Aug. SQ, E938.

D. A. LYoNs

2,28,620

BENDING MACHINE

,zi-mg. so, ww

D, A. MONS
BENDING MACHINE

www
'

Filed Aug. 25, 1957

2 Sheets--$heet 2

2,128,629

Patented Aug. 30, 1938

ATE' GFFIE

UNITED sr'rs
2,128,620

BENDING MACHINE
Daniel A. Lyons, Los Angeles, Calif., assigner to
Consolidated Steel Corporation, Ltd., Los An
geles, Calif., a corporation of California

Application August 23, 1937, Serial No. 160,359

6 Claims.

(Cl. 153-15)

This invention relates to machines for bending

elongated members, such as rods, strips, pipes,

etc., and has as a broad object to provide a power

actuated bending machine that is simple and in

5 expensive to construct and operate.
A more specic object is to provide a bending

machine adapted to be operated by compressed

air, steam or other fluid under pressure with
maximum economy of the fluid employed.

10

Still another specific object is to provide a

bending machine having a simple and effective

structure for quickly and accurately `adjusting

the range of movement of the movable bending
element.

15

The manner in which the foregoing objects

are achieved, and the essential features of the
invention, will now be explained by describing in
detail a particular embodiment of the invention
with reference to the drawings.
..20
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a plan View of a bending machine in
accordance with the invention;
Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the machine
shown in Fig. 1, with portions broken away to
25 show the construction;
Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional view, taken

substantially in the plane III-III of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectionalk view, taken substan

tially in the plane IV-IV of Fig. l; and

30

- Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a stop element

employed in the machine.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the bending
machine therein disclosed comprises a frame in
cluding a top plate I constituting a table, a bot
35 tom plate 2 and an intermediate plate 3 posi

tioned in spaced relationship between plates I

and 2. The bottom plate 2 is supported from ->a
flooring by a pair of I-beams d and 5, respectively.
The intermediate plate 3 is supported on the bot
40 tom plate 2 in spaced relation thereabove by a

I8 supporting a roller I9 adapted to engage and

bend a rod or other elongated member to be bent
in the machine.` On the front and rear edges

of the top plate I constituting the table of the

machine, there are mounted relatively rigid sup Ul

porting members 2B and 2l, respectively, for

supporting a rod laid thereacross in a suitable '

plane to be intercepted by the shaft I6 and roller

I9 of arm I5. The member 29 is provided with
a plurality of spaced apart holes 22 any one of 10

which is adapted to receive- a pin, and the mem

ber 2l is also provided with holes 23 any one of

which is adapted to receive an upstanding pin,

which pins may constitute fixed guide means for
supporting a rod being bent.

>

15

I also preferably provide another rigid guide

supporting member 25 positioned above the top
plate l and between the edges of the plate I. The
upper surfaces of the members 20, 2| and 25 pref
erably all lie substantially in the plane of the 20
upper surface of arm I5. Themember 25 is pro
vided with a plurality of holes 26 therein, any one

of which is adapted to receive a pin 21 supporting

a roller 28.

,I

One method of bending a rod with the machine 25

described is shown in Fig. 1, in which a rod 29 to
be bent is laid across themembers 29, 25 and 2I
against the stationary roller 28 and the shaft I6
on arm I5. Arm I5 normally extends straight
to the left (with reference to Fig. 1). The ma- 30
chine is then actuated in a manner to be described
later, causing the arm I5 to rotate about the
aXis of the shaft I6 in a counterclockwise direc

tion, thereby causing the roller I9 to intercept

the rod 29 and bend it about the shaft I6, as 35'
shown in dotted lines at 29a. If only a single
bend were to be placed in the rod, there would
be no stop means inserted in any of the holes 23
in member 2 I, and the front end of the rod would
swing around as far as necessary depending upon 40

plurality of channel section members 6, "I, 8 and the angle of the bend placed in the rod at its
9, and the top plate I is supported from the in `point of contact with the shaft I9. However,
termediate plate 3 in spaced relation thereabove with the particular setup of Fig. l, an arrange
by channel section members I9, II, I2, I3 and ment is shown for placing a double bend in the
4,5 I4, the members I9, I I, I2 and I4 being positioned rod 29. To this end a rigid bar or channel mem- 45
immediately above the members 6, "I, '8 and 9, ber 35 is laid across the table on the members 29
respectively. All of the parts described may be and 2l and supported against horizontal move
rigidly interconnected together by welding into a ment to the right by a pin 36 inserted in one of
strong frame. Positioned above the top plate I the holes 22 in member 20 and a pin 31 inserted
50 and rotatable in a horizontal plane thereabove , in one of the holes 23 in the member 2l.

There- 50
fore, as the front end of the bar swings around
is a bending arm I5 having a shaft It projecting
upwardly therefrom and positioned coaxially with . >theshaft I6, it contacts the stop member 35 and
is thereafter bent around the roller I9,_as indi
the aXis of rotation of the arm I5. The arm is

also provided with a plurality of spaced apertures

55 I'l, any one of which is adapted to receive a pin

cated >at 29h, the motion continuing until the rod

at bend 29h contacts the stop member 35, under 55

2,128,620

which condition the resistance afforded to further

movement of the arm I5 by the stop member 35
stops the arm. The net result of the bending
operation described is to form the rod 29 into two
parallel sections interconnected by a diagonally

extending section.

of the piston 50 is relatively small, and only a

relatively small amount of fluid pressure is con

sumed in moving the piston from left to right

position. On the other hand, the effective area
of the right end of the piston 50 is the full area
of the cylinder, thereby providing the necessary

If desired, the stop member 35 can be removed

surface to develop a powerful force for movement

and a double bend placed in the bar 29 by merely

inserting the pin 31 in .a suitable aperture 23 in

to the left in response to fluid admitted to the

cylinder under moderate pressure.
It has been previously mentioned that it is
often desirable to determine the extent of a bend
placed in a rod by limiting the angle of rotation

member 2l, bar 29 then bearing directly against

the pin 3l instead of against the stop bar 35.
Under such conditions the angle of the bends
placed in the rods is determined by the extent of
movement of the arm I5, and such movement is
limited by a stop mechanism associated with the
arm, to be described later.
Referring now to the mechanism forrotating
the arm I5, the arm is rigidly attached to the
shaft I6 which extends a substantial distance be
20 low the arm and is journaled in an upper bushing
45 positioned within an upper bearing member 4 I,

(Fig. 3) supported by the upper plate I and the

intermediate plate 3, and in a lower bushing 42
in a lower bearing member 43 supported by the
lower plate member 2.
Shaft I6 has keyed thereto at a point thereon
intermediate the lower bearing bushing 42 and
the upper bearing bushing 40, a pinion 44 which
meshes with a rack 45 extending horizontally be
30 tween plates 2 and 3. A roller 45, mounted on .a
shaft 4l supported between the plates 2 and 3,
bears against the back face of the rack 45 to
maintain the rack in positive engagement with
pinion 44 at all times.
Referring now to Figs. l and 2, the rack 45 is
rigidly connected at its right end to a relatively
large piston rod 48 extending from the left end
of a cylinder 49, the rod 48 connecting at its
inner end to a piston 50 mounted within and
sealing with the walls of the cylinder 49. A suit
able stuiing box 5l is provided on the left end
of the cylinder 49 for sealing about the large
piston rod 43. Pipes 52 and 53, respectively, lead
from the opposite ends of the cylinder 49
through a control valve 54 which also connects
to a pipe 55 leading to a source of uid under
pressure, such as compressed air or steam. The
valve 54 is a valve of conventional construction

which may be actuated into a plurality of posi

tions to connect either pipe 52 or pipe 53 with
the pressure fluid supply pipe 55 and simultane
ously exhaust the other pipe 53 or 52 to the at
mosphere or to an exhaust line. It will be obvi
ous that by admitting pressure fluid to pipe 53
and venting the pipe 52, fluid pressure will be
admitted to the right end of cylinder 49 to move

the piston 56, the piston rod 48, and the rack 45
to the left, thereby rotating the shaft I5 and the
arm I5 thereon in counter-clockwise direction,
60 whereas, by admitting pressure fluid from pipe

55 to pipe 52 and venting the pipe 53, the piston

56, piston rod 48 and rack' 45 will be moved to the
right to restore the shaft I6 and arm I5 to normal
position. Since it is intended that the arm l5
perform work in bending a rod only when moved
in counter-clockwise direction, it is necessary to
apply substantial force to the arm I5 when rotat
' ing it in counter-clockwise direction, whereas the
l
only force required to retract the arm back to
<5170" normal position is that necessary to overcome the
i ff'riction of the parts. It isfor this reason that

@fthe piston rod 48 is made of relatively large di

'ariieter so that the effective area of theV left face
f Z'f't'he piston 56 is- relatively small and the dis
placement volume of the cylinder on the left side

of the .arm I5 by an adjustable stop means in

corporated in the mechanism for actuating the

arm.

This mechanism comprises a stop member

` 60,' (Fig. 4) adapted to intercept a cross head 6I

on the left end of the rack 45 and thereby limit

the length of the stroke of the rack. Obviously
limitation of the stroke of the rack 45 limits the
arc of- rotation of the shaft I6 and the arm I5. 20
The cross head 6I is guided for longitudinal
movement by a slotted tubular stationary- mem
ber 62 supported at opposite ends by the channel
member l, and the channel member 6, the ends of
the cross head 5I being slidably fitted within the 25
slots in tube 62 and the channel member -I hav
ing a suitable aperture therein for receiving the
end of the member 62 and passing the rack 45.
The stop member 50 comprises a tubular member
of internal diameter slightly larger than the eX-, 30
ternal diameter of the guide tube 62 so vas to
slide freely therealong. Thel member 60 has-di

ametrically opposite cuts in its right end at

spaced intervals thereabout to provide three sets
of abutting faces adapted to contact the cross` 35
head 6I.
'Ihus referring to Fig. 5, there area pair of
diametrically opposite high faces 63, a pair of
diametrically opposite low ' faces 64, a lpair of

diametrically opposite intermediate faces 65.`

Each of the faces extends circumferentially
through an angle of 60 so that by rotating mem
ber 60 through a total angle of 160 anyone of
the three sets of faces 63, 64 and 65 may be pre
sented to the cross bar 6I. Such rotation of the '145
stop member 66 may be effected by a handwheel
66 mounted on a shaft lI'l having a sprocket wheel

68 keyed thereto, which sprocket wheel is coupled

by a chain 59 to a sprocket wheel I6 on the mem

rber 60. Rotation of the handwheel 66 permits

"50
three adjustments for large variations in the
stroke of the rack 45 and the arm I5. However,
in accordance with the present invention, I pro
vide further means for effecting adjustment of
the longitudinal position of the stop member 60. 55
'I'o this end there is provided a cross head 1I

extending across through the slots in the tubular

member 62 back of the stop member 66 and cou
pled thereto for simultaneous longitudinal move
ment, but in such way as to permit rotation ofmember 6I) without rotation of the cross head 'I I.
Thus the member 50 may be provided with an
annular'groove I2 therein adapted to receive the
inwardly projecting ends `of ngers 'I3 secured to
the ends of cross head 1I. Cross head 'Il is pro
vided with a threaded central aperture which re
ceives the threaded inner end of a shaft I4 which

is rotatably mounted in-a bearing member I5

rigidly secured to the channel member 6. Shaft
14 has mounted on its rear end a handwheel 'I6

which bears against the end ofbearing member

'l5 and limits inward movement of the shaft 14.
A collar 'I'l on the shaft 'I4 bears against the right
end of the bearing member 'I5 and prevents out
ward movement of the shaft.

2,128,620
It will be apparent that the shaft 74 restrains
the cross head 'll and the stop member 6U from
longitudinal movement in response to abutment
of the cross head 6l on the rack 45 against the

member 60, but that longitudinal adjustment of

the stop member 60 may be had by rotating the
handwheel 16.
' When it is desired to move the arm l5 through

a definite arc, the handwheel 66 is first rotated

10 to rotate the sleeve 6E! into such position as to
aline one of the three sets of faces 63, 64 and 65
with the cross head 6l, which will limit move
ment of the rack l5 so as to stop the arm I5 in

approximately the position desired.

Final ac

15 curate adjustment of the limiting position _of the

arm l5 can then be had by rotating the hand

wheel 'l5 to adjust the stop member 6B longitudi

nally by the action of the screw lila.
The machine as described can be operated very
20 rapidly with relatively small consumption of com
pressed air or steam by virtue of the fact that the

limiting position of the arm is effectively xed

irrespective of the pressure of fluid employed to
move the piston. Therefore the pressure can be
25 sufficiently high to move the arm very rapidly and

positively through its stroke. At the same time

full pressure fluid can be admitted to restore the

arm to normal position quickly without waste of

fluid by virtue of the small area of the back face
30 of the piston.
Obviously many minor variations can be made

in the particular embodiment of the invention

disclosed, which has been described in detail for
purposes of explaining the invention;` the inven
35 tion is therefore to be limited only to- the extent
set forth in the appended claims.
I claim:
1. A shaping machine comprising fixed mem
bers for engaging a workpiece, a movable member
40 for engaging a workpiece at a point spaced there
along from said fixed members, means for mov

ing said movable member through an adjustable

distance comprising an oscillatable member, and
means for oscillating it, said oscillating member
45 having a stop-engaging member thereon, a stop

member in the path of movement of said stop

engaging member, said stop member having a
plurality of faces thereon spaced from each
other in the direction of movement of said oscil
latory member, means for moving said stop mem
50
ber in a plane perpendicular to the path of
movement of said oscillating member for selec
tively bringing different ones of said faces into
the path of movement of said stop-engaging
member, and means for restraining said stop
55

member against longitudinal movement by said

stop-engaging member.

2. A shaping machine of the type described

comprising fixed members for engaging a work
60 piece, a movable member for engaging a work

piece at a point spaced therealong from said xed

members, means for moving said movable mem
ber to shape a workpiece, and means for adjusta

bly limiting the distance through which the

movable member moves comprising: a stop-en

gaging member connected to said movable mem
ber for movement therewith, a stop member

mounted in the path of movement of said stop

engaging member, said stop member having a
plurality of faces thereon spaced from each other
in the direction of movement of said stop-en
gaging member, means for moving said stop
member in a plane perpendicular to the path of
movement of said stop-engaging member for 10
selectively bringing different ones of said faces
into the path of movement of said stop-engaging
member, and means for moving said stop mem
ber directly toward and away from said stop
engaging member by small increments.
3. A shaping machine of the type described
comprising fixed members for engaging a work
piece, a movable member for engaging a work--

piece at a point spaced therealong from said

fixed members, means for moving said movable 20
member to shape a workpiece, and means for

adjustably limiting the distance through which

the movable member moves comprising: a stop

engaging member connected to said movable

member for movement therewith, a stop mem-- 25

ber comprising a tubular member positioned in

the path of movement of said stop-engaging
member, said tubular member having a plurality
of circumferentially spaced, stepped faces on said
one end thereof, and means supporting said tubu

30

lar member against longitudinal and radial

movement while permitting rotary adjustment
thereof to present different ones of said stepped
faces to said stop-engaging member.
4. A shaping machine as described in claim 3, 35
in which said means for supporting said tubular
member comprises a stationary tubular guide
coaxial with and slidably engaging said tubular
member.
5. A shaping machine as described in claim 3, 40
in which said means for supporting said tubular
member comprises a stationary tubular guide co

axial with and positioned within said tubular

member for slidably supporting the latter for

rotary and longitudinal motion thereon, said

guide having longitudinal slots therein and said
stop-engaging member comprising a cross head

extending through said slots.

6. A shaping machine as described in claim 3,
in which said means for supporting said tubular 50
member comprises a stationary tubular guide

coaxial with and positioned Within said tubular

member for slidably supporting the latter for
rotary and longitudinal motion thereon, said
guide having longitudinal slots therein and said
stop-engaging member comprising a cross head
extending through said slots, a second cross head
extending through said slots back of said tubular
member and engaging the rear end of said tubu
lar member for longitudinal movement therewith,
and means for adjustably anchoring said second '

cross head against longitudinal movement.

DANIEL A. LYONS.