Dies for Forming Axle and other Boxes from Sheets of Metal.
Year: 1891

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Dies for Forming Axle and other Boxes from Sheets of Metal.
I, EDWARD WILLIAM MACKENZIE HUGHES, late of Chicago, Cook County,
State of Illinois, United States of America, and now of Eriestane, Helensburgh,
North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in dies for forming axle-boxes and the
like from sheet metal blanks by pressure.
The lower or female die is of substantially rectangular form in cross-section and
has the two opposite sides flared outwardly at the upper part so as to receive and
lead the blank into the die or portion below the flared part which corresponds to
the configuration of the article to be formed in the die (which in the example
described is an axle box) the die having grooves down the end walls and along the
bottom to receive ribs formed on the blank.
The male die or plunger is vertically-movable and consists essentially in the
combination of inner and outer wedge-shaped segments, the inner ones tapering
downwards between the outer ones which taper upwards on the bottom faces the
outer ones conforming externally to the internal configuration of the box to be
formed.
The segments depend from a box-like cross-head and act together as one during
the descent of the plunger.
The outer segments are attached to the cross-head by a sliding connection
whilst the inner segments are rigidly attached to the cross-head so that the inner
segments may have a vertical movement independently of the outer segments which
remain stationary during a portion of the upward movement to enable the die or
plunger to contract and so release itself from the work.
Dated this 1st day of July 1891.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Dies for Forming Axle and other Boxes from Sheets of Metal.
I EDWARD WILLIAM MACKENZIE HUGHES, of Ericstane, Helensburgh,
Dumbartonshire, N.B. Mechanical 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 an improvement in dies for forming car journal boxes
from metal blanks, and it consists in the construction and novel combination of
parts as hereafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawings,

page_text: Figure 2 is a plan view of the upper or male die.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of the two dies, on the line
Figure 4 is a vertical section on the line y y of Figure 1
Figure 3.
-x of Figure 2.
and at right angles to
Figure 5 is a plan view of a blank from which the box is formed, and
Figure 6 is an end view thereof.
Referring by letter to the drawings, A. designates the lower or female die having
a suitable base A. This mould A is substantially rectangular in cross-section and
has its upper end portions flared outwardly and upwardly as at A² The inner
surface of the portion below the flared portions corresponds in shape to the outer
conformation of the article formed in the die which in this case is a journal box and
channels a extend down the end walls and along the bottom of the die to receive
the ribs a¹ on the blank. It may be here stated that the space between the upper
inner ends of the flaring portions, equals the length of the box-blank. B represents
the vertically-movable upper or male die, consisting essentially of a box-like
portion B¹ having a cross-head and suspended formers C C³, the outer ones C
conforming outwardly to the interior of the journal box. The outer formers C are
designed to remain stationary during a portion of the upward movement of the
part B. As a means thereto. the upper rods of the formers C are provided with
shanks e which pass loosely through holes in the cross-head and have heads at
the upper end larger than the holes through the cross-head. The inner formers C¹
are rigidly attached to the cross-head band, as shewn, the inner formers are wedge-
shaped longitudinally. The inner surfaces of the formers Care inclined to
conform to the wedge shape of the formers C'. Certain of the formers Care
provided with a longitudinal channel d to accommodate a flange d' of the blank.
In operation, the upper die is raised above the lower die and the blank,
preferably in a heated condition, is laid upon the upper ends of the inclines A
The upper die is then forced downward by suitable meaus-such for instance as
hydraulic pressure-until the blank is pressed into the female die, the formers
being in the condition shewn in Figure 4. The male die is then drawn upward
and it will be seen, by reference to Figure 3, that the formers C remain in their
downward position during a short upward movement of the part B' and the
wedges C. By the removal of the wedge C₁ the formers C are rendered free to
move slightly inward away from the formed box. When the part B is raised
sufficiently high to engage the heads of the shanks c, the formers C are moved
upwardly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is―
1. In a die, the combination, with the female die, of the movable upper die
consisting of upper and lower portions the upper portion having a movement
independently of the lower portion, substantially as described.
2. In a die, the combination, with the lower or female die, of the upper die
consisting of a portion having a cross-head and depending formers, the said cross-
head portion having a movement independent of certain of the depending portions,
substantially as described.
3. The combination, with the lower die, of the upper die consisting of the portion
having the depending wedge-shaped portion rigidly secured thereto and the outer
depending portions or formers movably connected with the upper portion,
substantially as described.
Dated this 2nd day of April 1892
E. W. MACKENZIE HUGHES,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
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