GB770104A - Method of forming wire into complex configurations of three-dimensional extent - Google Patents

Abstract

770,104. Making wire articles. GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. June 10, 1955 [June 15, 1954], No.16741/55. Class 83 (4). A method of forming a straight wire into a configuration of three-dimensional extent comprises the steps of gripping the wire to prevent its axial rotation, bending the wire in a first plane to present a portion of the wire in an angular relation to the longitudinal axis of the wire, axially rotating the wire to present the previously bent wire portion in a plane other than the first plane, and then bending the wire in the first plane. A straight wire blank 3 is bent to form an accordion fold spring 2, Figs. 1 and 22, comprising two accordion-fold shaped portions 4, 5 connected by a cross-member 6, each portion 4, 5 including three elongated arms 7, 8, 9, connected to each other by crossmembers 10 and 11, and end portions 12. The straight wire 3, positioned in symmetricallydisposed bending devices 19-25, 19<SP>1</SP>-25<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 3, is gripped midway by clamps 18. The ends of the wire are then bent up, by pins 26 of the benders 19, 19<SP>1</SP>, around vertically shiftable cores 27. The wire is next bent about cores 29 of the bending devices 20, 20<SP>1</SP> and then back over cores 31 of the benders 21, 21<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 9. The wire is then axially rotated through an angle 33, Fig. 12, and then bent, in the first plane, around cores 35 of the benders 22, 22<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 13, and then about cores 37 of the benders 23, 23<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 15. The wire is then rotated axially through an angle 39, Fig. 18 in the opposite direction from the first rotation. The wire is then bent about cores 41 of the benders 24, 24<SP>1</SP> and finally about cores 43 of the benders 25, 25<SP>1</SP>, Figs. 21, 22.