Abstract: An apparatus adapted to form curved beam sections, such as a brake shoe, includes a rollformer, a cut-off device, and a re-former or sweeping device. The rollformer includes rollers constructed and arranged to rollform the sheet material into an elongated linear beam, where the beam has a T-shaped cross-section. The cut-off device cuts the arcuately-shaped beam into segments that are about 9 to 12 inches long. The sweep device is positioned in line with the rollformer (or off-line as a secondary operation) and is adapted to form the beam into a tightly-radiused longitudinal shape, such as about 100 mm radius, where the support flange and center web form an arcuate crescent shape. In an alternative form, the apparatus also has a re-forming device configured to reshape the segments so that the beam section is very accurately formed. However, it is contemplated that, depending upon the arcuately shaped beam section desired, a re-former may not be required.

Abstract: An apparatus adapted to form curved beam sections, such as a brake shoe, includes a rollformer, a cut-off device, and a re-former or sweeping device. The rollformer includes rollers constructed and arranged to rollform the sheet material into an elongated linear beam, where the beam has a T-shaped cross-section. The cut-off device cuts the arcuately-shaped beam into segments that are about 9 to 12 inches long. The sweep device is positioned in line with the rollformer (or off-line as a secondary operation) and is adapted to form the beam into a tightly-radiused longitudinal shape, such as about 100 mm radius, where the support flange and center web form an arcuate crescent shape. In an alternative form, the apparatus also has a re-forming device configured to reshape the segments so that the beam section is very accurately formed. However, it is contemplated that, depending upon the arcuately shaped beam section desired, a re-former may not be required.