Improvements in Machines for Punching and Shearing Ourved Plates.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1890-Accepted, 24th May, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Punching and Shearing
Ourved Plates.
We FRANK RITTENHOUSE of 522 Green Street Norristown Pennsylvania United
States of America Mechanical Engineer and WILLIAM HENRY DRESHER of 107 South
3rd Street Philadelphia Pennsylvania United States of America Gentleman do hereby
declare the nature of the said 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 construct an adjustable guide table for punching
and shearing machines by which curved plates such as are suitable for use in
boiler and tank making and in constructing sheet metal structures can be punched
or cut as hereinafter fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved machine showing the plate in dotted
lines, the plate in this instance being a section of a tapered cylinder; Figure 2
is a plan view with the carriage removed; Figure 3 is a section on the line 1-2,
Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a section on the line 3-4 Figure 1.
We have shown in the drawing the table used in connection with a punching
machine, but it will be evident that the table can be used in front of shears as
well, without departing from this invention.
A represents a punching machine of ordinary construction, a being the centre
of the punch. B B are ways or rails on which the plate carriage is mounted
directly in front of the punching machine A when a straight plate is to be
punched.
Adapted to cross bars B¹ on the ways B are slides C C³, the slide C being
centrally situated in respect to the punch and having two guide pins or rollers c c.
This rail
Adapted to fit between these guide pins or rollers is a curved rail D.
is the template and is of the curve to which the carriage is set to punch the holes
in the plate.
Curves of different radius and shape are represented by different
template rails, depending altogether upon the radius of the edges of the plate to
be punched.
On the slides C₁₁ are pivoted blocks D¹, having pins or rollers d d between
which passes the rail D, so that when the rail is placed upon the machine these
slides are loose and can be adjusted so that the rail will be guided in its travel
by the rollers c c and the rollers d d of the slides C' C₁as will be readily
understood on reference to the drawing Figure 2.
E E are the rails on which the carriage is supported, these rails being clamped to
brackets ee on the stationary frame of the machine, although in some cases, as shown
in the drawing the outer supports e' are in the form of brackets, having clamps e' and
a set screw by which they are secured to the rails B B of the bed, as shewn in
Figure 3, so that they can be readily removed from the machine when straight plates
are to be punched.
The carriage in the present instance is made in four sections F F F F¹. The
abutting ends of each of these sections is semicircular in form one section fitting over
the adjoining section as shewn in Figure 4. Each of these sections has a segmental
groove f, and adapted to these grooves are bolts g as shewn in Figure 1 which clamp
the sections in proper position.
In the centre of each circular end of the sections F¹ F F F is an orifice 6 through
which passes a bolt 6¹ into an orifice in the rail D, as shewn in Figures 1 and 3 this
justifying the carriage F in respect to the curvature of the rail D.
The outer ends of the end sections F1 and F are slotted at h h and through each of
these slots passes a bolt h¹ which is adapted to an orifice in the rail D. After the

page_text: "
bolts h¹¹ have secured the table in proper position the clamp bolts g g clamp the
sections together thus forming a rigid structure. Thus it will be, seen that the
carriage can be adapted to any form of guide rail D.
On the outer edge of the carriage is a convex rack H having ratchet teeth as shown
and this rack is clamped to brackets ii on the end sections F and F of the carriage
and is secured to the intermediate sections F and F3 by bolts . The lower ring h³ of
each section of table extends below the frame and back of the rack and is turned off
true with the pivot bolt so as to form a back support for the rack. This rack is
rigidly secured to the carriage after the carriage has been set to the rail D.
The usual feed mechanism employed for straight feed tables can be used upon this
circular carriage the feed pawls acting upon the racks at the point j.
The rack can have teeth spaced differently to correspond with the number of holes
required to be punched in the plate and can be removed and replaced or a new rack
readily substituted therefor.
On the inner edge of the carriage is a concave rack I clamped at.k to the different
sections of the carriage F. This rack has teeth the distance apart of which is the
same as the holes to be punched in the inner or concave side of the plate although it
is not necessary in constructing a machine of this character to have both racks but
for convenience of manipulation the carriage is provided with both racks so as to
readily punch holes on either side of the plate without removing the plate or setting
the carriage.
In the machine shown in the drawings the centre line of the rail D is midway
between the edges x x of the plate so that after the convex side of the plate has been
punched the carriage is raised by any suitable mechanism and the rails È E moved to
the position shewn by dotted lines in Figure 2, the slides C¹ C₁ being moved to the
position shewn by dotted lines in said figure, and the position of the carriage is
reversed so that the concave edge of the plate will be in line with the punch. The
mechanism can then be set in motion and the feed mechanism instead of acting on
the convex rack will act upon the concave rack as will be readily understood.
Any suitable guide rollers m may be mounted on the underside of the carriage F
and travel upon the rails EE and removable rollers shown by dotted lines in Figure 4
may be secured to the table to run on the rails B B when the table is used for straight
.work.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1st. In a machine for punching curved plates the combination of the base having
guides and a template rail adapted to the said guides, with a sectional carriage adapted
to be mounted upon the said rail and adjusted in respect thereto substantially as
herein before described.
2nd. The combination of the template rail adapted to guides on the frame of the
machine and an adjustable sectional carriage adapted to the said rail, with a
detachable rack adapted to be secured to the said carriage and ratchet mechanism
adapted to operate upon the rack and move the table substantially as hereinbefore
described.
3rd. The combination of the frame of the machine adjustable guides thereon, a
template rail adapted to the said guides, with an adjustable sectional carriage adapted
to be secured to the said rack and convex and concave racks secured to the said
carriage substantially-as-herein before described.
4th. The combination of the bed frame of the machine, slides thereon guide blocks
on the said slides with a template rail adapted to the said guide blocks an adjustable.
carriage made up of a series of sections with an orifice in each of the said sections
and pins adapted to pass through the said orifices into the template rail substantially
as herein before described.
5th. The combination of the template rails guides therefor with an adjustable
carriage made up of a series of sections each of the said sections, having circular ends,

page_text: orifices in each of the said circular ends, pins adapted to pass through the said orifices
into the template rail and segmental slots in said sections and bolts adapted to the said
slots for securing the sections together substantially as hereinbefore described.
6th. The combination of the bed plate guides thereon a template rail adapted to
the said guides and a sectional carriage secured to the said template rail with
carrying rails E E adjustably secured to the said base frame substantially as herein-
before described.
7th. The combination of the base frame of the machine the guides thereon, the
template rail adapted to the said guides, a carriage secured to the said template rail,
with removeable brackets clamped to the said base frame and supporting rails
adjustably secured to the said base frame and bracket substantially as herein before
described.
8th. The combination of the template rail adapted to guides on the frame of the
machine and an adjustable sectional carriage adapted to the said rail with a detachable
rack adapted to be secured to the said carriage with lips or rings (h³) on the carriage
to support the rack, and ratchet mechanism adapted to operate upon the rack and
move the table substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 21st day of March 1900
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, Agents.