Year: 1886

page_text: I JOHN O'BRIEN, Boiler Manufacturer of the City of St. Louis, in the State of
Missouri, one of the United States of North America 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 :—
The following is a full, clear and exact description of my invention, reference
being had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, and in
which, Figure 1 is a side elevation, part broken away, and part in vertical section,
illustrating my improved machine. Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on
line 2,2, Figure 1.-Figure 3 is a detail, vertical section taken on line 3, 3, Figure 2
Figure 4 is a detail, vertical section, illustrating a modification.
This invention relates to a machine for flanging the heads of boilers, and it
consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the
claims.
Referring to the drawings, A represents the frame of the machine, in the upper
part of which is supported a vertical shaft B, adapted to have end movement and
to be lifted by a lever C, fulcrummed to the frame at C, and connected to the
shaft by a link C, or by other suitable means, and having connected to its outer
end a pull-rod or rope C³. When the machine is at work, the shaft is held down
by a jam-nut D, screwing on the threaded shaft B, as shown in Figure 1. I have
shown it in the form of a hand-wheel to provide an easy means for turning.
When the shaft is to be raised or lifted, by the lever C, the nut is screwed down
on the shaft, and when the shaft is lowered again into using position, the nut is
screwed upward again on the shaft, jamming against the frame A. Secured to the
lower end of this shaft B, is the flanging disc G, having rounded lower edges G¹.
The disc is connected to the shaft by means of a short shaft H.(see Figure 3)
which is passed up through the disc and into a socket in the lower end of the
shaft, and has a head H on its lower end received by a counter-sink in the lower
surface of the disc. The two shafts are connected by a transverse key I. The
disc is thus raised and lowered with the shaft, but is prevented from rising on the
shaft. The lower end of the shaft B has an out-turned flange forming a head B¹,
between which and the disc are preferably placed friction balls B' fitting in grooves
in the head and disc. The disc is preferably made in sections, for the more
easy removal of the head, after it is formed, as. the metal in cooling shrinks tight

page_text: around the disc. There is one main section lettered G and two small sections
lettered G³, G; the diameter of the main section is increased where the small
sections fit over it, (see figure 3) and it has lugs J, which enter perforations in the
small sections, when the disc is put together, through which pass keys J₁ to hold
the small sections in place, when the machine is at work. When a head has been
flanged, the keys J are removed and the two sections taken out, and the head will
then be relieved. Beneath the disc is a revolving table L, supported on a shaft L¹
journalled in the lower part of the frame A and turned by suitable mechanical
The piece of metal to be flanged is placed upon the table, the disc having
been raised out of the way by the lever, as described, and the disc is then lowered
until it rests upon the piece of metal where it is clamped and held by the
jam nut D.
means.
For convenience, in getting the piece of metal to be flanged concentric with the
table, arms A¹ are secured to, or cast upon the frame, which have holes A³ to
receive pins, against which the piece is forced. The arms project radially from the
centre of the table, so that pieces of metal of different diameters can be adjusted
upon the table, by simply moving the pins in or out in the holes A. As an
additional support for the plate, at its outer edge, while it is being flanged
I provide on one side of the machine an extension A of the frame A, which
supports a roller A" in a sliding-box A which may be adjusted in or out by a
screwed rod A provided with a hand wheel by which it can be turned.
.
When the table is turned, the disc and plate of metal are turned, with it, and the
edge of the latter is turned up by blocks M provided with friction rollers N and
held in sliding plates O, moved to and from the table by feed screws P. The
blocks have gudgeons M¹ by which they are held in the heads, and they are
provided with cog segments M engaged by worm wheels M³ on shafts M
journailed in the heads. As the shafts are turned, the inclination of the blocks
and friction rollers is changed, and the incline is made steeper, as the flange is
completed. One of the friction rollers N is made slightly convex on its outer
surface, and is designed to be used most when the flanging is first commenced;
while the other roller is straight, or nearly so, and is designed to be used most in
finishing the flange.
In the modification shown in Figure 4 instead of the disc over which the flange
of the head is bent, I use one or more pins U, having heads U¹, over which the
plate is bent.
These pins are held in sliding boxes or blocks T, supported by the frame A and
the blocks are preferably provided with oil recesses V, to form a chamber for the
purpose of lubricating the pins. I prefer to place friction balls T¹ between the
heads U of the formers or pins and the blocks T. When the plate to be flanged,
with this arrangement, is put in place, its outer portion extends over the heads, U₁,
and the part of the plate that extends beyond the heads is turned downward,
(instead of upward, as with the other construction), by means of rollers W, held in
frames W, pivotted at W2 to sliding blocks Ws; the latter being supported on the
frame A. The frames W₁ are provided with rack-segments W, into which mesh
worms Whaving rods W, and hand wheels W'. The frames and rollers are
arranged above the plate to be Banged, and are adapted to be turned downward
by the worms working between the teeth of the cog-segments, as will be plainly
understood.
.
the
The blocks T may be moved back and forth to suit plates of different sizes, by
means of rods T, similar to those P, in my preferred form, and in like manner,
blocks W³, may be moved back and forth, by rods W³.
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 flanging boiler heads the combination of a frame, a vertical
shaft bouing
and danted to ha maigad and lowered, a table on

page_text: which the blank is supported and the jam nut by which the shaft is held down, as
set forth.
2. In a machine for flanging boiler heads, the jam nut D, in combination with a
frame, a vertical shaft on which the jam nut is threaded, having a flanging disc,
a lever connected to the shaft, and a table, the jam nut adapted to hold the shaft
with its disc down on the table, as set forth.
3. In a machine for flanging boiler heads, a shaft having a flanging disc, made
in sections to facilitate the removal of the boiler head, after it is formed thereon, ns
set forth.
4. In a machine for flanging boiler heads, the flanging disc composed of three
sections, the main section being formed with lugs and the other sections supported
on the main section, and having openings through which the lugs are passed, the
sections being secured together by keys passed through the lugs as set forth.
5. In a machine for flanging boiler heads the combination of the table, shaft and
disc, the shaft and disc being connected together and having friction balls placed
between them substantially as set forth.
6. In a machine for flanging boiler-heads the combination of the table, shaft,
and disc, the shaft and disc being connected by a short shaft and key, and having
friction balls placed between them substantially as set forth.
7. In a machine for flanging boiler-heads, the combination of a frame having the
radial arms A', formed with perforations A³, to receive pins, and a table revolving
independently of the arms, as set forth.
8. In a machine for flanging boiler heads, the combination of a frame having the
radial perforated arms A¹, revolving table and adjustable roller Aº, substantially
ns set forth.
9. In a machine for flanging boiler heads, the flanging device consisting of the
radially sliding head O, having feed screw P to adjust it to and from the flanging
disc, block M, journalled to the forward end of the head by gudgeons M¹, cog-
seginent M² formed on the rear of the block, roller N journalled in the block, and
vertical shaft M having worm screw M³, and journalled in the rear part of the
head, as set forth.
10. In a flanging machine, in which the flange is bent downward, the com-
bination of the sliding blocks V, former U, U¹, roller W, frame W¹, segment W₁,
block W, worm W, and means for adjusting said blocks back and forth, substan-
tially as set forth.