IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FLANGING HOLES IN METAL PLATES.
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Carnegie Kirk, of the firm of Robert Napier
and Sons, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FLANGING HOLES IN
METAL PLATES.'
"3
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Carnegie Kirk
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th August 1882.
ALEXANDER CARNEGIE KIRK, of the firm of Robert Napier and Sons of Glasgow,
in the County of Lanark, North Britain, "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
FLANGING HOLES IN METAL PLATES
"
This Invention has for its object to provide simple and inexpensive machinery
for flanging holes in metal plates in a convenient and satisfactory manner.
In carrying out the Invention a simple form of hydraulic press employed, and
the plate which is heated if necessary and which has had a hole cut in it of
suitable form and dimensions, is placed over a supporting ring made to suit the
outside of the intended flange, this ring being put upon the top of the hydraulic
cylinder. A rod attached to the piston or ram of the cylinder passes up through a
stuffing box and extends above the ring; and after the plate has been placed in
position a block or head having a suitably shaped flanging die attached to its under
side is placed on the piston rod and secured thereon by a cotter or otherwise. The
flanging is effected by the descent of the die which is drawn down by means of the
hydraulic cylinder, displacement of the plate during the operation being prevented
by three or other suitable number of vertical guide rods fixed in positions just
within the hole in the plate. For the purpose of flattening the plate close to the
flange the die may be made with a horizontal flange round it to bear on the plate
at the end of the flanging movement. The flanging having been effected in this
way the plate may be held down whilst the die is moved up again, by means of a
small ram working in a cylinder made in the bottom of the main ram, or by other
means, the die and block being next removed from the piston rod and the flanged
plate lifted off. Or the die may be separated from the flanged plate by being
TD 1

page_text: forced through it, being for this purpose attached to the block on the piston rod by
bolts which are loosened as soon as the flanging is effected, the block being then
raised distance pieces inserted and the block brought down again to force the die
through, after which the block is taken off the piston rod and the flanged plate
removed.
To reduce the number of rings and dies required for different sizes of holes and
thicknesses of plate, the rings may be cut through, and the dies also in some cases,
so that the diameter can be altered by wedging the cut more or less open, or by
drawing the cut edges closer by bolts passed through lugs provided for the purpose
or in the case of a ring by means of an external hoop and one or more screws.
Each ring may also be made of different internal diameters at and near its edges
so as to answer for two sizes accordingly as the ring is placed with one edge or the
other uppermost.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Carnegie Kirk in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th February 1883.
"
ALEXANDER CARNEGIE KIRK, of the firm of Robert Napier and Sons, of Glasgow,
in the County of Lanark, North Britain IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
FLANGING HOLES IN METAL PLATES."
My said Invention has for its object to provide simple and inexpensive
machinery for flanging holes in metal plates in a convenient and satisfactory
manner,
In carrying out my Invention a simple form of hydraulic press is employed, and
the plate, which is heated if necessary, and which has had a hole cut in it of
suitable form and dimensions, is placed over a supporting ring made to suit the
outside of the intended flange, this ring being put upon the top of the hydraulic
cylinder. The flanging is effected by the descent of a suitably shaped die which
starting from a position above the plate is drawn down by means of the hydraulic
cylinder, the piston or ram of which has fixed to it a rod passing up through a
stuffing box to the die. Various arrangements may be adopted to facilitate the
removal of the plate after being flanged.
To reduce the number of rings and dies required for different sizes of holes and
thicknesses of plate, the rings may be cut through, and the dies also in some cases,
so that the diameter can be altered by wedging the cut more or less open, or by
drawing the cut edges closer by bolts passed through lugs provided for the purpose;
or, in the case of a ring by means of an external hoop and one or more screws.
Each ring may also be made of different internal diameters at and near its edges,
so as to answer for two sizes accordingly as the ring is placed with one edge or
the other uppermost.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append two sheets of explanatory
drawings to be hereinafter referred to and representing an example of my improved
flanging machinery.
Figure, 1, on sheet 1, of the accompanying drawings is a plan of my improved
flanging machine, and figure, 2, is a side elevation but with the ring and the plate
about to be flanged shown in section. Figures 3, and 4, on sheet 2, are horizontal
and vertical sections. In these drawings the same reference numerals are used to
mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
The machine is made with a massive bed frame, 5, to the underside of which is
bolted an hydraulic cylinder, 6, fitted with a piston or ram, 7, which works
through a stuffing box at the bottom end of the cylinder, and which has fixed to it
a piston rod, 8, extending from its upper side and passing through a stuffing box, 9,
formed in the top of the bed frame, 5, this upper stuffing box having over it a
cover, 10, to protect it from dust and which also acts as a stop to prevent the
ram, 7, from descending too far. The lower end of the piston rod, 8, is formed with
a cylindrical cavity, 11, to receive a ram, 12, which works through a stuffing
box, 13, and which is stationary, being held by a crosshead, 14, attached to the
main cylinder, 6, by rods, 15, and having a passage through it for the ingress and
egress into and from the cylinder, 11, of the water or other liquid employed.
Pipes, 16, 17, connect the cylinder, 6, and the ram, 12, with a valve box not shown
but placed in any convenient situation and arranged so as to direct the water into or
from the main cylinder, 6, as required the pressure being always maintained in the
piston-rod cylinder,

page_text: The flanging of the plate, 18, is effected between a stationary ring, 19, which
rests on the bed frame, 5, and an annular die, 20, the last being fixed to the under-
side of a block or head, 21, placed on the upper part of the piston rod, 8, a nut, 22,
being screwed upon the rod, 8, for the head, 21, to rest upon. The plate, 18,
having been placed in position on the ring, 19, the head, 21, with its annular
die, 20, is placed on the rod, 8, and is secured by a cotter, 23, or equivalent
fastening; and the flanging is effected by the descent of the die, 20, which is
drawn down by the hydraulic ram or piston, 7. The displacement of the plate, 18,
during the operation is prevented by three or other suitable number of vertical
guide rods, 24, fixed to the bed frame, 5, in positions just within the edge of the
hole in the plate, 18. The guide rods, 24, are adjustable, being formed with
segmental bases which can be turned about centre bolts and be fixed in position by
pinching screws, 25, and slots are formed in the head, 21, through which the guide
rods, 24, pass as the head descends, adjustable pieces, 26, being fixed across the slots
to serve as additional guides. For the purpose of flattening the plate, 18, close to
the flange, the die, 20, or head, 21, is made with a horizontal flange, 27, to bear on
the plate, 18, at the end of the flanging movement. The flange having been formed,
as indicated by dotted lines in figure, 2, the plate, 18, may be held down whilst
the die, 20, and head 21, are moved up again by means of the small ram, 12, and
cylinder, 11, formed in the bottom of the rod, 8, the die, 20, and head, 21, being
next removed from the rod, 8, and the flanged plate, 18, lifted off. Or by
preference the die (20) may be separated from the flanged plate, 18, by being forced
down through it, being for this purpose attached to the head, 21, by bolts which
are loosened as soon as the flanging is effected, the head, 21, being then raised,
distance pieces inserted, and the head, 21, brought down again to force the die, 20,
through; after which the head, 21, is taken off the rod, 8, and the flanged plate, 18,
removed.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise details
herein described and delineated but that what I believe to be novel and original
and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the hereinbefore in
part recited Letters Patent is :-
The arranging or combining together of the parts of machinery for flanging holes
in metal plates substantially in the improved manner hereinbefore described.
In Witness whereof I, the said Alexander Carnegie Kirk, have hereunto set
my hand and seal this twenty-first day of February in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty-three
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
ALEXANDER C. KIRK (L.S.)