Abstract: The roll forming machine includes a base, a motor drive, a power transmission connected to the motor drive, a rafted roll form assembly including a raft plate and a plurality of vertically aligned power rotated longitudinally spaced pairs of complemental rolls, arranged in a set to successively and operatively receive and feed there between elongated strips of stock, and a gear train including a plurality of gears and a drive gear interconnecting the set of rolls. The transmission includes a drive shaft connected to a gear reduction box having a power rotated sleeve aligned with the drive gear of the gear train. In order to change the rafted roll form assembly including the raft plate and the set of complemental rolls carried by the raft plate to another roll form assembly for making another metal part, a quick disconnect structure is provided which includes a drive clutch on the drive gear of the gear train of the raft assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a power assembly and fluid supply system for use in a two cycle air cut-off press. The power assembly includes a bell crank having first and second arms extending outwardly at an angle from a fulcrum with the bell crank being pivotally mounted opposite the fulcrum. The arms have rollers connected to them and are positioned beneath guide bars which are alternately reciprocated by power cylinders. Due to the rollers, there are no lateral forces, reducing wear. A link interconnects the bell crank with the ram plate of the press. As the bell crank oscillates about its pivotal mount, the link transfers the oscillatory movement to the ram plate as reciprocal movement. The fluid supply system of the present invention includes an adjustable three-way valve connected to a source of pressurized fluid.

Abstract: In a two cycle air cut-off press having a bed plate, guide posts, a top plate upon the posts and a ram plate guidably mounted upon the post defining with the bed plate a die set area an improved power mechanism for the ram plate including first and second cylinder assemblies mounted upon the top plate including piston rods. A bell-crank is pivotally mounted upon the top plate and pivotally connected to the piston rods. A toggle linkage including a plurality of pairs of pivotally interconnected upper and lower links at their outer ends are connected respectively to the top plate and to the ram plate. A horizontally reciprocal control arm is connected to the toggle linkage and to the bell-crank whereby on alternate reciprocal movements of the piston rods and reciprocal pivotal movements of the bell-crank, the control arm is reciprocated and through the linkage effects reciprocal vertical movements of the ram plate.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method is disclosed for introducing a curvature or sweep into a preferably previously-formed elongated article. The elongated article is substantially constrained, both laterally and transversely, as it moves longitudinally through the sweep-forming apparatus and is permanently deformed in a transverse direction in order to introduce the sweep or curvature therein.