IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BENDING METAL PLATES, SHEETS, OR STRIPS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF TUBES AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buiklings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BENDING METAL PLATES, SHEETS, OR
STRIPS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF TUBES AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES." A
communication from abroad by James Hooven, of Norristown, Pennsylvania,
United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th March 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firin of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BENDING
METAL PLATES, SHEETS, OR STRIPS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF TUBES AND FOR
SIMILAR PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by James Hooven, of Norris-
town, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
The object of this Invention is to provide improved machinery for bending or
skelping iron into proper shape for being made into pipes or tubes either as the
metal comes direct from the finishing rolls of a rolling mill or after being cut into
proper lengths subsequently to passing through said finishing rolls without reheating
or after reheating in a skelping or bending furnace, as may be most expedient. It
may also be applied to the bending of iron or other metals, either cold or other-
wise, into any shape required for other purposes.
The said Invention consists in a machine in which a continuous series of rolls or
sheaves, set upon a frame or bed-plate, and provided with the necessary bearings,
guides, and fixtures, and having the proper surface configuration, bring the sheet or
strip of metal gradually into the required shape or form as it passes through the said
machine, all as hereinafter more particularly set forth.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 is a plan or top view of a machine constructed according to this
avention and

page_text: Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, are transverse vertical sections on the lines r, r, t, t,
v, v, x, x, and z, z, Figure 1, of the rolls employed in my improved machine, and
Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11, are transverse vertical sections on the lines 8, 8, u, u,
w, w, and y, y, Figure 1, of the guides of the same, and the lips in connection
therewith.
Figure 12 is an end view of the plate or strip of metal when flat and before its
insertion into the machine, and
Figure 13 is an end view of the said plate after passing the last pair of rolls in
the samo.
Like letters indicate the same parts in all the Figures.
A is a heavy frame supporting the operative parts; B is the first guide provided
with the small roller C under which the sheet or strip of metal S passes to the first
pair of rolls D, E, the shape of which is shewn in Figure 3. From this pair of
rolls the metal passes through the guide F, shown in section in Figure 8, its edges
being held firmly, but so as to avoid friction, by the lips l, l, of said guide, and
enters between the second pair of rolls G, H, (see Figure 4) which still further
bend it and deliver it to the guide I (see Figure 9). Thence it passes successively
between the rolls J, K, through the guide L (see Figure 10) botweon the rolls
M, N, through the guide O, (see Figure 11) and finally between the rolls P, Q, to
the delivery guide R, having in its passage through the machine received the shape
shown in Figure 13.
The successive open guides shown in Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11, have curves
gradually increasing in depth, and are provided with lips l, l, which receive and
hold the edges of the sheet or strip of metal. The guides whose sides are parallel
in no manner serve to modify the form of the skelp while passing them. They
and their lips serve only to guide it in its proper direction by holding it firmly,
yet without friction. This peculiarity of the said machino ensures a diminution of
friction and economy of power. The inner edges of the lips are bent down and
formed as shown to embrace the inner surfaces of the skelp at its edges loosely but
so as to effectually prevent its turning or twisting in the guide.
The forming rolls M, N, may be used as idlers; but it is found that they work
better when driven, the small roll or sheave N operating to lessen friction. The
upper roll M is provided with a tongue t which passes between the edges of the
skelp. A similar tongue t¹ forms part of the upper roll P of the last pair, and
serves to prevent the edges of the skelp from closing together.
The rolls M, N, and P, Q, serve by their action on the plate to bend its end
inward and give a pear shape to the transverse section of the finished skelp, as
shown in Figure 13. This is an important feature as if the transverse section were
circular, the edges would fall under the welding heat, and "butt welding" would
be rendered much more difficult.
The said machine may be geared and driven in any convenient manner, the
upper roll journals being supported in adjustable boxes controlled by proper set
screws. The band U connects the pulley V on the end of the shaft of roll M, with
the pulley W on the end of the shaft of the roll P. When this band is removed
roll M will run as an idler.
The strip or sheet of metal to be bent may if desired be fed to the machine direct
from the finishing rolls of the rolling mill; but I prefer to cut the sheet into the
proper lengths before bending. It may be bent hot or cold as preferred.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it to be
understood that I do not limit myself to any particular number of rolls or to their
arrangement in a horizontal plane as their number and position may be varied without
any departure from the principle of any Invention, and that I do not claim the use
of horizontal and vertical rolls in combination in the same machine, but I claim,-
First. In a machine for bending or skelping iron a series of pairs of rolls in

page_text: combination with open-lipped guides, all constructed and arranged substantially as
described, and operating in the manner and for the purpose specified.
Second. In a bending or skelping machine a series of open-grooved guides
provided with lips having their inner edges turned down and arranged between
the skelping rolls for guiding the skelp without compressing the same
modifying its form, all in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
or
In witness whereof, I, tho said William Robert Lake, have hereunto sot my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord
Ono thousand eight hundred and eighty.
WM RORT LAKE
01