An Improved Method of Manufacturing Open or Reticulated Metal Work.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 11th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 11th May, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Manufacturing Open or Reticulated
Metal Work.
I, JOHN FRENCH GOLDING; of 400 Twenty Sixth Street, Chicago, Illinois,
United States of America, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of open or reticulated sheet metal of
the kind referred to in the Specifications of prior Patents Nos. 6977 of 1884
7357 of 1885 and 5741 of 1888.
In the manufacture of this kind or class of open metal work now commonly
known as expanded sheet metal, it has been customary to first cut the slits in the
sheet metal at short distances apart, and to open the metal at the cuts thus formed
by bending the severed portions or strands in a direction at right angles sub-
stantially to the plane of the sheet. It has also been made by simultaneously
cutting and opening the metal by means of cutters set off or stepped relatively so
as to make the slashes or cuts in different lines in the manner set forth in the
Specification of the said prior Patent riz.: No. 5741 of 1888. In both of these
methods the product is somewhat shorter and materially wider than the original
sheet, but practically no stretching or elongation of the metal forming the strands
is caused.
According to my present invention I seek to avail myself of the ability of the
metal to stretch or distend as well as of its ability to bend under strain or pressure,
and the said invention consists in the improved method of making expanded metal
viz.: by simultaneously cutting and opening or expanding the metal at the cuts by
stretching the severed portions.
In carrying this invention into practice I prefer to make a series of slits in a
straight line across the edge of the sheet, and at the time of cutting the slits, and
as a continuation of that operation, to depress or stretch the severed metal
(i.e. those portions of the sheet lying outside of the cuts,) in a direction at right
angles to the sheet, without any contraction from the length of the original sheet.
This operation is then repeated after the sheet has been fed forward, the slits being
made opposite the portions unsevered at the previous operation, and so on until the
entire sheet is expanded.
My present invention allows the use of a single straight under knife, which does
not need to be shifted in changing the location of the cuts, and the upper cutters
are also arranged in a straight line, but their acting edges represent a corrugated
form of alternate transverse projections and recesses adapted to co-act with the
under knife in cutting the slits at the proper intervals and to stretch the severed
strands. And either the upper cutter or the sheet is shifted back and forth between
the operations as will be understood.
The lower edges of the upper or moving cutters are so shaped as to form
alternate transverse projections and recesses or intervening openings, the projecting
portions being adapted to co-act with the lower knife in forming the slite. They
are also adapted to force or carry downward the severed portions of the metal, at
the same operation, to the required position. It is to be observed that at the time
the bend is imparted to the severed portion, there can be no contraction in the
product from the length of the sheet, for the reason that the ends of the severed
portion or strand are still integral with the sheet and will not permit it. The sheet
is fed forward and the slitting and stretching operation is repeated. One line of

page_text: slits across the sheet is formed at each operation, and the upper cutters, or the
sheet, may be shifted and the sheet be fed forward between the operations so that
the slits are in every case made back or rearward of the portions left unsevered at
the preceding operation; or in other words the slits and unsevered portions
alternate in position at successive operations.
The bend given to the severed portion, or strands as they are usually called, is
in a direction at right angles to the plane of the sheet, and as there is no contraction
in the length of the metal, it necessarily follows that the expansion is obtained from
the stretch, distention or elongation of the severed strands.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
An Improved Method of Manufacturing Open or Reticulated
Metal Work.
I, JOHN FRENCH GOLDING, of 400, Twenty Sixth Street, Chicago, Illinois,
United States of America, 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 relates to the manufacture of open or reticulated sheet metal of
the kind referred to in the Specifications of prior Patents No. 6977 of 1884,
No. 7357 of 1885 and No. 5741 of 1888.
In the manufacture of this kind or class of open metal work now commonly
known as expanded sheet metal, it has been customary to first cut the slits in the
sheet metal at short distances apart, and to open the metal at the cuts thus formed
by bending the partially severed portions or strands in a direction substantially
at right angles to the plane of the sheet. Such metal work has also been made by
simultaneously cutting and opening the metal by means of cutters constructed or
arranged to make the cuts in different lines in the manner set forth in the
Specification of the aforesaid prior Patent No. 5741 of 1888. In both of these
methods the product is somewhat shorter and materially wider than the original
sheet, but practically no stretching or elongation of the metal forming the strands
is caused.
According to my present invention I seek to avail myself of the ability of the
metal to stretch or distend as well as of its ability to bend under stress or pressure,
and the said invention consists in the improved method of making expanded metal
viz. by simultaneously cutting and opening or expanding the metal at the cuts by
stretching the partially severed portions.
In carrying this invention into practice I make a series of slits preferably in a
straight line across the edge of the sheet, and at the time of cutting the slits and
as a continuation of that operation I depress or stretch the partially severed metal
(i.e. those portions of the sheet lying outside of the cuts) in a direction at right
angles to the sheet, without causing any contraction from the length of the original
sheet. This operation is then repeated after the sheet has been fed forward, the
new slits being made opposite the portions unsevered at the previous operation,
and so on until the entire sheet is expanded.
My present invention allows the use of a single straight knife under the sheet,
which knife does not need to be shifted in changing the location of the cuts.
The
upper cutters are arranged in a straight line but their acting edges have a
corrugated form of alternate transverse projections and recesses adapted to co-act
with the knife under the sheet in cutting the slits at the proper intervals and in

page_text: stretching the partially severed strands. Either the upper cutter blade or the
sheet is shifted laterally to and fro between the cutting operations as will be
understood.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sheet of metal, a part of which has been slit
and expanded in accordance with my invention ;
Figure 2 is a similar view of the sheet and showing also the under straight knife
on which the sheet rests, and the upper cutter having a corrugated cutting edge
which is the preferred form of said cutter.
Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the parts shown in Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a plan of the sheet having the first line of slits to be made therein
indicated by dotted lines.
A is the sheet from which the expanded metal is formed; B is the upper moving
knife or cutter; and C the lower knife which may be and preferably is stationary.
a, a are the strands forming the reticulated sheet. The lower edge of the upper
or moving cutter B is corrugated as shown to form alternate transverse projections 5
and recesses or intervening openings c, the projecting portions being adapted to
co-act with the lower knife in forming the slits. They are also adapted to force
or carry downward the partially severed portions a of the metal at the same
operation. It is to be observed that at the time the bend is imparted to the
partially severed portions, there can be no contraction of the length of the reticulated
product for the reason that the ends of the partially severed portions or strands
are still integral with the sheet, and the latter will not permit of contraction. The
sheet is fed forward after each operation of the cutter and it or the upper cutter
is also moved laterally, the slitting and stretching operation being then repeated.
One line of slits across the sheet is formed at each operation, the slits in every
case being made back or rearward of the portions left unsevered at the preceding
operation, or in other words the slits and unsevered portions of the adjacent strands
alternate in position.
The bend given to the partially severed portions, or strands as I have called
them, is in a direction at right angles to the plane of the sheet, and as there is no
contraction in the length of the metal, it necessarily follows that the strands must
stretch to allow of the bending thereof. Each successive slitting, stretching and
bending operation forces the metal already operated upon further away from the
original plane of the sheet.
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 :-
The herein described method of making open or reticulated metal work which
consists in simultaneously slitting, and stretching portions or strands of a plate or
sheet of metal and bending the partially severed portions away from the plane of
the sheet, and then simultaneously slitting and stretching and bending from the
plane of the sheet subsequent portions or strands thereof in places alternate to the
first mentioned portions, each series of slits being made in a straight line near
the edge of the sheet, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of & nril 1905
JOHN FRENCH GOLDING.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.