US2646706A - Tool for straightening sheet metal such as in vehicle bodies and the like - Google Patents

Description

July 28, 1953 w. J. PALMER 2,646,706

TOOL FOR STRAIGHTENING SHEET METAL SUCH AS IN VEHICLE BODIES AND THE LIKE Filed May 22, 1950 "FTW 5 20 W/.L /AM J. PALMER w/ IN V EN TOR.

Patented July 28, 1953 TOOL FOR STRAIGHTENING SHEET METAL SUCH AS IN VEHICLE BODIES AND THE LIKE v William J. Palmer, Portland, Oreg.

Application May 22, 1950, Serial No. 163,447

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in tools and attachments therefor for straightening or bending damaged sheet metal such as in vehicle bodies and the like.

It is one of the principal objects of the invention to provide a tool of this character which is of simple and rugged construction and positive and accurate in its operation of straightening dented or accidentally bent sheet metal by pressure applied to both sides of the metal over a wide area to smoothly press the metal back into its original shape in contrast to conventional methods wherein a hammer or mallet is used to pound the metal against an anvil or the like.

Another object of the invention is the provision of various shapes and sizes of pressing and forming elements or dies which are readily adapted for quick and convenient attachment to or detachment from the tool.

These and other objects will appear as my invention is more fully hereinafter described in th following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and finally pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevation of a tool made in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a slightly enlarged sectional detail plan view taken approximately along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figur 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 taken along the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken along the line 4--4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view showing the tool in operative engagement with a piece of metal being dealt with.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing:

In Figure 1 reference numeral I indicates generally the main body of the tool shaped as shown and made of material of T-section as best illustrated in Figure 4 having a horizontal portion 2 and a stifiening rib portion 3. The body member is substantially C-shaped as shown with its upper leg terminating in a housing 4 within which is rotatably mounted a pinion gear 5 by means of a reduced end portion 6 journaled within the housing as at 1. The opposite end of the pinion gear is enlarged into a shaft 8 through which an actuating handle or rod 9 extends. Slidably mounted for vertical movement through the housing 4 is a gear rack I whose gear teeth I I operatively engage with the teeth of the pinion gear so that rotation of the pinion gear will raise or lower the rack III with respect to the housing 4. The bottom end of the rack III is reduced in diameter and threaded as at I2 for removable attachment to one of several pressing and forming elements or dies as indicated at I3 and each of which is formed with a center boss I4 internally apertured and threaded for attachment to the reduced and threaded end I2 of the rack III.

The free end of the opposite leg I5 of th body member is provided with an externally threaded vertical stud I6 upon which is removably secured a companion die IT by means of an internally threaded hub I8 which is bored inwardly from its opposite end as at I9 to receive a projection 20 formed on the under side of the die II.

As best illustrated in Figure 5 the tool is presented to the sheet metal being dealt with by placing the concave die I3 against one side or surface of the metal being dealt with and the companion die II against the opposite side thereof to resist the action of the die I3 against the metal which bears against the convex surface of the die I3. The under side of the flange portion 2| of the di I3 is provided with a disc 22 of resilient material attached by means of projections 23 to said flanged portion. This flange yields or compresses at its inner periphery sufiiciently to allow the metal 24 being dealt with to bend smoothly in the widest possible are around the peripheral edges of the cavity formed in the die I3.

As previously pointed out, the concavity of the attachment I3 and the corresponding curvature of the companion die I! should be greater than the area of the damaged portion of the metal to be repaired so that the entire damaged area of the metal may be positioned within the concavity of the die I3 and in a position to be backed by the anvil or companion die I! which by reason of its firm mounting on the leg I5 of the C-shaped body member I will resist the downward movement of the gear rack I 0 so as to force and spring the metal up into the cavity I3 beyond its normal level, then release or the backing away of the anvil or companion die II from the concavity of the attachment I3 will allow the metal to spring back into its normal position in relation to the undamaged portion of the metal surrounding it.

While I have shown a particular form of embodiment of my invention, I am aware that many minor changes therein will readily suggest themselves to others skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

A metal bending and straightening tool comprising in combination a body member of substantially C formation having two opposing legs, a vertical bearing formed in the terminal end of one of said legs, a vertically disposed hub fixedly secured to. the terminal end of the other of said legs, a die removably secured to said. hub, said di being of circular and convex formation over its entire top surface, a gear rack slidably mounted in said vertical bearing. and operable by a pinion gear rotatably mounted in the terminal end of said first-mentioned leg, a circular disc of greater diameter than said die secured to the bottom end of said gear rack, a concentric concavity formed in said disc in opposing relation to said convex surface of said die, said concavity being of mating formation to the top surface of said di and equal in diameter to the diameter of said die thus leaving a relatively wide annular flat flange surrounding said concavity, and an annular plate of resilient material attached to the underside of said annular flange covering the entire surface thereof.

\VILLIAM; J-. PALMER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Date 1,663,886 Lutch- Mar. 27, 1928 1,927,304 Buck Sept. 19, 1933 2,260,624 Johann Oct. 28, 1941 2,490,254 Casazza Dec. 6, 1949 2,528,361 Hauschild Oct. 31, 1950 2,543,259 Robbins Feb. 27, 1951

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