US2948322A - Apparatus for forming an oil seal inner shell - Google Patents

Description

APPARATUS FOR FORMING AN OIL SEAL. INNER SHELL 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 w` J. cox ET AL Aug. 9, 1960 Eff- Filed May 23, 195e INVENToRs- Wdam ./T Cox, BY Merle Efe/Z671 Aug. 9, 1960 w. J'. cox ET AL '2,948,322

APPARATUS FOR FORMING AN OIL SEAL INNER SHELL Filed May 23, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTOM.

Wdlamz J Cosa,v l" By Me/'ZaHDre/ze/ Aug. 9, 1960 w. J. cox Erm. 2,948,322

APPARATUS FOR FORMING AN OIL,A SEAL INNEIRZ SHELL Filed May 25, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 9, 1960 w. .1. cox ET AL 2,948,322

APPARATUS RoR RQRMING AN @1L SEAL INNER SHELL Filed May 23, 195e 5 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTORS. Wdlzw J 60x, By Merle Dre/Zei;

Aug. 9, 1960 w. .1. cox ET AL 2,948,322

APPARATUS FOR FORMING AN OIL SEAL INNER SHELL Filed May 23, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 By Merle if 3ra/Z673 MMM/f WMM Unite FORFGRMING AN OILSEAL INNER SHELL william J. cox, oak Param., and Merle H. Dreher,

Niles, Mich., assignors to The' Quadrige. Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation oflllinols Files VMery 2s, 1956, ser. No. 586,746

solenne. (ci. s- 2) APPARATUS States APatet1?t method of forming an annular inner shell from a continuous strip of flexible material, the strip being first providedrwith a :flange portion, the flanged strip -thenv being spiraled or formed into la helix, the helix being.

then divided into a plurality of ring-like sections, and the free ends of each ofthe sections being aligned'to provide a substantially closed spacing and pressure distributing member. n

Another object is to provide new and improved apparatus capable of automatically and continuously forming the spacing and pressure distributing inner shell mem-V bers of the type described, the apparatus being capable of carrying out the steps of the aforementioned method and including meansv for bringing about alignment cf the free ends of each of the inner shell ring members cutor separated fromv the continuously formed helix.

Still another object is to provide new and improvedV apparatus for continuously and automatically forming inner shell spacing and pressure distributing members particularly adapted for use in oil sea-ls, the apparatus including means for forming a continuous helix from Patentes aegis, v1969;A

section' being adapted for use as an inner shell spacing and pressure distributing member in an o`il seal;

' Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary views of strip die rollers l illustrating the manner of forming a flange portion on; a continuous strip of flexible material; f

Fig. 9 Vis a fragmentary top plan view of the helix guide and supporting mandrel forming a part of the apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective of the front fader of the mandrel of `Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective ofthe ring seetion removal and bending portion of the inner shell forming machine, the elements shown in this gure illusr. trating the manner in which the free end portions of each ring section are manipulated to align the same upon release thereof.

In Figs. l and 2 a fully complemented inner shellgforming machine 15 is illustrated as being formed froman enclosed table support 16 which is provided with a. fiat top supporting surface 17. The supporting surface 1'7 carries a flat strip ange rolling unit, generally designated by the numeral 18, cooperatively associated with a, helix forming unit 19 which, in turn, is associatedvv'vitli` a ring cutting and removal unit 20. The supporting housing le carries a -drive unit 21 which maybe van electricmotor and which is drivingly connected by belts 22 to a gear speed box 23. A plurality of belts 24 in turn interconnect the output shaft of the gear box 23 to a pulley 25 which in turn drives a gear 26 meshedV witha large gear 27. The gear 27 in turn drives a smaller gear 28 which drives a series of horizontally arranged inter# meshed gears Z9. Alternate gears 29 are drivingly connected to a series'- of horizontally spaced gears 30` which in turn drive a series of spaced die rollers 31 (see Fig. 2)".

As particularly shown in Fig. 3, the ange forming un'it 1S is formed from a plurality of horizontally spaced flanged strip stock and advancing the same into association with'ring cutting means,Y the apparatusV beingl further provided with ring removal and bending` means which cooperatively function with the ring cutting means to move each newly cut ring section out of association-,with the ring cutting means and during the movement of each ring section cooperatively function with cam actuated elements associated therewith to reversely bend the` free -en'd' portions of each ring section to provide for selff .alignment of the end portions upon the release thereof. Other objects notV specifically set forth will become apparent from the followingv detailed deseriptionmade in conjunction with the drawings wherein: l

Fig. l is a front elevation of the inner shell' forming machine of the present invention; v

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of themachine of Fig. 1'; Fig. 3y is a fragmentaryl enlarged elevation" ofthe spiral or helix forming portion' of the machine;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front' elevation in section of the ring cutting and ring removal portion of .the machine, this view being taken generally along line 4-4 of Fig. V5; l f

Fig. 5 is an enlarged-fragmentary side elevation partly in section of the ring cutting and ring removal-'portion of` the machine, this view being taken generallyr alongline 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 isV an elevation of a; ring sect-ion formed by the partly" pairs of die rollers 31 which receive therebetween continuous strip of at flexible metallic material 32 and'cooperate to provide the' continuous flat strip with a right angled, radially directed continuous ange 33 along one of the end margins thereof. To better describegthe type of flange forming action provided by the unit 18, refer? ence is made to Figs. 7 and 8 wherein vertically spaoed cooperating pairs of rollers 34 and 35 are illustrated. The rollers 31 of the pair 34 are providedpwith J' operating angled faces which begin the formation of the flange portion 33 of the strip 32 by bending a side margin of the flat stock. vThe uppermost roller 31 is provided` with a slightly inclined peripheral surface portion' 36 cooperating with la paralleling peripheral surface portion 37 of the bottom roller 31. The top and bottom rollers 31 are' further provided with flat peripheral surface portionsy 38 which cooperate with one another to maintain" starts the formation of the flange portion 33.

methode. and apparatus`- of. the presentinvention,` this ringl The roller unit 35 is the last rolling unit which b'rirgs' about the final right angled positioning of the flange portion 33V relative to the flat portion 32A. The top roller 31 .of the rolling unit 35 is provided with" annular, radially directed flat peripheral rolling surface 39 which is received in a recessed portion of the bottoni" roller 31 in cooperation with a flat peripheral rolling'- face 4i). A; space is provided between a radiall side facer` ofthe at surface portion 39 of the top ,roller 31 and' a inner radial face of the bottom roller 31 to receive th:

in Figs. 7 and 8. In order to bring this about, the periph; eral rolling faces of the intermediate pairs of rollers are' progressively angled in a radial` direction to ultimately;

Y 3 bend the flange portion 33 into the position shown in Fig. 8.

The flat metallic strip stock 32 is fed into the series of rollers 3i from any suitable source of supply and the Speed Vat which it is advanced through the machine l5 is controlled by a gear box control 4l. Following the formation of the flange 335 on the at strip 32, the flanged strip is advanced into Contact with the helix forming portion 19 of the machine l5. This portion, as shown primarily in Figs; 2, 3 and 9, includes a rotatable guide roller 42 mounted on a shaft i3 journalled in a vertically directed mounting member all carried by the top surface 17. The end of the shaft 43 is suitably journalled in a bracket housing 45 `mounted on the topsurface 17 and the shaft is driven by a gear i6 which in turn is interrneshed with a gear 29 forming a part of the series of horizontally positioned intermeshed gears driven by the gear 28. The stock-receiving roller 42 is therebyidriven at the same speed as the flange forming die rollers Si.

Positioned below the roller 42 is a guide roller 17 (fFig. 3) mounted on a shaft carrying the endmost gear 29 and rotating therewith at the same speed of rotation as the roller 42. In association with both surfaces of the rollers i2 and 47 is a smaller bending roller d@ provided with a continuous radial peripheral ange 49 which receives the continuous flange portion 33 of the stock strip 32 and holds the same in close association with the rear radial face of the guide roller 42. The cooperation between the rollers 4S and 42 is particularly shown in Fig. 9 where the continuous strip stock 32 is illustrated as being bent about the roller 42 and the ange 33 held in engagement with the rear radial surface edge of the roller 42. The combined action of the rollers 42 and l bend the continuous strip stock 33 in a circular direction immediately prior to the formation of the same into a helix. The roller 48 is adjustably carried by an arm 4S attached to the wall 6.14.

To provide the continuous strip stock 32 with the form of a helix, a further bending roller Sli is positioned above the roller 42 for rotation in a horizontal plane. The ange portion 33 is received by the right hand face of the roller 42, as viewed in Fig. 9, wherein the position of roller 5l) is shown in broken lines, and the continuous stock 32 is transversely bentV to dene the separately spaced convolutions of a continuous helix. Referring particularly to Fig. 3, `it will be noted that roller 56 is rotatably carried by a shaft mounted in a horizontally extending flange portion Sli carried by the upstanding wall 44. VvThe roller 5@ is not driven but is allowed to freely rotate upon advancement of the stock 32 during the circular bending of the same by the action of the bending roller 48 in cooperation with the roller 42. The forward positioning of the roller Sli promotes transverse bending of the stock `32 once the same moves out of Contact with the roller 42. As particularly shown in Fig. 3, the stock 32 is rolled with a greater circular diameter than the diameter of the roller 42 so that the flange portion 33 moves out of contact with the inner radial face of the roller 42 as the stock is advanced upwardly and around the top portion thereof. Consequently, the forward bending of the stock by roller Sli is allowed to occur as the flange portion 33 is completely free of the, roller 42.

Positioned `in front of the roller 42 and out of operative engagement therewith is a fixed cylindrical mandrel 52 which, as particularly shown in Fig. 5, is mounted at its foremost end on a block 53 by a series of transversely extending guide teeth 54 which are fixed both to the mandrel 52 and the mounting block 53. rThe teeth 54 are spaced longitudinally along the mandrel 52 and are located at the foremost end portion thereof. The mounting block 53 is carried within a frame-like body portion 55 carried by the top surface 17 (see lFig. 4). The flanged stock 32 formed into a helix generally designated by the numeral 56 is guided and supported by the mandrel 52 while being advanced toward the front end thereof which is the cutting end. As particularly shown in llFig. l0, the top edge of the mandrel S2 carries a cutting block 57 and a guide block 58, the latter being spaced rearwardly of the block 57 to allow movement of the flange portion 3S of the stock 32 therebetween. Referring to Fig. 5, the spaced guide teeth S4 receive therebetween the convolutions of the helix 56 and continuously guide the stock 32 into association with the cutting block 57. The lange portion 33 is received about the rear radial face of the cutting block 57, as shown in Fig 9, and the forward end of the helix 56 is advanced outwardly past the front face of the mandrel 52.

When the free forward end of the helix 56 is rotated past the cutting block 57 and outwardly of the front face of the mandrel 52 to an extent of approximately 360, the helix 56 is in position to have the foremost ring section cut therefrom. To bring this about, the ring cutting and ring removing unit 20, as particularly shown in Fig. 5, is provided with a reciprocating cylindrical cutting means 59 provided with right angled knife edges 60. The knife edges 60 are designed to move downwardly past the top and rear edge of the cutting block 57 to separate the stock 32, including the ilange portion 33, into ring sections generally designated by the numeral 6l.

As shown in Fig. 9, the foremost portion of the helix 56 has been advanced to approximately 360 and a ring section 6l has been separated from the remainder of the helix 56 at the foremost end of the mandrel 52. The ring section 61, when separated, is provided with free end portions 62 and 63 which are displaced relative to one another due to the spiral formation of the stock 32. Each ring section 6l constitutes an inner shell of the type shown in Fig. 6 having the axially extending body portion 32 of stock material formed with a radially inwardly directed, circumferentially continuous flange portion 33. For use as an inner shell the ring section 6i must preferably have the free edges of the end portions 62 and 63 aligned, as shown in Fig. 6, and to bring this about the elements making up the ring removal portion of the ring cutting and removal unit 20 function to reversely bend the free end portions of each ring section 6l to allow alignment or juxtapositioning of the free edges thereof upon subsequent release of each ring section from the machine 15. This particular functioning will be described below.

VThe reciprocating knife means 59 is of a knownrtype and is suitably carried by a knife operating unit 64 mounted by a vertically extending housing 65 (see Figs. l and 2) supported on the supporting surface 17. As particularly shown in Fig. l, the housing 65 carries a motor 66 which is drivingly connected to a pulley 67 through a belt y63. The pulley 67 operates the shaft of an air compressor which supplies air pressure to ya twoway air cylinder of known type which operates the reciprocating knife means 59. A manual control 69 is provided in accordance with standard practice and it should be understood that the particular elements forming the knife operating unit including the two-'way air` cylinder are of known design and functioning. Consequently, these particular elements of the machine l5 are not dcscribed in detail.

.The reciprocating knife means 59 extends through a reciprocating bore in a guide housing 70 which aligns the knife edges 60 with the cutting block 57. Positioned near each of the lower side portions of the mandrel 52 are laterally spaced guides 71. As particularly shown in Fig. 4, each of the guides 71 yare provided with nwardly opening, vertically directed grooves 72 which receive therein the side portions of each ring section 61 cut from the Vcontinuous helix 56. As previously described in connection with Fig. 5, eachring section 61 when separated from the helix 56 has its newly cut end 63 in olf-centered relation with the foremost free end 62, the latter being positioned forwardly of the front face 73`of the `mandrel 52; Ill/*order to Vallow eachyring section 461 vtomove 'downwardly past the front radial-,farne 73 of the mandrel 52, aportion of the front face 73 is recessed to the 'cutting side of the block 57. InFig. 10, the recessedV portion 74 ofthe front face7'3, is illustrated as being inclined outwardly in a downwardly direction and it will be understood that the newly cut free endl63 of each ring section 61 will be allowed to move downwardly across the recessed Aface portion 74 when the ring section 61 is moved downwardly in the guide members 71.

In order to move the vnewly c ut ring section 61 out of association with the mandrel 52 andv cutting' block 57, the unit 20 is provided with a ring section removal portion carried by a support plate 75 which is vertically movable on a post 76 suitably carried by an outwardly directed support 77 attached to the supporting table 16. The vertically movable plate 75 is attached at its bottom surface to a reciprocating piston rodr78 carried withinthe table unit 16 and operated by a two-way air cylinder 79 of a known type which moves the mounting plate 75 in a vertical direction as guided by the post 76.' The mounting plate 75 carries on the top surface thereofv a base member 80 attached thereto by suitable bolts 81. The member 80 pivotally carries a ring removal nger yoke 82. The ring removal n'ger yoke 82 is pivotally mounted to the mounting block 80 by a pin 83Yto allow transversely spaced ngers 84 forming a part thereof to be inclined downwardly during upward movement of the ring removal unit to allow. the ends of the lingers 84V to clear the bottom portion of each newly cut ring section 61. Outwardly of the pivot point 83, an upwardly inclined spring 85 is attached to a finger 84 at one of its ends and attached to an element carried by the plate 75 at its other end. The spring 85 is inclined and arranged relative to the pivot 83 to hold the fingers 84 in either the horizontal position shown in Fig. 11 or the downwardly inclined dotted line position shown in Fig. 5. The springV 85 does not act to return the linger carrying yoke 82 to an original position but functions to hold the yoke 82 in either the horizontal or inclined position described above. y

To operate the yoke and place it in its desired position, the supporting surface 17 carries a cam block 86 provided with an inwardly fdirected cammin'gnub 87 which cooperates with an outwardly directed cam actuated nub 88 carried by the yoke 82'inwardly of its pivot 83. When the ring removal unit is moved into itsr lowermost position near the bottom of the post 76, the nub 88 is cammed upwardly by the nub 87V and the yoke 82 is tilted in a clockwise direction about the pivot 83 and the lingers 84 are moved into the downwardly inclined dotted line position shown in Fig. 5. The spring 85 functions to maintain the yoke in this position and upon upward movement of the ring section removal unit by theVtwo-way acting air cylinder 79, the yoke. 82' remains in its downwardly inclined position and the fingers 84 are allowed to pass above the lower continuousV portion of the ring section 61 outwardly'of the samewithout contacting the ring section 61. Upon complete upwardmovement of the ring section removal unitY and the positioning of the downwardly inclined fingers 8f4 near the center of the ring section 61, the nub 88 comes intocontact with a downwardly directed camming lug 89. (see Fig; suitably carried by the frame-like mounting portion 55 and the yoke 82 is cammed into a horizontal position as shown in Fig. ll. The spring 85 then functions to hold the yoke in the horizontal position and the endsY of the ngers 84 extend inwardly of the ring-section 61. Upon downward movement of the ring removalunit, the ngers 84 contact the inner surface ofthe flange 33 andmove. the ring'downwardly along the grooves 72 ofthe ring' guides 71.

Mounted to one side and ,above the yoke-mountingA block 80 are a pair of cam-carryingV arms 9`1and 92.

The arm 92' is spaced from one side of the arm 91 and suitably attached thereto by a spacing` block 93.- The inner sidesurfaces of the arms 91 and 92 carry rollertype cam followers 93 and 94 suitably mounted thereto for camming action near theends of'each of the arms 91 and 92. As particularly shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the

roller cam follower 93 is positioned to contact the camming surface 95 of a depending arm or linger 96 pivotally mountedby a pin 97 toa downwardly depending mounting portion 98 attached tothe framelike mounting portion 55 and located centrally thereof, The pivotal finger' '96 has' attached thereto near the lowermost end thereof a spring 99 whichis xed at its remaining end to the mounting portion 98. The spring 99 biases the finger 96 into a vertical plane as shown in Fig. 5 and contact between the roller cam follower 93 and the cam surface 95 during upward and downward movement of the arm 91 moves the nger 96 against the action of the spring 99 'in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot point 97. As shown in Fig. 5, theA linger 96 is positioned below the mandrel 52 and, as shown in Fig. 4, is positioned intermediate the ring section guide mem-1 bers 71. f

The roller cam follower 94 carried by the arm 92 extends inwardly well beyond the roller cam follower 93 and during its upward and downward movement engages a rearwardly projecting camming surface 100 of a depending linger 101 which is fixed to a pivotally mounted transverse bar 102 journalled in the block 53 positioned centrally of the frame-like mounting portion 55. The block 53 also functions to carry the ring section guides 71 by means of screws 104, The block 53 is provided with a vertically extending slot 105 which hasv received therein a downwardly depending finger 106 which is vi'ixed to the rotatable bar 102 for movement with the nger 101. Consequently, upon camming the finger 101 by the movement of the cam follower 94 into' contact with the camming face 100, the bar 102 will rotate the finger 106 correspondingly.

Referring particularly to Figs. 4,Y 5 and 11, the cycle of operation of the n'ng Section removal unit will be described. Assuming the cycle of operation to begin at the lowermost positioning of the ring section removal yoke. 82, the nub 87 hascontacted the nnb' 88 and positioned thengers 84 in adownwardly inclined relation to the plate 75. Upon upward movement of the unit, asA guided by the posti 76 and as'promoted by the compressed air cylinder 79 through the piston rod 78, the fingers: 841 remain inclined downwardly and clearV the bottom. portion of the ring section 61 advanced beyond the front face of the mandrel 52. The camming operationbetween the rotatable cam followers 93 and 94 and the fingers 96 and 101 is of no consequence upon-the up- Ward movement of the unit 75. However, once the unit 75 reaches its uppermost location following the clearance of the fingers 84 and the bottom portion of the ring sec, tion 61, the camming lug 89 contacts the nub 88 and moves the fingers 84 into their horizontal position interiorly of the ring section 61 as shown in Fig. 1l. The ring section 61 is then cut by the reciprocating knife means 59 and the plate 75 and associatedelements cornmence their downward movement in response to automatic action of the two-way air cylinder 79. Upon downward movement of the yoke 82 and arms 91 and 92, .the iingers 84 contact the inner surface of the flange 33 and move the newly cut ring section 61 downwardly within the grooves 72 of the. ring guides 71. Theforwardly projecting free end portion 62 of the ring section 61 clears the -face portion 73 of the mandrel 52. The rearwardly extending free end portion 63 of the ring61y moves downwardly along the recessed face portion A74` of the mandrel and the cutv ring section movesout of'contact with the cutting block 57. Meanwhile, the advancing ofthe helix 56 continues and a new ring section is fcrr'nedV in front-oftheend of the mandrel 52.

As the earlier formed ring section 61 moves downwardly as pulled by the fingers S4, the rotatable cam followers 93 and 94 come into contact with the cam surfaces 95 and 100. The finger 96 is pivotally moved rearwardly by the action `of the cam follower 93 and contacts the free end portion 62 of the ring section 61 to move the same rearwardly relativeV to the opposite free end portion 63. The iinger 101 is cammed forward- 1y and rotates the bar E02 which rotates the nger 106 forwardly into contact rwith the `free end portion 63 of the ring section 61. This contact promotes forward movement of the free end portion 63 in a direction opposite to the rearward movement of the free end portion 62. The end portions 62 and 63 move past dead center relation with one another and are reversely bent as a result of this action as shown in Fig. l1. ln order to promote the requisite reverse bending, the cam actuated fingers 96 and 106 are arranged to move at least partially past one another.

The portion between the guides 7l and in front of the block 53 is substantially open to allow the reverse bending of the free end portions 62 and 63. The radial side surfaces of the grooves 72 merely engage side portions of the ring section 61 without interfering with the bending of the free end portions 62 and 63. The sprung condition of the ring section 6l results in engagement thereof with the side surfaces of the grooves 72 to prevent free fall until the reverse bending operation is cornpleted. The cam followers 93 and 94 rotate along the cam surfaces 95 and 100 and promote the desired camming action while reducing frictional engagement therebetween. Continued downward movement of the ring section 61 by the fingers 84 moves the rotatable followers 93 and 94 out of contact with the iingers 96 and lili and the free end portions 62 'and 63 return into juxtapositioned or aligned relation. The iingers 84 ultimately move the ring section 61 `downwardly out of contact with the guides 71 and the reversely bent ring section 61 falls out of association with machine 15. As shown in Fig. 6, the ring sections 61, `as `formed by the machine '15, have aligned free end portions and `are adapted for immediate use in the fabrication of oil seals. As shown in Fig. 6, the `free edges may be slightly separated from one another and completely unconnected. However, if desired, these edges are adapted for interconnecting by any known method, such as soldering or braising.

The cutting action, ring section removal functioning and reverse bending of the ring sections may be controlled and coordinated in any manner desired. As an example, the free end portion 62 of each ring section, as it advances about the 360 path circumscribed thereby, may contact an operating lever of a micro-switch (not shown) a fraction of a second before completing the 360 revolution, the switch operating theV two-way air cylinder which reciprocates the ring cutting means 59. At the same time of operation of the cutting means 59, one of the iingers 84 of the ring moving yoke S2 may contact an operating arm 107 (see Fig. 4) of a micro-switch w8 to move the same'into contact with a switch contact 109 and operate the two-way air cylinder 79 to move the ring section removal unit 75 down to its lowermost position on the post 76 and subsequently return the same into its uppermost position Where it will repeat the previous cycle. Still further, the micro-switch 10S may be arranged to operate the cutting means 59 when the ring .removal unit is in its uppermost operative position on the post 76 and the two-way air cylinder 79 may be automatically operated by a timed cycle control.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spiritand scope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for forming an annular inner shell spacing and pressure member for use in an oil seal, said apparatus including spiral forming means for receiving a continuous flanged strip to bend said flanged strip into a continuous helix, ring cutting means cooperating with the delivery end of said spiral forming means to divide said helix into separate ring sections, helix guide and supporting means intermediate said spiral forming means and said ring cutting means, said helix guide and supporting means having spaced teeth associated with the end thereof adjacent said ring cutting means to guide said helix onto a cutting surface carried by said supporting means, the end face of said supporting means adjacent said ring cutting means having `a recessed portion to allow movement of a cut ring section downwardly past said face, guide means for controlling the direction of movement of each ring section, said guide means positioned to each side of said face to receive said ring sections, ring section removal means to separately move each ring section out of association with said helix guide and supporting means and into said guide means, said removal means being mounted for reciprocating movement relative to said cutting means and including a cam actuated finger resiliently held in operative and nonoperative positionsVsaid finger being movable past a portion of each cut ring section toward the center thereof without contact with Ithewsame in its non-operative position `and being actuable to its operative position to subsequently engage the inner surface of ra portion of each cut ring section to remove said ring section, said ring section removal means carrying camming means moving therewith and cooperating with separately mounted cam actuated ring `section bending means movable in opposite directions relative to one another and at least partially past one another to engage with opposite free ends of each `of said cut ring sections to move the same in opposite directions relative to one another and past dead center relation to reversely bend the free ends and bring about juxtapositioning therebetween upon release, and control means for actuating said ring cutting means, said control means operable upon contact with said iinger when in position to move a cut ring section out of yassociation. with said ring cutting means.

2. Apparatus for forming an annular inner shell spacing and pressure member for use in `an oil seal, said apparatus including a series of cooperating helix forming rollers for receiving :a continuous flanged strip and radially bending the same into a spiral, a fixed cylindrical mandrel receiving said spiral and `guiding the same toward a cutting end thereof, said cutting end having associated therewith spaced transverse teeth spacing the conv-olutions of said spiral and directing the material thereof over a cutting block carried on the top portion of said mandrel and iat the front edge thereof, cutting means cooperating with said block to divide said spiral into approximately 360 ring sections, the radial face of said mandrel being partially recessed to allow removal of each ring section `downwardly past the same, a vertical post positioned in front of said face in spaced relation thereto, vertical and laterally spaced `guides positioned near each side of said face and extending downwardly therefrom and receiving cut ring sections therebetween, and `a ring section moving and bending unit carried by said post and vertically movable therealong, said unit including cam actuated spaced iingers resiliently positionable into operative and non-operative positions, said fingers being movable past a portion of each cut ring section toward the center thereof without contact with the same in their non-operative posi-tions and being actuataible to their operative position to `subsequently engage the inner surface of a portionof each cut ring section to remove said ring section, camming means cooperating w-ith separately mounted-cam actuated means movable in opposite directions relative to one another and at least partially past Vone another to engage lwith opposite free ends of each of said cut ring sections to move the same 3. Apparatus for use vin forming an annular inner f shell spacing and pressure member for an oil seal, said apparatus including spiral forming means for receiving a continuous metallic strip to bend said strip into a continuous helix, ring cutting means cooperating with the delivery end of said spiral forming means to divide said helix into separate ring sections, and ring section removal means operatively interconnected with said ring cutting means to separately move each ring section out of association with said cutting means after said ring sec'- tion has been cut, said removal means being mounted for reciprocating movement relative to said cutting means and including a cam actuated finger resiliently positionable into operative and non-operative positions, said iinger being movable past a portion of each cut ring section toward the center thereof without contact with the same in its non-operative position and being actuatable to its operative position to subsequently engage the inner surface of a portion ofreach cut ring section to remove said ring section, sai-d ring section removal means carrying camrning means moving therewith and cooperating with -separately mounted cam actuated ring bending means movable in opposite directions relative to one another and at least partially past one another to en- Igage with opposite free ends of each of 'said cut ring sections to move the same in opposite directions relative to one another and past dead center relation to reversely bend the free ends and bring about juxtapositioning therebetween upon release.

4. The apparatus 'of claim 3 wherein guide means receive each ring section following cutting thereof and control the Kdirection of movement of each ring section during removal Vand bending thereof.

5. Apparatus for use in rforming an annular inner shell spacing and pressure member for an oil seal, said `apparatus including spiral forming meansl for receiving a continuous metallic strip to -bend said strip into a continuous helix, ring cutting means cooperating with the delivery end yof said spiral forming means to divide said helix into separate ring sections, ring section removal means operatively interconnected with said ring cutting means to separately move each ring section out of association with said cutting means after said ring section has been cut, said removal means being mounted for reciprocating movement relative to said cutting means and including a cam `actuated finger resiliently positionable into operative and non-operative positions, said flnger being movable p-ast a portion of each cut ring section Itoward the center thereof without contact with the same in its non-operative position and being actuatable to its operative position to subsequently engage the inner surface of a portion of each cut ring section to remove Said ring section, said ring section removal means carrying camming means moving therewith and cooperating with separately mounted cam actuated lring bending means movable in opposite directions :relative to one another `and at least partially past one another to engage with opposite free ends of each of -said cut ring sections to move the same in opposite directions relative to one another and past dea-d center relation to reversely bend the Ifree ends of each of said ring sections and bring about juxtapositioning therebetween `upon release, and control means for actuating said ring cutting means, said control means operable upon cont-act with said linger when the same isy in position to move a cut ring section out of association with said ring cutting means.

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