IL28673A - Method and apparatus for making forgings - Google Patents

Description

APPLNj O. 28673/2 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PORGINGS This invention relates to methods and apparatus for" making forgings.

It is an object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for making metal forgings in which metal is cast into a main cavity portion of a mold member, and an overflow of metal is channeled onto an adjacent supporting surface to form a flashing integral with the casting. After the casting has solidified, the mold parts are retracted from the casting. The engagement of the solidified overflow with the support acts to strip the casting from the mold parts and leave the casting firmly in place on the support. The support is then shifted to move the casting between forging dies to forge the casting. The support is then moved to bring the forged piece and excess metal (constituting the overflow and flashing from the forging) to dies which punch out the forged piece leaving the scrap or trim attached to the support. Thereafter, the support is again shifted to a position wherein the scrap metal may be ejected from the support.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus of the type stated in which the casting is carried out in an open top mold and in which there may be a chilled core that penetrates a very short distance into the main cavity portion of the mold and against which the liquid metal solidifies. The core is located relative to the mold cavity wall such that shrinkage around the core takes place in a region of the casting into which the flow of metal during the forging is great. The shrinkage void and recess left by the core is forged out during the forging operation. The core may be approximately centered method and apparatus for making a casting, which may or may not be forged, in which a hole is formed partially or completely through the casting which eliminates the formation of a crack or cracks adjacent to the hole. The metal is cast into the open mold in which there is a thin tubular core that is heated to a high temperature, less than the solidification temperature of the metal but much greater than the temperature of the mold cavity wall. As a result, the metal that flows around the heated core is not permitted to chill rapidly. The heated core and mold are separated after the metal has solidified around the core an amount sufficient to be form-sustaining but while the metal is still quite hot and still able to undergo a substantial amount of shrinkage. Cracking adjacent to the hole is avoided.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a press, such as a forging or a punching press, which has a short stroke but yet is capable of imposing high pressure upon a work-piece. The press may be of the toggle link type with two dies on opposite sides of the workpiece that are both movable toward the workpiece. At least one of the dies may be retracted relative to the other die by an auxiliary low-power source to provide clearance for the workpiece. When the workpiece is in position, the one die may again be shifted by the low-power source toward the workpiece to take up the clearance and position the die preparatory to working the piece. When the two dies are in position, the main power source may be actuated to operate on the piece.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a machine constructed in accordance with and adapted to carry out the method 2-2 of Fig. 1; ~ Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view and partially broken away taken approximately along line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are sectional views taken along lines 4-4, 5-5, 6-6, 7-7 and 8-8 of Fig. 3; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Fig, 2; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 10-10 of Fig. 1; Fig. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view of the structure of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 5 and showing a heated core used to make a casting with a hole therethrough; Fig. 13 is a diagram of a hydraulic circuit for the machine of this invention; and Fig. 14 is a schematic of the circuit for controlling the automatic operation of the machine.

In the drawing, a machine 1 has a base 2 having a bottom plate 3, upstanding side walls 5, 6, 7, 8 and a top plate 10 suitably joined and reinforced by an appropriate number of angle members. The top plate 10 has a hole 11 which receives a bearing cup 13 that is secured to the top plate 10 by circum-ferentially spaced screws 14. A turntable 15 has a portion which projects into bearing cup 13 and is supported therein by a thrust bearing 17, the latter being held in place by bearing retainers 18, 19.

The turntable 15 has four radial arms 20, 21, 22, 23, inwardly opening slots 27 which, as best shown in Figs. 5-7, Ψ are T-shaped in cross section.

Secured to the outside of the side wall 5 through a bracket plate 29 is a hydraulic motor 31 that has a vertically reciprocating piston rod 32, the upper end of which carries a mold-support plate 34, to the top of which an open top copper mold member 35 is secured as by screws 37.

The mold member 35 may be shifted from a raised or casting position between the fingers 25, 26 to a retracted posi-tion below the fingers 25, 26, as controlled by the operation of the piston rod 32.

The mold has a mold cavity 38 that comprises generally a main mold cavity portion 39, a mold entry way runner 41, and four runners 42, two on each side of the central portion 39. The runners 42 extend to those margins of the member 35 that are adjacent to the spaced fingers 25, 26 when the mold member 35 is in its raised position. The mold member 35 is water-cooled by water circulating in a passageway 43 from a water inlet tube 45 to a water outlet tube 46.

The casting operation preferably uses as an additional mold member a copper core 47, which may have a lower generally spherical head 48 that projects a short distance into the upper end portion of the mold cavity 38, somewhat centrally of the main cavity portion 39. The core 47 may have a suitable water passageway 49 connected to inlet and outlet pipes 50-51 so that it may be continuously water-cooled. The core 47 has an upwardly extending stem 53 which is clamped to a horizontal bar 54, which, in turn, is clamped to a piston rod 55. This piston rod mounted on the bottom plate 3. The motor 57 may be operated γ . to lower the core 47 into molding position or to raise it from the casting to the broken line position shown in Fig. 5.

The piston rod 55 may be hollow so that the water supply tubes for the core 47 may, if desired, extend therethrough.

To form a casting, the motors 31 and 57 are operated to bring the mold member 35 and core 47 from their broken-line positions, shown in Fig. 5, to the full-line positions, shown in Figs. 5 and 1. The mold member 35 is thus placed between the fingers 25, 26, such that the bottoms of the runners 42 coincide substantially with the lower edges 59 (Fig. 5) of the slots ^ίΖκ, 27. Preferably, the depth of the runners 42 adjacent to the edges 59 is approximately the same as the height of the slot opening at 59. The major part of the head 48 projects into the open top of the mold cavity 38. A suitable mold release lubricant may be applied to the core head 48 and to the mold cavity 38. Molten metal, such as brass, aluminum or steel, is poured into the mold gate 60. It flows downwardly through the entry runner 41 and fills the mold cavity. Overflow metal will flow into and fill the runners 42 and from there will flow into the slots 37 so that the casting C is not only cast in the mold but also onto the fingers 25, 26. As the metal cools, its shrinkage places the metal in the runners 42 in tension, thereby drawing it into tight frictional engagement with the fingers 25, 26. The T-shape or undercut of the slots.27 prevents withdrawal of the metal from the slots 27. Thus, the main slug portion 39 of the casting C is rigidly joined to the supporting fingers 25, 26 by a web of metal formed by the solidified overflow. the core 47. When the metal fully solidifies, shrinkage will-be in a region 61 (Figs. 1 and 5) around the core and near the periphery of the mold portion 39 of the casting C. This will avoid the formation of a deep shrinkage crack at the center of the forging. The core 47 will leave an arcuate but crack-free depression 62 in the casting C.

The motors 31, 57 may then be operated to raise the core 47 and lower the mold 35. The grip of the solidified web of overflow metal with the fingers 25, 26 results in stripping the casting C from the mold, leaving the casting rigidly supported on the fingers 25, 26. After a suitable time interval to allow the casting to solidify fully but while it still retains its heat of casting and is at or near a suitable temperature for hot forging, the turntable is rotated counter-clockwise (Fig. 3) 90 degrees to bring the casting C between the dies of a forging mechanism, designated generally at F.

A gear 63, which is rigidly secured to the lower side of the turntable 15, is driven by a pinion 65 which, in turn, is driven by a reversible rotary hydraulic motor 66.

This motor 66 is rigidly secured to a bracket 67 that is secured to and depends from the underside of the top plate 10. The motor shaft 69 projects upwardly and is journalled in the top plate 10. On the motor shaft 69 is a one-way clutch 70. The driving portion of the clutch 70 rotates with the motor shaft 69 while the driven portion of the clutch is coupled to the pinion 65 so that the pinion 65 rotates only in one direction, namely clockwise as viewed from Fig. 3. Above the pinion 65 is a cam 73 that is secured by the set screws 74 to between two adjustable screw stops 76, 77. The ratio between the pinion 65 and gear 63 is such that rotation of the cam 73 from abutment with the stop 76 to abutment with the stop 77 causes the turntable 15 to rotate 90 degrees. When the motor 69 reverses its direction of rotation, the cam 73 will rotate until it engages the stop 76, but the pinion 65 will not rotate.

A releasable locking mechanism 79 (Figs. 3 and 4) holds the turntable 15 rigidly in position after it has been rotated 90 degrees, the mechanism 79 being releasable prior to rotating the turntable 15. This mechanism comprises a bell crank 80 that is pivotally secured to a block 81 below the top plate 10. One arm of the bell crank 80 has a depending indexing pin 83 that engages between two teeth on the gear 63. A hydraulic cylinder 84 has a piston rod 85 that is pivotally secured to the other arm of the bell crank 80 by a pin 86. The cylinder 84 also is pivotally secured at pin 88 to a bracket 89, the latter being in turn bolted to the underside of the top plate 10. When the piston rod 85 is moved to the pin 86 toward the cylinder 84, the pin 83 will be retracted from between the teeth on the gear 63, thus permitting the turntable 15 to be indexed. When the piston rod 85 moves in the opposite direction, the pin 83 is urged tightly between two teeth on the gear 63 to lock the turntable in position.

A brake is mounted on the top plate 10 to prevent the pinion 65 from continuing rotation after the cam 73 has stopped. This brake comprises a brake shoe 92 having a lining 93 that engages the upper face of the gear 63. A sleeve 95 is threaded into the top plate and receives an adjusting screw 96 and a The forging mechanism F comprises upright generally Y trapezoidal-shaped plates 99, 100 that project above and below the top plate 10. L-shaped brackets (Fig. 3) 102, 103 are bolted to the top plate 10 and to the plates 99, 100 to secure them in place. Near those vertical edges of the plates 99, 100 that are adjacent to the turntable 15 are sets of gibs 107, 108 for slidably receiving die holders 105, 106 that reciprocate vertically toward and away from each other. As best seen in Figs. 2 and 6, the die holders 105, 106 carry forging dies 110, 111 that are suitably secured to the die holders by screws 113.

Between the plates 99, 100 and bolted to each is a hydraulic cylinder 114 having a piston rod 115 that carries a clevis with a block 17 that slides in horizontal guide slots 118 in the plates 99, 100. Links 119, 119, 121, 121 are pivotally secured at one end to a clevis pin 122, and at their opposite ends are pivotally secured to rocker arms 123, 125 by pins 126, 127 respectively. The ends of rocker arms 123, 125 are pivotally secured by pins 129, 130 to the ends of the die holders 105, 106. The opposite ends of the rocker arms 123, 125 are (Fig. 10) pivotally secured by a pin 131 and an eccentric 133/ to links 134, 134, 135, 135 which are in turn pivotally secured by pins 137, 138 to the plates 99, 100.

In Fig. 2 the forging mechanism F is in its forging position. When the piston rod 115 moves to the right (Fig. 2) , the die holders 105, 106 and forging dies 110, 111 separate to the broken line positions shown in Fig. 6. During the forging operation the dies 110, 111 move toward each other against the casting. The metal is not stripped from between V thus allowing the turntable to be indexed 90 degrees to carry the workpiece to a punching mechanism P.

During the forging there is a flow of metal in the peripheral region 142 of the forged piece _f . This was the region of shrinkage of the casting. The flow of metal during the forging tends to fill the dies at their peripheral regions. Likewise, the depression 62 is forged out of the metal. The flashing 141 tends to push the metal that solidified in the mold runners 42, and to which the forging re-mains attached, toward the fingers 25, 26 imposing forces on the fingers 25, 26 tending to push them apart. However, the fingers 25, 26 maintain a tight frictional engagement with the metal in the slots 27 after the forging. Consequently, when the forging dies are separated, the web of metal that joins the forging to the fingers 25, 26 strips the forging from both forging dies.

The trimming or punching mechanism P is in many respects similar to the forging mechanism F. Accordingly, the parts of the punching mechanism P that are the same as those of the forging mechanism F have corresponding numerals followed by the letter "p".

The punching die holders 143, 145 respectively carry the male and female punching dies 146, 147 and are movable vertically toward and away from each other. They are shown in their retracted positions in Figs. 1 and 7. The broken line positions of Fig. 7 show the dies in their punching positions between and in closely spaced relationship to the indexing arm fingers 25, 26. Upon movement of the piston rod 115p to the left (Fig. 1) contact with the metal held by the fingers 25, 26, the * forging £_ is cut cleanly entirely around its periphery leaving the trim or scrap metal s_ secured in the slots 27.

The scrap s_ thus extends continuously from one finger 25 to the other finger 26.

The die 147 and its die holder £<8xare hollow to form a passage 149 of a size sufficient to enable the forging f_ to drop therein. At the lower end of the passage 149 an inclined wall 150 deflects the forging through a lateral opening 151 and onto an inclined chute 153 adjacent to the opening 151. When the trimming dies are retracted the forging f_ slides down the chute 153 and into a suitable collecting bin.

Where the parting line of the forging is at or near the mid plane of the forging, or the depth of the forging below the parting line is small, the normal retraction of the dies 110, 111 and of the dies 146, 147 provides sufficient clearance to enable the workpiece to be inserted between and removed from the forging dies and to be inserted between the trimming dies. However, many forgings which may be made ac-cording to this invention have the parting line very close to the top edge of the forging. Therefore, this invention provides auxiliary mechanisms for retracting the lower forging die and the lower trimming die relative to the associated upper die to provide clearance between the dies for insertion and removal of the casting or forging, as the case may be.

These mechanisms also move the lower trimming die and the lower forging die up to positions adjacent to the workpiece preparatory to the working operation. Such a mechanism is is employed for actuating the lower forging die 111. '» and 1f As seen in Fig. lo/ the eccentric 133p is driven by a reversible rotary hydraulic motor 192p that is rigidly secured to the link 135p through a spacer collar 194p. The motor shaft 195p fits into one end of the eccentric 133p and is keyed or otherwise rigidly secured thereto. At its opposite end the eccentric 133p has a cap 196p that is rigidly secured to the remainder of the eccentric by the screw and key connection shown.

The cap 196p also has opposed shoulders 197p, 198p which are 180 degrees apart and engage a stop pin 199p which is mounted on the link 135p that is adjacent to the cap 196p. The eccen¬ tric and its cap will rotate 180 degrees in opposite directions.

When the pin 199p abuts the shoulder 198p, the lower die 147 and its die holder 145 will be in the full line position shown in Fig. 1. In this position the lower die 147 is retracted sufficiently to provide clearance to receive forging f_. When the eccentric 133p is rotated 180 degrees until the shoulder 197p and pin 199 engage, the throw of the eccentric rocks the rocker arm 125p clockwise (Fig. 1) to the broken line position shown in Fig. 1 and raises the die holder and die 147 up to the broken line position adjacent to the forging f_. Now the lower end of the forging is within the lower trimming die 147. During the aforesaid movement of the lower die 147, the upper die 146 and its die holder remain stationary. Thereafter, the cylinder 114p may be operated to move both dies 146, 147 to punch the forging from the scrap s_. After the cylinder 114p has retracted the dies 146,147, the hydraulic motor 192p is rotated to bring the shoulder 198p into engagement with the pin 199p to retract the turntable is again indexed 90 degrees.

The corresponding arrangement on the forging mechanism F operates at the same time as does that on the punching mechanism P. Thus, when the lower forging die 111 is retracted, sufficient clearance will be provided between the dies 110, 111 for receiving the next casting and for allowing the completed forging to move from between the forging dies to the space between the trimming dies. A like die-retracting and clearance takeup mechanism may be used for the upper dies. In any event, the presses have high force-applying capabilities and yet are small.

After the punching dies have been separated, the turntable 15 may then again be rotated 90 degrees to an ejector mechanism E by which the scrap s_ may be ejected from the fingers 25, 26. In Figs. 2 and 9 the ejector E comprises an arm 154, the lower end of which is pivotally secured by a pin 155 to a block 157. The block 157 is vertically movable in a slide 158 that is secured to the lower end of a side wall 8. The lower end of the block 157 has lateral projections 159, 159 which abut the slide 158 to limit the upward movement of the block 157. At its upper end, the arm 154 is bolted to an ejector chute support block 161, the upper end of which has a downwardly inclined chute 162 with an upwardly extending flange 163.

A hydraulic motor 165 which is secured to the side wall 8 through a bracket 166 is rotatable in either direction through an angle of about 270 degrees. It has a shaft 167 rigidly secured to its rotor 169. Eccentric to the shaft 167, and is surrounded by a coil compression spring 174. A cross " pin 175 in the ejector block 161 retains the rod 170 in the bore 173 prior to pinning the rod 170 to the rotor 169 and also to keep the spring 174 preloaded.

When the turntable 15 is indexed to bring the scrap s_ to the ejector mechanism E, the latter is in a position shown in Fig. 2. The center of the pin 171 will be below the center of the shaft 167. The hydraulic motor 165 is then rotated in the direction of the arrow 177 through an angle of about 270 degrees. Upon an initial rotation of the rotor 169, the driving force of the rod 170 will be transmitted through the spring 174 to the chute 162, thereby raising the flange 163 between the indexing arm fingers 25, 26 and behind the scrap s_. This movement of the flange 163 continues until the projections 159 abut the slide 158. Continued rotation of the rotor 169 then causes the flange 163 to swing to the left (Fig. 2) about the axis of the pin 155 and thereby eject the scrap s_ from between the indexing arm fingers 25, 26, as shown in Fig. 8. The ejected scrap s_ may drop onto the chute 162 leading to a col-lecting bin. Thereafter, the motor 165 is rotated in the reverse direction to its initial position.

Similar operations will take place in connection with the metal between the fingers 25, 26 of the other arms. Thus, the casting held by the arm 21 will be forged, the forging held by the arm 23 will be trimmed, and the scrap in the arm 22 will be ejected . Successive indexing of the turntable moves the arms 20, 21, 22, 23 so that for each indexing of 90 degrees there is a casting, a forging, a trimming and a scrap The mold member 35 may be designed with a multiplicity of sections so that each forging slug is joined to another by one or more webs of overflow metal that will ultimately become scrap. The core 47 will also be designed to project into each section of the main cavity. The forging and trimming dies are designed to forge and cut out the forgings so that all of the blanks are forged at one time, and during the trimming operation all of the forgings are trimmed from the metal.

If it is desired to cast a forging slug (or multiple forging slugs) with a hole 176 therein, as shown in Fig. 12, the chilled core 47 may be replaced by a tapered thin wall core tube 177 having a bottom closure 178. The tube 177 is heated to a high temperature by a gas burner 179 mounted for movement with the tube 177. If brass is the metal being cast, the tube may be of stainless steel heated to about 1200° to 1300°F.

With the heated core 177 in and against the bottom of the mold cavity, the metal is poured into the mold cavity. After the metal around the core 177 has sufficiently solidified to be form-sustaining, the core 177 is retracted. The metal around the hole is still quite hot and the overwhelming shrinkage takes place after the core 177 is removed. The casting may then be forged, punched out, and the scrap ejected.

Referring to Figs. 13 and 14, a source of hydraulic pressure HP (which may include a pump, accumulators, pressure boosters, etc.) supplies oil to a high pressure line and receives oil from a return or low pressure line 1_. Oil to the movable to either of two positions by solenoids S3, S4. When the solenoid S3 is energized and solenoid S4 is deenergized, oil flows to the cylinders 31, 57 through the line 182 and returns through the line 181 to raise the mold 35 and lower the core 47 each to their casting positions. Energizing the solenoid S4 and deenergizing solenoid S3 reverses the flow of oil in the lines 181, 182 thereby to lower the mold and raise the core.

Oil to the forging cylinder 114 is supplied through lines 183, 185 and valve Vf. When solenoid S2 is energized and solenoid SI is deenergized, oil flows through the line 183 and returns through the line 185 to retract the forging dies. When the solenoid SI is energized and solenoid S2 is deenergized, the oil flow in the lines 183, 185 is reversed P to close the forging dies. -A pressure booster piston and cylinder 215 may be interposed in the line 185 for the forging cylinder 114.

Oil to the cylinder 114p is supplied through lines 186, 187 and valve Vp. With the solenoid S9 deenergized, oil flows through the line 186 and returns through the line 187 to retract the trimming dies. When the solenoid S9 is energized, return spring 188 retracts valve Vp and the flow of oil in the lines 186, 187 is reversed to punch out the forging.

Oil to the ejectment hydraulic motor 165 is sup¬ plied through lines 189, 190 and valve Ve. When the sole¬ noid S8 is energized and solenoid S7 is deenergized, oil flows through the line 189 and returns through the line 190 flow of oil in the lines 189, 190 is reversed to rotate the "\ motor shaft 167 and eject the scrap from between the fingers of the turntable arm.

• Oil to the motors 192, 192p is supplied through lines 184, 188' and valve Vr. When solenoid Sll is energized and solenoid S10 is deenergized, oil flows through the line 184 and is returned through the line 188'. This rotates the motors 192, 192p to raise the lower dies 111, 147 preparatory to the forging and punching operations. When solenoid S10 is energized and solenoid Sll is deenergized, the motors 192, 192p rotate to retract the lower dies.

The indexing hydraulic motor 66 and the locking pin cylinder 84 are oil-supplied through lines 191, 193 under control of a valve Vi . When the solenoid S5 is energized and solenoid S6 is deenergized, oil flows through the line 193 and returns through the line 191 to urge the index pin 83 into engagement with gear 63. The motor shaft 69 returns the cam 73 to the stop 76. Energizing the solenoid S6 and deenergizing solenoid S5 reverses the flow of oil in lines 191, 193 and releases the index pin 83 from the gear 63 and at the same time rotates the shaft 69 to index the turntable.

In the circuit of Fig. 14, cam motor CM with a cam shaft CS drives cams CMl through CM8. One revolution of the cam motor CM constitutes a cycle. These cams CMl through CM8 are shown in diagrammatic development, the distance from x to y representing 360 degrees of rotation of the cam shaft CS. The cams CMl through CM8 respectively operate cam switches 201 through 208 respectively, which are in circuits across power The circuit for the cam motor CM comprises the V cam switch 201, a switch 200, and a relay coil RB that operates normally open contacts RBI, RB2. An adjustable timer motor TM is preset to delay an indexing of the turntable until the metal in the mold solidifies. The timer motor circuit comprises the cam switch 202, a timer switch 209 that is operated by a cam 212 driven by the timer motor TM, a relay coil RC which operates normally open contacts RC1 and normally closed contacts RC2, and a timer motor cycle control switch 214 that is operated by a cam 213 driven by the timer motor TM.

At the commencement of a cycle, assume that there is no casting in the mold and that the cam section M31 engages the switch arm 203 to energize the solenoid S3 so that the mold is up and the core is lowered. The previously made casting is now on the turntable arm that is at the forging dies and that casting has been forged. The cam section M41 has caused the switch arm 204 to energize the solenoid S2 so that the forging dies are separated. The casting on the arm at the trimming dies has been trimmed and the cam section M71 has opened the switch 207 keeping the trimming dies retracted. The cam section M61 is holding the switch arm 206 so that the solenoid S8 is energized keeping the ejector mechanism in its retracted position. The scrap s_ has been previously ejected. The cam section M51 maintains the switch arm 205 in position to energize the solenoid S5 so that the index pin 83 locks the turntable. The cam section M81 closes switch 208 so that solenoid Sll is energized whereby the lower dies are raised.

Liquid metal is introduced into the mold and there independently of switch 200, and closes a pair of contacts j RB2, which establishes a circuit through the cam motor CM causing it to rotate.

Almost immediately after starting of the cam motor CM, its motor-driven cam section M21 closes a switch 202, energizing the coil of relay RC . The relay RC opens its normally closed contacts RC2 to stop the cam motor CM and closes its contacts RCl to start the timer motor TM.

After the timer motor TM has operated for the pre-set time, it opens the timer switch contacts 209 to deenergize the coil of relay RC, which relay thus recloses its back contacts RC2, causing the cam motor CM to resume its rotation.

The time motor TM operates the cam 213 to close the normally open switch contacts 214 to maintain a holding circuit for itself for the remainder of one revolution. Rotation of the time motor TM through its cycle results in re-closing or resetting the timer switch 209. However, the cam motor CM has already rotated sufficiently to cause the cam switch 202 to move onto the cam section M22, thereby opening the cam switch 202 and preventing relay coil RC from being energized at this time.

After the cooling delay, the cam section M32 moves the switch arm 203 to energize the solenoid S4 and thereby lower the mold and elevate the core. Then the cam section M82 moves the switch arm 208 to energize the solenoid S10 and deenergize the solenoid Sll. This retracts the lower dies 111, 147. Thereafter, the cam section 52 moves the switch arm 205 to energize the solenoid S6 to release the section M53, the solenoid S6 is deenergized and the solenoid S5 is energized. This locks the indexing pin and reverses the motor 66. With the workpieces now between the respective pairs of dies, the cam section M83 then moves the switch arm 208 to energize the solenoid Sll and deenergize the solenoid S10 to raise the lower dies.

Next, the cam section M42 engages the switch arm 204 to energize the solenoid SI to close the forging dies.

In the meantime, the switch arm 203 is engaged by the cam section. M33 to energize the solenoid S3 to raise the mold and lower the core for the next cycle. After the forging is completed, the cam section M43 moves the switch arm 204 to de-energize the solenoid SI and energize the solenoid S2 to retract the forging dies.

Before the forging dies have been retracted, the cam section M72 engages the switch arm 207 to energize the solenoid S9 and close the punching dies. Thereafter, the cam section M62 engages the switch arm 206 to energize the solenoid S7 to operate the ejector motor. 165 and eject the scrap s_. Thereafter, the cam section M73 releases the switch arm 207 to retract the punching dies. Thereafter, the cam section M63 engages the switch arm 206to energize the solenoid S8 and de-energize the solenoid S7, which retracts the ejector mechanism.

At the end of the cycle, a short cam section M12 engages the cam switch 201, momentarily opening the same. This breaks the circuit to the relay coil RB and opens the relay contacts RB2, RBI and stops the operation of the cam motor CM. The inertia of the cam motor causes the switch 201 to be reen

Claims (2)

1. Appln.No. 28673/3 ¾ C L A I M S : 1. Apparatus for Baking metal forgings comprising a mold for casting metal, support means adjacent said mold and having means for receiving some of the metal that is cast and gripping said metal upon solidification of the casting, means for separating the mold from said casting to leave the casting held by said support means for forging the casting to a different shape after separation thereof from the mold and while the casting is held by said support, and means for providing relative movement between the support and the "forging means to bring the casting and the forging means into positions for forging the casting after a suitable time interval to allow the casting to solidify fully but while it still retains its heat of casting and is at or near a suitable temperature for hot forging.
2. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means for separating said mold from said casting comprises means for moving said mold relatively to the support and in a direction, to retract the mold from the casting, the grip of said support on said casting holding the casting to strip the easting from the mold as it is retracted from the casting. 3f Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the mold has a main cavity portion and means for channeling overflow metal from the main cavity portion to said support whereby the solidified overflow secures a slug of metal cast in said main cavity portion in spaced relation to said support. 4. Apparatus; according to claim 1 in which the support comprises spaced fingers, the mold is positioned between the Appln.No.28673/2 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said forging means comprises forging dies on opposite sides of the castihg, first means for moving one of the forging dies toward the casting to take up clearance between that die and the casting and place said one die an a position preparatory to forging, and second means for moving both forging dies toward the casting an into sufficient pressure engagement therewith to forge the same. 6. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the forging means forges the casting to form at least one forged piece and trim means for severing said forged piece from said trim such that said trim remains on said support, said moving means being operable to move the support and severing means relative to one another to bring the severing means and forged casting into positions for operation of said severing means thereon, and means for removing said trim from the support. 7· Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said forging means comprises forging dies on opposite sides of the casting and means for causing relative movement of the dies and casting into and out of forging engagement of the dies with the casting, the metal after the forging operation remaining a unitary piece that remains gripped by said support to strip the forging from the forging dies as the forging and dies are separated. 8. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said forging means includes opposed forging dids, indexing means for moving the support and casting to bring the casting between the forging dies; said forging means further comprising first means for moving one of the forging dies toward the casting to take up clearance between that die and the casting and place said one die in position preparatory to forging, and second means Appln.No. 286X3/2 for moving both dies toward the casting and into sufficient pressure engagement to forge the same and form at least one forged piece from said slug and at the same time leave the forged casting attached to said support; means for severing the forged piece from the remainder of said forged casting while leaving part of the forged casting attached to said support, said severing means including opposed dies on opposite sides of the forged piece, said indexing means being operable to bring the forged piece between said severing dies when they are separated, and means for ejecting said attached part of the forged casting from said support. as claimed in claim I , 9. Apparatus/ for making a casting having a hole therein comprising an open top mold member, a core, means for heating the core to a temperature below the solidification of the metal being cast, means for inserting the heated core into the open top portion of the mold member, means by which the metal may be introduced into the open top portion of the mold to flow around the core to form the casting with a hole that is a counterpart of the core, and means for retracting the core from the mold member after the metal has solidified sufficiently to be orm-sustaining but while the metal is s$ill sufficiently hot to undergo substantial shrinkage, said apparatus further comprising means for forging the casting, and means for transferring the casting to the forging means. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 10. A-xn&shtHe for making metal forgings/comprising means including a mold for casting a workpiece, means for forging said workpiece, said forging means comprising opposed die members, at least one of said die members having a first position in which the clearance between it and the second die Appln.No. 286¾^2 member is sufficient to permit insertion of a workpiece therebetween, first means for moving said one die member from the first position toward the workpiece to a second position to take up the clearance between that die member in a position preparatory to applying forging pressure to the workpiece, second means for moving both die members into pressure engagement with the workpiece and fo retracting both of said die members from the workpiece to return said first die member to said second position, said first means being operable to return said one die member to said first position to permit insertion of a like workpiece between said die members, and means for positioning a cast workpiece in the space between the die members when said one die member is in said first position. 11. Apparatus according to claim 10 in which said second means for moving both die members includes a toggle linkage and said first means includes only a part of the toggle linkage that is connected to said one die member for moving it independently of the other die member. as claimed in claim 1 , 12. for making metal forgings /comprising a mold for casting metal, forging means for imposing pressure on « workpiece cast in the mold to deform the workpiece into a shape that is different from the shape of the originally cast work-piece, means for severing at least one portion of the forged workpiece from the remainder thereof, and means for providing relative movement between the workpiece and both the pressure imposing means and the severing means to position the cast workpiece for forging by said forging means and then to position the forged workpiece for severing by said severing means. Appln.No.286^3/2 Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , 2&χκβΌ½ Ηβ for making metal forgings / omprising a casting means including a mold for successively casting vorkpieces, forging means for deforming each cast work-piece into a shape that is different from that of the original casting, means for removing the vorkpieces from the mold, means for supporting the removed vorkpieces, and means for providing relative movement between the workpie ce supporting means, the casting means and the forging means to position a cast workpiece for forging by the forging means and at the same time place a workpiece support in a position for receiving another cast workpiece. Tel-Aviv, 21st September, 1967 AGENT FOR APPLICANTS