Machine for making steel hoop circumferential reinforcing elements

Abstract

An automatic hoop forming machine comprising a wire decoiling and feeding element connected to a series of rollers designed to pull, take out some irregularities and partially impart a curve before said wire is fed on to a hoop guide roll of the desired diameter to form a hoop-shaped element. The ends are overlapped and welded prior to cutting. Any number of hoops may be formed automatically and are eminently useful as reinforcing members within cementitious materials used to make manholes, for example.

1 . An automatic and continuous hoop forming machine comprising components in order, 
 a. a coil of steel wire located on a wire decoiling device;    b. a primary series of automatic opposed wheels designed such that as said steel wire is passed between said opposed wheels, irregularities in said steel wire are removed and said steel wire is directed in the next component of said machine;    c. a secondary series of automatic opposed wheels designed such that as said steel wire passes between said secondary series of opposed wheels further irregularities in said steel wire are removed and said steel wire is further straightened and directed in the next component of said machine;    d. a third series of automatic opposed wheels designed to feed said steel wire by pulling from said secondary opposed wheels and directing said steel wire into the next component of said machine;    e. a fourth series of automatic opposed wheels designed to form a nominal radius into said steel wire and direct said steel wire into the next component of said machine;    f. a movable and specifically sized circumferential wheel designed to bend said steel wire into a hoop shaped element;    g. an automatic welder for joining said hoop shaped element;    h. a cutting device designed to shear said steel wire when said hoop shaped element is formed and welded, and    i. a device to hold a plurality of said hoop shaped elements as formed, welded and sheared.    
   
   
       2 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein said hoop formed by said machine is 53 inches in diameter.  
   
   
       3 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein said hoop formed by said machine is 30″ in diameter.  
   
   
       4 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein said wire is a Grade 60 High Carbon Wire with a diameter of about 0.25 inches.  
   
   
       5 . A process for the automatic manufacture of steel reinforcing hoops wherein a coil of steel wire is fed from a decoiling device by pulling using a set of opposing rollers, through a primary set of opposed rollers to control entry of the wire and remove irregularities therein and through a second set of opposing rollers to straighten and remove any curve in said steel wire, through and around a specifically sized circular wheel to form a hoop form thereby, followed by welding said wire ends and cutting said wire whereby a hoop is formed.  
   
   
       6 . The process of  claim 5  wherein said formed hoop is 53″ in diameter.  
   
   
       7 . The process of  claim 5  wherein said formed hoop is 20″ in diameter.