US367682A - Machine for rolling metal to spherical form - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

G. F. TEBBETTS.

MACHINE FOR ROLLING METAL T0 SPHERIGAL FORM. No. 367,682. r Patented Aug. 2, 1 887 java/2232:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHAR-LES FRANCIS TEBBETTS, OF FITCHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR ROLLING METAL TO SPHERICAL FORM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,682, dated August 2, 1887.

Application filed February 24, 1887. Serial No. 228,794. (No model.)

To all whom it. mag monomer- Be it known that 1, CHARLES FRANCIS Tm;- BETTS, of Fitchburg, in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Making Metal Articles, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for making metal articles spherical, cylindrical, or other contour having circular cross-sectional area; and the objects and nature of this invention are fully described and specifically claimed hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the forward end of amachine embodying this invention, a part of one of the supportingbrackets being broken away to better show the working of the platens. Fig. 2 is a view of the platens or die carrying plates, the positions which the dies are to occupy being indicated thereon by curved lines, while the direction of motion in which the platens are moved while making one of the metal articles is indicated by the arrows. Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the dies.

This invention pertains to that class of machines in which there are two dies, the same to be used in 'pairs and moved in opposite directions to shape articles of metal rolled on their axis between.

It is the object of this invention, in part, to prevent the article from slipping and sliding out of position while being formed. To this end I give the dies a lateral curvature (see Fig. 3) and mount them upon movable platens or carrying-plates with the formingsnrface s of the dies opposed to each other. The platens are themselves mounted upon supportingbrackets,and one of said platens,preferably the top one, is made adjustable toward and from the other, to the end that dies of different thicknesses may be introduced between the platens. This adjustment of the platens I accomplish in the machine represented by makingthe bracket which supports the platen movable on its sup porting and stayinggpins; but it will be evident that other constructions and forms of mechanism may be employed as well. The platens are located one above the other, and are pivotally connected to their supportingbrackets by suitable pins or studs, on which they may be turned or oscillated sufliciently to carry the forming-dies past each other in opposite directions. In the machine represented I make use of a rack-and-pinion mechanism-the construction, arrangement, and

operation of which is deemed obvious from the (lrawings--for giving movement to the platens; but other mechanisms may be employed as well, the essential feature being to move the dies in opposite directions simultaneously and with equal speed.

The curvilinear face of the die commences at the vanishing point and gradually deepens until it terminates at the opposite end of the die on line. This is the formingsurface oft-he die. It commences its work at the point and ends it at the line. The maximum depth of the surface on line is about equal to onehalf the largest diameter of the article which it is intended to make between the two dies,

and the general conformation or contour of this surface on line will correspond with the lateral contour of the completed article as it appears on a plane which bisects the article. The spreading and reducing surfaces, commencing at the point, rise gradually from the surface of the die-block until they terminate on line, at which point they are elevated to one-half the diameter of the intended article. The dies, which are preferably composed of steel, are made by first planing or milling in the groove which constitutes the forming-surfaces and then cross-planing the raised surfaces to a vanishing point, as stated. The outer or spreading surfaces are preferably rounded and corrugated or chased, to the end that they may better lay hold of the metal bar and rotate it while the article is being formed.

The curvature of either die is made similar to the curvature of its cooperating member, and the dies are positioned. upon their respective platens,so that their forming -surfaces and as the dies move past each otherin opposite directions the forming-surfaces converge as they approach and diverge as they depart from the registering plane.

In operation the platens are first moved so as to bring the vanishing point of each die into the registering plane. The metal bar is then placed in position between the dies and the platens begin to move in opposite directions, as indicated. The dies lay hold upon opposite sides of the metal bar, and in moving past each other compress, reduce, and shape theintended article, which article drops from the metal bar a completed thing, when the dies complete their passage. It is always in the registering plane that shape and form are iinparted to the intended article, and the lateral divergency of the forming-surfaces of the dies immediately before and after the registering plane prevents the article from slipping and sliding out of position while being formed. The dies represented in the drawings are sections or arcs of similar circles,and are mounted upon platens which turn about fixed axes, and I am persuaded to believe that such is the simplest and most economical mechanism and arrangement to be employed in carrying out my invention, though I am aware that other mechanisms could be der'ised for operating the dies and carrying them through the required paths or movements and effect the results described; but

I claim as of my invention and desire by Let ters Patent to secure- 1. In a machine for making metal articles, substantially as described, the combination of curved dies mounted on platens and working in curved paths, substantially as set forth.

2. Curved dies, substantially as described.

3. Two dies having forming-surfaces, substantially as set forth, the dies being arranged with their forming-surfaces opposed and registering with each other in a cross sectional plane and divergent and non-registering on both sides of said plane, combined with mechanism for moving the dies in opposite directions and bringing the successive cross sectional surfaces of the dies into the registering plane simultaneously, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. The combination of the curved dies, their supporting-platens, and the described raekand-pinion mechanism for moving the dies, substantially as described.

CHARLES FRANCIS TEBBETTS.

W'itnesses:

JOEL J 0131;, J AMES H. MclvLirIoN.

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