GB2058626A

GB2058626A - Press guide arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2058626A
Application number: GB8027962A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Mannesmann Demag AG
Current assignee: Mannesmann Demag AG
Priority date: 1979-09-15
Filing date: 1980-08-29
Publication date: 1981-04-15
Also published as: GB2058626B; DE7926284U1

Abstract

A forging-press has a plurality of fixed columns 1 on which is guided a cross-head 2 by way of a guide arrangement including a bush 7 with a spherical inner surface in which is located a set of guide members 5b, 5d with concavely curved surfaces engaging the bush, and guide plates 4b, 4d disposed between the guide column and the guide members with a slight clearance. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in presses This invention relates to a press, and is especially concerned with the means where by the cross-head or running frame of a forging press is guided on fixed guide columns.

It is known to provide an adjustable guide arrangement within each passage of the crosshead which surrounds a respective column. By the suitable arrangement of cooperating surface, compensation is made for thermal expansion during the forging operation. However, excessive wear is caused to the known arrangement, in particular because of edge pressures.

The present invention seeks to overcome this problem by providing a guide arrangement in which the edge pressures occuring within the guide arrangement, and therefore the wear which takes place, are substantially reduced.

According to the present invention, the guide arrangement comprises a plurality of guide members distributed around a respective column and having convex outer surfaces which engage complementary concave surfaces of a bush attached to the surface defining the passage by which the column passes through the cross-head or running frame, and a guide element arranged between each guide member and the column and having a planar contact face for engagement with the respective guide member.

A guide arrangement of this construction is adjustable all round so that the guide faces can always fit closely during eccentric forging operations, with the result that no edge pressures, or at the most slight edge pressures, occur. The wear of the components of the guide arrangement is thus reduced considerably.

The invention will now be described in greater detail but by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-section through a rectangular guide column of a press showing the associated part of the cross-head, Figure 2 is a cross-section taken on the line A-A in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but of a second embodiment having cylindrical guide columns, and Figure 4 is a cross-section on the line B-B of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, a forging press includes a plurality of vertically extending fixed columns which pass through respective passages in the cross-head which is movable on the columns during a forging operation. Figures 1 and 2 relate to an embodiment in which the columns are of rectangular cross-section, although only one column 1 and that part of the cross-head 2 associated with the illustrated column is shown.

The passage in the cross-head through which the column extends is indicated at 3 and is of circular cross-section, completely surrounding the column.

The arrangement of the remaining columns.and associated parts corresponds exactly to those illustrated.

The passage 3 is stepped so as to form a widened mouth in which is fitted a divided bush 7 having a collar portion extending radially outwardly and surmounting the cross-head. The interior of the bush is cut away to form a partspherical concave recess accommodating four guide members 5a to 5b, each of which pertains to a respective side face of the column 1 and has a convexly curved surface complementary to the internal surface of the bush 7. The side of each guide member facing the column is machined to provide a flat surface bounded at its upper and lower edges by protruding fillets. Disposed between each such surface and the pertaining side face of the column is a respective one of four guide elements 4a to 4d connected to the associated guide member by a central bolt 6.Each of the guide elements is in the form of a plate having flat inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces. The guide element 4d constitutes an internal guide plate located on the side of the column facing the centre of the press, the guide element 4b constitutes the external guide plate located on side of the column facing away from the centre of the press, and the guide elements 4a and 4c constitute lateral guide plates. There is some clearance between the guide members and the guide elements, which on the side facing the centre of the cross-head may be in the region of several millimeters, depending upon the distance of the column from the centre of the press and taking into consideration the expansion of the running beam caused by heating during forging operations.

The second embodiment shown in figures 3a and 4 has a guide column 1' of circular crosssection and the guide elements 8a and 8d with inwardly facing surfaces are of arcuate crosssection so as to complement the guide column. In other respects, the structure is similar to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2.

In the case of both embodiments, the guide members may be adjusted after a slight amount of wear has taken place by means of sheet metal inserts.

1. A press including columns and a cross-head or running frame movable on the columns, the cross-head having passages spaced from the centre of the press, each passage having a wall completely surrounding a respective column, and a guide arrangement within each passage for compensating thermal expansion of the relatively movable press components, said guide arrangement comprising a plurality of guide members distributed around the column and having convexly curved outer surfaces which engage a complementary concave surface of a bush attached to the surface defining the passage, and a guide element disposed between each guide member and the column and having a planar contact face for engagement with the associated guide member.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in presses This invention relates to a press, and is especially concerned with the means where by the cross-head or running frame of a forging press is guided on fixed guide columns. It is known to provide an adjustable guide arrangement within each passage of the crosshead which surrounds a respective column. By the suitable arrangement of cooperating surface, compensation is made for thermal expansion during the forging operation. However, excessive wear is caused to the known arrangement, in particular because of edge pressures. The present invention seeks to overcome this problem by providing a guide arrangement in which the edge pressures occuring within the guide arrangement, and therefore the wear which takes place, are substantially reduced. According to the present invention, the guide arrangement comprises a plurality of guide members distributed around a respective column and having convex outer surfaces which engage complementary concave surfaces of a bush attached to the surface defining the passage by which the column passes through the cross-head or running frame, and a guide element arranged between each guide member and the column and having a planar contact face for engagement with the respective guide member. A guide arrangement of this construction is adjustable all round so that the guide faces can always fit closely during eccentric forging operations, with the result that no edge pressures, or at the most slight edge pressures, occur. The wear of the components of the guide arrangement is thus reduced considerably. The invention will now be described in greater detail but by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-section through a rectangular guide column of a press showing the associated part of the cross-head, Figure 2 is a cross-section taken on the line A-A in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but of a second embodiment having cylindrical guide columns, and Figure 4 is a cross-section on the line B-B of Figure 3. Referring to the drawings, a forging press includes a plurality of vertically extending fixed columns which pass through respective passages in the cross-head which is movable on the columns during a forging operation. Figures 1 and 2 relate to an embodiment in which the columns are of rectangular cross-section, although only one column 1 and that part of the cross-head 2 associated with the illustrated column is shown. The passage in the cross-head through which the column extends is indicated at 3 and is of circular cross-section, completely surrounding the column. The arrangement of the remaining columns.and associated parts corresponds exactly to those illustrated. The passage 3 is stepped so as to form a widened mouth in which is fitted a divided bush 7 having a collar portion extending radially outwardly and surmounting the cross-head. The interior of the bush is cut away to form a partspherical concave recess accommodating four guide members 5a to 5b, each of which pertains to a respective side face of the column 1 and has a convexly curved surface complementary to the internal surface of the bush 7. The side of each guide member facing the column is machined to provide a flat surface bounded at its upper and lower edges by protruding fillets. Disposed between each such surface and the pertaining side face of the column is a respective one of four guide elements 4a to 4d connected to the associated guide member by a central bolt 6.Each of the guide elements is in the form of a plate having flat inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces. The guide element 4d constitutes an internal guide plate located on the side of the column facing the centre of the press, the guide element 4b constitutes the external guide plate located on side of the column facing away from the centre of the press, and the guide elements 4a and 4c constitute lateral guide plates. There is some clearance between the guide members and the guide elements, which on the side facing the centre of the cross-head may be in the region of several millimeters, depending upon the distance of the column from the centre of the press and taking into consideration the expansion of the running beam caused by heating during forging operations. The second embodiment shown in figures 3a and 4 has a guide column 1' of circular crosssection and the guide elements 8a and 8d with inwardly facing surfaces are of arcuate crosssection so as to complement the guide column. In other respects, the structure is similar to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2. In the case of both embodiments, the guide members may be adjusted after a slight amount of wear has taken place by means of sheet metal inserts. CLAIMS

2. A guide arrangement for use between a cross-head and a column of a press, comprising a divided bush having a spherical curved internal surface and a plurality of guide members arranged within the bush, each guide member having a curved surface complementary to that of the bush, and a guide plate disposed between each guide member and the column, there being a clearance between each guide member and the associated plate.

3. An adjustable guide arrangement for a press substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.