Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Forming and Shaping Hollow and other Articles from Sheet Metal.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1893-Accepted, 9th Dec., 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Forming and
Shaping Hollow and other Articles from Sheet Metal.
I, FRANK MOORFIELD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing
at 19 New Street, in the City of Newark, County of Essex, and State of New
Jersey, oue of the United States of America, Gentleman, 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 :-
Figure 1 shows a vertical section of my apparatus with a blank in position in
the die and the nipple of the cylinder just entering the blank, and
Figure 2 is a like view with the parts in the position they occupy on the
completion of the article to be formed.
Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.
The object of my invention is to provide improved apparatus for the manufacture
of hollow or other articles of all kinds that are made from sheet metal by the use
of shaping or forming devices, and to this end-said invention consists in the
apparatus, and in the parts thereof adapted to form or shape bodies or articles,
by the employment of a fluid, as water, introduced into a suitable blank and
subjected while therein to pressure, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter
specified.
My present invention, in respect to its general features, is similar to the one for
which British Letters Patent No. 10,364, were granted to me and one Fitz-Gerald,
dated May 31, 1892; that is to say, I employ, as in that case, a suitable die or
shaping tool whose configuration or conformation, it is desired to impart to the
article, and means for introducing fluid under pressure into a blank, when in said
die or tool.
The die or other shaping tool A may be of any desired structure adapted to the
necessities of the case. The one shown is designed to form a watch case center,
and is of the sectional kind commonly used in conjunction with a roller. Said die
is held in a chuck or holder B, that is securely clamped or bolted to the under side
of the head C of a suitable, powerful, press, preferably, hydraulic.
Access to the die-opening a is had through a circular opening d, in the bottom
of the chuck. Projecting down into said die-opening a, a short distance, is an
extension b of a block D, that is held in the chuck by the engagement of the die
parts, which extension has a diameter so much less than the internal diameter
of the adjacent part of the die, that an annular space a' is left between them.
Axially in line with and below the die A is a cylinder E, up into which, from its
lower end, extends a plunger or piston F, that is mounted upon and moves with the
bed or platen G of the press.
The upper end of the cylinder E is closed, except as to a comparatively small,
centrally located, vertical passage or opening e, and secured to such end is a
nipple H, having its opening of the same diameter as, and in line with the
opening e in the cylinder. The nipple, as in my Patent referred to, is designed to
enter a short distance into and form a close joint with the blank when the same is
in the die, and for this purpose, has its upper end reduced in diameter to enter the
blank, but fitting it snugly, and to form a shoulder to abut against the end of edge
thereof.
The nipple is, preferably, detachably connected to the cylinder to enable the
substitution of other nipples for different work, but of course, if desired, it can be
integral with the cylinder. It is shown in the drawings as detachably connected,
and the attaching means consist of an externally threaded ring I, which screws
into a threaded cavity in the cylinder end and has an internally projecting flange,
which engages an externally projecting flange at the lower end of the nipple. A

page_text: thin gasket or washer i is interposed between the under-side of the nipple and the
bottom of the cylinder cavity to make a water-tight joint.
At its base, the plunger F has an annular enlargement f, upon whose threaded
periphery is screwed the lower end of a short vertical cylinder J, into which the
lower end of the cylinder E extends. Upward movement of the latter in the
former is limited by an inwardly projecting flange ; at the upper end of
the cylinder J, that is adapted to engage an outwardly projecting flange e' at the
lower end of the cylinder E.
Also resting upon and carried by the press bed or platen G, is a chamber K,
that is connected at its bottom by a pipe with the annular space L in the
cylinder J, beneath the lower end of the cylinder E, and around the lower portion
of the plunger F, immediately above the enlargement f. Vertically movable in
said chamber K is a piston M, and encircling the upwardly extending stem or
rod m of the latter, is a strong coiled spring N, that at one end bears on the upper
side of the piston, and at the other end against a cap or bonnet k³, which closes
the chamber at its upper end. The stem'm passes through an opening in the cap,
and, outside of the latter, carries a nut O adapted to engage the same and limit the
downward movement of the piston under stress of the spring. Said stem is
threaded to such an extent as to enable the nut O thereby to move the piston M to
or nearly to the top of the chamber against the stress of the spring, for a purpose
to appear.
The annular space L, below the cylinder E and the space in the chamber K
below the piston, are to be filled with a fluid, preferably water, for the purpose of
imparting to the lower end of the cylinder E the pressure of the spring N. Such
water can be placed in these spaces in any desired way, as for instance, by pro-
viding a small opening through the side of the chamber K near the top thereof,
at a point above which the piston M does not normally rise when the apparatus is
being used, but to and beyond which it can be taken by turning the nut O, when it
is desired that water shall be passed through the passage below said piston. When
the desired quantity of water has been put into the cylinder, the nut O is
turned, to allow the spring to move the piston down into the cylinder past the
opening ³.
Water, for effecting the conformation of the blank to the die, is placed in the
space in the cylinder E above the plunger F, and may be simply poured therein
through the nipple opening, or as I prefer, it may be taken from the chamber K, by
a pipe P that connects said chamber near its lower end with a small passage e* that
extends from the opening or passage e in the cylinder E out to its surface. The
pipe P is made in two parts, with a sliding or telescoping section p uniting them, to
permit vertical movement of the cylinder E relative to the chamber K, and to
control the passage of water, a valve Q is provided in the opening e³ in the
cylinder.
At a point about midway between the upper end of the plunger F and the
lower end of the cylinder E an annular groove e is provided in the inner wall of
said cylinder to catch any water leaking down from above the plunger, or up from
below the cylinder end. From said groove, the water is conveyed by a lateral
opening through the cylinder wall, to a discharge pipe R screwed into the latter
at the outer end of the opening et.
My apparatus is adapted for the formation of a great variety of hollow articles,
but its operation, it is thought, will be made clear by describing the making of a
watch-case center.
The blank employed in making a center consists simply of a short section of
tubing T, open from end to end, which with the press bed or platen lowered
sufficiently to permit it, is placed in position within the die A, with its upper
portion in the annular space a¹ and its upper end abutting against the block D, so
that a water-tight joint is formed between the parts at this point. The press is
now operated to cause the piston and platen G of the press to move upward with
the parts carried by it, whereupon the reduced portion of the nipple will enter the

page_text: lower end of the blank T, until the edge of the latter is engaged by the shoulder
on the nipple. This upward movement of the platen is continued and, unless the
blank begins to buckle, the upward movement of the cylinder E will be resisted
and cease, but that of the plunger will continue and result in the forcing of the
water above it, up through the cylinder opening e and the nipple opening into the
blank, and, as the movement progresses, with such pressure as to cause the blank
to be forced into and conformed to the die.
As the blank shortens lengthwise in consequence of being expanded into the die,
the nipple follows it up and its shoulder keeps in contact with the edge of the
blank, with such pressure as to form a water-tight joint. When, as is designed, the
upper end of the cylinder E abuts against the under face of the chuck B, the latter
resists the upward movement of said cylinder, and the finishing pressure is applied
to the blank with said parts in engagement.
Should the blank buckle or bend and enter the die matrix, the upward move-
ment of the cylinder will continue until its top engages the chuck B, and the latter
will then hold the cylinder, while the plunger moves up therein and displaces the
water above it and causes it to enter the blank. Under any circumstances, however,
before the completing pressure is applied to the blank, an abutment occurs between
the top of the cylinder E and the chuck B.
As the plunger Fascends in the cylinder E, the water below the latter is forced
out into the chamber K and raises the piston therein against the stress of the
coiled spring N. Simultaneously with the lowering of the press piston and
platen G to remove the nipple from within the die upon the completion of the
center, the spring moves the piston M downward and forces the water out of the
chamber K back into the space below the cylinder E with such pressure, as to
restore and maintain the elevated position of the cylinder with reference to the
plunger F.
The upward movement of the cylinder, or rather the downward movement of the
plunger therein, by increasing the space above said plunger, provides for the
accommodation of such water as was forced into the blank, and which simply flows
back into the cylinder. This return of the water to the cylinder is ensured, and its
escape around the sides of the nipple prevented, by making the nipple below its
blank engaging shoulder of such diameter as to fit the die opening a in a water-
tight manner.
It is, of course, obvious, that the die-holder can be mounted, so as to be the
movable part of the apparatus, and the nipple-carrying parts be stationary, and
that other changes can be made which will be simply within the province of the
skilled mechanic, and not involve invention.
It will be seen, too, that by proper adaptation of the parts, my apparatus can
be used to ornainent or emboss flat sheet-metal, as well as to give shape to or
ornament articles that, when finished, are strictly speaking, hollow.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In apparatus for making or shaping hollow articles, the combination with a
press, of a cylinder and plunger mounted upon, and both movable with a moving
part of the press, and an abutment to engage and stop the cylinder, while allowing
continued movement of the plunger to expel the contents of the cylinder,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. In apparatus for making or shaping hollow articles, the combination with a
press, of a vertically disposed cylinder and plunger mounted upon and both
movable with a moving part of the press, the cylinder having in its upper and a .
discharge opening through which its contents may be forced by the plunger, and a
stop or abutment to engage and stop upward movement of the cylinder while
permitting further upward movement of the plunger to expel the contents of the
cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

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3. In apparatus for forming hollow articles, the combination with a press, of a
cylinder and plunger mounted upon and both movable with a moving part of
the press, an abutment to engage and stop the cylinder while allowing continued
movement of the plunger to expel the contents of the cylinder, and a spring placed
under tension by the relative movement of the plunger and cylinder, and operating
by its expansion to restore the relative positions of said parts after such movement,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. In apparatus for making or shaping hollow articles, the combination with a
press, of a die holder mounted thereon, a cylinder and a plunger in the latter,
mounted on the press bed or platen and movable thereby towards the die
holder to cause the same and the cylinder to abut to stop the movement of
the latter, but not that of the plunger, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
5. In apparatus for forming or shaping articles, the combination with a die
and a cylinder having a discharge opening, of a plunger or piston in the cylinder to
effect the expulsion of fluid therefrom to a blank in the die, and the spring to restore
the position of the parts after such expulsion of the fluid, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
6. In apparatus for forming or shaping articles, the combination with a cylinder
having a discharge opening at one end, of a plunger or piston to effect the expulsion
of fluid therefrom, and a spring for applying pressure to the other end of the
cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose shown.
7. In forming or shaping apparatus, the combination with a cylinder having a
discharge opening at one end, of a plunger or piston movable therein to force its
contents out through its discharge opening, a chamber communicating with a space
at the other end of the cylinder, and a piston in such chamber adapted to apply
pressure to said other end of the cylinder through the medium of an interposed fluid,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
8. In forming or shaping apparatus, the combination with a cylinder having a
discharge opening at its upper end, of a plunger or piston in the cylinder to force
its contents out through such discharge opening, the second cylinder enclosing
the lower end of the first, the chamber communicating with said second cylinder,
and the spring-pressed piston in said chamber, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
9. In forming or shaping apparatus, the combination with a cylinder having a
discharge opening, of a piston or plunger in said cylinder to effect the expulsion of
fluid from the cylinder, a fluid holding chamber having a piston to apply pressure
through the fluid to said cylinder, and a pipe connecting said chamber and the
interior of the cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
10. In forming or shaping apparatus, the combination with a press, of a die-
holder or chuck attached to the head thereof, the cylinder, and the plunger therein
mounted on the press platen, said cylinder having a discharge opening at its upper
end, the chamber also on the press platen and communicating with a space below
the cylinder, and a spring-pressed piston in the chamber, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
Dated thie 21st der of October 1893.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.