US2248088A - Universal cold roll forming machine - Google Patents

Description

y8,1941. R. c. P. KANE 2.248.088

UNIVERSAL COLD ROLL FORMING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet l In NT R If 9 i ATTORNEY July 8 1941. R. c. P. KANE UNIVERSAL COLD ROLL FORMING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 6, 1940 INVENTUR FUEER 5 P E Y M Eg 2 il 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 8, 1941.

INVENT on V Ram-m 1 1? KANE A'r'rmm EY July 8, 1941. R c p, KANE 2,248,088

UNIVERSAL com) ROLL FORMING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 m m? 20 INVENT an I RUBERT E 1? Kim:

2 2/ ATTORNEY y 4 R. c. P. KANE 2.248.088

UNIVERSAL COLD ROLL FORMING MACHINE I Filed June 6, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTIJR I M2 E0251?! 6: 161 NE v I. /75 A90 74 /8/ f I a ATTORNEY Patented July 8, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UNEVERSAL COLD ROLL FORMING MACHINE Robert C. P. Kane, Syracuse, N. Y.

Application June 6, 1940, Serial No. 339,111

1%] Claims. ,.(:Cl. 153-54) My invention relates to improvements in cold roll forming machines adapted to bend a sheet of metal into tubes or other formed shapes which may be of a desired cross sectional contour.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a machine adapted progressively to form a flat metal sheet into a tube or other shape having a desired cross sectional contour, in such a manner as to avoid excessive working of the metal, especially adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof.

Another object of this invention is to minimize the internal stresses set up in the formed shape and to distribute any stresses so produced substantially equally or uniformly.

Still another object of this invention is to form the blank in such manner as to minimize lineal elongation of the metal.

When progressively forming sheet metal into a tube, there is a tendency of the tube to run off I from the straight in a direction away from the side where the edges of the blank are formed over to meet. The usual practice is to form the tube with the seam uppermost, the tube curves downwardly as it leaves the forming rolls, because the edges of the blank have been worked more than the center, resulting in at least some elongation of the material adjacent these edges. Likewise, in forming shapes other than tubes, where the contour is non-symmetrical, in cross sectional contour, there is a tendency to run off laterally toward the side of the shape on which the lesser amount of work has been performed. The amount of runoff will vary with the shape formed, with diflerent thicknesses of metal and also with metal of different temper in different lots.

Another object of this invention is to produce a cold roll forming machine of the above mentioned class consisting of various units for forming, welding, sizing, straightening, etc., with movable supports for certain or all of the units whereby suchunits may be adjusted with respect to each other for bringing the work, during the process of producing a finished article, into operative relation with successive units after it passes from the forming unit without bending or twisting the work or subjecting portions of the same extending between the units to external stresses or pressures.

In carrying out the above mentioned objects, I have provided a machine having a forming unit composed of a plurality of pairs of forming rolls spaced longitudinally of the machine to provide a suflicient number of roll passes and wherein the contours of the rolls of successive passes are so correlated as to gradually change the shape of the metal as the same is fed through the forming unit from one pass to the next. Furthermore,

; the rolls of each roll pass are mounted for vertical adjustment with respect to the rolls of the other passes so that the longitudinal central portion of the tube or other article being formed may be progressively moved in one direction away from the plane of entry of the flat material into the forming unit without the production of abrupt bends or kinks in the material.

Another object of the invention is to so mount the rolls of each pass of the forming unit that at leastone roll thereof may be adjusted horizontally with respect to the other roll of the same pass or substantially parallel with the direction of travel of the work through the unit whereby the work will move through each roll pass substantially normal to a straight line connecting the axes of the rolls thereof.

Other objects and advantages pertaining to the construction and operation of the parts of my forming machine will more fully appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan View illustrating a forming machine and a driving mechanism associated therewith embodying the various features of this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the forming machine illustrated in'Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3, Figure 2, illustrating the mechanism for producing vertical adjustment of the forward end portion of the forming unit.

Figure 4 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4, Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 55, Figure 2, illustrating the mechanism for producing vertical adjustment of the rear end portion of the forming unit,

Figure 6 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on line 6-6, Figure 5,.

Figure '7 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on line |'l, Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on line 8-8, Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 99, Figure 3, illustrating :a forming roll assembly of one of the roll passes of the forming unit in side elevation, a portion thereof being broken away and in section.

Figures 10, 11 and 12 are detail horizontal sectional views taken respectively on lines Il9, lI-H and l2l2, Figure 9, the forming roll associated with the shaft shown in Figure 12 being omitted,

Figure 13 is a detail horizontal sectional View taken on line l3l3, Figure 2, illustrating a pivotal connection for the forward end of one of the base members of the apparatus.

Figure 14 isa side elevation illustrating a po tion of a modified form of the forming unit.

Figure 15 is a detail transverse sectional view taken substantially on line ll 5, Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a detail longitudinal central sectional View through the base portion of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 14, illustrating the manner of cradling or rocking the forming unit illustrated in Figure 14.

Figure 17 is a transverse sectional view similar to Figure 15 illustrating a modified form of support for a forming roll pass. 7

Figure 18 is a detail vertical sectional view taken substantially on line l8l8, Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a detail transverse sectional View similar to Figures 15 and 17, illustrating a still furthermodified mounting for the forming roll passes.

In order to illustrate my invention, I have shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings a machine adapted to completely form a tube or pipe from a strip or sheet of flat rolled metal. This machine comprises a forming unit I, a welding unit 2, a scarfing unit 3, a cooler 4, a sizer ,unit 5, a straighteningunit 9 and a cut-off unit I. These units are arranged in spaced relation toeach other longitudinally of the machine and in the order namedfor successively receiving the metal and performing their various functions thereon. These units are supported by a main or sub-base 9 which is common to all of the units. 7

Mounted on the sub-base 9 are two base members l9 and l l which are adjustably supported by the sub-base 9 for tilting movement with respect thereto. The base member Ill, in this instance, is carried by an auxiliary base [2 mounted intermediate the base members 9 and Ill upon the former base member. ZIhegauxiliary base i2 has end portions l3 and I4 thereof slidably engaging bearing portions I5 and I6 formed on the upper surface of the sub-base 9. The auxiliary' base I2 is pivotally' connected at its rear the recess 29 transversely of the base 9 by screws 22 screw-threaded in the plates 2| with the inner ends thereof contacting the adjacent end portions of the block l9. 7 V

The forward end of the auxiliary base I2 is provided with an extension or'tongue 24 which projects forwardly from the base between a pair of lugs 25 formedon the base 9 in spaced relation to each other transversely of said base, as

illustrated in Figure 1;. The lugs 25vare provid'ed with screws 26 which are adapted to engage the tongue 24 for producing lateral movement of the forward end portion of the auxiliary base I2 with respect to the base 9. It will be understood that when the forward end portion of the auxiliary base I2 is moved laterally with respect to the base 9, said auxiliary base will swing about the pin I! as an axis while the position of the pin IT and, therefore, the axis of swinging movement of the auxiliary base l2, may be adjusted transversely of the sub-base 9, as the occasion may require, by the manipulation of the screws 22.

The base member I9 is spaced upwardly from the auxiliary base I2 and is adjustably connected with the auxiliary base so that the ends thereof may be moved vertically with respect to the auxiliary base and independently of one another.

The means for operatively connecting the base Iii with the auxiliary base l2 comprises two pairs of jack screws 29 and 30, the jack members 29 being located at the rear or inner ends of the base members H) and 12, while the jack members 30 are located adjacent the forward 'Or outer ends of said base members. The base member In, in this instance, has the rear portion I0 thereof extended above the forward portion l0" and the portion l9 supports the welding, scarfi-ng, cooling and the sizing units in fixed prede- I termined spaced relation to each other. The forward portion 19" of the base member H] has mounted thereover a platform 32 which is adapted to carry the various roll passes of the forming unit I.

The platform 32 is adjustably connected wit the base E9 to be supported in vertical spaced relation thereto by two pairs of jack members 29 and 39 arranged adjacent the rear and forward ends respectively of the platform. The jack members 2-9 positioned at the rear or inner ends of the platform 32, base I9 and auxiliary base l2 are constructed substantially alike and a description of one of these jack members will suffice for a, description of the others.

Each jack member 29 connecting platform 32 with base I'll comprisesa vertically disposed screw member 34 which, as shown in Figures 5' and 6, has the upper end thereof extending through an elongated slot 35 provided in a pendent mar ginal flange 36 formed along each longitudinal side of the platform 32. The upper end of the screw member 34 is secured to a horizontally disposed pin 31 which is journaled in a suitable opening provided in the corresponding flange 36. The screw members 34 of each pair of jacks 29, as indicated in Figure 5, are arranged adjacent. the longitudinal sides of the platform 32 and base member I!) and extend downwardly from the platform through suitable openings 38 provided in the side walls 319 of the base member i9. Each screw member 34 is provided with a nut 49 screw-threaded thereon and which is ,positioned in a transversely disposed recess 4| provided in the base It intermediate the upper and lower ends of the corresponding openings 38. Each nut member 49' has the peripheral surface thereof provided with worm gear teeth 42 which have meshing engagement with a worm 43 mounted on a shaft 44.

The shaft 44' is disposed in a horizontal plane transversely of the base member ID and is'journ-aled in suitable bearing members 45 provided on a laterally disposed portion 46 o-f'the side walls 39, as indicated in Figures 6 and 7. There are two bearing members 45 for each worm 43;

the bearing members of each pair being spaced longitudinally of the shaft and receive the corresponding worm between them for maintaining said worm against axial movement during the rotation thereof. Each end of shaft 44 extends outwardly beyond the adjacent side wall 39 of the base It] and has secured thereto a hand wheel 48 by which the shaft may be manually rotated from either side of the base It.

It will now be observed that rotation of the shaft 44 will produce a corresponding rotation of the Worms 43 and nut members 49 and inasmuch as the nut members 45 are maintained against axial movement by the adjacent Walls of the recesses 4i, rotation of said nut members will produce corresponding vertical movements of the screw members 34 in an upward or downward direction depending upon the direction of rotation of the nut members. The upward and downward movement of the screw members 3% will of course produce a corresponding movement of the rear or inner end of the platform 32 with respect to the base member ID.

As hereinbefore stated, the jack members 29 connecting the base member It with the auxiliary base 12 are constructed in substantially the same manner as the jack members just described for connecting the platform 32 with the base It. It will be understood, however, that the pins 3'! and upper ends of the screw members 34 are rotatably connected with the base It! while the lower portions of the screw members 34, the nut members ii] and worms #3 are associated with the auxiliary base l2 so that rotation of said worm and nut members will produce vertical movement of the screw members 94 and base member it] with respect to the auxiliary base i2.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the jack members 3!] connecting the outer or forward end portion of the platform 32 with the base member l9, each comprises a vertically disposed screw member 58 having the upper end thereof extending through an elongated recess provided in the lower side of the flange 36 of the platform 32. The upper end of each screw 59 is connected, as shown in Figure 3, with a horizontally disposed pin 53 which is journaled in a suitable opening 54 provided in the corresponding flange 3t. Each screw member 50 extends downwardly from the platform 32 through a corresponding elongated opening 59 formed in the respective side wall 32 of the base i9.

Each side wall 39 of the base It is provided with a relatively large cylindrical opening 58 extending inwardly from the outer side thereof and which is arranged with the center thereof passing through the center of the opening 56 at substantially right angles thereto. In each opening 58 is journaled a relatively large hollow cylindrical bearing member 69 having diametrically disposed apertured bosses 5| receiving a corresponding screw member 54 therethrough. Each bearing member 69 is releasably maintained in the opening 58 therefor by a suitable annular retaining plate 63 secured to the outer face of the side wall 39 by screws 54, as shown in Figures 3 and 8.

Mounted upon each screw member 59 and positioned intermediate the corresponding bosses BI is a nut 61 having screw-threaded engagement with the screw member 59. The peripheral surface of each nut member 67 is provided with worm teeth 68 which are in meshing engagement with a suitable worm 69 mounted on a horizontally disposed shaft 10. Each worm 69, as shown more particularly in Figure 8, is mounted between a pair of lugs H provided on the. corresponding bearing member 60 in right angular relation to the bosses 6|. These lugs H are provided with aligned openings which rotatably receive the shaft 10 therein. The ends of the shaft iii extend outwardly beyondv the adjacent bearing member Bi! and have secured thereto hand wheels 13 by which the shaft may be manually rotated from either side of the base I0. It will now be understood that rotation of the shaft It will produce corresponding rotation of the nut members 61 which, in turn,- produce corresponding vertical movement of the screw members 50.

The jack members 39 connecting the base member I9 with the auxiliary base l2 are constructed and operated in the same manner as the jack members 30 just described for connecting the platform 32 with the base member ID with the exception, of course, that the bearing members 6! instead of being mounted in the base ID are mounted in the auxiliary base l2, while the pins 53 associated with the upper ends of the screw members 59 are connected with the base member it instead of with the platform 32.

It will now be observed that inasmuch as the screw members 34 of the jacks 29 are mounted for vertical reciprocative movement only in the base if! or base l2, the pins 31 associated therewith will provide relatively fixed axes about which the base member It or platform 32 associated therewith will swing during the vertical adjustment of the screw members associated with the jacks 30. It therefore follows that during this swinging movement of the forward or outer end of either the base member H] or platform 32, the screw members 50 of the corresponding jacks 30 will rock about the axes of the bearing members and produce a corresponding rocking movement of said bearing members in their openings 58.

In order that the end thrust produced on the platform 32 durin the operation of the forming unit i may not be transmitted solely to the screw members 34 of the jacks 29, I have provided a buffer plate 15 which is secured to the rear portion Id of base If! and extends upwardly from said base into engagement with the adjacent end of the platform 32. The rear end of the platform may be curved, as at 76, in concentric relation with the pins 31 so that said platform will uniformly contact with the buffer plate at all vertical tilted positions thereof produced by the manipulation of the jacks 29 and 36. In a similar manner, the base member Ill may be provided with a buffer member 11 connected with the rear portion of the sub-base 9 and which projects upwardly therefrom into engagement with the forward end of the base ID. The rear end of the base I9, as indicated at 18, may be formed concentric with the adjacent pins 37 of the jacks 29 associated therewith so that said end will have uniform engagement with the buffer 71 durin all vertical tilted positions of the base It pro duced by the jacks 29 and 30 connecting said base with the auxiliary base I2.

The base member II is mounted over the rear end portion 9' of the sub-base 9 and, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, has mounted thereon the straightener unit 6 and the cut-off unit 1. The base I l is shown supportably connected with the sub-base 9 by means of jack members 29 and 3d constructed and operated in the same manner as the jack members 29 and 30 hereinbefore described connecting .the base ill with theauxil iary base I! .orthe platform .32 with the base l0.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the jack members 2.91am arranged adjacent the rear ends of the bases 8 and II while the jack members 30 are arranged adjacent the opposite or inner end .of the base H.- The nut members 453 and 6?, together with the worms 43 and -69 and their shafts. 44 and 1B, are connected with the upwardly extended portion 9 of the sub-base 9 which may be formed integral with said subbase or secured thereto. The extension 9' of the sub-base may, as illustrated in Figur 2, be provided with a recess 19 at the inner end thereof for receiving thepivotal pin i1 and extension [8 therein. It will be understood that the opposite ends ofthe base member Il may be raised or lowered independently of each other relative to the base 9 :by the manipulation of the jacks 2,9 and 3B.

The welder 2, scarfer '3, cooler l, sizer 5, straightener 6 and cut-off 1 may be of any suitable construction and, as indicated in Figure 2, these various units are fixedly secured to their respective base members II] or II in predetermined spaced relation to each other. The forming unit 1 may, as shown, he provided with a table 8.8 which is secured to the outer or forward end of the platform 32 for supporting the sheet metal, as M, from which the tube, pipe or other article is formed.

The forming unit also comprises a suitable number of roll passes, as indicated at A, B, C, D and E arranged in spaced relation to each other longitudinally of theplatform 32 at the rear of the table Bil. The passes A, B, C and E each constitute a stand of opposed rolls, and these rolls .of the several passes are adapted to form the flat rolled metal M into a transverse curved form on arcs of decreasing radii. The rolls of passes A, B, C and E may be driven by any suitable means such as the motor Bl, Figure 1, through the medium of a suitable speed reduction gearing indicated at 82 and power transmission mechanisms 83 mounted on a common base 84 positioned at the .rear side of the sub-base g in substantially parallel relation therewith.

The transmission mechanisms 83 are preferably connected with the rollers of the passes A, B, C and E by extensible shafts 85 composed of telescoping sections and which are connected with the corresponding roll shafts and transmission shafts by suitable universal joints, indicated at 86, Figures 1 and 3, so that the shafts of the rolls may be adjusted as required by movement of the bases I B and I2 and of the platform 32 Without materially decreasing the efiiciency or producing specialadjustments of the transmissions 83.

The shafts :85 of the drive mechanism may, as indicated in Figure 3, be connected directly with the shafts '88 of the lower positioned forming rolls of the correspondingpasses while the shafts 89 of the upper positioned rolls of said passes may be operatively connected to the shafts 88 of the corresponding pass by a pair of spur gears 90 mounted on the shafts 138 and 89 in meshing engagement with each other.

The housings of each roll pass A, B, C and E are substantially identical in each case, the contour of the rolls being the only essentially diifer--. ent feature. The housing, as 92, which supports rolls 93 and 94 of the first pass A, which rolls are positioned laterally by means of collars 93 and 94' respectively, comprises a substantially vertically disposed standard '96 which is secured toan auxiliary base plate v9'! by means of bolts '98 mounted in T-s'lots 93 extending longitudinally of the base plate '91. The bolts 98 extend upwardly through flanges 96 formed at the base of each standard at the inner and outer sides thereof. The T-slots 9.9 which extend longitudinally through the auxiliary base plate 91 are arranged transversely of the platform 32 so that the standards 92 may be adjusted with respect to the base plate 9'! toward and from each other axially of the shafts 88 and 89. The auxiliary base plate 97 is slidably mounted upon the upper face of the platform 32 for movement longitudinally of said platform.

In order that the auxiliary base plate maybe maintained against movement transversely of the platform, there is provided a key I00 which is mounted in suitable key slots provided in the adjacent surfaces of the base plate 9'! and platform 32,.as indicated in Figure 3. The base plate 91 is secured in the adjusted position thereof by means of studs Hi2 which pass upwardly through elongated openings provided in the platform 32 and'screw-threaded into the base plate 97, as illustrated in Figure 3. Suitable Washers, as I93, may be mounted on the studs between the heads thereof and the adjacent portion of the platform for limiting the movement of the studs through the platform slots.

Each standardliii is provided with a recess m5 extending from the upper end thereof downwardly for receiving the bearing blocks Hi5 and it? for the lower and upper roll shafts 88 and 89, respectively. Each standard is provided with a cap 168 which extends across the upper end thereof over the recess Hi5 and is secured to the standard by suitable tie-rods H39 and nuts M19, as illustrated in Figure 9. The bearing blocks lil'i for theupper roll shaft 89 are of less width than the recess and have the opposed vertical sides thereof extending in substantial parallel relation to each other and at an angle of inclination to the upper and lower sides of the block, as indicated at HG, Figure 9.

Each bearing block I0! is supported from. the cap I58 by a bracket III with the upper and lower sides of the bearing block arranged sub'- stantially normal to the vertical sides of the recess N35. The bracket H! is secured to the corresponding bearing block Iii! for lateral adjustment with respect thereto by screws H2 passing through an elongated slot I It! in bracket Ii l. the corresponding housing through the medium of a positioning screw i It having screw-threaded engagement'with the cap, said screw being provided with a head H5 at the lower end thereof which-is received in a T-slot H6 provided in a can i H secured to the upper side of the bracket ill by a pair of screws H8. I

The T-slot H6 extends across the cap H1. for a purpose presentlyto be described. Interposed between each bearing block iii! and the vertical side walls of the recess I05 are two block shims H9 which are supported by the bracket ill by means of positioning screws I 20 screwthreaded in the upper ends of the block shims and rotatably carried by a plate m secured to the bracket H I. The block shims H9 are wedgeshapecl members having the inner surfaces H9 thereof inclined with respect to the vertical to correspond to the inclined side surfaces Iii! of the bearing block I07.

It will now be observed that the bearing block Bracket Hi is supported by the cap I08 of I91 may be moved transversely of the standard recess I95 by adjusting the block shims H9 vertically with respect to the bracket III by rotating the screws I29. In other words, if the bearing block illustrated in Figure 9 is to be moved toward the right-hand side of the standard, the block shim I I9 at the right-hand side of the bearing block may be lowered with respect to the bracket III by turning the screw I29 associated therewith in the proper direction. After the block shim H9 at the right-hand side of the bearing block has been lowered the proper distance, the bearing block I91 is loosened from bracket III by turning screws H3. The block shim H9 at the opposite or left-hand side of the bearing block may next be lowered by the manipulation of the screw I29 associated therewith until the bearing block is moved laterally the required distance and firmly held between the block shims to position the upper shaft 89 and the roll carried thereby in such relation to the lower shaft 88 and the roll carried by said latter shaft, that the work engaged by the rolls will move substantially normal to a straight line connecting the axes of shafts 88 and 89.

The bearing block assembly comprising the bearing blocks I91, block shims H9 and brackets III may be adjusted vertically as a unit through the recess I95 by the manipulation of the positioning screw H4 to bring the roll carried by the shaft 89 into proper spaced relation with the roll carried by the lower shaft 88 for forming the material M as the same is moved between the rolls.

The bearing block I91 associated with the standard 99 located at the driving end of the rolls 93 and 94 may, as shown in Figure 12, be provided with guide flanges I91 arranged at opposite sides thereof. These flanges are spaced from each other a distance substantially equal to the width of the standard 96 and the block shim H9 for receiving said standard and block shim therebetween and maintaining the bearing block against axial movement with respect to the standard. The bearing, as I22, mounted in the bearing block I91 having the flanges I91 is preferably of such a type and so mounted between a pair of cap members I23 and I24 secured to the opposite sides of the bearing block and a shoulder I25 and nut I26 on shaft 89 that said bearing member and shaft will be maintained against axial movement with respect to the bearing block.

The shaft 99, as shown in Figure 12, is composed of two sections, a roll bearing section 89' and a drive section 89" which are secured together by a union nut I21 having engagement with a flange I21 secured to the section 89 in screw-threaded engagement with the inner adjacent end of the other section 89".

The bearing block I91 which supportably engages shaft section 89 is a plain member maintained against aixal movement with respect to the shaft 89 by the roll nut I28 and screwthread I28 located at the outer end of the shaft 89, the bearing sleeve I91a and spacing collars 94'.

When it is desired to remove the shaft 89 from the housing, the nut I23 is backed off and the entire assembly I91 including bracket III and shims H9 may be pulled out. Shaft section 89' is disconnected from the shaft section 99" by disengaging the nut I 21 from the threaded portion of said latter shaft section, after which the shaft section 89' may be readily moved axially through the housing recess I95.

If, on the other hand, it is desired to remove both sections 89' and 99" from the housing 92, this may be readily accomplished without disconnecting the shaft sections 89 and 89" by swinging the cap members I08 about one of the tierods I99, as the one shown at the right-hand side of Figure 11, after having loosened the nuts I99 associated with both of said rods and sliding the entire assembly upwards out of the standard 95. In order that the caps I99 may be readily swung about one of the tie-rods, each cap is provided with a slot I3I adjacent one end for receiving the tie-rod therein and arranged substantially concentric with the other tie-rod, as illustrated in Figure 11.

As a cap I 98 is thus swung about one of the tie-rods, the positioning screw H4 will move therewith through the recess H6 out of cooperative engagement with the cap I I 1 provided on the bracket III. After a cap I99 has thus been moved to one side of the recess I 95, the upper roll assembly, including the shaft 99, bearing blocks I91, block shims I I9 and brackets II I, may be lifted bodily from the standards 99 by passing the same upwardly through the recesses I95.

The bearing blocks I 99 for the lower positioned shafts 89 are mounted, as shown in Figure 9, at the lower end of the respective recess I95, These bearing blocks are maintained in predetermined spaced relation to the bottom of the recesses I95 and to the side walls of said recesses by suitable shims I32 and I93, respectively. By using the side shims I93, it will be observed that the lower shafts 88 may be adjusted laterally of the recesses I95 so as to bring the lower forming roll carried thereby in such relation to the roll carried by the upper shaft 89 that the metal passing between the rolls will be positioned substantially normal to a direct line joining the axes of said upper and lower shafts, providing the action of the block shims H9 is not sufficient to produce this result.

A limiting screw E may also be mounted in the lower end of each standard 99 beneath the lower bearing block I99, as illustrated in Figure 9,, to assist in obtaining the accurate positioning of the lower bearing blocks I99 and the shaft 88 carried thereby before inserting the bottom shims I32 beneath the bearing blocks.

While I have illustrated but four forming passes and one idler or side roll pass in the forming unit shown in Figures 1 and 2, it will be understood that the number of passes and their over-all length may be varied as required, and the forming rolls of the various passes may be of any desired contour to produce an article of manufacture from flat sheet metal. When forming tube or pipe blanks, it is preferable to so position the top and bottom rolls of each pass vertically that as the metal advances through the machine from one set of rolls to the next, the central portions of the metal which are gripped by the respective rolls progressively are at greater distances from the center line of the metal on table 99 so that the bending occurs smoothly, gradually and progressively. The smooth, substantially continuous bending of the metal eliminates excessive stretching of the metal adjacent longitudinal edges thereof as said edges gradually approach each other. This absence of stretching of the metal stock not only material y reduces residual strains and crumpling of the edges but also results in the tube aeespss being formed more readily and with a minimum consumption of power. v

However, when tubes or other articles of manufacture are formed by bending flat metal stool; in this manner, the article very often tends to deflect or curve laterally as it emerges from the forming unit due to variations in the thickness of different portions of the stock and to changes in the degree of temper thereof. This results in it being difficult to feed the tube from one unit inI O another without .the application of external pressure to the tube to offset the lateraldeflection of the tube.

It therefore follows that either the forming unit and the welder must be spaced from each other such a distance that the tube may be overflexed laterally in a direction opposite to the deflection thereof and then permitted to return to the normal course of the tube in alignment with the opening of the second unit, or provisions must be made to hold the tube against the stresses tending to deflect the samein a lateral direction.

In applicants device, the roll pass .D may be adjusted laterally of the forming unit platform 32 to so position the tube with respectto the welder that the tube will freely enter said welder even though having a tendency to deflect to one side of the normal path of. movement thereof through the machine. 'If the tube tends to deflect vertically then the forming unit may be correspondingly adjusted to compensate for this deflection by the manipulation of the jacks 29 and 30 connecting the forming unit with the base member In so that the tub-e will freely venter the welder.

As the tube passes through the welder unit 2, the. seam edges of the tube are welded to each other in the usual manner. During the welding of the seam edges of the tube the portions of the metal adjacent said edges become heated to a greater extent than the remaining or opposite side portion of the tube. This results in the upper portion of the tube expanding to a greater extent than the lower portion thereof so that the tube, when leaving the welder, tends to deflect downwardly, as indicated by the portion a of the dot-and-dash line AA in Figure 2 which indicates the normal path of movement of the article as it is being formed during the movement there; of through the various units of the forming machine. As the tube enters the cooling unit 4 and the upper and lower portions of said tube again return to substantially the same degree of temperature, the upper portion of the tube will contract to a greater extent than the lower portion thereof so that the tube again tends to curve upwardly, as indicated at a.

After the tube leaves the cooler 4, it enters the sizer'5. In order that the tube will readily enter between the rollers of the sizer 5 the forming unit I may be adjusted by manipulating the jacks 29 and 30 connected therewith so that the tube entering the welder unit 2 will be at such an inclined angle to the horizontal that when it emerges from the cooler unit 4, the tube will travel in substantially a horizontal plane and will readily pass through the .sizer unit 5 without undue stresses produced therein or stretching of the wall thereof.

As the tube moves beyond the sizer unit 5, it is brought into the straightener unit 6 and this straightener unit, and the cut-off unit associated units without the use of extra means for forcing.

so that these units may be brought into proper vertical alignment with the tube for performing their respective functions on the tube in an easy normal manner. If the tube leaving the sizing unit 5 should tend to deflect laterally in substantially a horizontal plane, the tube may be readily brought into proper aligned relation with the rolls of the straightening unit 6 by adjusting the auxiliarybase I2 with respect to the sub-base 9 about the pin H by the manipulation of the screws in the manner hereinbefore described.

In Figures 14 to 18, inclusive, I have illustrated modified forms of the forming unit. These modifications are particularly useful in compensating for the twisting tendencies of work being formed to non-symmetricalcross sectional contour. Such work-may have a tendency to run off at an angle to the forming rolls. By providing means to tilt the roll stands, the work may be brought into alignment with subsequent stands, or operation the Work into proper alignment.

In the structure shown in Figures 14, 15 and 16, the platform, as MI), for supporting the roll passes of the forming unit I is provided with a pair of transversely disposed ribs MI arranged near the ends thereof, asindicated in Figures 14 and 16, each of these ribs being provided with an arcuate channel I42 inthe upper surface thereof arranged substantially concentric with the Work passing through the roll passes adjacent thereto.

Mounted over the platform I in spaced relation thereto is a base plate I43 which supports the roll passes A, B, C, D and E thereon. The base plate I43 is provided with a pair of pendent flanges Ida having the lower surfaces thereof curved to correspond to the curvature of the channel I 32. Theseflanges constitute rockers for supporting the base plate I43 and are positioned in the channels I 42 to be supported by curved to correspond to the curvature of the:

lower edges of the rockers I44 and is provided with gear teeth I46 which are in meshing engagement with a worm I41 mounted on a shaft I48.

therewith may be adjusted by the manipulation of the jacks 29 and 30 connecting the supporting base. II for the units 6 and I with the sub-base 9 The shaft Hi8 extends transversely of the platform IQI] and has the end portions thereof journaled in the side walls I49 of the platform, as illustrated in Figure 15. The outer ends of the shaft I 18 extend a short distance beyond the side walls I49 and have secured thereto hand wheels I 50 by which the shaft may be manually rotated.

The housings 92 for the roll passes may be secured directly to the base plate I43 or, as illustrated in the drawings, these housings may be connected directly to an auxiliary base plate 91 in the manner hereinbefore described for the housing members 92 shown in Figures 1, 2 and 9. These auxiliary base plates may be mounted upon the base plate I43 for longitudinal movement with respect thereto and be clamped to said base the platform MU about an axis extending sub- 1 stantially co-incidental with the axis of the work being formed in the forming unit. This rocking of the forming unit will of course produce a corresponding rocking movement of the work carried thereby so as to maintain work with its top surface uppermost even though the work twists to a certain degree after it leaves the forming unit.

In Figures 17 and 18, I have illustrated a support for the forming unit whereby each of the roll passes may be rocked independently of each other. In the structure shown in these two figures, the forming unit platform, as I56, has mounted upon the upper surface thereof a plurality of supporting frames I55, one for each roll pass. These frames are each provided with a substantially rectangular base plate E56 which is splined to the platform I54 by a key I51 extending longitudinally of the platform. Each frame is clamped to the platform, as by screws I82 and washers I03, in the manner shown and described for the structure illustrated in Figure 3.

Each frame I55 is provided with a pair of upwardly projecting flanges or ribs I59 which have the upper surfaces thereof concaved and provided with channels I69 which are curved longitudinally of the flanges with the center of curvature thereof lying substantially coincidental with the axis of the work engaged by the forming rolls of the corresponding pass.

Mounted over each frame IE is an auxiliary base plate I 52 to which a respective roll pass standard 92 is secured. Each of the auxiliary base plates I62 is provided with a pair of pendent segmental ribs I63 having the lower edges thereof curved to correspond to the curvature of the recesses I60 and positioned in said recesses for movement with respect to the flanges I59.

Each auxiliary base plate N32 is provided with a pendent segment I65 arranged intermediate the flanges or rockers I53. The lower edge of the flange IE5 is curved to conform to the curvature of the lower edges of the rockers I53 and has provided thereon gear teeth I56 which are in meshing engagement with the Worm I61 provided on a shaft I58. The shaft I68 extends from one side of the frame I55 to the other side thereof transversely of the platform I54 and has the end portions thereof journaled in suitable upwardly extending bearing elements or bosses I68. Hand wheels, as I'Hl, are secured to the outer ends of the shaft I58 whereby the shaft may be manually rotated.

In the structure shown in Figures 17 and 13, it will be seen that any one of the roll passes provided with the auxiliary base plate I62 and frame I55 may be rotated independently of the remaining passes through the medium of the shaft I68, worm I6! and segment I65 to bring the forming rolls carried thereby from a normal vertical position to a position in inclined relation to said normal position for procuring a corresponding rotary movement of the portion of the work engaged by the rollers of said pass.

In Figure 19, I have shown a still further modifled form of my invention which combines the features illustrated in Figures and 1'7. In the structure shown in Figure 19, the platform, as I15, carried by the jacks 29 and 3b is provided with a pair of ribbed members I15 constructed similar to the rib members I4! shown in Figure 16.

Mounted over the platform 3'55 is a base plate II'I having a pair of rockers are adapted to be slidably supported by the ribs I76. The platform III is also provided with a segmental pendent rack member I19 which is in meshing engagement with the worm gear I mounted on the shaft I8I carried by the platform I16. The shaft IBI is provided with hand wheels I82 at the ends thereof by which the shafts may be manually rotated for producing rocking, tilting movement of the base plate I'I'i.

Mounted on the base plate IT? is a supporting frame I83 which, similar to the frame I55, is provided with a pair of upwardly extending ribs or flanges I8 4 having the upper surfaces thereof provided with a curved recess similar to the recess I51, provided in the ribs or flanges i 59 shown in Figure 18. There is one frame 143 provided for each roll pass and mounted over each frame is an auxiliary base plate I85. This base plate I is constructed similar to the auxiliary base plate IE2 shown in Figure 18 and is provided with a pair of pendent flanges or rockers Itb which slidably engage in the recesses provided in the ribs :84 for supporting the auxiliary plate over the frame I83. The auxiliary base plate I85 is provided with a pendent segmental rack I88 which ha the teeth thereof in meshing engagement with the worm I89 provided on the shaft 590 rotatably supported by the frame 533. The shaft 1% is provided with hand wheels IN by which said shaft may be rotated to produce tilting movement of the auxiliary base plate I85.

In the structure shown in Figure 19, it will be obvious that by rotating the shaft EM and worm I80 the base plate I'll and all of the roll passes connected therewith will be tilted with respect to the platform I'I5. When it is desired to produce tilting movement of one or more of the roll passes with respect to the remaining roll passes and the platform IEE, this may be readily accomplished by rotating the shaft I99 and the worm I83 connected therewith.

It will be obvious that each the platforms shown in Figures 14 to 19, inclusive, may be supported by jacks 2S and 30 in the manner hereinbefore described for the platform 36 associated with the forming unit I. When these platforms are supported by the jacks 29 and 39, it will be evident that the forming unit associated therewith may be adjusted vertically at each end in dependently of the vertical adjustment of the other end thereof for producing a corresponding change in the direction of movement of the work through the forming unit in addition to the rocking, tilting action of one or more of the roll passes. Furthermore, it will be evident that mechanism for producing a rocking, tilting action of the forming unit I may be readily applied to any one or number of the remaining units of the forming machine.

Although I have shown and particularly described the preferred embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown as it is obvious that various changes, both in the form and relation of the parts thereof may readily be made without dc-- parting from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described having a plurality of forming units adapted to cooperate to produce a tube or the like from a flat strip of metal, in combination, a base member, means connecting the forming units with the base memher for maintaining said units in cooperative predetermined spaced relation to each other whereby they successively perform their respective functions, said means including a platform connected with one of the forming units and movable with respect to the base, adjustable connecting means including a mechanism having vertically movable supporting members for moving said platform and said forming unit toward and away from the base, and separate supporting means including rock members connected with the forming unit and functioning independently of said vertically movable members for swinging said forming unit about an axis extending substantially coincidental with the longitudinal center of the work being formed. I

2. In a forming machine of the class described having a plurality of forming units, a base mem ber, an auxiliary base member, means pivotally connecting the auxiliary base member with said first mentioned base member whereby said auxiliary base may swing about a fixed axis, a forming unit connected with the base member to be directly supported there-by, a second forming unit mounted on the auxiliary base member in cooperative relation with the first mentioned unit and means for swinging said auxiliary base about the fixed axis thereof to bring the forming unit carried thereby into diiferent angular positions with respect to the first mentioned forming unit.

3. In a forming machine of the class described having a plurality of forming units, a base member, means connecting the forming units with the base member whereby said units are maintained in cooperative predetermined spaced relation to each other for successively performing their respective functions, said means including a supporting element connected with one of the forming units and movable with respect to the base, and jack members connected with the supporting element and with the base for producing vertical movement of said supporting element and the unit carried thereby with respect to the base while maintaining said units in said cooperative substantially predetermined spaced relationship.

4. A forming machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein at least one of said jack members is provided with a lifting screw mounted for vertical movement only with respect to one of said members and pivotally connected to the other of said members, a second jack member provided with a lifting screw, and means pivotally connecting said latter lifting screw with both of said members.

5. A forming machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein at least one of said jack members is provided with a lifting screw mounted for vertical movement only with respect to one of said members and pivotally connected to the other of said members, a second jack member provided with a lifting screw, means pivotally connecting said latter lifting screw with both of said members, and means associated with the base and supporting members for limiting the pivotal movement of the supporting member with respect to the base member in one direction.

6. In a forming machine of the class described having a plurality of forming units, means for supporting said forming units in cooperative predetermined spaced relation to each other for successively performing their respective functions comprising a sub-base, means connecting at least one of the forming units with said sub-base, a second base member directly connected with another of said forming units, means connecting the second base member with the sub-base including an auxiliary base pivotally connected with the sub-base to swing about a predetermined axis, and adjustable members connecting the sec- 0nd base members with the auxiliary base mem-' her for swinging said second base member in a direction substantially normal to the first mentioned swinging movement thereof to bring the unit carried by said second base member into different angular relationship with the first mentioned forming unit.

'7. In a forming machine of the class described having a plurality of forming units, means supporting said units in cooperative relation with each other comprising a base member supportably connected with one of said units, a second base member connected with the second one of saidrunits, means pivotally connecting the base members to each other whereby the second base member may swing about a predetermined axis to bring the unit carried thereby into different angular positions with respect to the first formingunit, and means for producing said swinging movement of the second base member including a screw element, means pivotally connecting the screw element with one of said base members, and separate means pivotally connecting the screw element with the other of said base members in cluding a bearing member rotatably supported by said latter base member, a nut member carried by said bearing member having screw-threaded engagement with the screw element, and means carried by the bearing member for rotating said nut member.

8. In a machine for forming a tub-e by progressively bending a flat piece of metal into a cylinder, a forming unit provided with a plurality of bending passes, each of said passes having a pair of forming rolls mounted in cooperative relation with each other for receiving the metal 7 betweenthem, means for producing movement of the rolls of each pass in a direction substantially normal to the path of movement of the sheet metal between the rolls to bring the space between the rolls into different positions at one 1 side of the plane of entry of the material into the forming 'unit, and separate means for producing movement of the rolls of each pass with respect to each other longitudinally of the direction of movement of the material between the rolls for maintaining the path of movement of the material substantially normal to a straight line connecting the axes, of rotation of said rolls.

-9. A forming machine of the class set forth in claim 8 wherein said last mentioned means comprises a shaft for one of said rolls, bearing blocks for said shaft movable toward and from the direction of movement of the material, said bearing blocks having opposed sides thereof inclined with respect to said movement of the blocks, and means movable with respect to the bearing blocks and engageable with said inclined sides thereof for producing movement of the bearing blocks and the shaft carried thereby in a direction substantially normal to the first mentioned direction of movement of said bearing blocks and shaft.

10. In a forming machine of the class described having a series of roll passes for progressively bending a fiat strip of metal to form a tube or bar of predetermined cross sectional contour, at

least one of said roll passes having a pair of forming rolls mounted in cooperative relation with each other for receiving the metal between them, shafts for said rollers, means for supporting said shafts including a housing member, bearing blocks supported by said housing member and engageable with opposite end portions of the shafts, the shaft for one of said rolls being composed of two sections, means releasabiy connecting said shaft sections to each other, and. means reieasably maintaining the bearing block associated with one of said sections with the housing member whereby said bearing member and the shaft section connected therewith may be re-. moved from the housing member by axial movement thereof when said shaft sections are disconnected from each other while maintaining the second shaft section in the housing member in cooperative relation with the shaft of the 5 other r011.

ROBERT c. P. KANE.

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