PROCEDE ET APPAREIL POUR CINTRER DES POUTRES METALLIQUES

L'INVENTION CONCERNE UN PROCEDE ET UN APPAREIL POUR CINTRER DES POUTRES METALLIQUES. L'APPAREIL COMPREND UN DISPOSITIF CONFORMATEUR EN FORME DE D, QU'ON PEUT FAIRE TOURNER PAR RAPPORT A UN GALET. LA POUTRE, SERREE A UNE EXTREMITE DU DISPOSITIF CONFORMATEUR SUBIT, LORS DE LA ROTATION DE CELUI-CI PAR RAPPORT AU GALET, UN CINTRAGE AUTOUR DU DISPOSITIF CONFORMATEUR. UN DISPOSITIF DE COUPE TRONCONNE LA POUTRE EN TROIS OU PLUSIEURS SECTIONS.L'APPAREIL EST DESTINE PRINCIPALEMENT A LA FABRICATION DE SUPPORTS EN ARCS POUR LES TRAVAUX MINIERS. The invention relates to arches for use in tunnels such as underground mine tunnels. These arches are composed of a bent metal beam often of "H" or "T"-section. Problems have previously arisen in accurately bending the beams to the required shape. The apparatus of the invention includes a D-shaped former which is rotatable relative to a roller. The beam is clamped to one end of the former and on rotation of the former relative to the roller, the beam is bent around the former so that it assumes the required shape, the ends of the beam being clamped to the former. A cutting device may be employed to cut the beam, while bent around the former, into three or more sections.