Improvements in Forming and Jointing Sheet Metal Structures.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Forming and Jointing Sheet Metal Structures.>
I, ALEXANDER ROBERTSON, of Dawson Terrace, Carron, in the County of Stirling,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the economical production of various kinds of
sheet metal structures by jointing or locking together in an improved manner
parts stamped, pressed or otherwise formed mainly in sheet metal, the invention
being applicable to the manufacture of the ovens and external cases of cooking
ranges, stoves, and other heating apparatus, smoke pipes, packing cases or boxes,
corn bins, horse and cattle troughs, baths and other articles or structures made
wholly or partly in sheet metal."
The parts of the articles or structures are in general secured together at the
corners whether of sharp angular form or rounded, by means of jointing slips or
pieces which may in most cases be removed for taking down the parts; and
facility is thus provided for shipment of the goods; and in the case of baths,
troughs and like vessels which are intended to be watertight the parts, which
may be nested for shipment, are permanently secured together at the joints on
reaching their destination.
In putting together the parts of ovens, packing cases and like articles for
example, the sheets forming the sides are at their meeting edges or corners cut
so as to form under one modification a series of projecting tongues which are bent
over at right angles or other angles. The tongues in one side piece are adapted
to enter the spaces between the tongues of the adjoining side piece at the meeting
edges, and in putting the sides together they are first laid flat so that the tongues
in cach piece enter the spaces between the tongues in the other and they are then
unfolded on the meeting edges or corner to lie at right angles or other angles in
which position they are retained by the bent tongues of one sheet bearing on the
flat side of the adjoining sheet. Instead of the sheets forming the sides of the
structure being so jointed, narrow strips to be soldered, riveted or otherwise
attached to the sides may be so made and jointed together.
In another modification the meeting edges of the sheets or strips are cut as
before described and the tongues are bent or curved into tubular beads, the beads
on one edge entering between the beads on the adjoining edge as in an ordinary
hinge joint and the parts being secured by means of a pin, rod or tube thrust
endwise through the hinge beads. An outside covering strip of angular or rounded
and ornate form and either cast or stamped is or may be fitted over each corner
so jointed and this strip may be bent or flanged at its ends to fit over the top and
bottom edges of the sides and a pin passed through the flanges and through the
hinge joint to hold the strip in place. This mode of jointing is applicable in

page_text: for transit or otherwise and re-constructed by unskilled labour. In the construc-
tion of a corn bin the top framing can be made to take the necessary hinge covers.
Dated this 17th day of January 1898.
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Of the Firm of Cruikshank & Fairweather,
Chartered Patent Agents, 62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Agent for the Applicant.
Forming and Jointing Sheet Metal Structures.
I, ALEXANDER ROBERTSON, of Dawson Terrace, Carron, in the County of Stirling,
Engineer, 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:-
This invention has for its object the economical production of various kinds of
sheet metal structures by jointing or locking together in an improved manner
parts stamped, pressed or otherwise formed mainly in sheet metal, the invention
being applicable to the manufacture of the ovens and external cases of cooking
ranges, stoves, and other heating apparatus, smoke pipes, packing cases or boxes,
corn bins, horse and cattle troughs, baths and other articles or structures made
wholly or partly in sheet metal.
The parts of the articles or structures are in general secured together at the
corners whether of sharp angular form or rounded, by means of jointing slips or
pieces which may in most cases be removed for taking down the parts; and
facility is thus provided for shipment of the goods, and in the case of baths,
troughs and like vessels which are intended to be watertight, the parts, which
may be nested for shipment, are permanently secured together at the joints on
reaching their destination.
The invention is illustrated by the several figures of the accompanying drawings.
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are respectively horizontal section, vertical section on the
line a-a, and vertical section on the line b-b, of one form of joint suitable for
securing the four sides of a range, stove or other article. Figs. 4 and 5 are views
corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2 of a modified form of joint. Figs. 6 and 7 are
horizontal section and vertical section respectively showing a method of jointing
plates which dispenses with the use of a securing bolt and Figs. 8 and 9 are hori-
zontal section of similarly secured sheets. Fig. 10 is a front elevation, and Fig. 11
a plan of an oven made from a single plate, the supports for the shelves being
obtained by suitably dishing the portions of the sheet forming the sides of the
oven and the joint being formed by first punching and then dishing the adjoining
ends of the sheet so that they interlock. Fig. 12 is a front elevation of a receptacle
having a similar joint, the joint being at one corner instead of as at Figs. 10 and 11
mid way between the corners. Figs. 13 and 14 shew a sheet punched and dished
at its ends to form such a joint. Figs. 15 and 16 are respectively horizontal
section and vertical section on the line c-c of a joint specially adapted for
receptacles intended to be water-tight, and Fig. 16 a transverse section of a bath
having a similarly formed joint. Figs. 17 and 18 are front elevations respectively
of a cooking range and heating stove as constructed under my invention with
dished vertical ornamental strips and jointed corners. Fig. 19 is a plan of the
rolled metal strip forming part of the hob.
In putting together the parts of ovens, packing cases and like articles for
example, the sheets forming the sides are at their meeting edges or corners cut
so as to form under one modification illustrated at Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a series of

page_text: be employed in their manufacture, the number of joints corresponding to the
number of sheets employed; and these joints may be made mid-way between the
corners as shown at Figs. 10 and 11, or at one or more corners as shown at Fig. 12
The sheet or sheets are secured together by punching or cutting out either on the
flat or at curved or bent corners a number of rectangular or like orifices G¹ in the
sheets or strips to be joined, and pressing the intervening metal or portions G²
between the orifices in the one sheet or portion of the sheet outwards and in the
other sheet or end of the sheet inwards. A sheet punched and dished in this
manner is illustrated by Figs. 13 and 14. The portions G2 of the metal left in
one strip or portion of the sheet G or sheets are made to fit into the orifices G¹
cut in the adjoining portion of the sheet G or sheets or strips and when the parts
are so fitted together a vertical space G3 shewn at Fig. 13 is left between the ends
of the fitted sheet G or sheets or strips whereinto is pressed endwise a narrow,
flat strip as shewn at Fig. 11, or angular strip as shewn at Fig. 12, or curved strip
or wedge G of sheet metal or a rod or bar which serves to lock together the fitted
parts.
In constructing baths, troughs and like articles which it is desirable should be
made in pieces for convenience of shipment, but which when put together need
not again be taken apart, the body of the bath or structure is made in two or more
parts of sheet metal pressed to the form desired. A flange such as H, I, is or may
be formed as shown at Figs. 15 16 and 16 at the line of junction of the parts
and in these flanges H, I, button or stud-like depressions or recesses H¹, I', are
pressed at intervals. When the parts of the bath are put together the projecting
studs I on one flange I are fitted to enter the recesses of the studs H¹ on the
adjoining flange H or holes punched therein and a light stroke with a hammer
applied to flatten the studs H, I, which then engage each other and bind the
flanges H, I, as if by riveting. A packing of cement or other water proof material
may be inserted in the joint to render the bath water-tight. This mode of jointing
is also applicable in jointing flat sheets or corners of structures generally.
The sheets composing the sides of the structures may be dished or pressed to
any desired form so as to produce ledges for example in ovens to support shelves
fitted within the structure, these supports G³ being shewn at Figs. 10 and 11.
In a cooking range, such as is illustrated at Fig. 17, or heating stove, as illus-
trated at Fig. 18, the shell or casing J is joined at the corners by a series of
lockings or fastenings formed on the sheets which make up the casing or shell,
in the manner described so as to render the use of loose rivets or screws unneces-
sary, and covered where desirable with ornate strips, or the shell may be formed
in one or more pieces and jointed at one or more corners, the others being solid;
and the top and bottom framing which take the loose parts known as the movable
fillings and the bottom plate to form the hob and base respectively are made from
suitable sections K of rolled metal, as illustrated by Fig. 19, prepared by cutting
out a piece at the required distances for the various dimensions in length and
breadth and thereafter bending said sections to form a mitre or suitable corner
joints; or these sections may be in lengths equal to the length and breadth of
the range and be secured together by rivets in the manner of an Oxford frame.
The said rolled metal sections K having suitable grooves to take the edges of the
sheet metal cases or shells in the manner illustrated at Fig. 3, are held together
(with the shell between) by the bolts I extending from the top to the bottom
through the corner pieces, and they are thus built together so that the whole can
be taken to pieces for transit or otherwise and re-constructed by unskilled labour
In the construction of a corn bin the top framing can be made to take the neces-
sary hinge covers.
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: -
1. Sheet metal structures having their sides or other parts jointed or locked
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