Improvements in or relating to the Bending or Setting of Ship Frames and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Sept., 1896
Improvements in or relating to the Bending or Setting of Ship
Frames and the like.
We, MONTAGUE HERBERT CHURCHILL SHANN and RICHARD ERNEST CHURCHILL
SHANN, both Engineers, of 18 Aidgate Avenue, in the County of Middlesex, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the bending or setting of frames, girders and the like,
particularly ship frames.
In carrying the invention into effect, we employ any suitable framework to carry
one or more sets of bending rolls. These rolls are arranged to bear upon all the
faces of the section to be set, the aratus being adapted to operate "pon all
ordinary sections.
The rolls or their bearings are carried adjustably in the general framework so
that the rolls can be turned to lie in various planes; usually one set of rolls will be.
moved together about a common centre, so that all the rolls of that set will occupy
the same relative positions to each other in whatever plane they may lie. However,
the relation between the various rolls of the same set may be varied. We place the
rolls so that each face of the section to be rolled is met or blocked by a working
face of the roll; the faces of the rolls preferably lie at angles to the axes around
which they rotate. With this arrangement each roll lies at an angle with the face
which it operates upon, instead of perpendicular thereto.
The rolls are shaped and set so as to form at the point where they meet
substantially the shape of the section of metal passing through them.
In adjusting the rolls, we prefer to take the web of the section as a starting point,
and arrange the rolls, some of them to support the web in its appropriate plane,
and others to have their working faces at the particular angle to the web to which
it is desired to bend or set the flanges. To impart the necessary set the rollers
are adjusted to the commencement of the bar and their relative positions can be
vaned during the passage of the bar or section between them, as may be necessary
to impart the varying set to the different parts.
In adjusting the rolls we prefer to take each root or junction of the flange and
web as a centre about which the rolls are moved.
In a previous application for Patent No. 12256 dated 4th June 1896 we have
described apparatus for curving and setting ship frames, in which we employed
various sets of rolls adapted to be varied in their relations to each other; the
construction and arrangement of those rolls varied from that of the present
invention, but we may employ the present rolls in conjunction with the apparatus
of the former specification.
Dated this 4th day of September 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to the Bending or Setting of Ship
Frames and the like.
We, MONTAGUE HERBERT CHURCHILL SHANN and RICHARD ERNEST CHURCHILL
SHANN, Engineers, both of Shoreham, in the County of Sussex, formerly of West-
field, Bromley in the County of Kent, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
in and by the following statement:―
This invention relates to the bending or setting of frames, girders and the like,
particularly ship frames.
In carrying the invention into effect, we employ any suitable framework to carry
one or more sets of bending rolls. These rolls are arranged to bear upon all the
faces of the section to be set, the apparatus being adapted to operate upon all
ordinary sections, and the bar being fed endwise through the several successive sets
simultaneously.
The rolls or their bearings are carried adjustably in the general framework so
that the rolls can be turned to lie in various planes; usually one set of rolls will be
moved together about a common centre, so that all the rolls of that set will occupy
the same relative positions to each other in whatever plane they may lie.owever,
the relation between the various rolls of the same set may be varied. We place the
rolls so that each face of the section to be rolled is met or blocked by a working face
of the roll; the working faces of the rolls preferably lie at angles to the axes around
which each rotates. With this arrangement each roll lies at an angle with the face
which it operates upon, instead of perpendicular thereto.
The rolls are shaped and set so that the spaces between them have substantially
the shape of the section of metal passing through them.
In adjusting the rolls, we prefer to take the web of the section as a starting point,
and arrange the rolls, some of them to support the web in its appropriate plane,
and others to have their working faces at the particular angle to the web to which
it is desired to bend or set the flange. To impart the necessary set, the rollers
are adjusted to the commencement of the bar, and their relative position can be
varied during the passage of the bar or section between them, as may be necessary
to impart the varying set to the different parts.
In adjusting the rolls we prefer to take each root or junction of the flange and
wel as a centre about which the rolls are moved.
In a previous application for Patent No. 12256, 4th June 1896 we have
described apparatus for curving and setting ship frames, in which we employed
various sets of rolls adapted to be varied in their relations to each other; the
construction and arrangement of those rolls varied from that of the present inven-
tion, but we may employ the present rolls in conjunction with adjusting devices
for the several series such as those described in the former specification.
Such a machine will be capable not only of bevelling the bar, that is to say,
altering the angle between its web and flange or flanges but also of bending and
twisting the bar as described in the specification of the said prior application for
patent.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one of our improved machines for bending or
setting angle-iron.
Fig. 2 is an elevation of the right-hand end of Fig. 1 shown partly in vertical
section.

page_text: Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which the bending
and setting are effected.
Fig. 5 is a view of a detail of Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating an alternative construction of
machine in which the relation between the various rolls of the same set can be
varied as desired either while the machine is at rest or while those rolls are operating
on a bar; the particular example illustrated is one which is adapted to operate
on Z-bars.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
With reference first to Figs. 1 to 5 the rigid main frame of the machine
comprises a base plate A, four standards A' secured to the base plate A, a bridge-
bar A2 secured to the upper ends of the standards A' and two bars A secured to
the standards A between the base-plate A and bridge-bar A.
In the upper side of the base-plate A and under side of the bridge-bar A² are
formed guides A' for the reception of respectively a bracket B³ and a rib or
projection formed in one piece with, or secured to, a substantially circular
ring B, which devices allow the ring to be moved horizontally in a direction
transverse to the path in which the bar to be treated traverses the machine. This
movement of the ring B is effected by means of a non-rotating screw B3 secured to,
and extending radially outwards from it, with which screw engages a nut C formed
in, or constituting the boss of a worm wheel C, gearing with a hand-rotated
worm-shaft C. The worm-wheel C is, by its boss C, journalled in or pivotted to
a bar A secured to two of the standards A¹ in such a manner as to admit of it
being freely rotated and prevent it from moving in the direction of its axis.
To the ring B we rigidly secure bearings D D₁ for supporting an inclined
shaft D geared by bevel wheels D3 D with a short vertical shaft D (Fig. 3)
which, in turn, is geared by bevel wheels D D with the first driven shaft E. "The
gear-wheels D D D are supported by the bracket B2 and the spur wheel D7 is
connected to the shaft E by means of a feather and key-way to admit of it being
moved horizontally, independently of the shaft when the ring B is adjusted
transversely as hereinbefore described.
The shaft D is formed hollow for a portion of its length to receive a shaft F
capable of moving longitudinally in the said shaft but not of rotating indepen-
dently of it, being provided with a feather fitting a key-way in the shaft 12.
The upper end of the shaft D is enlarged so as to form a cup or socket D³ (Fig. 3)
upon whose exterior is keyed or otherwise secured a conical roller G formed in
one part with a bevel gear wheel G₁ which gears with a similar wheel H¹ formed
in one with a cylindrical roller H. The roller H is formed with hollow bosses H³
which are received in holes formed eccentrically in rotatably adjustable bearings
or bushes H rigidly connected together by a shaft H which passes through tho
bosses H. The bushes H3 are mounted in bearings He provided on a piece B
which is rigidly connected to the ring B and which also carries the before-
mentioned bearing D'.
The roller H can be moved nearer to or farther from the roller G to cause the
two rollers to bear with more or less pressure upon the metal bar X being operated
upon between them. The movement of the bushes H³ to shift the roller H for
this purpose can be effected by mechanism such as is hereinafter described.
Within the upper part of the ring B is provided a plate or frame J which is
mounted in or on segmental guides B3 (Fig. 2) so as to admit of it being partly
rotated about, and concentrically with the axis of the said ring. On the frame J
is secured a curved rack J' engaging with a worm Ja mounted on a shaft J³, this
shaft being supported in bearings Be secured to or formed in part with the ring B.
The shaft J is connected by a universal or flexible joint J to a horizontal shaft Js
which is connected by a feather and groove to a worm wheel Je gearing with a
hand-rotated worm J, which, like the worm wheel C, is mounted in bearings
secured to two of the main frame standards A¹.

page_text: K (Fig. 3) is an inclined shaft which is free to rotate in a bearing Je rigidly
secured to the above-named movable frame J and which is formed with a passage
centrally within it as shown in Fig. 4 for receiving a shaft L which is capable
of sliding longitudinally within, but not of rotating independently of the shaft K,
there being a key and feather connection between the shafts K and L like the
connection between the shafts and 12 hereinbefore referred to.
The shaft K is formed in one part with, or has secured to it, a conical roller K¹
and bevel gear-wheel K, the latter of which gears with a bevel wheel M formed in
part with a conical roller M.
The shafts F and L are connected together by a universal or flexible joint L¹
which admits of them rotating in unison, i.e. rotating with equal mean peripheral
velocities at the parts with which they act on the metal beng treated, whatever
position the shaft L may bear in relation to the shaft F.
The roller is capable of being adjusted nearer to or farther from the roller K¹
in a manner similar to that in which the before described roller H is adjustable
in relation to the roller G. For this purpose the hollow bosses M2 of the roller M'
are mounted eccentrically in rotatably-adjustable bushes M³ rigidly connected
together by a shaft M+ passing through the bosses M2, and the bushes M3 are
mounted in bearings J secured to the before described frame J. The eccentrically-
bored bushes M³ and H³ may be adjusted in a rotary direction by any suitable
means:
At the front and back of the ring B and parts directly connected therewith we
provide two sets of rollers N1 N2 N3, of which, the following description of one set
will suffice for both. The rollers N N2 N3 (Fig. 1) of each set are pivotted in a
plate or frame N (Fig. 5) which is itself pivotted in bearings A6 carried, one by
a bar A and the other by a bracket A secured to the base-plate A. The roller N¹
is in substantially the form of a double cone and adapted to bear against the edge
and inner surface of the web and the inner surface of the flange of the angle
iron X when these two members are at a right-angle to each other as shown in
Fig. 1. The roller N2 is conical, the angle of its periphery corresponding with
the greatest angle at which the flange is required to lie in relation to the web a.
The roller N is cylindrical and is adapted to bear against the underside of the
web whether the flange al is, or is not perpendicular to the said web.
O is a scale rod secured to the ring B, which, in conjunction with a suitable
index Figs. 2 and 3, serves to indicate the horizontal adjustment of the
rollers GHK M; and 02 is a segmental scale also secured to the ring B, 03
being a pointer, secured to the frame J (Fig. 1) which in conjunction with the
scale serves to indicate the angular adjustment of the rollers K M in relation
io ne rollers G H.
The operation of the before described apparatus is as follows:-
Supposing it is desired to bend the angle-iron bar only in the plane of the web.c
without disturbing the angular relation of the flange to the web, the ring B is
moved horizontally by means of the worm-shaft C, nut C and screw B³ so as to
bring the rollers GHK'M' into such a position in relation to the rollers N1 N2 N3
as will impart the necessary curve to the bar passed through the machine, the
web and flange being at all times properly supported by the rollers N³
GH KM to prevent any accidental distortion; this bending may be varied at
different parts of the bar the operator manipulating the worm-shaft C according
to the particular curvature desired to be given to the bar in the plane of the
web a.
Supposing that it is desired to alter the angle of the flange in relation to the
web r, this is effected by rotating the worm shaft J7 so as to cant over the
rollers Kfrom the present position in relation to the rollers G H and N¹ N2 N3
so that the flange a will he angled outwards from the web z as shown at the right-
hand side of Fig. 4. By the canting of the roller K¹ as described relatively to the
roller G their faces will no longer be, as in Fig. 3 parallel to each other, nor
will their centres be as close together as in that figure; the provision of the

page_text: at
shafts and L and the universal joint L' will however keep the rotation of the
rollers G K in unison throughout the angular adjustment of their axes of
rotation and their endwise movement relatively to each other in the plane of the
ring B. Tae worm shaft may he operated while the bar X is passing through
the machine so that the flange may be at different angles to the web
different parts of its length according to the particular form which it is desired
to give to the har. If the rollers GHK M do not grip the har sufficiently to
move it through the machine the "grip" may be increased by rotating the
ecrentrically-bored bushes H M aforesaid."
With reference now to Figure 6, in which the bar X being operated upon is of
Z-section, one flange al is operated upon by a pair of rollers G H geared together
as shown to rotate at the desired peripheral velocity and in the desired direction
by gear wheels G¹ g g' and ' H. The said gear wheels are mounted on shafts
carried in bearings upon a frame V movable in a ring B like the frame J of Fig. 1
and by similar means. In this example the point upon which the frame V and
rollers G H turn should be at the junction of the flange a with the web, the
inside of the ring B and the guide on which the frame V turns being of such an
arc as to permit of this movement.
At the opposite side of the apparatus is a pair of rollers K M similar
respectively to the rollers H and G and carried in a frame S adjustable like the
frame V but arranged to turn about the point of junction of the flange a with
the web x.
r
Lv turning either of the frames S or V with their respective rollers HG
or K M about the point of junction of one or the other of the flanges with the
web, the flange can be bent outwards from the web to the desired angle.
To support the web a and assist in forcing the bar X through the machine two
rollers are employed, they being supported at opposite sides of the web in
suitable hearings on the ring B and arranged at such an angle and so shaped as to
permit the rollers H and K' to bear on the inside of the flanges of the bar. The
rollers are rotated by gear wheels hk which engage with sunk teeth ko ho
in the faces of the rollers so as to permit the said rollers to be rotated close to the
rollers H and K. Auxiliary rollers are mounted in bearings on the frame B
and so arranged as to bear on the rollers at the side of each roller opposite
to that which bears upon the work; auxiliary rollers thus employed neutralize
the tendency of the rollers to slue out of the plane in which they are placed
and to stress their bearings unduly.
In this machine the driving shaft E is duplicated as at El and a bevel wheel D
is employed on each for the purpose of giving motion to the gear wheels h³ *^
by which the rollers are operated. The other rollers G H K' M' are actuated
by gear wheels D' arranged on the shafts E E and gearing with wheels D³ on
shafts D. The connections between the shafts D3 on which the wheels D³ are
secured and the gearing carried by the frames V and S are universal-joint
connections similar to those described with reference to the connection of the
driving shaft L in Fig. 3 with the shaft K in the same figure, the parts being
correspondingly lettered so that no further description of the driving mechanism
is here necessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. A machine by which the curvature of a bar and the angle between its web
and flange or flanges can be simultaneously and independently varied.
2. A machine wherein the curvature of a bar and the angle between its web and
flange or flanges can both be varied while the bar is passing through it.
3. A machine capable of bending, bevelling and twisting.
4. In a machine for simultaneously bending and setting the combination of
rollers such as G H K M¹ two of them movable in company relatively to the other

page_text: tw for altering the angle between the web and flange or flanges of a bar in the
manner described.
5. In a bending or bevelling machine the combination of rollers such
as GHK M¹ two of them movable in company relatively to the other two the
four rollers being geared together with or without means for varying the grip of
adjacent rollers upon metal passed between them.
6. In a bevelling or bevelling and bending machine the combination with
rollers such as G K and means for giving them angular adjustment of the kind
described of the plane containing them of a coupling which whilst permitting
such adjustment causes them to rotate together.
7. In a machine of the kind described the combination with a support such as N
for rollers such as N1 N2 N3 of a frame such as B adjustable transversely to the
passage through which the bar to be treated passes and carrying rollers such
as GHK M and means for giving one or more of them angular adjustment
around the passage through which the bar passes.
S. In a bevelling or bevelling and bending machine the combination with two
rollers such as G K of shafts such as F and L and a universal joint or joints
substantially as and for the purposes described.
9 In a bevelling or bevelling and bending machine mounting a roller in an
eccentric bearing substantially as and for the purpose described.
10. In a bevelling or bevelling and bending machine the combination with an
operating roller of an auxiliary supporting roller substantially as and for the
purpose described.
11. Coupled bearings for a roller such as H or M¹ constructed arranged and
operating substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
12 The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete
bending and bevelling machine substantially as and for the purpose described and
illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 or Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 3rd day of July 1897.
M. H. C. SHANN,
R. E. CHURCHILL SHANN.
Boult & Wade.
Agents for the Applicant.