IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR BENDING AND SHAPING OR FORMING. HOOKS AND SIMILAR FASTENINGS FOR ROOF-GUTTERS, PIPES, AND RIDGES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JAMES FINNIE, of Blairbeth Cottage, Ayr, in the county of Ayr, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR BENDING AND SHAPING OR FORMING. HOOKS AND SIMILAR FASTENINGS FOR
ROOF-GUTTERS, PIPES, AND RIDGES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improved apparatus to be employed for bending and
sbaping, or forming, from metal strips or blanks, such articles as hooks or
fastenings for securing roof gutters, fastenings for roof ridges and holdfasts for
rain-water pipes.
The improved apparatus, as adapted for forming hooks for roof-gutters, comprises
two shaping blocks, which are separated only to such an extent as to allow the
sheet metal strips or blanks to enter between them, and a crank or cranks actuated
by suitable mechanism for rolling or pressing down the metal strips on to the
surface of the shaping blocks. The main shaping block is of cylindrical shape, and
of such a size as to fit the internal or concave side of the gutter hooks to be
formed, and it is fixed on a table or bedplate. The other block corresponds in
shape to the usual form of that part of the gutter hook, where it is kneed or bent
to fit the house roof to which it is fixed, and this block is fitted adjustably to
provide for giving a greater or less depth to the hook, so that the hooks may be
formed in sets of varying depth, and when fitted give the requisite inclination to
the gutters for carrying off the rain-water. The metal strip or blank, which. may
be previously cut to the proper length and punched, is pressed in between the
shaping blocks with its flat sides against the shaping blocks, the length of strip
passed through being regulated by a stop. An oscillating crank arm, fitted with a
roller, is carried on the axis of the cylindrical shaping block, and is brought over
the outside of the forward end of the metal strip, and caused to oscillate to the
extent of half a revolution or thereabouts, while the roller is in contact with the
strip, the forward portion of which is thereby pressed into close contact with
the shaping block, and takes a segmental or semicircular form. The portion of the
strip immediately behind is, at the same time, bent round at or nearly at right
angles in the opposite direction over the second shaping block, and is made to follow
the contour of the block by the pressure of the second crank which comes into
...ת.

page_text: contact with the opposite side of the strip, and during its oscillation presses the
strip into close contact with it. The rear end of the strip is unacted on and
remains straight; but by the bending of the mid portion to the contour of the
second shaping block, it assumes a position inclined to that in which it enters
between the blocks. The second shaping block is carried on a bracket which is
fitted so that it can be adjusted longitudinally, that is, in the line of the entering
strip, so that the knee, or part of the strip which lies between the blocks while the
shaping operation proceeds, may be of greater or less length according to the
position at which the adjustable bracket is fixed.
In forming ridge plates or fastenings for securing roof ridges, a similar arrange-
ment of shaping blocks and pressing arms or cranks is employed to shape the strips
against the blocks; and in forming holdfasts which are only bent at the end to fit
over and secure rain water pipes, the side block is dispensed with, and a stop only
is provided, against which the shoulder on the blank is brought to bear while the
extreme end is bent round the cylindrical shaping block by the crank and roller.
The crank or cranks may be actuated by hand direct to press the strips or blanks
into contact with the shaping blocks; but as the power required for bending the
strips is considerable, it is preferred to actuate the cranks or pressing arms by
means of gearing from a rotating shaft, which may either be operated by hand or
by other motive power. The rotating shaft is connected by an eccentric, or by a
crank pin and slot, or similar device, to act on a toothed segment and impart to it
an oscillating motion; and this oscillating motion is geared to a toothed wheel on
the shaft which carries the crank acting on the main shaping block. This crank
thereby obtains the requisite oscillating movement. The second shaping crank or
arm is actuated from the wheel on the shaft of the first shaping crank, through
toothed pinions gearing into it and into a wheel on the spindle of the second crank.
To admit of the adjustment of the bracket carrying the second shaping crank or
arm, while keeping these pinions in gear, they may be carried on studs, which are
guided in suitable slots, or on suitable swing plates or other similar devices.
Dated this Thirtieth day of January 1884.

page_text: I, JAMES FINNIE, of Blairbeth Cottage, Ayr, in the County of Ayr, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR BENDING AND SHAPING OR FORMING HOOKS AND SIMILAR FASTENINGS FOR
ROOF-GUTTERS, PIPES AND RIDGES;" and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This Invention relates to improved apparatus to be employed for bending and
shaping or forming from metal strips or blanks, such articles as hooks or fastenings
for securing eaves, troughs, or roof-gutters, fastenings for roof ridges and hold-fasts
for rain water pipes.
In the accompanying Drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a side
elevation and plan of a modification of the improved apparatus as adapted for
shaping hooks for eaves, troughs; as shown in Figures C1, and holdfasts for rain
water pipes, as shown in Fig. C2. Figures 3 and 4 are corresponding views of a
modification adapted for shaping roof-ridge fastenings as shown in Figure C3.
The improved apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, comprises two shaping
blocks A and B which are separated only to such an extent as to allow the sheet
metal strips or blanks O to enter between them, and a crank or crank arm D
actuated by suitable mechanism for rolling or pressing down the metal strips on to
the surface of the shaping blocks. The main shaping block A is of cylindrical
shape, and of such a size as to fit the internal or concave side of the gutter hooks
to be formed, and it is fixed on a table or bed-plate E. The other block B
corresponds in shape to the usual form of that part of the gutter hook where it is
kneed or bent to fit the house roof to which it is fixed, or it may simply consist of
two pins B, B1, as shown, and this block or the pins may be fitted adjustably to
provide for giving a greater or less depth to the hook, so that the hooks may be
formed in sets of varying depth, and when fitted give the requisite inclination to
the gutters for carrying off the rain water. The metal strip or blank C, which
may be previously cut to the proper length and punched, is pressed in between
the shaping blocks A, B, B¹ with its flat sides against the shaping blocks, the
length of strip passed through being regulated by a stop F. An oscillating crank-
arm D fitted with a roller d is carried preferably on a shaft D¹ forming the axis of
the cylindrical shaping block A, and is brought over the outside of the forward
end of the metal strip, and caused to oscillate to the extent of half a revolution or
thereabouts while the roller d is in contact with the strip C, the forward portion of
which is thereby pressed into close contact with the shaping block A, and takes a
segmental or semi-circular form. The portion of the strip C immediately behind,
is at the same time, bent round at or nearly at right angles in the opposite
direction over the second shaping block or pins B, B¹, and is made to follow the
contour of the block, by the pressure of the second crank G, on the shaft G¹, which
comes into contact with the opposite side of the strip C, and during its oscillation
presses the strip into close contact with the block, or bends the strip between the
pins, as is indicated by the dotted lines, the extreme positions of the crank arms
being also indicated by full and dotted lines. The rear end of the strip C is
unacted on and remains straight, but by the bending of the mid portion to the
contour of the second shaping block, or round the pin B, it assumes a position
inclined to that in which it enters between the blocks. The second shaping block,
or the equivalent pin B is carried on a bracket E¹ which is fitted so that it can be

page_text: adjusted longitudinally, that is, in the line of the entering strip C so that the knee
or part of the strip which lies between the blocks, while the shaping operation
proceeds, may be of greater or less length, according to the position at which the
adjustable bracket is fitted.
In forming hold-fasts, which are only bent at the end to fit over and secure rain
water pipes as shown in Fig. C2; the side block or pins B B' is or are dispensed
with, and a stop only is provided, against which the shoulder c¹ on the blank is
brought to bear, while the extreme end is bent round the cylindrical shaping
block A by the crank D and roller d.
The crank or cranks D, G, may be actuated through their shafts D¹, G¹, by hand
direct to press the strips or blanks C into contact with the shaping blocks A, B;
but as the power required for bending the strips considerable, it is preferred to
actuate the cranks or pressing arms by means of gearing from a rotating shaft H
which may either be operated by a hand crank, or by other motive power. The
rotating shaft H is connected by gearing i, i, to the shaft h, which by an eccentric,
or crank with pin and bush I, and slot I' or similar device, actuates a toothed
segment J, and imparts to it an oscillating motion, and this oscillating segment is
geared to a toothed wheel K on the shaft D¹ which carries the crank D acting on
the main shaping block A. This crank D thereby obtains the requisite oscillating
movement. The second shaping crank or arm G and its shaft G¹ are actuated
from the wheel K on the shaft D' of the first shaping crank D, through toothed
pinions L M, N, gearing into it and into a wheel O on the spindle G¹ of the second
crank G. To admit of the adjustment of the bracket E¹ carrying the second
shaping crank or arm G while keeping these pinions L, M, N, O in gear, they may
be carried on studs in a guide arm G' with suitable slots or on suitable_swing
plates or other similar devices. Instead of the crank D I may use a crank D such
as is described later on with reference to Figures 3 and 4.
For forming ridge plates or fastenings for securing roof ridges as shown in
Figure C3, a similar or equivalent arrangement of shaping blocks and pressing
arms or cranks is employed.
In this apparatus illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 (which is generally similar in
construction to that just described in reference to Figures 1 and 2) a single fixed
block A. a, a¹ is used to shape the roof ridge fastenings which it is modified for
forming the parts a a¹ forming the straight ends c of the fastener C Figure C³ in
this case. The block A is not on the same axis as the crank arm D, but the strip C
which is pushed in along the side a of the block A as indicated is pressed to the
shape of the block A a a¹ by a suitably shaped arm D on the shaft D¹ which
is operated by the gearing J. K as in the modification of apparatus already
described. The cam B¹ Figures 3 and 4 corresponds to the block or pin B¹
Figures 1 and 2.
In order to press the ends of the strips over the ends a a¹ of the block A to give
them the requisite shape, cam-like pressing arms B¹ G are used, and these arms are
operated at the proper time, (that is immediately after the strips are pressed along
the straight portions a, a¹, of the sides of the block A) by crank levers P, P (on the
spindles G¹ g) which are connected together by a rod p¹ and by a connecting
rod p to a pin or roller p³ working in the groove q of a cam Q on the crank
shaft h. After the ridge fastening is shaped, and the arm D recedes to the position
indicated by the dotted lines, it may be pressed off the block A by a reciprocating
bar R passing through a slot in the block A and operated by a lever S which may
be oscillated by means of a connecting rod T and pin t working in a cam groove
in the face of the cam disc Q opposite the cam groove 9.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is,―
First. The combination of parts forming the improved apparatus for shaping
hooks or fastenings for roof gutters pipes and ridges, substantially as herein

page_text: Second. The combination of the shaping block A, and the crank arm D operated
by hand or by gearing, substantially as herein described and for the purpose set
forth.
Third. The combination of the shaping blocks A, B, B' and crank arms D. G,
operated in unison by hand or through gearing, substantially as herein described
and for the purpose set forth.
.
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