US3672198A

US3672198A - Fender flairing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3672198A
Application number: US25952A
Authority: US
Inventors: Roman J Gasiorowski
Original assignee: AMF Inc
Current assignee: ROADMASTER Corp A CORP OF
Priority date: 1970-04-06
Filing date: 1970-04-06
Publication date: 1972-06-27
Anticipated expiration: 1989-06-27

Abstract

The reverse curl on the end of an arcuate fender is roll-formed between a stationary curved die and a movable roller die which is rolled along the stationary die.

Description

United States Patent Gasiorowski [4 1 June 27, 1972 54] FENDER FLAIRING APPARATUS [56] References Cited [72] Inventor: Roman J. Gasiorowski, Little Rock, Ark. UNITED STATES PATENTS 1244 422 /1917 Carter ..72/215 X M t d [731 Assgnee A F e 2,202,016 5/1940 McCutcheon ....72/215 x [22] Filed: April 6, 1970 3,009,201 11/1961 Hansen ..72/215 X [21] Appl' No: 952 Primary Examiner--Milton S. Mehr Attorney-George W. Price and Walter Lewis [52] US. Cl 72/215 [51] Int.Cl ..B2ld 7/02 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search g 5 The reverse curl on the end of an arcuate fender is roll-formed I between a stationary curved die and a movable roller die which is rolled along the stationary die.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Q I J I I 24, a 22 v O 7 1 1 3 mm, H IF 11 11 11:! Mi, 11 1', x T Y)\\IA\ 1W: n a 1.2w,100161011111 iv; v 1 13 I2" F E:'- -::1ll 'ilL".

PATENTEDJUHZ? I972 SHEET 2 OF 5 INVENTOR. ROMAN J. GASIOROWSKI BY %/W ATFRNEY PATENTEnJunzv 1972 3,672,198

SHEET u 0F 5 FIG. 4

INVENTOR. ROMAN J. GASIOROWSKI ATTORNEY FENDER FLAIRING APPARATUS This invention relates to a fender flairing apparatus, and more particularly, to apparatus for forming the reverse curl on the end of an arcuate sheet metal fender.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for forming said above mentioned reverse curl in a low cost manner.

Briefly, in the invention the apparatus roll forms said reverse curl.

Inthe prior art said reverse curl is formed by annealing the end of the fender and then intermittently hammering the fender end into a reverse curl. The hammering starts at the outerrnost tip of the fender and progresses inward. In the invention the advantages of natural flow of the material is used by rolling starting at a point inward of the outer fender end and then working outwardly. Annealing isn't necessary, rolling isn't as noisey as with hammering, and the rolling process is much faster. That is to say, the output of the rolling apparatus is about eight times that of the prior art method and apparatus.

The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularly in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and operation, together with further 1 objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference tothe following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a side elevation view of my improved apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a bicycle fender formed by my apparatus; and

FIGS; 6 & 7 are side elevation views similar to FIG. I but showing the relative positions of the parts at the start and finish of the roll forming operation.

The apparatus comprises a bed plate 10 having a stationary arcuate shaped backing die 11 positioned thereon. The trailing end of the backing die 11 has a reverse curved portion 12. Positioned above the' die 11 isa clamp 13. This is for the purpose of clamping an arcuate shaped wheel fender form 14 in the die- 11 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 6'. Positioned above the reversecurved end portion 12 of die 11 is a roller die 15. The roller die 15 is pressed against the backing die 11 and caused to roll therealong toform a reverse curl in the lower end of the fender 14 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7. In FIG. 7 the finished fender is indicated by reference numeral 14', and this fender is shown inperspective view in FIG. 5. In the illustrated product, a reverse curl is put in the trailing end of a rear bicycle fender. However, the invention can also be used to reverse curl the leading end of a front bicycle fender. The clamp 13 is operated closed by a pair of air cylinders 16 having piston rods 17 protruding therefrom. The clamp 13 is mounted on a plate 13' which is connected to the outer ends of the two piston rods 17. An air cylinder 18 is also provided for continuously urging the roller die 15 against the backing die 11. Cylinder 18 is pivotally mounted at its upper end on an axis 19. A piston rod 20, see FIGS. 6 & 7, protrudes downwardly from the air cylinder 18. The roller die 15 is rotatably mounted on a rotary axis 21 on the protruding end of piston rod by virtue of a yoke 22 connected to the piston rod 20. Inasmuch as the air cylinder 18 is pivotally mounted at its upper end the roller die 15 can swing in an are about the axis 19.

The means for pivotally mounting the air cylinder 18 comprises an upright frame 23 which is positioned on the bed 10. Opposite sides 24 of frame 23 straddle the stationary die 11, see FIG. 2.

The means for swinging cylinder 18 about its axis 19 so as to pull the roller die l5 along the stationary die 11, and more particularly along the reverse curved end portion 12, so as to 1 form the reverse curl in the fender form 14, will now be described. Positioned on the bed 10 adjacent to the reverse curved end portion 12 of stationary die 11 and in alignment therewith is a guideway 25. Mounted in guideway 25 is a slide block 26. Slide block 26 can move back and forth in guideway 25. Atthe end of guideway 25 remote from backing die 11 is a stop 27. A compression spring is positioned between the slide block 26 and stop 27. When the slide block 26 moves to the right the air cylinder 18 is swung to the right also so as to pull the roller wheel 15 along the reverse curved end portion 12. This is by virtue of a pair of links 29 which connect the slide block 26 to the lower end of the air cylinder 18 and roller die 15 sub-assembly. At their right hand ends the links 29 are pivotally connected to opposite sides of the slide block 26 and at their left hand ends they are pivotally connected to the rotary axis or pin 21 for the roller wheel 15. The slide block 26 is moved to the right by a vertically movable block 30 positioned above the block 26. The block 26 has an inclined surface 31 which is sloped upwardly in a direction away from the curved end portion 12. The vertically movable block 30 has a complementary inclined surface 32. Block 30 is mounted on a carriage 33 which is guided in an up and down direction. When block 30 is lowered so as to engage the surface 32 with the surface 31 the slide block 26 is caused to slide to the right in a restrained manner by virtue of the spring 28 positioned between block 26 and stop 27.

For purposes of aligning the fender form 14 in the apparatus on the backing die 11 an indexing means is provided. This indexing means comprises a U shaped cantilever'type support 34 connected to the upper end of frame 23. The outer end of support 34 has an indexing pin 35 thereon which is adapted to be received by an index hole 36 formed in the leading end of the fender, see FIG. 5.

Guide means is provided to assist the roller die 15 in correct movement along the curved end portion 12. The guide means comprise a pair of curved guide earns 37 positioned on the inside of the frame sides 24. The guide cams 37 are adjustably mounted on the frame sides 24 by virtue of an adjustable connection 38 with blocks 39 fixed to the frame sides 24. That is to say, when the adjusting means 38 is manipulated the guide earns 37 can be raised or lowered with respect to the curved end portion 12. The bottom curved surfaces of elements 37 are contoured complementary to the curvature of the curved end portion 12. Mounted on opposite ends of the rotary axis 21 of the roller die 15 are cam rollers 40. In operation of the apparatus the rollers 40 ride along the bottom surfaces of the guide earns 37 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 3, it will be noted that the main portion of the backing die 11 is a planar curved surface having a curva ture complementary to the lengthwise arcuate shape of the fender form' 14. This portion of the backing die 11 is primarily to nest and clamp the fender in position, such as indicated in FIG. 6. The remaining portion of the stationary backing die 11, that is to say the reverse curved end portion 12, which is the working portion of the backing die, has a curved channel or trough shape. That is to say, it is provided with side walls to give side support to the side walls of the fender as it is being rolled into a reverse curl.

In operation of the apparatus, the fender form 14 is first positioned into the machine so that the fender rests on the backing die 11 with the pin 35 inserted into the fender index hole 36. Thereafter the machine is energized so as to activate the clamping cylinders 16 to cause the clamp support plate 13' to move down so as to clamp the fender form 14 between the clamp 13 and the backing die 11. The lower curved surface of the clamp 13, of course, has a curvature which is complementary to the curvature of the backing die 11. Thereafter, the air cylinder'18 is activated so as to lower the roller die 15 into contact with the trailing end of the fender form 14 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 6. As the roller die 15 reaches the fender form 14 the carriage 33 is activated so as to lower the block 3.0 into engagement with the block 26. This causes the block 26 to move to the right to swing the air cylinder 18 and roller die 15 sub-assembly in a right hand or counterclockwise direction about the pivot axis 19. As the block 30 continues to move down the block 26 continues to move in a right hand direction and simultaneously the air cylinder 18 continues to lower the roller die for continuous engagement with the trailing end of the fender form so as to roll the same against the curved end portion 12 by following the curved end portion 12. As the roller die 15 travels along the curved end portion 12 so as to roll the reverse curl in the trailing end of the fender the cam rollers 40 are engaged with the curved cams 37, see FIG. 7. After the reverse curl is rolled into the fender the carriage 33 is raised and travel of piston rod is reversed so as to cause the roller die 15 to ride back up on the curved end portion 12 to the position illustrated in FIG. 6, and then the piston. rod is additionally raised to return the apparatus to the at rest position shown in FIG. 1. A stop 24', which is connected to the frame sides 24 is adapted to be abutted by the yoke 22 to limit return travel of the air cylinder 18 and roller die 15 sub-assembly. The spring 28 which was compressed in the FIG. 7 position, of course, causes the slide lock 26 to move in a left hand direction so as to swing the air cylinder 18 in a left hand or clockwise direction.

The controls which are required for operating the clamp 13, the cylinder 18, and the carriage 33 in proper sequence have not been described inasmuch as it is believed that this is unnecessary for a complete understanding of the invention and such controls can follow conventional practice in the machine art. Inasmuch as the spring 28 has to be compressed as the roller 15 rides along the curved end portion 12 this provides restrained movement of the roller'die 15 during its roll forming operation. However, it should be appreciated that other means, such as fluid means can be provided in place of the spring 28 to accomplish this restraint and return travel of the slide block 26. After the apparatus returns to the start posiuon shown in FIG. 6 then the cylinder 16 is reversed so as to release the clamp 13 whereupon the finished fender form 14' can be removed from the apparatus.

Although the

cylinders

16 and 18 have been described as air cylinders, it will be appreciated that hydraulic cylinders can be used instead. Especially when hydraulic fluid is used in cylinder 18, higher pressures are readily obtainable so that the clamping means 13 can be omitted. in other words, when roller 15 reaches the FIG. 6 position it essentially does the clamping. The guide means 37 can also be omitted. That is to say, clamping means 13 and guide means 37 are not absolutely essential elements for practice of the invention.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention, and therefore, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Apparatus for forming a reverse curl on the end of an arcuate sheet metal wheel fender, said apparatus comprising a stationary backing die, said backing die being arcuate in shape to nest said fender therein and including a reverse curved end portion, means for positioning said fender in said backing die, and a roller die for rolling the said end of said fender against said reverse curved end portion to form said reverse curl including means for continuously urging said roller die against said backing die and simultaneously pulling said roller die along said reverse curved end portion, wherein said continuously urging means comprises a cylinder having a piston rod protruding therefrom, said cylinder being pivotally mounted on an axis above said backing die, said roller die being positioned between said backing die and cylinder on said piston rod, and means for swinging said cylinder about said axis to pull said roller die along said reverse curved end portion. 2. in apparatus as in claim 1, said swinging means comprising a guideway which is aligned with said. backing die, a slide' block in said guideway, link means having a pivotal connection at its opposite ends with said slide block and the outer end of said piston rod whereby when said slide block is moved in its fuideway said cylinder is swunig about its swin axis. I

In apparatus as 111 claim wherern sar roller dre is mounted on the outer end of said piston rod on a rotary axis therefor, said link means comprising a pair of links pivotally connected at their opposite ends to opposite sides of said slide block and opposite ends of said rotary axis, a stop at the end of said guideway remote from said backing die, and a compression spring positioned between said stop and slide block to provide restrained movement of said slide block toward said stop.

4. ln apparatus as in claim 3, said backing die and guideway being positioned on a stationary bed, an upright frame positioned on said bed, said frame having opposite sides straddling said backing die, said cylinder being pivotally mounted on the upper end of said frame, a pair of guide cams positioned on said opposite frame sides above said backing die, said guide cams having a curvature similar to said reversed curved end portion, and a pair of roller cams mounted on the opposite ends of said roller die rotary axis, said roller cams being engaged with said guide cams as said cylinder is swung by said slide block to pull said roller die along said reversed curved end portion, whereby said reverse curl is roll formed between said roller die and reversed curved end portion.

5. ln apparatus as in claim 4, another cylinder for operating means for clamping said fender in said backing die, said positioning means comprising index means engageable with the other end of said fender for properly aligning said fender in said backing die, the upper surface of said slide block having an inclined surface formed thereon which slopes upwardly in a direction away from said backing die, and a vertically movable block positioned above said slide block, said vertically movable block having an inclined surface formed thereon which is complementary to the slide block inclined surface, whereby when said vertically movable block is lowered to engage said slide block the slide block is moved in a direction to compress said compression spring.

l i i i i

Claims

1. Apparatus for forming a reverse curl on the end of an arcuate sheet metal wheel fender, said apparatus comprising a stationary backing die, said backing die being arcuate in shape to nest said fender therein and including a reverse curved end portion, means for positioning said fender in said backing die, and a roller die for rolling the said end of said fender against said reverse curved end portion to form said reverse curl including means for continuously urging said roller die against said backing die and simultaneously pulling said roller die along said reverse curved end portion, wherein said continuously urging means comprises a cylinder having a piston rod protruding therefrom, said cylinder being pivotally mounted on an axis above said backing die, said roller die being positioned between said backing die and cylinder on said piston rod, and means for swinging said cylinder about said axis to pull said roller die along said reverse curved end portion.

2. In apparatus as in claim 1, said swinging means comprising a guideway which is aligned with said backing die, a slide block in said guideway, link means having a pivotal connection at its opposite ends with said slide block and the outer end of said piston rod whereby when said slide block is moved in its guideway said cylinder is swung about its swing axis.

3. In apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said roller die is mounted on the outer end of said piston rod on a rotary axis therefor, said link means comprising a pair of links pivotally connected at their opposite ends to opposite sides of said slide block and opposite ends of said rotary axis, a stop at the end of said guideway remote from said backing die, and a compression spring positioned between said stop and slide block to provide restrained movement of said slide block toward said stop.

4. In apparatus as in claim 3, said backing die and guideway being positioned on a stationary bed, an upright frame positioned on said bed, said frame having opposite sides straddling said backing die, said cylinder being pivotally mounted on the upper end of said frame, a pair of guide cams positioned on said opposite frame sides above said backing die, said guide cams having a curvature similar to said reversed curved end portion, and a pair of roller cams mounted on the opposite ends of said roller die rotary axis, said roller cams being engaged with said guide cams as said cylinder is swung by said slide block to pull said roller die along said reversed curved end portion, whereby said reverse curl is roll formed between said roller die and reversed curved end portion.

5. In apparatus as in claim 4, another cylinder for operating means for clamping said fender in said backing die, said positioning means comprising index means engageable with the other end of said fender for properly aligning said fender in said backing die, the upper surface of said slide block having an inclined surface formed thereon which slopes upwardly in a direction away from said backing die, and a vertically movable block positioned above said slide block, said vertically movable block having an inclined surface formed thereon which is complementary to the slide block inclined surface, whereby when said vertically movable block is lowered to engage said slide block the slide block is moved in a direction to compress said compression spring.