The invention relates to a device on a scrap shear or the like for reducing friction created by material being cut encountered when cutting while closing in a direction, the device having several jaws that can pivot relative to each other on opening and closing of the scrap shear, an end section of the scrap shear remote from its mount having at least two adjacent jaw-carrying arms having blades that form a cutting region that is reduced on movement in the cutting direction, the arms of the end section laterally overlapping in a closed position of the scrap shear.
Scrap shears and similar cutting devices that are carried for example on a piece of hydraulic equipment serve for cutting and comminuting objects of steel or the like, in particular metal materials. The simplest systems are scrap shears with two relatively pivotal jaw-carrying arms having blades at their outer scrap-cutting ends; a cutting gap formed between them decreases as then approach each other. The invention is usable on all types of scrap shears and the like whether or not and how the jaw-carrying arms are pivoted into the open or closed position.
The scrap shear or the like can be set up such that only one of the arms or both arms are pivotal on the mount, with a single actuator for both arms or one for each arm. In addition the invention is usable with scrap shears or the like with more than two arms, in particular in an embodiment with two outer jaws carried on a double arm and a central jaw-carrying arm whose end moves on relative movement of the single and double arms between the outer jaws. The relative movement between the double-jaw arm and the central single-jaw arm can be effected by moving either the double arm or the central arm relative to the mount carrying the scrap shear. In embodiments with only one jaw arm movable relative to the mount the central arm is usually the movable one and the double-jaw arm is fixed to the mount. In order to prevent lateral deflection of the central jaw arm, the jaws of the double-jaw arm which define their side of the cutting gap support wear-resistant slide plates or a blade.
During a cutting operation transverse forces effective perpendicular to the plane of pivoting are created in the cutting region of the scrap shear by the material being cut and the gap in the cutting region between the acting jaw arms is increased so as to change the geometry of the cutting gap and allow the material being cut to get in between. If the transverse force is sufficiently high, the friction between the adjacent jaw arms is enough that it cannot be overcome by the drive forces for operating the scrap shear. The result is that the scrap shear is out of service and the jam must be cleared, a time-consuming and difficult job.
It is an object of the invention the make it possible to deal with jams occurring during cutting by special formation or manipulation of the parts of the scrap shear. The new apparatus should be particularly set up that the scrap shear is less sensitive to frictional forces and the forces to open it even under difficult circumstances are sufficient.
This object is achieved by the features of claim 1. The basic idea of the invention is that at least one jaw has an end section remote from the mount, may have a blade, and is provided with a support that is movable at least partially relative to the jaw between a work position and a pressure-reducing position and the support is constructed such that when moved in-to the friction-reducing position a spacing between its face turned away from an outer face supporting the jaw and the confronting face of the adjacent jaw increases. This is the same when the spacing between the moving outer face and a relatively fixed support face of the supporting arm decreases.
Under these circumstances the support element according to the invention can be constructed and mounted in many different ways. In particularly the support element can itself be a blade or can be provided with a blade. Furthermore according to the invention there can be a plurality of supports formed as blades themselves or as slide plates on adjacent jaw arms.
With regard to the basic object at least one of the existing supports is set up such that it operates either automatically (that is without external actuation) or can be operated when needed to move into the friction-reducing position. The term “use position” refers to the position of the active support during normal use of the scrap shear. Moving the support toward the friction-reducing position reduces the friction effective on the ends so that any jamming, for example at the start of opening the shear, is eliminated. By providing the scrap shear with at least one support which can be moved appropriately on the supporting jaw arm it is certain that the transverse forces effective in the cutting region and if necessary other frictional forces are reduced such that the scrap shear can be returned to service in short order.
The invention can be basically constituted such that the support can be freely shifted on the jaw arm in order to provide the necessary play. Alternatively in one embodiment the support includes at least one fastener for securing it to the supporting jaw (claim 2). This embodiments makes operation easy: Under normal conditions the support is secured by the fastener (for example at least one screw) to the carrying jaw arm in a predetermined position so it cannot move. In case during a cutting operation there is a jam, the fastener is released so that the support can move into the friction-reducing position. Once the jam is cleared, the support is moved back into the use position. The described embodiment is set up such that the support is only limitedly movable on the supporting jaw arm.
Independent of the actual working conditions and requirements, the invention can also be such that the fastener is remotely operable (claim 3). When the fastener is a clamping cylinder which normally fixes the support on the carrying jaw arm and if necessary, that is when actuated, lets the support move in the described manner. In the simplest system the clamping cylinder is hydraulic; alternatively other fasteners can be used, in particular motor-driven threaded spindles.
It is within the scope of the invention to make the support a wedge which can be shifted mainly in the opening direction of the scrap shear relative to the supporting jaw into the friction-reducing position (claim 4). This embodiment requires that the supporting arm have an appropriate guide face. It must be constructed to coact with the wedge such that movement of the wedge in the opening direction of the scrap shear increases the spacing between its outer face and the confronting face of the adjacent jaw arm. In the simplest case the wedge is braced such on the supporting jaw that the displaced wedge also moves transversely parallel to itself (claim 5).
In another embodiment of the invention the support is shiftable perpendicular to a pivot plane (claim 6). In a further development of this embodiment the support is shiftable and arrestable by threaded elements (claim 7). Alternatively the support can be formed as a cylinder unit and is operable by a pressurizable fluid (claim 8). The cylinder unit has a biasing unit that acts against the pressure of the fluid (claim 9). The biasing unit, in the simplest case a mechanical spring, can be set up that it is effective either toward the use portion or toward the friction-reducing position. Preferably the cylinder unit is displaced by the fluid into a use position in which the support assumes its use position.
In a further embodiment of the invention the support is pivotal relative to the supporting jaw such that in the friction-reducing position a spacing between the angled support outer face and a confronting face of the adjacent jaw seen in the closing direction of the scrap shear increases (claim 11). The support is pivoted either by a threaded element (claim 12) or by an eccentric (claim 13).
It is to be understood that in the scope of the teachings of the invention if necessary taking into account the actual structure of the scrap shear or similar cutting device, it is possible to use several of the above-described embodiments of the invention. This is in particular the case when the scrap shear or similar cutting device has more than two jaw-carrying arms, for example the above-described double arm and a central arm working with it.
The invention is more closely described in the following with reference to the drawing; therein there is only shown by way of example a scrap shear with three jaws, namely a double arm carrying two outer jaws and a central one-jaw-carrying arm pivotal between them. As already described, the invention can also be applied to other cutting devices, in particular scrap shears having only two jaws.
In particular:
a is a schematic view of a scrap shear;
b is a perspective view of the double-jaw-carrying arm and the single-jaw-carrying arm of the scrap shear shown in
a is a largely schematic section through the double jaws and the central jaw of a scrap shear according to the invention shown during a cutting operation;
b is a section like
a is a largely schematic section through the double jaws and the central jaw of a scrap shear according to the invention during a cutting operation, where both of the double jaws and the central jaw are provided with wedges;
b is a section like
a is a largely schematic section through the double jaws and the central jaw of a scrap shear according to the invention during a cutting operation, where one of the double jaws has a cylinder unit as support;
b is a section like
a is a largely schematic section through the double jaws and the central jaw of a scrap shear according to the invention during a cutting operation, where one of the double jaws has a support pivotal by an eccentric;
b is a section like
a is a largely schematic section through the double jaws and the central jaw of a scrap shear according to the invention during a cutting operation, where one of the double jaws has a support pivotal by a screw; and
b is a section like
A hydraulic scrap shear 1 shown in
In order to operate the main arms 2 and 3 there are two hydraulic actuators 6 and 7 having respective cylinders 6a and 7a pivoted on the bottom of the rotary mount 5 and piston rods 6b and 7b pivoted on the double arm 2 and the central single arm 3.
Extension of the hydraulic actuators 6 and 7 moves the main arms 2 and 3, which in turn are pivoted on the support 4, such that the shear 2 closes as shown by arrow 8. Shortening of the hydraulic cylinders 6 and 7 effects an opposite pivotal movement of the main arms 2 and 3 so that the shear 1 opens.
While the central arm 3 has on its outer edge shown in
When, during closing in the direction of the arrow 8 (see
As shown in
a shows, after the cutting operation and the close-up position produced thereby, the position of the double-jaw-carrying arm 2 and the central single-jaw-carrying arm 3 with the material 11 in the gap 17 between the confronting blades 9 and 10 of the central arm 3 and the first jaw 2. The central arm 3 has been shifted laterally as shown by the arrow 18 as a result of the transverse forces in the cutting gap and bears with its face 3b the direction of arrow 18 on the face 12b of the slide plate 12a and via the wedge 12 on the second jaw 2b. The wedge is guided on the second jaw 2b such that the slide plate 12a and the wedge can only move parallel in the plane of the view, so that the spacing of the face 12b changes with respect to the first jaw 2a; the same is true for the spacing between the first jaw 2a and the central arm 3 so long as the same engages the slide plate 12a. In the working position of
The friction created by the material 11 being cut in the cutting gap 17 and between the central arm 3 and the slide plate 12a leads in certain circumstances to a situation wherein the double arm 2 and the central arm 3 cannot be moved by the hydraulic actuators 6 and 7 and the shear 1 is jammed. In order to unjam it, one first loosens the screws 16 (shown in
The invention thus makes it possible to eliminate an occasional jam with relatively simple and inexpensive means. It is also within the scope of the invention to make the slide plate 12a and the wedge 12 a single part and thus form the face 12c directly on the slide plate 12a. In addition the central arm 3 can carry on its face turned toward the slide plate 12a a wear-resistant insert, in particularly a removable wear plate. Independently of this, it is advantageous according to the invention when the wedge 12 or a wedge-shaped slide plate 12a, is secured on the second jaw 2b, for example by means of a hydraulic cylinder, and is remotely controllable. The inventive solution also encompasses embodiments wherein the slide plate 12a and wedge 12 or the combined wedge and slide plate are not fixed but are right from the start mounted so they can move limitedly on the jaw 2b.
As shown in the embodiment of
The central arm 3 is provided in the region that during cutting forms the cutting gap 17 with a wedge 21 that is slidable on the arm 3 and that if necessary also can be fixed by an unillustrated fastener. A cavity of the wedge 21 receives a wedge-shaped guide 22 of the central arm 3. In the use position shown in
b shows a situation of the shear wherein, if necessary after loosening any clamping, the jaws 2a and 2b on the one side the central arm 3 on the other are shifted relative to each other in the opening direction (against the arrow 8). Since as the opening movement of the shear takes place, the wedges 12, 19, and 21 shift both longitudinally and transversely relative to the supporting jaws 2b, 2a, and 3, the entire system (around the cutting gap) can be opened very quickly.
The embodiment of
Occasional jams can also be dealt with according to the invention in that at least one jaw of the shear is mounted on a support displaceable transversely to the closing plane. In the embodiment according to
In the embodiment according to
It is within the scope of the invention to modify the embodiment of
It is to be understood that the cylinder unit in the solution according to the invention can also be double acting so that the piston 23 can be moved by appropriate pressurization into the
This embodiment (according to
The embodiment according to
It is possible according to the invention to achieve the desired reduction of the friction created by the material being cut further by providing at least one of the jaw-carrying arms at its end remote from the mount with a support that is pivotal in a certain manner on the arm carrying it. In the embodiment according to
Rotation of the eccentric 25c counterclockwise moves the pivot plate 25b bearing on the eccentric 25c such that the end face 25d moves back toward the base plate 25a and the pivot plate as well as the face 12d form an acute angle with the pivot plane E. Starting in the use position of
The embodiment of
Starting in the use position (
It is understood that the support 25 according to the invention can be provided with other adjustment elements. Furthermore it is possible according to the invention to operate the adjustment elements remotely by a motor and to lock them in the determined positions.
The advantage of the system of this invention is that equipping at least one arm of the scrap shear or a similar cutting apparatus with at least one movable support element makes it possible to reduce pressure in the entire system around the cutting gap that is caused by the material being cut. Similarly the one or more support elements are provided on the end of the arm remote from its support such that the distance to the adjacent arm can be made larger so that the face turned away form the arm of the support element moves relative to the supporting arm. A further advantage of the solution according to the invention is that an occasionally occurring jam can be cleared without dealing with the cutting region and without having to take apart and reassemble the arm structure.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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102 43 125.6 | Sep 2002 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/DE03/02600 | 8/1/2003 | WO |