Improvements relating to Dies or Swaging Blocks.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 25th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 27th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Dies or Swaging Blocks.
I, GEORGE ROBERTSON of No. 46 Dale Street, Tradeston Glasgow North
Britain Sheet Metal Worker do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to dies and swaging blocks which are used as moulds
apon which sheet metal articles are shaped, embossed or otherwise formed by
hammering; and has special application to those swaging blocks upon which the
various sheet metal segments required to make up ships ventilating cowls or hoods
are formed, and has for its object to enable the bending and accurate embossing of
such sheet metal segments to the forms required, to be effected with greater ease,
rapidity and precision than can be effected with the means hitherto employed for
shaping them.
In carrying out my invention I construct strong metal blocks, shaped as moulds
to the forms required for the different embossed sections contained in the complete
structure and furnish each of the said blocks with mechanism for holding and
retaining the sheet metal in certain required positions relatively to the said blocks
or moulds, so that when the sheet metal is (heated and) fixed in the said mechanism
upon the block, it may be beaten to the form of the mould without any liability of
it moving out of its place.
The mechanism which I employ for holding and retaining the sheet metal parts
in their positions relatively to and upon the shaping blocks or dies during the
process of beating the thin metal into the required shapes, are jaws or finger clasps
which are fixed thereto in positions parallel to the shaping face of each block and
a sufficient distance therefrom to admit of the sheet metal parts (only) being
In ordinary
quickly and easily slipped into the gaps which are thus provided.
cases it is sufficient for my purpose if the said jaws or clasps furnish open slots;
into, and from which, the sheet metal parts may be put and withdrawn rapidly but
when it is required to clasp the thin metal to the shaping block more tightly than
usual, one or more of the jaws is made to close up, at one point, so near to the face
of the block, with a spring or lever pressure that the metal cannot be inserted or
withdrawn from the said jaw without the operation of the spring or lever; this
operation being effected variously, either by the hand or foot.
By means of thus fixing, in a more or less rigid position the sheet metal to the
mould with mechanism as above named the workman is enabled to use both his
hands for the shaping, bedding or embossing of the thin metal to the mould without
any necessity existing for him to keep adjusting the sheet metal to its required
position upon the mould whilst he proceeds with hammering it into the required
shape.
Although I have devised the aforesaid improvements with special reference to
their utility in shaping or moulding certain parts required to make ship ventilating
cowls or hoods, I do not limit the application thereof to any particular class of
article to be shaped therewith or to any particular class or character of moulds.
Dated this 24th day of April 1891.
JOSEPH
LOCKWOOD,
263, Argyle Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Inventor.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Dies or Swaging Blocks.
I, GEORGE ROBERTSON of No. 46 Dale Street, Tradeston Glasgow North
Britain Sheet Metal Worker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to dies and swaging blocks which are used as moulds
upon which sheet metal articles are shaped, embossed or otherwise formed by
hammering, and has special application to those swaging blocks upon which the
various sheet metal segments required to make up ships and other sheet metal
ventilating cowls or hoods are formed; it has for its object to enable the bending
and accurate embossing of such sheet metal segments to the forms required, to be
effected with greater ease, rapidity and precision than can be effected with the
means hitherto employed for shaping them.
In carrying out my invention I construct strong metal blocks, shaped as moulds
to the forms required for making the different embossed sections contained in any
complete structure of the aforesaid character and furnish each of the said blocks
with mechanism for holding and retaining the sheet metal in certain required
positions relatively to and upon the said blocks or moulds, so that when the sheet
metal is (heated and) fixed in the said mechanism upon the block, it may be beaten
to the form of the mould without any liability of it moving out of its place.
The mechanism which I employ for holding and retaining the sheet metal parts
in their positions, relatively to and upon the shaping blocks or dies during the
process of beating the thin metal into the required shapes, are jaws or finger clasps
which are fixed in positions parallel to the shaping face of each block and a
sufficient distance therefrom to admit of the sheet metal parts (only) being quickly
and easily slipped into the gaps which are thus provided. In ordinary cases it is
sufficient for my purpose if the said jaws or clasps furnish open slots, into and from
which the sheet metal parts may be put and withdrawn rapidly, but, when it is
required to clasp the thin metal to the shaping block more tightly than usual, one
or more of the jaws is made to close up, at one point, so near to the face of the
block, with a spring or lever pressure, that the metal cannot be inserted or with-
drawn from the said jaw without the operation of the spring or lever; this operation
being effected variously, either by the hand or foot.
By means of thus fixing, in a more or less rigid position the sheet metal to the
mould with mechanism as above named the workman is enabled to use both his
hands for the shaping, bedding or embossing of the thin metal to the mould without
any necessity existing for him to keep adjusting the sheet metal to its required
position upon the mould whilst he proceeds with hammering it into the required
shape.
Although I have devised the aforesaid improvements with special reference to
their utility in shaping or moulding certain parts required to make ship ventilating
cowls or hoods, I do not limit the application thereof to any particular class of
article to be shaped therewith or to any particular class or character of moulds.
In order that my invention may be thoroughly understood and readily carried
into effect I have prepared the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figures 1 to 5 are perspective views and sections representing several shaping
or swaging blocks fitted with my improvements;
Figures 6 and 7 represent a perspective and sectional view of a shaping block
fixed upon a bed plate between "dogs" and clips;
Figure 8 is a detail representing a spring clip.
Throughout these various illustrations similar letters of reference are employed
to indicate corresponding parts.
Each shaping block, such as A. B. C. D. preferably but not necessarily made

page_text: of metal, is furnished with a root piece or pedestal, such as E and F, Figures 1, 3
and 4 for fixing it into or upon a bench or table suitably for use; and combined
therewith are members which may be variously described by the terms, fingers,
claws, clips, catches or receivers, such as G, G, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and G2 Fig. 8,
attached to the said blocks, or as G¹, Figs. 6 and 7, fixed adjacently (but not
united) to the blocks.
The purpose and object for which the said clips are thus combined with the
shaping blocks is as follows:
When the sheet metal, frequently red hot, is inserted between the said clips and
pressed down upon the block, it can easily be kept from moving about whilst the
artificer beats it into shape upon the block with his mallet: the clips exercise such
restraint upon the sheet metal that they render it all but impossible for it to slip
out of its position during the process of hammering. Metal shaping blocks are
employed when the sheet metal consists of iron or steel as it is necessary to make
such segments red hot before shaping them. Wooden blocks are suitable for and
frequently used to shape softer metal segments upon.
The method of fixing the said clips to the shaping block itself by means of
screws, rivets or other agents, as shewn in Figs. 1 to 5 and 8, is the most generally
convenient for my purpose, but they, the said clips, may sometimes be applied
advantageously in the manner illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, where H represents a
bed plate or table, furnished with holes for receiving portable pegs, or screwed
dogs" J, also sentinel clips G¹, between which parts the shaping block D is
tightly retained by means of wedges or the screwed bolts during the process of
hammering the metal into shape.
"
Fig. 8 shews a spring clip G2 with cord, wire, or rod, g³, attached to a shaping
block d' suitably for being operated either by hand or foot.
I am aware that, previous to my invention, dies and shaping blocks have been
fixed between screwed "dogs" during the process of stamping metal articles into
shape upon them; it will therefore be understood that I do not claim the com-
bination of such "dogs" with dies or shaping blocks as my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
First. In a block or die for shaping sheet metal articles thereon with a mallet or
hammer the combination therewith of one or more clips, G or G2, all substantially
as herein described and shewn, or any mere modification thereof, for the purposes
specified.
Second. In connection with a block or die for shaping sheet metal articles
thereon with a mallet or hammer the combination therewith of one or more
clips G all substantially as herein described or shewn or any mere modification
thereof, for the purposes specified.
Third. The combination with a block or die for shaping sheet metal articles
thereon with a mallet or hammer of one or more clips, either fixed upon the said
block or adjacently thereto, all substantially as herein described and shewn or any
mere modification thereof, for the purposes specified.
Dated this 23rd day of January 1892.
JOSEPH
LOCKWOOD,
263, Argyle Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Inventor.