US2438057A

US2438057A - Bending brake having unitary actuating means for clamping and bending sheet metal

Info

Publication number: US2438057A
Application number: US527722A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kilham Peter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1944-03-23
Filing date: 1944-03-23
Publication date: 1948-03-16
Anticipated expiration: 1965-03-16

Description

March 16, 1948' P. KILHAM BENDING- BRAKE HAVING UNITARY ACTUATING MEANS FOR CLAMRING AND BENDING SHEET METAL Flled March 23, 1944 16 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: PETER Mum- AM ATTORNEYJ March 16, 1948. P. KILHAM BENDING BRAKE HAVING UNITAHY ACTUATING MEANS FOR CLAMPING AND BENDING SHEET METAL Filed March 23, 1944 16 Sheets-Sheet 2 l I l llllrlllllll I l.|

INVENTOR.

PETER Kl LHAM ATTORNEY) 16 Sheets-Sheet 3 P. KILHAM BENDING BRAKE HAVING UNITARY ACTUATING MEANS FOR CLAMPING AND BENDING SHEET METAL Filed March 25, 1944 arch 16, 1948.

INVENTOR. PETER. PM LHAM A TTURNEY.

March 16, 1948. P k;

BENDING BRAKE HAVfNGUNITARY ACTUATING MEANS FIG 4- FQR CLAMPING AND BENDING SHEET METAL Filed March 25, 1944 16 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. PETER Kl L HAM A TTORNEY.

P. KILHAM March 16, 1948.

2,438,057 BENDING BRAKE HAVING UNITA'RY ACTUATING MEANS FOR CLAMPING AND BENDING SHEET METAL Filed March 23, 1944 16 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. PETER lMLHAM ATTORNEY.

16, 1948. P. KILHAM FIG 6 16 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

PETER KILHA ATTORNEY.

March 16, 1948. P. K'ILHAM 2,438,057

BENDING BRAKE HAVING UNITARY ACTUATING MEANS FOR CLAMPING AND BENDING SHEET METAL Filed March 23, 1944 16 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOR. PET ER K I L HAM ATTORNEY.

P. KILHAM 2,433,057 BENDING BRAKE HAVING UNITARY ACTUATING MEANS FOR CLAMPING AND BENDING SHEET METAL Filed March 23, 1944 16 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR. PETER KILHAM l ATTORNEY,

March 16, 1948.

March 16, 1948. P. KILHAM 2,438,057

BENDING BRAKE HAVING UNITARY ACTUATING MEANS FOR CLAMPING AND BENDING SHEET METAL Filed March 23, 1944 16 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR.

P ET ER K l LHA M 9.1g 1 MI- A TTORN E Y.

16, 1948. KlLHAM 2,438,057

BENDING BRAKE HAVING UNITARY ACTUATING MEANS FOR CLAMPING AND BENDING SHEET METAL Filed March 23, 1944 16 Sheets-Sheet l0 INVENTOR. v D ET ER l4 L H A ATTORNEY.

March 16, 1948. P. KILHAM 2,438,057

BENDING BRAKE HAVING UNITARY ACTUATING MEANS FOR CLAMPING AND BENDING SHEET METAL Flled March 23, 1944 16 Sheets-Sheet 11 INVENTOR. PE ER K LHAM ATTORNEY.

March 16, 1948. P. KILHAM BENDING BRAKE HAVING UNITARY ACTUATING MEANS FOR CLAMPING AND BENDING SHEET METAL Filed March 23, 1944 16 Sheets-Sheet l2 1 .I III INVENTOR. PETER W LHAM 'FTORNEY.

March 16, 1948. KILHAM 2,438,057

BENDING BRAKE HAVING UNITARY ACTUATING MEANS FOR CLAMPING AND BENDING SHEET METAL Filed March 25, 1944 16 Sheets-Sheet l3 FIG.27.

FIG.16.

frat/672,250?" PE TER K: LHAM 16 Sheets-Sheet l4 INVENTOR. PETER KlLHAM MM M l l llllllllll L av m ATTORNEY.

P. KILHAM Filed March 23, 1944 March 16, 1948.

BENDING BRAKE HAVING UNITARY ACTUATING .MEANS FOR CLAMPING AND BENDING SHEET METAL ME L U \m V @N mw March 16, 1948.

FIG.29.

BENDING BRAKE HAVING UNITARY ACTUATING MEANS FOR CLAMPING AND BENDING SHEET METAL Filed March 23, 1944 P. KILHAM 2,438,057

16 Sheets-Sheet l5 17203721907" PETER KILHAM arch 16, P KIL M BENDING BRAKE HAVING UNITARY AGTUATING MEANS FOR CLAMPING AND BENDING SHEET METAL Filed March 23 1944 16 Sheets-Sheet l6 INVENTOR PET ER K I LHAM BY Mm. ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 16, 1948 BENDIlIG BRAKE HAVING UNITARY ACTU- ATING IMEAN S FOR CLAMPIN G AND BEND- ING SHEET METAL Peter Kilham, Attleboro, Mass. Application March23, 1944, Serial No. 527,722

12 Claims. 1

My invention relates to an improvement in bending brakes and has for one purpose to provide an improved bending brake.

Another purpose is to provide a bending brake adapted for bending relatively small pieces of sheet metal.

Another purpose is to provide a bending brake in which by a single movement of a control member, the article to be bent is first positively gripped and thereafter bent.

Another purpose is to provide a bending brake which shall be compact and relatively small and light. 7

Another purpose is to provide a bending brake with improved means for adapting it to form parts with a plurality of bends.

Another purpose is to provide an improved bending brake in which the angle of the bend may be readily adjusted and controlled.

Another purpose is to provide a bendin brake in which improved means are provided for gripping the material to be bent.

Another purpose is to provide improved means for actuating the bending brake,

Other purposes will appear from time to time throughout the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of the brake;

Figure 2 is a plan view with parts in section;

Figure 3 is a modified form of brake side elevation and illustrating the application of power means for actuating the brake, the brake being illustrated in open position;

Figure 4 is a view of the structure shown in Figure 3 illustrating the brake in closed position, ready for the bending operation;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figures 3 and 4, with parts in vertical section; illustrating the structure after a piece of material has been bent;

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Figures 3 to 5;

Figure 7 is an opposite end elevation of the same structure;

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 2';

Figure 9 is a side elevation of a. variant form of the device;

Figure 10 is a section on the line lfl--l 0 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a side elevation of a variant form of the device illustrating the brake in open position;

Figure 12 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 11, with the material gripped;

Figure 13 is a side elevation of the same structure illustrating the device with the material bent;

Figure 14 is a detail;

Figure 15 is a side elevation illustrating a further modification;

Figure 16 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 15 with parts in section, illustrating the position of the part when the material is gripped;

Figure 17 is a detail illustrating the bending operation;

Figure 18 is an end elevation with parts in vertical section;

Figure 19 is a detail;

Figure 20 is an enlarged section on the line 20-40 of Figure 19;

Figure 21 is an enlarged section 2l2l of Figure 19;

Figure 22 illustrates a variant form in which a roller is opposed to the material to be bent;

Figures 23 to 2'? illustrate various stages of operations in bending, when a roller is employed both to hold the material and to bend it;

Figure 28 is a side elevation of a further variation;

. Figure 29 is a detail of the structure shown in Figure 28;

Figure 30 is a partial side elevation illustrating a variant form of clamp;

Figures 31 and 32 illustrate the parts shown in Figure 30, in different positions;

Figure 33 is a partial end elevation of the structure in the position shown in Figure 31;

Figures 34 and 35 are partial side elevations illustrating a variant form in difierent positions; and

Figure 36 is a front elevation, with parts broken away, illustrating the structure as shown in Figure 34.

Like parts are indicated by like figures throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring first to Figure 1, I illustrates a base. 2 illustrates a manually operated handle secured to the shaft I4 which may be journaled in any suitable manner in the side portions of the base I. It will be observed as in Figure 1, that the base I has a flat top as shown at la.

Mounted on and movable with shaft l4 and keyed to it by any suitable key 56 is the cam lever 3 which may be secured, for example, by any on the line suitable bolt l5. It will be noted that there are identical cam levers at each side of the frame I, on opposite ends of the shaft M. The cam levers are actuated in unison by the handle 2, which rotates the shaft l4 and thus moves the cam levers. 2| is an upper rear shaft connected by eye links 3.0 to a. forward shaft 29, the. squared ends of which are mounted in horizontal slots in the upwardly extending brackets l8 which are secured to the sides of the base i. Spacing collars 3| are placed between the upwardly extending brackets 6 and the links 30; A limited movement of the end of the shaft 29 is permitted in the slots, the shaft being centered between compressed springs 33, and adjustable set. screwsv 32. A is a clamp member, having the arm 22 which is rotatable about the shaft 2|, at itsrear end..

23 are rollers or discs which engage the upper sides of the cam members 3. One of the cam members is provided with an indicating scale I9 across which passes the indicating finger 20 secured about the end of the shaft 2| and held-in position for exampleby the bolt or screw 55. The rear end of the arm 22 of the member A is split and passes about the shaft 2| and maybe held together for example by any suitable screw 24. The clamp member A is also connected to the shaft 29 by the eye bolt 21 with its upwardly extending screw threaded end 2m, whichpasses through arm 22 and receives the locking member 28. The fiat top a of the base I is provided at its forward edge with an abutment insert 39 adapted to receive the clamping member 25 which is removably secured to the forward end of the clamp element, as by screws 26. The clamping member 25 is provided with the window 250. 34

indicates an adjusting slide extending longitudinally along the flat upper surface Ia of the base It maybe more or less recessed in the upper surface. Its endwise movement is controlled by a locking bar 31, one end of which is held by a bolt 42, the opposite end being drawn downwardly against the upper surface of the bar 34- by' the lockingmember-BB. At its forward end the member 34 carries a transversely extending bar 34a which has an upper locking bar or abutment 35 secured thereto by any suitable screws or bolts 35a. It may receive and hold; any suitable abutmentmember 36, the position of which may be adjusted to receive and engage the work It will be understood that a wide variety of members 36 may be employed, that if desired several may be simultaneously employed. They are readily removable by releasing the screws 35a. Thus I provide ready means for providing abutments to limit the inward movement of; work of a wide variety of sizes and shapes.

Pivoted adjacent the forward end of the base, I illustrate bending levers 5. I illustrate them for example as pivoted to the sides of the base upon any suitable bolts 9. Extending between the members is the upper roller member 6 which may be rotatable about a shaft. L2. 1' illustrates a connecting rod extending between. the members 5. The members 5 are actuated in response to movement. of the. levers 3. by" any suitable links 4 pivotally secured against abutment In by bolts I attheir forward end and pivoted to the members 3 by bolts Is at their rear end. It

'mustbe understood that in response to a. forward downwardly against the receiving abutment 39 to clamp the work X. Also, the members 5 will be upwardly rotated about their axis at 9 and the roller 6 will engage the lower face of the work X and bend it upwardly. The are of the bend may be limited or controlled by adjustment of the set screw l8 by its locking nut H,. The upper end Ida of" the set screw receives. and serves as a limit for the downward movement of the portion 5a of the roller lever or bending lever 5. In Figure 1 the parts are shown with the abutment 25 inclamping position, but prior to the upward bending movement. of the roller 6 against the bottom face of the work X. The shaft 29 is the pivot about. which the clamping structure, and the axis of. rotation can be adjusted toward and away from the forward edge of the member 39 by rotating'. the set screw or adjusting screw 32. I have illustrated in Figure 8 a roller or ball bearing support for the roller 6 about the shaft i2, antifrictional members 4| being indicated. It will be understood-however, that under some circumstances I may dispense with the roller bearings and relyon the rounded surface of the roller itself. However, I find some such antifrictional means as are shownin Figure 8 to be advantageous. I may vary the means for supporting the levers 5 on the base but I illustrate any suitable means 48 as shown for example in Figure 2. I may also space the links 4 outwardly from the cam levers 3 by any suitable spacing sleeve 43 which receives the screws or bolts l3.

In Figure 3,, I illustrate a minor modification of the device, in which the shaft It may selectively be operated by the manual control 2 or by hydraulic or pneumatic actuating means including a cylinder'awith a fluid supply pipe 12 controlled by any suitable valve 0. :1 indicates a piston operating through the rod e pivoted as at f to the lever g secured against rotation in relation to the shaft M. h is a spring which tends normally to return the piston d. to the-initial position in which it is shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3; illustrates the structure in its initial position prior to a movement of the camming levers 3.

Figure t illustrates the structure at the time the abutment" 2.5 has engaged the work X.

Figure 5 illustrates the same structure after the roller 6i has passed upwardly about. the end of the abutment 25, and the end portion 5a of the roller carrying members 5 has engaged the upper end lea. of the setscrew I8. The sequence of movements shown in Figures 3 to 5 applies also to the structure of Figures 1 and 2.

In the form of Figures 3 to 7, I illustrate a variant form of base in which a vertical pillar 45 rests upon or is secured to a relatively fiat base 43 which may be provided with downward supports 56a of rubber or the like. Another variant is the use of a take up spring 28a on the screw threaded portion 21a of eye bolt 27, the upper end of said spring abutting the. underside of arm 22, while the lower and rests on a. shoulder formed on the eye portion of said bolt 21,

In Figure 9, I illustrate some variations in proportion which are in some circumstances advantageous and also provide for controlling the movement of the parts. The forward roller carrying levers 5 are connected to the levers 3 by links 62. having a rear end slightly downwardly curved as at 63. 6| are apertures in the levers 3 which make it posible to change the leverage of the link 62, thus enabling the operator to bend heavier stock if such heavy stock is not bent to anacute angle.

Figure indicates any suitable spacing support 43 extending outwardly from the lever 3 and adapted to receive the end of the link 52.

Referring to Figures 11 to 13, I illustrate a variant form of device in which I employ side members 59 through which passes a shaft 5! to which the cam levers 52 are secured. Pivoted as at 53 to the cam levers are a plurality of forwardly diverging links. The lower link 54 is pivoted to a lower portion of the roller lever 55. The upper link 55 has an upwardly curved forward end 51 to which is pivoted as at 58 an extension 59. 64 is an actuating anm secured to the cam lever 52 as at 65 and is provided with a pivoted handle element 56. It will be understood that when the user draws forward on the handle member 65 starting at the position in which the parts are shown in Figure 11, the camming levers 52 may be rotated initially to the position in which they are shown in Figure 12. The above described clamping structure is moved to the clamping position against work X, and the roller levers 55 have been slightly upwardly moved, if at all, toward the bottom of the work. Thereafter, as the user continues to draw forwardly on the handle 96, the roller levers 55 are moved upwardly into the position in which they are shown in Figure 13 and the work engaging member 51 rolls the Work about the clamp as shown in Figure 13. The upward movement of the link 51 rotates the link 59 and thus rotates the member 61. The member 61 is shown in perspective in Figure 14 and constitutes a species of rocker roller.

Referring to the form shown in Figures 15 and following, I illustrate a motor driven structure, having however, the same general operative characteristics as regard to the movement of the clamp and the bending roller structure. For example, referring to Figure 15, 90 indicates a motor which may for example be an electric motor driving a worm 89 in mesh with the gear 88 on a shaft Me. The shaft I40 is suitably journaled in the frame I0. I illustrate, for example, a fiat supporting base 92. Mounted for unitary movement with the shaft I40 is the cam 14 which is opposed to the roller 68 on the shaft 86. The brake clamp C is secured to the shaft 86 and extends forwardly therefrom and carries the bending blade c movably secured by bolts 250, the blade being opposed to the forward edge abutment 39c upon which the work X may be positioned. The details of adjustment of the abutment for the work may be the same as in the earlier drawings and need not be separately described. The flat end of the shaft 290 passes through slots in the upwardly extending brackets 85 and the adjustment of the shaft is the same as in the earlier described 1 forms.

83 indicates a roller supporting lever of which one end is mounted at each side of the base I c as at 90. The lever 83 carries rollers 80, 8| and 82. It is also provided with a pointer 9la opposed to the arcuate calibration 9| secured to the side of the frame la. The cam 14 actuates the levers 83 in the following manner. A rod 16 is pivoted at 81 to the cam 14 and is connected by a turnbuckle structure 11, i8 and 19 with a rod 95 which is pivoted as at, Ilc to the lever 83, The rod is thus adjustable as to length. I provide slotted member 15 along which the pivot structure 8'1 for the rod 16 may be adjusted toward and away from the axis of rotation of the cam 14. When the parts are in the position in which they are shown in Figures 15, 16 and 1'7, the motor 90 may be employed to rotate the cam 14. Referring to the position in which the parts are shown in Figure 15, it shows the bending blade 25c in its most withdrawn position, leaving ample room for the work X to be inserted or removed. When the motor is rotated to rotate the cam 14, the roller 68 is raised and the clamp structure is rotated about the center of the shaft 290. The result is to move the blade 250 down into clamping relationship against the fixed abutment 39c and the work X, which is the position of the parts as shown in Figure 16. When the rotation has continued to the position shown in Figure 1'7, the

lever 83 continues its rotation and the roller 89 is effective to bend the Work X as shown. The angle of the bend may be checked by watching the relationship between the pointer 9 la and the calioration 9!. It will be understood that any suitable anti-frictional means 91 and 98 may be used for supporting the rollers 89 and 8| as shown in Figures 20 and 21. I may find it advantageous to form the rollers 58 with flanges as shown in Figure 18. 99 is a bearing and spacing sleeve for the pivot 87 and H10 and llll are anti-friction bearing members for the shaft I40.

With reference to'Figures 22 to 2'7, I may vary the structures shown by employing, with any one of the forms of my device herein shown, a clamping member 93 which, instead of terminating with a blade edge, carries a roller 94 journaled as at 95 in bearing arms 93a, shown in Figure 22. The work is therefore, gripped not by a fixed blade, but by a roller, or a member having a cylindrical exterior. When the bend ing roller is moved upwardly against the bottom of thework X, it is effective, as shown in Figure 24, to bend the work in order to form a partly cylindrical edge portion. This cylindrical edge portion may then be engaged with the roller 94, as shown'in Figure 25 and the work can be wrapped around the roller 94 (see Figs. 26 and 2'7). It is possible in this fashion to roll substantially complete tubes.

Referring to Figures 2 8 and 29, I may apply to the clamp structure in Figure 16 a somewhat different bending blade. I illustrate, for example, a blade structure I03 terminating in a generally vertical portion i030. and having angular lower faces Ill-3b. The abutment 39 is removed and replaced by an abutment I94 having a channel IMa in its upper face. The abutment being secured for example by bolts or screws I95.

The connecting

rod structures

16, 96 may then be moved into inoperativ position, by moving the pivot 81 toward the center of the shaft 140, as shown in Figure 28. The cam 14, when rotated, is then effective to actuate the clamp structure 84, but has no effect on the position of the roller 80. The bending blade 33a is then moved downwardl toward the fixed abutment H14 and is adjusted to align with the depression 104a. The downward movement of the-bending blade 35a may be limited by adjustment of the nut 23 on the screw 21a to provide any desired angle of bend, within a substantial range. The sharp edge between the faces l03bprovide a small radius bend and the intermediate portion of the work X is forced down into the depression H141; to produce the desired form.. The shaft 29c may be adjusted in the slot in the bracket suitably to align the blade "13a with the depression 454a.

Referring to Figures 30 and following, I illustrate the application of my structure to shearing and forming sheet metal. It will be understood. that the brake structure proper may be the same as shown in Figure 28. However, I provide a somewhat diiferent type of abutment I20, which has a vertical rearward face HI and a. flat top [-22 somewhat above the top level of the base of the brake. Removably secured to the brake bar 84 is the shearing blade E23, 2 1 is a springv hold down which may beunitarily secured withtheshearing member I23 to the bar 84,. as. by any suitable bolts or screws I25. When the. work X.is in position, and the brake structure: is. actuated, the shearing member and the springv are at. first out of contact and above the work as shown in. Figure 30. Thereafter, as shown. in Figure 31, the hold down spring 12 3 engagesxthe-work X and holds it in position during the shearing operation. In Figure 32 the shear is'illustrated. As shown in Figure 33 a plurality of hold down springs I24 may be employed with a single shearing blade l2.

A further variation illustrated in Figures 34 and following employs spaced rollers on the base to assist in bending or forming material. Referring first to. Figure 34, I illustrate a preferably removable: bracket structure I38 mounted on the brake baseand. carrying two rollers l3! and l=32 which are spaced. apart sufiiciently to provide room for. the entry therebetween of a bending blade I33 which may have a. rounded lower edge or end portion I34. In Figure 35 the parts are shown in initial position and in Figure. 34. in bend forming position- Figures 34 and 36 illustrate.- the bending of a relatively short piece of workX butit will be understood that longer pieces. may be bent, ora plurality of pieces. No separate clamping means are employed or needed.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practical and operative device, nevertheless. many changes may be made in a shape; number and disposition; of parts wi hout departing from the spirit of my invention. I, therefore, wish. my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sensev illustrativeor diagrammatic. proportion of the parts may be widely varied and that a. wide varietyof accessories maybe provided. For instance, in connection with the basic brake or clamp which is shown in all forms described herein, I. illustrate various bending blades or forming members which may be removably applied to thefront endofthe clamp. I have also illustrated various work receiving abutments adapted for clamping, bending and shearing. I may employ any suitable means for driving the device. I have illustrated a motor in Figures to 1'8 and a hydraulic or pneumatic means in Figures 3- to 8. I may employ hand means either in the place of or in addition to the power means in order. to. actuate thev device, and I illustrate a varietyof hand. means such as the simple lever 2: of. Figure 1 and the pivoted structure 64, 6.6 of Figures 11 and 13.

The use and operation of. the: invention are as follows:

Basically, I provide-a relatively small, relatively simple brake. It may be made in larger. sizes, but one advantage of. my design: is that it may be made in small. sizes and will work with high efficiency, and is easily operated: witha minimum output of energy. The clamp structure proper forms a species of truss pivoted intermediate its end. The various cam structures shown, for example the levers 3 or the cam. rollers 14, are efiected to raise the rear end of the brake bar It will be understood that the I or clamp bar structure, thus iorcing, the forward end down into clamping or forming relationship with the work- I find it advantageous to provide unitary meansfor actuating the bending structure from the samepower source, in proper timed relationship to the effective clamping of the Work. In the various forms herein shownthe main drive shaft I 3, Me or 5!, whether manually actuated or power actuated, performs the two-fold function of camming up one endof the brake or clamp structure to. depress the opposite end, and thereafter actuating the bending. structure or roller to bend. the clamped work. However, as shown in Figures: 15, 16, 17 and 28, I canprovide means for interrupting the efiective driving connection between the power shaft He and the roller actuating levers 83, while continuing the effective drive of. the clamping, bar itself. This is advantageous when the device isemployed for f 01'111- ing or bending by forcing the work into a depression, as shown. in Figure, 28, or when the device is used for shearing as shown in; Figures 30 to 32; Itis not necessary to interrupt the roller actuating means; although such. may be done. if one wishes; to, because the movement of the clamping beam. or bar is complete in all cases before the roller moves above the level of the table.

By employing adjustable abutments such as are shown at 34,. 35 and 35, I may employ my brake to bend a variety of sizes and forms of material. I may form. a sharp bend as shown for example in Figure 13, and a bend the angle of which can be strictly controlled, as by actuating the set screw l8 shown in various drawings. On the other hand, where I wish a rounded bend or a rounding. or rolling of. the. material, I may employ the clamping roller 94 as shown in Figures 22. and following and; may roll the material. I have therefore provided a structure having great flexibility whichmay be applied to a wide variety of work and which may easily be operated by a single operator and may economically be employed to bend. relatively small pieces, or pluralities of. small: pieces.

An. important. advantage of my device is the fact that the clamping bar or beam A, and the abutment members. or clamp elements proper, such as 25 of Figure 9, are so related tothe rest of the machine that a boxer member can be bent, in which the side of the box or the length of the piece exceeds thewidth of the brake. In my brake there are no. projecting hinges or other obstructions which. limit the sizeof the piece to be Worked on. Alsoesince there is no interference with the piece undergoing bending, a small section of a longpiece can be bent, and a piece may be bent even though: it has laterally extending parts which give. the piece as a whole a width greater than the width of the brake, or of the work. engaging parts of the brake. A further advantage is. that an angle at any length can be bent on my brake by bending a piece a bit at a time and moving the. piece. laterally between bending operations, to complete the bend in two or more separate movements.

I claim:

1. In a. bending brake, a. base, an abutment on said base, a bending member movably mounted on said base adjacent said abutment, means for guiding said bending member along a path extending adjacent the edge of the base and passing upwardly above the level of said abutment, including a lever pivoted to the base, on which the bending, member is mounted, a clamp