Improvements in or relating to the Bending or Curving of Metal. Strips, particularly applicable in the Manufacture of Cycles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Feb., 1892-Accepted, 9th Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Bending or Curving of Metal.
Strips, particularly applicable in the Manufacture of Cycles.
We, ALFRED HERBERT and ROBERT WALKER SMITH, both of Queens Road
Coventry in the County of Warwick, Engineers, 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 relates to the curving or bending of strips of metal where a double
curve is required, that is to say the strip is formed into a channel and the channel
is then again curved; the invention has been made with particular reference to the
curving of mud guards, chain guards and wheel tyres suitable for cycles, but it will
be readily seen that it is very generally applicable.
In carrying out this invention we prefer to proceed as follows:
Where a strip of metal has to be formed into a channel and also curved to the
are of a circle we prefer to employ a disc or wheel, technically known as a former,
preferably of metal turned up, and of the diameter of the curve to be imparted to
the strip; the periphery of this wheel or disc would be also rounded to the curve
of the channel into which the strip is to be formed.
Where the curve is of a
comparatively small radius a solid disc may be employed, but where a large radius
is required and it was desirable to have a complete circle a wheel with a rim, spokes
and central hub or boss would be preferable; in some cases only a portion of a
wheel or disc would be required.
The wheel, disc or equivalent may be carried in a suitable framework or secured
to foundation in the ground, and carried by the framework or otherwise is a smaller
wheel or satellite having its periphery recessed to match the rounded periphery of
the wheel and adapted to be forcibly pressed against the wheel or disc. The power,
which may be manual or of any other suitable description, would preferably be
applied to the large wheel or disc though it may be applied to both or either of the
wheels. In using this apparatus the strip to be operated upon is preferably secured
in any convenient manner as by a clip or equivalent device to the larger wheel and
the satellite is then pressed firmly against the strip and upon the revolving of the
wheels the strip is drawn between the two and the necessary double curve is
imparted to the strip which may be passed more than once through the apparatus
if required. More than one satellite may be employed if required and the satellite
itself if necessary instead of being smaller than the main wheel may be of the same
size the strip being gripped between the two. Also if the satellite or second wheel
or segment be made sufficiently large it need not be a complete circle.
In applying this invention to the formation of the rims of wheels the same
apparatus may be employed slightly modified if necessary, but in this case the
periphery of the large wheel would be hollowed and the small wheel would be
rounded instead of recessed so as to produce the hollow upon the outside of the
curved strip whereas in the former case the hollow would be on the inside of the
curved strip.
In applying this invention to chain guards which are usually arranged with two
straight portions joined by a circular curved portion the same idea is made use of,
but the wheel or the like previously described would be formed as a mould of the
ecessary shape and centred concentrically with the circular portion. The general
arrangement and operation would be the same as previously described.
Although as above indicated the two curves may be imparted and the article
completely formed at the one operation, we may produce the curves at two or more

page_text: operations and in one or more distinct machines, or in one machine
or separate forming devices.
Dated this 23rd day of May 1891
upon the
same
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Bending or Curving of Metal.
Strips, particularly applicable in the Manufacture of Cycles.
We, ALFRED HERBERT, and ROBERT WALKER SMITH, both of Coventry in
the County of Warwick, Engineers, 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 relates to the curving or bending of strips of metal where a double
curve is required, that is to say the strip is formed into a channel and the channel
is then again curved; the invention has been made with particular reference to the
curving of mud-guards, chain-guards and wheel rims suitable for cycles, but it will
be readily seen that it is very generally applicable.
In carrying out this invention we prefer to proceed as follows,-
:
Where a strip of metal has to be formed into a channel and also curved to the
arc of a circle we prefer to employ a disc or wheel, technically known as a former,
preferably of metal turned up, and of the diameter of the curve to be imparted to
the strip the periphery of this wheel or disc would be also rounded to the curve
of the channel into which the strip is to be formed. Where the curve is of a
comparatively small radius a solid disc may be employed, but where a large radius
is required and it was desirable to have a complete circle a wheel with a rim, spokes
and central hub or boss would be preferable; in some cases only a portion of a
wheel or disc would be required.
The wheel, disc or equivalent may be carried in a suitable framework or secured
to a foundation in the ground, and carried by the framework or otherwise is a
smaller wheel or satellite having its periphery recessed to match the rounded
periphery of the wheel and adapted to be forcibly pressed against the wheel or disc.
The power, which may be manual or of any other suitable description, would
preferably be applied to the large wheel or disc though it may be applied to both
or either of the wheels. In using this apparatus the strip to be operated upon is
preferably secured in any convenient manner as by a clip or equivalent device to
the larger wheel, and the satellite is then pressed firmly against the strip and upon
the revolving of the wheels the strip is drawn between the two and the necessary
double curve is imparted to the strip which may be passed more than once through
the apparatus if required. More than one satellite may be employed if required
and the satellite itself if necessary instead of being smaller than the main wheel
may be of the same size the strip being gripped between the two. Also if the
satellite or second wheel or segment be made sufficiently large it need not be a
complete circle.
In applying this invention to the formation of the rims of wheels the same
apparatus may be employed slightly modified if necessary, but in this case the
periphery of the large wheel would be hollowed and the small wheel would be
rounded instead of recessed so as to produce the hollow upon the outside of the
curved strip whereas in the former case the hollow would be on the inside of the
curved strip.
In applying this invention to chain guards which are usually arranged with two
straight portions joined by a circular curved portion the same idea is made use of,
but the wheel or the like previously described would be formed as a mould of the
necessary shape and centred concentrically with the circular portion. The general
arrangement and operation would be the same as previously described.

page_text: Although as above indicated the two curves may be imparted and the article
completely formed at the one operation, we may produce the curves at two or more
operations and in one or more distinct machines, or in one machine upon the same
or separate forming devices.
In the accompanying drawings
power-
Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively a side and front elevation of one form of
driven machine constructed according to this invention, Fig. 1 being partly broken
away to show the upper part of the former in section.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section drawn to a larger scale than the other figures,
showing the means for adjusting the smaller wheel or satellite in relation to
larger one.
the
Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively a side elevation and plan of another form of the
machine adapted to be operated by hand.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
In Figs. 1 and 2 A represents the framing of the machine, which may be bolted
or otherwise secured to any suitable stand or base. In this framing are provided
two bearings A' for the shaft B and A for the former shaft C. The shaft B does
not project beyond the front of the frame A. and has mounted upon it fast and loose
pulleys B B and also a spur pinion B3 which is keyed or otherwise secured to the
shaft B, and which gears with the toothed wheel C secured on shaft C; or as
shown in the drawing the shaft B may be a non-rotating one and the fast pulley Bl
secured on the sleeve or boss of the pinion B³. On the front end of the shaft C is
secured the wheel or disc D which is preferably so arranged that formers of
different sizes and shapes may be applied to it. For this purpose it is provided
with a rim somewhat resembling that of a railway vehicle wheel having a flat or
cylindrical portion d and a flange d. The disc D is also provided with two or
more clamping plates E (in the drawing four are represented) each adapted to be
forced tightly against the side of the former F by means of a screwed bolt E'.
The tail or inner end of each of the clamping plates E may be arranged to bear as
a fulcrum on the appropriate rib or projection which forms part of one of the
radial ribs or spokes d³ of the disc or wheel D. The former F consists of a ring
bored out or otherwise made to nicely fit on to the cylindrical portion d of the disc
or wheel D and its periphery is turned to the shape which it is desired to give in
section to the guard to be bent on said former and to the diameter corresponding or
approximately corresponding to twice the radius of the longitudinal curve of such
guard or to the internal diameter of the guard if such is to be made circular.
At each side of the former F is formed an annular recess F which receives a
tenony one of which is provided on each of the two cheeks g' of the clip G between
which cheeks is pivotted a lever g2 in the tail of which is fitted a screw preferably
provided with a lever handle or equivalent so that it may readily be tightened and
released. The pivots of the lever are retained in the cheeks by nuts, by
removing either of which one of the cheeks may be removed and this allows of the
clip G being detached from the former F.
H is an adjustable frame provided at its back with a rib or projection H' and
drilled for the reception of two bolts which also pass through slots A³ in the
frame A the head of each of these bolts bearing against the back of the frame A
at the sides of the slots A³. By loosening the nuts on bolts I the frame H may be
raised or lowered to any desired position and by tightening the nuts said frame H
may be secured in any such position. The frame H is formed with a guide H³ in
which the smaller wheel support may be moved up and down by means of a
screw K which as shown in Fig. 3 is swivelled or otherwise connected to said wheel
support. The screw Kworks through the nut L secured in the frame H and at its
lower end it is provided with a hand wheel K' or other means by which it may be
rotated easily. The periphery of the wheel or roller M which is supported in
preferably open bearings in the frame J is grooved so that it will fit against the
periphery of the former F and be parallel therewith as will be well understood.
In the operation of the before described apparatus one end of a strip of metal

page_text: preferably roughly bent in the transverse direction so as to approximate to the
finished section is passed between the roller M and former F so as to project pasi
the roller M just sufficiently to admit of its being engaged by the clip which is
then moved around (guided by the grooves F) to the metal strip so that the point
of the lever g may be tightened upon the strip by turning the screw then bearing
upon the former F. The roller ML is then by means of the screw K moved towards
the former Funtil it bears with the desired pressure upon the strip and the
machine is then rotated so that the former F draws the strip through the space
between itself and the roller M so that the strip will be bent to a radius and section
practically the same as those of the former F. If one passage through the machine
is not sufficient to bend the strip to the desired form it may be passed several times
through it, the roller M if required being screwed a little higher each time, and if
desired after it has been passed between the roller M and former F in one direction
the clip G may be removed from one end of the strip and another clip, or the same
one reversed, applied to the other end of the strip so that the small portion
originally held by the clip and not properly bent to the desired shape may be passed
between the roller M and former F.
.
If a former of a different diameter or section is required the clamping plates E
are removed and the former F then on the disc D taken off therefrom and the
desired one put on in its place and secured by the clamping plates E. The roller M
is then lifted out of its bearings in the frame H and another roller conforming in
shape to that of the new former placed on the disc D. The nuts on the bolts I
may then if desired be loosened and the frame H moved up or down as required,
the final adjustment being preferably effected by the screw K.
If the machine is to be used for bending the strips to only one form then the
former Faud disc D may be made in one with each other and the roller M need
not be supported in open bearings as there will be no necessity for removing either
the former For roller M.
The machine shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is adapted to be operated by hand and is
suitable for bending chain guards. In this example the former F which may be
solid, and the roller M are horizontal their respective vertical shafts being supported
in the bearings N and N the latter of which may be moved radially towards or
from the bearing N by a screwed shaft the outwardly projecting end of which
may be square as shown so that a suitable wrench or handle may be applied for
turning it. The upper end of the shaft C may likewise be square so that a wrench
or lever may be applied for rotating it. The frame A of this device may be secured
to a work-bench or other suitable stand or support and in use the workman intro-
duces the roughly bent strip between F and M as before described with reference
to Figs. 1 to 3 and secures it to the former F by means of a clip which may be
fixed to the former F, he may then turn the former F just sufficiently to give the
desired bend to the strip after which the bent strip may be removed from the
machine.
It will be obvious that the before described apparatus may be modified without
departing from the spirit of the invention for example instead of using a circular
former as shown in the accompanying drawings the curve of whose peripheral
surface may correspond with a portion only of the finished bent strip as in the
construction say of chain guards which are partly straight and partly curved, we
may employ a former corresponding to the finished shape of such guard, such a
former for making a chain guard would have straight sides and a curved end and
the bending operation would be confined to the curved end the periphery of which
would be concentric with the shaft of the former. When the strips are to be bent
to a circular form as for wheel rims the former may be composed of two or more
parts or segments by taking which apart the bent strips inay more readily be
removed from the machine; or the former may be made up of two or more
superposed parts or rings the periphery of each forms a part of the transverse
curve of the finished strip bent therson. When only a segmental strip is required
the former may be in the form of a segment instead of completely circular.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. In a machine for bending metal strips or plates the combination with a former
whose periphery approximates to the shape and size to be given to a part or the
whole of the strip or plate to be bent of a roller adjustable in relation to the former
substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. In a machine for bending metal strips or plates the combination with a disc or
wheel such as D of a former such as F secured upon it and whose periphery
approximates to the shape and size to be given to a part or the whole of the strip
or plate to be bent substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
3. In a machine for bending metal strips or plates the combination with a former
such as F whose periphery approximates to the shape and size to be given to a part
or the whole of the strip or plate to be bent and having grooves such as F¹ of a
clip such as G having tenons fitting into said grooves substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete plate-
bending machine substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the
accompanying drawings.
5. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete plate-
bending machine substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of February 1802
ALFRED
HERBERT.
ROBERT WALKER SMITH.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicants.