Improvements in Machines for Bending and Flanging Sheet Metal.
Year: 1887

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Bending and Flanging Sheet Metal.
I, WILLIAM KENT, residing at Jersey City, in the County of Hudson, and State of
New Jersey, in the United States of America, gentleman, 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 :-
My invention relates to certain novel and useful improvements in machines for
bending and flanging metal, and has for its object to produce a simple machine which
shall be capable of performing these functions with great nicety & speed & with those
ends in view my invention consists in certain details of construction and combination
of elements hereinafter fully and in detail set forth and then specifically designated by
the claims. In order that those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains
may more fully understand my invention, I will proceed to describe the same in
detai, referring by letter to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification, in which.
Figure, 1, is a perspective of my improvement without the flanging mechanism.
Figure, 2, a similar view showing a blank in proper relative position on the platform
preparatory to bending.
Figure, 3, a view similar to figure, 2, but showing the blank bent into shape
preparatory to flanging.
Figure, 4, a perspective view showing the mechanism for making an outwardly
projecting flange on a blank bent as shown at figure, 2, the frame work of the
machine, the shaft and gears which operate the bending devices being broken away.
Figure, 5, a view similar to figure, 4, showing the flanging mechanism in the act of
leaving the blank after the latter has been flanged.
Figure, 6, a perspective similar to figure, 1, but with the mechanism for bending or
flanging inward secured to the platform.

page_text: Figure, 7, a view similar to figure, 6, showing a blank bent up preparatory to
lapping or flanging the edges inward.
Figure, 8, a similar view showing the said edges flanged inward.
Figure, 9, a front elevation of the machine when the several parts are in the position
set forth in figure, 7.
Figure, 10, a plan view of the machine, the several parts being in the same relative
position as that shown in figure, 7, the blank being removed.
Figure, 11, a central vertical cross section of the machine showing the blank
illustrated in figure, 7, in a horizontal plane before bending & the anvil in the proper
relative position thereto.
Figure, 12, a central vertical cross section of the machine as shown in figure, 7.
Figure, 13, a central vertical cross section of the machine as illustrated in
figure, 8.
Figure, 14, a perspective of a connecting box made in my machine, and,—
Figure, 15, a perspective of a rectangular tube also made in my machine.
Similar letters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.
In explaining the functions and operations of the various parts of my machine,
I have thought best to illustrate the manufacture of some well known and serviceable
product, and I have therefore selected by way of exemplification of the outward
Hanging, a connecting box for water tube boilers, and for the purpose of setting
forth the inward flanging, I have selected a heater such as is especially adapted for
said boilers. I do not, howover, wish to be understood as identifying my present
invention with any particular article of manufacture as any improvement is applicable
to a great variety of instances where the bending or flanging of sheet metal is to be
accomplished.
A, is the frame of the machine; B, C, are shafts having mounted thereon.outside
the frame gear wheels, D, adapted to mesh with each other. E, is a ledge cast
with or rigidly secured to the frame, and, F, are leaves pivoted between the sides
of the frame so as to be capable of a swinging movement while at the same time
when in their normal position, they are in the same horizontal plane with the ledge, E,
thus forming a platform upon which the blank may be placed, (see figure, 1,) as will
be hereinafter explained. To the inside of each leaf are secured segment gears, G,
with which mesh the cogs, H, on the shafts, B, C. Upon the blank, 1, which is
seen at figure, 2, on the platform, is superimposed an anvil, J, of suitable shape
according to the product desired, (in this particular case a connecting box as
aforesaid).
By turning the wheels, D, (as for instance by a crank, K, secured on one of them,)
in the direction indicated by the arrows thereon, the cogs, H, will operate in
conjunction with the segment gears, G, to fold the leaves, F, upward; this operation
is continued until the leaves have caused the blank to be bent at the desired angle,
(in this instance a right angle,) when the blank is ready for the operation of the
flanging mechanism as seen at figure, 3.
The mechanism for flanging outward consists of a series of rolls L preferably
three in number, the outside edges of all but one being bevilled. These rolls are
journalled within a box N secured on a shaft O. I will not enter into any detailed
description of these rolls as to their construction and operation.
This shaft is mounted within suitable bearings on cross pieces P' secured to the
frame and is operated by belt and pulley (not shown) or in any other well known
manner. As the shaft is revolved the rolls will gradually bend the edges of the
blank and form thereon an outwardly projecting flange as shown in figures 4 and 5
the completed article being illustrated in figure 14, which represents a connecting box
for water tube boilers.
This connecting box is formed from the blank denoted by I, figure 2, the binding
up of the sides and the position of the bending mechanism being clearly shown at
fig. 3 while the flanging mechanism which I have described produces the outwardly
extending flanges at the sides of the box. These connecting boxes are used to support

page_text: the water drum in a tubular boiler the flanges affording good bearings on which the
drum is finally seated.
In forming flanges of different pitch the bevils on the wheels may be altered as the
case may demand. I will now proceed to describe my improvement as especially
adapted to bend and flange metal plates into the shape of tubes &c. Qare exterior
leaves which are attached to the leaves F preferably by dowel and socket connection
as seen at R, figure 6. S are the flanging bars pivotted to the leaves Q but between
ears T at the ends of the latter. U are segment gears secured to the underside of the
flanging bars. V is the blank and W the anvil the relative position of these parts
before the bending being the same as in the case of the connecting box and anvil
hereinbefore set forth. The wheels D are operated as above set forth, which will
bring the several parts into the position shown in fig. 7. X are shafts journalled in
bearings at the upper portion of the frame and Y are cog-wheels at the extremities
thereof adapted to mesh with each other. Z are cogs (four in number) secured in
pairs on the shafts X each pair being adapted to mesh with the segment gears U when
the latter are in the position shown in figure 7. Now the several parts being in the
position as herein before described and as illustrated in said figure 7, the wheel, A', is
turned in the direction indicated by the arrow, which will cause the cogs, Z, to mesh
with the segment gears, U, and fold the fingers, S, inward, thereby bending the
edges of the blank down upon the anvil. The flangers are so pivoted within the
leaves, Q, that when they are in the position shown in figures, 7, and, 12, they are in
different horizontal planes, so that it will be readily understood that said flangers will
cause the edges of the metal plate to be overlapped as shown in figures, 8, 13, and, 15.
It is obvious that said edges may be flanged so as to meet and not overlap by simply
placing the anvil central of the blank. It will be readily understood that my
improvement is adapted to bend and flange any suitable material, the angles of the
bend and flanges being entirely immaterial. Any well known method of applying
power to operate the machine may be employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is.―
1st. In a machine for bending and flanging metal plates, a stationary ledge adapted
to support the blank and anvil, leaves pivoted laterally to the frame of the machine
and adapted to be folded by the action of gears, and rotary flanging rolls capablo of
flanging the edges of the bent up blank, substantially as set forth.
2nd. A machine for bending and flanging metal plates adapted to support the blank
and anvil in proper relative position and having bending devices adapted to bend the
blank and then flange the edges of the latter toward each other, substantially as set
forth.
3rd. The combination of the ledge secured to the frame of the machine, levers, F,
pivoted laterally to the frame, segment gears, G, secured to the underside of said
levers, cogs, H, on shafts, B, C, gear wheels, D, on said shafts, anvil, J, and flange
rolls, mounted in box, N, secured on shaft, O, substantially as shown and
described.
4th. The combination with the levers, F, pivoted laterally to the frame of the
machine and having segment gears, G, secured to the underside thereof, of tho
extension levers, Q, secured to the levers, F, flanging bars, S, pivoted laterally to said
extension levers, segment gears, U, secured to the underside of said bars, cogs, H, on
shafts, B, C, meshing with gears, G, means for revolving said shafts, cogs, Z, secured
on shafts, X, & adapted to operate the segments, U, and means for revolving said
shafts, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5th. In a machine for bending and flanging metal plates, the combination with the
anvil superimposed upon the blank, of bending devices operated by intermeshing
segments & cog wheels, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 6th. The combination with the means described for bending metal plates into
lateral conformation, with an anvil, of means independent of the bending devices for
flanging the edges of the bent up blank, substantially as described.
7th. In a machine for bending and flanging plates, a bending device consisting of
pivoted levers whose normal position is in the same horizontal plane with the anvil
support, and means-as a system of gears—for operating said levers, substantially as
set forth.
Sth. The combination with the bending devices operated as described, of flanging
mechanism, carried by said devices but operated independently thereof, substantially
as shown and described.