Improvements in Metal Bending Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Nov., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 11th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1899
Improvements in Metal Bending Machines.
We, ARTHUR MIALL, of 23, St. Swithin's Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Accountant, and EWART CHARLES AMOS, of 20, Bucklersbury, in the
County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in or relating
to machines for bending metal such as angle-bars, Z T, and other sections,
used in the construction of ships frames, bridges, roofs and other structures.
Our invention has for its object, to provide a controlling attachment to such
metal bending machines; special reference being had to the machines described
under Specifications Number 12256/96 and 19623/96.
The apparatus consists of one or more hydraulic cylinders, actuating by a
ram or rams the centre or movable rolls, the movement of which set of rolls
effects the various curves and bends produced by the machine. In place of the
hydraulic cylinders or cylinders referred to we may use a steam cylinder com-
bined with an oil cylinder to produce any desired movement on the centre rolls.
The said cylinders and rams may be controlled by means of valves worked by hand,
and the desired movement required on the centre rolls, obtained by caus-
ing a pointer (attached to any portion of the moving parts: either the centre
rolls, or framing, or the rams themselves) to keep a line marked upon the circum-
ference of a revolving drum, which is caused to rotate, in suitable bearings and
driven by the machine itself. The line marked on the drum is set out to give
any desired curve to the bar being bent, and a friction or other suitable clutch
enables the operator to put the controlling gear into operation at any moment.
In place of one revolving drum and pointer we may use several drums placed
side by side on the same axle and with a pointer for each drum in cases where it
is desired to reduce the diameter of the drum to a convenient size when treating
long bars.
In place of the drums we may use an endless band, mounted on rollers and
caused to travel at right angles to the movement of the ram and parallel with
the bar being treated. The pointer attached to the ram is then caused to keep to a
line marked on the band.
Or we may if desired use a table with reciprocating movement to effect the same
purpose.
In place of controlling the cylinder valves by hand we may cause the lever
actuating the valves to follow the line marked on the drum or band.
Where it is thought desirable to use the steam and oil cylinder to actuate the
centre rolls, we find it advisable to employ a small accumulator to maintain
constant pressure, and to take up any leakage.
This invention besides being specially adapted to the machines described under

page_text: Specifications Number 12256/96 and 19623/96 is also applicable to any class or type
of metal bending machine which has a movable roll or set of rolls to effect a
different curve or bend.
ARTHUR MIALL.
EWART C. AMOS.
Improvements in Metal Bending Machines.
We, ARTHUR MIALL, of 23, St. Swithin's Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Accountant, and EWART CILARLES AMOS, of 20, Bucklersbury, in the
County of Middlesex, Consulting 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 certain new and useful improvements in or relating
to machines for bending metal such as angle-bars, Z, T and other sections, 1
used in the construction of ships frames, bridges, roofs and other structures.
Our invention has for its object to provide a controlling attachment to such
metal bending machines; special reference being had to the machines described
under Specifications Numbers 12256/96 and 19623/96.
The apparatus consists of one or more hydraulic cylinders actuating by a 2
ram or rams the centre or movable rolls, the movement of which set of rolls
effects the various curves and bends produced by the machine. In place of the
hydraulic cylinder or cylinders referred to we may use a steam cylinder com-
bined with an oil cylinder to produce any desired movement in the centre rolls.
The said cylinders and rams may be controlled by means of valves worked by hand, a
and the desired movement required on the centre movable rolls, obtained by caus-
ing a pointer attached to any portion of the moving parts either the centre
rolls or framing or the rams themselves to keep to a line marked upon the circum-
ference of a revolving drum which is caused to rotate in suitable bearings and
driven by the machine itself. The line marked on the drum is set out to give
any desired curve to the bar being bent, and a friction or other suitable clutch
enables the operator to put the controlling gear into operation at any moment.
In place of one revolving drum and pointer we may use several drums placed
side by side on the same axle and with a pointer for each drum in cases where it
is desired to reduce the diameter of the drum to a convenient size when treating
long bars.
In place of the drum we may use an endless band, mounted on rollers and
caused to travel at right angles to the movement of the ram and parallel with
the bar being treated. The pointer attached to the ram is then caused to keep to a
line marked on the band.
Or we can if desired use a table with reciprocating movement to effect the same
purpose.
In place of controlling the cylinder valves by hand we may cause the lever
actuating the valves to follow the line marked on the drum or band.
Where it is thought desirable to use the steam and oil cylinders to actuate the..
centre rolls we find it advisable to employ a small accumulator to maintain
constant pressure and to take up any leakage.
This invention besides being specially adapted to the machines described under

page_text: Specifications Numbers 12,256/96 and 19,623/96 is also applicable to any class or
type of metal bending machine which has a movable roll or set of rolls to effect a
different curve or bend.
In order that our invention may be the better understood, we will now
proceed to describe the same in relation to the acompanying drawings, reference
being had to the letters and figures marked thereon. Like figures refer to like
parts in the various figures.
Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, shewing our improved controlling
attachment, as applied to a set of bending rolls, constructed in accordance with
Specification Number 19,623/96 and the outline of whose framework is shewn.
Figure 2 is a plan of same.
Figure 3 is an end elevation.
Figure 4 is a detail shewing the alternative method of using an endless band in
place of a drum.
Figure 5 is a detail of the hydraulic cylinder referred to in combination with a
steam cylinder.
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the machine or rolls to which our improved
controlling device is attached is shewn in outline and is marked A of which the
ring portion marked B represents the rolls, whose in and out movement we
control. This ring B is also referred to in Specification Number 19,623/93 and 1
is fitted with suitable guides and driving gear as described therein. To control
these rolls an hydraulic cylinder C is bolted or otherwise attached by means
of a suitable brace-piece D to the framing of the machine. This cylinder C is
provided with a piston C₁ and piston rod C³, the latter being bolted to the ring B
at the point B, and really takes the place of the screw marked 133 in Specification
Number 19623/96 so that any water, which may be admitted to the cylinder
causes a direct movement on the ring B.
It will be noticed that the area of the piston C¹ is greater on one side than it
is on the other, on account of the piston rod C. This is intentional .and the
reduction in area caused by the rod is so arranged that the area on one side is
double that on the other. The object of this is to secure a complete locking, of
the rolls at any point.. This is produced by allowing the full pressure to always
act on the smaller area whilst the controlling valve regulates pressure or exhaust
to the larger area to secure movement in either direction, whilst when at rest
both sides of the icylinder are always full of water, thus securing an absolute
lock. The valve E is fitted with a suitable controlling lever F. In order to
regulate the exact movement which it is necessary to give to the ring B to
produce any desired curve we employ a drum G carried in suitable bearings. G¹.
These are preferably centre points or other bearings likely to produce little friction.
Upon the outside of this cylinder or drum G we wrap a paper diagram the use of
which is hereinafter more fully described. We also cause the drum G to be
rotated in direct relation to the speed of the bar of metal being bent by the
machine. This is effected in the following manner. The bar to be bent is.shewn
at H; underneath the bar is a roller H¹ which is caused to always press up
against the bar by means of the spring H2 and thus be rotated by frictional
contact as the bar travels through the machine. A suitable frame work H³ carries
the roller H. The rotative motion of the roller H₁ is transmitted to the pulley H*
by means of the bevel wheels H³ and shaft H. We then connect the pulley H
with the drum G by means of an endless driving band H7, suitable guide
pulleys H8 being interposed to secure any desired direction of the endless band.
It will thus be readily understood that the bar H produces a direct motion to the
drum and that should the bar slip when passing through the machine, the
rotation of the drum G is retarded in direct proportion and that the two
synchronize, a condition which could not exist if the drum were driven by the
machine itself and not by the bar being bent.
It will also be understood that we do not necessarily drive the bar H and the

page_text: drum G at the same speed but at any desired relative speed according to the
scale of the diagram placed upon the drum G.
Referring now to the paper diagram which is wrapped round the drum. Upon
this is marked a line, suitably set out to produce the curve to which it is desired
to bend the bar, and as the drum G is being rotated by the bar H in the manner
already described, we cause a pointer J attached to the ring B to keep,, on this
line. The action of our improved controlling attachment will now be readily
understood. Supposing it is desired to bend a bar; the same having been inserted
into the machine, its travel is immediately transmitted to the drum G; at the same
time the operator working the controlling valve E by means of the lever F causes
the ring B to travel backwards or forwards the exact amount required by causing
the pointer J to always keep on the line of the diagram fixed upon the drum G.
In place of the drum G, we may if desired use an endless band mounted on
3 rollers and shewn in Figure 4, one of the rollers being driven by the bar in
the way already described and the diagram being placed on the band instead of
the drum. Again we may substitute direct gearing for the endless driving
band H if desired.
In places where hydraulic accumulators and pumps are not available we may
substitute a steam cylinder to work the ram employing an arrangement shewn by
Figure 5. In this case a is steam cylinder and b the hydraulic, e the hydraulic
piston with equal areas on either side, d the hydraulic valve with lever e which
also controls the steam valves f. It will be readily seen that the hydraulic
cylinder is always full of water or oil and that motion is obtained on the rod C¹³
by allowing the water or oil to pass from one side of the cylinder to the other and
at the same time obtaining a dead lock at any point as desired by closing the
valve.
In place of the drum G we may substitute a table arranged to receive a recipro-
cating motion, which motion we impart to it by means of the friction gear which
is driven by the bar in the way above described, or if desired by direct gearing.
It will readily be seen that the result is the same, but in this case the line is
drawn upon the flat surface of the table instead of upon the circumference of the
drun. As an alternative to regulating the valve E by the lever F in the way
described and to more definitely determine the exact movement to be imparted
to it, we may cause a pointer attached to the lever F to follow the line marked upon
the drum G and thus impart an exact motion determined by the said line on the
drum.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
-
(1). A controlling attachment to be used in conjunction with metal bending
machines of the kind described under Specifications 12,256/96 and 19,623/96,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
(2) In such an apparatus for automatically operating a metal bending machine
the combination of a fluid pressure engine with the drum and frictional driving
gear substantially as described.
(3) An attachment to metal bending machines to control the moving rolls in
order to bend to any desired curve substantially as described.
(4) In such an attachment to secure that the drum G which carries the
diagram, representing the curve to be bent shall travel in direct relation with the
speed of the bar bent bent, substantially as described.
(5) In such a controlling attachment to ensure that at any point of its travel,
the ring B is rigidly held and also completely locked when at rest, substantially
as described.
(6) The substitution of an endless band as an alternative to the drum G, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described.

page_text: (7) The combination of a steam and hydraulic cylinder as shewn by Figure 5,
substantially as described.
(8) The combination and arrangement of the parts constituting the controlling
attachment with the alternative methods substantially as and for the purpose
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Eleventh day of September 1899.
ARTHUR MIALL.
EWART C. AMOS.