Metal deforming – By use of non-deforming work-gripping clamp and relatively... – By individually non-deforming clamps
Patent
1998-05-15
2000-01-04
Crane, Daniel C.
Metal deforming
By use of non-deforming work-gripping clamp and relatively...
By individually non-deforming clamps
B21D 1114
Patent
active
060097388
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention which is the subject of this application relates to apparatus for use in forming metal into shapes or articles by rotation of an element of the apparatus. Particularly, but not exclusively, the apparatus is for use in forming metal bars which are joined together at their ends, into a twisted and enlarged shape which is referred to from hereonin as a basket shape and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
At present, there is apparatus available which can perform the required functions of twisting and applying a compression force to metal bars to form the same into a basket shaped article. However, this apparatus is usually relatively complex and relies upon the provision of a hydraulic system to enable the forces which are required to be applied to be provided. The requirement for the hydraulic systems to be provided render the apparatus which is conventionally available to be expensive and hence, in turn, the articles which are formed using this apparatus are expensive to purchase. When one considers the materials from which the articles are manufactured is relatively cheap, it is the expense of the apparatus which is currently available, which causes the price to be increased. Furthermore, the expense of purchase of the apparatus means that the size and volume of manufacturer of these articles are required to be on a relatively large scale and there is at present no facility or apparatus available which can be used to form articles such as baskets which can be economically used by manufacturers of formed metal articles.
An alternative type of apparatus exists which does not utilise hydraulics but requires each of the bars of a blank to be bent separately prior to being joined together, whereupon the blank is then twisted in one direction. However, this process is time consuming as each bar has to be bent to the same degree and then joined together to form the blank.
The aim of the present invention is to provide apparatus which allows articles such as baskets to be formed without the need for hydraulic system to be provided but in a form which allows a quality and ease of manufacture of these baskets to be maintained if not improved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, in a first aspect, provides apparatus for forming metal from a blank form, said apparatus comprising a first location portion for holding one end of the blank in a fixed position and, a second, rotatable location means for location of the other end of the blank characterised in that said location means is rotatable in a first direction with the location means maintained in a first position relative to the longitudinal axis of the blank and a second direction wherein the location means is movable along the longitudinal axis of the metal blank.
In a preferred embodiment the blank is formed from a plurality of bars secured together in a parallel relationship.
Typically the movement of the second position of the location means is toward the first location portion.
Preferably as the location means is rotated in the second direction the location means moves axially along the longitudinal axis of the blank.
In use, the rotation of the location means in the first direction imparts a twisting of the blank such that when the rotation of the location means in the first direction is complete, the metal blank is in a twisted condition. The rotation of the location means in a second, reverse direction, causes the metal bars of the blank to be separated increasingly as the position of the location means is moved inwardly towards the fixed location means. This movement causes each of the metal bars to move outwardly to form a bulbous shape and, at the same time, the degree of twist of the blank is changed such that the final shape created is bulbous with each of the bars bowing outwardly and each of the bars in a partially twisted condition.
In one embodiment, the second location means comprises a rotatable shaft mounted in a barrel, said shaft having a screw thread portion at least partially
REFERENCES:
patent: 111097 (1871-01-01), Tuddenham
patent: 1013769 (1912-01-01), Haskell
patent: 2145040 (1939-01-01), Cawthra
patent: 2628653 (1953-02-01), Sherman
patent: 4019356 (1977-04-01), Bohl
patent: 4026137 (1977-05-01), Scroggins
patent: 5676013 (1997-10-01), Kahlau
Beecher Maureen
Beecher Roy
LandOfFree
Apparatus for forming metal does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus for forming metal, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus for forming metal will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1063761