US3779058A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spring forming apparatus
Assignee: Leggett and Platt Inc
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Filing: 1972-04-17
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Granted: 1973-12-18
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Expires: 1992-04-17
Abstract
Abstract A spring forming apparatus of the type wherein a wire is twisted substantially circumferentially between an isolator wheel and a feed wheel mounted for planetary motion on a revolving platen. The improvements include the use of a pinch wheel cooperating with a single feed wheel to grip the wire adjacent its exit from the twist mechanism, together with a simplified planetary drive system in which a portion of the drive assembly is bearing mounted to a cylindrical journal at the wire input end of the platen cage.
Inventors
- 👤 H Norman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 06:48
CPC Classifications
B; B21; B21F; B21F3/00; B21F3/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
Apparatus for forming a spring from a wire supplied from a source, comprising: a generally conical platen cage having a cylindrical journal at the apex and a platen at the base, said cage being mounted to revolve about the common axis of said journal and base, a feed wheel affixed to a shaft journaled through said platen parallel to said common axis but spaced therefrom, drive means for rotating said feed wheel shaft via a drive pulley in bearing relationship with said journal, a pinch wheel on said platen and biased to pinch wire against the periphery of said feed wheel, a slot wheel mounted in said cage to rotate about an axis generally parallel to said platen, the periphery of said slot wheel projecting beyond said platen, an isolator wheel spaced from said cage and mounted to rotate only about an axis generally perpendicular to said common axis, wire from said source looping about the periphery of said isolation wheel, thence through said cylindrical journal, around said slot wheel and around at least a portion of the periphery of said feed wheel to said pinch wheel, revolution of said cage imparting a substantially circumferential twist to the portion of wire between said isolation wheel and said pinch wheel, twisted wire emergent from between said feed and pinch wheels reLeasing into a coil spring.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
224 words
Apparatus for forming a spring from a wire supplied from a source, comprising: a generally conical platen cage having a cylindrical journal at the apex and a platen at the base, said cage being mounted to revolve about the common axis of said journal and base, a feed wheel affixed to a shaft journaled through said platen parallel to said common axis but spaced therefrom, drive means for rotating said feed wheel shaft via a drive pulley in bearing relationship with said journal, a pinch wheel on said platen and biased to pinch wire against the periphery of said feed wheel, a slot wheel mounted in said cage to rotate about an axis generally parallel to said platen, the periphery of said slot wheel projecting beyond said platen, an isolator wheel spaced from said cage and mounted to rotate only about an axis generally perpendicular to said common axis, wire from said source looping about the periphery of said isolation wheel, thence through said cylindrical journal, around said slot wheel and around at least a portion of the periphery of said feed wheel to said pinch wheel, revolution of said cage imparting a substantially circumferential twist to the portion of wire between said isolation wheel and said pinch wheel, twisted wire emergent from between said feed and pinch wheels reLeasing into a coil spring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
Spring forming apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pinch wheel presses said wire at the point where tangentially emergent from said feed wheel, and including means for arcuately positioning said pinch wheel to adjust said point.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
Spring forming apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for positioning comprises an arm mounted to pivot about the axis of said feed wheel shaft, said pinch wheel being mounted on said arm, means for maintaining said arm at a selected arcuate position, and means for biasing said pinch wheel radially toward said feed wheel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
Spring forming apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising pitch control wheels mounted on said arm for restraining the pitch assumed by said emergent twisted wire.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
Spring forming apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises; a first belt connecting said feed wheel shaft and said drive pulley, and means for rotating said drive pulley at a selectable rate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
Spring forming apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said means for rotating comprises; a drive motor, a variable speed drive coupling said drive motor to said drive pulley, adjustment of said variable speed drive controlling the relative rotation rate of said platen and said feed wheel, said relative rate being adjustable so that the spring formed by said apparatus does not rotate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
Spring forming apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said drive motor also revolves said platen.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
Spring forming apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the direction of rotation of said platen establishes whether said spring is right or left handed, said slot wheel being situated on one side of said common axis for formation of right handed springs and on the other side of said common axis for formation of left handed springs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
Spring forming apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising one or more idler rollers positioned about the periphery of said feed wheel to guide said wire thereabout.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
Spring forming apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said idler rollers all are mounted on a support fixed to said platen, each idler roller being biased radially toward said feed wheel, and retainers between said idler rollers to retain said wire against feed wheel periphery.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
Spring forming apparatus according to claim 1 together with means for providing slight drag on said wire between said source and said isolator wheel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
Spring forming apparatus according to claim 11 together with means for breaking the cast of said wire before entry to said isolator wheel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-17 | 1977-06-18 | 1977-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-17 | 1981-06-18 | 1981-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-17 | 1985-06-18 | 1985-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |