The present invention relates to a method of treating wire , and to a method of storing treated wire , and to apparatus for the same .

The present invention is defined in the attached independent claims , to which reference should now be made . Further, preferred features may be found in the sub-claims appended thereto .

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of processing wire into a wire article , the method comprising heat-treating the wire and allowing it to cool before forming the article .

The method preferably comprises storing the wire for a period of time between the heat-treatment and the forming of the article .

Preferably the method includes introducing the heat-treated wire in loops into a container having at least one sidewall . The container preferably includes at least a part of a wire carrier . The method may include withdrawing the looped wire from the container on the carrier . Preferably the method includes at least partly completing the assembly of the carrier while the wire is in the container, and then preferably withdrawing the wire from the container using the assembled carrier . The wire may be metal wire , such as steel wire and the method may comprise forming the wire into an article compri sing a spring .

The method may include straightening the wire before introducing the wire to the container .

The method preferably comprises introducing the wire into a container comprising a drum, box or cage .

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided carrier apparatus for supporting wire , the apparatus comprising a first end-stop, one or more frame members releasably connectable to the first end-stop, and a second end-stop releasably connectable to the or each frame member .

Preferably, the first and/or second end-stop comprises a plurality of limb members , more preferably cross-members , which may preferably be releasably connected together .

In a particularly preferred arrangement , the first and/or second end-stop is generally cruci form in shape and preferably comprises at least two cross-members that are preferably releasably connectable .

The , or each, frame member may be substantially elongate and, more preferably, generally rod-like or tubular .

The frame members are preferably arranged to releasably engage the first and/or second end-stops by locating a portion of the frame member in a socket or aperture of the end-stop . In a preferred arrangement , at least one of the end-stops includes an aperture that has first and second portions of di f ferent si zes , so that a locating member of the frame member may be received in one portion and retained in the other, smaller portion . The aperture in the end-stop may comprise a substantially key-hole shape .

A locking fixture may be used for securing at least one of the end-stops to the frame member . The locking fixture may comprise a threaded nut and bolt arrangement or a quick release handle/thumb wheel/ lever .

The carrier apparatus may be assembled by engaging the locating portion at one end of the frame member in the aperture of the first end-stop and engaging the locating portion at the opposed end of the frame member with the aperture in the second end-stop .

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of loading wire onto a carrier, the method comprising the steps of : heat treating the wire , introducing the heat-treated wire in loops into a container having at least one sidewall , and onto a part of a carrier, at least partly completing the assembly of the carrier while the wire is in the container, and withdrawing the wire from the container on the assembled carrier . The invention also includes a method of assembling a carrier for looped wire , the method comprising engaging a locating portion at one end of a frame member in an aperture of a first end-stop and engaging a locating portion at the opposed end of the frame member with an aperture in a second endstop, so that the loops of wire become retained on the carrier and rest upon the lower end stop .

The invention also includes a carrier apparatus according to any statement herein, when loaded with wire . Preferably, the apparatus is loaded with pre-heat-treated wire .

The invention may include any combination of the features or limitations referred to herein, except such a combination of features as are mutually exclus ive , or mutually inconsistent .

A preferred embodiment of the present invention wi ll now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings , in which :

Figure 1 shows schematically a wire carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention positioned inside a loopforming container ;

Figure 2 shows an end-stop member of the wire carrier of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a frame member of the wire carrier of Figure

1 , Figure 4 shows the wire carrier in Figure 1 in an assembled form without wire ; and

Figure 5 shows the wire carrier of Figure 1 with a wire load mounted .

Turning to Figure 1 , this shows schematical ly, generally at 100 , a demountable wire carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention . The wire carrier 100 is for supporting loops of wire W, as will be described below, and comprises a lower, end-stop 110 , an upper end-stop 120 and a plurality of frame members 130 extending between the endstops . The carrier is shown standing inside a cylindrical loop- forming container 140 into which the wire W has been fed in the direction of Arrow A, so that the wire forms loops around the inside of the container wall . The introduction of the wire takes place when, prior to assembly of the carrier, only the lower end-stop 110 is positioned inside the container, so that the loops of wire rest on the lower endstop 110 . After all the wire has been introduced into the container 140 , the frame members are connected to the lower end-stop, and the upper end stop is then connected to the frame members to complete assembly of the carrier .

Only a few loops of wire W are shown schematically in Figure 1 , so that the end stop 110 and frame members can be seen . In reality, the number of loops of wire would be much greater .

The end-stops 110 and 120 are of hollow box-section steel and are generally cruci form in shape . Four frame members connect the upper and lower end-stops by engagement between male and female connecting parts , as will be described below .

Figure 2 shows the lower end-stop 110 in plan, from which the cruci form shape may be clearly seen . The end-stop has four identical limbs 150 , each of which includes an aperture 160 comprising a wider, in this case square , first part 162 and a narrower, elongate slot 164 extending, in thi s case , radially outwards from the first part . The slot 164 is narrower than the square part 162 so that together they form a keyhole-type aperture , passing completely through the limb 150 , which can accommodate an end of a frame member, as wil l be described below . The upper end- stop 120 is substantially identical to the lower end-stop 110 , in this example .

Figure 3 shows one of the frame members 130 . At its upper end 130a is a threaded portion 132 on which is shown a bolt 134 which is to act as a locking f ixture . At its lower end 130b is a narrowed portion 136 .

Referring to Figures 2 and 3 , when the frame member is to engage the lower end-stop 110 , the lower end 130b of the frame member is lowered into the first , wide portion 162 of the aperture 160 . The frame member 130 is then slid radially outwards so that the narrowed portion 136 becomes accommodated in the slot 164 . The frame member cannot then be withdrawn vertically as its end is too wide to pass through the slot 164 .

When the frame member is to be attached to the upper endstop 120 , the threaded portion 132 at the upper end 130a is made to pass through the slot 164 of the upper end-stop 120 , before being retained securely there using the bolt 134 . Other fixings may be used to secure the upper end, such as quick-release threaded handle , thumb-wheel or lever (not shown) .

Figure 4 shows the carrier 100 without the container 140 in almost-completely assembled configuration, requiring only the bolts 134 to complete the attachment of the upper endstop 120 to the frame members 130 .

Figure 5 shows the carrier 100 with a full load of wire W looped around its lower end-stop 110 and li fted from the container 140 .

In use , the lower end-stop 110 - without the rest of the carrier 100 - is first placed inside the loop- forming container 140 at its base . Wire that has preferably been heat-treated and has preferably been pre-straightened, is then introduced into the container so that it forms loops around the inside of the container' s cylindrical wall , whi le resting on the lower end-stop .

When all the wire has been loaded into the container, the frame members are connected to the lower end-stop, and then the upper end-stop is connected to the frame members , as explained above . The wire load can then be li fted from the container and may be stored on the carrier indefinitely . When the wire is to be used, for example when it is to be processed into articles , such as coil springs , it can simply be pulled or played out from the carrier . When all the wire has been taken from the carrier, the carrier may be disassembled for easy transportation or storage , thereby taking up less room than a permanent - or fixed - drum or cage .

Optional pre-straightening of the wire , before storage on the carrier, means that the later processing steps do not require bulky straightening apparatus , such as straightening rollers . Optionally pre-treating the wire with heat , prior to storage on the carrier, means that the later proces sing steps do not require heating apparatus .

The wire may be heat-treated/ tempered, for example by passing an electrical current through it , prior ( optionally immediately prior ) to feeding the wire into the container . A typical temperature suitable for heating the wire would be 280 degrees Celsius , for example . Preferably the wire is allowed to cool , more preferably to cool naturally, prior to introducing the wire into the container . The wire may be straightened before the heat-treatment . Alternatively, the wire may be straightened after heat-treatment and prior to loading the wire into the container .

Heat-treating the wire increases its tensile strength and when the wire is formed into coil springs , for example , the springs are more resil ient and better able to retain their shape . This means that a coi l spring formed from heat-treated wire requires less material than one formed from wire which has not been heat-treated for substantially the same characteristics . Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing speci fication to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance , it should be understood that the applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features referred to herein, and/or shown in the drawings , whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon .