IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF VENTILATOR COWLS AND BENDS OR ELBOWS FOR GAS WATER OR AIR PIPES AND OTHER PURPOSES "
Year: 1883

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LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Mechan of Glasgow in the County of Lanark,
North Britain for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF VENTILATOR COWLS AND BENDS OR ELBOWS FOR GAS WATER OR AIR PIPES
AND OTHER PURPOSES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Mechan at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th July 1883.
ARTHUR MECHAN of Glasgow in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF VENTILATOR COWLS AND BENDS OR
ELBOWS FOR GAS, WATER OR AIR PIPES AND OTHER PURPOSES,
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of the bell or other
shaped open mouthed cowls of ventilators.
Hitherto such cowls have been made by hand, a process which is costly,
laborious and consumes much time. The Invention has for its object to effect the
manufacture of such cowls by machine power and for that purpose a press is used,
which may be a drawing press similar to the drawing press employed in making
metal milk pans and other like articles.
In the lower part of the press a horizontal shaft is supported, on the ends of
which two cranks or crank discs are fixed and at a point between these cranks or
crank discs a cam is also secured on the shaft. The cranks or crank dises are
connected by rods to a cross head which carries the male half of a die, punch,
stamp or mould below which the other or female half of the said die, punch, stamp
or mould is carried, preferably on a roller which runs or rests upon the periphery
of the cam. In shaping the bell mouthed or other ventilator cowl, a flat sheet or
plate of metal, preferably cold but which may be heated if desired, is laid on the
under half of the die stamp or mould which has the shape to be given to the cowl
formed in it. Motion is then communicated to the horizontal shaft before referred
to, by the ordinary gearing used in drawing presses, and by the intervention of
the cam and cranks or crank discs such motion causes the halves of the die to
approach each other and the upper half of the die acting on the metal sheet or
plate dents or forces it downwards into the hollow of the lower portion.

page_text: It is preferred to effect the stamping of the metal into the required shape in two
operations the metal in the first operation being merely dented into the lower half
of the die, and this being done, the upper half of the die, which effected such
denting, is removed and another die, having a contour corresponding to the under
half of the die, that is to say similar to the finished shape of the cowl, is substituted
therefor and the plate submitted to its action.
It is also preferred under this mode of manufacture to make the cowl in two
halves or pieces, which halves or pieces are subsequently joined together either by
flanched, lap or other joints but if desired the cowl may be so made in three or
more pieces and similarly jointed.
Instead of employing a drawing press of the class herein before mentioned the
metal may be shaped to the required form by dies or moulds actuated by screw,
hydraulic, steam or other pressure.
As before stated, under this Invention, the laborious process of hammering the
sections of the cowl into shape by hand is dispensed with, much time is saved and
the cost of manufacture is diminished.
-
The improved system of manufacture hereinbefore described besides being
applicable to the forming of ventilator cowls is also applicable to the manufacture
of bends or elbows for Gas water or Air pipes and other purposes when such bends
or elbows are made of sheet iron, copper brass or other sheet metal and in applying
the improved system of manufacture to such articles they are also preferably made
in two halves or pieces and joined together as before set forth.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
1
by the said Arthur Mechan in the Patent Office on the 25th January 1884.
ARTHUR MECHAN of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF VENTILATOR COWLS AND BENDS OR
ELBOWS FOR GAS, WATER, OR AIR PIPES AND OTHER PURPOSES "
My Said Invention relates to improvements in the bell or other shaped open
mouthed cowls for ventilators,
Hitherto such cowls have been made by hand a process which is costly, laborious
and consumes much time: My said Invention has for its object to effect the
manufacture of such cowls by machine power and for that purpose a press is used
which may be a drawing press similar to the drawing press employed in making
metal milk pans and other like articles.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I have here-
unto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings with reference to which I now
proceed more particularly to describe the system, mode, or manner, in or under
which it is or may be used or carried out in practice.
On the accompanying drawings figure 1, is a front elevation, figure 2 a
transverse section, and figure 3 a horizontal section on the line A. B, figure 2 of a
drawing press adapted for manufacturing bell or other shaped open mouthed cowls.
for ventilators in accordance with my said Invention.
As shewn by these figures a horizontal shaft C, is carried in the lower part of
the press and on the ends of the said shaft two discs D D₁ are fixed one of
which D¹, is a spur-wheel; or instead of the discs, cranks may be substituted.
Between these discs or cranks a cam or cams E, is or are also secured on the said
shaft.
The discs D, D' are connected by rods F, to a cross-head G, carried in guides I,
in the upper part of the frame H, of the press; and to the said cross-head the
male half of a die, punch stamp, or mould J, is secured in the usual manner.
The lower or female half K, of the said die, punch, stamp or mould is carried
on a frame or table L, supported on the cams E, by the rollers M, and shaft N.
In shaping the bell mouthed or other ventilator cowl a flat sheet or plate of
metal preferably cold, but which may also be heated if desired, is laid on the under
half K of the die or mould, which half has the shape to be given to the plate
hollowed out or formed in it. Motion is then communicated to the horizontal
shaft C, by the ordinary gearing used in drawing presses and by the intervention
of the connecting rods F, and crosshead G, downward movement is communicated
to the upper or male half J, of the die whilst at the same time the lower or female
part K, is caused to move upwards towards the portion J, by the action of the
cams E, on the rollers M, and the upper half of the die then pressing on the metal
plate forces it downwards into the hollow of the lower portion K.
It is preferred to effect the stamping of the metal into the required shape in two
operations, the metal during the first operation being merely dented into the lower
half of the die, and this being done the upper half J, of the die which effected
such denting is removed, and another die having a contour corresponding to the
under half of the die, that is to say, similar to the finished shape of the cowl, is
substituted therefor, and the dented plate submitted to its action.
It is also preferred under this mode of manufacture, to make the cowl in two
halves or pieces, which halves or pieces are subsequently joined together either by
flanged, lap, or other joints; but if desired the cowl may be so made in three or
more pieces and similarly joined.
'

page_text: Instead of employing a drawing press of the class herein before described and
shewn on the drawings, the metal. plate may be shaped to the required form by
dies or moulds actuated by screw, hydraulic, steam, or other pressure it being
understood that the press forms no part of my said Invention
The improved system of manufacture herein before described besides being
applicable to the forming of ventilator cowls; may also be used in the manufacture
of bends or elbows for gas water or air pipes, or pipes for conducting other fluids
or liquids, when such bends or elbows are made of sheet iron, copper, brass or
other sheet metal, and in applying the improved system of manufacture to such
articles, they are also preferably made in two halves or pieces and joined together
as before set forth.
As before stated under my said invention the laborious process of hammering
the sections of cowls, and bends or elbows into shape by hand is obviated, much
time is saved and the cost of manufacture diminished.
:
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and one system or mode in or under which it is or may be used or
carried out in practice I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be
novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,
The process of manufacturing bell-mouthed or other shaped cowls for ventilators,
and bends or elbows for gas, water, air or other pipes by machine power as
distinguished from hand labour, that is to say, by the action of dies in a drawing
hydraulic, screw, steam, or other press substantially as herein before described.
In Witness Whereof I the said Arthur Mechan have hereunto set my hand and
seal this twenty fourth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand, eight
hundred and eighty-four