US882491A - Expanded metal and method of producing the same. - Google Patents

Description

N0. 882,491. PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908.

N. B. CLARK. EXPANDED METAL AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.11,1907.

| INVENTOR TTORNEY NORRIS ELMORE CLARK, OF PLATNVILLE, CONNECTICUT.

EXPANDED METAL AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 17, 1908.

Application filed December 11, 1907. Serial No. 406,079.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Non-ms ELMORE CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plainville, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Exanded Metal and Method of Producing the bame, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to expanded metal fabrics and particularly a new product and the method of manufacturing the same.

One object is to produce a material having tension members and anchors and suitable for reinforced concrete constructions.

Another object is to provide a reinforcing material which cannot slip in the cement or concrete.

Another object is to provide a fabric which will be itself reinforced or secured by the embeddin material.

Anot er object is to make possible a method of manufacture which is economical and satisfactory.

Figure 1 is a plan View of a corner of a sheet of material prepared for expansion by my improved method. Fig. 2 is a view of the same expanded. Fig. 3 is a view of part of the same showing the elements in er's ective. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on t e p ane of the line X X Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail View.

The fabric consists of parallel series of beams 1, 2, 3, etc., connected to other arallel series of beams 4, 5, 6, etc. by strand; 7, 8, 9, etc. in alternating or staggered arrangement. The ends of the beams, such as 10, 11 and 12 constitute offsets which preferably paoject beyond the line of strands 7, 8, and 9.

hen thematerial used as concrete reinforcement this affords additional security against bending of the beams by tension on the strands. The strands together with the connected portions of the beams constitute tension members extending lengthwise of the web of the fabric while the beams constitute anchors substantially at right angles thereto. In the drawing I have shown the outer tension member as made u of strands such as 13 and 14 and 'intermedlate anchors such as 15, but with no parts corresponding to the beams4 and 5.-

The stock is prepared for expansion preferably by slitting or lancing as shown in Fig. 1; This may be accomplished easily by suitable mechanism consisting for instance of two transverse rows of double edged cutters corresponding to the beams 1, 1 and 4, 4. The stockis then fed and the beams 2, 2 and 5, 5 severed. As the material is fed forward step by step the succeeding rows of beams are outlined and the longitudinal slits 16 and 17 separate the beams 1 from 1 and 4 from 4, etc. I reserve my right to claim this slitting mechanism in another application. During the slitting operation indentations may be made at the ends of the strands 7, 8, 9, etc. so that the elements will more uniformly take up their proper positions in expanding. The slits resemble a number of interlaid etterHs, while the slitted material is seen to be made up of staggered series of parallel beams 1, 4, etc. connected by parallel strands 7, 8, etc.

The strands of any one column, as for instance 7, 8, and 9 (Fig. 1), are united at their ends, and taken together constitute a flexible zig-zag strip capable of extension. The next adjacent column of strands, such as 13, 14, et'c., constitutes another zig-zag strip disposed in a direction opposite to the other zig-zag.

After slitting, the sheet is stretched or expanded by suitable mechanism, for instance jaws engaging the four edges of the sheet and arranged to move radially outward relative to the center of the sheet. The expansion which takes lace increases the superficial dimensions of the sheet longitudinally and laterally as well. This method of expansion in two directions by stretching, is so far as I am aware, entirely novel. It is easier to allow for such action than the customary action of contraction which takes place in other expandingq methods. The mechanism for carrying t is into effect, as above referred to, I reserve for another application. Ordinarily no material is removed in slitting the sheet. Y

What I claim is:

1. An expanded metal fabric consisting of connected bent. strands forming tension members having ofisets and short straight staggered series of beam members short strands with offsets connecting the beams in staggered relation.

6. An expanded metal fabric consisting of staggered series of parallel beam members and alternate strands connected to opposite lateral portions of adjacent beams.

7. An expanded metal fabric consisting of staggered-series of beam members, connected by short strands, each end of each beam having a projecting portion to which the ends of two strands are connected.

8. An expanded metal fabric consisting of parallel series of short staggered beams and short strands connecting the adjacent ends of the relatively staggered beams, the width of each strand being uniform from beam to beam.

9. The method of forming a metal fabric which consists in slitting a sheet to form series of parallel beams in staggered arrangement separated by parallel strands connected alternately to the beams on each side and then stretching the sheet in two directions.

10. The method of forming a metal fabric which consists in forming double rows of transverse staggered slits, slitting the stock 'which consists in slitting the sheet so as to form relatively staggered series of beams connected by strands in staggered arrangement, and then stretching the sheet laterally and longitudinally.

13. The method of forming a metal fabric which consists in slitting a sheet so as to form oppositely disposed extensible zig-zag strips connected by beams, and then stretching out the strips, and separating the beams and forming openings.

.14. The method of forming a metal fabric which consists in slitting a sheet so as to form oppositely disposed extensible zig-zag strips connected by beams and then separating the strips laterally, turning them on edge, and forming openings between the beams.

15. The method of forming a metal fabric which consists in slitting a sheet so as to form oppositely disposed extensible zig-zag strips connected by beams, and then stretching out the strips and separating them laterally so as to form openings.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NORRIS ELMORE CLARK.

Witnesses:

MARCUS M. SoHENK, ROBERT S. ALLYN.

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