Improvements in Apparatus for making Helical Spring Rollers.
Year: 1897

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by JOHN WESLEY HYATT, of Newark, New Jersey,' United
States of America Manufacturer.]
Improvements in Apparatus for making Helical Spring Rollers.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake and Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 object of this invention is the production of helical spring rollers, either
cylindrical or tapering, of accurately prescribed diameters adapting them for use in
roller bearings.
The apparatus embodying the improvements embraces essentially a mandrel ;
means for rotating said mandrel and for feeding it endwise; a plurality of rolls
adapted to rotate in axially parallel, or approximately parallel, bearings on opposite
sides of said mandrel, and so mounted as to leave the space between the rolls and
the mandrel unobstructed at both ends, and means for holding upon said mandrel
one end of a ribbon of steel, whereby said ribbon, fed at the desired angle into the
space between one side of said mandrel and the roll adjacent thereto, is wound
hetically around the mandrel as upon a core, and while being this wound is subjected
simultaneously to two modes of action, to wit, the cross-rolling action of the rolls
and the drawing action resulting from the endwise progression of the work through.
the space between the rolls, as the result of which the finished helix is symmetrically
rounded and reduced with great accuracy to the desired diameter or conicity and has
a smooth exterior surface.
If a tapering helix is to be made, a conical mandrel is employed and the rolls are
fed bodily toward the mandrel as the diameter of the helix in process of formation
decreases.
The accompanying drawings illustrate an apparatus embodying this invention and
in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view.
Figure 2 is a front elevation partly in vertical section.
Figure 3 is a side elevation drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken through the plane indicated by the dotted
line xx on Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section taken through the plane indicated by the
dotted line y-y on Figure 2.
Figure 6 is a front elevation drawn to an enlarged scale of a portion of the apparatus
illustrating the use of conical rolls in connection with a conical core for the production
of a tapering spiral spring roller.
Figures 7 and 8 are, respectively, side and end elevations of a form of chuck
adapted to be secured to the inandrel, or core E, and to be employed for holding the
end of the steel ribbon during the process of winding.
Figure 9 is a view of the countershaft and its appurtenances, showing the pulleys
from which power is taken to drive the machine.
Figure 10 is an end elevation showing the manner in which the change gearing is
arranged; and
Figure 11 is a horizontal section taken through the plane indicated by the dotted
line zz on Figure 3.

page_text: Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.
The apparatus represented in the drawings may for the purpose of description be
deemed to consist of two parts: First, the cross-rolling mechanism embracing the
rolls and their appurtenances; and, secondly, the mechanisin for simultaneously
imparting rotation and a prescribed extent of endwise progression to the work
subjected to the action of the rolls. These mechanisms are erected upon a
substantial table, A, provided with the necessary standards for supporting the
moving and adjustable parts.
In the illustration of the invention embodied in the apparatus shown in the
drawings there are employed two rolls a and b, Figures 2, 3, and 6.
The upper
roll is adapted to rotate in bearings formed in the shorter arm a¹ of the rocking
lever a² Figure 2 pivotally mounted upon the standards A¹ A². The longer
arm a³ of the lever a² is provided with a transverse perforation affording a loose
bearing for the nut a. The nut a" has the form of a short cylinder with a transverse
perforation which is appropriately screw-threaded to adapt it for engaging the
vertical adjusting screw-bolt C.
The lower roll b is adapted to rotate in bearings formed in the shorter arm b¹ of the
rocking lever b2 also pivotally mounted upon the standards A¹ A². The longer
arm b³ of the lever b² carries a nut Figures 3 and 11 which is similar in construction
to the nut a. The longer arms a³ and b³ of the levers a² and 62 are vertically
bored to admit of the loose extension through them of the adjusting screw-bolt C.
The upper part of the adjusting screw-bolt C is provided with a right-hand
screw-thread c¹ for engaging the corresponding thread of the nut a', and a lower
part of the adjusting screw-bolt is provided with a left hand screw thread c² for
engaging the corresponding screw-thread of the nut. 65. The adjusting screw-bolt C
is provided with a lower bearing in the plate B bolted to wings projecting
laterally from the standards A¹ A2 and with an upper bearing in the cap B¹
bolted to the tops of the standards A' A² and extending across the space between
them. The screw-thread c¹ extends to the upper extremnity of the bolt C, and
above the cap B₁ the bolt has pinned to it the collar c³, by means of which the
bolt C is suspended upon the cap B¹. The upper extremity of the bolt C has
affixed to it the crank ct, by means of which the bolt C may be turned manually
for the purpose of adjusting the distances between the rolls a and b as may be
required. For the purpose of exactly measuring the extent of such adjustment,
there is secured to the top of the cap B₁ an annular dial d over the perforated
face d', of which the arm of the crank c traverses.
As represented in the drawings, the apertures in the dial are arranged spirally in
twenty-five groups of four each. A detachable pin d2, Figures 1 and 2 and adapted
to be inserted in the apertures in the dial, is made to serve as a stop for arresting the
rotating movement of the arm of the crank c. The perforations in the dial are so
arranged that when the arm has been brought to rest by collision with the stop pin d²,
the removal of the pin to the next adjoining perforation permits the crank arin and
the adjusting bolt to turn a distance equal to 100 of a revolution. Assuming the
pitch of the threads c¹ and c² of the adjusting holt to be 10 to the inch, one revolution of
the adjusting bolt will move the rolls a and b either toward or from each other,
according to the direction in which the adjusting bolt C is rotated, to such an extent.
as will vary the distance between the working faces of the rolls exactly 1 of an inch,
each roll being moved a distance of one-half of 16 of an inch. Hence by turning
the crank arm one 100 part of a revolution the distance between the rolls a and b
will be increased or dininished, as the case may be, one 1000 of an inch. This capacity
of nice adjustment of the rolls a and b is provided for the purpose of enabling the
machine to finish or calender the work to a prescribed diameter or conicity with
perfect exactness, it being important that helical spring rollers intended for roller
bearings shall be so made that they will accurately fit their allotted parts of the space
between the axle and the inner face of the axle box in connection with which they
are to be employed.

page_text: The spiral springs are formed by progressively winding upon the core, or inandrel, E,
Figure 6 a flat steel ribbon e. The steel ribbon is fed into the space between the top
of the core and the bottom of the roll a at such an angle as may be required by the
pitch which it is intended the spiral shall have. To facilitate the guiding of
the ribbon in feeding it, there is employed the guide-roll e¹ loosely mounted upon the
stud projecting vertically upward from the curved arm, which is clamped upon
the guide-bar e in such wise as to be adjustable thereon. The guide-bar et is loosely
mounted in bearings formed in the wings As and A' of the standards A¹ A2, and by
means of a set-screw e is fastened in any desired position. By this construction the
guide-roll e¹ is susceptible of adjustment in a path parallel with the longitudinal axis
of the core, and hence may be adjusted with reference to feeding the steel ribbon at
any desired angle.
During the winding operation the steel ribbon exerts a laterally outward strain
upon the part of the core or mandrel upon which it is being wound. This strain is
effectively resisted by the front rest f which presents a rigid bearing for the outer side
of the work. If desired, there may also be employed the back rest Figure 4 for
bearing upon the inner side of the work with an elastic pressure due to the resilient
force of the expanding spiral spring g' abutting at its outer end against the head of
the bolt g2 screwed into the standard A' and delivering its thrust against the
perforated arm g³ projecting laterally from the rear end of the back rest g. The front
rest f is affixed to the upper end of a lever f¹ pivotally supported upon a fulcrum f²
which is horizontally adjustable by means of the adjusting nut f³.
When a spiral spring roller of uniform diameter is being wound, the arm f¹ is so
adjusted as to keep the front rest stationary in the desired position. In starting the
winding operation the rear rest g is pushed backward to allow the steel ribbon to be
wound upon the part of the core immediately opposite to it, and is then released to
the action of its spring g¹.
To facilitate the required manipulation of the back rest g when the winding operation
is to be begun, there is provided the bell-crank lever g', the extremity of the shorter
arm of which bears against the side of the arm g³, while the longer arm is provided
with the handle g³ Figure 4.
Preparatory to the winding operation, one end of the steel ribbon is inserted in the
chuck E Figures 6, 7, and 8 and is thereby held, upon and made to rotate with the
mandrel. At the time when the winding operation begins, the chuck E² occupies a
position in proximity to the rolls a and b which are separated by suitably turning the
crank-arin e in such wise as to make them bear upon opposite sides of the work. The
chuck and mandrel are then rotated and at the same time drawn gradually away from
the rolls a and b.
When a tapering spring roller is to be formed, there is employed a conical
mandrel E, an illustration of which is afforded in Figure 6.
For winding a tapering spring roller the rolls a and b are preferably made slightly
conical, as illustrated in Figure 6, and, as the winding operation proceeds, are made
to approach each other at a rate corresponding with the progressive reduction in the
diameter of the work. The clutch E³ is so actuated as to connect the rotating
horizontal shaft E to the bevel pinion E which meshes with the bevel gear E6,
affixed to the lower part of the adjusting screw-bolt C. The adjusting screw-bolt C
is thereby rotated in such direction as to rock toward each other the shorter arms a¹ b¹
of the rocking levers a² 2 in which the rolls a and b are mounted. At the same time
motion is communicated by means of the bevel pinion E' upon the lower extremity
of the adjusting screw-bolt C to the bevel gear E8 affixed to the shank of the
horizontal screw-bolt E, the screw-threaded part of which engages a nut E10
contained in the lower end of the lever f.
Rotation is thus communicated to the screw-bolt E' in such direction as to rock the
front rest f toward the core with a speed corresponding to the gradual diminution in
diameter of the core as the winding operation proceeds. The back rest g at the saine
time maintains its bearing upon the inner side of the work.
When the steel ribbon is being wound into a helix of gradually diminishing

page_text: diameter, the edge of the ribbon toward the larger end of the mandrel bears.forcibly
against the edge of the adjacent finished convolution and is prevented from overriding
the adjacent finished convolution by the compressive action of the roll which holds
it against the surface of the mandrel.
The mechanism for simultaneously rotating the mandrel and effecting a prescribed
extent of endwise progression to the work consists of a horizontal feed screw-bolt H,
Figures 1, 2, 5 and 10 provided with stationary bearings in the standards A5 A6 A7,
and having its inner end. H provided with a bearing in the horizontally sliding
carriage H2, Figures 1 and 2.
The inner end H¹ of the horizontal .feed screw-bolt is centrally tapped to receive
the end of the mandrel and is. provided with an external screw. thread for the
attachment of the chuck E². Rotation is imparted to the horizontal feed screw-bolt H
by the driving pulley I, which is loosely. splined to the bolt H by means of
the key. I connected to the hub. of the pulley. I and adapted to slide loosely in the
longitudinal groove I2 in the screw-bolt H. The extent of endwise movement of the
screw-bolt H is governed by the speed of rotation of the nut J secured to one end of
the hub of the cone pulley J', the cone pulley J1 being incapable of any endwise
movement by reason of the bearing of the opposite ends of its hub against the
standards A5 and Aº.
:
It will be perceived that if the cone pulley J1 should be rotated at the same speed
as the screw-bolt H the latter would have no endwise movement, but by rotating the
cone pulley at a different speed; a greater or less range of endwise movement is
given to the feed screw-bolt H, according to the greater or less difference in the
speeds of rotation of the cone pulley. J' and screw-bolt H.
The cone pulley is rotated by the cord, or band K, Figures 5 and 10 driven by the
elongated pulley K¹ Figure 9 on a suitably placed countershaft L. The driving.
band, or cord, K extends downward from the pulley K' to the cone pulley J¹, and passing.
around the underside of the cone pulley. J' is led over the guide pulley J, thence
downward. around the under side of the weighted tightener pulley J3 and upwardly
therefrom to the driving pulley K¹. The guide pulley J2 is mounted in the shifter
carriage j adapted to slide on the horizontal bar, and secured to the horizontally.
sliding shifter bar 2 by the manipulation of which the cord, or band, K may be
shifted. from. either one to another of. the grooves in the periphery of the cone
pulley J. The driving pulley I is rotated by the driving belt 12 from the pulley I³
on the countershaft L.
:
...
A thimble M, Figure 2 flanged at both ends: loosely surrounds the screw-bolt H,
and is journalled in a bearing afforded for it in the standard A. The key I¹ extends
through the hub of the driving pulley I, through the thimble M, and through the hub.
of the pinion N from which. motion is transmitted through the change gears N¹ N2
to the horizontal shaft E which, when the clutch. Es is appropriately manipulated,
acts through the bevel gears E and E-to impart the rotating motion to the vertical
feed screw-bolt C, by means of which. the rolls. and 6 are made to appropriately
change their positions with relation to the mandrel in conformity with the progressive
changes in the diameter of the work.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed; as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is
In a machine for forming helical spring rollers, the combination, as herein set
forth, of a mandrel; means for rotating the said mandrel upon its longitudinal axis,
and means for feeding it endwise; a plurality of rolls on opposite sides of said
mandrel and adapted to rotate in bearings axially parallel, or approximately parallel,
with the longitudinal axis of said mandrel, and so mounted as to leave the space between
the rolls and said mandrel unobstructed at both ends; means for holding upon said
mandrel one end of a ribbon of steel, whereby, said ribbon when fed at a prescribed angle
into the space between one side of said mandrel and the roll adjacent thereto, is wound
spirally around said mändrel as upon a core, and' while being thus' wound is-subjected

page_text: sinultaneously to the cross-rolling action of the rolls and to the drawing action
resulting from the endwise progression of the work through the space between the
rolls.
2. In a machine for forming helical spring rollers, a mandrel, means for rotating
said mandrel upon its longitudinal axis and for simultaneously imparting to it a
prescribed speed of endwise motion, in combination with a plurality of rolls adapted
to rotate in bearings axially parallel or approximately parallel with the longitudinal
axis of said mandrel, and means for simultaneously moving each of said rolls to a like
extent toward or from the centre of said mandrel for the purpose of accurately
preserving the centralization of the work with relation to said rolls while a steel ribbon
is in process of being wound spirally around said mandrel.
3. In a machine for forming helical spring rollers, a tapering mandrel; means for
rotating said mandrel upon its longitudinal axis and for simultaneously imparting to
it a prescribed speed of endwise motion; means for holding upon said mandrel one
end of a steel ribbon; rolls on opposite sides of said mandrel for cross-rolling a ribbon
of steel in process of being wound around said mandrel, and means for automatically
varying the distance between the said rolls to an extent corresponding to the
variations in the diameter of the work during the progressive winding of the steel
ribbon spirally around the tapering mandrel.
4: In a machine for progressively winding a ribbon of steel spirally around a
tapering mandrel rotating upon its longitudinal axis and having an endwise feeding
movement, and employing rolls for cross-rolling the steel ribbon in process of being
wound; bearings for said rolls arranged in the free ends of arms adapted to rock on
parallel horizontal axes and provided at their ends opposite those carrying the rolls
with suitable nuts; a vertical feed screw bolt having a right-hand thread engaging
the nut in one of said arms and a left-hand thread engaging the nut in the other of said
arms; gearing for transmitting from the main shaft of the machine motion to rotate
said feed screw bolt at such prescribed rate of speed as may be required to gradually
vary the distance between said rolls in conformity with the variations in the diameter
of the work, during the progressive winding of said steel ribbon spirally around said
tapering inandrel.
5. In a machine for forming helical spring rollers, an endwise-moving and rotating
mandrel; a chuck for holding one end of a steel ribbon upon said mandrel; rolls for
bearing on opposite sides of the steel ribbon in process of being wound spirally around
said mandrel, in combination with an adjustable rest for presenting a rigid bearing for
the outer side of the work, substantially as set forth.
6. In a machine for forming helical spring rollers, an endwise-moving and rotating
tapering mandrel; a chuck for holding one end of a steel ribbon upon said mandrel;
rolls for bearing on opposite sides of the steel ribbon in process of being wound spirally
around said mandrel ineans for gradually varying the distance between said rolls in
conformity with the progressive variation in the diameter of the work; a yielding rest
adapted to bear with an elastic pressure upon one side of the work, a rest for bearing
rigidly upon the opposite side of the work, and means for gradually varying the
distance from the centre of the mandrel of said rigidly bearing rest in appropriate
conformity with the variations in the diameter of the part of the mandrel between
the rolls during the endwise movement of the mandrel and the progressive winding of
said steel ribbon spirally around said mandrel.
7. In a machine for forming helical spring rollers, a rotating, endwise-moving
mandrel; a chuck for holding one end of a steel ribbon upon said mandrel; rolls
upon opposite sides of said mandrel for bearing upon the steel ribbon in process
of being wound spirally around said mandrel; arms rocking on parallel horizontal
axes carrying said rolls in their free ends, aud provided at their opposite ends
with suitable nuts; n vertical feed screw-bolt provided with a right-hand screw thread
for engaging the nut in one of said arms, and a left-hand screw thread for engaging
the nut in the other of said arins; in combination with a fixed horizontal dial provided
with a central aperture for admitting the upper end of said feed screw-bolt, and
provided with a system of spirally arranged holes; a crank-arm affixed to the upper

page_text: end of the said vertical feed screw-bolt adapted to swing over the face of said dial
and a removable stop-pin for insertion in either of said spirally arranged holes for the
purpose of definitely limiting the range of such swinging movement of said crank-arm,
substantially as set forth.
8. In a machine for forming helical spring rollers, the combination, as herein set
forth, of an endwise-moving rotating mandrel; means for holding one end of a ribbon
of steel upon said mandrel; a plurality of rolls for cross-rolling a ribbon of steel in the
act of being wound spirally around said mandrel means for varying. the speed of
endwise movement of said mandrel, and the work thereon, the same consisting of a
horizontal feed screw-bolt in axial alignment with said mandrel, and to the end of
which said mandrel is affixed a driving pulley loosely splined to said horizontal feed
screw-bolt, and a cone pulley having secured in its hub a nut meshing with the screw
thread upon said horizontal feed screw-bolt, the hub of said cone pulley with the nut
inserted therein filling the space between two adjacent boxes, affording bearings for
said horizontal feed screw-bolt; a counter-shaft provided with a pulley engaging the
belt for giving motion to the said driving pulley; an elongated pulley upon said
countershaft in vertical alignment with said cone pulley; a band, or cord, for
transmitting motion from said elongated pulley to said cone pulley; a weighted idler
roller suspended in a bight of said cord or band; a guide-pulley between said cone-
pulley and said elongated pulley for facilitating the formation of said bight; a
manually adjustable horizontally sliding frame carrying said guide pulley for shifting
said cord, or band, from one convolution of said cone pulley to another convolution
thereof, and thereby varying the speed of rotation of said cone pulley relatively to the
speed of rotation of said horizontal feed screw-bolt, and thus varying the speed of
endwise movement of said mandrel and of the work thereon.
Dated this 3rd day of August 1897
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant..