US1203982A - Method of forming springs for pressure or the like gages. - Google Patents

Description

A. B. COLLETTE. METHOD OF FORMING SPRING S FOR PRESSURE OR THE LIKE GAGES. APPLICATION FILED IAII. 2a. 1916.

l ,2Q3,982 Patented NOV. "7, 1916.

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AUSTIN B. COLLETTE, OF EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN STEAM GAUGE &. VALVE MANUFACTURING 00., A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD OF FORMING SPRINGS FOR PRESSURE OR THE LIKE GAGES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

Original application filed May 19 1915, Serial No. 29,203. Divided and this application fi1ed January 28, 1916. Serial No. 74,868.

To all whom it tnay concern Be it known that I, AUSTIN B. CoLLE'r'rE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Everett, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Methods of Forming Springs for Pressure orthe like Gages, of which the following is a specification. a

This invention relates to improvements in the method of forming springs for pressure or the like gages and more particularly to. springs of the nature set forth in my copending application, Ser. No. 29,203, filed May 19, 1915, and embodies the' sub ect matter which was divided out of saidapplication.

The object of this invention is to provide a method or process for constructing gage springs in which a spring and socket may be formed integral and from a single piece of material, the tube constituting said spring being bent at an abrupt angle to the socket and at the point of bending said tube has previously been indented transversely of said tube to facilitate the bending there of, said indentation also constituting a kink or buckle in said tube adapted to anticipate any buckling or kinking tendency which might otherwise develop during the expansion of said tube upon the applicatlon of pressure thereto.

The invention consists in the several steps of the method of manufacturing springs substantially as set forth in the following specification and particularly as pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a metal rod from which my spring is constructed. Fig. 2 illustrates said rod with a hole bored longitudinally thereof for a portion of its length and its bore threaded. Fig. 3 shows the spring with the portion intermediate the ends thinned down and with the ends formed as hereinafter described. Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly broken away and illustrating the portion of the spring adjacent the bent end or socket thereof being compressed or indented prior to having the open end portion bent at an an le to the tubular portion or body of the spring. Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly broken away and shown in section, illustrating the spring after it has been bent and flattened. Fig. 6 is a side elevatlon, similar to Fig. 5, illustrating the sprlng bent and flattened for a portion of its length, the major diameter of said flattened portion being arranged at an angle to the major diameter of said bend. the remaining portion of the bent end of said spring being shown flattened substantially at right angles to said first mentioned flattened portion. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a gage spring constructed in accordance with the form illustrated in Fig. 5, which form is adapted to be attached to the back of a gage spring casing. Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a spring constructed in accordance with the form illustrated in Fig. 6 which shows a spring adapted to be attached to the side of a gage casing.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In the drawings, 15 is a gage spring; 16

is the spring tube; 17 is the tip of the tube;

18 the socket of said tube; 19 is a cylindrical bar of metal, see Fig. 1, from which the spring tube of the gage is formed.

The first step in the process of manufacture preferably consists in boring a hole 20 in the bar 19 longitudinally thereof and preferably extending partly therethrough, leaving a closed end 21 and an open end 22. The bar 19 is turned down intermediate the ends 21 and 22 which constitutes the body portion thereof to form a thin tubular portion constituting the spring tube 16. The open end of this spring tube then terminates in a reinforced portion 23. This re' inforced portion is screw-threaded upon its periphery at 24 and the bore of said end portion 23 is also provided with a screw thread 25; said end portion 22 also has a flange 26 thereon which may be and preferably is formed integral with the tube 16 and when so formed is eoual in size to the diameter of the cylindrical bar of metal 19. The end 21 of said tube has been pre viously referred to as a closed end and preferably it is, although the invention is not confined to this construction. It is essential to provide a tip 17 to which the link of the gage mechanism, not shown in the drawings, may be attached and one convenient method of producing said tip has been illustrated in Fig. 3, which consists in boring the hole 20 part way through the bar 19 instead of clear through and then in reducing the unbored portion to the size desired, preferably as shown at 17, Fig. 3, thereby producing a tip which is integral with the tube. The tube, after being brought to the form illustrated in Fig. 3 and substantially filled with material adapted to prevent the collapsing or buckling thereof, is indented or flattened, preferably on opposite sides thereof at 27, by suitable compressing tools 28. The end portion 22 is then bent preferably at an abrupt angle to the tubular or body portion of the spring 16 and subsequently to this bending operation the tube 16 is flattened at 29 for a portion of the length of the body of said tube. This flattening may be done so that the major diameter of the flattened tube will lie substantially parallel with the axis of the end portion 22 and said flattened portion will extend substantially the length of said body portion as in Fig. 7, or said flattened portion may extend for only a portion of the length of said tube as at 30, see Fig. 8, while the remaining portion 31 of said tube may be flattened with its major diameter extending at right angles to the major diameter of the portion 30.

The flattened portion 30 of the spring tube illustrated in Fig. 6 is substantially identical in character to the flattened portion 29 of the form illustrated in Fig. 5 except that it is of less extent. The spring tube shown in Fig. 6 up to and including the flattened portion 30 embodies the same number of operations and operations of the same character as does the spring tube shown in Fig; 5 up to this point in its construction. The only other difference between the two tubes shown is in the angle in which the body of the tube is flattened to accommodate the particular mounting to which the tubes are to be attached.

In the form shown in Fig. 5 the flattened portion 29 is continued throughout the body portion of the tube, thus arranging the major diameter of the flattened portion substantially parallel with the axis of the socket end 22 of the spring, while in the form shown in Fig. 6 the body portion of said tube is flattened from the flattened portion 30 at an angle substantially 90 to said flattened portion 30. After being flattened as hereinbefore stated the tube in either form of spring is then bent or curved along the flattened body portion preferably in a semi-circular form.

The indenting of the tube, by means of the tools 28, 28, to produce the indentations 27, enables the tube to be bent at this portion without stretching the stock of the tube. Furthermore, it permits the main body of said tube to be bent at a short or abrupt angle relatively to the socket portion to permit the same to be made in compact form and thereby occupy less room in the gage casing and furthermore to provide a tube which will not acquire a permanent set in the vicinity of the socket thereof should excessive pressures be applied thereto in the operation of said gage.

There are two ways in which gages constructed as hereinbefore set/forth, may be mounted. One is to connect the fluid supply pipe through the back of the gage casing, not shown, while the other is to connect said fluid supply pipe through the side of said casing. lVhen it is desired to connect said gage to the back the socket or open end of the spring is arranged with its axis substantially at right angles to a plane containing the median axial line of the semi circular portion of said tube as illustrated in Fig. 7. In this form of tube the flattened portion 29 extends from the indentation 27 substantially throughout the length of the body of said tube. When the gage is to be connected to the side or bottom of the casing the socket or open end portion 22 thereofis arranged With its axis substantially in a plane containing the median axial line of said semi-circular .portion as illustrated in the form shown in Fig. 8, in which form the flattened portion 30extends only a short distance from the indented portion 27 of said tube, but the remaining portion of said tube is arranged With its major diameter transverse to the axis of the socket 22. To fasten the tube 16 may be varied according to the pressure which is to be brought to bear upon it.

The flattened portions 29 and 30 of the two forms of springs, illustrated respectively in Figs. 5 and 6, are preferably arranged to contact at 32 with the walls of the end portions 22 of said tubes in order to assist in supporting and stiffening the curved portions of said tubes.

The operation of the instrument as a whole is well understood by those skilled in the art and briefly stated is as follows: Fluid, under pressure, enters the tube 16 through the bore of the socket or open end 22 and the pressure of said fluid causes the tip end of the tube to move outwardly from the axis of said socket, thus actuating whatever mechanism may be attached to said end. When the amount of pressure is reduced the free end of the tube moves inwardly reversing the motion of the mechanism attached to said. tube.

With the form shown in Fig. 7, the major diameter of the indented or bent portion of the tube being at right angles to the major diameter of the flattened body portion of the tube, the tendency to buckle or kink at this point will be eliminated for the reason that this is the place Where such Would occur if at all. When the spring is constructed like that illustrated in Fig. 8 there can be no possible chance for kinking taking place at the bend or indented portion of the tube, for the reason that it has already been kinked during the indenting thereof, there fore no material change in the form of the tube can result through an abnormal or continued high pressure therein. Furthermore, the Walls of the flattened portion 30 contacting With the Walls of the socket at 32 greatly strengthen and support the body or spring portion of said tube during the operation thereof. Either construction set forth will result in a tube adapted to Withstand a continued excessive pressure Without acquiring a permanent set.

Having thus described my invention What I claim and desire by Letters Patent to secure is:

1. The herein described method of forming a gage spring tube which consists in boring a hole in a metal bar longitudinally thereof for a predetermined portion of its length leaving at least one end of said bar open, then in bending the open end of said bar at an abrupt angle to the body of said bar, then in flattening said bar from said bend for a portion of the length thereof, and finally curving said flattened portion.

2. The herein described method of forming a gage spring Which consists in boring a hole in a metal bar longitudinally thereof for a predetermined portion of its length, then in removing a portion of the metal from the exterior of said bar intermediate of the ends to form a comparatively thin Walled tube terminating at one end in an end portion of greater thickness than said thin tubular portion, then in flattening said thin Walled portion for a predetermined portion of its length, and finally in bending said flattened portion.

3. The herein described method of forming a gage spring which consists in boring a hole in a metal bar longitudinally thereof for a predetermined portion of its length, then removing a portion of the metal from the exterior of said bar intermediate of the ends to form a comparatively thin Walled tube terminating at one end in an end portion of greater thickness than said thin tubular portion, then bending said tube adjacent &

to said thickened end portion to bring the same at an abrupt angle to said tube, then flattening a predetermined portion of said thin tubular portion, and finally bending it substantially in the form of a semi-circle.

4. The herein described method of forming a gage spring Which consists in boring a hole in a metal bar longitudinally thereof, then in removing a portion of the metal from the exterior of said bar intermediate of the ends to form a comparatively thin Walled tube terminating in an end portion one end thereof of larger diameter than said thin tubular portion, then in indenting said thin tubular portion upon opposite sides thereof at points adjacent to the thickened end of said tube, then in bending said tube at said indented portion to bring said thickened portion at an abrupt angle to said tube, then in flattening said tubular portion for a predetermined portion of its length, and finally in bending said flattened portion.

5. The herein described method of form ing a gage spring tube Which consists in boring a hole in a metal bar longitudinally thereof for a predetermined portion of its length, then in removing a portion of the metal from the exterior of said bar intermediate the ends to form a comparatively thin tube terminating at one end in a portion of greater thickness than said thin tubular portion, then in indenting said thin walled portion at a point adjacent to the thickened end thereof, then in bending said tube at said indented portion tobring said thickened portion of said tube substantially at right angles to the thin Walled portion of said tube, then in flattening said thin Walled portion for a predetermined distance the major diameter of said flattened portion being substantially parallel with the axis of said end portion, then in bending said tube to form a spring.

6. The herein described method of forming a gage spring which consists in forming a metal tube, then in indenting said tube transversely and adjacent to one end thereof, then in bending said end at said indent-a tion to bring said end portion at an abrupt angle to the body of said tube, then in flattening a predetermined portion of said body, and finally curving said flattened portion.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

AUSTIN B. COLLETTE.

Witnesses:

CHARLES S. GoonING, SYDNEY E. TAFT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 1). C.

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