CA2044251C - Can body making apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A redraw apparatus (16) is provided for a can body making apparatus wherein the redraw carriage (40) of the redraw apparatus (16) is mounted for substantially friction-free sliding reciprocating movement over a pair of spaced apart support posts (70, 72) which are fixedly mounted on the housing (18) holding the can forming and ironing dies. Also, a counterbalancing system (110) is provided for applying a force to counterbalance the weight of a portion of structures used to reciprocate the redraw carriage (40). Additionally, a ram assembly (150) is provided for supporting a ram (262) for movement through the redraw apparatus (16) and the can forming and ironing dies wherein a pair of spaced apart elongated shafts (154, 156) are fixedly mounted and a ram carriage (170) having the ram (262) attached thereto is provided with liquid bearings (180, 182) using liquid coolant comprising water having solubles contained therein for mounting the ram carriage (170) on the elongated shafts (154, 156) for substantially friction fee movement thereover. A
guide liquid bearing (272) is also used to ensure proper alignment of the ram (262). Also disclosed is a reciprocating ram (1014) which is supported solely by a liquid bearing (1030) wherein the liquid bearing (1030) using liquid coolant comprising water having solubles contained therein has a sufficient length to ensure the proper alignment of the leading portion (1020) of the elongated ram (1014) as it engages a can blank in a redraw assembly (1010) and moves it through the forming and ironing dies to form an elongated can body.

Description

W090/098St -1- PCT/~S90/01058 '~0f~4~2~1.

~ CAN 80DY MAKING AP~ARATUS

~hls i~ventlon relatss generally to a can body ~aklng apparatus and ~ore partlcularly to an improvement in the ram assembly apparatus ~or ~a~ntalnlng more ~ccurate al~gnment o~ the ram durlng the reclprocatlon thereo~ and ln the redraw apparatus for provld~ng and malntalnlng ~or~ accurate alignment o~ ths can bl~n~s wlth the ram and the tool pack containing the can for~ing and ironing dies.

~ c~n ~ody maklng ~pparatus i~ disclosed 1~ V.S. Patent No. 3, 696, 657 lasued to J. ~. Maytag, The ram carr~age and redraw carrlage are each mounted on rollQrs wh~ch ~ove over carrlage way atrip~, ~8 lllu~trated ln Flga. 5 and 12 thereo~. Each palr of upper and lower rollers arQ urged toward each other BO as to be in ~lr~ contact with the carr~age way strlp located XO~ ~Sl O90/~985~ -2- PCT/US90/01058 therebetw~n. Both the r~m nnd redraw carri~ge~ ~re reclp-rocated ~t rates 6u~iclent to ~orm ~bout two hundred c~n~
minut~. The constant reclprocal movement of the r~ ~nd redraw carr~age~ and the tight ~ngagement of th~ roller~ on oS the carrlage way 6trlps result in w~ar whlch causee mis-allgnment o~ the ram or o~ the can blank~ by the redraw sleeve. It i8 understood that thla mi6alignment ls 6mall, between about 0.005 and 0.010 of an inch, but such mls-- allgnment can result ln defectlve can6.

Thl~ ~nvention provlde~ ram assembly me~ns ~or a can body ma~ing ~pparatu~ whereln ram mean~ are mounted on ram carriage means whlch have a pair o~ llquld bearlng mean~ for lS mounting the ram carrlage ~eans ~or reciprocal movement over a palr o~ Slxedly mounted, spaced apart, elongated shaft~.
Al~o, gulde mean~, ~uch ~8 llquld bearlng means, are provld~d ..
for guldlng the reclprocal movement o~ the ram m~ans there-through.
Thls lnventlon also provldss a rAm a~embly wh~r~ln an eionghted r~m ~or a c~n body ma~lng apparatus wh~ch 1~
connected to ~pp~rntu~ for produclng a strnlght llne recip-rocating ~otlon and 1~ ~upport~d 801ely by a llquld b~aring during the reclprocation thereof in a can body maklng operatlon whereln the llquid bsarlng ha~ a ~u2~1clent lengt~
to ensure ths malntenance of proper allgnment for the leading portlon o2 the elongated ram a~ lt engage~ a can bl_nX ln th~ redraw a~embly and ~ove~ it through the forming and lronlng d~e~ to form an elongated c3n body even 20~4;~51 wo g~/~9851 -3- Pcr/us9o/olo~8 lr th~re 1~ some mlsallgnment o~ the apparatus ~or produclng the ~traight llna rQc~procating ~otlon.
This lnv~ntlon al~o provlde~ a redraw apparatus ~or a can body ~aklng apparatu6 wh~reln the r~draw carrlage 1~
05 sllda~ly mounted on a palr of spaced apart support posts ~or reciprocal movement thereover, which ~upport posts are fixedly mounted on the hoûsing holding the can form~ng and ironing dle~. The inventlon also provides counterbalancing means ~or supportlng at least a ma~or portion of the weight o~ the redraw actuatlng rod, also known a~ the push rod, to ~ubstantlally eliminats the welght on the carriage ~leeve for more e~flcient operation.
In one pre~erred embodiment of the lnventlon, ram assembly means are provlded for a can body maklng apparatus havlng mean~ ~or rsclprocatlng a ram carrlage means and a ram means ~long thelr longltudlnal axes ~o that the rau mean~ push a can blanX through can forming and lronlng die~
to form a can body. The ram a~sembly means include a palr o~ ~paced ~part, elongated sha~ts havlng generally cyllndrl-cal outer sur~aces and whlch are fixedly mounted on a ~lxedframa maan~ e ram ~eans are mounted on a ra~ carrl~ge me~ns that have a palr o~ ~p~ced apart llguld be~rlng ~eans each havlng a cylindrical lnner ~urface ~or reclprocal movement over the elongated ~haft~. ~he llquld bearing means has a plurallty o~ arcuately shaped pocket mean~, each o~ whlch i~ ~upplled with a llquld, pre~erably ~rom ths coolant ~upply of the can body maklng apparatus, at ~ultable pressures. Each llquld bearing means al~o hao liquld return mean~ ~or removlng the liquid 6upplied to the pocket means.
Guide mean~, preferably comprl~lng llquld bearlng means, are ;~O~Z~il.
~'O~/0985~ ~4~ PCT/US90/01058 ~ixedly mounted on the ~r~me means ~nd are located 60 that the ram maans Are supported for reclprocal movement t~ere-through. A redraw carrlage lncluding a redraw ~leevs 1B
located between t~e ram assembly means and the can forming 05 and lroning dies and functlons to ~old a can blank in the proper positlon against the can formlng and ironing dies 80 that the ram means will push the can blank through the can forming and ironing die~ to form a can body. The redraw apparatus includes a redraw carriage that lfi provided with a pair o~ ~paced apart bearing~ havlng generally cyllndrical inner surface6. A pair of 6paced apart support po~ts are fixedly mounted on the houslng holding the can forming and ironing d~es and have generally cyllndrlcal outer surfaces.
The redraw Bleeve i8 slidably mounted on the spaced apart support posts for substantlally 2rlction ~ree movement thereover. The longltudlnal axe6 o~ the spaced apart 6upport posts and bearlng~ are parallel to ths longltudlnal axis o~ the ram means and the redraw sleeve holds the can blanX 80 that the longltudlna~ axl~ t~ereo~ i8 allgned ~lth the longitudlnal axis o~ the ram means. Reclprocating means are provided for providing reciprocal movement of the redraw carriaqe over the spaced apart support post6. A counter-balanclng means, comprising a plurallty of ~prings mo~nted in a fixed position and applying a force again6t a portlon ~f the reciprocat$ng means, removes ~ub6tantlally all o~ the weight on the redraw carrlage to vlrtually eliminate wear o~
th~ bushing~ ~nd posts.
In ~noth~r pre~srred embodlment o~ th~ inventlon, an elongated ram 18 provided and has a main body port~on having a g~ner~lly cylindrlcal outer perlpheral sur~cs and a ~lrst 2()~4 ~
WO90J09851 ~5~ PCT/US90/01058 Qnd port~on on w~lch there 1~ mounted A punch ~lQave whlch moves into the redr~w asQembly to engags a can blanX and then move~ the can blank through t~e forming and ironing dles to ~orm the can blank into an ~longated can body. The OS elongated ram has a second end portion, opposlte to the f~rst end portldn, which i8 mounted in connectlng msans for connectlng th~ 6econd end portion to the apparatu~ for producing ~ reclprocatlng linear motion. The m~in body portlon 18 mounted ~or sllding movement through a liquld ~earing having a generally cylindrical inner surface having a diameter only slightly greater than the diameter o~ the generally cylindrical outsr peripheral sur~ac~ o~ the main body portlon. The llquid bearlng i3 fixedly mounted on the support fr~me. Inlet means ~r~ provided ~or 6upplying llquld to the llquid bsarlng and outl~t mean~ are provided ~or removi~g ll~uid ~rom the llquld bearing. ~ho liquid pre~erably comprises a portlon Or the coolant used to cool the forming and ironing dles and i~ pa~sed through the llquid bearing at a rate sufficient to maintain the variou6 portions of the elongated ram at de61red temper~tures. As described above, the elongated ram 18 supported solely by t~e llquid b~arlng and t~o li~uid bearing has a su~lc~ent Qngth to Q118Ur8 the ma~nt~nance Or proper allgnment ror th~
first portlon o~ the elongated ram a~ it engages a can blank ln th~ redraw assembly and moves lt through the formlng and ironing dlQs to produce an elongated can body. The differ-ence $n diameter between the generally cyllndrlcal outer surfac~ Or the main body por~ion and the g~n~rally cy~ndrl-cal inner ~urface Or the liquid bearing 1B betwsen about ~o~
uO~0/098~ - PCT/US90/010~8 0.0006 ~nd 0.0012 o~ sn lnc~. T~e pres~ure ln the liquld bearlng 1B between about lO0 and 500 p81 and pre~er~bly i8 about 250 p~l.

Illufitrat~ve and pre~ently preferred embodlment~ o~ the lnventlon are 6hown ln the accompany~ng drawlng~ ln wh~ch:
Flg. l 18 a side elevatlonal vlaw simllar to Flg. 6 o~
the Maytag patent;
Flg. 2 18 an elevatlonal view wlth parts ln ~ectlon taken on the llne 2-2 o~ Fig. l;
Flg. 3 ~8 an el~vatlonal vlew wlth parts ln 6ection taken along the llne 3-3 o~ Flg. 2t Flg. 4 is a top plan vlew o~ a portlon o~ Flg. 2:
Flg. 5 is a slde elevatlonal view Or a plate ~eans ~ormlng a part Or the counterbalanclng means~
Flg. 6 1~ a side 01evatlonal view o~ ths ~prlng holdlng means o~ the counterbalancing means;
Flg. 7 18 ~ ~ront elevational vlew o~ Flg. S;
Flg. 8 18 a rront elevatlonal vlew o~ Flg. 6;
Flg. 9 1~ ~ top plan v~ew o~ the ram assembly means to ba substltuted for tho~e ln Flg. 1t Flg. lO 1~ a top plan vlew o~ the ram carriage means of Flg. 9t Flg. ll 1~ a le~t slde elevatlonal vlew o~ Flg. lOt Flg~ 12 i~ a rlght ~lde Qlevatlon~l vlew o~ Flg. lOt ~-0~0~0~8~1 -7- 204~251. PcT/Usg~/~l~~
Flg. 13 1~ ~ cross-~ectlon~l vlew taken on th~ lln~
13-13 o~ ~lg. 9S
Fig. 14 iB ~ cros~-~ect~onal view taken on the lln~
14-14 o~ Fig. 13 ~
05 Flg. 15 is ~ cross-~ectlon~l view Or the manl~old means tak~n on th~ llne 15-15 Or Flg. 9) Flg. 16 1B a top plan vl~w o~ thQ pr~ferrQd 2mbodim~nt o~ th~ 5 lnventlon;
Flg. 17 is a side elevatlon of a ma~or portion o~ Fig.
16;
Fig. 18 is an Qnlarged cross-~ectional vlew taken on the llne 18-18 o~ Fig. 1~; -Flg. 19 1~ a cross-sectlonal vlew taken on the line 19-19 o~ Flg. 16;
Fl~. 20 1~ an end Qlevatlonal vlew o~ a portlon o~ the connectlng me~ns be~ore the elong~ted ram ~ connect~d therQto~ ' ' Plg. 21 16 a cross-~ectlonal view ta~en on the llns 21-21 o~ Flg. 20;
Flg. 22 1B a side elevatlonal vlew o~ the conn~ctlng means;
Flg. 23 18 a Cro88-BeCtlonal V~ ew taken on the llne 23-23 Or Flg. 22s Fig. 24 18 an end elevationa~ vlsw o~ a connectlng pln;
Flg. 25 1~ a slde elevatlonal vlew Or Fig. 24~
Flg. 26 1B an snd elevatlonal vlew o2 th~ llguid bearing~
Fig. 27 18 a cross-sQctlonal vlew taken on the llne 27-27 o~ Flg. 26t o~o/09851 -8- '~ 5 tPCT/~S90/010~8 Flg. 28 is a cro8s-sect~onal vl~w t~en on the l~ne 28-28 Or Flg. 27~
Flg. 29 le an end elev~tlon21 vlew Or ~n ~d~ustable ~lttlng~ and Flg. 30 18 a croes-eectlon~l vlew taken on the llne 30-30 o~ Flg. -29.

The apparatus lllustrated ln Flg. 1 corresponds to that lllustrated in Flg. 6 o~ the Maytag patent. A frame 10 has a ram carrl~g~ ~2 mounted th~reon ~or reclproc~tlng movement over a palr o~ spaced apart opposed way etrips ~not shown).
The r~ carrlage 12 has a ram 14 mounted thereon 80 that durlng the ~orward etroke, the rAm 14 wlll paes through the redraw apparatus 16, hav~ng a cup ~eQdlng mean~ 17, and through the houslng 18 containlng the can ~ormlng and lronlng dles slm~lar to those ln U.S. Patent No. 3,~35,629, to Paramonof~
Th~ mechanlsm ~or reclproc~tlng the ram carrlage 12 lncludes the motor 20, the pulley wheel 22, the crank ehaSts 24, the cr~nk arm5 26, the cranX pln~ 2B, th~ maln connectlng rod 30 ~nd crose-head me~bers 32, all 0~ whlch are conventlonal.
The redraw appAratus 102 o~ thl~ lnventlon le lllus-trated ln Figs. 1 - 4 and comprlee~ a re~raw carrlage 40 2~ havlng a conventlonal redraw sleeve 42. The redraw carrlage ~O 1~ provlded wlth ~ pair o~ epaced apart longltudlnally extendlng bores 44 and 46 whlch are locat~d on ~oth ~ide~ o~
buahlng 48 nounted in the redraw carrlage 40. One end o~
each bore 44 ~nd 46 iè enlarged and bearlng ~eans S0 and 52 are ~lxedly ~ounted there~n. The bearing ~eans 50 and ~2 W090/0985l ~L~'L~!51. PCT/US90/01058 pre~sr~bly compri~e ~ h~rdensd steel bushlng havlng A
cyllndrlcal inner sur~Ac~ 54. The r~draw c~rrl~ge 40 ls also provlded w~th a palr Or bores 56 in whlch are mo~nt~d rocker plvot~ s8 ~lmllar to thoes in the Maytag patent. The 05 redraw carriage 40 al~o 18 provlded with pas6ageways 60. A
rocker arm 62 6~mllar to the one in the Maytag patent has extensions 64 whlch ~xtend through the pas6ageways 60 and are plvotally mounted on the rocXer plvots 58 to provide the forc~ to rsclprocate the redraw carriage 40.
A pair o~ ~paced apart 6upport post~ 70 and 72 arQ
fixedly mounted on the housing 18 holding the can forming and ironing dies (not ~hown). Each of the support posts 70 and 72 ha~ A cylindrical outer sur~ace 74 and has a longitu-d$nal axis extending parallel to the longitudinal axi~ o~
the ram 14. The redraw carriage 40 i8 ~lldably mount~d on the ~upport po~ts 70 and 72 ~y placing the b~aring mQans 50 and 52 over the support po~ts 70 ~nd 72. Conventlonal ~lttings 76 ~re provlded Sor ~upplylng lubricat~on for th~
bearing means 50 and 52. Th$~ ~lidable mountinq of the redraw carriage, as illustrated in Fig~ 4, ~s sub~tan-tially ~rict~on-free and min$mize~ any wear caused by the reciprocating movement o~ the redraw carriage 50 that proper alignmQnt Or the redraw ~leeve with the ram as6embly and the housing holdlng t~e c~n form$ng and ironlng die~ $~ m~ln-tained.
The r~draw carriage 40 18 rsciprocated by conventlonal mechanis~ a~ illustrated ln Fig~ 3. Ths rocker arm 62 i~ nttached to a shoe 78 which ~upport~ the conventlonal movement arresting means 80 lncluding the spring 82 and ~d~u~table stop screw 84. The ~hoe 78 i~ attached to the ~-O~0/0985l -10- PCT/US90/01058 Z~ 5~.
~nd 86 Or the ~ctu~tlng rod 88 and the end 90 Or the ~ctuat-ln~ rod 88 18 plvotally connected to the cam ~ollower lever 92 having a cam follow~r 94 whlc~ ~ urged against a cam 96 rot~ted by th~ whe~l 22. An alr cyllnder 98 18 mount~d on 05 flxed support lOo with the free e~d o~ lts plston rod 102 plvotally conn~cted to the actuatlng rod 88 at ~pproximately the mid-polnt thereof. The alr cylinder 98 exert~ a con-~tant forcs on th~ actuating rod 88 through the plston rod 102 to malnt~in the cam follower 94 in contact wlth the cam 96 to provld~ the reciprocatlng movement to the redraw carriage 40.
A counterb~l~nclng mean~ 110, lllustrated in Flg~. 1 and S - 8, 18 prov~ded for apply1ng a forca on th~ redraw actuatlng bar 88 ~o as to ~ubstantlally eliminats any w2ight lS on the redraw carrlag~ 40. The counterbalanclng means 110 comprlses an angularly shaped member 112 hav~ng passageways 114 and 116 ~o that lt may be eecured by headed bolts 118 to the hou~lng o~ ths alr cyllnder 98. A support memb~r 120 havlng a U-~haped opHn~ng 122 ~ posltlon~d on th~ support 100 and secured thereto by a ~t screw 124. A plurality o~
holss 126 ~re formed ln the support member 120 and ext~nd partlally th~rethrough and have openlng~ ln the upper sur~ace 128 thereo~. A coll~d spr~ng 130 i6 located ln each hole. As lllustrated in Flg. 1, the support member 120 1 located rolatlve to the member 112 80 that the co~led sprlngs 130 are ~n contact wlth a generally planar bottom ~urf~ce 132 on th~ ~e~ber 112. Plvot means 134 are provlded for pivotally conn~cting the end of the piston rod 102 to the redraw actuating bar 88. This plvot means 134 i~
connected to the redraw actuating bar 88 at a generally W0~0~0985~ Z0~4 ~ . PCT~US90/0l0~8 central locatlon. The colled sprlngs 130 ~unctlon to provide a ~orce on ths member 112 ~o ~8 to counterbal~nce the welght Or the redraw ~ctuating bar 88 ~nd lts a~oclat~d 6tructur~s ~o that there ls 6ub6tant~ally no wQight placsd ~S on the redraw carrl~ge 40. Set screws 13~ arQ threadedly ~ounted ln thre~ded ~ores 138 ~n the 6upport member 120 60 that th~ ends th~reof are in contact with the coiled springs 130 B0 that the amount of ~orce belng appl~ed by the CQ~ led springs 130 may be ad~usted. Thls counterbalancing meanC
110 vlrtually elimlnates any wear o~ the bu6hing m~ans 50 and 52 and the support po6t~ 70 and 72 80 that proper allgnment Or the redraw ~leevQ wlth the ram assembly and t~e houslng holdlng the can ~orming and lronlng dle~ 1~ mAln-talned.
~he redrnw carriage 40 and the redraw sleeve 42 ars reclprocated over the Gupport po~ts 70 and 72 to posltlon a can blank (not 6hown) to be contacted by the ram 14 and be pushed through the can forming and ironing dies ln the houslng 18 to form a can body.
Ram a~sembly m~ans 150, to ~e ~ubstltuted ~or th~ r~m a88embly m~an~ o~ Flg. 1, ar~ lllustrated ln Flg. 9 and comprlse a ~lxed support ~r~me msans 152 secursd to a foundatlon (not shown). A palr o~ spaced apart, elong~ted ~a~ts 154 and 156 are secured at a flxed locatlon on the support ~ram~ means 152 by sulta~le ~eans (not ~hown). The elongated sha~t~ 154 ~nd 156 hava generally cylindrlcal outer ~urfaces 158 and 160. Ram carrlage means 170 are lllu~trated in Flgs. 10 - 12 and lnclude a generslly rect-angularly shaped central body portion 172 and two end member~ 174 and 176 havlng arcuately shaped end sur~aces W0 9l)/09851 -12- ~ PCT/US90/0~058 178. Llquld bearing ~ean3 180 And 182 are ~ecured to thQ
arcuately 6haped end 6urfaces 178 by ~uitable me~ns, 8uch ~8 by weldlng. 'rhe liqu~d bearing means 180 and 182 have a plurality o~ llquid lnlet mean~ 184 and a plurallty o~
~S liquld outlet means 186 for purpo~es described below. Also, the top ~urfaces 188 and 190 o~ the llquld bearlng means 180 and 182 are generally planar and are provided with a plurality of threaded bores 192 for mounting a manifold means thereon as described below. A central rece~ 194 i8 formed in the end mem~Qr 174 and has a plurality of spaced apart threaded bores 196 for mounting the ram means as de~cribed below. A
central cavity 198 i8 formed in the end member 176 and i8 dimen~ioned to be coupled to the drive means for reclp-rocatlng the ram carrl~ge means 17~ as descrlbQd below.
lS Manl~old means 200, lllustr~tQd ln Flgs, 9, 13 and lS, are secured to the top cur~aces 188 and 190 by ~ultable mean~ (not shown) such as threaded bolts ln the threaded bore~ I92. The manlfold meanR 200 has a main body portion 202 having a liguid inlet means 204 and a liquid outlet mean~ 206. A passageway 208 recelve~ ld ~rom th~ liquld inlet means 204 ar,d dl~tribute~ tha liquid Shrough branch passageways 210 through the llquid lnlet means 184 o~ the llquid ~earing means 180 and 182 to an annular pas6ageways 212. Liquid is removed from the llquid bearing mean~ 180 and 182 through a passageway 214 connected to branch pas~age-ways 216 which recelve llquid from radlally extending pas~ag~ways 218 ln llquld communlcation wlth th~ llquid outlet means 186 ln the llquid bearing means 180 and 182 and pass euch llquld through llquid outlet means 206 and then to a dr~lln bzl~~in, as dQscribed be~ow.

~ ., ., , .. , . .. . _ , . ... . .. ... . ... ... . .

wo ~/n9~sl -13- Zo~ 5~ PCT/US9o/Ol~

Th~ liquld ~earlng mean~ 182 are lllu~trat~d ~ore p~rtlcularly 1~ Flg~. 13 and 14 ~nd compr~se a hollow elongated houslng means 230 havlng the generally planar top surf~ce l90 and a gene~ally cyllndrical inner surface 232 05 having a centrally locat~d radlally inwardly pro~ectlng flange portlon 234. Two llquid bearlng members 236 each havlng a generally cyllndrlcal outer ~urface 238 having substantlally ths same dlametQr as the generally cyl~ndrl~al surface 232 are posltioned in matlng relationship therewlth and ln ~butting relationship wlth the flange portion 234.
An end closing member 240 having an axially inwardly pro~ec-tion portlon 242 18 secured to the elongated housing by sultable means (not ~hown), such as bolts ln threaded bores, to restrict the ~low of the llquid out of th~ bearing membQra 236 ~o that th~ liquid wlll flow through thQ liquid outl~t means 186. Each liqu~d bearlng member 236 has a generally cylindrlcal lnner sur~ace 244 ln whlch ar~ ~ormed a plurallty of ~pacQd apart pocket cavlties 246 each of which has an ~rcuatQ surf~cs 248 whlch 1~ a portlon of a cyllndrlcal surfac~ havlng an axls of~set rrOm the ax~s o~
the general cylindrlcal lnner surface 244. A csntrally located radially extending passageway 250 i8 ln liqu$d communication with each pocket cavity 246 and the annul4r p~ssageway 212. Suitable ~ittings (not shown) are mounted ln e~ch passageway 250 to control tha ~low Or llquld lnto each poc~et cavlty 246. Access openlngs 254 ars provlded for permltting insertion or ad~ustment of the fittings ~nd when the be4rings ars ln usQ, th~s 4cce6s opQnings 254 ar~
sQ41ad with plug ~eans (not ~hown).

~0 ~0;0985l -14- PCT/US90/01058 XO~
Rsm mer~n~ 260 ~re lllustr~ted ln Flg. g ~nd comprlse a ram 262 h~vlng ~ generally cyllndrlcal outsr surfac~ 264 having ~ub6tantlally the same d~ameter a~ the lnner d~ameter of the can body to be formed. The ram 262 ~a~ &n lntegral 05 flanged portion 266 whlch ~8 po~ltloned ~n the central recess 194 and eecured therein by suitable means (not shown) ~uch a~ bolts secured ln the threaded bores 1~6. Guide means 268 are flxedly mounted in support members 270 fixedly ~ecured to the support frame mean6 152. The guide ~eans 268 comprise liquid bearing means 272 ~im~lar to liquid bearing means 180 and 182 except that the housing means thereo~
contains only one liquid bearing ~ember 236. Manifold means (not shown) wlll provide liguid to the liquid inlat means 184 and remove liquid from the liquid outlet meanq 186. r'he lS longitudinal axes of the elongated shaft~ 154 and 156, the liquid bearing means 180, 182 and 272 and the ram means 260 are in parallel relationshlp with each other. A ~all and socket means 274 i8 used to connect the end mem~er 176 to the main connsctlng rod 30. It le understood that ~uita~le ~ittlngs and sealing member6 are used where necessary to control the ~low of the liquid. In tl~e preferred e~hodl-ment, the liquid used i~ taken from the pool of coolant used conventlonally with c:an body ma~cing apparatus.
In ths operation o~ the apparatus illustrated ln Flgs.
9 - lS, the ram carriage asse~Dbly 150 18 mounted on the ~lxed support fra~e ~neans 152 80 that the front end portion 276 o~ ths ra~ 262 wlll pass through the redraw apparatus 16 and the hou~lng 18 containing the can forming and lroning dlea. Llquld conductlng mean~ 276 are connected to the 1151uld lnlet means 204 and a coolant 6torage tanlc 278 to \ 0~0/~9851 z QL~-~ 51 PCT/US90~01~58 prov~de cool~nt ~rom tha coolant ~tor~ge tank 27B ~ the llquid to each of the llquid bearing means 180 ~nd 182. The coolant i~ provlded at 6uitable pressures 80 that the pr~ssur~ in each of the poc~et cavlties 246 iB ~etween about 05 150 and SoO psi ind preferably ~bout 200 psi. The coolant co~pri~e~ about 97 per ce~t water to which ~rs added solu~les.
Liquid conducting means 280 are connected to the liquid outlet means 206 and to a drain basin 282 for removing coolant passing through the liquid bearing mean6 180 and 182. The connecting rod 30 applies reciprocatlng forces on the ram carriage means 170 ~o that the ram 262 moves back and forth through the redraw apparatus 16 and the hou6ing 18 60 as to form can bodies at the rate o~ between about 150 and 300 can bodies per minute. The liquid bearing members 236 permlt substantially ~rlctlon ~ree movement o~ the ram carrlage mean~ ovsr the elongated ~ha~ts 154 ~nd 156 and ram 262 through the liquid bearing means 272 so that there i8 substantlally no wear to cause mi~alignment probl~m~. Al~o, the liquid bearing member~ 236 provide pressurs equallzatlon mean8 50 that the ram carriage ~eans move over the elongated sha~t m~ans 154 and 156 in an equilibrium position. The ram assQm~ly means o~ this lnvention weighs less than that illustrated ln the Maytag patent 80 that it ~ay be moved using sub~tantially less power. The lighter weight ~180 allows the reciprocation to be revarsed more easily 80 that more cans may be produced each minu~e. Also, by sub~tan-tially eliminating wear, downtime and malntenance are substantially reduced.
Another pre~erred embodi~ent o~ the inventlon 18 illustrated ln Figs. 16 o 32 and comprises a support ~rame ~0~0;09851 -16- ~0~51 PCT~US90/0l058 1002 comprl~lng a palr of ~paced apart llnearly ~xt~ndlng support beams 1004 ln parallel relatlonshlp and havlng support legs flxedly mounted on a floating support surface as conventlonal ln the art (not 6hown). A plural~ty of ~S cross-beams 1006 extend between and ara connected to the support beam~ 1004 to provlde a rigid support structure. A
housing 1008 havlng conventional can forming and ironing dies located therein i~ fixedly mounted on the 6upport beams 1004 suitable means 6uch as nuts and bolts. A conventlonal redraw a6~emb1y 1010 is ~lidably mounted on a pair of fipaced apart post~ 1012 by conventional means (not shown). ~ecip-rocating means such as those described ~n U.S. Patent No.
4,807,459 issued February 28, 1989, can be provlded to reciprocate the redraw assembly 10.
An elongated ram 1014 i8 provlded and has a maln body portlon ~016 havlng a generally cylindrlcal outer p~rlpheral surface 1018. The elongated ram 1014 has a firs~ end portlon 1020, described more fully below, for movement into the redraw assembly 1010 to contact n can blank (not ~hown) locatsd thQrein and to move thQ can blank through conven-tlonal can formlng and lronlng dles (not ~hown) ln the hou~lng 1008 to form an elongated can body. The elongated ram 1014 ha~ n second end port~on 1022 which i8 BeCUrely mounted in connecting means 1024. Apparatu~ 1026 extends from machinery, ~uch a6 the stralqht line motlon assembly descr~bed in the Maytag patent, whlch provide~ the apparatus 1026 with a reciprocating linear ~otion. A connecting arm 1028 1~ connected to the apparatus 1026 and the connecting means 1024 to transmit the reclprocatlng linear motion to wo 90/09851 17 Z~~ PCr~US90/OlOS8 tho conn~ctlng me~n~ 1024 ~nd th~ ~longated ram 1014 a-descrlbed below.
A liquid bearing 1030 i9 mounted irl a ~upport 6tructure 1032 which i8 mounted on the ~upport beams 1004 80 as te 05 hold the liquid bearing 1030 at a flxed location. The llquld bearlng lû30, descrlbed more ~ully below, has a generally cyllndrlcal inner surface 1034, Flg. 28, havlng a diaraeter slightly greater than the dlameter o~ the ganerally cylindrical outer surface 1018 to provide for 61iding 10 movement o~ the main body portion 1016 through the liguid bearing 1030. The dlfference ln diameters between the generally cyllndrlcal outer surface 1018 and the generally cylindrical inner ~urface 1034 i8 between about 0.0006 and 0.0012 o~ an inch. The 6upport structurQ 1032 ha~ spaced 15 apart inlet mean~ 1036 ~or supplylng ll~uld to the llguld bearlng 1030, d~crlbed more ~ully below, and ~pacE~d ap~rt outlet me~ns 1038 ~or removing llquid ~rom the llquid bearlng 1030, de~cr~bed more fully below. ~he elongated ram 1014 during the reclprocatlon thereo~ by the reclprocating 20 drlve means 1026 iB supported ~olely by the liquid bearing 1030.
The front portion 1020 of the elongated ram 1014 compri~s a reduced diameter portion 1040 over which there i~ mounted a hollow punch ~le~ve 1042. A punch ~leeve 25 retalning bolt 1044 is threA~le~lly mounted ln a threadsd openlng 1046 and bears against a radially lnwardly dlrscted flange portlon 1048 on the punch sleeve 1042 to hold the punch slesve 1042 on the f~rst end portlon 1020.
The connecting means 1024 are specifically lllustr~tsd in F~gs. 20 - 25 and comprise a block member 1050 havlng a wos~/0985~ -18- ~ PCT/US90/01058 ce~tr~l body portlon 1052. A palr of spaced ~p~rt support arm~ 1054, Fig. 1, pro~ect outwardly from the c~ntral body portion 1052 ln a directlon toward the reciprocatlng drlvs mQ~ns 1026 ~nd have allgned centr~l openlng~ 1056. A
05 support me.~er 1058 pro~ects outwardly from the central body portlon 1052 ~n.a dlrectlon toward the liquld bearlng 1030.
The 6upport member 1058 has a seml-clroular openlng 1060 having a longltudinal axis that ls parallel to thQ direction .. o~ rec~procatlon of the reclprocatlng drlve means 1026. A
1~ seml-clrcular rlb 1062 pro~ects radially inwardly from the seml-circular openlng 1060. The 6Qcond end portlon 1022 ha~
an annular race~ 1064 formed ther~in as i~ locatad 80 that when the second end portion 1022 is placed ln ths support member 1058, the sem~-circular rib 1062 18 located ln ~ half portion Or the annular recess 1064. A clamp~ng member 1066 has an 6emi-c~rcular open~ng 1068 ~ormed thereln having a longltud~nal axi~ that 18 parallel to ths dircction o~
reciprocation o~ the reciprocating drive means 1026. A
semi-clrcular rlb 1070 pro~ect6 radially inwardly from the seml-circular opening 1068 and is adapted to ~lt into the other hal ~ portion o2 the annular recess 1064. The support member 1058 has a plural~ty of threaded openings 1072. A
plurallty o~ headed threaded bolts 1074 pass through openings 1076 in the clamping member 1066 and engage abutment~ 1078 in the clamplng member 1066 and are threadedly engaged ln the threaded openings 1072 to hold the clamping member 1066 on the support member 1058 and with the semi-clrcular rib 1070 ln the other half port~on o~ the annular reces~ 1064.
The tolerance between the rlbs 1062 and 1070 and the annular reces~ 1064 i~ extremely.close ~o as to prevent any WOsO/0985~ -19- 2 0 ~i~5~ PCT~JS90~010~8 subst~tl~l r~l~tlv~ movement batween the slomgnted rAm 101~
an~ th~ block member 1050. The central ~ody portlon 1052 1B
provlded w~th a plurallty o~ threaded openl~gs 10~0. A
plurality o~ headed thr~aded ~olts 1082 pass through openlngs 05 10~4 and engage abutments ~n th~ clamplng member 1066 and ar~ thrs~dedly engaged ln the threaded openlng~ 1080 to hold the clamping member 1066 securely on the centrzl body port~on 1052. A pas~ageway 1086 in the central body portion 1052 ~8 in llquid communication with a p~ssageway 1088 extendlng through the elongated ram 1014 for co~ventional purposes.
The other portion o~ the connecting mean~ 1024 comprises the connectlng arm 1028, which i8 simllar to the connecting rod 23 o~ Maytag and i8 connected to the straight line motion as~embly 20 thereo~ in a slmllar manner, havlng a central portlon comprising a palr o~ ~paced apart arm members 1092. A ring ~haped member 1094 ~8 ln~egr~l with the arm member~ 1092 ~t one end thereof and is adapted to be connected to the reciprocatlng drlve means 1026 in the ~ame manner a~ the connecting rod 23 o~ the Maytag patent is connected to the ~t-~ight llne ~otion aas~bly 20. A body member 1096 i8 lntegral wlth the arm members 1092 ~t th~
other end thereof and has a central openlng 1098 ln wh~ch i8 seated ~ rlng shaped bushing 1100. A connecting pin 1102, Fig~. 17, 2q and 25, extend~ through the open~ngs 1056 and the bl~hing 1100 to connect the connecting arm 1028 to the ~upport arms 1054 o~ the bloc~ nember 1050. The connecting pin 1102 has ~ centr~l body portion 1104 having a generally cylindrlcal outer sur~ace 1105, Figs. 24 and 25, and epaced ~part end portions 1106 havlng generally planar ~ur~aces WO~0/098~1 -20- PCT/US90/0~058 1107. ~ threaded opening 1108, Fig. 21, Qxtends through each support ~rm lOS4 lnto the openlng 1056 nnd a threaded ~et screw 1109 having a flat bottom for contact~ng a planar sur~ace i8 located ln each threaded opening 1108 ~o that the 05 ~et scr~ws 1109 may be ti~ht~ned to hold th~ connectlng pln 1102 in a fixed position 60 that the connecting arm 1090 can plvot around the connecting pln 1102.
The liquid bearing 103Q and it6 support ~tructure 1032 ~ i5 illustrated speciflcally in Fiqs. 16, 19 and 26 - 28~
The support structure 1032 comprises an integral cast$ng preferably formed from cast iron and ha~ a pair of llnearly extending ~eams 1110 each having a generally planar bottom surfac~ 1112. A plurality o~ reinforcing rlbs 1114 extend between and ara integral with the beams 1110. A central body portlen 1116 having a longitudinal axis extendin~ ln directlon parallel to th~ dlrectlon o~ movement o~ the reciprocatlng drive means 1026 hae a pair o~ oppositely pro~ecting integral ~langes 1118 whlch ar~ integral wlth the beams 1110 and the relnforcing ri~s 1114. The central body portlon 1116 has a generally cyllndrical outer ~ur~ace 1120 exc~pt for two opposite rad~ally outward pro~ectlons 1122 havlng ganer~lly planar 6urfac~s 1124. The central body portlon 1116 h~s a genQrally cyl~ndrlcal lnner sur~ace 1126 in which are formed two 6paced apart radially outwardly extendlng annular reces~ss 1128.
The llquid bearlng 1030 comprise~ an slongated body portion 1140 having a longitudinal axls which, wh~n ths llquld bu~hlng 1030 i~ mounted in the central body portlon 1116, coincldee wlth the longitudinal axle ther~of. Tha elongated body portlon 1140 has 8 generally cylindrical W050/09851 -21- 20~ 51 PCT/US9~/OlOS8 out~r 6ur~ace 1142 ln whlch ~re form~d two ~p~ced ~p~rt radially lnwardly extendlng ~nnul~r reces~s 1144 w~lch ara ad~pted to be allgned w~th the ~nnul~r reca98e8 1128 to ~orm annular pa~sageways 1146, Flg. 28, each o~ whlch 1~ ~n 05 lllquld co~munlcatlon with an lnlet openlng 103~. A plural~ty of relatively narrow radlally ~nwardly extendlng annular grooves 1148 are formed ln the generally cylindrlcal outer surface 1142 and ln which are seated elastomeric O-xings 1150 80 as to form a seal between the generally cylindrical outer surface 1142 and the generally cyllndrical inner surface 1126 to 6eal off the pa~6ageways 1146. ~he diametsr o~ the generally cylindrical outer surfac~ 1142 i8 only slightly smaller than the diameter o~ the generally cylin-drlcal lnner 6ur~ace 1126 ~o as to provlde a clo~e tolerance 15 fit. The elongated body portlon 1140 has a gensrally cyllndrlcal lnner 6ur~ace 1034 ln whlch are ~ormed a plurallty o~ radially outwardly exten~ng pock~t Cav~t~Q~ 1154 Qach o~
whlch ha~ an ~rcuate surface 1156 whlch 18 a portion o~ a cyllndrlcal ~urface havlng an ~x18 whlch 18 o~set ~rom the longltudlnal ~xls ot the elongated body portlon 1140. A
centrally locat~d radially extendlng generally ~yllndrlcal pas8ageway 1~58 i5 in liquid communicatlon wlth each poc~et cavlty ~lS4 And one ot the passageway6 1146. Sultable ad~ustablQ fittings 1160, Flqs. 29 and 30, are used in the passageways 1158 to control the amount o~ llquld ~lowlng lnto the pocXet cavltles 1154 at deslred pressure~ so ~B to control th~ temperature o~ the elongated ram 101~ and the punch sleeve 1042. ~he ad~ustable ~ltting 1160 has a generally cyllndrlcal outer ~ur~ace 1162 which is sllghtly smAller thnn the generally cylindrical passageway 1158 and WO 9G/0985l -22- z0~53l pcT/usgo/o1o58 1~ ln thra~ded eng~g~ment 1164 th~r~wlth ~t ths rAdl~lly ~nnermost end o~ the genarally cylindrical passageway 1158.
Tool ~ngaglng ~lots 1166 are provided for rotatlng the ad~ustable ~ltt~ng 1160 ~nto the threaded engagement 1164.
oS The ad~ustable fittlng 1160 has a central opening 1168 in liquid communicat~on wlth th~ annular pas6ageway 1146. A
set screw 1170 is threadedly mounted ln the ad~u6table fittlng 1160 and has a conical lower ~urface 1172 adaptad to vary the sizs of the entrance lnto the central opening 1168 50 as to vary the rate of ~low therethrough. A plurality of paqsag~3ways 1174 provide for the flow of liquid pa6t th~ set screw 1170 and into the central opening 1168. The aet screw 1170 i~ provided with a poc~et 1176 into which a tool may be inserted to ad~ust the ~et screw 1170. Access open~ngs 1177 are provided ~n the central body portion 1116 ~or permitting ln~ert~on and ad~u~tment o~ the ad~u~table ~ltting~ 1160 and when the llquld bearlng ls ln u~e, thess accesq opening~
1177 ars ~ealed wlth plug means (not ~;hown~.
An annular end cap 1178, Fig. 29, 1~ provldQd ~or oach end of the llquid bearing 1030 and has an outer generally cyllndrical surface 1180 having a dlameter greater than the diameter o~ the generally cyllndrical outer 6ur~ace 1142 and an inner generally cylindrical ~3urface 1182 having a diameter greatsr th~n the generally cyllndrlcal outer sur~acs 1142 2~, but less than the diameter of the generally cyllndrlcal outer 6ur~ac~ 1180. An integral exten~ion member 1184 on ~ach end cap 1178 pro~ects axlally inwardly toward the elongated ~ody portion 1140 and has a generally cyllndrical out~r sur~ace 1186 that ha~ a dlameter sllghtly less than the diameter o~ the generally cyllndrical lnner 6ur~aca 1126 .. . , .. _ . . . . .. .

~04 ~ ~5~l.
WO Sn/098Cl -23- PCT/US~0/01058 Or the c~rstr~l body portlon 1116 ~or provldlng a anug ~it t~serebetween and a gen~r~lly cyllndrical lnner ~ur~acQ 1188 having a diamQter 61ightly gr~ater than the dl~meter Or the generally cyllndrlcal outer sur~acQ 1018 o~ the main body 05 portlon 1016 to provide for a ~nug ~it therebetween. A
plurallty of ~n~egral spaced apart pro~ectiorss 1190 ex~end inwardly from th~ extension member 1184 and are adapted to contact the ~nds of the elongated body portion 1140. A rlng ~ 6haped cover plate 1192 has an outer diameter subst~ntlally the same as the diameter o2 the generally cylindrical outer ~urface 1180 and an inner dlameter sllghtly greater t~an the gen~rally cylindrical outer sur~ace 1018. A s~al 1194 1~
positloned ln the 6pace ~etween each cover plate 1192 and extens~on member 1184 50 a~ to prevent the escape o~ llquid frons the llquid bQaring 1030. A plurallty o~ spacQd apart headed threaded bolt~ 1196 pa~s through openlng~ ln the cover plates 1192, the end caps 1178 and ~r~ eng~ged ln thre~dsd openlngs ~not 6hown) ln th~ ends o~ the c~ntral body portlon 1116 to ~ecure the elongatsd body portlon 1140 in flxed relatlonship to the central body portion 1116. An annul~r passageway 1198 is formed between each o~ the extenslon mQ~bers 1184 and the ends o~ the elongated body member 1140 and i8 ln llguld c_ -s~cation w~t~ an outlet opening 1038. A centrally loc~ted radlally sutwardly dlrected annular rec~se 1200 18 for~sed in the generally cylindrical inner ~ur~ace 1034 and ls in liquld com~sunlcation wlth an outlet openlng 1038.
In thls prQ~erred embodiment o~ the ln~entlon, the liquld be~ring 1030 ls a liquld ~earing whlch uses the same type o~ coolant that 1B used to cool the ~or~lng and lronlng WO~0/0~ 2q- ~ ~5~ PCT~US90/01058 dles. Llquld conductlng means 1202 ~re connncted to the coolant storage tank 1204 and to ~ult~blQ ~ttlngQ 1206 ln the lnlet openings 1036 so that coolant wlll flow from the coolant ~torage tank 1204 through lnlet opening~ 1036, 05 passageways 1146 ~nd ad~ustable flttlng~ 1160 to the pocket cavftles 1154. Llquid conductlng means 1207 extend betwQen fittings 1208 ln the llquid outlet openlngs 103B and a coolant return tank 1209 80 that coolant w~ll flow from the - pa~ageway~ 1198 and 1200, through thQ outlet openings 1038 and into the coolant return tank 1209. conventlonal means (not ~hown) treat the returned coolant and ~eed it back lnto the coolant storage t~nk. The coolant comprises about 97 per cent water to whlch are added ~olubles. The coolant 18 supplled at ~uitable pressures between about 150 and 500 psi and pre~erably about 250 psl.
In operation, the ~upport beam~ 1004 are machined and supported 80 that the upper sur~aces thereo~ lie in a common plane. The houslng 1008 and the support structure 1032 are mounted on the support beams 1004 ~o that the longlt~ n~l axes thereof coinclde. Al~o, the redraw a~6embly 1010 18 ~ounted Oh the hou~ln~ looa ~0 that its longltudinal axi~
also colncldes therewith. The elongated r~m 1014 18 slidably mounted in the l~quid bearing 1030 and the s~cond end portlon 1022 18 secured ln the connecting means 1024. The elongated ram 1014 i8 supported solely by the llquid bearlng 1030. In order to accomplish this, the llquid boaring 1030 has an axial length that ls between about 4 to 8 tlme~ the di~met~r of tha elongated ram 1014. The pivotal ~ounting of the apparatus 1026 on the ring ~haped member 1094 and o~ the body member 1096 functlons to dampen out any sllght vertlcal ~voso/09851 -25- 2 0~i~5i PcT/us9o/
moVQment Or the apparatus 1026. Al~o, the shoc~ absorb~ng member 1224 prov~nt~ any und~irable movement Or the eecond end portlon 1022 ~n a downward dlr~ctlon. The end o~ the l.lquld b~arlng 1030 1~ ~paced ~rom th~ redra~ a~sembly 1010, oS at lt~ clo~ast po61tlon relatlve thereto, at an axlal dlstance o~ between about 1.0 and 2.0 lnches. Slnce the main body portlon 1016 iB ~upported by the coolant in the llquid bearlng 1030 as lt reciprocates therein, there vlrtually no wear on the maln body portlon 1016 or the llquld bearlng 1030. As the elongated ram 1014 is reclpro-cated, the front end portlon 1020 thereo~ runctions ln a conventlonal manner to ent~r lnto the redraw as6embly 1010 to engage a can blanX and to move the can blank through tho formlng and lronlng dle~ to ~orm an olongated can body and to havo the ~ormed elongated can body ~trlpped th~re~rom during lts return stro~e. The coolant ln the llguld bearlng 1030 ~unctlon~ to ~aintaln the elongated ra~ and the punch 61eeve at a deslred temperature 50 that elongated can bodles o~ more const~nt wall thlckness may be producQd. Also, th~
relatlvely close tolerance~ bQtween the cyllndrical lnner sur~ac~ 1034 o~ the llguld bearlng 1030 and tho genQrally cyl~ndrlcal outer aurrace 1018 o~ the maln body portlon en~ure~ the proper allgnment o~ punch ~leeve 1042 ~8 lt passes through the redra~ ~ssembly 1010 and tho houslng 1008 havlng the ~orming and lronlng diQs thereln.

Claims (10)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A ram assembly for a can body making apparatus used for forming can blanks into elongated can bodies comprising: .
a fixedly mounted support frame;
a housing having forming and ironing dies located therein mounted on said support frame:
a redraw assembly mounted on said housing;
an elongated ram having a main body portion having a generally cylindrical outer peripheral surface;
said elongated ram having a first end portion for movement into said redraw assembly to contact a can blank in said redraw assembly and to move said can blank out of said redraw assembly and through said forming and ironing dies to form an elongated can body, said elongated ram having a second end portion;
reciprocating drive means for providing reciprocal linear movement for said elongated ram;
connecting means on said second end portion for connecting said elongated ram to said reciprocating drive means:
a liquid bearing having a generally cylindrical inner surface having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of said main body portion to provide for sliding movement of said main body portion through said liquid bearing;
support means mounted on said support frame for holding said liquid bearing at a fixed location: and said elongated ram being supported solely by said liquid bearing during the reciprocation thereof by said reciprocating drive means.

2. The invention as in claim 1 wherein:
the difference in diameter between said main body portion and said liquid bearing is between about 0.0006 and 0.0012 of an inch.

3. The invention as in claim 2 wherein:
said liquid bearing has a length between about 4 to 8 times the diameter of said elongated ram.

4. The invention as in claim 3 wherein said liquid bearing comprises:
a first end portion closer to said redraw assembly and a second end portion closer to said connecting means;
at least two sets of axially spaced apart pocket formations in said generally cylindrical inner surface of said liquid bearing;
at least four equally sized and spaced apart pocket cavities in each of said sets; and sealing means for forming a seal between said first and second end portions and said generally cylindrical outer surface of said main body portion of said elongated ram for holding said coolant within said liquid bearing to maintain said pressure therein.

5. The invention as in any of claims 1 - 4 and further comprising:

a storage tank having a liquid coolant stored therein;
said liquid coolant comprising water having solubles contained therein; and conduit means for supplying portions of said liquid coolant to said liquid bearing and for returning portions of said liquid coolant to said storage tank.

6. The invention as in claim 5 wherein said support means for said liquid bearing comprises:
a pair of spaced apart linearly extending beams mounted on said support frame:
a plurality of spaced apart reinforcing ribs extending between and connected to said pair of spaced apart linearly extending beams;
a central body portion having a generally cylindrical inner surface;
a pair of outwardly projecting flanges on said central body portion and connected to said reinforcing ribs and said pair of spaced apart linearly extending beams; and said liquid bearing mounted in said generally cylindrical inner surface of said central body portion and having a generally cylindrical outer surface radially opposite thereto.

7. The invention as in any of claims 1 - 4 wherein:
said liquid bearing has a length between about 4 to 8 times the diameter of said elongated ram.

8. The invention as in any of claims 1 - 4 wherein said liquid bearing comprises:
a first end portion closer to said redraw assembly and a second end portion closer to said connecting means;
at least two sets of axially spaced apart pocket formations in said generally cylindrical inner surface of said liquid bearing;
at least four equally sized and spaced apart pocket cavities in each of said sets; and sealing means for forming a seal between said first and second end portions and said generally cylindrical outer surface of said main body portion of said elongated ram for holding said liquid coolant within said liquid bearing to maintain said pressure therein.

9. The invention as in claim 8 and further comprising:
a storage tank having a liquid coolant stored therein:
said liquid coolant comprising water having solubles contained therein; and conduit means for supplying portions of said liquid coolant to said liquid bearing and for returning portions of said liquid coolant to said storage tank.

10. The invention as in claim 9 and further comprising:
a pair of spaced apart annular passageways located between said central body portion and said liquid bearing and in liquid communication with said inlet means:

a plurality of openings, each of which extends between one of said annular passageways and one of said pocket cavities, for supplying said liquid coolant to said pocket cavities; and sealing means between said central body portion and said liquid bearing to prevent the escape of said liquid coolant.