Improvements relating to the Bending of Metal Bars, Rods, Plates, and the like, and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 24th July, 1890-Accepted, 13th Sept.. 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by HERBERT ELLSWORTH FOWLER, of 119, Davenport
Avenue, New Haven, County of New Haven, State of Connecticut, United
States of America, Mechanic.]
Improvements relating to the Bending of Metal Bars, Rods, Plates,
and the like, and to Apparatus therefor.
1. HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the bending of railway-rails, angle-iron and other metal
bars or rods, plates and the like, and to apparatus therefor.
It has been customary heretofore, in bending metal bars, to apply lateral pressure
thereto in such a manner that the metal at the outer side of the curved bar is subjected
to sufficient stress to elongate the fibres and in some instances to stretch the metal
beyond its limit of elasticity, or draw the fibres apart, the metal at the inner side of
the curved bar being at the same time more or less compressed or condensed. The
bars are therefore frequently very much weakened by the bending operation. More-
over it is difficult to obtain uniformity in the curvature of the bars or any desired
variation in such curvature.
In the Specification of former Letters Patent No. 12115 dated 30th July A.D. 1889,
there is described a method of and apparatus for bending metal tubes by feeding the
same, by longitudinal or endwise pressure, between two rolls or dies one of which is
adjustable to regulate the degree of curvature imparted to the tube.
The present
invention is chiefly designed to provide for the bending of solid metal bars or rods
upon this principle. The application of longitudinal or endwise instead of lateral
pressure to such bars or rods ensures the required compression of the metal on the
inner side of the curved bar whilst preventing injurious stretching or tension of the
metal at the outer side of the said bar, the metal being fed forward under considerable
pressure.
In bending a metal bar or rod according to the present invention, I employ rolls or
dies one of which is adjustable relatively to the other to regulate or determine the
degree of curvature imparted to the bar, and the edges or peripheries of which are so
formed as to correspond in transverse section with the bar or rod to be bent, thus
obviating liability to deformation of the said bar or rod during the bending operation.
To force the bar or rod through the space between the said rolls or dies, I apply
longitudinal or end wise pressure to the said bar or rod, either continuously or
intermittently, by any convenient means.
The present invention, moreover, comprises further improvements in apparatus of
the kind or class described in the said former Specification, whether such apparatus be
intended for bending tubes or solid bars, rods or plates.
In the said former Specification there is described pawl-and-ratchet mechanism for
adjusting the roll or die which regulates the curvature of the metal tube. Instead of
this pawl-and-ratchet mechanism, I provide a curved or segmental bar and means for
securing the same to one of the sliding blocks of the feed mechanism in such a munner
that it can be readily disconnected and removed when desired. This bar is adapted to
bear against the pivoted arm carrying the said roll or die, so that, when the said block
is moved forward, the said bar will move or adjust the said roll or die. This movement
of the die may be arrested at any desired moment by stopping the machine, and the
segmental bar may then be either disconnected or entirely removed. A set-screw
working in a nut or in a pair of adjustable half-nuts is employed for retaining the
said pivoted arm and the roll or die in position when adjusted, and the said screw also
Dail

page_text: serves for effecting a final or more accurate adjustment of the said roll or die if
necessary.
This screw acts much more efficiently as a support or stop for the said pivoted arm
than the retaining pawl described in the said former Specification.
I sometimes provide suitable means for effecting the automatic adjustment of the
pivoted arm carrying the said roll or die, or of the roll or die in the said arm, for the
purpose of varying the curvature of a bar or other piece of metal.
For feeding or forcing railway-rails or other heavy metal bars between the rolls or
dies either continuously or intermittently, 1 sometimes use a hydraulic press firmly
attached to the frame of the machine or otherwise suitably arranged in combination
with the rolls or dies, so that the end of the ram will bear against the end of the bar
to be bent. Or I provide the said ram with jaws or clamps for gripping the bar to
feed the same forward.
In other instances I combine, with the feed mechanism described in the said former
Specification, mechanism similarly constructed and actuated by the same cam and lever
or other operating devicos, and so arranged that, while one set of feeding devices is
moving forward with the bar, rod or tube, the other feeding device will move back-
ward so that it may grip the said rod, bar or tube at a fresh place. The feeding of
the work is thus made continuous, instead of intermittent as with the feed-mechanism
described in the said former Specification.
The larger roll or die is usually mounted upon a pin or stud fixed in a slide which
is adjustable by means of a screw passed through one side of the frame of the machine.
A suitable clamping screw or nut is provided for retaining the said slide securely in
place after it has been adjusted.
My invention is very advantageously applicable to the coiling of metal rods or bars
to form volute and other spiral springs.
The said invention is, moreover, very useful for bending angle-iron for ship-building
and other purposes, and also for bending hoiler-plates, U-shaped ties and the like.
I employ a roller for supporting the metal rod or bar, which roller is supported by
a stud or bracket provided with means for adjusting it to raise or lower the said roller.
The space between adjacent coils may thus be varied as may be required. This device
also serves for curving angle-iron and other metal bars, rods or the like in a direction
at right angles to that in which they are curved by the main rolls or dies.
Dated this 24th day of September 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Bending of Metal Bars, Rods, Plates,
and the like, and to Apparatus therefor.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, 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 relates to the bending of railway-rails, angle-irons, and other metal
bars or rods, plates and the like, and to apparatus therefor.
It has been customary heretofore, in bending metal rails or bars, to apply lateral
pressure thereto in such a manner that the metal at one side of the bar is subjected
to sufficient stress to elongate the fibres, the metal at the other side of the bar being
at the same time more or less compressed or condensed, and there is thus great
liability to stretching of the metal at the outer side of the curved bar beyond its
limit of elasticity, or drawing of its fibres apart. The rails or bars are, therefore,
frequently very much weakened by the bending operation. Moreover it is difficult to
obtain uniformity in the curvature of the bars or any desired variation in such
curvature.

page_text: In the Specification of former Letters Patent No. 12115 dated 30th July A. D. 188
there is described a method of and apparatus for bending metal tubes by feeding the
same, by longitudinal or end wise pressure, between two rolls or dies, one of which
is adjustable to regulate the degree of curvature imparted to the tube.
The present invention comprises the bending of solid metal bars or rods upon this
principle. The application of longitudinal or endwise instead of lateral pressure to
such bars or rods ensures the required compression of the metal on the ioner side of
the curved bar, whilst obviating the liability to injurious stretching or tension of
the metal at the outer side of the said bar, the metal being fed forward under
considerable pressure.
In bending a metal bar or rod according to the present invention, I employ rolls or
dies one of which is adjustable relatively to the other to regulate or determine the
degree of curvature imparted to the bar, and the edge or periphery of each of which
is so formed as to correspond with the outline or section of the bar or rod to be bent,
thus obviating liability to deformation of the said bar or rod during the bending
operation. To force the bar or rod through the space between the said rolls or dies,
I apply longitudinal or endwise pressure to the said bar or rod, either continuously
or intermittently, by any convenient means.
The present invention, moreover, comprises further improvements in apparatus of
the kind or class described in the said former Specification, whether such apparatus
be intended for bending tubes or solid bars, rods, or plates.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan,
Figure 2 is a side elevation, and
Figures 3 and 4 are end elevations, illustrating a machine embodying my present
iniprovements.
Figure 5 is a front elevation, and
Figure 6 is a vertical section on the line a, a, Figure 5, both drawn to an enlarged
scale, showing a detail of construction.
Like leiters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the frame of the machine, B is the main or driving-shaft, C is a pulley for
connecting the said shaft by means of a belt with any suitable motor. D, D' are the
rolls or dies; E, E are the gripping-jaws; F is a worm formed or fixed on the
shaft B, and geared with a worm-wheel G, which is fixed upon the shaft H' of
the cam E for imparting the necessary motion to the said gripping-jaws. I is the
guide for directing and supporting the rail, rod, bar or other piece of metal while
being curved or bent.
The edge or periphery of each of the rolls or dies D, D' is, as above stated, so
shaped that it corresponds with the transverse section of the bar or rod to be bent.
In this instance, they are arranged to receive an ordinary railway flange-rail. The
operating edges or surfaces of the gripping-jaws E are made of a corresponding form
in transverse section to the said rolls or dies. The movable roll or die, D', which
regulates the curvature of the rail, rod, bar or other piece of metal, is supported on
a block a fitted to slide in a swinging plate or arm a in a maner substantially
similar to that described in the said former Specification, and provided with an
adjusting screw b. A suitably graduated scale a² is marked upon the said swinging
plate or arm a', and a pointer a³ is fixed upon the movable block a for facilitating the
adjustment of the said roll or die D¹ to adapt the machine for the production of rails,
rods or bars of different curvature.
In the said former Specification, there is described pawl-and-ratchet mechanism
for effecting the adjustment of the said roll or die D' by the movement of the gripping
jaws. Instead of this pawl-and-ratchet mechanism, I provide a curved bar c which
is pivoted at el to the sliding block & carrying the gripping-jaws E, in such a manner
that it can be readily disconnected and removed therefrom when desired. is an
antifriction roller supported upon a stud or spindle on the frame A and beneath
the guide I, the said guide being cut away or slotted so as to admit of the said

page_text: :
e is a set-
curved or segmental bar moving freely through or past the same and so as to direct
the movement of the said bar. The said antifriction rollor e may be supported
upon the said guide I instead of upon the frame A. The curved bar c is adapted io
bear against the swinging plate or arm a carrying the roll or die D', so that, when
the sliding block d is moved forward, the said bar e will move or adjust the said roll
or die. The friction caused by the said curved bar bearing against the guide I is
obviated or reduced by the antifriction roller. This movement of the die may be
arrested at any desired moment by stopping the machine, and the curved bar may
then be either disconnected or entirely removed. I thus provide for adjusting the
roll or die in a more simple and efficient manner than heretofore.
scrow working in a pair of adjustable half-nuts for retaining the swinging arm a
and the roll or die D in position when adjusted, and the said screw also serves for
effecting a final or more accurate adjustment of the said roll or die if necessary. The
said half-nuts are provided with dove-iail portions adapted to work in a corre-
sponding dovetail groove g¹ provided in a bracket g secured to the frame A, so as to
be free to move to and from each other as may be desired. For thus moving the said
half-nuts, I provide a plate i pivoted at to the bracket 9 and having a handle or
lever and cum-grooves or slots in which are adapted to engage pins or studs *
fixed in the half-nuts and extending through slots provided in the said brackety,
as more clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6. is a guide for retaining the screw e in
position when the half-nuts are opened. The above arrangement admits of the
said half-nuts being opened and the screw e drawn or pushed through the same,
thus effecting a saving of the time which would be otherwise consumed in screwing
the said screw e to and from the swinging plate or arm a². Moreover by tightening the
said half-nuts upon the screw e, the latter can be clamped or locked firmly in position
therein. An ordinary nut may, however, be employed if desired.
The screw e acts much more efficiently as a support or stop for the said pivoted arm
than the retaining pawl described in the said former Specification.
j is an antifriction roller which is mounted upon a spindle supported in a suitable
bearing in a block or piece carried by a sliding block or piece ³, and which forms
the guide for the work when the machine is employed for making coils or the like.
The roller is adjustable vertically by means of a screw j³ in a manner substantially
similar to that described in the said former Specification.
The said sliding block is supported upon an extension A of the frame A, having
a slot A in which the screw can move freely, and the lateral adjustment of the
said roller is effected by merely shifting the said sliding block or piece j³ by hand
towards or away from the die or roll E. is a pin adapted to fit in one or other of
holes A in the extension A' and thus retain the said sliding block in position.
I thus dispense with the screws for adjusting the said roller horizontally and, more-
over, provide for adjustment thereof in a more rapid, simple and convenient manner
than heretofore. The said antifriction roller is made considerably longer than that
described and shown in the said former Specification. is a pointer adapted to
indicate the amount of adjustment of the antifriction roller and consequently the
pitch of the coil that will be formed thereby.
k is a screw-threaded spindle adapted to engage in a correspondingly screw-threaded
hole provided in the frame A and to hear against a slide or block D supporting or
bearing against the spindle D³ of the roll or die D, and by means of which the
latter can be adjusted to or from the roll or die D. D is a clamping nut on the
spindle D for retaining the said slide or block D securely in place after it has been
adjusted. The rolls or dies D, Dare thus both adjustable towards and away from
each other, and the die D is adjustable towards and away from the guide' I, to permit
the introduction between the same of rails, bars, rods, pipes or other articles of
different sizes.
The gripping-jaws E are arranged to move freely to and from the rail or other
piece of metal (so as to enable them to alternately grip and release the said rail or
other piece of metal) in grooves d provided in the sliding block d, instead of upon
pins, studs or screws as described in the said former Specification. 1, 1 are the

page_text: levers for operating the gripping-jaws E. The said levers are pivoted at 1, 1 to
the sliding block, a distance-piece or stay being provided for connecting and
strengthening the pivots. Set-screws m fitted to work in screw-threaded holes or
nats provided in the free extremities of the said levers are, moreover, provided
according to the present invention, which bear against the gripping jaws E and
whereby the pressure or gripping force applied by the latter to the rail or other
piece of metal to be fed forward thereby, can be regulated or adjusted in accordance
with the dimensions of the said rail or other piece, or the power required to move or
feed the same forward. The sliding block d is, in this case, arranged to move freely
towards and away from the rolls or dies D, D' in a dovetail groove A' in the
frame A. is the sliding block to which are pivoted at 1, the two links ³ of a
toggle-joint for operating the levers 1, a distance-piece or stay being provided for
connecting and strengthening the pivots. The sliding block n is arranged to move
freely in a dovetail groove in the sliding block d. I provide improved mechanism
for imparting the necessary feed movement to the sliding blocks and n, that is to
sayThe main or driving shaft. B is placed longitudinally instead of transversely as
heretofore, and the cam-wheel H instead of having a circumferential cam-groove,
is provided with a cam groove H2 in one side thereof and the said cam-wheel
communicates the required to and fro movements to the slide blocks n and d through
a lever o pivoted at o' to the frame A or to a bracket secured thereto. The upper
extremity of the lever o extends through a slot d in the sliding block d and into a
slot n in the sliding block ; the lower extremity. of the said fever is provided with
an antifriction roller o' which works in the cam-groove H2. is another antifriction
roller which is mounted upon the said lever o and bears against the corresponding
side of the cam-wheel H.
The pulley C is preferably arranged to run loose upon the driving shaft B and a
clutch of any well known construction and provided with an operating lever p' is
provided for throwing the said pulley into or out of engagement with the driving
shaft B. The machine can therefore readily be started or stopped at any desired
moment, this providing very advantageously for permitting the disconnecting or
removal of the curved bar e as hereinbefore mentioned.
I sometimes provide suitable means for effecting the automatic adjustment of the
pivoted or swinging arm a' carrying the roll or die D¹ or of the said roll or die in the
said arm for the purpose of varying the curvature of a rail bar rod or other piece of
metal.
For feeding or forcing railway-rails or other heavy metal bars between the rolls or
dies either continuously or intermittently I sometimes use a hydraulic press firmly
attached to the frame of the machine, or otherwise suitably arranged in combination
with the rolls or dies so that the end of the rain will bear against the end of the bar
to be bent. Or I provide the said rain with jaws or clamps for gripping the bar to
feed the same forward. For instance. I can connect the rain of a hydraulic press with
sliding blocks carrying jaws or clamps substantially as above described.
In other instances I combine with the feed mechanism above described or that
described in the said former Specification another set of feed mechanism similarly
constructed and actuated by the same cam and lever or other operating devices, and
so arranged that, while one set of feed mechanism is moving the rail or bar forward,
the other set of feed mechanisin operates to prepare for gripping the said rail or bar
at a fresh place. The feeding of the work is thus made continuous instead of
intermittent as described in the said former Specification.
My invention is very advantageously applicable to the coiling of metal rods or
bars to form volute and other spiral springs. The said invention is, moreover, very
nzeful for bending angle-iron for ship building and other purposes, and also for
bending boiler plates, U-shaped tires and the like.
The guide roller for supporting the metal rod or bar and for varying the pitch or
space between adjacent coils or convolutions may also serve for curving angle-iron and
other metal bars, rods or the like in a direction at right angles to that in which they
are curved by the main rolls or dies.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent I wish it understood that I claim :-
First. The bending of rails, angle-irons and other solid metal bars, rods or plates by
the method herein described, which consists in applying longitudinal or endwise
pressure to the bar, rod or plate and thus forcing the same between a rotary die or
roll and a suitable guide or support and then between the said die or roll and another
die or roll so arranged relatively thereto and to the said guide or support as to ensure
the desired curvature of the said bar, rod, or plate.
Second. The combination with bending dies or rolls such as 1 have herein described,
of suitable means for feeding the work continuously between the said dies or rolls,
substantially as above set forth.
Third. The combination, with the pivoted or swinging arm carrying the roll or
die, of the curved bar arranged to bear against the said arm and to be moved by
the sliding block carrying the gripping jaws for the purpose of regulating the
curvature of the bar, rod or plate, substantially as described.
Fourth. The improved means, comprising the hall-nuts and the adjustable slotted
plate or disc substantially as described, whereby I provide for the rapil adjustment
of the set screw or adjusting screw which retains in position the pivoted or swinging
arm carrying the roll or die and for clamping or fixing the said screw firmly in
position whilst permitting the turning thereof about its axis to effect the more
accurate adjustment of the said arm, as above specified.
Fifth. The combination of the movable block provided with the pin or stud for
the main die or roll, and suitable means for adjusting the said block to regulate the
position of the said die or roll relatively to the guide or support for the work, and
for retaining the said block in any desired position, substantially as, and for the
purposes set forth.
Sixth. The combination, with the gripping jaws and their operating levers of suit-
able means for adjusting the said jaws relatively to the levers to regulate the pressure
exerted thereby on the work, as above specified.
Seventh. The combination with the sliding block carrying the gripping jaws and
their operating levers of the improved mechanism comprising the cam-wheel and
the lever operated thereby and engaging with the rear sliding block, substantially as
described whereby to-and-fro movement is imparted to the said blocks, for the
purposes above specified.
Eighth. The combination with rotary dies or rolls such as I have herein described
of a hydraulic press the ram of which is arranged to act directly upon the work
for the purpose of forcing the same between the said dies or rolls, as above set
forth.
Ninth. The combination, with the sliding blocks carrying the gripping jaws or
clamps and their operating levers, of a hydraulic press having. its ram connected
with the rear sliding block, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth..
Tenth. The employment, in a bending machine such as I have herein described of
two sets of intermittently operating feed mechanism so arranged that they will
alternately feed forward the work, as, and for the purposes above specified.
Eleventh. The improved bending-machine consisting of the parts constructed and
combined substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings
and operating as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Doted this 24th day of July 1800
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.