Improvements in Machines for Shaping Sheet Metal.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 25th July, 1899-Accepted, 11th Nov., 1899
[Communicated from abroad by CHARLES A. BRINLEY, of 18, Hamilton Street,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America, Manager of the
American Pulley Company.]
Improvements in Machines for Shaping Sheet Metal.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45. Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and.in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement; -
The object of my invention is to provide suitable dies and means to operate
them which shall be capable of forming sheet metal into predetermined shapes,
especially adapted for the rims of sheet metal pulleys.
In the preferred form of my apparatus the object is to produce semi-annular
segments of the rim, applying a flange upon one edge and beading or otherwise
forming the other edge.
In carrying out my invention I employ three sets of dies, namely, an upper and
a lower set with an intermediate set adapted to operate in connection with the
other two and preferably the intermediate set is stationary. This, however, is
not necessary so long as the several movements are imparted to the different
sets to bring them together or more them apart. Furthermore by proper adiust-
ment and arrangement of the mechanism, two of these may be relatively fixed
while the third die is made movable or vice versa, so that when desired the upset-
ting or forming operation may be confined to one side of the metal being acted
upon. Furthermore in conjunction with the intermediate or stationary die I
employ outside dies, two or more in number adapted preferably to move in hori-
zontal directions on radial lines from the central die, the outer dies being adapted
to hold or grip the metal and retain it in the proper shape or conformation
while the upsetting or beading action takes place by the operation of the upper
and lower dies or either of them. All of these dies are preferably operated by
means of hydraulic power, and the construction is such that I prefer to employ
one set of hydraulic devices for operating the intermediate upper and lower dies
and separate hydraulic devices for operating the outer or clamping dies. Further-
more, the arrangement is such that the clamping dies operate so as to grip and
hold the metal to be operated upon to the stationary die and then the upsetting
flanging or beading dies are put into operation by the second set of hydraulic
devices.
Another portion of my invention has reference to the dies proper, and this, as
well as the construction of the press as a whole will be understood by reference
to the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention, in which:
Fig. 1 is a sectional plan view of an hydraulic press embodying my invention
taken on line 7-r of Fig. 2;
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of my improved press taken on line y-y of
Fio 1

page_text: Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on line Z-Z of Fig. I showing the construction
of the means for moving the horizontal clamping dies.
Figs. 4 and 5 are cross sections of the dies taken at one side showing the
adjustment for forming the flanges and the beading;
Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of one of the cushioning cylinders and pistons;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the segments ready to be placed in the
press;
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the completed pulley rim showing
two of the fully formed flanges and beads;
Fig. 9 shows the cross section of the plates indicating the changes under
action of the press; and
Fig. 10 is a plan view of a portion of one of the lower dies.
As the operation of the press is specially designed for the dies adapted to the
forming of the rims of pulleys, I will first refer in a general way to the dies so
that the construction and movements of the different parts of the press will be
more readily understood.
2 is a central cylindrical fixed die and as shown is made circular corresponding
to the diameter of the pulley. Arranged about this die are four segmental
dies 5 adapted to be moved horizontally so as to meet the periphery of the die 2
and strongly grasp any metal arranged between the said dies 2, 5. In addition
to these dies there is a lower die which in some instances is fixed and in other
instances is movable. When said dies are fixed they are indicated as at 4 in
Fig. 4, and also shown in Fig. 2. When they are movable they are as shown
at 9 in Fig. 5. These dies are supported by a head D2 which is adapted to be
raised or lowered when desired relatively to the fixed die 2. 8 is an upper die
and is vertically movable downward to or from the fixed die 2 and is clearly
shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5. These several movable dies are moved under the
action of suitable hydraulic actuated pistons and I will now proceed to describe
these devices.
.
The central die 2 is supported upon a post F adjustably fitted and secured to
a fixed frame E. This frame is supported upon uprights e connected at the
bottom to a cylinder frame B in turn supported upon a suitable foundation by the
columns. The cylinder frame B carries the hydraulic cylinder A arranged
below the dies. In this cylinder are arranged the oppositely acting plungers C. D.
Of these the plunger D is connected by uprights d with the annular head D2 for
operating the lower die. Adjusting screws G extend from the stationary frame E
and are provided at the lower portions with nuts g which limit the downward
movement of the plunger D and consequently the head D². The nuts may be
adjusted to vary the limit of the downward movement as desired. The lower
plunger C connects with a head C¹ which is united to an upper head C² by means
of the rods c so that as the plunger C is forced downward it moves the head C
downward also and with it the upper die S. Collars e¹ limit the downward motion
of the head C² by striking upon the fixed frame E as shown in Fig. 2.
HH are
hydraulic cylinders in which pistons I operate, the piston rods thereof being con-
nected with the head C. The cylinders H are secured to the cylinder frame B
as shown in Fig. 2 and indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. By supplying water
under pressure to the cylinder H through the pipe h sufficient power is obtained
to raise the plunger C together with the frame work C C c and upper die 8.
the only duty necessary being to overcome the weight of these parts. A head
plate may be secured to the upper head C. and to this the dies S may be
directly secured. In this manner the dies may be readily secured to the head Ca
and also adjusted. The horizontal dies 5 are segmental in shape, as clearly shown
in Fig. 1 and are respectively connected to heads K movable in horizontal guide-
ways formed upon the fixed frame E; and the heads K are moved toward the
fixed die 2 by plungers J¹ moving in hydraulic cylinders J. As shown, there
are 4 of these cylinders with the corresponding parts and these are all connected
by suitable hydraulic pipes with a controlling valve mechanism 0 of any suit-

page_text: able construction so that water under high pressure may be simultaneously sup-
plied to the several cylinders J or allowed to escape therefrom as the case may be.
A vertical section through the parts for operating the horizontal dies 5 is shown
in Fig. 3. Referring to this Figure, J2 in an adjustable back stop for limiting
the backward movement of the plunger and the head K. To return the parts to
their normal position after the pressure has been applied I employ a plunger
secured to the head K and working in an hydraulic cylinder Q. The cylinder
is connected by pipes p with an accumulator P of any suitable construction so
as to exert a substantially constant pressure upon the water with the object in
view of creating a sufficient force to move the movable dies away from the fixed
dies or return them to a normal position.
The cylinders H before referred to in connection with the plunger Cand
heads C¹ C³ are also connected by a pipe with the hydraulic accumulator P for
the purpose of returning the parts to their normal position after the pressure for
upsetting and forming has been removed. It will be understood that the pressure
of the accumulator is largely overcome when the power hydraulic devices are put
into operation for acting upon plungers C, D, J
M is a pipe containing water under a very heavy pressure and M¹ is a cor-
responding pipe containing water under a considerably lower pressure. N is a
pipe acting as an exhaust or return pipe forming a common return for the two
supply pipes M, M. The pipe M communicates with the valve mechanism O by
a pipe m containing a valve 02. The pipe M¹ communicates with the valve
mechanism by a pipe m¹ containing a valve O¹. The exhaust pipe N com-
municates with the valve mechanism by a pipe n containing a valve 03. The
valve mechanism is not shown in detail as it may be of any suitable construction
so as to be operated by a single or multiplicity of levers as found most expe-
dient. A pipe A¹ leads from the valve mechanism to the hydraulic cylinder A
as indicated in Fig. 1. In operation water is supplied from the pipe M through
the valve mechanism into the clamping cylinders J so as to move the clamping
dies 5 into clamping position upon the die 2. Water from the pipe M is then
supplied to the pipe A and thence to the hydraulic cylinder A to secure the
movements of the upper and lower dies. After the pressure operation, the valve
mechanism is manipulated so as to permit the water to escape into the return
pipe N and then the accumulator P comes into operation and through the
cylinders HQ the several dies are moved away from the die 2. I have not shown
the details of the valve mechanism O as it is quite evident that suitable valves
in the pipes m, m, n, A¹ and j may be employed to control the operation of the
water to secure all of the movements desired.
Returning now to the dies. The die 2 is provided with an upper annular
shoulder 30 over which the upper edge 18 of the metal rim 17 is adapted to be
bent as indicated in Figs. 4, 5 and 9. The lower outer edge of this die 2 is
provided with an annular recess 31. In the preliminary operation of forming the
sheet metal blank from the cross section shown in the left hand view of Fig. 9
to that of the middle view the lower part of the die 2 is fitted with an annular
portion 4 which is held up into place upon studs 16 projecting from the annular
head D. The outer clamping die 5 is also fitted at the bottom with a section
of the annular die 7 of which there are four sections, one to each of the dies 5.
The die sections 7 have curved portions 32 which form the lower edge. 19 of the
blank into a more rounded shape as indicated in Fig. 4. The movement of the
die 5 carries with it the die 7. In the preliminary operation of these several
dies, die S is formed with a bevel face 33 which crowds down the upper flange 18
into a position approximating an obliquity of about 70 degrees to the upright
portion 17 of the blank. After the sheet metal blank is transformed froin the
condition shown in Fig. 7 to a condition indicated in Fig. 4 and the middle view
of Fig. 9, the die sections 7 are removed, the studs 16 withdrawn together with
the die 4, and the die indicated at 9 substituted therefor. Also the die 8 Fig. 4
is removed and the die 8ª is substituted for it omitting the inner bevel edge 33.

page_text: The same result would be obtained by simply inverting the die 8. The die 9
may be provided with a series of annular grooves 10 corresponding to different
diameters of wheel rims, and the upward movement of this die 9 under the action.
of the head D is to curl over the partly bent edge 19 into a tubular edge or rim 20
as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 8 and right hand view of Fig. 9. Simultaneously
with this formation of the tubular edge or bead 20, the upper flange 18 of the
blank which was previously bent is further bent downward until it stands at
right angles to the main surface 17 of the rim as clearly shown in Figs. 5, 8
and 9. It will be observed that while this forming action takes place the metal is
upset as well as being bent and consequently the rim maintains the same circular
condition in which it was held during these formative actions of the dies. The
complete rim of a pulley is made up of four of these sections after they have
been completely formed. The adjacent sections on the face of the pulley are
abutted upon their annular flanges 21 which extend inwardly as shown in Fig. 8.
The sections are made semi-annular as indicated in Fig. 7 and are slightly bent
by a previous manipulation in a set of shaping rolls. Two such sections as indi-
cated in Fig. 7 are placed in the press with the edges abutted so as to make up
a ring. It is desirable that the metal in the circumference of the bodies 17 is
slightly greater than the die 2 so that when the clamping dies 5 are forced
inward the edges 34 of the opposite blanks are forced firmly against each other
and produce more or less of an upsetting action so that they absolutely fit to
make a continuous surface. These actions of upsetting as well as forming taking
place at the same time enable the press to so shape the rim sections that they
retain their positions assumed and the resulting pulley is very true with regard to
shape.
It will be observed that when the upwardly movable die 9 is employed the
lower sections 7 attached to the dies 5 are removed as they would be in the way.
During the operation of the dies shown in Fig. 4, which are designed to change
the blank from the shape shown in Fig. 7 to the intermediate condition shown
in the middle diagram of Fig. 9, the head D2 is held out of action by inserting
a heavy block of any suitable material into the space R, Fig. 2, which prevents
the upward movement of the plunger D. Under this condition the dies 4 of
Fig. 4 remain stationary with the circular die 2, but when it is desired to operate
the dies in the manner indicated in Fig. 5 after dies 4 and 7 have been removed
and die 9 substituted, the block last spoken of is removed and then the plunger D
raises and lowers the head 12 with the result of vertically reciprocating the die 9.
In some forms of pulleys the rim is made without crowning, and in that case
the opposing surfaces of the dies 2 and 5 are vertical, and the diameters of curva-
ture is the same at the top as at the bottom. In cases, however, where the pulley
rim is to be crowned, as is customary in most pulleys, the opposing surfaces of
the dies 2 and 5 while curved and parallel, are formed somewhat conical, whereby
the opposing clamping curved and parallel surfaces have the curvature at one end
(the upper end as illustrated) greater than the curvature at the other end (the
lower end) so that the sheet when compressed will have one edge of somewhat
greater diameter than the other edge and the edge of greater diameter
will be that having the internal annular flange 21 SO that the crown
shall lie in the central portion of the outer surface of the rim as indicated in
Fig. 8.
The tapering character and different diameters of the upper and lower
edges of the clamping surfaces of the dies 2 and 5 are clearly indicated in Figs. 4
and,5. It will be further observed that the flanging die 8. Fig. 5, is adjacent
to the end of the clamping edges or surfaces having the greatest curvatures of the
dies 2 and 5, and has an operating edge or surface curved to correspond to said
curvature.
Broadly considered it is evident that my preferred press does not necessarily
require that all four of the horizontal dies be made to operate conjointly, for it
is quite evident that if the formative action was only required to take place
upon a semi-annular rim for example, or upon a single section as shown in

page_text: Fig. 7, then the combined working surfaces of the dies; would only have to be
semi-annular, but I prefer the construction herein shown since it is more econo-
mical to operate upon all sides of the circular die 2 and there is less liability
for breakage with the enormous pressures employed since the strains are more
fully distributed and balanced.
It is furthermore to be understood that while I employ the particular dies
herein shown for the specific construction of rim, any change or modification of
shape of the rim will of necessity require a change or modification of
shape of the dies and consequently I do not limit myself to any particular con-
struction of said dies. It is also evident that so long as a relative movement is
secured between the parts D2 and C2 whereby the two oppositely moving dies may
be moved to or from each other and properly with respect to the stationary die 2
the hydraulic devices for operating said dies may be modified or varied as desired.
For example if the cylinder A be permitted to move vertically in the frame B
it is quite evident that the parts A and I might be integral and secure the same
results since the only thing necessary is to secure a relativo movement between
the parts CD.
While it is convenient to refer to some of the dies as being above or below
or vertically movable it is to be understood that these are relative terms and no
limitation is to be taken from the use of such terms since under some conditions
it is self evident that the location of said dies might be shifted, as for example
if the machine was set on its side. It is also evident that while the hydraulic
devices for operating the upper and lower dies are arranged below said dies, they
might equally as well be arranged above the dies, as for example as would occur
by simply inverting the machine. Therefore no limitations are to be understood
from the use of these general terms which are found convenient and almost
necessary to properly explain the mechanism disclosed in the drawings.
While I prefer the construction shown I do not limit myself to the minor
details as these may all be modified without departing from the spirit of the
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:
1. The press for forming sheet metal substantially as herein described and as
shown in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a press for forming sheet metal:
(a) The combination with the central fixed die having a curved surface, and
the radially movable curved clamping die, of the upper vertically movable.
die having an operating edge extending over the fixed die for bending a metal
flange inwardly.
(b) The combination with the central fixed die and the radially movable
clamping die, of the lower movable die, 9 having one or more grooves in
its upper surface.
(c) The combination with the stationary circular die, of the series of
radially movable curved sectional dies and the vertically movable upper and
lower dies.
(d) The fixed die 2 having the shoulder 30 and the lower curved portion 4,
when combined with the radially movable die 5 having the curved portion 32.
3. In the hydraulic devices for operating the dies:
(a) The hydraulic means for simultaneously moving the upper and lower
dies to or from each other and relatively to the intermediate clamping dies,
substantially as herein described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
(b) The means for moving the radially movable clamping dies indepen-
dently of the upper and lower dies.
(c) The devices for operating the external radial clamping dies, consisting
of a series of hydraulic actuated plungers for moving said dies toward the

page_text: stationary die, and means to move the dies away from the stationary die
consisting of cylinders and plungers of relatively small size actuated by an
hydraulic accumulator.
(The special means for moving the upper die, consisting of an hydraulic
cylinder and plunger, a.heavy connecting yoke between the plunger and die,.
and a piston and cylinder device connecting with said yoke and communi-
cating with a source of hydraulic power.
Dated this 95th dov of July 1899
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.; Agents for the Applicant.