GB1418677A - Method of drawing wire and apparatus therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

1418677 Drawing OKI DENSEN KK 11 Dec 1972 [4 July 1972] 56961/72 Heading B3P A wire 10 is drawn vertically through a freely movable die assembly 14, 18 which is subjected by fluid pressure to a vertical fluid force and to a vertical drawing force, at least one of which is opposed to the force of gravity acting on the die assembly 14, 18 and has a magnitude sufficient to keep the die assembly freely floating. In one embodiment, Fig. 1a, the die 14 is mounted in a die block 18 positioned above a fixed, fluid circulation chamber 22 having apertures 28 in a top wall 26. Fluid is introduced into the chamber 22 through a conduit 38 so that it is discharged through the apertures 28 to cause the die block 18 to float over the chamber 22 thereby allowing the die block 18 to move horizontally should misalignment occur between the die axis and the wire rod 10 to be drawn or the drawn wire 12. When the wire is drawn upwardly through the die 14, a suction is produced between the chamber wall 26 and the die block 18. In another embodiment (Figs. 3a, 3b, not shown), the wire is drawn upwardly through the die 14 in the die clock 18 secured to a die holder (40) which is caused to float below the chamber 22 by the pressure of lubricating oil discharged from the apertures 28. The bottom wall 26 of the chamber 22 is provided with a circular channel (48) and communicating radial channels (50) to prevent the oil contacting the drawn wire. The wire to be drawn is passed through oil (52<SP>1</SP>) which has fallen from the die holder (40). Alternatively, the die block 18 may be mounted for horizontal movement in a cavity (56) (Figs. 4a, 4b, not shown) of the die holder (54) which is positioned above the fluid circulation chamber 22. The wire may be drawn upwardly or downwardly through the die in this embodiment. In a further embodiment Fig. 5, the die block 18 carrying the die 14 is mounted by a retainer 66 on a foamed plastics die holder 60 which floats on a liquid 80, e.g. lubricating oil, introduced into a vessel 70 through a conduit 78. When the wire is drawn upwardly through a guide piece 72 towards the die 14, lubricating oil is applied to the surface of the wire by a meshed member 76, e.g. cloth. The wire may alternatively be pulled downwardly through the die 14.