GB825129A - Improvements relating to the construction of sheet metal cabinets - Google Patents

Abstract

825,129. Making sheet metal cabinets; angular bending. GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. March 6, 1956 [March 7, 1955], No. 7023/56. Classes 83 (2) and 83 (4). [Also in Groups XIII and XIV] A sheet metal shell 1 for a cabinet, such as a refrigerator cabinet, has a stiffening section 5 formed integrally with the sheet and including a double thickness flange 7, and the corner structure between two walls comprises a generally mitred joint 13 in the front thickness 14 of the flange and an overlapping of the joint 13 by the rear thickness 16, Fig. 3, without any overlapping of the corner edges 42, 43 of the rear thickness. A shell having three sides 2, 3, 4, Fig. 1, with channel section integral reinforcements 5, 6 at the front and rear, is formed from a single metal sheet 19, Fig. 4. Apertures 20-23 for the corner joints in the front double-thickness flange 7 of the channel, and recesses 24-27 for the corner joints in the single-thickness flange 8 of the channel are punched in the sheet. The latter is then folded along the longitudinal lines 32-39 to produce the reinforcing channels 5, 6 and then along the lines 46, 47 to form the corners 15 with the mitred joint 13, Fig. 1. The latter includes a small overlapping 45, Fig. 2 (not shown) to provide metal for subsequent welding of the corner joint. This welding may be effected by heat and pressure to seal the joint 13 and weld the inner and outer thicknesses 14, 16 together. Alternatively spot welding and subsequent fusion welding may be used or the joint may be brazed. The reinforcing channels 5, 6 may be of the same or different sizes or a channel may only be provided at the front or rear of the shell.