Patent Application
20090241633
The invention relates to forging machines and, in particular, to an arrangement for improving the performance of segmented radially moveable tooling on such machines.
Multi-station forging machines have demonstrated their ability to mass produce parts of complex shape in an economical manner. In using a progressive forging process to produce a complex part from round wire, there is frequently a need to create an hourglass shape, i.e. two bulbous zones longitudinally spaced by an intermediate zone narrower than each bulbous zone. To control the shape of the part, it is customary to use segmented tooling that can close on the narrow zone and open sufficiently to allow longitudinal passage of one of the bulbous zones. A problem often encountered with segmented tooling is that the pressure forces on the segments in the forging process, urges them to separate and, in turn, they push back on those elements intended to constrain them in a closed or constricted position. The pressure forces involved in the forging action can exceed the ability of the constraining elements and the segments can open slightly in the forging blow. When this happens, the precision of the part shape degrades, unwanted and detrimental material flash can occur between the segments and tooling wear can be accelerated. Conventionally, the segments are confined in the tapered bore of a sliding die case and the die case is spring-biased in a direction that resists opening of the segments. Traditionally, springs have been situated behind the sliding case. Ordinary springs, even when they are several in number and distributed around the die center, provide a relatively small force that can be inadequate to resist the reaction forces occurring in the sliding surfaces of the tooling. One approach to solve this problem has been to use a larger machine where more room is available for larger springs. A relatively recent approach to increase the biasing force on the die case has been to mount a gas spring on the die breast below the die station in question and transmit the spring force through a lever that multiplies the spring force.
In the forging of some complex parts, it is necessary or desirable to employ sliding, segmented tools on the slide or ram. This application of such segmented tooling faces the same challenge of biasing the tool case with sufficient force to prevent reverse movement of the case and consequent opening of the segments. In general, the space available around the tool case on the slide severely limits the hardware, apart from the regular tooling, and related appurtenances, that can be mounted on the slide. This lack of room makes it difficult to utilize large conventional springs. Moreover, there typically is insufficient room to mount a gas spring or structurally adequate supporting bracketry as well as a lever at a typical work station on the slide. Additionally, it is desirable to minimize the mass being reciprocated on the slide. Still further, where a gas spring requires liquid cooling, the supply of such coolant to a reciprocating slide is problematic.
The invention represents an advance in forging technology by providing a novel arrangement for producing a high biasing force on a sliding segment tool case on the slide. The high level of force obtained by the invention achieves significant improvement in part shape and dimensional uniformity through essentially complete constraint of the tool segments. The invention produces a spring bias force on a sliding case carried on the reciprocating slide from a spring fixed on the die breast. The disclosed novel arrangement avoids problems such as spring size limitations because of physical interference, added reciprocating mass, and complicated, failure prone liquid coolant circuitry which would otherwise exist were the spring mounted on the slide.
More specifically, the biasing spring is in the form of a nitrogen gas spring mounted with its axis parallel to the slide motion. A pivotal lever is mounted on the slide in a location aligned with the axis of the spring so that near the end of the forward stroke of the slide, one end of the lever is operatively pressed upon by the spring. When this end of the lever is pressed by the spring, the opposite end of the lever biases the tool segment case in a forward direction to tightly hold the segments in their closed position. The disclosed arrangement with the spring in a stationary position on the die breast has this componentry occupying an available, convenient space in the machine that does not unduly restrict its size. Moreover, the spring and lever can be strategically positioned so that the reaction forces necessary to support them during a forming blow are borne by the die breast plate and the slide tool mounting plate without requiring bracketry strong enough, and correspondingly bulky, to carry the full spring force. Where, preferably, the spring is a gas spring such as a liquid cooled nitrogen gas spring, the fixed position of the spring relative to the machine frame avoids the need for flexible lines that would otherwise be required where the spring was carried on the reciprocating slide.
Referring now to
A die 16 is assembled in a die block 17 carried on a breast plate 18. Hanging directly below the die 16 is a high force compression spring 19 in the form of a nitrogen gas spring of a commercially available type. The gas spring comprises a cylinder 21 and a piston 22 with a piston rod 23 extending out of the cylinder 21. Preferably, the central axis of the spring 19 is parallel to and directly vertically in line with the center line 14 of the die and punch. The spring 19 is supported vertically and laterally with respect to its horizontal axis in a bracket 24 having a bore that closely fits the outside diameter of the cylinder 21. A rear or bottom end 26 of the cylinder 21 is axially supported, preferably through direct abutment, with the breast plate 18. A forward end 27 of the piston rod 23 presents a flat vertical surface. The spring cylinder 21 rearward of the bracket 24 is encased in a cylindrical shell 28. The interior of the shell 28 is formed with a continuous helical groove 29. Ends of the shell 28 are sealed in a liquid-tight manner on the outside surface of the cylinder 21. Liquid coolant/lubricant, such as circulated in other parts of the machine 10 is conducted through the groove 29 so that it is in contact with the outer surface of the cylinder 21 and is thereby enabled to draw heat from the spring 19 produced by cyclical compression of the spring during operation of the machine 10 as discussed below.
In
A cylindrical bore 34 in the tool holder 31, has its axis centered on the workstation axis 14 and is lined with a cylindrical bushing 36. A tool case 37 is assembled in the bushing 36 and is proportioned to slide axially within the bushing. A cross pin 38 received in a tangential slot 39 on the tool case 37 prevents the case from rotating while allowing limited axial motion within the holder 31. At its forward end, the tool case 37 has a conical bore 41 centered on its axis and narrowing with increasing distance from an end face 42. A plurality of arcuate tool segments 43, typically three or four in number, are disposed in the conical bore 41. Radially oriented pins 44, one for each segment 43, and retained in the tool case 37, operate in a slot of the respective segment 43 to control positioning of the respective segment. As understood by those skilled in the art, when the segments 43 are radially closed, they collectively create a space that precisely defines the desired shape of the section of a part 13 to be formed at the illustrated work station. Adjacent radially oriented faces of the segments 43 are in full abutting contact when the segments are in a closed position. When the segments 43 are closed, their collective outer peripheral shape is preferably fully complementary to the shape of the tapered or conical bore 41 and, apart from slots associated with the pins 44, is in full contact with the bore. When the slide 12 retracts from the front dead center position illustrated in
A generally vertical pivoted lever 46 has a forked upper end 47 with its tines 48 (
The push rod 53, as shown in
It will be understood from the foregoing, that the force of the gas spring 19 is multiplied and transferred to the rear face 49 of the tool case 37 when the slide 12 is near or at front dead center. The result is a forward spring bias on the tool case 37 at or near front dead center of the slide 12. Depending on the configuration of the part 13 before it is formed in the workstation under consideration in
In their open position, the segments 43 are to the left of the position in the tool case 37 shown in
It should be evident that this disclosure is by way of example and that various changes may be made by adding, modifying or eliminating details without departing from the fair scope of the teaching contained in this disclosure. The invention is therefore not limited to particular details of this disclosure except to the extent that the following claims are necessarily so limited.
