Right angle progressive shearing machine

A shearing machine comprising:

• (a) a frame member having a throat;
• (b) first upper and lower blades and second upper and lower blades, said first upper and lower blades being connected at right angles to said second upper and lower blades, respectively, wherein said first and second upper blades meet or intersect with each other at an intersecting point and said first and second lower blades meet or intersect with each other at an intersecting point, wherein said second upper and lower blades are positioned outside of the outermost portion of said frame member;
• (c) ram means mounted on the frame member, said ram means carrying said first and second upper blades and being movable up and down;
• (d) pivot means for mounting said ram means on said frame member, wherein the axis of said pivot means is at a height above said first and second lower blades, and wherein said ram means pivots about said pivot means such that said first and second upper blades are moved between upper and lower positions;
• and
• (e) a progressive shearing edge on each of said first and second upper blades, wherein both said shearing edges are inclined downward from said intersecting point to the other end of each blade at the upper position of the blades and the second upper blade is inclined upward from the intersecting point at the lower position of the blades, and the other end of the first upper blade is lower than the other end of the second upper blade such that the angle of inclination of said first and second upper blades is different, whereby when said first and second upper blades are moved from upper to lower positions said first upper and lower blades cooperate to shear a workpiece prior to said second upper and lower blades cooperating to shear the workpiece.