US2948049A

US2948049A - Apparatus for distributing barbed metal band

Info

Publication number: US2948049A
Application number: US551707A
Authority: US
Inventors: 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: 1960-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 1977-08-09

Description

1950 A. B. WILSON 2,948,049

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING BARBED METAL BAND Filed Dec. 7, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

Q ZZQfiE ZZ/Llso 77/,

Aug. 9, 1960 A. B. WILSON 2,948,049

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING BARBED METAL BAND Filed Dec. 7, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 g, \Q iii, I: l

J9\ x i562 i5 21d f C{\\\\\\ 4 Lggg qnnn 16 4 1 I 13 u- 13 F Q9 5 10 INVENTOR. azzema ll/L'laan/ Aug. 9, 1960 A. B. WILSON APPARATUS FOR msmsuwmc BARBED METAL BAND Filed Dec. 7. 1955 V 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 R m m m claw/i5.

Aug. 9, 1960 A. B. WILSON 2,948,049

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING BARBED METAL BAND Filed Dec. 7, 1955 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 atent Patented Aug. 9, 1960 ice APPARATUS FORDISTRIBUTING BARBED METAL BAND Allen B. Wilson, Chicago, 11]., assignor to Acme Steel Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Dec. 7, 1955, Ser. No. 551,707

4 Claims. (Cl. 29-7.1)

This invention relates to apparatus for distributing and using barbed metal band such as that which may be used in forming entanglements or barricades for military purposes. Such obstructions have heretofore been formed of ordinary barbed wire formed of two strands of round wire twisted together in helical fashion and having interlocked therewith at intervals barbs formed by coiled portions of wire having sharpened ends. This barbed wire is difl'lcult to handle and is generally so flexible that it cannot be put in the place of use except by a manual operation.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide novel apparatus by which barbed metal band may be formed in a continuous process and distributed as it is formed in the place and arrangement in which it is to be used. A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for distributing barbed metal band according to a prearranged plan and supporting it in the arrangement in which it is distributed. Another object is to provide portable apparatus having means for forming barbed metal band from a supply of fiat strip ma terial and for distributing the barbed band and arranging it during the travel of the apparatus. Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement 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 is illustrated. In the drawings,

Figure 1 shows a top plan view of a barbed metal band which may be formed and distributed by the use of the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows an end elevation of the barbed metm band illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a top plan view of a fiat metalstzrip which has been slitted along its edges to form inclined pointed portions which are adapted to be bent into. the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 when the strip is moved endwise through suitable apparatus;

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 a barb bending apparatus which may be used to produce the barbed metal band shown in Fig. 1' from the slitted band shown in Fig. 3;

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

Fig. 6 shows a vertical section through a machine which may be employed to produce from the slitted metal strip shown in Fig. 3 the barbed band shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 7 shows a vertical section taken on the line 77 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of a portion of the forming apparatus illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, illustrating the operation of the dies of this machine in bending the slitted edge portions of the metal strip;

Fig. 9 shows a top plan view of the portable apparatus of the present invention by which the barbed metal band is formed, distributed and put into use in a continuous process;

Fig. 10 shows a side elevation of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 11 shows a somewhat diagrammatic top plan view of an improved military obstruction or entanglement formed with the use of the apparatus of the present invention, a portion of which is illustrated by a top plan View;

Fig. 12 shows a perspective view of two spaced supports for the barbed metal band which are embodied in the construction shown in Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 shows a perspective view of one of the frame members embodied in the construction shown in Figs. 11 and 12, illustrating one of the hooks for engaging the barbed metal band.

The present invention may be used to form and distribute barbed metal band of various forms but it preferably forms and distributes the form of barbed metal band shown in Figs. 1 and 2 which is described and claimed in the copending application of Chester M. MacChesney and Allen B. Wilson, Serial No. 551,684, filed December 7, 1955 This band is produced from the slitted metal strip shown in Fig. 3. This barbed metal band comprises a flat metal band 10 provided along its center with a series of spaced index holes 100, which are adapted to position the band in the machine of the present invention by which it maybe formed, and having along its edges two series of radiating spikes or barbs 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 100 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 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 metal band is well adapted for use in military operations where 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 flat 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 10a and also to slit the strip along diagonal lines at its opposite edges to form the cuts 102 and 10 which are located at acute angles with respect to theedges of the metal strip, thus forming along both edges of this strip a series of attached sharp portions 10g which are adapted to be bent from the plane of the strip to produce the barbed band which is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the sharp portions 10g becoming the barbs b and 10c which have previously been described. The metal strip 10d may be a comparatively thin steel strip, having a thickness, for example, of about thirtyfive 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.

The barbed metal band described above is adapted to be produced from the slitted strip shown in Fig. 3 by the use of the machine which is illustrated in Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive. This machine is the invention of George E. Rasmussen and is described and claimed in his copending application Serial No. 551,674, filed December 7, 1955.

The slitted band may be formed at any desired location and is placed in the apparatus of the present invention at that location, or at the place of use where the barbed metal band is formed by the machine, and distributed in one operation. This band forming machine comprises a base 12 on which are mounted two upstanding parallel frame members 13 in which are journalled two

shafts

14 and 15. These shafts are journalled in bushings lfi mounted in the frame members and they extend parallel to each other in horizontal planes. The shafts have projecting portions 14a and 14b extending beyond one of the frame members 13 and having secured thereon two gears 17 which mesh with each other so that the shafts rotate in unison. One of the

shafts

14 or 15 is connected to power actuated driving mechanism, as hereinafter described, so that the machine may be continuously operated when it is in use.

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 own bushing 16 and also in its associated drums or cylinders 18.

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 21. 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 to the parts carried by the

disks

20 and 21 which operate upon the sharp projections 10g to bend them transversely to the strip. h Theupper 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 have pivotally mounted thereon, and on each side thereof, an annular series of relatively movable die members 20c which are pivotally mounted on the disk by means of pins 24 and spaced equal distances apart. Each pivotally mounted die member 20c 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 20c also has a radially extending 20c 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,

- 4 the portions 20d of the die members 200 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 distances around 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 membcrs 21c which are pivoted on the disk by means of pins 25'. These die members 216 are similar to the die members 200, each compfising 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.

In the operation of the machine, the metal strip 10d, which has been slitted along the lines 10:: and 10 is moved through the

disks

20 and 21 in the direction of the arrow 23 by the engagement of the pins 20a 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 103 is approaching the adjacent parts of the

disks

20 and 21, and assuming that this part 10g is in position to be engaged by a die member 20c on the upper side of the strip, as viewed in Figs. 6 and 8, the portion 202 of the pivoted die member 2150 engages the upper side of the metal strip and bends it downwardly and outwardly against the adjacent die 21b which is carried by the disk 21, as shown particularly in Fig. 8. The die member 21b has a face 21 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 the same time, the edge portion of the strip 10d at and adjacent to the base of the portion" 10g coacts with an inclined surface 21;; of the die 21b. as shown in Fig. 8, with the result that the edge portion of the strip is bent upwardly as shown at 10h. This upward bending of 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 barbs to be directed in the manner of the barbs 10b, as shown in Fig. 2, and other die surfaces 21g are in the manner of the barbs 10c. The inclined faces 21g of the dies 21b are shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and their different inclinations result in the difierent angles of the resulting barbs.

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 10f 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 210 on the disk is such that the portions 10g of the 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 10g 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 20c and 210 normally contact the cylindrical surfaces of the associated drums 18 and, in order to prevent the parts 20e and 212 of the pivoted die members from catching on the'relatively

fixed die members

21c 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 15, so that the tail portion of a pivoted

diemember

200 or 21c is permitted to move into the adjacent recess to allow the pivoted dog to tilt so that the arm 20a and Zle thereof will pass by the adjacent relatively fixed die 21b or 20b.

The present invention is directed primarily to means for distributing and using barbed metal band, preferably of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which may preferably be formed by the use of the machine shown in Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive. I

In Figs. 9 and of the drawings, the apparatus of the invention is shown as being mounted upon an automobile or motor truck 30 which is preferably a vehicle having a short wheel base, such as the one known as a Jeep. 'Ihis truck has a body 31 mounted on wheels 32 and provided with a rear deck or platform 33 on which the apparatus of the present invention is mounted in a position accessible to the occupants of the seats 34. Through the steering wheel 35 this truck is capable of making sharp turns and of being manipulated in relatively small areas.

On the deck 33, between the rear fenders 36, there is mounted a reel 37 on which is wound a coil 38 of the slitted metal strip'10d described above. This reel is carried by a shaft 39 mounted to rotate in bearing brackets 40 and the slitted strip 38 is withdrawn from the reel by the

disks

20 and 21 of the barb forming machine which has its base 12 secured to the deck 33 at the rear of the reel. The shaft 14, on which the disk 20 is mounted, extends laterally and has its opposite end journalled in a bearing bracket 42 secured to the deck 33. At an intermediate point, the shaft 14 has fixed thereon a sprocket wheel 43 which meshes with a sprocket chain 44 driven by a sprocket wheel 45 fixed on the shaft of a motor 46. This motor is mounted in fixed position on the deck 33 and may be driven by the battery of the vehicle 30. With this arrangement, the

disks

20 and 21 are power driven and the barbed metal band 10 is formed continuously while the motor 46 is in operation.

As the barbed metal band is discharged by the

disks

20 and 21, it is projected through a delivery tube or spout 50 which is mounted on a frame 51 secured to the rear portion of the deck 33. The tube 50 is rotatably mounted and held against endwise movement in bearings 52 carried by the frame 51 and it is inclined upwardly and rearwardly, preferably at an angle of about 40 or 45 degrees to the horizontal. The inclined body portion 50a of the delivery tube or spout 50 extends upwardly and rearwardly to a substantial extent, as shown in Fig. 11, and the tube terminates in a right-angularly disposed discharge portion 5012 which is directed in a general downward or lateral direction from the axis of the body portion 50a, depending upon the angular position of the body portion.

In order to give an oscillatory movement to the delivery tube 50, for the purpose of spraying the barbed metal band 10 over the desired area, the tube has fixed thereon, rearwardly of the bearings and adjacent to its flared mouth 500, a pinion 53 which meshes with a rack bar 54 mounted to reciprocate laterally of the truck in a bracket 55 secured to the frame 51. The rack bar terminates in an extension 54a on which is mounted a roller 56 arranged to travel in the eccentric groove 57a formed in the face of a cam disk 57. This cam disk is fixed on a horizontal shaft 58 journalled in bearing members 59 fixed on the deck 33. The forward end of the shaft 59 has fixed thereon a bevel gear 60 arranged to mesh with another bevel gear 61 fixed on the motor driven shaft 14. Thus, when the shaft 14 is rotating, the corresponding rotation of the cam disk 57' imparts a reciprocatory motion to the rack bar 54 with the result that the delivery tube 50 is also oscillated so that the angularly disposed portion 5% thereof distributes the barbed metal band over a substantial area.

The oscillatory motion of the delivery tube 50 may be? utilized, in. conjunction with the various possible movements of the supporting truck on its wheels 32, for distributing the barbed metal band quickly and according to a predetermined plan. For example, there is illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, the use of the apparatus in forming a novel distribution of the barbed metal band 10 on a series of upstanding supports 65 which are spaced apart and secured-in place by spikes or stakes 66 driven into the ground. The supports 65 may preferably be of two different forms which are arranged alternately as shown in Fig. 12. One form comprises two pairs of upwardly diverging angle bars 67 which are riveted at their lower ends to the upwardly extending flange of an angle bar 68 which rests on the ground and has its lower flange apertured for engagement by the spikes 66. The top ends of the inner members 67 of the two pairs are secured together and the top ends of the outer members 67 are secured to the top ends of vertical angle bars 69 which have their lower ends secured to the horizontal members 68.

The alternate supports 65, shown in the lower part of Fig. 12, each comprise upwardly converging angle bars 70 which are secured at their lower ends to the upstanding flange of a horizontal angle bar 71 having its bottom flange resting on the ground and apertured for engagement by the spikes 66. The top ends of the converging members 70 of each pair are secured together. The uppermost or outermost flanges of the angle bars 67, 69 and 70, which lie in planes at right angles to vertical planes are provided with upwardly directed hooks 72 which are formed by punching a portion of the metal out of these flanges and bending it to form a hook, as shown particularly in Fig. 13. These hooks are quite closely spaced on the angle bars and are adapted to engage and interlock with strands of the barbed metal band which are dropped on them.

When the supports 65 have been secured in place on the ground by the spikes 66, the truck may be located at one side of the row of supports, as shown in Fig. 11, and, with the motor 46 running to cause the continuous production of the barbed metal band, the truck and the delivery tube 50 are manipulated to distribute the barbed band over the supports according to a predetermined plan such as that shown in Fig. 11. As there shown, the barbed metal band 10 is laid in a plurality of transverse series of loops 75, each of which' extends across three supports 65. The adjacent arms 75a of the loops of each series are connected at one end of the series by bends 75b and at the other end of the series by bends 750, thus forming a complete series of loops extending transversely of the barricade over three supports 65. The loops of the next series overlap those of the first series and are supported partly by two supports 65 of the first series and partly by a third support 65 not engaged by any loops of the first series. In this way the loops advance toward the right as viewed in Fig. 11 with the loops of more than one series resting on the same supports 65 except at the ends of the row.

When the barbed metal band has been laid on the supports 65 with the convolutions of the band engaging some of the hooks 72, the free ends of the books may preferably be hammered downwardly over the enclosed portions of the band to form tight interlooking engagements between the hooks and the band so that the convolutions of the band are held securely in place.

As the barbed metal band 10 is laid to form the barricade or entanglement shown in Fig. 11, the truck carrying the distributing apparatus is moved toward and from the row of supports 65 and the delivery tube 50 is oscillated laterally to form the loops. When one series of loops has been formed the truck is moved toward the right and positoned to form the loops of the next series. As the barbed metal band is formed by the

disks

20 and 21 it is projected through the tube 50 and the oscillating tube 50 then swings the band laterally to form the loops which descend by gravity and are automatically engaged and supported by the hooks 72.

Although a single form of the apparatus of the invention has been shown and described by way of illustration, it will be understood that the apparatus may be constructed in various other embodiments which come within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a vehicle including a platform and maneuverable over a distribution area, support means mounted on said platform to hold a roll of flat metal strip during maneuvering of said vehicle over the distribution area, forming means mounted on said platform adjacent to said support means for receiving the strip therefrom and forming thereon sharp projections to provide a barbed metal band during the maneuvering of said vehicle over the distribution area, distributing means mounted on said platform adjacent to said forming means to receive the barbed metal band therefrom and to pay out and to distribute the band onto the distribution area, and common drive mechanism for said forming means and said distributing means, whereby the strip is fed from said support means to said forming means at a predetermined rate to provide barbed metal band from said forming means to said distributing means at a predetermined rate and to pay out and distribute the barbed metal band from said plat-form onto the distribution area at the predetermined rate and in a first predetermined pattern while said vehicle is maneuvered over the distribution area in a second predetermined pattern.

2. In combination with a vehicle including a platform and maneuverable over a distribution are-a, support means mounted on said platform to hold a roll of flat metal strip having its edges slit along diagonal lines to provide a plurality of sharp portions thereon lying substantially in the plane of the strip, bending means mounted on said platform adjacent to said support means for receiving the strip therefrom and bending the sharp portions out of the plane therefrom progressively to form a sharp metal band during maneuvering of said vehicles over the distribution area, distributing means mounted on said platform adjacent to said bending means to receive the barbed metal band therefrom and to pay out and to distribute the band onto the distribution area, and a common drive mechanism for said bending means and said distributing means,

whereby the strip is fed from said support means to said bending means at a predetermined rate to provide barbed metal band from said bending means to said distributing means at a predetermined rate and to pay out and distribute the barbed metal band from said platform onto the distribution area at the predetermined rate and in a first predetermined pattern while said vehicle is maneuvered over the distribution area in a second prede termined pattern.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein the distributing means includes a delivery tube'for receiving the barbed band therethrough, and means for moving said tube laterally as the barbed band is discharged therefrom.

4. In combination with a vehicle including a platform and maneuverable over a distribution area, support means mounted on said platform to hold a roll of flat metal strip during maneuvering of said vehicle over the distribution area, forming means mounted on said platform adjacent to said support means for receiving the strip therefrom and forming thereon sharp projections to provide a barbed metal band during the maneuvering of said vehicle the longitudinal axis of said first portion, whereby the strip is fed from said support means to said forming means at a predetermined rate to provide barbed metal band from said forming means to said delivery tube at a predetermined rate and to ,pay out and distribute the barbed metal band from said platform onto the distribution area at the predetermined rate and in a first predetermined pattern while said vehicle is maneuvered over the distribution area in a second predetermined pattern.

References fitted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 8,096 Judson Feb. 19, 1878 217,667 Cary July 15., 1379 275,810 Eaton Apr. 17, 1883 310,394 Ells Jan. 6, 1885 352,880 Murphy Nov. 16, 1886 444,957 Jordan Jan. 20, 1891 670,967 Powers Apr. 2, 1901 785,652 Bates Mar. 21, 1905 1,654,837 Schmid Jan. 3, 1928 2,254,238 Nelson Sept. 2, 1941 2,349,750 Peterson et al May 23, 1944 2,563,377 Schmidt Aug. 7, 1951 2,663,515 Kingsinger Dec. 22, 1953 2 ,839,257 Chicane June 17, 1958 2,857,117 Hendrix Oct. 21, 1958