US2940732A

US2940732A - Barbed metal band and method of forming same

Info

Publication number: US2940732A
Application number: US551684A
Authority: US
Inventors: Chester M Macchesney; Allen B Wilson
Original assignee: Acme Steel Co
Current assignee: Acme Steel Co
Priority date: 1955-12-07
Filing date: 1955-12-07
Publication date: 1960-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 1977-06-14

Description

June 14, 1960 c. M. M ccHEsNEY ETA!- 2,940,732

BARBED METAL BAND AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME Filed Dec. 7, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TORS @MMMVM Qizk a Filed Dec. 7, 1955 June 14, 1960 c. M. M CHESNEY ET ,940,732

BARBED METAL BAND AND METHOD 01-" FORMING SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M N 1 t N 1 gfi O O i O O i i N INVENTORS.

o O c i v0 6 0 BY CZllenfiZl/zlsqm 2 m w a mgza I ag Unite States animate Patented dune 14, 1950 inc BARBED lVlETAL BAND AND IVIETHOD OF FORMlNG SAME Chester M. MaeChesney and Allen B. Wilson, Chicago, 111., assignors to Acme Steel Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Dec. 7, 1955, Ser. No. 551,684

3 Claims. (31. 256-8) This invention relates to improvements in barbed metal bands and methods of forming the same and its purpose is to provide a novel metal band having outwardly projecting spikes or barbs and adapted to be produced efliciently and at relatively small cost for use in forming barricades or barbed entanglements employed in military operations and in forming fences and other structures.

According to the prior practice in military operations barbed entanglements or barricades have been formed mainly of ordinary woven wire made up of two metal wires twisted together longitudinally in helical fashion and having interlocked therewith at intervals barbs formed by curled sections of wire having projecting sharp ends. Such barbed wire has also been extensively employed in building fencing to confine cattle and other animals and for other similar uses. While such barbed wire is satisfactory in many respects it is somewhat difiicult to handle and has the disadvantage that it must be manufactured at a location far removed from the place of use.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel form of barbed band produced by slitting the edge portions of a flat metal strip and bending these portions transversely to form projecting barbs or spikes. A further object of the invention is to provide an improved barbed metal band comprising a flat flexible metal strip having spikes projecting in varying directions from its opposite edges. Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel method of forming a barbed metal band comprising the steps of slitting the edges of a metal strip at spaced intervals along its edges and at acute angles to said edges to form inclined pointed portions and then bending said portions outwardly to provide projecting spikes. Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement and to various details of the method, all of which will appear more fully hereinafter;

The nature of the invention will be understood from the following specification taken with the accompanying drawings in which one embodiment of the improved barbed metal band and one example of the method of forming it are illustrated. In the drawings,

Figure 1 shows a plan view of the improved barbed metal band of the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows an end elevation of the barbed metal band shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a plan view of a flat metal strip which is slitted diagonally along its edges to form pointed portions which are subsequently bent outwardly to form barbs or spikes such as those illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 shows an enlarged transverse section through a portion of the completed barbed metal band shown in Fig. 1, illustrating in elevation a portion of the barb bending apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to that of Fig. 4, showing a section through the band taken at a diiferent place, spaced from. that shown in Fig. 4 and illustrating a barb projecting from the body of the strip at another angle;

Fig. 6 shows a vertical section through one form of apparatus which may be employed in forming the barbed metal band illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2; 1

Fig. 7 shows a vertical section taken on the line 7 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 shows an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the forming apparatus illustrating the operation of parts thereof in bending a slitted portion of a metal strip.

The completed barbed metal band of the present invention is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings where it is shown as comprising a flat metal band 10 provided along its center line with a series of spaced index holes 1 3a, which are adapted to position the band in the machine by which it is formed, and having along its edges two series of radiating spikes which are similarly constructed and similarly located at each edge of the band. These radiating spikes or barbs at each edge of the band include barbs 10b which are arranged at relatively small angles to the plane of the band and which diverge in opposite directions from that plane. Each series of barbs also includes two barbs which diverge in opposite directions from the plane of the band 10 at substantially greater angles, as shown in Fig. 2. The

barbs are spaced apart longitudinally of the band and each pair of barbs 10b which are directed in opposite directions from the plane of the band are preferably located adjacent each other and between two pairs of barbs 100 which diverge from the plane of the band at greater angles. There is thus formed a fiat metal band 10 having two series of divergent spikes or barbs located along its opposite edges and arranged in the same manner at each edge. Due to the distribution of the barbs substantially around all parts of the band 10, this barbed etal band is well adapted for use in military operationswhere it is desired to provide a barricade to prevent the passage of troops and this construction is also well suited for the construction of fences and the like where it is desired to prevent the passage of cattle or other animals with a minimum use of fencing material.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings there is illustrated the flat metal strip 10d from which the finished product shown in Fig. l is formed. This fiat metal strip is run endwise through a punch press or through suitable slitting rolls to form along the center of the strip a series of equally spaced index holes ltla and also to slit the strip along diagonal lines at its opposite edges to form the cuts 10.2 and 1%) which are located at acute angles with respect to the edges of the metal strip, thus forming along both edges of this strip a series of attached sharp portions 19g which are adapted to be bent from the plane of the strip to produce he barbed band which is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the sharp portions 10g becoming the barbs Ebb and which have previously been described. The metal strip 19d may be a comparatively thin steel strip, having a thickness, for example, of about thirty-five thousandths of an inch (0.035), and it should be quite flexible so that the finished band may be readily manipulated when it is put into use.

Although the barbed metal band of the present invention might be formed in various Ways, there has been illustrated in the drawings one form of apparatus which is particularly adapted for carrying out at any convenient time and place the steps which are performed subsequent to the slitting of the metal strip as shown in Fig. 3, for the purpose of bending the sharp portions 16g transversely to the plane of the strip. This appa ratus is shown in Figs. 4 to 8 inclusive, and is described and claimed in the copending application of George Rassmussen, Serial No. 551,674, filed concurrently here with. This band forming machine comprises a base 12 on which are mounted two upstanding parallel frame members 13in which are journalled two shafts 14 and 15. These shafts are journalled in bushings 16 mounted in the frame members and they extend parallel to each other in horizontal planes. The shafts have projecting portions 14a and a extending beyond one of the frame members 13 andhaving secured thereon two gears 17 which mesh with each other so that the shafts rotate in unison. Although the shafts 14 and 15 may be manually operated, one of them is preferably connected by apparatus (not shown) to power actuated driving ,mechanism so that the machine may be continuously operated when it is in use. a 7

The'shafts 14 and 15 have enlarged central portions 14b and 15b located between the bushings 16 and journalled in surrounding cylinders or drums 18, two of which are provided for each shaft. These drums are secured to the frames 13 by studs 19, the heads of which are located in recesses formed in the inner faces of the drums as shown in Fig. 7. Each-shaft is thus journalled in its ownbushing 16 and also in its associated drums or cylinders 18. V

The inner faces of the two drums 18 of each shaft are -spaced apart and in these spaces there are'mounted two

disks

20 and 21 which are fixed upon'the shafts 14 and 15, respectively, and which are adapted to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrows 22 shown in Fig. 6. The upper disk 20 is provided on its peripheral surface with a plurality of radially projecting pins 20a which are adapted to engage the index holes 10a in the metal strip when this strip is passed between the two disks in the direction indicated by the arrow 23 in Fig. 6. The.

pins 20a, after passing through the index holes 10a are adapted to be received by recesses 21a formed in the lower disk 121. Of course, this registration of the pins 20a and recesses '21a'with respect to the holes 10a in the metal strip occurs only when these parts are at, or in proximity to, a'vertical plane containing the axes of the/shafts 14 and 15. By this registering means, the metal strip 10d being operated upon and its sharp portions 10g are located always in proper relationship tothe parts carried by the

disks

20 and 21 which operate upon the sharp projections 10g to bend them transversely to the strip.

The upper disk 20 has fixed thereon and projecting laterally therefrom in opposite directions two series of equally spaced fixed dies 20b and each disk 20 also has pivotally mounted thereon, and on each side thereof, an; annular series of '-relatively movable die members 200 which are pivotally mounted on the disk by means of pins 24 and spaced. equal distances apart. Each pivotally mounted die member 200 has a body portion 20d which has an inner curved surface adapted to rest normally upon the outer cylindrical surface of one of the drums 18 and each die member 200 also has a radially extending part 20e adapted to cooperate with the fixed die members carried by the disk 21. In effecting the bending of the sharp edge portions 10g of the metal strip, the portions 20d of the die members 20c trail behind the pivot pins 24 as the disk is rotated.

' Similarly,,the other 'disk 21 is provided with two series of relatively fixed dies 21b which are spaced apart equal distancesaround the periphery of the disk and which project laterally from both edges of the disk for cooperation with the movable die members 20c which are mounted upon the other disk 20. The disk 21 also has mounted thereon two series of pivoted die members 21c which are pivoted on the disk'by means of pins 25. These die members 210 are similar to the die members 200, each comprising a body portion 21d having an inner curved surface adapted to coact with the peripheral surface of a drum 18 and having also an outwardly extending portion .21e adapted to cooperate with the stationary die members 200 of the other disk in effecting the sharpened portions 10g which have been formed along the edge of the metal strip.

a In the operation of the machine, the metal strip 10d, whichjhasgbeen slitted along the lines 102 and 10f, is

. of the laterally extending projections 10h.

moved through the

disks

20 and 21 in the direction of the arrow 23, being moved by the engagement of the pins 20a of the disk 20 with the holes 10a in the strip and by the engagement therewith of the die members which are then operating to bend the portions 10g of the strip. Assuming that one of the sharp slitted portions 10g is approaching the adjacent parts of the

disks

20 and 21, and assumingthat this part 10g is in position to be engaged by adie'member 200 on the upper side of the strip, as viewed in Figs. 6 and 8, the portion 20c of the pivoted die'member 20c engages the upper side of the metal strip and bends it downwardly and out- Wardly against the adjacent die 21b which is carried by the disk 21, as shown particularly in Fig. 8. The die member 21b has a facezlf, extending in a general radial direction in relation to the axis of the disk 21, against which portion 10g of the metal strip is bent at substantially a right angle with respect to the plane of the laterally extending planar projection 10h of the strip, as best seen in Fig. 8. At, the same time, the laterally extending projection 10h on the edgeportion of the strip 10d at and adjacent to the base of the portion 10g coacts with an inclined surface 21g of the die 21b, as shown in Fig.8, with the result that the projection 10]: of the strip is bent upwardly as shown inFigs. 4, 5 and 8. This upward bending of the planar projection 10h along the edge portion of the strip determines the direction in which the part 10g extends to form one of the barbs 10b or 100. Some of the die surfaces 21g are inclined in such a direction that they cause the laterally extending projections 10h to be bent to cause the barbs to be directed in the manner of therbarbs 10b, as shown in Fig. 2, and other die surfaces 21g are inclined so as to cause the projections 10h to be bent to cause the barbs to be directed in the manner of the barbs 10c. The inclined faces 21g of the dies 21b are shown in Figs. 4 and Sand their difierent inclinations result in the different angles of the resulting barbs due to the different bending It will thus be understood from the foregoing description, and particularly from Figs. 1,4, 5 and 8 of the drawings that the finished strip, as it leaves the machine, is a singlepiece barbed metal band comprising ,a longitudinally extending flat metal strip 10 having along its opposite edge portions a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart laterally extending planar projections 1011. which are bent out of the plane of the strip at difierent predetermined angles, In each case the plane of the projection 10h is substantially parallel to the longitudinalv axis of the strip 10 but intersects the plane of the strip at an obtuse angle. A barb 10b or 100 is integrally formed on one'end 'of each projection 10]: and extends therefrom in a planethatis substantially normal to both the plane of that projection 10h and the longitudinal axis of the strip. Stated in a different manner, the

barbs

10b or 10c extend from their respective projections 10h and are joined thereto along lines substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the strip but lying at an obtuse angle with respect to the plane of the strip. These obtuse angles-that is, the angles at whichthe planes of the projections, 10h intersect the plane of the stripare different for different ones of the projections 10h so that the barbs radiate in a plurality of different directions with respect to the plane of the strip.

The end faces 21 and the inclined faces 21g of the dies 21b are arranged differently on alternate die members and the die members 20b carried by the disk 20 are similarly formed to cooperate with the pivoted die members 210 on the disk-21. The

slits

10a and 10 in the metal strip 10d are staggered with respect to each other. on opposite sides of the strip and the arrangement of the dies 20b, 20c, 21b and 21c on thedisk is such that the portions 10g ofthe strip on opposite sides of the strip will be engaged and bent alternately in succession as the strip moves between the disks, with the result that the slitted portions g are rapidly bent from the plane of the strip to the various positions which are shown in Figs. 1 and 2, thereby resulting in the rapid production of a flexible barbed band capable of the uses which have been referred to above.

In the operation of the machine, the pivoted die members 200 and 21c normally Contact the cylindrical surfaces of the associated drums 18 and, in order to prevent the parts 202 and Zle of the pivoted die members from catching on the relatively fixed

die members

210 and 20c, respectively when a pivoted die member and a fixed die member are moving away from the zone where the bending operation takes place, the drums 18 are provided with recesses 18a, extending through considerable distances on both sides of the vertical plane passing through the axes of the shafts 14 and 35, so that the tail portion of a pivoted die member 28: or 21c is permitted to move into the adjacent recess to allow the pivoted dog to tilt so that the arm we or 212 thereof will pass by the adjacent relatively fixed die 21:) or 281;.

Although one form of the invention has been shown and described by way of illustration, it will be understood that it may be constructed in various Ways which come Within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A single-piece barbed metal band comprising a longitudinally extending metal strip having along its opposite edge portions a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart planar lateral projections extending at obtuse angles with respect to the plane of said strip, and a pointed barb extending from each of said lateral projections in a direction normal to the plane of the projection and joining the projection along a line substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the strip, said obtuse angles being different for difierent ones of said projections so that said barbs radiate in a plurality of different direc tions with respect to the plane of said strip.

2. A single piece barbed metal band comprising a longitudinally extending metal strip having along its opposite edge portions a plurality of laterally extending planar projections, each projection residing in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the strip but intersecting the plane of the strip at an angle, and a barb on an end of each projection and extending therefrom in a plane substantially normal to both the plane of that projection and the longitudinal axis 'of said strip.

3. A single-piece barbed metal band comprising a longitudinally extending metal strip having along its opposite edge portions a plurality of laterally extending planar projections, each projection residing in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the strip but intersecting the plane of the strip at an angle, and

barb on an end of each projection and extending therefrom in a plane substantially normal to both the plane of that projection and the longitudinal axis of said strip, the angles between the planes of said projections and the plane of said strip being difierent for diflierent ones of said projections so that said barbs radiate in a plurality of difierent directions with respect to the plane of said strip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 118,135 Judson Aug. 15, 1871 368,014 Schmidt Aug. 9, 1887 386,742 Grellner July 24, 1888 642,109 Green Ian. 30, 1900 1,454,584 Gosser May 8, 1923 1,654,837 Schmid Jan. 3, 1928 2,392,223 Brickman Jan. 1, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 72,789 Switzerland Nov. 1, 1916