Improvements in Machines for Bending and Shaping Metal Plates.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 12th June, 1889-Accepted, 13th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Bending and Shaping Metal Plates.
ROBERT BAIRD, 134 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow Oil Merchant do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention applies particularly to the work of boilermakers' and iron ship-
builders in bending and shaping the plates to the required form.
In bending plates in a circular form in the ordinary boilermaker's or shipbuilders'
machines, which usually consist of three rolls, two driving rolls close alongside each
other in fixed journals, and a single roll which moves in and out only, between the
peripheries of the two rolls, a plate could only be partially circled, as the bending
stops as soon as the edge of the plate operated on ceases to have a bearing on one of
the rolls. The consequence is that the straight portion of the plate has to be circled
by some other means, such as being hammered to the shape.
My invention has for its object the removal of this difficulty by circling the plate
to the edge while in the bending machine.
I accomplish this by making the single roll moveable in suitable slides in a lateral
direction (as well as in and out) towards either of the two rolls, so that the single
roll bearing on a plate a little off the centre would complete the required curvature
close to the edge.
By bringing the single roll over or opposite either of the other two rolls, plates
may be subjected to pressure without being bent to a circular form and where the
furnaces and flues of steam boilers require to have their surfaces strengthened by
annular indentations or rings it may be done by suitably shaping the three rolls, and
passing the plate between them while the single roll is over or in close contact with one
of the two rolls. After the plate is suitably strengthened by the annular indentations
by moving the single roll to a position between the two rolls, the plate may be bent
to a circular form as in ordinary boilermakers' rolls. As the tube will encircle the
single roll when the process is completed, it may be taken off by removing one end
of the roll from its bearing.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Bending and Shaping Metal Plates.
ROBERT BAIRD 134 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Oil merchant, 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 applies particularly to the work of boilermakers and iron ship-
builders in bending and shaping the plates to the required form.
In bending plates in a circular form in the ordinary boilermakers or shipbuilders
machines, which usually consist of three rolls, two driving rolls close alongside each
other in fixed journals, and a single roll, which moves in and out only between the
peripheries of the two rolls, a plate could only be partially circled, as the bending
stops as soon as the edge of the plate operated on ceases to have a bearing on one of
the rolls. The consequence is that the straight portion of the plate has to be circled
by some other means, such as being hammered to the shape.
My invention has for its object the removal of this difficulty by circling the plate
to the edge while in the bending machine.
I accomplish this by making the single roll moveable in suitable slides in a lateral
direction (as well as in and out) towards either of the two rolls, so that the single

page_text: roll bearing on a plate a little off the centre would complete the required curvature
close to the edge.
Two sheets of drawings accompany this.
Figs. 1 and 2 are end elevations. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of
my invention for shaping metal plates as required by shipbuilders and boilermakers.
The end elevation Fig. 1 is also shown partly in section.
A and A are rolls driven by gearing K and K at one end and K² and K³ at the
other end, so that when driven the rolls move in the same direction.
The bearings of the roll B are in heads C and C which may be moved in a lateral
direction over either of the rolls A and A', or in any position between them, by
means of the screws D and D¹ which work in extended nuts fixed to the moveable
heads C and C and guided in slots in each check as shown at the section L Fig. 3.
The top roll B is in bearings O and O¹ attached to the end of screw E by the plate R.
The screw works in nut P, also in nut formed in plate P₁, whereby the roll B is
moved up or down in slot M. between or on either of the rolls A and A'. Thus by
the two movements which are at right angles to each other, the process of circling
may be completed to the edge by pressure from screw E when the roll B is brought
to bear, close to the bearing points of either of the rolls A or A¹.
Another modification is shown at Fig. 6 sheet 2 whereby my invention may be
used to strengthen tubes or plates. For this purpose the machine is the same as
described for shaping metal plates as required for shipbuilders and boilermakers,
with the exception of the rolls B. A and A¹, the surfaces of which are shaped to suit
the indentations required for strengthening purposes.
The indentations are formed by bringing the single roll B over either of the rolls A
or A¹ and subjecting the tubes or plates to a gradually increasing pressure while the
rolls are in motion. After the necessary indentations are made in a tube, it is
brought to a true circular form by revolving it between the rolls A and A' while the
roll B is in a position between them.
The circled tube is moved on or off the top roll by removing the plate R¹ and the
nuts Hand H when the housing J is boisted clear so that the tube can be put on
or taken off. Attached to the sliding head C' is the bracket G at the end of which is
the adjustable bearing F to keep the roll B in position while the tubes are being
moved on or off.
By rolling a metal plate between roll B and A or A¹ when roll B is immediately
over either of them, it may be stiffened by indentations without circling. If required
the circling can be done afterwards by placing B in a position between rolls A
and A.
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. In a machine for shaping and bending metal plates for shipbuilders and boiler-
makers, the combined movements by which a plate can be circled uniformly close to
the edge substantially as described and illustrated.
2. A machine whereby strengthening indentations may be formed in tubes and
metal plates by one roll pressing directly over either of two rolls while the rolls are
in motion and the single roll capable of being moved to a position between the two
rolls so that a partially deformed circle may be made into a true circle, or a straight
metal plate bent to a circular form after it has been stiffened by indentations
substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 11th dow of Tuna 1880