers or plates of metal
and thick rings of india rubber placed alternately, the metal washers and rubber

page_text: rings being united together during the process of vulcanization. The plates which
have formed the ends or top and bottom of the springs have in practice been found
liable to oxidize. Rubber ends form a suitable cushion, rendering these springs
silent when in action and subject to sudden concussions, thus overcoming objections
of noise of metals brought in contact by sudden blows. We therefore attach to
each of the end plates during the process of vulcanization or otherwise a washer of
india rubber, by preference of the same diameter as the plates; these washers will
serve to prevent oxidation of the plates, and also act as a cushion to the spring.
These improved junction rubber springs, although specially intended for forming an
elastic bed for power presses, as herein before described, may also be used for other
purposes where strong springs are required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Louis Sterne and James Baird Handyside in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 4th September 1880.
LOUIS STERNE and JAMES BAIRD HANDYSIDE, both of the Crown Iron Works,
Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELASTIC
BEDS FOR POWER PRESSES AND IN SPRINGS."
Our Invention has reference primarily to elastic beds for power presses. In the
Specification of former Letters Patent for "Improvements in Presses," granted to
James Baird Handyside, and dated 5th September 1878, No. 3515, a press is
described which has an elastic or yielding bed formed by a hydraulic ram, cylinder,
and air vessel. Elastic beds of this construction are delicate in construction,
expensive, and liable to derangement. Now according to our Invention we form
an elastic bed by interposing a number of metal or india rubber or combined metal,
wool, and india rubber springs of spiral, volute, laminated, or other suitable form.
We employ as many of these rubber or other springs as the size of the press
requires, and we form recesses to receive their upper and lower ends respectively.
The plates of the bed are free to move within a certain limit on suitable guides,
and when pressure is brought upon these, such pressure is absorbed by the springs
constituting the elastic bed; should the material under pressure be of a yielding
nature the springs will absorb and again give out the pressure. This elastic
attachment may be either in the base or top part of the press.
Figures 1, 2, 3 of the annexed Drawings represent part of a power press fitted
with an elastic bed in accordance with our Invention, and which may be placed in
either the top or bottom of the press, according to convenience. Figure 1 is an
elevation; Figure 2, a vertical section; and Figure 3, a sectional plan. A and B are
respectively top and bottom plates which constitute the bed of the press. These plates
are formed with recesses C, C, to receive the upper and lower ends of the springs
D, D, which may either be of the description shown or be spiral, volute, laminated,
or other suitable form of spring, the recesses C, C, being, of course, shaped to
correspond; E, E, are guides, upon which the top plate A is free to descend within
certain limits. As has been already explained, when pressure is brought upon the
plate A such pressure is absorbed by the springs or elastic bed D, D, and if the
material under pressure be of a yielding nature the springs D, D, keep up the
pressure.
Junction rubber springs as heretofore made consist of washers or plates of metal
and thick rings of india rubber placed alternately, the metal washers and rubber
rings being united together during the process of vulcanization. The plates which
have formed the ends or top and bottom of the springs have in practice been found
liable to oxidize. Rubber ends form a suitable cushion, rendering these springs
silent when in action and subject to sudden concussions, thus overcoming objections
of noises by metals brought in sudden contact. We therefore attach to each of the
end plates during the same process of vulcanization or otherwise a washer of india
rubber, by preference of the same diameter as the plates; these washers will serve
to prevent oxidation of the plates, and also act as a cushion to the spring.
Figure 4 represents one of our improved junction rubber springs in sectional
view. a, a, are the metal washers. or plates; and b, b, the india rubber rings, of
which junction rubber springs have hitherto been made, the said washers and rings
being united during the process of vulcanization; c, c, are the washers of india
rubber, which, according to our present Invention, we attach to each of the end
plates of the spring during the process of vulcanization.
These improved junction rubber springs, although shewn for forming an elastic

page_text: •
bed for power presses, as hereinbefore described, may also be used for other purposes
where strong springs are required.
And having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, we declare that we claim,-
First. Constructing power presses with an elastic bed composed of a number of
metal or india rubber or combined metal, wool, and india rubber springs, sub-
stantially as herein before described and represented in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the
annexed Drawings.
Second. Manufacturing junction rubber springs as hereinbefore described and
represented in Figure 4 of the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Louis Sterne and James Baird Handyside,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Third day of September, One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.