US2382339A

US2382339A - Forging press

Info

Publication number: US2382339A
Application number: US562702A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edmund A Skowron; Wilbert H Woodings
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1944-11-09
Filing date: 1944-11-09
Publication date: 1945-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 1962-08-14

Description

14, 1945. E.. A. sKowRoN ET Al. 2,382,339

` FORGING PRESS Filed Nov. 9, 1944 Z5 Sheets-Sheet l duw-4 lq r roe/vens i?? TVESSES. Hi, /M

Aut 14, 1945- E. A, sKowRoN ET Ax. 2,I?82,33

FORGING PRESS Filed Nov. 9, 1944 -3 Sheets-fSheet 2 IN VEN TORS. N, (SMQ. BY hl' WSSES: @Wwwgwf y, fin/MM., inl-f @frog/vens.

Aug. 14, 1945. E. A. sKowRoN ET Al. 2,382,339

FORG ING PRESS Filed Nov. 9, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 QINVENTORS. ajgrwessfs. H' W y" l rui/f di@ 7 7- rop/VE YS.

Patented Aug. 14, 1945 FORGING PRESS Edmund A. Skowron, Pittsburgh, and Wilbert H.

Woodings, Oakmont, Pa.

Application November 9, 1944, Serial No. 562,702

14 Claims.

This invention relates to forging presses, and

more particularly to the feeding of work to forging dies and the removal of it therefrom.

` The splice bars that connect the ends of railroad rails together become worn and hammered out of shape in use. Accordingly, it has been the practice to remove these worn splice bars and to reform them into substantially their original shape by first heating them and then forging them between appropriate dies. Heretofore the general practice has been to place each splice bar between the reforming dies by handl and to remove the reformed bars in the same way. Obviously, this retards the reforming process and requires considerable manual labor.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a forging press which 'automatically loads and strips its own dies, which accurately positions the work between the dies, and in which the loading and unloading mechanism is controlled in accordance with the movements of the reciprocating die. V ,I

In accordance with this invention a forging press is provided with cooperating top and bottom diesand with a vertically reciprocable head that carries the top die. Suspended from this head are inwardly projecting loading fingers and `inwardly projecting unloading fingers located at opposite ends of the dies with the unloading fingers in back of the loading lingers. Means is provided for moving the fingers backward while the head is raised, and forward while it is lowered. While the head is descending, the loading fingers are disposed below the slots in a, laterallyopen space which permits them to be moved laterally toward or away from the die.

'I'he preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a side view. partly broken away,

pass down across the ends of the bottom die, and

while the head is rising, the unloading fingers pass up across the ends of the same die. Consequently, the loading fingers can lift an unforged workpiece from a conveyor or the like and then deposit it on the bottom die, and simultaneously the unloading fingers can lift a forged workpiece from the bottom die and then deposit it on a work receiver. y

The lngerspreferably are carried by a pair of horizontal bars that are suspended pivotall'y from arms pivotally connected at their upper ends to the reciprocable head. These arms are swung back and forth in cooperation with the vertical z movements of the head to move the fingers from one position to another. In order that the `full length of the workpiece may be properly forged, the dies preferably are made as long as the workpiece and the lower die is provided in its ends with vertical slots for receiving the vertically moving fingers. When the head is in its lower position the flngers located adjacent the lower die of a. forginspress provided with our` feeding mechanism; Fig, la is a fragmentary side view showing the feeding mechanism in its lower rear position; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the rear end of the feed mechanism taken on the line II--II of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line- III-III of'Fig. 2 j and Fig. l4 is an enlarged side'view of a modified loading or unloading finger assembly.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawings, a bed I supports a die holder 2 in which is mounted a lower die 8 for forgingarticles, for example, for reforming splice bars. Mounted on the base flange of the bed at opposite sides thereof is a pair of side frames 4, each in the form of two laterally spaced vertical columns intergrally connected together at their upper and lower` ends.

These side frames supporta chambered crown 6 which is held in place by heavy tie rods 'I that extend through the crown, side frame columns, and the base flange ofthe bed. i

Disposed between the side frames above the bottom die is a vertically reciprocable slide 8 that isheld in place by the side frames. In order to support this slide in an elevated position, an opentop hydraulic cylinder 9 is rigidly mounted ineach side ofthe crown and projects downwardly a short distance through an opening I I (Fig. 3) in the top of the underlying side frame. Disposed in these lifting cylinders are pistons I2 which have piston rods I3 extending from their lower ends through the bottoms of the cylinders and into brackets 'Il by which they are connected to the opposite sides of the slide. The lower end of each cylinder is connected by a pipe I6 to a source of hydraulic pressure, whereby the application of pressure elevates the pistons in the cylinders and holds the slide in its upper position until the pressure is released.

Upon release of pressure from the cylinders, the

slide descends until the upper die I'I connected to its lower end engages a red hot splice. bar resting Y on the lower die. Pressure is then applied to the .on top of the slide and extending upwardly into a downwardly opening. cylinder I9 formed in the center of the crown. The ram and slide together Vform a reciprocable head. .Hydraulic pressure is applied to the top of the ram inside the cylinder f i 1 through a pipe 2l communicating with an opening' in the top wall of the cylinder. When this presl sure is released, the head can be raised by applyldeposited on some kind of a receiver such as Y skids by which they may ibe delivered to a quenching tank. Accordingly, a pair ofbrackets 25 are rigidly attached to each side of the slide near its bottom and project down below it. 'I'he lower ends of these brackets rotatably support the ends of a pair of parallel shafts 26 which extend across the slide near its front and' back. Splined on each shaft are the upper ends of a pair of parallelarms 21 straddled by yokes 28 provided on top with projections 28 having threaded openingsl through VthemV parallel to the shaft. Threaded in each of these openings is a horlscrew 3| disposed in a recess in the bottom of the slide and .extending out through the adjacent bracket 25. A sprocket 32 is rigidly mounted on the projecting outer end of each screw, and the pair of sprockets at each side lof the slide are connected by a chain 33. Also, a hand wheel 34 is rigidly mounted on the outer end of one of the screws at each side of the slide. By turning the hand wheels the four screws are rotated in order to move yokes 28 along them to thereby adjust arms 21 along shafts 26 for a purpose to,be described later.

Pivotally connected to the lower ends of the two arms at each side of the slide is a horizontal bar 36 near the opposite ends of which inwardly projecting lugs or fingers are mounted. The

front fingers 31 are loading iingers and the rear ones 38 are unloading ngers. The arms are provided near their upper ends with 'lateral prolections in which stop screws 39 are adjustably mounted. These screws, by engaging the bottom of the slide, limit the distance that the arms can be swung either forward orbackward. The

stops are so adjusted that in either extreme position of the arms a pair of the ngers will lie in a vertical plane extending through the center of the dies longitudinally thereof.

For swinging the arms, a rearwardly and downwardly projecting lever 4I is rigidly mounted on the central portion of the rear shaft 26. The lower end of this lever is pivotally connected by a link 42 to the front end of another lever 43 that is pivotally supported at its center by a bracket 44 projecting from the iback of the slide. The rear end of this lever is pivotally connected to the lower end of a piston rod 46 projecting from. a piston lin a hydraulic cylinder 41 which is pivotally connected at its upper end to the back of the slide. When hydraulic pressure is applied to the lower end of this cylinder, the piston. rod 46 is drawn up into it, thereby swinging arms 21 to their front position as shown in Fig. 1. When pressure is applied tothe upper end of the cylinder the piston therein is forced downwardly to thereby, through levers 4| and 43, swing the arms to their rear position shown in Figla. Assuming that the move/ble parts f the press' are in the position; shown in Fig. l and that an unforgedllsplice bar 48 is resting on loading ngers 31 while a bar 49 that has just been reformed rte@ change is supported by the unloading ngers 3l, the press may be set in operation by turning a valve or 1pressing Van electric control button (not shown).

` This action operates -a four-may valve .-50,1 through which oil under pressure owstothe' upper end of cylinder 41 while oil escapes from the lower end of the cylinder.` 'Ihe pressure in the cylinder moves the piston therein downwardly and thereby causes levers 43 and 4I to swing arms 21 of the feed mechanism toward the back of the press. The stop screws 38 on the arms will stop them in the dotted line position shown in Fig. l with the loading fingers then centered above the lower die. The tilting of lever 43- swings an actuating element 5|, operatively connected thereto, to

close an electric switch 52 .that operates a fourway valve 53, connecting pipes I3 and 2i to a source of hydraulic pressure, to release the, pressure from the lower ends of cylinders I' and to admit hydraulic pressure to the top of main cylinder I3. 'I'he head then slides down slowly and the loading lingers deposit the unforged splice bar 48 on the lower die while the unloading iingers deposit the reformed bar 43 on delivery skids 54 as shown in Fis. 1a.

I'n order that the lower die may be as long as the splice bars, its opposite ends are provided centrally with vertical slots 55'to accommodate fingers 31 and 38 which, of course, extend inwardly along the splice bars. As shown in Fig. 2, the lower die is longer than its holder 2 so that there will be an open space below it that -will permit the lowered fingers to move laterally toward and away from the bottoms of slots 55 as bars 36 are swung toward the front of the press.

As soon as the upper die engages the splice bar resting on the lower die the hydraulic pressure admitted to the top of cylinder I9 in. the crown starts to build up and the dies press the .bar into the desired shape. When the pressure reaches a predetermined value a pressure switch 56 connected to pipe 2l is tripped and, through suitable f conventional means, shifts valve 58 so that iluid under pressure will be admitted to the lower end of cylinder 41 while the upper end of the cylinder is vented. This causes lever 43 to be swung back to the position shown in Fig. 1 and to thereby swing bars 36 toward the front of the press to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1a. At the same time pressure switch 56 also causes valve 53 to be shifted to a neutral position in which the pressure in cylinder I8 is released. Tilting of lever 43 permits swtich 52 to open and, through another actuating element 51, closes another electric switch 58 when bars 36 complete 'their forward stroke. Switch 58 causes valve 53 to move from neutral position into a position that connects cylinders 3 with the source of hydraulic pressure so that pistons I2v will start to rise and thereby lift the head andthe loading mechanism. As loading fingers 31 rise they lift the next un` forged splice bar from entry skids 59, and unloading flngers 38 pass up through slots 55 in the ends ofthe lower die and lift from it the bar that has just been forged on it. 'I'he head and the loading mechanism are then back in the position shown in Fig. 1, ready to repeat the cycle just described. IWhen it is desired to forge splice bars of a different length. hand wheels 34 can be turned y the spacing between bars 36 accord- 'In Fig. 4 there is shown a. work-carrying finger, a pair of which may be used in place of the loading fingers 31, and an additional pair substituted for the unloading tlngers if desired. These new fingers are designed to center the splice bars between vbars 36 so that they will rest evenly 'on the lower die and not `project from either end. For this purpose a bracket 6l4 is adapted to be mounted on one f the bars 36 and is provided in its lower portion with a recess 62 extending transt versely through it. Extending across the outer end of this recess is a pin 63, and pivotally mounted on this pin is one end of a finger 64. The finger extends through the recess and projects from its inner end. The projecting end of and bottom ldies, a vertically reciprocable head carrying the top die, an inwardly projecting loading finger andan inwardly projecting unloading nger disposed at each end of the dies with the unloading ngers behind the loading fingers, means suspending said fingers from said head, and means for moving said fingers backward whilethe head is raised and forward while it is lowered,

said loading fingers passing down across the ends of the bottom die while the head is descending, and said unloading fingers passing up across the ends of the bottom die while the head is rising, whereby an unforged workpiece may be lifted by the loading fingers from affeeder and then deposited on thebottom dia/and a forged workpiece lifted by'fthe unloading fingers from the and into a slot in the finger in which it is pivotally connected to the finger by a pin 1I.

When a pair of these fingers rise into contact with a splice bar that is to be forged, the weight oi' the barz will tend to swing the fingers downwardly in bracket recesses 62. However, if the bar is the longest that the press is set for at the time, the ends of the bar will engage vertical surfaces 61 of the fingers, as well as horizontal surfaces 66, and thereby prevent thenm from swinging down. In case the splice bar is shorter,

neither end may engage vertical surfaces 61 initially, so the fingers will be .depressed by the bar until those surfaces strike its opposite ends as shown in full lines in Fig. 4, orv until the fingers are arrested by their supporting bars 36. In many cases, however, a short splice bar will not be centered between the fingers when first picked up, but will be closer to ythe vertical surface 61 of one thanthe other. When the fingers start toiswing down, one of them ill therefore push the splice bar toward the ot er until it is centered between them with btith of its ends engaged by the vertical surfaces 61 lof the fingers.

unloading fingers, but for a different reason., It

will be seen that the fingers tend to push the bar supported by them toward each other, and they therefore clamp it between them and hold it steady. Thisfeature may be important in lifting forged bars from the bottom die and carrying them to the delivery skids.

.With this4 apparatus the splice bars are fed through the press automatically and at a more constantrate than was possible when the feed was manual. After the press has been started in operation it will complete a cycle without atten-tion, and the successive cycles can be made to follow each other automatically by merely locking 'in the starting device in a well-known manner,

thus making the press fully automatic.

Asscording to the provisions of the patent statutes, we have explained the principle and construction of our invention and have illustrated and described what we now consider to represent 1. A forging press comprising cooperating top` bottom die and then deposited on a receiver.'

2. A forging press comprising' cooperating top and bottom dies, a vertically reciprocable head carrying the topdie, an inwardly projecting loading finger and an inwardly projecting unloading nger disposed at each end of the dies with the unloading ngers behind the loading fingers, means suspending said fingers from said head. and means for moving said fingers backward while the head is raised and forward while it is lowered, each end of the bottom die being pro vided with a vertical slot terminating at its lower end in a laterally open space, said loading' fingers passing down through Asaid slots while the head is descending. and said unloading fingers passing up through said slots while the head is rising, whereby an unforged workpiece may be lifted by the loading fingers from a feeder and then deposited on the bottom die, and a forged workpiece lifted by the unloading fingersfrom the bottom die and then deposited on a receiver.

3. A forging Dress comprising cooperating top and bottom dies, a vertically reciprocable head carrying the top die, an inwardly projecting loading finger and an inwardly projecting unloading finger disposed at each end of the dies with the unloading fingers behind the loading fingers, means suspending said fingers from said head, means for moving said fingers backward while the head is raised and forward while it is lowered, and means controlled by said movements of the fingers for lowering and raising the head, said loading fingers passing down across the ends of the bottom die while the head is descending, and said unloading fingers passing up across the ends of the bottom die while the head is rising, whereby an unforged workpiece may be lifted by the loading fingers from a feeder and then deposited on the bottom die, anda forged workpiece lifted by the unloading fingers from the vbottom die and then deposited on a receiver.

4. A forging press comprising cooperating top and bottom dies, .a vertically reciprocable head carrying the top die, an inwardly projecting loading finger and an inwardly projecting unloading nger disposed at each end of the dies with the unloading fingers behind the loading fingers, vertically extending arms pivotally connected at their upper ends to said head for oscillation in parallel vertical planes at the opposite ends of the dies, means connectingsaid fingers to the lower ends of the arms, and means for swinging said arms backward while the head is raised and forward while it is lowered, said loading fingers passing down across the ends of the bottom die while the head is descending, and said unloading fingers passing up across the ends of the bottom die while the head is rising, whereby an unforged workpiece may be lifted by the loading fingers from a feeder and then deposited on the'bottom die, and a forged workpiece lifted by the unloading ngers from the bottom die and then deposited on a receiver.

5. A forging press comprising cooperating top and bottom dies, a vertically reciprocable head carrying the vtop die, an inwardly projecting loading finger and an inwardly projecting unloading finger disposed at each end of the dies with the unloading fingers behind the loading fingers, vertically extending arms pivotally connected at their upper ends tol said head for oscillation in parallel vertical planes at the opposite ends of the dies, means connecting said fingers to the lower ends of the arms, a fluid pressure cylinder connected to said head, and means operatively connecting said cylinder to' said arms for swinging the arms backward while the head is raised and forward while it is lowered, said loading fingers passing down across the ends of the bottom die while the head is descending, and said unloading fingers passing up across the ends of the bottom die while the head is rising, whereby an unforged workpiece maybe lifted by the loading fingers from a feeder and then deposited on the bottom die, and a forged workpiece lifted by the unloading fingers from the bottom die and then deposited on a receiver.

6. A forging press comprising cooperating top vand bottom dies, a vertically reciprocable head carrying the top die, a pair of horizontal bars disposed in parallel vertical planes at the opposite ends of the dies, means suspending each bar -from said head for lengthwise movement, a loading :finger projecting inwardly from the front end of each bar, an unloading finger projecting inwardly from the rear end of each bar, each end of the bottom die being provided with a vertical slot terminating at its lower endl in a laterally open space, and. means for swinging said bars backward while the head is raised and forward while it is lowered, said loading fingers passing down through said Vslots while the head is descending, and said unloading lingers passing up through said slots while the head is rising, whereby an unforged workpiece may be lifted by the loading fingers from a feeder and then deposited on the bottom die, and a forged workpiece lifted by the unloading fingers from the bottom die and then deposited on a receiver.

'7. A forging press comprising cooperating top and bottom dies, a vertically reciprocable head carrying the top die, a pair of horizontal bars disposed in parallel vertical planes at the opposite ends of the dies, a pair of arms at each end of the dies pivotally connected to said head and to the opposite ends of the underlying bar, means for swinging the arms backward while the head is raised and forward while it is lowered, a loading finger projecting inwardly from the front end of each bar, an unloading finger projecting inwardly from the rear end of each bar, each end of the bottom die being providedrwith a vertical slot terminating at its lower end in a laterally open space, said loading fingers passing down through said slots while. the head is descending, and said unloading fingers passing up through said slots while the head is rising, whereby an unforged workpiece may be lifted by the loading fingers from a feeder and then deposited on the bottom die, and a forged workpiece lifted by the unloading fingers from the. bottom die and then deposited on a receiver.

8. A forging press comprising cooperating top and bottom dies, a vertically reciprocable head carrying the top die, a pair of horizontal bars i. disposed in parallel vertical planes at the opposite ends of the dies, a pair of arms at each end of the dies pivotally connected to said head and to the opposite ends of the underlying bar, a lever operatively connected to the arms, fluid pressure actuated means carried by said head and operatively connected to said lever for actuating it to swing the arms backward while the head is raised and forward while it is lowered, a loading finger projecting inwardly from thefront end of each bar, an unloading finger projecting inwardly from the rear end of each bar, each end of the bottom die being provided with a vertical slot terminating at its lower end in a laterally open space, said loading fingers passing down through said slots while the head is descending, and said unloading fingers passing up through said slots whiley the head is rising, whereby an -unforged workpiece may be lifted by the loading fingers from a feeder and then deposited on the bottom die, and a forged workpiece lifted by the unloading fingers from the bottom die and then deposited on a receiver. t

9. A forging press comprising cooperating top and bottom dies, a vertically reciprocable head carrying the top die, an inwardly projecting loading nger and an inwardly projecting unloading finger disposed at each end of the dies with the unloading fingers behind the loading fingers, means suspending said fingers from said head, means for moving said fingers backward while the head is raised,'and means controlled by the pressure of the top die against a workpiece for moving said fingers forward while the head is lowered, said loading fingers passing down across the ends of the bottom die while the head is descending, and said unloading fingers passing up across the ends of the bottom die while the head is rising, whereby an unforged workpiece may be lifted by the loading fingers from a feeder and then deposited on the bottom die, and a forged workpiece lifted by the unloading fingers from the bottom die and then deposited on a receiver.

10. A forging press comprising cooperating top and bottom dies, a vertically reciprocable head carrying the top die, an inwardly projecting loading finger and an inwardly projecting unloading linger disposed at each end of the dies with the unloading fingers ,behind the loading fingers, means suspending said fingers from said head, means for moving said fingers backward while the head is raised, and means controlled by the pressure of the top die against a workpiece for moving said fingers forward While the head is lowered, and means controlled by said movements of the fingers for lowering and raising the head, said loading fingers passing down across the ends of the bottom die while the head is descending, and said unloading fingers passing upacross the ends of the bottom die while the head is rising, whereby an unforged workpiece may be lifted by the loading fingers from a feeder and then deposited on the bottom die, and a forged workpiece lifted by the unloading fingers from the bottom die and then deposited on a receiver.

ll. A forging press comprising top and bottom dies, a vertically reciprocable head carrying the top die, a pair of parallel shafts extending across the bottom of the head near its front and rear sides, means rotatably supporting said shafts from the head, a pair of laterally spaced arms splined at their upper ends on eachshaft, manually operable means for adjusting said arms along the shafts, a pair of horizontal bars disposed in parallel vertical planes at the opposite ends of the dies, each bar being pivotally connected tothe lower ends of the arms beside it, means connected to one of said shafts for oscillating it to swing said bars backward in said planes while the head is raised and forward while it is lowered, a loading linger projecting inwardly from thefront end of each bar, an unloading linger projecting inwardly from the rear end of each bar, said loading lingers passing downwardly across the ends of the bottom die while the head is descending, and said unloading lingers passing up across the ends of the bottom die while the head is rising, whereby an unforged workpiece may be lifted by the loading lingers from a feeder and then deposited on the bottom die, and a forged workpiece lifted by the unloading fingers from the bottom die and then deposited on a receiver.

ciprocable head carrying the top die, an inwardly projecting loading finger and an inwardly profrom said head, the outer ends of said loading 12. A forging press comprising top and bottom dies, a vertically reciprocable head carrying the top die, a pair of parallel shafts extending across the lbottom of the head near its front and rear si'des, means rotatably supporting said shafts from the head, a pair of laterally spaced arms splined at their upper ends on each shaft, a screw threadably connected to the upper end of each arm andl extending outwardly along the adjacent shaft, means operably connecting the outer ends of the pair of screws at each side of the head for manual rotation in unison to adjust said arms along the shafts, a pair of horizontal bars disposed in parallel vertical planes at the opposite ends of the dies, each bar being pivotally connected to the lower ends of the arms beside it, means connected to one of said shafts for oscillating it to swing said bars backward in said planes while the head is raised and forward whilel it is lowered, a loading linger projecting inwardly from the front end of each bar, an unloading linger projecting inwardly from the rear end of each bar, said loading lingers passing downwardly across the en ds of the bottom die while the head is descending, and said unloading fingers passing up across `the ends of the bottom die while the head is rising, whereby an unforged workpiece may be lifted by the loading fingers from a feeder and then deposited on the bottom die, and a forged workpiece lifted by the unloading lingers from the bottom die and then deposited on a receiver.

13. A forging press comprising cooperating cooperating top and bottom dies, a vertically relingers being pivotally mounted on horizontal axes and their inner ends having substantially horizontal work-supporting surfaces with s ubstantially vertical work-engaging surfaces rising therefrom for centering a workpiece between the lading lingers, means biasing said inner ends of the pivoted fingers upwardly, and means for moving said lingers backward while the head is raised and forward while it is lowered, said loading lingers passing down across the ends of the bottom die while the head is descending, and said unloading lingers passing up across the ends of the bottom die while the head is rising, whereby an unforged workpiece may be lifted by the loading fingers from a feeder and then deposited on the bottom die, and a forged workpiece lifted by the unloading fingers from the bottom die and then deposited on a receiver.

14. A forging press comprising cooperating top and bottom dies, a vertically reciprocable head carrying the top die, an inwardly projecting loading linger and an inwardly projecting unloading linger disposed at each end of the dies with the unloading lingers behind the loading lingers, means suspending said lingers from said head, the outer ends of said loading fingers being lpivotally mounted on horizontal axes and their inner ends having substantially horizontal work-supporting surfaces with substantially vertical workengaging surfaces rising therefrom for centering a work-piece between the loading fingers, a vertical rod pivotally connected at its lower end to each pivoted finger, and a coil spring encircling each rod and compressed thereon for urging the rod and underlying finger upwardly, and means for moving said lingers backward while the head is raised and forward while it is lowered, said loading lingers passing down across the ends of the bottom die while the head is descending, and said unloading lingers passing up across the ends of the bottom die while the head is rising, whereby an unforged Workpiecemay be lifted by the loading fingers from a feeder and then deposited on the bottom die, and a forged workpiece lifted by the unloading lingers from the bottom die and then deposited on a receiver.

EDMUND A. SKOWRON. WILBERT H. WOODINGS.