US2233437A

US2233437A - Straightening machine

Info

Publication number: US2233437A
Application number: US287916A
Authority: US
Inventors: William J Todhunter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-08-02
Filing date: 1939-08-02
Publication date: 1941-03-04
Anticipated expiration: 1958-03-04

Description

March 4, 1941. w, J, TODHQNTE 2,233,437

STRAIGHTENING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: Maw: Jym m 101221;

B Y Q 3; mg

ATTORNEY.

March, 4, 1941. w J, TODHUNTER 2,233,437

STRAIGHTENING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VENTOR.

WZZZzbm/JTomZe; BY. m/mm ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES 2,233,437 1 ST'RAIGHTENING MACHINE William J. Todhunter, Newcastle, New South 3 Wales, Australia;

Application August 2, 1939, serial No. 287,916

n Claims. (01. use-es) The invention relates to means for straightening structural sections, such as bars, beams, channels, rails and the like. Where, in the following description, these structures are referred to as bars, it is meant to include any of the several kinds of stock enumerated.

The object is to provide convenient and efficient means for operating upon the bar whereby the straightening force may be applied at required 10 points on either side, without withdrawing it from the machine until the entire straightening has been completed."-

The invention comprises movable heads provided with oppositely acting gags; each head 15 beingprovided with a lifting gag and flanking,

stationary gags which are horizontally adjustable toward and away from their respective lifting gags.

Means are provided for lifting either lifting gag 20 while the other lifting gag remains in operative position, whereby either or both sides of the bar may be gagged as required, without removing it from the machine in order to turn it over.

The engaging faces'of the lifting gags are posi- 5 tioned so as to project beyond or in advance of the engaging faces of the two stationary gags which flank the lifting gags, so that only the stationary gags of one head, cooperate with the lifting gag of the other head. The invention also comprises improved means for supporting and presenting the bars, especially T-rails to the operation of the gags.

Means are also provided whereby, when one lifting gag is lifted, it moves away from the oper- 35 ative position, to a position sloping away from the 45 Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section, of

the same. I I I Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary elevations, on an enlarged scale, showing the table rolls in different positions, especially adapted for operation upon 50 'T-rails; 1

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In accordance with the example herein illustrated, the machinecomprises two movable 5 heads I anclB, mounted on theframe, or bed}.

The head lqis operated by means of cams, or eccentrics I2 and I2, driven by motor l3, through suitable gearing, as shown.

The reciprocating movement of head I on the bed 9, is limited to the actuation derived from the 5 cams or eccentrics l2 and [2.

The head 8 is also movably mounted upon the bed 9 and is adapted to be moved into desired position of adjustment by the screws l0 and H),

.which are actuated by the motor ll, through 10 suitable gearing as shown.

Between the head 8 and the screws l0 and ID,

are inserted the cast-iron breaker blocks I4, the

purpose of which is to break, in case the head 8 is put under too great a strain, that is to say, the breaker block is the weakest link.

The head 1 is provided with the lifting gag [5, which is operated by the air cylinder l6.

. When lifted, this gag I5 is moved away from the perpendicular. groove 22, in the head I in which the gag I5 travels and which is inclined to the perpendicular, the gag, as itmoves upwardly, also moves away from the perpendicular plane of the bar being operated upon. The object of which is to allow the operator a better view of the straightening operation.

The head 1 is also provided with two gags l1 and I? which flank the gag l5 and are horizontally adjustable toward and away from the lifting gag I5.

These two gags H and H are operated simultaneously into desired position of adjustment by means of a right and left hand screw I8, which is actuated by the motor it through a worm and. sprocket and chain gearing.

The head 8 is provided with the lifting gag 25 which is adapted to be lifted by means of an air cylinder IS. The method and means for operating this gag 26 is similar to that above described with respect to gag l5. 7

Head 8 is also provided with the two gags 2| and 2i which are horizontally adjustable, and are operated in the same way and by mechanism similar to that shown for operating the gags I! and H.

The rolls 24, shown in Fig. 1 indicate the positions of the end table rolls on each side of the machine. These rolls, in the present invention, are not motor driven, and serve in connection with positioning and supporting the bar during the straightening operation.

For properly operating upon certain kinds of stock, for example T-rails, a series of table rollers That is to say, by means of the 20 are provided. These rolls are mounted in movable bearings, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

In Fig. 3, the rail 25 is shown in the upright position resting squarely upon its horizontal supporting flange 25', which rests upon the horizontal rollers 23. In this position the straightening operation is effected in the usual way by the cooperating action of the lifting gag and the stationary gags I! and I1 upon the flange portion V,

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, each roller 23 is supported on the bearings 26 and 21. 26 is supported to move vertically up and down,

and is so actuated by the air cylinder 28 Guide 29 is provided with each bearing 26, to keep the several rolls or rollers in proper alinement. v

The bearing 21, at the other end of the roll, is

pivotally supported at 30 in order to'permit the tilting or canting of the roller from a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 3, to a position inclined to the-horizontal, as shown in Fig. 4..

The purpose of. this inclined position of the supporting roller, as shown in Fig. 4, is as follows: 3

Where for example, the straightening forces are to be applied tothe opposite margins of the flange 25', the. rollers should all be horizontal, as shown in Fig. 3, but where the straightening force is applied-to the top and-bottom of the rail,

these contacting surfaces or points must be in a line at right angles tothe contacting surfaces of the gags. In other words the line of pressure,

means for a substantial range of adjustment.

Other means may be used for directing the line of force through the web and at right angles to the planes of the contacting faces of the gags, by securing the desired inclinations of the rail supporting surfaces, and still be within the scope of the claims. For example suitably tapered rollers may beused.

The arrangements of the parts last above described is the opposite to that shown in Fig. 2.

That is to say, the positions of gags I5 and Ml are reversed.

The shims 32 beneath the bearing 26 are for detail adjustment of the bearing upon its supporting frame or formation 33, which is pivotally connected at 34 to the piston rod 35 of air cylinder 28.

In operation-The head 8, for example, is placed in such a position as to allow the bar, which is to be straightened, to lie between the lifting gag I5 on head I, and the two gags 2| and 2| on head 8. Also these gags 21 and 2| are placed at the centers required for the bar to be straightened. 7

These flanking gags, being operated simultaneously by a right and left hand screw, are always equi-distant from their respective lifting gags.

If the blow for straighteningthe barfiis to be delivered by gag I5, then gag 2il"is lifted'up' out The bearing of the way, so that the other side of the bar will rest against gags 2| and H whilst the blow is being delivered.

When the motor I 3 is started, the head 1 moves backward and forward on the bed 9, the amount of travel delivered by the cams or eccentrics l2 and I2.

At the same time, the head 8 is pushed forwardly by means of the screws Ill and It! into required position of adjustment, that is, until the requisite strength of'theblow of gag I5 is given. This operation gags one side of the bar only.

To-gag the other side, gag i5 is lifted and gag 2-0is dropped. 7 As the lifting gags I5 and 20 are in advance of their respective horizontally adjustable flanking gags wheneither lifting gag I5 or 25],.is used, I

the flanking gags-on the same side of chine are out of action.

It will thus be seen that, accordance with are provided forgagging the'bar or similar stock,

back in the machine, and also whereby the lifted the mathe inventionabove described, convenient-means gag -maybesodis-posed as not toobstruct the view.

The present'invention isespecially adapted for operation upon -T-rails', and is to be contrasted with the now common practice which has prevailed for at least half a century" without substantial improvement.- In accordance with said common-practice th'estraighten'in'g of F -rails is a laborious job, requiring the employment. of a large number of men.

In accordance: with the. invention herein described and claimed, all of such laboricusworlk is eliminated, as the entire job of'. manipulating and straightening is! accomplished by mechan- 'ical means What I- claim is: a V a 1. In a straightening' rnachine, the combination of av supporting frame; a pair. of heads mounted thereonadapted to move-towardand away from each other, eachhead provided with a guide-wayextending upwards from the frame,

diverging upwardly one from the other, a lifting gag movable in; each guide-way upward from operative to J inoperative position and downward from inoperative t'o operat'ive position.

2. 111 a straightening machine, the combination'. of a supportingframe, a pair of heads mounted thereonead'apted to move toward and away from each-other; each head provided with a guide-way extending upwards from the frame,

said guide-ways'beingi oppositely positioned and saidguide-w'ays being oppositely positioned and diverging upwardl'y one from the other, a lifting gag. movable in' each guide-way upward from operative to inoperative position and downward from inoperative to operative position, said heads also carrying laterally adjustablecooperating ags.

3; In astraightening machine, the combina-. tionof a supporting frame, a pair of heads mounted thereon adapted to move towardand tending normally to hold it in inoperative position.

4. In a straightening machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a pair of heads mounted thereon adapted to move toward and away from each other, each head provided with a guide-way extending upwards from the frame, said guide-ways being oppositely positioned and diverging upwardly one from the other, a lifting gag movable in each guide-way upward from operative to inoperative position and downward from inoperative to operative position, each lifting gag being provided with a power controlled counterbalance adapted to hold the gag in inoperative position upon failure of said power.

5. In a straightening machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a pair of heads mounted thereon adapted to move toward and away from each other, each head provided with a guide-way extending upwards from the frame, said guide-ways being oppositely positioned and diverging upwardly one from the other, a lifting gag movable in each guide-way upward from operative to inoperative position and downward from inoperative to operative position, means for causing reciprocating movement of one head, and power operated means for adjusting, from time to time, the position of the other head during the straightening operation, in order to control progressively said operation.

7. In a straightening machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a pair of heads mounted thereon adapted to move toward and away from each other, each head provided with a guide-way extending upwards from the frame,

said guide-ways being oppositely positioned and diverging upwardly one from the other, a lifting gag movable in each guide-way upward from operative to inoperative position and downward from inoperative to operative position, a pair of flanking gags supported upon and moving with each head and transversely adjustable thereon, controlling means mounted on each head, comprising motor and gear mechanism for the flanking gags and a power cylinder for the lifting gags.

8. In a straightening machine, the combination of a supporting bed, two heads mounted thereon and relatively movable toward and away from each other, each head provided with a lifting gag, and horizontally adjustable flanking gags, a plurality of table rollers flanking the machine, each roller having one end-bearing vertically adjustable, and the other end-bearing pivotally supported, and means for arbitrary vertical adjustment of said vertically adjustable bearing adapted to secure the required axial inclination of the roller for cooperation with rails varying in cross-sectional contour.

9. In a straightening machine, the combination of a supporting bed, two heads mounted thereon and relatively movable toward and away from each other, each head provided with a lifting gag and horizontally adjustable flanking gags,

a plurality of table rollers flanking the machine, each roller having one end-bearing vertically ading gag and horizontally adjustable flanking gags, a plurality of table rollers flanking the machine, each roller having one end-bearing vertically movable, and the other end-bearing pivotally supported, and adapted for cooperation With rails varying in cross-sectional contour, each vertically movable bearing being independently adjustable.

WILLIAM J. TODHUNTER.