Method for precision bending of a sheet of material and slit sheet therefor

'METHOD FOR PRECISION BENDING OF A SHEET OF MATERIAL AND SLIT SHEET THEREFOR

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates, in general, to the׳bending of sheets of material, and more particularly, relates to slitting of the sheet material in order to enable precision bending.

BACKGROUND ART

A commonly encountered problem in connection with bending sheet material is that the locations of the bends are difficult to control because of bending tolerance variations and the accumulation of tolerance errors. For example, in the formation of the housings for electronics, sheet metal is bent along a first bend line within certain tolerances. The second bend, however, works off of the first bend and accordingly the tolerance errors accumulate. Since there can be three or more bends which are involved to create an enclosure, the effect of cumulative tolerance errors in bending can be significant.

One approach to this problem is to try to control the location of bends in sheet material through the use of slitting. Slits can be formed in sheet stock very precisely, for example, by the use of computer numerically controlled (CNC) controllers which control a slitter, such as a laser, water jet or punch press. Referring to FIG. 1, a sheet of material 21 is shown which has a plurality of slits 23 aligned in endWO 02/13991 . PCT/US01/41742 to-end, spaced apart relation along a proposed bend line 25. Between pairs of slits are bending webs 27 which will be plastically deformed upon bending of sheet 21 and yet hold the sheet together as a single member.

The location of slits 23 in sheet 21 can be precisely controlled so as to position the slits on bend line 25 within relatively close tolerances. Accordingly, when sheet 21 is bent after the slitting process, the bend occurs at a position that is very close to bend line 25 . Since slits can be laid out on a flat sheet of material precisely, .the cumulative error is much less in such a slitting-based bending process as compared to one in which bends occur in a press brake with each subsequent bend being positioned by reference to the preceding bend.

Nevertheless, even slitting-based bending of sheet material has its problems. First, the stresses in bending webs 27, as a result of plastic deformation and slitting at both ends of webs 27, ar.e concentrated. Thus, failures at webs 27 can occur. Moreover, the slits do not necessarily produce bending of webs 27 directly along bend line 25. Thus, in prior art slitting processes the problem of cumulative, error in the bend location has been reduced, but stress concentration and somewhat erratic bending can occur.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide method for precision bending of sheets of material using improved slitting techniques which both reduce stress concentrations at the bend web and enhance the accuracy of the bends.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a precision sheet bending process and a sheet of material which has been slit for bending and which can be used to accommodate bending of sheets of various thicknesses and of various types of materials.

WO 02/13991

A further object of the present invention is to provide a sheet bending method which results in a bent product having improved shear loading capacity.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an method for slitting sheets for subsequent bending, and the sheets themselves, that will accommodate both press brake bend and slit bends, is adaptable for use with existing slitting devices, enables sheet stock to be shipped in a flat condition and precision bent at a remote location without the use of a press brake, and enhances assembly or mounting of components in the interior of enclosures formed by bending of the sheet stock.

The method for precision bending of sheet material, and the sheet stock formed for such precision bending, of the present invention has other features and objects of advantage which will become apparent from, or are set forth in more detail in, the accompanying drawing and the following description of the Best Mode of Carrying Out The Invention.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

In one aspect, the method for precision bending of a sheet of material of the present invention is comprised, briefly, of the steps of forming a plurality of longitudinally extending slits through the sheet in axially spaced relation in a direction extending along, and proximate to, a bend line to define bending webs between adjacent ends of pairs of the slits; and forming a stress reducing structure at each of the adjacent ends of the pairs of slits. The stress reducing structure can be provided by openings or transversely extending, preferably arcuate, slits formed on the bend line and opening to the longitudinally extending slits. The stress reducing openings have a transverse width dimension which

WO (12/13991 is substantially greater than the transverse width dimension of the longitudinal slits, and the arcuate stress reducing ’slits are convex in a direction facing the bending webs. A further step of the method is the step of bending the sheet material substantially along the bend line across the bending webs between the stress reducing structures.

In another aspect, the method of the present invention includes slitting a sheet of material for precision bending which comprises the steps of forming a first elongated. slit through the sheet of material along the bend line by forming a pair of proximate, transversely spaced apart, parallel and longitudinally extending, first slit segments connected neap a common transverse plane by a transversely extending slit segment; and forming a second elongated slit in substantially longitudinally aligned and longitudinally spaced relation to the first elongated slit. The step of forming the second elongated slit also preferably is accomplished by forming a pair of proximate, transversely spaced apart, parallel and longitudinally extending, slit segments connected near a common transverse plane by a transversely extending slit segment. Thus, instead of one continuous elongated slit, each slit in the pair of slits is formed as a slightly stepped slit proximate a midpoint of the combined length of the slit segments. This structure produces a virtual fulcrum upon bending that can be positioned precisely on the bend line to cause bending of the bending webs more precisely along the bend line. In the most preferred form, the stepped slits are also provided with enlarged end openings so as to reduce stress concentrations at the bending webs.

The present invention also includes a sheet of material formed for precision bending comprising a sheet having elongated slits which are spaced apart in end-to-end relation and in substantial alignment along the bend line, and stress reducing structures at the ends of the slits to reduce stress concentrations. In the most preferred form the sheet of

WO <>2/13991

־5־ material further has the slits formed as stepped slits in which proximate, transversely spaced apart, parallel and longitudinally extending, slit segments are connected proximate a transverse intermediate plane by a transversely extending slit segment so that bending occurs at a virtual fulcrum. During bending, between the longitudinally extending slit segments tabs formed by the stepped slits slide on supporting edges of the sheet positioned across the slits from the tabs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, top plan view of a sheet of material having slits formed therein in accordance with prior art techniques .

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of corresponding to FIG. 1 of a sheet of material slit in accordance with one embodiment of a first aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a fragmentary, top plan view corresponding to FIG. 1 of a sheet of material which has been slit in accordance with a second embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention and in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a fragmentary, top plan view corresponding to FIG. 1 of a sheet of material which has been slit in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A-4D are fragmentary, top plan views of־a sheet of material which has been slit according to the present invention and is in the process of being bent from a flat plane in FIG. 4A to a 90° bend in FIG. 4D.

FIGS. 5A-5A״' are fragmentary, cross sectional views, taken substantially along the planes of lines 5A-5A״', in FIGS. 4A-4D during bending of the sheet of material.

WO02/13991 .... . PCT/USO 1/41742

FIGS. 5B-5B״' are fragmentary, cross sectional views taken substantially along the planes of lines 5B-5B״', in FIGS. 4A4D.

FIGS. 5C-5C^W are fragmentary, cross section views taken 5 substantially along the planes of lines 5C-5C״', in FIGS. 4A4D.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a sheet of material which has been slit accordance with an alternative embodiment of the method of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, top plan vie.w corresponding to FIG. 3 of still a further alternative embodiment of the slit sheet of a present invention.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a sheet of material which has been slit in accordance with a further alternative embodiment 15 of the present invention.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present method for precision bending of sheet material includes two primary aspects, each of which are capable of 20 being used alone, but which aspects preferably are used together. In one aspect, a stress reducing structure is formed at the ends of the slits to affect a stress concentration reduction in the connecting bending webs, while in another aspect, the slits are laterally or transversely 25 stepped slightly over their length so as to produce bending about a virtual fulcrum. The most preferred method and resulting slitted sheets have both slightly stepped slits and stress reduced structures at the ends of the stepped slits.

0 Referring now to FIG. 2, a sheet of material 31 is shown in which the first aspect of the present invention has been employed. A plurality of longitudinally extending slits 33 i:

WO 02/13991 are formed along a bend line 35 in a manner similar to the prior art technique shown in FIG. 1.' The slits 33 are axially spaced and extend along and proximate to bend line 35 (preferably superimposed on the desired bend line) to define bending webs 37 between adjacent ends of pairs of slits 33. In the improved slitting method and resulting sheet, a stress reducing structure is provided or formed at each of the adjacent ends of pairs of slits. Thus, for slits 33a and 33b enlarged openings 39a and 39b are formed at the adjacent slit ends. Openings 39 are each formed on bend line 3 5 and open to or communicate with slits 33. Openings 39a and 39b have a transverse width dimension which is substantially greater than the transverse width dimension of slits 33a and 33b. For example, in an aluminum sheet having a thickness of 0.070 inches and slits with a kerf or slit width dimension of 0.015 inches, openings 39 can be 0.140 inches in diameter.

Upon bending of sheet .31, the openings 39 will reduce the stress concentration on bending webs 37 over that which is produced simply by forming narrow slits as shown in FIG. 1. Enlarged openings 39 will, in turn, give the bent sheet 31 greater strength along the bend line due to the resultant stress reduction in webs 37.

In the present invention, it is preferable that slits 33 have a width dimension less than the thickness dimension of the sheet of material, and that the enlarged stress reducing openings 39 have a width dimension that is greater than the thickness dimension of the sheet of material. Slits 33 can range from a kerf width dimension of zero to just slightly less than the thickness of the material. When a slitting knife is used, the slits essentially have no, or zero, transverse width dimension since no material is removed from the sheet during slitting. Material is only cut by the slitter and the opposite sides of the slit move back into contact with each other. When a laser or water jet is employed, however, there will be a kerf or slit width

. י!

/ WO 02/13991 PCT/USO1/41742 dimension that is a result of material being removed. Slits with kerfs are shown in FIGS. 1-3B and 8, while no kerfs are shown in FIGS. 3A, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

The most preferred from of stress-reducing opening is to have 5 openings 39 have an arcuate shape on the side thereof facing the opposite aligned slit. Moreover, the arcuate shape of the׳opening is preferably centered on the bend line that the stress reducing structure provided by openings 39 also functions as a bend inducing structure making bending of web 10 37 more likely to occur on the bend line 35. It is believed that having an opening with corners or an apex facing the adjacent slit is less desirable than a circular or semicircular openings since corners or intersecting planar walls would tend to reintroduce stress concentrations along 15 bend line 35.

A second embodiment of a stress reducing structure is shown in FIG. 3A. A sheet of material 231 is formed with a plurality of aligned longitudinally extending slits 233 extending along a bend line 235. Slits 233 are transversely 20 stepped in a manner which will be described in more detail hereinafter.

Positioned at the adjacent ends of slits 233 are stress reducing structures 239, which in the embodiment of FIG. 3A are provided as transversely extending slits. In the most 25 preferred form of slit-based stress reduction structure 239 the slits are transversely extending arcuate slits, such as shown by slits 239a and 239b. As will be seen, these arcuate slits curve back along the respective longitudinally extending slits 233 to which they are connected. Thus, the stress 30 reducing arcuate slits are convex in a direction facing intermediate bending webs 237 and 237a. Bending webs 237 are defined by an arcuate notch 232 at edge 234 of sheet 231 and the adjacent arcuate stress reducing slit 239, or by pairs of slits 239a, 239b.

WO 02/13991 ־9Stress reducing arcuate slits 239, 239a, 239b also can be seen to preferably be positioned so that the shortest distance between arcuate slits 239a, 239b, or between a slit 239 and a notch 232, will be located substantially on bend line 235. This provides a stress reducing and bending inducing structure which more precisely produces bending along bend line 235. Considering arcuate stress reducing slits 239a and 239b, therefore, it will be seen that longitudinally extending slits 233 connect with these arcuate slits at a position below bend line 235 in FIG. 3A, while arcuate slits 239a, 239b are closest to each other at bend line 235.

For the stepped longitudinally extending slits 233 on the right side of FIG. 3A, linear transversely extending, stress reducing slits 239c-239f are shown. These linear slits are somewhat less preferred in that they are not as effective in insuring bending on the bend line as are the arcuate stress reducing slits .

It will be understood that stress reducing openings 39, 39a, 39b and stress relieving slits 239, 239a-239f could be spaced slightly by a thin web from the ends of the longitudinally extending slits 33 and 233 and still provide protection

ו against the propagation of stress concentration cracks across bending webs 37 and 237. Thus, a small web is shown between the longitudinal slit end 233a and the stress reducing slit 239a and slit end 233b and transverse slit 239d in FIG. 3A, which would essentially fail at the start of bending and thereby lengthen the longitudinally extending slit 233 so that it is connected with the stress reducing structure slit 239a or 239d and prevent further stress induced cracking or crack propagation across webs 237a and 237b. As used herein, therefore, the expression connected shall mean a stress reducing structure which opens to the longitudinally extending slit at the start, or during, bending of the sheet, as well as stress reducing structures which are sufficiently close to the longitudinal slits so as to prevent or block crack

Ϊ WO 02/13991 .... PCT/USO1/41742 propagation across the bending web, even if the thin web between the stress reducing structure and longitudinally extending slit does not, in fact, fail.

A further reduction of stress can be accomplished if opposite 5 ends of the transverse stress reduction slits are provided with enlarged openings, as for example are shown by openings 240b and 240f on the opposite ends of slit 239b and slit 239f. Openings 240v, 240f prevent transverse crack propagation from the ends of the stress reducing slits. While shown only for 10 slit 239b and 239f, it will be understood that openings 240b and 240f could be provided at the ends of all of the stress reducing slits .

A second aspect of the present precision bending invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B. In FIG. 3B a sheet of 15 material 41 is formed with a plurality of slits, generally designated 43, along a bend line 45. Slits 43, therefore, are longitudinally extending and in end-to-end spaced relation so as to define bending webs 47 between pairs of slits 43. Moreover, in FIGS. 3A and 3B, slits 233 and 43 are provided 2 0 with stress reducing structures at ends thereof, namely slits 239 and openings 49, respectively, so as to effect a reduction in the stress concentration in bending webs 237 and 47. It will be understood from the description below, however, that stress reducing structures such as enlarged openings 49 in 25 FIG. 3B and slits 239 in FIG. 3A, are not required for realization of the benefits of the second aspect of the present invention, as can be seen from the embodiment of FIG.

8.

For slits 233 of FIG. 3A and slits 43 of FIG. 3B, however, 30 each longitudinally extending slit between the slit ends is laterally or transversely stepped relative to bend lines 235 and 45. Thus, a slit, such as slit 43a, is formed with a pair of longitudinally extending slit segments 51 and 52 which are positioned proximate to, and preferably on opposite sides

WO 02/13991 of, and substantially parallel to, bend line 45. Longitudinal slit segments 51 and 52 are further connected by a transversely extending slit segment 53 so that slit 43a extends from enlarged opening 49a to enlarged 49b along an interconnected path which opens to both of the enlarged openings and includes both longitudinally extending slit segments 51, 52 and transverse slit segment 53. Similar longitudinal and transverse slit segments are shown in FIG. 3A only the left two slits 233 are composed of three longitudinally extending slit segments and two transversely extending slit segments.

The function and advantages of such stepped slits can best be understood by reference to FIGS. 4A-4D, and the corresponding FIGS. 5A-5C to 5A5-'״C״', wherein the bending of a sheet of material 41, such as shown in FIG. 3B is illustrated at various stages. In FIG. 4A, sheet 41 is essentially slit as shown in FIG. 3B. There is a difference between FIGS. 3B and 4 in that in FIG. 3B a kerf width or section of removed material is shown, while in FIG. 4A the slit is shown without any kerf, as would be produced by a slitting knife. The effect during bending, however, is essentially the same and the same reference numerals will be employed as were employed in FIG. 3B.

Thus, sheet 41 is shown in a flat condition before bending in FIG. 4A. Longitudinally extending slit segments 51 and 52 are shown in FIG. 4A and in the cross sections of FIGS. 5A-5C. The positions of the various cross sections of the sheet are also shown in FIG. 4A.

In FIG. 4B, the sheet has been bent slightly along bend line 45, which can best be seen in FIGS. 5A5-׳C^׳ . As can be seen in FIGS. 5A' and 5B', slits 51 and 52 have opened up along their top edges and the portion of the sheet which extends beyond bend line 45 is referred to herein as tab 55. The lower or bottom side corners 51a and 52a of tabs 55 have moved i .

f wo 02/13991 PCT/US01/41742 up slightly along a supporting edge 51b and 52b of the edges of the sheet on the sides of the slit opposite to tabs 55. This displacement of tab corners 51a and 52a may be better seen in connection with the sheet when it is bent to a greater 5 degree, for example, when bent to the position shown in FIG.

4C.

In FIG. 4C it will be seen that tab corners 51a and 52a have moved upwardly on supporting edges 51b and 52b of sheet 41 on opposite sides of bend line 45. Thus, there is sliding 10 contact between tabs 51a and 52a and the opposing supporting edges 51b and 52b of the slit during bending. This sliding contact will be occurring at locations which are equidistant on opposite sides of central bend line 45 if longitudinal slit segments 51 and 52 are formed in equally spaced positions 15 on opposite sides of bend line 45, as shown in FIG. 4A. The result is that there are two actual bending fulcrums 51a, 51b and 52a, 52b spaced at equal distances from, and on opposite sides of, bend line 45. Tab corner 51a and supporting edge 51b as well as tab corner 52a and supporting 20 edge 52b, produce bending of bending web 47 about a virtual fulcrum that lies between the actual fulcrums and can be superimposed over bend line 45.

The final result of a 90° bend is shown if FIG. 4D and corresponding cross sections 5A5-׳״C^׳״. As will be seen, the 25 sheet bottom side or surface 51c now rests on, and is supported in partially overlapped relation to, supporting edge 51b. Similarly, bottom surface 52c now rests on surfcice 52b in an overlapped condition. Bending web 47 has been plastically deformed by extending along an upper surface of 30 the web 47a and plastically compressed along a lower surface 47b of web 47, as best illustrated in FIG. 5C״'. In the bent condition of FIG. 4D, the tab portions of the sheet, namely, portions 55, which extend over the center line when the sheet is slit, are now resting on supporting edges 51b and 52b. 35 This configuration gives the bent piece greater resistance

WO (12/13991 to shear forces at the bend in mutually perpendicular directions. Thus a load L_a (FIG. 5A׳״) will be supported intermediately bending webs 47 by the overlap of bottom surface 52 on supporting edge 52b. Similarly, a load L_b will be supported by overlap of surface 51c on supporting edge 51b intermediate bending webs 47.

The laterally stepped or staggered slits of the present invention, therefore, result in substantial advantages. First, the lateral position of the longitudinally extending slit segments 51 and 52 can be precisely located on each side of bend line 45, with the result that the bend will occur about a virtual fulcrum as a consequence of two actual fulcrums equidistant from, and on opposite sides of, the bend line. This precision bending reduces or eliminates accumulated tolerance errors since slit positions can be very precisely controlled by a CNC controller. It also should be noted, that press brakes normally bend by indexing off an edge of a sheet. This makes bending at an angle to the sheet edge difficult using a press brake. Bending precisely at angles to the sheet edge, however, can be accomplished readily using the present slitting process. Additionally, the resulting bent sheet has substantially improved strength against shear loading because the overlapped tabs and edges produced by the stepped longitudinally extending slit segments support the sheet against shear loads.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an alternative embodiment of a piece of sheet material or stock which has been slit in accordance with the present invention is shown. Sheet 61 is formed with five bend lines 62-66. In each case stepped slits are formed along the bend lines and have pairs of longitudinally, extending slit segments positioned proximate to and on opposite sides of bend lines 62-66. The stepped slits, generally designated 68, terminate in D-shaped enlarged openings 69, which in turn, define a central bending web 71 between a pair of slits 68 and side bending webs 72 with

WO 02/13991 .-־. . ' - -..... PCT/USO1/41742 notches 73 in opposed edges of sheet 61. The arcuate side of the D-shaped openings 69 reduces stress concentrations in webs 71 and 72, and it can be seen that the outer openings 69 also cooperate with arcuate notches 73 in the sheet edge 5 so that stress concentrations in webs 72 are minimized.

Longitudinally extending slit segments 74 and 76 are connected by S-shaped transversely extending slit segments 77. As was the case for transverse slit segments 53 in FIGS. 3B and 4, transversely extending slit segment 77 include a length which 10 is substantially perpendicular to the bend line over a substantial portion of the transverse dimension of segments 76. The S shape is a result of forming slits 68 with a laser or water jet using a numeric controller. Such laser and water jet slit cutting techniques are not well suited 15 to sharp corners, and the S shape allows transitioning between the longitudinally extending slit segments 74 and 76 and a transversely extending slit segment 77 without sharp corners .

It is believed that it is highly desirable for the 20 transversely extending slit segment to be substantially perpendicular to the bend line over most of the transverse dimensions so that the tabs formed by the stepped slits are free to engage and pivot off the opposite supporting edge of the sheet of material without interfering engagement of 25 the sheet on opposite sides of the transverse slit segment.

Connecting longitudinally extending slit segments 74 and 76 by a transverse slit segment 77 which is at an angle other than 90° to the bend line is illustrated in the far right slit in FIG. 8 and has been employed, but generally, it 30 results in contact along the transverse slit segment which can affect the location of the virtual fulcrum during the bend. Thus, it is preferred to have the transverse slit segment 53 or 77 connect the longitudinal slit segments 51 and 52 or 74 and 76 at a near perpendicular angle to the bend 35 line so that the virtual fulcrum location is determined solely

WO 02/13991 PCT/USO'1/41742 by engagement of the tab corners on opposite sides of the bend line.

In FIG. 6, the difference between the slit configurations along bend line 62, 63, 64 and 65 is the transverse spacing of the longitudinally extending slit segments. Thus the spacing is increased from bend line 62 to the greatest spacing at bend line 65.

At bend line 66, the S shape has been replaced by a perpendicular transverse segment 77 which has corners 78 that 10 are rounded to transition to the longitudinally extending slit segments 74 and 76.

In each case, it will be seen in FIG. 6 that the transverse slit segment 77 is located at approximately the midpoint of the combined longitudinal length of slit segments 74, 76.

This is the preferred form for slitting sheet material of the present invention because is results in the tabs, such as tab 81 and tab 82 shown at bend line 66 having substantially the same length dimension along the bend line. Thus, when the lower corners of tabs 81 and 82 engage the opposite supporting edges of the sheet material on the opposite side of the slit, the length available for pivoting and sliding engagement will be substantially equal on both sides of the bend line. Bending about a virtual fulcrum between the corners of the two tabs will be more reproducible and precise. It will be understood, however, that transverse slit segments 77 could be moved along the length of slit 68 to either side of the center while still retaining many of the advantages of the present invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the far right slit has multiple transverse slit

0 segments which define longitudinal slit segments of differing length. Thus, the transverse slit segments are not evenly distributed along the overall slit length.

WO 2/13991״ PCT/USOJ/41742

The effect of increasing the lateral spacing of longitudinally extending slit segment 74 and 76 relative to .the bend line is to tailor the bending as a function of sheet thickness. Generally, as the sheet stock increases in thickness, the 5 kerf of the slit is desirably increased. Moreover, the lateral spacing of the stepped or staggered slit segments also preferably slightly increased. It is desirable to have the longitudinally extending slit segments relatively close to the bend line so that the virtual fulcrum is more 10 accurately positioned.

As the sheet thickens, however, more plastic deformation and bending of webs 71 and 72 is required, and a greater kerf will allow some bending before the lower corners of the tabs begin to engage and slide on the supporting edges of the 15 opposite side of the slit. In this regard, it will be seen from FIGS. 5A״' and 5B״' that tab corners 51a and 52a slide upwardly along the supporting edges 51b and 52b to the positions shown in FIGS. 5A^/״ and 5B^״׳. Thus, the lower corners of tabs 81 and 82 also are displaced into contact with the 20 supporting edges on the opposite sides of the tabs, and the lower corners slide during the bending process up to an overlapped position in which underneath sides of the tabs are supported on the supporting edges on the opposite side of the longitudinally extending slit segments.

In FIG. 7 a further alternative embodiment of a sheet of material which has been slit in accordance with the present invention for precision bending is shown. Sheet stock 91 has been formed with laterally stepped slits, generally designated 92, which terminate in, and open to, hat-shaped

0 stress-relieving enlarged openings 93. The openings 93 can be seen to have a convexly arcuate side 94 which are centered on bend line 96. Extending outwardly from the convex arcuate sides of the openings are lateral extension portions 97 to give the opening its hat-like shape. Each slit 92 is 35 comprised of a pair of longitudinally extending slit segments (

WO 02/13991 and 99 connected by a transverse slit segment 101. The longitudinally extending slit segments will be.seen to open into openings 93 at one side or the other of bend line 90.

Both the curved enlarged openings 97 and the S shaped 5 transverse slit segment 101 can be seen to be free of sharp corners so as to permit their formation using laser cutting apparatus or the like.

During bending of sheet 91, the lower corners of tabs 102 and 103 again engage supporting edges on the opposite sides L0 of the slit segments from the tabs. These corners slide along the supporting edges to an upward overlapped position, as above described. During this process an area 104 of bending web 106, which is shown in cross hatching at the left side of FIG. 7, will be plastically deformed. Thus, area 104 15 between the two convexly arcuate portions 94 of the hat-shaped openings 93 will undergo bending that will not resiliently displace back to its original configuration once the bending force has been removed. The areas 107, shown in cross hatching at the right end of FIG. 7, between the laterally 20 extending portions 97 of openings 93, however, will be elastically deformed. Thus they will experience bending within the elastic limit and will resiliently be displaced, in bending as the sheet is bent. Areas 107, however will generally resiliently flatten out once the bending force has 25 been removed. Obviously, webs 106 at each end of FIG. 7 have both a plastic deformation area 104 and elastic deformation areas 107.

It has been found that the use of hat-shaped openings 93 allows the lower tab corners of tabs 102 and 103 to remain 30 in sliding contact with the supporting opposite edges as a result of the resilient elastic deformation of areas 107 of the bending webs 106 . In order to control the positioning of the virtual fulcrum, is highly desirable that the lower

WO 02/13991 tab corners which engage the opposing supporting edges do not lift up off the opposed supporting edges during bending.

Loss of contact can produce virtual fulcrums which are not precisely aligned with the desired bend line 96.

As shown in FIG. 7, slits 92, and particularly the longitudinal slit segments 98 and 99 and transverse slit segment 101, have zero width dimension, which would be the result of formation with a slitting knife. It will be understood that this is only a schematic representation and that slits 92 can, have a kerf in which material’ is removed, particularly for thicker sheet stock.

The embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 8 includes various slit configurations illustrating the range of slitting principle employed. Sheet of material 121 includes three slits, generally designated 122, 123 and 124 which are positioned along a bend line 1.26. Slit 124 can be seen to be comprised of four longitudinally extending slit segments 127 which are connected by three transversely extending slit segments 128. Each of slit segments 127 are substantially the same length and are spaced from bend line 126 on opposite sides thereof by substantially the same distance.

Slit 123 is similar to slit 124 ׳ only there are three longitudinal slit segments 129 connected by two transverse slit segments 131. Finally, slit 124 employs longitudinal slit segments 132 of differing length and multiple transverse slit segments 133 which are not perpendicular to bend line 126. Moreover,' longitudinal slit segments 132 of slit 124 are spaced farther from bend line 126 than the longitudinal slit segments in slits 122 and 123. It also will be seen from FIG. 8 that bending web 136 between slits 122 and 123 is longer along bend line 126 than bending web 137 between slits 123 and 124.

WO 02/13991

PCT/USO 1/4 i 742

It will be understood that still further combinations of longitudinal and transverse slit segments and spacings from bend line 126 can be employed within the scope of the present invention. In order to obtain reproducible bends, however, the longitudinal slit segments preferably are spaced equally on opposite sides of the bend line, transverse slit segments are perpendicular to the bend line, and large transverse steps and small webs between adjacent slit ends, for example as exists at web 137, are not preferred.

From the above description it will be understood that the method for precision bending of a sheet material along a bend line of the present invention is comprised of the steps of forming a plurality of longitudinally extending slits in axially spaced relation in a direction extending along and proximate a bend line to define bending webs between pairs of slits. In one aspect of the present method stress reducing structures, such as openings or arcuate slits, are formed at each of the adjacent ends of the pairs of slits to reduce stress. In another aspect of the method of the present invention, the longitudinally extending slits are each formed by longitudinally extending slit segments that are connected by at least one transversely extending slit segment so as to produce a laterally stepped slit that will bend about a virtual fulcrum. The number and length of the bending webs and slits also can be varied considerably within the scope of both aspects of the present invention. An additional step of the present method is bending the sheet of material substantially along the bend line across the bending web.

The method of the present invention can be applied to various .types of sheet stock. It is particularly well suited for use with thin metal sheet stock such as aluminum or steel. Certain type of plastic or polymer sheets and plastically deformable composite sheets, however, also may be suitable for bending using the method of the present invention. The present method and resulting sheets of slit material are

WO 02/13991 PCT/USO1/41742 particularly well suited for precision bending at locations remote of the slitter. Moreover, the bends may be produced precisely without using a press brake. This allows fabricators and enclosure forming job shops to bend sheets 5 without having to invest in a press brake. Slit sheet stock can also be press brake bent, as well as slit, for later bending by the fabricator. This allows the sheet stock to be shipped in a flat or nested configuration for bending at a remote manufacturing site to complete the enclosure. Press 10 brake bends will be stronger than slit bends so that a combination of the two can be used to enhance the strength of the resulting product, with the press brake bends being positioned, for example, along the sheet edges, or only partially bent to open outwardly slightly so that such sheets 15 can still be nested for shipping.

The bent product which results has overlapping tabs and supporting edges when stepped slits are employed. This enhances the ability of the product to withstand shear forces. If further strength is required, or for cosmetic reasons, 20 the bent sheet material can also be reinforced, for example by welding the bent sheet along the bend line. It should be noted that one of the advantages of forming both the longitudinally extending slits and arcuate slits with essentially zero kerf, as shown in FIG. 3A, is that the bent 25 sheet has fewer openings therethrough along the bend line.

Thus, welding or filling, by brazing epoxy or the like, along the bend line for cosmetic reasons is less likely to be required.

A further step in the method of the present invention which 30 produces substantial advantages is to mount, secure or assembly components which are to be contained in the eventual bent sheet, for example, in an enclosure, to the sheet material after it is slit, but before it is bent along the bend lines. Thus, while the sheet is flat and slit for 35 bending, or partially bent and slit for further bending, / WO 02/13991 PCT/US01/41742 electronic, mechanical or other components can be secured, mounted or assembled to the sheet and thereafter the sheet ran be bent along the bend line resulting from slitting. Bending after the components are positioned as desired in 5 י the end product allows the equipment enclosure to be formed around the components, greatly simplifying fabrication of the end product.

Finally, it will be noted that while straight line bends have been illustrated, arcuate bends can also be achieved. Thus, 10 for non-stepped slits, each slit can be arcuate and include a stress reduction structure at the ends. For stepped slits, the longitudinally extending segments can be shortened and curved bends of radii which are not too small can be achieved by laying the stepped short length slits out along the arcuate 15 bend line.

While the present invention has been described in connection with illustrated preferred embodiments, it will be understood that other embodiments are within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.