US2054196A - Spring coiling machine - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 15, 1936.

J. GOGAN SPRING COILING MACHINE Filed Juhe 19, 1954 s sheeps-sherl Sept. 15, 1936. J. GOGAN SPRING COILING MACHINE Filed June 19, 1934 t 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 15, 1936. J. GOGAN SPRING COILING MACHINE Filed June 19, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 E: 5: E5 2:: 5, wmfl fo 4, 7 7 7 D Patented Sept. 15, 1 936 SPRING COILING MACHINE Joseph Gogan, Lakewood, Ohio Application June 19, 1934, Serial No. 731,319

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to coiling machines, and more particularly to an improved spring coiling machine of the character described and illustrated in my copending application Serial No. 712,599, filed February 23, 1934, wherein a wire or rod is coiled about a rotatable mandrel to produce a relatively heavy helical spring. The invention is particularly'applicable to and is described with reference to the manufacture of relatively heavy helical springs such as those employed in individual wheel suspension of automobiles.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a novel coilirrg machine particularly adapted for high production purposes, which will be rugged in construction, reliable in operation, and which will quickly produce accurately coiled springs with a minimum amount of attention and skill on the part of the operator.

In accordance with the provision of the present invention, wire or rod stock is fed to the machine or guided along a rotating mandrel in predetermined timed relation to the speed of rotation of the mandrel, and a further object of the invention is the provision of a novel feeding or guiding mechanism for a machine of the character referred to which will positively and accurately feed relatively heavy stock to the rotating mandrel in such a manner that the convolutions of the finished spring will be accurately spaced, etc.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, and a more complete understanding thereof may be had from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective of a spring coiling machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the wire or stock feeding mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram of the electric control for the feed carriage motor.

The present invention is an improvement on the machine described and illustrated in my copending application, Serial No. 712,599, filed February 23, 1934, referred to above, and similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings of both applications. e

The present invention has particular application to the manufacture of relatively heavy coil springs, such those used in the front suspension of some automobiles, and the preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated as a machine for manufacturing such springs in quantity production. vention is the provision of a machine which will manufacture springs, of the type referred to, quickly and accurately as it is essential to have a high production of uniform springs the convolu tions of which are properly spaced.

The machine is of the type wherein the spring are formed by coiling or wrapping bar or rod ma terial about a rotary mandrel in a spiral manner.

Referring to the drawings, the form of the -machine designated in general by the reference character A comprises a bed I0 supported on legs. I I, I2 and E3 and an overhead member M supported on the bed I0 by brackets I5 and I6. The work, designated in general by the reference character W, is in the form of a predetermined length of preferably hot rod or wire stock, both ends of which are tapered, so that the end convolutions of the finished spring will present flat surfaces.- In operation the rod is placed in the machine by an operator from the front by projecting one end of the stock through a stock feed carriage; designated in general by the reference character N, until it rests upona mandrel ZI underneath a clamp bar 22 of a chuck, designated ingeneral by the reference character C. With the work in this position, the chuck C is actuated to clamp the end of the work W between the clamp bar 22 and the mandrel 2 I. a

The chuck C is carried bya shaft 26 which comprises part of the machine spindle, designated in general by the reference character B, which spindle includes the mandrel 2|. After the Work is clamped into position the spindle is rotated by mechanism, hereinafter referred to, to coil the stock about the mandrel. During the coilingoperation the free part of the work is prevented from rotating with the spindle and fed longitudia nally thereof by the stock feed carriage-N, which will hereinafter be more fully described.- As the free end of the work leaves the feed carriage it is squared and pressed down against the mandrel 2| in a manner hereinafter referred to, after which the mandrel is Withdrawn and the com pleted spring allowed to drop through the bed of the machine.

The spindle shaft 26 is rotatably supported in brackets. 38 and 39, bolted or otherwise secured to the bed ID, andis driven from an electric motor 21' through a gear reduction, designated in general by thereference character 28, and the.

As previously stated, an object of the in- STATS sari ss gg spur gears 29 and 30, the latter of which is operatively connected to the spindle shaft 26'by a friction or slip clutch of conventional construction to prevent injury to the motor in the event the machine becomes jammed, etc. A hand wheel 4| fixed to the spindle shaft 26 permits the same to be turned over manually in setting up the machine, etc. The clamp bar 22 is pivotally support- ;ed in the body member 42 of the chuck C, and

carries a lever pivotally connected to the rear end thereof provided with a roller adapted to roll on a surface formed on the body member 42. The lower or free end of the lever referred to is cy-E lindrical and fits into a rectangular opening'in an enlarged endof a rod slidably supported ina centrally located longitudinal aperture in the spindle shaft 25. Longitudinal reciprocation of the rod moves the roller over the surface on the body member 42, thus causing the clamping bar 22 to engage or disengage the work depending uponthe direction of reciprocation. The rod referred to is reciprocated through the medium of a bar 55 projecting through an aperture therein and elongated slots in the spindle shaft. The. bar 55 is connected to lugs formed integral with an annular member' 58 rotatably supported on the spindle shaft26,'and the annular member 58 is reciprocated longitudinally of the spindle shaft by "a second annular member 59 held in assembled relationship therewith. The member 58 is adapted to rotate within the member 60 and antifriction thrust bearings are interposed therebetween. a 1

Pro'jectionson' opposite sides of the member fiflcarry rollers which engage in slots formed in the upper ends of levers 68 secured to a horizontal shaft 10 rotatably supported in bosses on the bed I'll. .A lever 12 secured to the shaft 10 midway between the levers 68 is operatively connected to the piston rod 14 of a fluid'pressure operated motor, designated in general by the reference char acter the piston of which is continuously urged toward the left, as viewed in Fig.1, by a compresfsion sprin'g'enclosed within the cylinder. 'The' piston'is moved in'the opposite direction to actuate'the clutch C to clamp the workbetween the clutch bar 22 and mandrel 2I by'fluid pressure, preferably air, admitted to the cylinder at the leftof the piston by means of a pipe 81 communicating with the cylinder and a fluid operatedvalve 86, provided with a pedal 88bymeans of which the supply and discharge of air to the motor are controlled; The valve 86 is of conventional construction and the fluid pressure supply line is designated by the numeral 89. i V

The mandrel 2| is secured to a member rotatabl y supported by anti-friction bearings in a bracketSI slidably supported on ways92 formed on the overhead member I4. The mandrel 2| is driven from the spindle shaft 26 through the chuck-C by means of a squared end formed thereon adapted to'extend through a rectangular aperture in the face plate of the clutch. The bracket. "9| "is reciprocated to engage and disengagerthe' squared end of the mandrelwith the chuck C by e l a double acting fluid pressure actuated motor,

designated in general'by'the reference character J, the left handend of whicheis provided with cushioned, means for limiting the movement of the piston, etc. toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, and taking the impact thereof. The supply of fluid. pressure/preferably air, to the motor J is controll'edby a foot'actuated pedal I25 connect ed tothe'motorthrough the medium of pipes I'EI 755; and I:22'.' The valve. I:2Il. is. provided'with'a foot pedal I25 which is depressed to connect the pipe I2I to thefiuid pressure supply line 89 and the pipe I22 to exhaust and move the bracket 9|, etc. to the right. When the pedal is released the direction of the flow of fluid in the pipes-is reversed and the bracket 9|, etc; moved to the left. The mandrel 2| is provided with a central longitudinal aperture through which air may be supplied .for thepurpose of coolingthe same.

The end of the, work W is rolled against the mandrel 2I' bya roller I49 which is part of a' breakdown assembly designated in general by the reference character D. The roller I49 is rotatably supported on a pin I fixed in a forked lever I5I pivotally supported on a pin I fixedin a bracket I55 adjustably secured to a rectangular bar I51 supported by brackets IBI. The rear end I of the lever I5I is circular in shape and engages a recess in a bearing member I66 supported in a counterbore formed in a piston member I61,

slidably keyed within a cylindrical or cup-shaped member I68, adjustably securedto the bar I51 along with the bracket I56. The end I65 of the lever I5I is continuously held in contact with. the bearing member I66 by a spring member I16 supported by studs fixed inthe member I61 and extending over a pin I12 secured in 'The piston member I61 is continuously urged in an upward direction by a compression spring I13 compressed between the member I51 and a disc I 14 supported on the upper end of an adjustthe-lever I5I.'

able tubular member I15 threaded into the bottom of the member I68 and locked'in any adjust ed position by a screw 116. The upward movement of the piston member I61, and, in turn, the downward movement of the roller I49are limited by a bolt I19, extending through the center of the member I61, 'the head of which overlies a portion of the member I61 underneath the bearing mem ber I66. Thelower end of thebolt I19 projects through the tubular member I15 and carries a nut I8I for adjusting the upper limit of the member I61. 7

The tapered end of the work is pressed against the adjacent convolution of the spring by a 'forked member I welded or otherwise secured to the lever I5I, in such a manner that the flat side thereof is in a plane normal to' the axis of the mandrel; The free ends. of the member I8I project on either side of the mandrel 2| and strip the spring therefrom upon reciprocation of the bracket 9| in a rearward direction.

The breakdown assembly D is adjustable along the bar I51 as desired to accommodate different lengths of springs. The spring I13 is adjusted'by means 'of the tubular member I15 to take care of stockof different thickness, and the distance of the roller I49 from the axis of the spindle B is adjusted by the nut I8I to accommodate both mandrels of different diameters and different size stock. forces the free end of the work againstthe mandrel is illustrated as a roller I49, 9. nonqotatable member may be substituted therefor if desired.

The motor 211s a reversible three-phase alter V nating current motor, provided with an electrically controlled'brake I applied to one end of the armature shaft, The control box I86, see Fig. 1,

houses the solenoid operated control switch for the motor 21, the operating solenoid of which is While the breakdown 'member 'which' in series'with a' foot'operated switch I88, the

operating pedal I 89 of which extends'underneath the foot pedal 35 and is operated simultaneously therewith. 'The operating solenoid for the brake I85. is. also. inseries with the switch I88 and the;

construction is such that the brake is released when the pedal 88 is-depressed.

A limit switch M is provided for always bringing the spindle B to rest at a predetermined point in the rotation thereof. The limit switch M comprises a frame supported by a member I69 attached to the bracket 30, see Fig. 1, and an armature shaft I91 connected to the spindle shaft. A plurality of insulator discs or commutators adjustably connected to the shaft 9? carry contact segments on the circumference thereof embracing about ninety-five percent of the circumference. The contact segments are connected in series and contact is made therewith by spring pressed brushes slidably supported in insulating brush holders. The limit switch M is connected in shunt circuit with the switch I88 and maintains the circuit to the operating solenoids of the brake I85 and the switch I86, after the pedal 88 is released until a predetermined point in the rotation of the spindle B, thus always stopping the spindle in a predetermined position. The discs or commutators of the limit switch M are adjustable on the shaft I9! for the purpose of permitting the spindle to be stopped at different positions. A manually operated switch in series with the limit switch permits the machine tobe placed under the sole control of the switch I88.

The machine thus far described with the exception of the stock feed carriage N is substantially a duplicate of that illustrated and described in the above mentioned copending application, to which reference is made for a more complete disclosure of the details of construction of the machine.

According to the present invention the wire or stockW is fed to the machine by the stock feeding carriage N comprising a frame 209 slidably supported on a square bar 2 I!) supported by brackets 2H and 212 adjustably bolted or otherwise'secured to the member 3| and the uprights I6, respectively. The frame 209 is reciprocated along the bar 2|0 through the medium of a lead screw 2|3 rotatably supported in suitable hearings in the brackets 2H and 2I2 and driven at a predetermined speed by a feed carriage motor 2|4 through a pinion 2|5 secured to the motor shaft and in mesh with a gear 2 I6 keyed to one end of the lead screw 2 l 3. A roller 2 I! supported on a pin 2|8 fixed in the frame 209 engages within a continuous thread 219 on the lead screw 2|3, and the carriage N moves backward and forward along the bar 2|0 upon continued rotation of the lead screw 2|3 in the same direction. A plurality of vertical and horizontal rollers 220 and 22!, respectively, rotatably supported in the frame 209 in any convenient manner, guide the wire or stock .W in its passage to the mandrel. The feed carriage motor 2M is supported on an extension of the bracket 2| and the entire feed assembly may be bodily removed from the machine in order to accommodate mandrels of various sizes.

The feed carriage motor 2 is under the control of a commutator switch 225, limit switches 226 and 221 adjustably supported on the bar 2|0, and a limit switch 228 supported on the overhead member l4. The commutator 230 of the commutator switch 225 is operatively connected to the spindle B through the gears 23| and 232 secured to the commutator shaft 233 and the chuck C, respectively. The construction is such which bridges the brushes 236 supported in the switch 225 in any suitable manner. The limit switch 226 is of the two point break push button type and is connected in one of the motor lead lines in shunt circuit with the commutator switch 225. Thelimit switch 221. is of the same type as switch 226 and is connected in the other'lead line of the motor in shunt circuit with the two point make push button switch 228. The location of the various switches in the circuit'is shown in the wiring diagram, see Fig. 6.

It is believed that the operation of the machine will be apparent from the foregoing description thereof. With the machine at rest the work W, in the form of a predetermined length of rod stock tapered off at both ends, is inserted through the feed clutch N between the guide rollers 220 and 22|, until the leading end thereof rests on the mandrel underneath the clamp bar 22 with the flat face adjacent the face plate of the clutch. The foot pedal 88 is then depressed, causing the -motor M to actuate the clamp bar 22 and clamp the work to the mandrel 2 I. The pedal I89 is depressed simultaneously with the foot pedal 88, releasing the brake I85 and actuating the motor 27. After the mandrel has turned over a suflicient distance to cause the first convolution of the spring to be close wound, according to the spec-' ifications, the contact bar 235 bridges the brushes 236, closing the circuit to the feed carriage motor 2|4, causing the feed carriage N to move to the right at a predetermined speed. Before the commutator switch 225 breaks its contacts, the circuit to the motor 2 I4 is closed through the two point break push button switch 226, the carriage N having moved away therefrom in the interim.

As the end of the spring is approached the feed carriage N engages the 'two point break push button switch 221, opening the circuit to the motor 2| 4 and stopping the carriage. The work which continues to be wound over the mandrel engages underneath the roller I49, which presses the end thereof against the mandrel and the stationary plate I engages the fiat. side of the work and forces the same into a plane normal to the axis of rotation of the mandrel, gauging the length of the spring, etc. After the spring has been formed the foot pedals 88 and I89 are released and the spindle B comes to rest in a predetermined position, that is with the clamp bar 22 on top of the mandrel. The foot pedal I25 is then depressed to actuate the motor J to move the slide 9| and the mandrel 2I to the right, stripping the spring from the mandrel and allowing the same to drop through the bottom of the machine. When the slide 9| reaches the two point make push button switch 228 the circuit to motor 2! is again closed, returning the feed carriage N to its normal position, whereupon the circuit to the motor is opened by the engagement of the carriage against the push button on the switch 226. When the foot pedal I25 is released the slide 9| and the mandrel 2| are returned to their initial position and the machine is ready for the next operation.

The machine illustrated is adapted to the making of right hand springs, but it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is equally applicable to the manufacture of left hand springs, etc. From the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention it will be apparent that I have produced a new and improved machine for making springs, but I do not wish to be limited to the particular construction shown, which may be varied within .the scope of this invention, and particularly point out and claim as my invention the fol- V lowing:

Lin a spring coiling. machine of the character described, the combination of a frame, a member adapted to have rod or Wire stock coiled thereabout rotatably supported by said frame, means for rotating said member, an electric motor for feeding the stock longitudinally of said member,

and a second electricalmotor for actuating said means. V

2(In a spring coiling machine'of the character described, t'ne combination of a frame, a member adapted to have rod or wire stock coiled thereabout rotatably supported by said frame, an

electric motor for rotating said membena feed carriage slidably supported by said frame for feeding thestock longitudinally of said mandrel, and a second electric motor for reciprocating said carriage.

3. In a spring coiling machine of the character described, the combination of a frame, a mandrel adapted to have rodor wire stock coiled thereabout rotatably supported by said frame, an electric motor for rotating said mandrel, a feed carriage for feeding the stock to said mandrel, a

second electric motor for moving said feed carriage longitudinally of said mandrel, and means rotating said lead screw.

" for automatically controlling the actuation of said motor.

4. In a spring coiling machine of the character. described, the combination of ,a frame, a

mandrel rotatably supported by said frame, an electric motor for rotating said mandrel, a feed carriage slidably supported by said frame, a lead screw for moving said carriage longitudinally of saidmandrel, and a second electric motor for 5. In a, spring coiling machine of the character described, the combination of a frame, a man- 'drel rotatably supported by said frame, an electric motor for rotating said mandrel, a feed car-.- riage slidably supported by said frame, a lead screw for reciprocating said'carriage longitudinally of said mandrel, a second electric motor for rotating said lead screw, and means for automatically controlling the actuation of 'said motor.

aspring coiling machine of the character described, the combination of a frame, a mandrel adapted to have rod or wire stock coiled thereabout rotatably supported by said frame,

means for rotating said mandrel, and stationary means for engaging the end of the stock and squaring the end of the spring. V i

7. In a spring coiling machine of the character described, the combination of a frame, a mandrel adapted to have rod .or wire stock coiled thereabout rotatably supported by said frame,

means for rotating said mandrel, a roller for coiling the end of the stock about said mandrel, and a stationary member for engaging the stock and squaring the end of the spring.

8. In a spring coiling machine of the character described, the combination of a frame, a mandrel adapted to have rod or wire stock coiled there- 7 about rotatably supported by said frame, means for rotating said mandrel, a feed carriage slidably supported by said frame adapted to feed the stock longitudinally of said mandrel, and means permitting angular displacement of said carriage about said mandrel,

9. In a spring coiling machine of the character described, the combination of a frame, a mandrel adapted to have spring stock coiled thereabout rotatably supported by said frame means for rotating said mandrel, means for feeding the stock longitudinally of the mandrel and means including a stationary member encircling a part of said mandrel adapted to engage the end of the stock for finishing the end of the coil.

, JOSEPH GOGAN.

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