US2828843A

US2828843A - Reticulated sheet material

Info

Publication number: US2828843A
Application number: US251088A
Authority: US
Inventors: John W Hill
Original assignee: GLOBE Co
Current assignee: GLOBE Co
Priority date: 1951-10-12
Filing date: 1951-10-12
Publication date: 1958-04-01
Anticipated expiration: 1975-04-01

Description

April 1, 1958 J. w. HILL RETICULATED SHEET MATERIAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 12, 1951 INVENTOR.

W WWMZ %%M a '5 J. W. HILL I RETICULATED SHEET MATERIAL April 1, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 12, 1951 J. w. HILL 2,828,843

RETICULATED SHEET MATERIAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 3- A ril 1, 1958 Filed Oct. 12, 1951 L I I United States Patent@ i had z,s2s,s43 RETICULATED snnnr MATERIAL John W. Hill, Chicago, 111., assignor to The Globe Company, Chicago, Ill, a corporation of lilinois Application October 12, 1951, Serial No. 251,088 7 Claims. (Cl. rest-es The present invention relates to reticulated sheet material and the method of making the same.

More particularly this invention relates to reticulated sheet metal havin substantially diamond-shaped openings and integral side margins or flanges on two opposite sides thereof which may be shaped as desired to provide crests of the corrugations and the intermediate rows at the troughs thereof. While the corrugating step may sometimes facilitate the forming of the reticulated material, it is. generally unnecessary, and may, therefore, usually be omitted. Whether the slitted blank has been corrugated or not, the material intermediate the saddles is thereafter bent or rearranged to form strips substantially normal to the plane of the sheet extending between the unslitted marginal portions or flanges and shaped to provide substantially diamond-shaped openings therebetween. r H t v The, resulting reticulated sheet having two integral marginal edges with strips extending therebetween substantially normal to the general plane of the sheet is practically the same size as the original blank from which produced. However, the thickness of the sheet may be substantially greater than the width of the strips. ,The integral marginal edges which extend substantially at right angles to the general direction of the stripsmay be shaped as desired to provide suitable strengthening members, securing members, and steps or the like.

The distance between the parallel rows of slits is sufficient to provide strips of substantial width. These strips, being normal to the plane of the sheet, provide great strength longitudinally thereof. High strength transversely of'the strips is also provided by 'the integral flanges at the ends of the strips and the saddles. Moreover, due to the width of the strips the reticulated sheet may be made from relatively light-gauge sheet metal, such as 16 or 18 gauge or-comparable material; and still have high strength. V p ,The reticulatedsheets of the present invention are therefore particularly suitable for use as gratings, running boards,- steps, platforms, etc., where considerable strength is required. Moreover, the sheets maybe formed to provide bearing surfaces which prevent skidding in any direction even when wet or covered with ice.

An object ofthe present invention is to provide a reticulated sheet having relatively great strength.

" Another object of the presentinvention is to provide a reticulated sheet having a central, reticulated portion and integral, marginal edges or flanges outWardly of and on opposite'sides of the reticulated portion.

Patented Apr. 1, 1958 Still another object is to provide a reticulated sheet having integral marginal edges with strips of substantial width extending substantially transversely thereof and substantially normal to the plane of the sheet.

A still further object is to provide a reticulated sheet of high strength having substantially diamond-shaped openings therein.

Still another object is to provide a reticulated sheet having substantially diamond-shaped openings of great uniformity.

A still further object is to provide a reticulated sheet having a nonskid bearing surface on one or both sides thereof.

A further object is to provide a reticulated sheet having strips substantially normal to the plane of the sheet connected by rows of saddles extending generally transversely to said strips, with alternate rows of saddles adjacent one surface of the sheet and the intermediate rows adjacent the other surface of the sheet.

Another object is to provide a method for forming reticulated sheets of the above type.

A still further object is to provide such a method which involves slitting and rearranging the metal with little or no expansion of the original blank.

An additional object is to provide such a method for quickly and easily producing a recticulated sheet of the above type.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the'following description and claims when considered with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of a portion of a reticulated sheet embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of apparatus which may be employed for producing a reticulated sheet embodying the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 showing diagrammatically the slitting knives for forming the slits in the blank;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4 illustrating diagrammatically the corrugating dies of the apparatus;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 4 showing diagrammatically the punching mechanism of the apparatus for opening the slits and rearranging the metal to produce the finished sheet;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a sheet showing the result of the line 3 3 the various steps during the method of forming the same,

including the slitting, the corrugating, and the opening and rearranging;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the punches and holding members shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on line lit-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one of the punches which may be employed; and

Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of the overlapping zigzag slits formed in the blank for the purpose of increasing the nonskid characteristics of the finished, reticulated sheet. H

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1-3, there is shown a reticulated sheet embodying the present invention, comprising substantially flat marginal side or flange portions 11 and 11a extending generally longitudinally of the sheets with strips 12 of generally uniform Width substantially normal to the plane of the sheet extending therebetween. The strips are connected by generally transverse rows of

saddles

13 and 14 and are shaped so as to form substantially diamondshaped openings bounded by the strips and saddles. In the embodiment illustrated, the alternate rows of saddles 13 are adjacent one surface of the reticulated sheet, while the intermediate rows of saddles 14 are adjacent the op posite face of the sheet. A longitudinally extending row of positioning holes 16 may be formed in at least one of the side margins or flanges 11. The flanges with the openings 16 therein or other openings of relatively small extent compared to the area of the flanges are considered substantially imperforate as that expression is used herein. In order to provide a nonskid surface the opposite edges of the strips 12 are roughened or provided with projections 15, although this may be dispensed with, as there is little likelihood of anyone skidding on the sheet even if the opposite edges of the strips 12 are made generally straight;

In forming the reticulated sheet of the present invention, a blank 17 of the desired Width and length of the finished sheet is fed to suitable mechanism 18 illustrated diagrammatically. The material of the blank is prefer ably metal, such, for example, as steel or aluminum. However, any other material capable of forming a reticulated sheet embodying the present invention may be employed. The apparatus 18 may comprise a stationary bed 19 and a ram or head 20 mounted for vertical reeiprocation toward and away from the bed 19. The various parts of the apparatus for operating upon the blank are secured to the bed 19 and ram 20. The first section of the apparatus illustrated consists of an ordinary reciprocating cutter or slitter having suitable knives 21, such as illustrated in Fig. 5. The knives are preferably shaped and arranged to form spaced rows of overlapping serrated' slits 22 transversely of the blank 17. If

desired, the slits may be straight or of other configuration.

The bed plate of the machine is preferably provided at one side with a continuous die 23 having longitudinally spaced holes 24 throughout its length, and at the opposide side with a continuous rail 23a which may have a cross section similar to that of the die 23. The slitting portion of the machine includes a row of punches 25 mounted at the same side of the ram as the die 23 and arranged to cooperate with the openings 24 therein. If desired, punches 25 and dies 23 for cooperating'therewith may be employed at both sides of the bed plate. The dies 23 and punches 25 extend outwardly toward each other beyond their respective cutters or knives 21. Thus, when a sheet has been fed a proper distance into the machine and the ram 20 moved downwardly toward the bed 19, the punches 25 form the holes 16 in the margin of the sheet before the knives engage the blank. As the punches extend some distance into the dies 23 they serve to properly position the blank 17 during the slitting operation.

Holding means are also preferably provided for holding the margins of the blank against movement while it is being operated upon. Such means may consist of pressure or stripper plates 26 carried on the ram 20 and extending along substantially the full length of each side of the machine above the die 23 and rail 23a. The pressure plate positioned over the die 23 has perforations through which the punches 25 and pins 29 carried by the ram 20 may pass. Springs 27 are arranged between the ram 20 and the pressure plates 26, being positioned about the punches 25 or pins 29 which fit into the holes 24 at one side of the machine, and about guides 2% which sup port the pressure plate on the opposite side of the ram. The springs 27 force the pressure plates tightly against the top of the margins of the blank 17 properly located by the punches 25 and pins 29 to immovably clamp these margins between the pressure plates and the die 23 and rail 23a.

The cutters are arranged so that a predetermined section of the blank is slitted during each cycle or operating 4 stroke of the ram 20, and the sheet is moved the desired distance when the ram is in its upper position. It is to be noted that the knives 21 slit only the central portion of the blank, leaving at each side thereof a marginal flange or side portion 11 that is unperforated except for the holes 16 when these are punched therein.

After a portion of a blank has been slitted, the ram is raised, and the blank is again fed a similar distance into the machine by the feeding members 18a. This brings a new section of the blank between the cutters 21, and moves the portion which was just slitted by the cutters i to the adjacent portion of the machine for the next operation thereon. If a corrugating step is to be employed, the slitted portion of the blank is fed between corrugating dies 28, such as shown in Fig. 6, for corrugating the sheet generally transversely of the slits 22. The corrugating dies are so shaped and arranged that alternate rows of saddles 13 will be at the crests of the corrugations and the intermediate rows of saddles 14 will be at the troughs thereof.

During the corrugating operation, the pins 29, which preferably extend the full length of the head 20 beyond the slitting portion, engage the openings 16 in the marginal flange of the blank before the corrugating dies 28 contact the sheet. Thus the blank may be exactly positioned during its entire movement through the apparatus. Moreover, the pressure plates 26 frictionally hold the side margins 11 of the blank 17, so that the likelihood of tearing or enlarging the holes 16 due to any pull on the blank 17 is eliminated. As the sides of the blanks are preferably held a fixed distance apart during the entire operation, there is a slight drawing of the metal during the corrugating step. However, the dimensions of the blank will remain constant throughout.

When the sheet is next advanced, the corrugated portion, or the slitted portion of the blank if the corrugating is omitted, is subjected to the action of shaping punches, such, for example, as those illustrated in Figs. 7-11. During this operation also the pins 29 pass through the openings 16 in the side flange of the sheet and in conjunction with the pressure plates 26 maintain the margins of the sheet adjacent the shaping punches in proper position the same fixed distance apart.

In the punching or rearranging portion ofthe apparatus illustrated in Figs. 911, transverse rows of individual punches 30 are fixed in the head 20, and transverse rows of punches 31, oifset from the upper punches longitudinally as well as transversely, are fixed in the bed plate 19. Suitable means are provided to prevent undesired vertical displacement of the blank during the punching and rearranging operation. Such means may comprise positioning members 32 resiliently mounted in the ram 20 between the punches 30 in rows longitudinally of the machine, and positioning members 33 resiliently mounted in the bed plate 19 between the punches 31 in rows longitudinally of the machine, as shown particularly in Figs. 9 and 10.

The

positioning members

32 and 33 are so arranged that the upper members 32 engage the outer surface of the upper saddles 13, while the lower positioning members 33 engage the lower surface of the saddles 14 adjacent the bottom side of the sheet.

Wells 34 are provided in the bed plate 19 and ram 20 for the positioning members, each well having a reduced entrant opening 35 through which the positioning members pass. The inner ends 36 of the positioning members are enlarged to fit the well, and springs 37 are placed between the inner ends 36 of the positioning members and the ends of the wells, thus tending to maintain the

positioning members

32 and 33 in their outer positions. Other suitable arrangements for mounting the positioning members may be employed.

When the slitted and corrugated portion of the blank is positioned between the punches and the head and bed gamers plate are moved toward each other, each punch enters one of the slits 22 and each of the positioning members engages the outer face of one of the

saddles

13 and 14. Thus, the punches bend the material of the blank on each side of the saddle away therefrom toward the opposite face of the sheet, so that substantially half the metal in each strip is bent in one direction from the original plane of the sheet and the other half in the opposite direction and the resulting strips are Zigzag shaped.

As the twosets of

punches

30 and 31 move through the sheet in opposite directions and the

positioning members

32 and 33 tend to prevent movement of the sheet, both the flanges and the saddles will be held in substantially fixed position during the punching operation.

Holding plates may also be employed for preventing undesirable vertical movement of the blank. As shown particularly in Figs. 7 and 8, they may be mounted in the ram and urged downwardly therefrom by springs 41. The opposed or inner edges of the holding plates 40 are serrated to fit about the outer ends of the diamonds adjacent the margins of the blank. Although the holding plates 40 may be used in addition to the

positioning members

32 and 33, they are usually employed in place thereof, and alone sufliciently prevent vertical movement of the blank during the punching or rearranging operation.

While the punches may differ in shape, punches such as shown in Fig. 11 have proved very satisfactory. In cross section the punches are substantially diamond shaped and gradually taper inwardly in width from the inner ends thereof adjacent the bed plate and the ram to the outer free ends thereof. Throughout most of their length the taper at each side of the punches may be substantially 5 from the center line thereof to permit their ready withdrawal from the sheets. Adjacent their outer free ends the taper is much greater and each punch terminates in a fairly sharp edge which may readily enter the slit between two saddles. While the punch shown in Fig. 11 forms an opening about twice as long as wide, its dimensions and shape may vary. Throughout the application the phrase substantially diamond-shaped is intended to cover the shape of any opening which is relatively wide adjacent the central portion and then narrows toward the-opposite ends, and the punches for forming such openings.

The strips 12 extending between the side margins or flanges 11 are substantially normal to the general plane of the sheet. However, the taper of the punches the spacing therebetween of a distance greater than the thickness of the material of said sheet as shown in Fig. 10 and the resiliency of the metal or other material will result in their deviating slightly from perpendicularity, throughout at least part of their length.

As shown particularly in Fig. 2, the edges of the strips forming the bearing surface generally do not lie in one common plane. Instead, due to the operations on the blank the sides of each of the diamond-shaped openings slant upwardly from the ends to the middle portion. This increases the nonskid characteristics of the material. While the edges of the knives employed for slitting the sheet are serrated to form slits as shown in Figs. 8 and 12, the slits may be straight and the resulting sheet will still provide a surface which is nonskid to a substantial extent, particularly transversely of the general direction of the strips.

For the purpose of positioning the blanks or sheets exactly during operations thereon, it has been found desirable to employ punches and pins and 29, respectively, which pass through the margins of the sheet and enter into the openings in the die 23. As above pointed out, the openings 16 may be formed in the margins on both sides of the blank. Moreover, after the sheet is finished these openings 16 may serve a very useful purpose. They may be employed to secure one of the reticulated sheets to a support or to another sheet, particularly when the side margins or flanges 11 are bent down,

as shown in Fig. 2, to form longitudinal reinforcing members marked 11a. Although other positive positioning means may be employed for holding the blanks during the various operations thereon, it may still be desirable to form the openings 16 in the margins 11' of the sheets. The flanges 11 preferably remain in the original plane of the blank during formation of the sheet, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. However, they may in some instances have other shapes, as shown at 11a in this figure. In either form the flange portions are preferably maintained in their initial flat state Without substantial extension during formation of the reticulated sheet.

Ordinarily, the reticulated sheets have integral flanges at two sides only. However, if desired, they can be formed with such integral flanges on the other sides.

For running boards, steps, platforms, and other uses of a similar nature, the sheets employed are relatively narrow, and with strips of substantial width ample strength is provided when 16 or 18 gauge metal or comparable material is employed. Even when aluminum is used instead of steel, the sheets are sufficiently strong for most purposes. The saddles prevent any turning of the strips 12, and the marginal flanges, particularly when bent into the shape of an angle or channel, provide great strength transversely of the slits and resulting openings. The marginal flanges or portions may be made of any desired width. The margins may therefore be shaped to form integral, bracing members, securing members, steps, etc.

The reticulated sheets embodying the present invention, due to their strength, integral construction, and nonskid characteristics, are very desirable for use as running boards on freight cars. Even if wet or icy, there is substantially no likelihood of anyone slipping or skidding thereon. For this reason the material may also be used very advantageously in Stockyards and other places where the workmen are frequently required to walk on surfaces subjected to fluids.

As the sides of the strips extending transversely between the side flanges are readily accessible, the reticulated material may be easily and thoroughly cleaned. This is important for use in Stockyards and other places where cleanliness is essential. Also due to the accessibility of all parts of the material, it may be readily painted.

While there has been illustrated and described a reticulated sheet embodying the present invention and a method of making the same, together with apparatus which may be employed therefor, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. An integral reticulated sheet of grating material comprising substantially flat substantially unslitted flange portions extending generally longitudinaliy of one dimension of said sheet, a plurality of continuous strips extending between said flanges arranged substantially normal to the general plane of the sheet, said strips being of undulating shape forming rows of diamond-shaped openings between the opposed faces of said strips with the diamond-shaped openings in alternate rows offset longitudinally from the diamond-shaped openings in intermediate rows and portions of the opposite edges of said strips defining the opposite surfaces of said sheet, and the pairs of strips de fining alternate rows converging somewhat toward one surface of said sheet at an angle deviating slightly from perpendicularity to said sheet, and a plurality of spaced saddles connecting the free edges of adjacent strips at the ends of said diamond-shaped openings, said saddles being arranged in generally transverse rows with alternate rows adjacent to and offset inwardly of one surface of said 7 sheet and intermediate rows adjacent to and offset inwardly of the other surface of said sheet.

2. The material of claim 1 in which the strips are of substantially uniform width throughout.

3. The material of claim 1 in which the opposite surfaces of said material are spaced apart a distance greater than the width of said strips.

4. The material of claim 1 in which the strips are substantially rectangular in cross section.

5. The material of claim 1 in which the strips are of similar undulating shape with alternate strips substantially parallel and the intermediate strips offset therefrom substantially half the length of a diamond to form said rows of diamonds.

6. The method of forming from a blank a reticulated sheet having spaced flange portions, which comprises forming spaced rows of longitudinally aligned slits in a blank between spaced flange portions with the slits in alternate rows offset from those in intermediate rows to form strips between said rows of slits extending between said flange portions with saddle portions connecting adjacent strips intermediate the ends of said slits, forcing said strips from substantially the original plane of said blank while maintaining the size, shape and relative position of said flange portions substantially constant to form continuous strips substantially normal to the general plane of said sheet extending between said flange portions, moving said unslitted saddle portions adjacent to but inwardly of the opposite surfaces of said reticulated sheet and bending the portions of said strips on opposite sides of said slits away from each other in zigzag shape to form rows of substantially diamond-shaped openings between adjacent strips.

7. The method of forming from a blank a reticulated sheet having spaced tiange portions, which comprises forming spaced rows of longitudinally aligned slits in a blank betwen spaced flange portions with the slits in alternate rows offset from and having one less slit than those in intermediate rows to form strips between said rows of slits extending between said flange portions with saddle portions conhecting' adjacent strips intermediate the ends of said slits, forcing said strips from substantially the original plane of said blank while maintaining the size, shape and relative position of said flange portions substantially constant to. form continuous strips substantially normal to the general plane of said sheet extending between said flange portions, moving said unslitted saddle portions adjacent to but inwardly of the opposite surfaces of said re date-d sheet and depressing a portion of said sheet tldjilCfiill each of the ends of the short rows of slits, and bending the portions of said strips on opposite sides of said strips away from each other in zigzag shape to form rows of substantially diamond-shaped openings between adjacent strips.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 519,952 Hayes May 15, 1894 535,585 Hayes Mar. 12, 1895 748,669 Valentine Jan. 5, 1904 818,444 Holden Apr. 24, 1906 1,076,017 Chase Oct. 21, 1913 1,797,030 Steenstrup Mar. 17, 1931 1,983,412 Smith Dec. 4, 1934 2,018,085 Otte Oct. 22, 1935 2,140,610 Willard Dec. 20, 1938 2,144,528 Ewald Jan. 17, 1939 2,145,073 Drake Jan. 24, 1939 2,281,822 Bills et a1 May 5, 1942 2,366,224 Warp Jan. 2, 1945 2,492,909 Warp Dec. 27, 1949 2,583,682 Celo'vsky Jan. 29, 1952 2,609,781 Gruetjen Sept. 9, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 490,121 Germany Jan. 24, 1930