Improvements in Metal-punching Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1899-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1899
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America, Manager of The
American Pulley Company.]
Improvements in Metal-punching Machines.
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 this invention is to provide suitable devices for punching holes
in the flanged portions of the rim segments of sheet metal pulleys. In the
manufacture of sheet metal pulleys the rims are formed of four sections having
internal flanges which are bolted together and to the spoke arms, and furthermore
the two semi-circular portions of the rim so formed are secured together by rim
clamps, sections of which are riveted to the internal flanges of the rim. It is
essential in the manufacture of wheels of this character that the flanges shall be
properly perforated or punched so as to be brought into proper alignment
with the punched ends of the spoke arms, and further so that the holes in the
flanges and ends of the adjacent segments shall come in accurate alignment,
whereby the proper assembling of the several parts making up the complete
article is ensured. To enable this result to be speedily accomplished, my
invention comprehended in this application is especially designed for punching
the necessary holes in the internal flange of the rim segment constituting one
quarter of the full rim of the pulley.
In carrying out my invention I provide a set of punching dies, one part of
which, preferably the lower, is provided with a series of die plates preferably
adjustable radially to and from a common center, and also a suitable clamping
device for holding the rim segment in position upon said die plates. The other
portions of the dies are provided with corresponding guides in which are
adjustably secured suitable punches adapted to operate in conjunction with the
punch plates of the lower dies. By employing dies for simultaneously punching
all of the holes in a rim segment while the same is held in proper curved position,
absolute accuracy in the location of the holes is secured, and the rim of the
pulley runs true in the finished article. The adjustment of the die plates and
punches enables rims corresponding to different diameters of pulleys to be
punched, and consequently one set of dies suffices for punching the rims of a
great many different sizes of pulleys.
My invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1 is an elevation of my improved dies;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lower die;
Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the upper die;
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation on line x-x of Fig. 1; and
Fig. 5 is a cross section of one of the rim segments.
A is the base plate or frame of the lower die and is provided with a series

page_text: of radial guides B, B¹, B² arranged at angles of 30° apart, but I do not confine
myself to any particular number or angular arrangements of these guides. In
these guides are arranged respectively adjustable blocks C, C1, C2, which are
movable to or from the center of radiation of the guides and adapted to be
locked in various positions by means of spring-actuated plugs d operating in
connection with the fixed perforated plates 1) arranged in the lower portions of
the said guides. By employing two of these plugs a greater possible adjustment
is secured with a limited number of holes or perforations in the plates D).
Broadly considered, it is immaterial to my invention what means are employed
for adjusting the blocks in position upon their guides. The upper portions of
these blocks are provided with punch die plates e which may be made in any
suitable manner as is well known in punch and die works. In the blocks C, and C³,
I preferably employ two punch plates, but in the case of the blocks Cone punch
plate suffices. It is to be understood that it is immaterial how the plates forming
the die to receive the punches are formed.
E, E and E are stripper plates which overhang the punch plates and are
respectively secured to the upper portions of the blocks C, C', and C2, and so
arranged as to permit the flange R of the pulley segment to pass between said
stripper plates and the punch plates as is clearly shown in Fig. 4.
The two blocks C² arranged diametrically opposite are provided with abutments
having V-shaped recesses c to receive the ends of the rim segments and hold
them in position in all directions, except from the side in which they are entered.
These abutments may be formed in any other suitable manner desired, so long
as they perform the function of receiving and holding the ends of the rim
segments. They operate in effect as one jaw of a clamp, the other jaw thereof
being the adjustable lever F having the clamping screw f and hinged to the
central block C. It will be observed that when this hand clamp f is thrown
upward the rim I of segment R may be placed in the die as indicated in dotted
lines in Fig. 2, the flange R passing under the strippers and over the die plates
and the ends of the rim or periphery being received in the V-shaped recess c.
When the lever clamp f is thrown down into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4
the rim is pressed forward into position and touches the upper edges of each one
of the blocks C and C¹, said upper edges being made curved as indicated so as to
have but a limited point of contact. It will be observed also that these outer
edges are inclined inward somewhat, and that the portions of the blocks below the
upper and outer edges are recessed to enable the rim flanges to be placed in
position without contact with the lower portions of the blocks C. In practice
it is customary to have the curvature of the rims of a slightly less diameter than
in the finished wheel so that when they are clamped in position by the central
clamp the intermediate portions are caused to adjust themselves to the outer
upper edges of the intermediate blocks C and C. This ensures the rim lying
in the proper shape so that the punched holes will be accurately located as to
position.
I would call attention to the fact that the two holes which are punched
in the rim corresponding to the blocks C are for attachment to the ends of
the spoke arms, while the single hole corresponding to the blocks C¹ C¹ are
intended for riveting together the two flanges of the adjacent rim segments,
without connection to any spoke arms, but rather for the purpose of reinforcing
the rim structure.
I would also call attention to the fact that the radial adjustment of the blocks C¹
is not made with the same capacity as the blocks C and C2, because when the
diameter of the pulley is sufficiently reduced so that the space between the outer
ends of the spoke arms does not become excessive, the riveting of the two flanges
together intermediate of the spoke arms may be dispensed with. For this reason
I employ the long radial guides B, B2 and 3, J and the short radial guides B, J¹
as shown, the latter and their blocks I only being employed for pulleys of
large diameters.

page_text: The two holes to be punched in the rim adjacent to the ends are preferably
arranged at a greater distance apart than in the case of the holes for attachment
to the spoke arms, this being to enable the proper connection to the rim clamps,
though the particular distance apart of these holes or the number of the holes is
immaterial to my invention.
Referring now to the upper dies the base plate or frame H is provided on
its under side with a series of radial guides J, J1 and J³ corresponding to the
several guides B, B1 and B2 of the lower die. These guides are respectively
provided with blocks I, I' and I which are adjustable therein and adapted to be
located in various positions by the employment of the spring actuated plugs k
and perforated plates K corresponding to the plugs d and perforated plates D
of the lower die. The blocks i and I are each respectively provided with two
punches L and L2 adapted to the punch plates of the blocks C and C3 of the
lower die. Likewise the blocks I' of the upper die are provided with punches L'
to correspond with the punch plate in the blocks C of the lower die. The upper
die frame is further furnished with two steel pins g which are received in sockets
or recesses G in the rear end of the frame of the lower die as shown in Fig. 4, the
object of which is to properly hold the dies in alignment at or about the time of
the punching operation.
I do not confine myself to any special method or means for adjustment of the
blocks C, C and C2 and I, I' and I2, as any other suitable. means of adjustment
other than that herein set out may be employed, if so desired.
While I prefer the construction herein shown as excellently adapted to the
purpose, I do not confine myself to the specific details, as the parts may be
modified without departing from the essential features of the invention. It is
further to be understood that while I prefer to punch the rim to receive the
rim clamp, this is not essential, and therefore the blocks C² may have the
stripper and punch plates omitted; and likewise the blocks 12 and their
It is further to be considered that
punches may be omitted from the upper dies.
the guides, blocks and punches for punching the intermediate holes for riveting
the flanges between the points of connection with the spoke arms may be
entirely omitted if so desired, and the punches corresponding to the blocks G and I
alone employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, 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. (a) The punching devices for punching holes in the flanged portions of
the rim segments of sheet metal pulleys, substantially as described and as shown
in the accompanying drawings.
1. (b) The relatively movable frames having the long radial guides, and the
short radial guides arranged alternately therewith for guiding the blocks of the
punching devices.
2. The clamp device for clamping the work upon the punch blocks, substan-
tially as described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
3. The means disposed upon each side of the radial guides and blocks upon
which the work is clamped for receiving and holding the ends of the semi-
circular or curved blank to be punched.
nated the 18th dor of July 1899
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.