Improvements in Machinery for Expanding Slotted Sheets into Open Work.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 1st July, 1889-Accepted, 10th Aug., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Expanding Slotted Sheets into
Open Work.
I ALBRECHT EDWARD BARTHEL, of 111 Livery Street, in the city of New York,
in the United States of America (at present of 70 Chancery Lane, London, in the
county of Middlesex) Engineer, 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 has reference to the same kind of manufacture as that described in
the specification accompanying Letters Patent No. 17,672 A.D. 1887 granted to me,
and relates to certain improvements in machinery for expanding into meshes or open
work sheets of metal or alloys or other material capable of such treatment which have
been previously slotted or incised in a number of rows in one direction; the said
slots or incisions in one row being out of line transversely or as it were " breaking
joint" with the slots or incisions of the next adjoining rows.
When a sheet so prepared is drawn out or expanded in a direction at right angles
to the direction of the said slots or incisions an open hexagonal pattern is produced of
the form of honey comb cells and the size or areas of the open hexagons required is
determined by the length of the slots or incisions.
The act of expansion contracts the sheet transversely and this contraction has
given rise to great difficulties with machines constructed as heretofore for the
purpose.
The object of the present improvements is to provide a machine which shall be
self adjusting during its work whereby the above mentioned difficulties will be
overcome and which will automatically maintain the pull on the sheet always
rectilinear parallel and constant during expansion thereof.
The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan
of a machine with a prepared sheet in position for expanding. Figure 2 is a plan
on a larger scale of some of the draw hooks and their connections. Figure 3
represents a side elevation of a pair of hooks and connections with a sheet in course
of expansion. Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged scale sections on lines a b and c d
respectively of figure 2, and Figure 6 is a perspective view of the product.
In all the figures like letters represent like parts and arrows indicate the directions
of motions.
As in my prior patent above referred to, the working parts of the machine are
mounted upon a frame A of sufficient strength to resist the various stresses in all
directions to which it is subjected in use, and upon each side member of said framme are
mounted the bearings a a of a strong spindle which is screwed from the centre of its
length towards its ends with right and left band screw threads B B¹. The two
screws B B¹ are capable of being simultaneously rotated either by bevel gear G G¹
and driving shaft E carrying handle wheel F as illustrated, or a power pulley, or they
may be operated by any suitable means. Each of the screws B B' carries a female
screw nut D D and to these nuts are firmly fixed the horizontal transverse stretching
rails H H. These rails are of channel section and arranged as illustrated in
figures 4 and 5 above and below the self adjusting devices connected to the draw
hooks W, but the said rails are not affixed thereto. The draw hooks W are arranged
parallel with each other with the engaging hooks of opposite pairs arranged up and
down, and are operated by an arrangement of levers on the principle of "lazy tongs
or scissors. Each draw hook W has a slot w whose length determines its range of
lateral motion and is proportionate to the area of the hexagon required.
"
In each slot w works a strong pin or stud k which passes through and hinges the
extremities of one pair of superposed levers K K', whose other extremities are

page_text: connected in the same manner and so on for any desired number of levers. said
number being determined by the size of the sheet to be expanded. At each point of
angular intersection. 00' of these levers KK! they are connected by a pin p sur-
rounded by a ferrule p¹ to reduce friction, and the devices illustrated in figures
and 5 are applied as follows:-
At each alternate central joint O'O' the pin p is extended downwards as'in'figure 4,
and at the other joints 01 0¹ upwards as in figure 5, and to one end is applied a
roller or wheel M secured and held in proper position by nuts and washers m m².
The wheels M M engage with the inner surfaces of one of the vertical flanges of
each of the channel rails H A' according to its direction of travel. The other end of
each pin p is enlarged and carries in hearings a friction guide roller: N and these
rollers make rolling contacts against the inner surfaces of the horizontal.webs of the
rails HH; thus it will be seen that the rollers N and wheels M alternate, being at
each joint above and below the levers K K' and drawhook W. The operation. is. as
follows
The system of levers K K' being extended as far as possible slotted or incised
sheet X is placed in position illustrated in figure 1 the draw hooks W being.inserted
through its outer rows of slots or incisions x. The screws B. B are then rotated
whereby the nuts D D' are travelled in opposite directions carrying. with them. the
rails H H
The wheels M M then take against the inner flanges of the rails H H³ and as
tension of the sheet proceeds the hooks W W are enabled to automatically and equally
adjust their varying contracting positions by means of the slots and pins wk and the
central connection described, friction being reduced to a minimum and rectilinear
motion being assured by the rollers N and wheels M. The expansion proceeds until
the true hexagon is formed and the pin k is then at or about the back end of the
slot w.
By reversing the action of the screws B B₁ the tension is relieved and the hooks W
may be readily disengaged and the finished product removed.
By the arrangement above set forth tension is applied equally to both sides of the
sheet X, but a modification of this method consists in stretching from. one side only.
In this case one rail say H¹ is fixed and the screws B' dispensed with, the arrangement
and action of the movable self adjusting hooks W and levers K K' remain. the same
and the sheet is expanded as described either by means of the screws B described, or
by an equivalent rack and pinion appliance as will be readily. understood without
further description or illustration.
Figure 6 shows the finished product.
The machine may be constructed to expand sheets of any size obtainable and rolled
iron sheets may be expanded in a cold or hot-state.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A machine for expanding slotted sheets into open work.arranged to automatically
ensure an absolute rectilinear and equal pull on the sheet during expansion thereof
in the manner hereinbefore described.
2. The application of systems of levers on the principle of lazy tongs or scissors to
machinery for expanding. slotted sheets substantially as and for the purposes
herein before described.
3. A machine for expanding slotted sheets into open work wherein a series of hooks
engaging with the outer rows of incisions or slots in the sheet are caused to retire
simultaneously in opposite directions, or one to retire and the other to remain
stationary, by means of. screws or equivalent operating gear, said hooks being connected
together by a system of levers on the principle of lazy tongs or scissors with rollers
adapted, to automatically adjust the position of the hooks and keep them. parallel in
accord with the transverse contraction of the sheet during longitudinal. expansion
substantially as hereinabove setforth.

page_text: 4. In a machine for expanding slotted sheets the use of two rails one or both
adapted to move in opposite directions in combination with a system of levers K K'
fitted to both rails arranged and connected to each other and to the draw hooks W
substantially as setforth.
5. The machine for expanding slotted sheets into open work constructed and
arranged substantially as herein before described and illustrated.
Dated thin and if T1 1000
J. C. CHAPMAN, Fel. Inst. Patent Agents,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.