Caterpillar Inc.

Kevin M Jacobs

Maurice L Caudill

Richard E Couch

Richard R Kazmierzak

Paul D Andreson

Joel C Schweisberger

A zone heating device has first and second spaced burners for heating first and second spaced sides of a metal plate during forming of a thickened edge along the edge of the metal plate. The first and second burners are elevationally movable by an actuator between first and second spaced transverse positions relative to the sides of the metal plate. An actuator moves the zone heating device along a trackway in directions transverse the plate edge. A fixed guide under the bias of the actuator engages the edge of the metal plate and maintains the first and second burners at a predetermined location relative to the plate edge. A movable guide maintains the first and second burners at another preselected location relative to the plate edge. A control device controls movement of the first and second burners, the zone heating device, and the movable guide in response to preprogrammed instructions. The zone heating device is particularly suited for use on a forming apparatus.

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Walkerton, IN, United States of America

Kevin M Jacobs