US3910092A — Metal expanding machine

Claim 1

Independent Claim 234 words

A metal expanding machine for the expanding of a workpiece having spaced parallel edge portions, comprising: a frame having a longitudinal member and bearers extending transversely thereof, a pair of spaced parallel workpiece tool supports supported by the bearers and extending in a longitudinal direction, workpiece engaging tools carried by respective said tool supports and arranged to engage the longitudinal edge portions of a workpiece having a web between the edge portions and a series of rows of slots in the web, the slots of each row being staggered with respect to and overlapping the slots of at least one adjacent row, power actuated means operatively coupling the tool supports and arranged upon actuation to increase the transverse distance between the tool supports thereby expanding a workpiece when its longitudinal edge portions are engaged by the tools, comprising a first abutment member and a first control member operatively coupled to said power actuated means, one of the members being secured to the frame and the other secured to the tool support and respectively positioned so that at the end of said movement which increases the transverse distance between the tool supports said power actuating means is reversed to reduce said transverse distance, and a second abutment member co-operable with a second control member respectively positioned so that after sufficient said reverse movement to relax tension in said expanded workpiece said reverse movement is terminated.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 234 words

A metal expanding machine for the expanding of a workpiece having spaced parallel edge portions, comprising: a frame having a longitudinal member and bearers extending transversely thereof, a pair of spaced parallel workpiece tool supports supported by the bearers and extending in a longitudinal direction, workpiece engaging tools carried by respective said tool supports and arranged to engage the longitudinal edge portions of a workpiece having a web between the edge portions and a series of rows of slots in the web, the slots of each row being staggered with respect to and overlapping the slots of at least one adjacent row, power actuated means operatively coupling the tool supports and arranged upon actuation to increase the transverse distance between the tool supports thereby expanding a workpiece when its longitudinal edge portions are engaged by the tools, comprising a first abutment member and a first control member operatively coupled to said power actuated means, one of the members being secured to the frame and the other secured to the tool support and respectively positioned so that at the end of said movement which increases the transverse distance between the tool supports said power actuating means is reversed to reduce said transverse distance, and a second abutment member co-operable with a second control member respectively positioned so that after sufficient said reverse movement to relax tension in said expanded workpiece said reverse movement is terminated.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 108 words

A metal expanding means according to claim 1 wherein said power actuated means operatively coupling the tool supports comprise a plurality of pressure fluid actuated cylinders, a solenoid operated valve having three positions, and arranged so that upon energizing one of two solenoids the cylinders are actuated to move the tool support outwardly; upon energizing the other solenoid the cylinders are actuated to move the tool support inwardly; and upon deenergising both solenoids the cylinders become inactive, said first and second valve control members comprising respective limit switches secured to the frame, and operatively coupled to respective said solenoids, said adjustable abutment members being liMit switch operating pawls.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 116 words

A metal expanding means according to claim 1 wherein each said workpiece tool support is a movable tool support, and wherein there are two rows of said cylinders, each tool support comprising a horizontally movable portion fixed to the piston rods of a respective said row of cylinders and a pivoted portion, pivot means coupling the pivoted portion to the horizontally movable portion, and further comprising clamping tools secured to respective tool support portions of each tool support, further pressure fluid actuated cylinders constituting tool clamp cylinders and operatively coupling the horizontally movable and pivoted portions of each tool support for the effecting of clamping of the workpiece edge portions between respective pairs of said tools.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 76 words

A metal expanding means according to claim 1 further comprising a pair of clamp bars, a series of swinging links coupling each clamp bar to a respective said workpiece tool support for effecting movement of the clamp bars in a horizontal plane, and respective further pressure fluid actuated cylinders operatively coupling the clamp bars to the respective workpiece for effecting movement of the clamp bars from outer positions inwardly towards the tools on the respective workpiece.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 46 words

A metal expanding means according to claim 1 comprising a further pair of workpiece end clamps positioned one at each end of the frame, and further pressure fluid actuated cylinders constituting end stretch cylinders operatively coupling the workpiece end clamps to respective ends of the frame.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 28 words

A metal expanding means according to claim 5 wherein each said end stretch cylinder has a trunnion mounting joining it to the respective said end of the frame.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 59 words

A metal expanding means according to claim 5 wherein each said workpiece end clamp comprises a pair of wedge clamp members slidable in a clamping block, and arranged to engage converging surfaces in the clamping block to thereby cause the wedge clamp members to firmly grip a workpiece with which they are engaged upon movement of the mounting block.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 70 words

A metal expanding means according to claim 3 further comprising a pair of tracks, means securing the tracks to respective said horizontally movable portions of the tool support, a series of carriage blocks, rollers on each said carriage block engaging surfaces in a said track, a flexible line interconnecting the carriage blocks carried by each respective said track, and an inwardly directed workpiece engaging hook on each said carriage block.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 72 words

A metal expanding means according to claim 5 further comprising a cam plate on the pivoted portion of each said respective tool support, each cam plate having a series of abutment surfaces each being arranged to position a respective hook and being so positioned that pivotal movement of the cam plate when effected by operation of said tool clamp cylinders positions said carriage blocks in an equally spaced relationship from one another.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 115 words

A metal expanding means according to claim 5 wherein each said workpiece end clamp comprises a pair of wedge clamp members slidable in a mounting block, and arranged to engage outwardly converging surfaces in the mounting block to thereby cause the wedge clamp members to firmly grip a workpiece with which they are engaged upon outward movement of the mounting block, and further comprising a series of toggle links interconnecting the workpiece end clamps at each end of the frame, a cross bar secured to the piston rod of each respective each said end stretch cylinder and tension bars joining respective said mounting blocks at each end of the frame to a said cross bar.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 102 words

A metal expanding means according to claim 3 further comprising a pair of tracks, means securing the tracks to respective said horizontally movable portions of the tool support, a series of carriage blocks, rollers on each said carriage block engaging surfaces in a said track, a flexible line interconnecting the carriage blocks carried by each respective said track, and an inwardly directed workpiece engaging hook on each said carriage block, and wherein the lengths of the carriage blocks are equal, and also equal the pitch of a workpiece after it is expanded, the carriage blocks being positionable in end to end abutment.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 123 words

A metal expanding means according to claim 5 further comprising a cam plate on the pivoted portion of each said respective tool support, each cam plate having a series of tapered mouth recesses each being of size to accommodate a respective hook between its side edges and being so positioned that downward pivotal movement of the cam plate when effected by operation of said tool clamp cylinders positions said carriage blocks in an equally spaced relationship from one another, a further solenoid operated valve, further pressure fluid conduits coupling said further valve to said tool clamp cylinders, a hand control switch and a timer control switch both interconnected with said further solenoid operated valve and arranged to independently complete an energising circuit therefor.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 156 words

A method of expanding a workpiece having a pair of spaced parallel edge portions, a web between the edge portions, a series of rows of slots in the web, the slots of each row being staggered with respect to and overlapping the slots of at least one adjacent row, comprising, securing the parallel edge portions to tools carried on respective workpiece tool supports; driving the tool supports away from one another to separate the edge portions and stretch those portions of the web between said staggered adjacent slots; driving the tool supports towards one another by an amount sufficient to relax the stretched web portions; engaging the ends of said web portions with wedge clamp members; applying fluid at pressure to cylinders coupled to said wedge clamp members to thereby actuate those cylinders and in turn elongate said web portions, releasing the wedge clamp members from the workpiece; and then removing said workpiece from the tools.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 156 words

A method of expanding a workpiece having a pair of spaced parallel edge portions, a web between the edge portions, a series of rows of slots in the web, the slots of each row being staggered with respect to and overlapping the slots of at least one adjacent row, comprising, securing the parallel edge portions to tools carried on respective workpiece tool supports; driving the tool supports away from one another to separate the edge portions and stretch those portions of the web between said staggered adjacent slots; driving the tool supports towards one another by an amount sufficient to relax the stretched web portions; engaging the ends of said web portions with wedge clamp members; applying fluid at pressure to cylinders coupled to said wedge clamp members to thereby actuate those cylinders and in turn elongate said web portions, releasing the wedge clamp members from the workpiece; and then removing said workpiece from the tools.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 43 words

A method according to claim 13 wherein said securing of the elongate portions of the workpiece to respective said tools comprises clamping said edge portions between the tools, and said deforming of the web portions comprises stretching and bending of the web portions.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 73 words

A method according to claim 13 wherein said securing of the edge portions of the workpiece to respective said tools comprises positioning edges of the workpiece over hooks on respective carriage blocks which are movable along a track, moving said tool supports away from one another to thereby bend said portions and simultaneously move the carriage blocks towards one another, and then effecting said relaxing and removing of the workpiece from the tools.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-10-06	1979-04-07	1979-10-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-10-06	1983-04-07	1983-10-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-10-06	1987-04-07	1987-10-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Metal expanding machine

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