Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Sheet-metal Hollow-ware.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1898
Complete Specification Left. 20th Apr. 1899-Accepted. 20th May. 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Sheet-metal
Hollow-ware.
I, WILLIAM REES, of Temple Mills, Tay Street, Dundee, in the County of
Forfar, Box Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
-
This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of sheet-metal
hollow-ware, and has for its objects the construction of vessels or boxes of
rectangular cross-section in an improved and more expeditious manner than
hitherto, and the provision of improved means or mechanism for facilitating
such construction.
In carrying out my invention I form the box proper without the lid, of three
separate pieces, of which, one forms the bottom and two opposing vertical sides,
while the other two are similar the one to the other and form by engaging with
the first, the remaining sides or ends. In forming the first piece, the blank is
cut from the metal in one oblong strip. The longer edges of such strip are suit-
ably notched at the proposed corners, and if desired at the ends; and are then
turned over so as to form grooves of U-section upon such edges. The strip is
then folded into the form of the bottom and opposing sides beforementioned,
so that the grooves are inside. In forming the two similar pieces which engage
with the first piece to form the ends, the blank is cut of a width and depth
slightly greater than those of the bottom and sides respectively: the corners
of the edge which is to engage with the bottom are removed, and if desired, those
also of the top after which the three edges which engage with the sides and
bottom of the first piece are slightly recessed or depressed below the plane of the
general surface, and a part of such depressed edge, turned at or nearly at right
angles in the direction of such surface.
In putting the parts together, I preferably place each of the pieces last des-
cribed, upon the mandrel of a press, and with its returned edges turned outwards.
The first described piece is then pushed forward and on to the mandrel and
affixed piece, so that the said returned edges fit into the beforementioned 11-shaped
grooves of the bottom and sides. When in this position a die of suitable form
is brought to hear upon the grooves and their contained edges, so as to turn and
clinch them together, through a right angle inwards and upon the end pieces,
so that they fit into the described depressions, and fill them up to the plane
of the general surface.
The top edges or lips of the mouth of the box may be made to suit any form of
top or lid desired, and it is to be noted that my improvements greatly facilitate
the fitting, say of a wired edge or a fixed top: by the increased strength and
capacity for resisting crushing stresses, which they impart to the box sides.
In one form of treating such top edges, I turn there over to fit them for con-

page_text: taining the wire or the like; by means of a die of special form in which a con-
tinuous groove of U-section is formed, whose configuration corresponds with the
box periphery. Into this groove the lips of the top are made to fit; upon the
outer edge of the U, for inside, and the inner edge for outside wiring or the
like. When the box is forcibly pressed into these grooves by the required amount,
the edges or lips are turned over to form the desired channel or recess for the
wire, or the edge of the top, or their equivalent. Although such method of
forming the edges is especially applicable to my improved box before described,
I may apply it to other forms.
Dated this Twentieth day of Tulu 1808
WILLIAM REES,
Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Sheet-metal
Hollow-ware.
I, WILLIAM REES, of Temple Mills, Tay Street, Dundee, in the County of
Forfar, Box Manufacturer, 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 improvements in the manufacture of sheet-metal
hollow-ware, and has for its objects the construction of vessels or boxes of
rectangular cross-section in an improved and more expeditious manner than
hitherto, and the provision of improved means or mechanism for facilitating
such construction.
In order that the nature of my said invention may be the better understood,
I have hereunto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, in the several
figures of which the same reference numerals indicate the same or like parts
where shown.
Figs. 1, and 2, show a plan, and cross-section at M, N, respectively, of one
constituent part of my improved box.
Figs. 3, and 4, show an elevation, and cross-section at X, Y, respectively;
of another constituent part.
Fig. 5, is an elevation of the part shown by Figs. 1, and 2, when formed
ready to engage with the part or parts shown by Figs. 3, and 4, while Fig. 6,
is a plan of Fig. 5, showing the said parts engaged.
Figs. 7, and 8, show in enlarged perspective detail, the nature of such engage-
ment and the completed joint, respectively.
Figs. 9, and 10, show plan and section respectively of the die for forming the
top edge of a box; while Figs. 11, to 15 inclusive, illustrate the formative
process.
In carrying out my invention, I form the box proper without the lid, of three
separate pieces 20, and 21; of which, one, 20, forms the bottom 20", and two
opposing side 20, and 20, while the other two, 21, and 21b, are similar the
one to the other and form by engaging with the first, the remaining sides or ends.
In forming the first piece 20, the blank (Fig. 1,) is cut from the metal in one
oblong strip. The longer edges of such strip are suitably notched at the pro-
posed corners, 22, and if desired at the ends 23, and are then turned over so as
to form grooves 24, of U-section upon such edges. The strip is then folded on
the dotted lines (Fig. 1.) in the direction of the arrows (Fig. 5.), and into the

page_text: form of the bottom 20ª, and opposing sides 20%, and 20°, so that the grooves 24,
are inside.
In forming the two similar pieces 21", and 21b, which engage with the piece 20,
to form the ends; the blank is cut of a width and denth slightly greater than
those of the bottom 20; and sides 20, and 20°, respectively; the corners 22,
of the edge 25, which is to engage with the bottom 20", are removed, and if
desired those also of the top 23 after which the three edges 25, which are to
engage with the sides and bottom of the first piece 20, are slightly recessed
or depressed below the plane of the general surface 26, and a part 27, of such
depressed edge, turned at or nearly at right angles in the direction of such
surface, substantially as shown by Figs. 4, and 7.
In putting the parts together, I preferably place each of the pieces 21", or 21,
upon the mandrel of a press, and with its returned edges 27, turned outwards,
relative to the interior of the complete box. The piece 20, in the form shown
by Fig. 5 is then pushed forward and on to the mandrel and affixed piece 21,
so that the said returned edges 27, fit into the beforementioned U-shaped grooves 24,
of the bottom and sides, substantially as illustrated by Figs. 6, and 7.
When
in this position
a die of suitable form is brought to hear upon the grooves 24,
and their contained edges 27, so as to turn and clinch them together, through
a right angle inwards and upon the end pieces 21ª, and 21, so that they fit
into the described depressions 28, and fill them up to the plane of the general
surface 26, substantially as illustrated by Fig. 8. The mandrel, press, or die
referred to may be of any known or convenient form and actuated in any known
or convenient manner.
The top edges or lips 29, of the mouth of the box may be made to suit any
form of top or lid desired, and it is to be noted that my improvements herein-
before described, greatly facilitate the fitting of such top or lid. Thus, in the
operation of fitting a wired edge or fixed top to boxes as heretofore constructed,
deformation or collapse of the sides is apt to result from the pressure applied
in such operation. My improved edges or corners as shown by Fig. 8, obviate
or minimise any such collapsing tendency, by the increased strength and capacity
for resisting crushing stresses, which they impart to the box sides.
In one form of treating such top edges, as illustrated more particularly by
Figs. 9. to 15, inclusive, I turn these over to fit them for containing the wire 33,
or the like, by means of a die, 30, of special form, in which a continuous groove 31,
of U-section is formed, whose configuration--as shown by the plan Fig. 9.-
corresponds with the box periphery. Into this groove 31, the lips 29, of the top
are made to fit, upon the outer edge of the U, (Fig. 12,) for inside, and the inner
edge, (Fig. 13,) for outside wiring or the like, When the box is forcibly pressed
at its top edges or lips 29, into these grooves by the required amount, the said
edges or lips are turned over to form the channel or recess 32, for the wire 33,
the edge of the top, or their equivalent. The insertion of the lips 29, may be
facilitated by lengthening the adjacent side of the groove 31, to form a guide
therefor, as shown by Fig. 15.
Although such method of forming the edges 31, is especially applicable to my
improved box before described, consequent on its greater capacity for resisting
the crushing stresses set up in connection with such method, I do not confine
myself thereto, and may apply it to other known forms of box.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be clearly
understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details of construction, or
strict order of operations herein set forth, but that I hold myself free to make
such modifications thereof as conform with the spirit and scope of my said inven-
tion, and I declare that what I claim is: :-
(1) In sheet-metal hollow-ware the construction arrangement and combination

page_text: of parts forming the sides and bottom of a rectangular box, substantially as
herein before described and illustrated in the appended sheet of drawings.
(2) In sheet-metal hollow-ware the construction of the separate pieces of a
rectangular box in the method and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the appended sheet of drawings.
(3) In sheet-metal hollow-ware the method of engaging and jointing three
pieces to form the sides and bottom of a rectangular box substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated more particularly by Figs. 7, and 8, of the
appended sheet of drawings.
(4) In sheet-metal hollow-ware the means for and method of forming the upper
lips or equivalent parts, to prepare them for receiving a wire or other contained
piece, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated more particularly
by Figs. 9, to 15, of the appended sheet of drawings.