ANVIL

Abstract: An anvil comprising a flat rectangular base (B) from which two upstanding tapered columns (1 and 2) of elliptical cross-section and similar length extend, the top face of one column (2) having substantially the same area as that of the base section of the other column (1), the anvil having the capability of standing on any one of its six side areas.

Description: - /- ANVI L . This invention relates to anvils. Commercial anvils are conventionally in a fixed location and the work is brought to the anvil. Usually the anvil is _* set up on a large block of wood which, together with thelarge mass in the anvil, was necessary to absorb the forces generated by the hammer blows and to provide sufficient stability to resist overturning forces. Smaller, scaled down anvils are awkward to use because they lack stability. Both large and small anvils are limited in their use because they lack a wide range of contours as are commonly needed for many jobs. It is my object to eliminate the above disadvantages by providing an anvil which is light in weight and portable, stable due to its shape and more versatile due to its many different contoured faces. My invention involves a flat base or plinth with two upstanding tapering columns, the top of the columns are recessed with vee slots * A cylindrical cross bar may be rested in the vee slots for use when forming small curves. The- anvil may rest in any of six directions as is possible with a rectangular box, thus presenting a great variety of convex curves or flat surfaces for use. It is also possible to work between the limbs to obtain concave curves, and around the base for square corners. The proposed shape ensures ample stability and is designed to permit manufacture as a simple casting. A better understanding of my invention may be obtained by reference to. the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the anvil with a bar engaged in the vee slots, Figure 2 is an end elevation of the anvil with a round bar engaged in the vee slots. Figure 3 is an end elevation of the anvil with a flat bar resting on top of the limbs, and Figure 4 is a plan view of the anvil. Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show that the anvil tapers in the vertical direction and in this version the left hand limb 1 (Fig. 1) could be considered a continuation of limb 2, in that the maximum cross-section at the lower- nd of limb 1 is the same as the minimum cross-section at the top of limb 2. • The cross sectional shapes of the limbs in this version are elliptical and are proportioned so that the minimum curvature 3 increases downwardly along limb 1 .and at the lower end is equal to the curvature of the corresponding portion of the top of limb 2, and which continues increasing down limb 2. A similar construction applies to curvature 4 on limbs 1 and 2. The base B is made of five flat surfaces, four sides and an underface, joining up with eight external sharp corners. Any of these surfaces may be used to support the anvil, or to accommodate the working of material in a flat or sharp corner manner. When the anvil is placed on a side or end, the supporting flat surface is co-planar with a surface of a limb 1 or 2 to provide adequate support surface for the anvil. There are two concave ' surfaces 5, which are at the intersection of the limbs 1 and 2 with the base. These surfaces facilitate the concave working of saucer-like shapes, while the end surfaces 6 may be used for turning up the ends of flat sections or sheet material. The two limbs 1 and 2 may be used in conjunction to enable the bending of concave surfaces by striking the material between, and at right angles to the axis of the limbs. The two limbs may also be used to make "hair pin" like bends by striking the material between, and parallel to the axis of the limbs as in the direction of arrow A. The vee grooves 7 at the top of the limbs 1 and 2 make it possible to form square internal bends, as well as supporting a bar 8 of any cross section for the bending of material into special shapes or particularly small radii. A round bar 8 is shown for simplicity in Fig. 2. A flat bar 9 is shown in place on top of the limbs 1 and 2 in Fig. 3. Fig. 4 shows a hole 10 in the top of each limb 1 and 2. These may be drilled, if the casting is solid, or cast of specialised shape. These enable the locating of any hardies or bolsters. When using heavy vertical blows, the surface or combination of surfaces on the opposite and underside of the anvil, is used to support the anvil on a suitable work surface. If light blows are sufficient, then these may be horizontal against the mass of the anvil. Whilst I have, in the foregoing description, referred to a specific embodiment of what I now feel to be the preferred form of my invention, the invention is not so limited. I have preferred a cast construction, but it could also be practical to fabricate from steel sections, forgings or pressings. The limbs could also be parallel members of any Λ - * shape in cross sections. I have referred to material being struck while resting upon the anvil. This does not exclude pressing the material in lieu of a blow. ' > URE,

Claims: Claim 1. An anvil having a flat base with two upstanding columns of substantially the same height and each having a tapering elliptical cross section, each being larger in cross-section adjacent the base than at its free end, both columns having substantially the same degree of taper and one, (the larger column) having a cross-section at its free end substantially equal to the cross-section of the other at its larger end. Claim 2. An anvil as claimed in claim 1, wherein the small curvature of the ellipse of the larger column at its free end is substantially the same as the large curvature of the ellipse of the other column at its base end. Claim 3. An anvil as claimed in claim 2 wherein the free ends of the columns respectively have a vee slot thereacross with the slots aligned to support a forming bar. Claim 4. An anvil as claimed in 1, 2 or 3 wherein the free end of each column has an axial hole therein to accommodate a forming tool. Claim 3. An anvil as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 having two smooth compound curves at the intersection of the columns with the base. " B ■ *

Inventors: ASHMAN ERNEST THOMAS
Applicants: ASHMAN ERNEST THOMAS
Application year: 1982
Main classification: B21J19
IPC codes: B21D7, B21J19