Patents Assigned to Frank L. Wells Company
  • Patent number: 6948348
    Abstract: A spring coil assembly having a first row of coils arranged in a first spacing pattern and a second row of coils adjacent the first row and arranged in a second spacing pattern that is different from the first spacing pattern. The spring coil assembly can be assembled using an apparatus comprising a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of coils along an axis, an assembler which is operable to intertwine a plurality of coils into a spring coil assembly, and a transfer station operable to move a plurality of coils from the main conveyor into the assembler. The transfer station includes a plurality of pusher arms each of which include a gripper which is operable to grasp an individual coil, a carriage supporting the gripper arms and means for shifting the carriage axially relative to the axis so that a plurality of coils carried by the gripper arms are displaced in the direction of travel of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventors: David Scott Wells, George M. Chembakassery, Michael E. Andrea
  • Publication number: 20040159990
    Abstract: A spring coil assembly having a first row of coils arranged in a first spacing pattern and a second row of coils adjacent the first row and arranged in a second spacing pattern that is different from the first spacing pattern. The spring coil assembly can be assembled using an apparatus comprising a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of coils along an axis, an assembler which is operable to intertwine a plurality of coils into a spring coil assembly, and a transfer station operable to move a plurality of coils from the main conveyor into the assembler. The transfer station includes a plurality of pusher arms each of which include a gripper which is operable to grasp an individual coil, a carriage supporting the gripper arms and means for shifting the carriage axially relative to the axis so that a plurality of coils carried by the gripper arms are displaced in the direction of travel of the conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Applicant: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventors: David Scott Wells, George M. Chembakassery, Michael E. Andrea
  • Publication number: 20040134558
    Abstract: A spring coil assembly having a first row of coils arranged in a first spacing pattern and a second row of coils adjacent the first row and arranged in a second spacing pattern that is different from the first spacing pattern. The spring coil assembly can be assembled using an apparatus comprising a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of coils along an axis, an assembler which is operable to intertwine a plurality of coils into a spring coil assembly, and a transfer station operable to move a plurality of coils from the main conveyor into the assembler. The transfer station includes a plurality of pusher arms each of which include a gripper which is operable to grasp an individual coil, a carriage supporting the gripper arms and means for shifting the carriage axially relative to the axis so that a plurality of coils carried by the gripper arms are displaced in the direction of travel of the conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Applicant: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventors: David Scott Wells, George M. Chembakassery, Michael E. Andrea
  • Patent number: 6758079
    Abstract: A coil spring forming machine for forming a coil spring having a dimensional characteristic, such as a coil diameter and a coil pitch, includes a frame, a control tool movably mounted on the frame, and a control mechanism mounted on the frame and coupled to the control tool. The control mechanism is operable to move the control tool to vary the dimensional characteristic. The control mechanism includes first and second cam surfaces and a cam follower assembly selectively engageable with either of the first and second cam surfaces to vary the dimensional characteristic depending on which cam surface is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventors: David Scott Wells, George T. Vattakattu
  • Patent number: 6758078
    Abstract: A spring coil assembly having a first row of coils arranged in a first spacing pattern and a second row of coils adjacent the first row and arranged in a second spacing pattern that is different from the first spacing pattern. The spring coil assembly can be assembled using an apparatus comprising a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of coils along an axis, an assembler which is operable to intertwine a plurality of coils into a spring coil assembly, and a transfer station operable to move a plurality of coils from the main conveyor into the assembler. The transfer station includes a plurality of pusher arms each of which include a gripper which is operable to grasp an individual coil, a carriage supporting the gripper arms and means for shifting the carriage axially relative to the axis so that a plurality of coils carried by the gripper arms are displaced in the direction of travel of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventors: David Scott Wells, George M. Chembakassery, Michael E. Andrea
  • Publication number: 20020195756
    Abstract: A spring coil assembly having a first row of coils arranged in a first spacing pattern and a second row of coils adjacent the first row and arranged in a second spacing pattern that is different from the first spacing pattern. The spring coil assembly can be assembled using an apparatus comprising a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of coils along an axis, an assembler which is operable to intertwine a plurality of coils into a spring coil assembly, and a transfer station operable to move a plurality of coils from the main conveyor into the assembler. The transfer station includes a plurality of pusher arms each of which include a gripper which is operable to grasp an individual coil, a carriage supporting the gripper arms and means for shifting the carriage axially relative to the axis so that a plurality of coils carried by the gripper arms are displaced in the direction of travel of the conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventors: David Scott Wells, George M. Chembakassery, Michael E. Andrea
  • Publication number: 20020195161
    Abstract: A coil spring knotting machine including a frame and a camshaft mounted on the frame about an axis fixed relative to the frame. The camshaft supports a support member having thereon a knot-tying member mounted for rotation about an axis movable with respect to the frame. The camshaft also supports a free-wheeling rotating member. The machine further includes a first drive member rotatably driving the camshaft without causing rotation of the rotating member, and a second drive member rotatably driving the rotating member without causing rotation of the camshaft. A linkage connects the rotating member to the knot-tying member to rotate the knot-tying member. Preferably, the linkage includes a flexible member and a movable tensioning member for adjusting the tension in the flexible member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventors: George M. Chembakassery, George T. Vattakattu
  • Publication number: 20020194893
    Abstract: A coil spring forming machine for forming a coil spring having a dimensional characteristic, such as a coil diameter and a coil pitch, includes a frame, a control tool movably mounted on the frame, and a control mechanism mounted on the frame and coupled to the control tool. The control mechanism is operable to move the control tool to vary the dimensional characteristic. The control mechanism includes first and second cam surfaces and a cam follower assembly selectively engageable with either of the first and second cam surfaces to vary the dimensional characteristic depending on which cam surface is engaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventors: David Scott Wells, George T. Vattakattu
  • Patent number: 6484759
    Abstract: A coil spring knotting machine including a frame and a camshaft mounted on the frame about an axis fixed relative to the frame. The camshaft supports a support member having thereon a knot-tying member mounted for rotation about an axis movable with respect to the frame. The camshaft also supports a free-wheeling rotating member. The machine further includes a first drive member rotatably driving the camshaft without causing rotation of the rotating member, and a second drive member rotatably driving the rotating member without causing rotation of the camshaft. A linkage connects the rotating member to the knot-tying member to rotate the knot-tying member. Preferably, the linkage includes a flexible member and a movable tensioning member for adjusting the tension in the flexible member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventors: George M. Chembakassery, George T. Vattakattu
  • Publication number: 20020017334
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a coil spring forming head which is periodically operative to at least partially form coil springs having a plurality of coils and which includes a wire feed advancing mechanism operative to feed the wire which is formed into coil springs, a pitch control mechanism operative to control the diameter of the coils of the coil springs being formed, a diameter control mechanism operative to control the pitch of the coils of the coil springs being formed, and a control including a storage area containing instructions for operation of the wire feed advancing mechanism, the pitch control mechanism, and the diameter control mechanism, a wire feed controller connected to the wire feed advancing mechanism to control operation thereof, a pitch controller connected to the pitch control mechanism to control operation thereof, a diameter controller connected the diameter control mechanism to control operation thereof, and a programmable switching device connected to the wire feed controller, to the pitch
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Applicant: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventors: Michael E. Andrea, Stuart C. Hamill, Wayne D. Jaworski, Horst F. Wentzek
  • Patent number: 6079257
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a dynamometer control for a dynamometer including a control field coil and an air gap, which dynamometer control includes a main current line connected to the control field coil and including an electronic switch, means for generating a crossing signal incident to a sinusoidal crossing associated with current flow in the main line, and a micro-processor connected to the crossing signal generating means and to the electronic switch and including a counter which is operable to count between a given count and a zero count at a given counting rate, which includes means for adjusting the given count to provide an adjusted given count, which is operable, when the count is zero, to render the counter inoperable and to output a signal which turns on the electronic switch so as to provide current flow to the control field coil of the dynamometer until the counter is again activated, and which is operable, in response to receipt of the crossing signal, to activate the counter, to load the counter wi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventors: Horst F. Wentzek, James W. Grygera
  • Patent number: 5950473
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a coil spring forming machine and transfer conveyor assembly comprising a transfer conveyor operable through a succession of operational cycles and including and endless conveyor assembly and a conveyor drive servo-motor drivingly connected to the conveyor assembly and operative, upon each energization thereof, to drive the conveyor assembly through one operational cycle. A control system operative to automatically and non-selectively cause energization of the conveyor drive servo-motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventors: Michael E. Andrea, Stuart C. Hamill, Wayne D. Jaworski, Horst F. Wentzek
  • Patent number: 5930897
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is apparatus for fabricating a coil spring including axially opposite end convolutions having respective ends respectively knotted to the associated end convolutions, which apparatus comprises a frame, a coil forming device mounted on the frame and operative to initially form a coil spring including axially opposite end convolutions having respective free ends, a tempering device mounted on the frame and operative to temper the initially formed coil spring, a knotting mechanism mounted on the frame and operative to respectively knot the free ends of the tempered coil spring to the associated end convolutions, and a transport mechanism mounted on the frame and operative to transport the initially formed coil spring to the tempering device, and to transport the tempered coil spring to the knotting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventor: Horst F. Wentzek
  • Patent number: 5727435
    Abstract: Apparatus for cutting, from a continuously extending sinuously formed wire, a variably selected predetermined length thereof having a plurality of sinuously formed generally identical coils, which apparatus comprises a frame, a mechanism on said frame for severing the sinuously formed wire, a track on said frame for guiding travel of the sinuously formed wire to the wire severing mechanism, and a control connected to the wire severing mechanism and including a sensing circuit for generating countable electrical pulses in response to wire travel relative to the wire severing mechanism, and a counting circuit operable to receive the countable electrical pulses and, in response to receipt of a predetermined number thereof, to generate an actuating signal effective to cause action of the wire severing mechanism to sever the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventor: Horst F. Wentzek
  • Patent number: 5477893
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a coil spring knotting machine comprising a frame, a support arm mounted on the frame for movement between a knot-tying position and a retracted position, a camshaft rotatably mounted on the frame about an axis fixed relative to the frame, a rocker-arm moveably mounted on the frame and operably connected to the camshaft and to the support arm for displacing the support arm between the knot-tying and retracted positions in response to rotation of the camshaft, a first servo motor rotatably drivingly connected to the camshaft to selectively effect rotation thereof, a knot-tying member rotatably mounted on the support arm, a second shaft rotatably mounted on the frame about a second axis fixed relative to the frame, a coupling drivingly connected to the second shaft and to the knot-tying member for rotating the knot-tying member in response to rotation of the second shaft, notwithstanding movement of the support arm between the knot-tying and retracted positions, a second servo motor drivingl
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventors: Horst F. Wentzek, George T. Vattakattu
  • Patent number: 5269179
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a vehicle testing apparatus comprising a pair of brake clipers operable in response to the application of pressure fluid for applying torque in opposition to driving torque delivered by the driving wheels of a vehicle operating at a given speed, a force sensor for sensing differential in the driving and applied torque, a control for generating a signal representative of the torque differential, and a pressure regulator for maintaining the applied torque at a constant magnitude by regulating the pressure of the fluid applied to the brake calipers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventors: George T. Vattakattu, Edwin Katt
  • Patent number: 5150600
    Abstract: A resilient member handling apparatus comprising a frame, a mechanism on the frame for bowing successive resilient members, and a mechanism on the frame for forming a nested complement of the resilient members, the mechanism for forming including a first cage member stationarily mounted on the frame, and defining a primary chamber adapted to receive a resilient member, a second cage member stationarily mounted on the frame, and defining a secondary chamber adapted to receive a plurality of the resilient members, a mechanism for feeding resilient members one at a time into the primary chamber from the mechanism for bowing, and a mechanism for transferring the resilient members one at a time from the primary chamber to the secondary chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventors: Horst Wentzek, Michael Kozak
  • Patent number: 5000038
    Abstract: A road test simulator is provided of the type adapted to be drivingly engaged by a pair of wheels of a vehicle, such as an automobile, which wheels are spaced apart and aligned for rotation about a common axis. The road test simulator includes a first roller unit adapted to receive one of the wheels, a second roller unit spaced from the first roller unit in the axial direction and adapted to receive the other of the wheels, and structure, operable when the road test simulator is in use, for continuously impeding movement of the vehicle in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventor: Edwin E. Katt
  • Patent number: 4890975
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is apparatus for stacking loop springs which include a series of oppositely oriented U-shaped loops, which apparatus comprises a frame, a storage chamber on the frame for temporary and one-at-a-time storage of the springs, guide elements located on the frame below the spring storage chamber for guiding and supporting the springs into an aligned stack, and movable elements on the frame and operative independently of the guide elements for effecting spring discharge from the storage chamber and onto the guide elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Hoff, Michael L. Kozak, Horst F. Wentzek
  • Patent number: 4792035
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a coil spring feeding machine comprising a stationary magnet mounted on a frame for releaseably holding individual coil springs delivered thereto, a first conveyor on the frame for containing a plurality of serially nested coil springs and for advancing the coil springs along a path toward the magnet, a second conveyor mounted on the frame for movement so as to transport coil springs from the magnet and including a hook engageable with a coil spring releaseably held by the magnet for removing the coil spring from the magnet in response to second conveyor movement, and first and second fingers located on the frame adjacent to the magnet and movable into, and retractable from, the path of coil spring advance so as sequentially, in a cycle, to prevent further advance of the nested coil springs toward the magnet, to separate the leading coil spring from the remainder of the nested coil springs while preventing advance of the leading coil spring toward the magnet, to advance the leading coil sp
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventors: Herbert E. Turner, Lynn C. Turner