US351479A

US351479A - Manufacture of bent metal tubes

Info

Publication number: US351479A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1886-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 1903-10-26

Description

(No Model.) -2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. TAP'LIN.

MANUFACTURE OF BENT METAL TUBES.

No. 351,479. Patented Oct. 26, 1886.

NY PETERS. PhotwLhhogmpher. Washington. D, C.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

. A. TAPLIN.

, MANUFACTURE OF BENT METAL TUBES. No. 351,479

u. PETERS, Pholu-Lllhogmpher. Washington, m;

.UNITE STATES PATE L ALVIN TAPLIN, OF FORESTVILLE, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRISTOL BRASS CLOCK COMPANY, OF BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT.

MANUFACTURE OF BENT METAL TUBES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 351,479, dated October 26, 1886.

Application filed Augustfi, 1886. Serial No. 209,749. (No model.)

My invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of bent tubes from sheet metal, and the principle object of my invention is to economize in the manufacture thereof, especially with reference to a saving in stock.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents in side elevation a portion of one part of a bent tube, showing the result of the first operation upon one blank. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showinga blank which has been thus operated upon at both of its ends. Fig. 3 represents in side elevation one half of a tube which has been operated upon by the final swagingdies. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same. Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 represent side ele vations and a plan view showing corresponding operations upon the blank for the other half of the tube. Fig. 9 represents .in side elevation the two parts of the tube thus formed and properly trimmed, so as to match together ready for locking the seam. Fig. 10 is a transverse section of the completed tube. Fig. 11 is a transverse section of said tube in the. c011- ditio'n represented in Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the first swaging-dies for the ends of one half of the tube. Fig. 13 is a trans- .verse section on line as x of Fig. 12, showingthe confronting faces of the dies of said Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the first swaging-dies for the ends of the other half of the lanterns; but it is applicable to the manufacture of other tubes having a bend or elbow from which astraight or comparatively straight member extends.

Heretofore the side tubes for tubular lanterns have been made in the form represented in cross-section, Figs. 10 and 11, and by means of dies, but instead of having the seam upon both sides follow the same curve, so as to divide the tube at the elbow into what might be termed an outer and inner half, both seams were formed in one plane, the seam on one side of the tube following the lesser or inner curve, while the seam on the opposite side of the tube followed the greater or outer curve. Such tubes required a special blank, whose contour was in substantially U form, and involved a great waste of stock in cutting out.

I form the tube from two ribbons or straight strips of metal, which I curve and swage at the same time, so as to form an outer and inner half for each tube.

I will first describe the operation for forming the outer half, a, of the tube. One end of a straight strip of metal is placed between the swaging-dies A B, Fig. 12, and subjected to pressure therein, thereby forming an elbowat one end of the tube and swaging the metalinto the desired shape, as represented in Fig. 1. The other end of the same blank is then operated upon in like manner, in the same die, so as to swage the other elbow, which action will also bend the intermediate portion of the blank into a trough-shaped form, the result of these two operations being represented in Fig. 2. This partially-formed blank, Fig. 2, is then subjected to the action of the final swagingdies, C D, Fig. 16, thereby forming the metal into the form represented in Figs. 3 and 4., the same being mainly of semicircular formin cross-section or end view. In lantern-tubes one elbow is generally made on a curve of a larger radius than that of the other elbow, as

AND.

jug-die. I make the blank alittle wider than is necessary for forming the tubes and leave a portion to be trimmed off, so as to allow for some variation in placing the blank within the die or slipping after it is placed between the dies. This surplus metal, which is to be trimmed off from the outer part, a, of the tube, is designated by the letter I). It may be trimmed off in dies or by any ordinary means, so as to leave the part a of the tube in the form represented in Fig. 11. The inner half of the tube 0 is operated upon in the same manner by means of the dies E F and G H, which produce the forms represented in Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8. These forms are also made from a blank which is wide enough to admit of trimming off the edges of the flange d, to straighten the edges and leave said flanges of the proper width, as shown in Figs. 9,10, and 11. After trimming, the two parts of the tube are placed together, as shown in Figs. 9 and 11, when the edge of the metal composing the part a is clinched down by dies, or in any proper manner, into the form represented in Fig. 10, to lock the two parts of the tube together. The ends of the completed tube may be sawed or otherwise cut off to bring them into the desired form with reference to the parts to which they are to be attached.

Inasmuch as the upper andlower dies in Fig. 13 represent correctly the dies A B, and also the dies (J D, I have omitted all reference-letters from such figure. The reference-letters are also omitted from the upper and lower dies in Fig. 15, which bear the same relation to the dies E F G H. The first or preliminary swaging-dies for either half of the tube are principally for swaging the elbow, while the final swaging-dies swage the body of the tube and correct any imperfections that may be found in the result of the previous dies. The form of these dies will be understood from the drawings. An important feature of them is that they are divided upon a line which corresponds to the curve of the tube on its longitudinal axis.

Vhile the foregoing is the best mode known to me at present for carrying out my invention, the main advantages of my improvement may be reached by somewhat different steps and different dies.

The essential or most important feature of my improvement resides in striking the two parts of the tube fromastraight blank or strip with the connecting seam on both sides of the tube alike and following the curve of the tube on its longitudinal axis. Each part of the tube may be so struck at a single operation.

By my improvement I make a very large saving of stock, and I also produce a more desirable tube.

I claim as my invention 1. That improvement in the manufacture of bent tubes which consists of first forming a straight blank for each half of the tube and then striking said blanks to swage them into semicircular form in cross-section, and at the same time bending said straight blanks to give them the proper elbow-curve in side view, the dividing line between the two parts of the tube on both sides thereof following the course of the tube on its longitudinal axis, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

2. That improvement in the manufacture of bent tubes which consists of forming said tubes from two straight strips of sheet metal by first striking the elbow portions of said strips to give them their semicircular form in cross-section, and at the same time to curve the same, respectively, into the outer and inner halves of the elbows, then striking in a final die to complete the portion which extends from the elbow, substantially as de scribed.

3. That improvement in the manufacture of bent tubes which consists of forming said tubes from two straight strips of sheet metal by first striking separately the respective ends of said strips, to give them their semicircular form in cross-section and their elbow-curve in side view, and then striking in a final die to give form to the portion between said elbows and perfect said elbows with reference to said middle portion, substantially as described.

4. The hereindescribed dies for forming the elbow portion of bent tubes from strips of sheet metal, said dies having the semicircular form in cross-section, while they are divided mainly on a curved line corresponding to the curve of the tube, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

5. The herein described dies for use in forming bent tubes from straight strips of sheet metal, said dies having the semicircular form in cross-section, while they are divided on a line which corresponds with the axial line of said tube, involving the curve at each end, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

6. As a new article of manufacture, the herein-deseribed bent tube curved at its elbow portion and with a seam on both sides, which follows the longitudinal axis of the tube, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

ALVIN TA PLIN.

Witnesses:

C. S. Tnnnnwnr, M. L. TIFFANY.