US1527547A - Sheet-metal-bending machine and method of treating the same - Google Patents

Description

F. GOELER Fkb.24.l925.

sEEET METAL SEEDING MACHINE AND METHOD 0E TREATING THE SAME v F. GOELER SHEET METAL BENDING mam AND METHOD oF mamme :um sms' Filed Aug. 25, 192;

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented lid, i925.

UNITED STATESPA-TENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK GOELER, OF ALAMEDA, C tLIFOIR-NIA, `A'SIf-HRTOR T EMMA. A. GOELER,

, OF ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA.

SHEETMETAL-BENDING MACHINE AND METHOD O'F TREATING THE SAME.

Application filed. August 25, 1921. Serial No. 495,375.

l To @ZZ 'whom 'it may concern;

Be it known that lf, FREDERICK Gontran,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Alameda, in the county of Aalameda and Fitate of California, have invented new and useful improvements in Sheet-itietal-Bending Machines and Methods of Treating the Same, of which the following is a specification.'

This invention relates to improvements in sheet metal bending machines of the type described in Letters Patent of the United States, Nos. 1,131,055 and 1,162,050, granted to me March 9, 1915 and November 30, 1915, respectively.

Illhe invention has particular' reference to improvements in the bending members or jaws of the machines of the character described and the primary object is to prohave maximum strength and durability and not be subject to disruption or warping or bending during the bending operation.

ln bending machines of the character described in the patents above mentioned, the bending jaw or plate is relatively long and is hinged or pivoted at its ends to a frame, whereby relatively wide or long piece of sheet metal to be bent may be inserted between the hinges or pivots. in machines of this type it is not possible to use any other means of connection between the bending plate or jaw and the frame other than the means at the ends of the plate and for this reason, the jaw plate is apt to warp or bend or buckle intermediate of its ends and when this occurs a defective bend in the sheet metal is produced and in some instances the bending operation is prevented entirely.

The particular object of the present invention is to provide a method of forming and strengthening or reinforcing a bending plate or jaw of a novel structure, so that the plate or j aw will not be subject to warping or becoming disrupted when in use. The invention also includes means for correcting any disruption or warping in the plate, should the same occur to a slight degree, after the plate is fixed to the machine.

rlhe invention possesses other features and advantages some of which, with the foregoing will be set forth at length in the following description where l shall outline vide a bending member or jaw which willv in full that form of the invention which l have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the present specification. In said drawings lf have shown one form of the construction of my invention, but it is to be understood that l do not limit myself to such form since the invention as expressed in the claims may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of a sheet metal bending machine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged rear elevation of the bending jaw or plate forming the particular part of this invention.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view? taken on line 3-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the bending plate or jaw and the work holding or clamping means with which it'cooperates, showing a piece of sheet. metal to be bentin position for bending, in dotted lines and the manner of use of the angle bar on the bending member.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the bending plate or jaw showing the slide member used during the process or method of strengthening the plate or aw.

Fig. 6 is an edge elevation of the plate or jaw showing the same as it would appear when being treated to reinforcing and strengthening the same.

ln carrying out the present invention an elongated steel plate of substantially rectilinear outline is reinforced by riveting upon the back thereof near to its upper edge a T bar. Aafter this reinforcing element is secured to the back of the plate, the plate is placed upon a suitable work table or supported upon a bar or mandrel and pressure is applied by any suitable means to the ends of the plate so as to cause the plate to assume an arcuate form due to the position of the mandrel upon which the plate rests. The plate is held in this arcuate or bent shape by any suitable means and is next treated so that it will, upon removal of said holding means, maintain a curved or arcuate shape. In order to cause the plate to have a permanent bend or curve, I preferably place upon the one side of the angle of the T bar, a solid, comparatively heavy metal block or rail and then with the sledge or other suitableheavy instrument, strike the vertical member of the T bar throughout the length thereof, at intervals, so as to stretch the metal of the bar. By striking the T bar, preferably with asharp pointed heavy instrument, the metal is stretched so that when pressure is released from the ends of the plate, the plate will have a permanent curve or arcuate form. A straightening or adjusting means is attached to the plate and before the bending operation is preferably in the form oit a rigid V-shaped bar or rod secured at its ends to the end portions of the plate with the apex otl the V disposed below the lower edge and centrally of the ends ot the plate. An adjusting bolt with a nut is adjustably secured to the lower edge of the plate and when operated exerts a pressure upon the V rod such that the plate will tend to straighten out. To make the plate suitable for use, the adjusting means isoperated so that a strain is placed upon the ends oft the plate such as will cause the plate to .straighten out. Vhen the .plate is straight and presents a tlat outer or bending tace, it is then attached to the machine and is ready for use. 'Due to the treatment atoren'ientioned, the plate is under such tension that it possesses maximum inherent strength and rigidity such as will withstand severe bending strains and will not vbe subject to buckling or bending.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a preferably horizontal table or supporting structure mounted upon suitable legs 2 and supporting work holding means which comprises jaws 3 and 4 which latter are llocated one above the other in a horizontal plane so as to leave a space for the accommodation ot pieces ot sheet metal to be bent, as shown at 5 in Fig. 4. In connection with the table and work holding rmeans including the jaws 3 and 4, there are provided suitable bracing and securing devices 6 and means ot adjustment 7 tor the jaws. This means is -fully described in Letters Patent hereinbetore referred to and need not be described in detail.

Mounted upon the table 1 is a vbending jaw or plate 3 o-t substantially rectilinear outline and which normally depends from a point substantially level with the jaw 4. The plate 8 is pivoted or hinged by suitable means as at 9 at its upper end edges to the table 1 with its inner side close to the torward edge of the jaw 4 and its upper edge flush with the upper surface of said jaw, as shown particularly in F ig. 4. Suitable means 10 is provided for swinging the plate on its pivots or hinges so as to cause bending of the sheet metal plate 5.

The plate or jaw 8 is constructed of Ihigh grade steel and upon 'its rear tace adjacent its upper ledge there is riveted a straight reinforcing element 11, preferably in the form of a T bar, the ends of which terminate a few inches short of the ends ot the plate.

To provide for reinforcing the plate tor heavy bending, the outer tace thereof adjacent its upper edge is provided with a longitudinal countersink 0r recess 12 in which is removably mounted a flat plate 13, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The outer tace ot this plate is substantially flush with the outer :tace of the plate 8 and the upper edge of the plate is flush with the upper edge ot the plate 8. To further strengthen the jaw an angle bar 14 maybe removably screwed to plate 13 with the outer t'ace ot one angular portion 15 disposed flush with the outer edges ot the plates 8 and 13, as shown in Fig, 4. lBolts 16 are passed thru the angle bar and plate 13 so as to removably secure these parts together and similar bolts 1G pass thru the `bar 14, plates 13 and 8, to removably secure the bar and plate to the jaw. Thus, it will be seen, that in bending heavy sheet metal plate, the upper surface ot the angle bar portion 15 and upper edges of the plates 13 and 8 bear directly upon the sheet metal to be bent. rllhe angle bar 14 provides a relatively large surface to engage the plate to be bent and in this way prevents localization ot the strains and stresses upon the lbending plate 8. In certain kinds ol bending work, the bar 14 and plate 13 must be removed and this leaves only the narrow edge of lthe plate 8 .exposed for engagement with the work. Also in some instances it is only desirable to remove the angle bar and utilize the upper edges o'l the plates 13 and 8 to bear upon the work. l-.Vhen both the bar 14 and plate 13 are removed, the comparatively narrow edge ot the plate 8 would be subject to bending or buckling under severe strains, were it not for the treatment oi the plate as hereinbetore described, to prevent this buckling and tbending tendency. Also when onlyv the bar 14 is removed and the plates 13 and S are brought into use, the tendency ot the plate 3 to buckle or bend is present and the treatment o't' the plate to give it natural inherent strength prevents the buckling or bending thereof. Thus, it will be seen, it is not mainly when the elements 13 and 14, or particularly the element 14, is removed 'from the bending plate, that the necessity ot having a plate ltreated with vthe method hereinbeiore described, becomes apparent.

As a means for correcting the alinement of the plate 8 and for placing the same under such tension that it will have maximum strength and durability, I employ a heavy substantially V-shaped vbar 17 the ends of which are flattened as at 18 and riveted as at 19 to the end portions ot' the plate S.

.lhe apex of the V bar is disposed centrally of the ends of the plate and beneath the lower edge thereof, as shown in Figs. 1,2 and 3. A bolt 2O is vertically adjustably mounted in a keeper member 21 riveted as at 22 to the rear face of the plate 8 centrally of the ends of the plate and near the lower edge thereof. The head of the bolt is slotted as at 20 and receives the apex portion of the V bar 17, in the slot. l nut 23 adjustable upon the eye bolt with its upper face bearing upon the member 21. By turning the nut 23 so as to extend the bolt downwardly a strain will be placed upon the plate 8 such as will tend to correct any curvatures thereof.

As shown in Figs. and 6, the plate or bending jaw 8 is treated so as to have maximum inherent strength and durability. After `the flange of the wl" bar is secured to the rear face of the plate, the plate is placed with the rear side uppermost so that the central portion thereof will rest upon a bar or mandrel 25. Vlihe bar or mandrel is supported upon a work bench or other support. Pressure is applied by any suitable means, not shown, to the end portions of the plate so that the entire plate is bent into a curved or arcuate form, as shown in Fig. (l. rlhe plate is held in this bent position by the means referred to and while thus held a block or bar of solid metal, shown at 26 in Fig. is placed upon the reinforcing element 11 so as to bear against the vertical or upstanding portion of said element. The vertical portion is then struck a series of sharp blows with a heavy sharp edged hammer or sledge, (not shown), upon the face thereof opposite that engaged by the member 26. This striking of the vertical portion is effected at slightly spaced points throughout the length thereof and for such a time that the metal of the member 11 will be strctclmd and the plate will have a permanent bend or arcuate form. After hammering of the member 11 the desired extent, the pressure means is removed from the ends of the plate and the plate has a permanentl bend longitudinally. The straightening of the plate is accomplished by adjusting the nut 23 so that the bolt 20 will produce a pull upon the t". bar 17. rlhe V bar 17 when thus acted upon causes the plate to straighten and when the plate is thus straightened it is un.- der such tension that it is better able to withstand strains during the bending operation of the machine and not apt to become warped or to buckle.

1n the operation of the bending machine, the piece of sheet metal, as shown at 5 in Fig. 1l, is placed between the jaws 3 and a so as to engage the angle iron 141 and plate 13, or when the bolts thru the bar or plate 13 are removed, will engage the plate 8, and the mechanism is then operated to swing the plate upwardly. Upon movement of the plate the` bending` of the sheet metal will take place at the point where the outer ed ges of the jaws 3 and l and inner edge of the plate 8 are located. 1t is apparent that vari? in use.

l claim:

l. 1n a sheet bending apparatus, means for holding material to be bent, a bending plate arranged so as to be moved in engagement with the material to be bent to effect the bending of the material, said bending plate having a permanent curve in one direction and means on said plate for straighteningv the same so as to place said plate under tension.

2. The method of treating the bending member of a sheet metal bending machine, which bending member comprises a relatively long metal plate, which consists in bending said plate so as to produce a permanent .longitudinal curvature therein and then straightening the said plate to remove the longitudinal curvature so as to place the plate under tension.

i3. The method of treating the bending plate of a sheet metal bending machine so as to render the same highly resistant against bending strains, which consists in securing a reinforcing element tol one side of the plate, producing a permanent curvature longitudinally in the plate and reinforcing element and then straightening said plate to remove the curvature thereof.

et. The method of treating a bending plate or member of a sheet metal bending machine so as to render the same highly resistant to bending strains, which consists in mounting a reinforcing element on the plate so as to cause the plate and reinforcing element to maintain a given bend or curve then straightening said plate and reinforcing element.

5. 1n a sheet metal bending machine, a frame, means on the frame for holding sheet metal in position to be bent, a bending plate attached at its ends to the frame so as to move with relation to the holding means, means for moving said plate while the same is engaged with the material to be bent, such. plate having a normal tendency to curve longitudinally and means carried by the plate for correcting a longitudinal curvature thereof and for maintaining the plate in straight form.

6. In a sheet metal bending machine, a frame, means on the frame for holding sheet metal in position to be bent, av bending` plate attached to the frame so that it may be moved in engagement With material to be bent, means for moving' said plate to eli'ect bending el the sheet metal, said plate having' a normal tendency to curve or bend lon- `e'itndinallj,v and means carried by the plate `tor roriectinp; said tendency and maintainine the plate in straight forni.

T. In sheet `metal bending` machine, a traine, means on the traine for holding' sheet metal in position to be bent7 a bending plate attached to the traine so that it may be moved in engagement ywith material to be bent, means ter moving said plate to effect bending et' the sheet metal, said plate having a normal tendency to curve o1' bend longitudinally and means carried by the plate tor correcting said tendency and maintain- 'fig the plate in straight fori/n, which means comprises a inni secured at 'its end to end portions of the plate and having a mid poi'- tion disposed below the lower edge of the plate, means carried by the central portion ot the plate ter transmittingv a torce to said bar snch as Will tend to straighten the plate and remove any curvature thei'eo't'.

FREDERICK GtHLElI.

Images