US2462315A

US2462315A - Ammunition making machinery

Info

Publication number: US2462315A
Application number: US533088A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Antoine F Gagne
Original assignee: Remington Arms Co LLC
Current assignee: Remington Arms Co LLC
Priority date: 1944-04-27
Filing date: 1944-04-27
Publication date: 1949-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 1966-02-22

Description

l Feb., 22, 1949. v A. F. GAGNE, JR 2,462,315

AMMUNITON MAKING MACHINERY Filed April 27, 1944 l |"l 65/f96- Gl Patented Feb. 22,` 1949 I'I-I'ONy 'MAKING 'MACHINERY Antoine F. Gagne, Jr., PomptonLakes, N. J., 'assignor to Remington Arms Company, Inc., Bridgeport,v Conn.,l a` corporation of Delaware ApplicationApril'Z'l, 1944, Serial No. V533,088

` (ol. 11s-50) 2 Claims.

Thenpresent invention relates to a die'press, and .particularly to ejector-means for positively ejecting an article from a die of .the-press, and wherein the article engaged in' the `'die is adapted to have .its side wall laterally compacted `within the die. Anobject `of theinvention is to provide ejector means, automatically actuated through the voperation, ofwthe'press, to the end that, irrespective of -variationinthe tightness with which .the articles are engaged withinthe die after they are formed thereby, theyare positively ejected in exact'timed relation with the operating cycle of the press.

While `the invention mayndapplication in various types of pressesyan'din the'iormation of various articles, the. presentdisclosure is `illustrated by way of example .in connection with ra multiple stationpress of the typedisclosed more fully in Patent No. 493,519, Richards, March 14, 1893. A press of this kindhasfan articletransfer dial provided with article supporting aperturesadapted to receive and transfer the articles from one operative station to another. During the formingV operations-upon the article, it may -be moved out of vanaperture of theY dial by a suitable-punch intol avforming die-which, inthe particular machine shown in. the drawings, is above the dial, and is thereaftermoved back into an aperture of the dialfor-transfer-to vthenext station. way of example in connection witnthe formation of bullets of armour piercing type, lwhich comprise a bullet jacket having a steel core inserted therein, this core having a closure cap engaged over its heel end and retained inthe jacket by ycrimping over and flattening the open end thereof. Following the crimping and flattening of the open end of the. jacket, the bullet is subjectedto a so-called heeling operation, for the purpose of tapering slightly the heel end of the bullet, this tapering operation consisting in laterally compressing the wall of the jacket adjacent its crimped end against the steel core, the jacket thus being tightly compacted between lthe tapered wall of the die and the steel core within the jacket.

The ejector means employed Yin Aconnection with this operation usually consists of a spring loaded plunger, requiring an extremely heavy spring in `order to ezlfeetually disengageand eject the bullet from the die. -This has the disadvantage that the'disengagernent of averyrtightly compacted bulletis uncertain, andis apt to be out of exact timed-f relation with .the .operating cycle 'vof fthe' machine Also -upon Y' sudden dis The invention is further illustrated'by.

engagement of thebullet from the die cavity the release of the extremely strongspringis apt to impart such impelling movement to the'bullet that it will be carried through the transfer'pocket of the Vdial and into the Vplunger passage below the dial, with theV res-ult that the transfermove-- ment of the dial will be interfered with.

lt is a further object of the present inventionto provide positive vejector means adapted to disengage the bullet from the -die through theoperation of the reciprocating gate of the pressanfd in timed relation withthe punch-carrying under carriage. Thus, disengagement takes place simultaneously with the lowering movement'pf the punch, and relatively light spring means may be employed for ejecting the bullet from the-die to the dial, so that the impelling force thereon will be sucient to engage V'it'."with the dial but will not be excessive.

With the above and other vobjectsi'inview-"ian embodiment of the invention-is shown'finthe accompanying drawings, i and `this ven'ibodimeni; will be hereinafter more fully Vdescribed. "-'with reference thereto, -and vthe VL'invention will'he finally pointed out-inhthe-claims.

lIntlfie dra'wingsv Fig. 1 is a side -elevationof thef'dieacarrylng bracketv Vand the ejector means-associated therewith, and showing fragmentary portionsfofthe press for cooperationv therew'itlaithe" reciprocating gate of the press being ,shown-'in itsdown pcsi'- tion.

Fig.2rl is -a front elevation thereoL-partiallyin vertical section.

Fig.' 3 is a sectional plan-view, taken alongthe line 3-3 rof Fig. 2.

Fig. i4 is aside elevation, partially in'vertieal section, showing the bul-let engaged within the dierand the reciprocating gate in 'its Vpartially raised positionat the completion of theupstroke of the reciprocating under carriage, theA 'dote'a'nd dash Alines showing the successive positionsv of the' gate as the under'cariage moves to its-'down position, as the dialstarts vits vtransfer movement, and as the gate reaches its up position wherethe dial is intheprocess of completing-its movement, which can V'be about 60 after top dead center. The dial may, vof course, complete the movement at top dead center. y

Fig. 5 is .aside elevation,partiallyin vertical section, showingthe -bullet on an venlarged scale in its state immediately precedingthefheeling operation adapted to be performed'byltheidie-fand ejector means of the invention.

1mg; 16 is a'- sectionalwview, alsoion-anfenlarged 3 scale, showing the bullet engaged with the heeling die.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures o14 the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the press, illustrated by way of example, comprises a table I mounting an intermittently rotatable transfer dial II disposed at its marginal portion in spaced parallel relation above the table, a die block I2 being mounted in the space beneath the dial for coop-V eration therewith, as will presently more fully appear. The press includes a vertically reciprocating gate I3 disposed above the dial and a vertically reciprocating under carriage I4 disposed below the table, this under carriage adapted to have up and down movement in timed relation with the reciprocating gate during the raising movement of the gate. The dial is provided with a series of equally spaced circumferentially arranged article receiving pockets I5 having yieldable split sleeve article gripping members I6 therein, these gripping members being open at both ends and extending entirely through the dial. -The dial is adapted to be moved intermittently-to carry the articles inserted in its pockets from one to another of a series of stations during the latter part of the upstroke of the gate, and following the up and down movement of the under carriage, which occurs during the rst part of the upstroke. The particular press illustrated is'of the type where certain operations which require down pressure of a punch upon the article are performed in dies carried in the die block I2 Ibelow the dial, while other operations whichV require upward pressure of a punch upon the article are preformed in dies mounted above the dial, the articles being moved from the dial into the respective dies, and then back into the dial duringthe stationary periods of the dial.

The-bullet illustrated by way of example is one ofthe so-called armour piercing type, and comprises a bullet jacket I1 in which is engaged a steel core I8, the point of the core being pressed into a compacted point filling insert of lead I9 in the point of the jacket. The heel end of the steel core is tapered inwardly, asat 20, to provide a space forthe insertion of the rim of a closure cap member 2|, this closure cap member being retained by crimping over and flattening the open end of the jacket, as at 22.

The illustrated machine is adapted to assemble the closure cap 22 and to perform a series of nishing operations upon the bullet, the open endc djjacketA with the assembled steel core therein being inserted in the pockets of the dial at one pointuand then fed into successive relation with the several operative stations. The rst operative station is the cap feeding station where a cap 2I is inserted into the open end of each jacket. At the next station the cap is seated, being forceably pressed downwardly into the jacket into covering engagement with the end of the steel core with its rim engaging in the space provided by the tapered end 20 of the core. This cap seating operation is performed in a die at the under side of the dial. At the next station the end of the jacket is crimped inwardly, this operation being performed in a die at the upper side of the dial. At the next station the crimped end of the jacket is ilattened, so that the bullet ls in the state as shown in Fig. 5.

The crimp flattening operation is performed in a die 23 provided in the die block I2 at the under side of the dial in vertical line with the dial pocket 4 I5 and by a punch 24 carried by the gate I3 in vertical line with the die 23. In the base of the die 23 there is provided an electing punch 25 carried by the under carriage I4. During the down stroke of the gate the punch 24 enters the pocket I 5 of the dial and pushes the bullet therein downwardly through the pocket into the die 23 where it flattens the crimped end of the bullet jacket. During the raising movement of the gate I3 the undercarriage I4 moves upwardly, causing the punch 25 to carry the bullet out of the die 23 back into the dial pocket I5, the under carriage thereupon moving downwardly to disengage the punch 25 from the dial, this up and down movement of the under carriage occurring during the rst part of the upstroke of the gate. During the latter part of the upstroke of the gate, and after disengagement of the ejector punch 25 and the attening punch 24 from the dial, the dial is moved to transfer the bullet carried therein from the crimp flattening station to the next station. At this next station the heel tapering operation is performed upon the bullet, this being the operation with which the die and ejector means of the present invention are particularly concerned.

Upon the table I0 there is mounted a bracket 26 having an angularly extending arm projecting over the dial and provided with a tubular cylindrical die holding head 21 in vertical alignment with the heeling station of the dial next following the crimp fiattening station in line with the punch 24 and die 23. Within the tubular head 21 there is engaged a sleeve member 28, having an annular iiange 29 at its lower end engaging the lower end of the head. In its upper portion the sleeve member is provided with a cylindrical piston chamber 30, and in its lower portion is provided with a cylindrical die receiving pocket 3|. the chamber 30 and the pocket 3I being connected by a reduced diameter passage 32. The upper end of the sleeve is interiorly threaded and is engaged by the threaded plug end 33 of a plug cap 34,`bearing upon the upper end of the tubular head 21, tightening of the plug cap drawing the flange 30 upwardly against the lower end of the head 21 and thus securing the sleeve in place. The sleeve is held against rotation by a set screw 35 screwed into the lower end of the head 21 and having its head engaged in a pocket 36 provided in the periphery of the flange 29. The plug cap is secured against rotation by means of a set screw 31 bearing upon the upper end of the head 21.

Within the chamber 30 there is provided a piston 38 having a lower stem portion 39 engaged in the'passage 32, a vertical stem rod 40 being secured to its upper side and slidably engaged at its upper end portion within a central passage 4I in the plug cap. An ejector pin 42 is engaged in a pocket 43 in the lower stem portion of the piston and is secured therein by means of a set screw 44 engaged in a recess 45 cut in the side of the pin. Within the piston chamber there is provided a. helical compression spring 46 disposed between the plug cap and the pistonand exerting downward pressure upon the piston. A die block 41 is engaged in the die pocket 3I and is secured in seating relationY therein by a retaining cap 48 screwed upon the lower threaded end of the sleeve 28, this die block being provided with a die cavity 49 for receiving the bullet to Vbe formed, and provided in axial line. above this pocket with a cylindrical passage 50 engaged by the ejector pin 42, the lower end of this pin being projected into the die cavity in line with the lower end of the die in the normal'.depressedipcsitionof,theepistm and being raised to the upper end of the vdie cavityi-f der carriage I4 and provided invv its upper end with a pocket 52 for engaging the point end of the bullet. This punch moves upwardly during the initial upward movement ofthe gate I 3, pushing-the bullet` from the retaining'zsleeve I6 ofthe pocket1l5-of5the dial upwardlyinto the cavity49 d 'fthedie 4.1', the taperedform ofthe diecavity impartinga slightly tapered formfto the3heel of thegbullet. Thereupon, and stillduringv the up,- ward movement of the gate I3, the punch 5I moves downwardly out of engagement with the dial, andvitvis during this movement thatvthe ejectori means of the present invention is adapted mlbeactuated.

The plug 34 is provided with a pair of spaced bearing ears 53, the bottom 54 of the space between these ears being inclined downwardly and rearwardly and having the upper end of the passage 4I located therein. A lever arm 55 is pivotally mounted at one end between the arms 53 upon a pin 56, rotatably supported at its ends in bearing bushings 5'I in the arms and secured to the lever arm by means of a set screw 58 in the end of the arm engaged in a groove 59 in the pin. Upon the end of the arm there is provided a projecting lug 60 carrying a pressure screw 6| arranged to engage the upper end of the rod 40, when the latter is projected above the inclined surface 54 in the raised position of the piston, as shown in Fig. 4, and to depress the plunger rod through swinging movement of the arm imparted thereto through a lazy-tong connection with the gate I3. For this purpose the outer end of the lever arm 55 is connected by a pair of link members 52--62 to a fixture 53 secured by screws 64 to the under side of the gate, the link member being pivotally connected to the lever arm and to the Xture by cross pins 65 and S, preferably fixed to one of the links and inserted through the lever arm and fixture and through the other link, which is retained thereon by means of washers 61 and cotter pins 68. Spacer washers 69 are preferably provided upon the pin 65 between the lever arm and the links. In operation, the bullet is brought by the dial to the heeling station, the transfer movement of the dial taking place during the latter part of the raising movement of the gate I3, as indicated in Fig. 4. Thereupon the gate moves downwardly to its maximum down position and during this down movement the punches carried by the gate are brought into relation with the dies below the dial. As shown in Fig. 2, the punch 24 moves downwardly through the dial at the station preceding the heeling station, moving the bullet into the die 23 and flattening the crimped end. During the rst part of the upward movement of the gate the under ycarriage moves upwardly and downwardly, its upward movement moving the ejecting punch 25 upwardly through the die 23 returning the bullet to the dial. At the same time the heeling station punch 5I, also carried by the under carriage, moves upwardly and downwardly, its upward movement forcing the bullet at the heeling station into the die cavity 49 of the die 4l, the engagement of the bullet in the cavity forcing the ejector pin 42, the piston 38 and the stem rod 40 upwardly, so that the upper end of the stem rod is projected above the inclined botspringe 46 projecting: the;` ejector-pinto Ethel;- point;

te the: nexta station;- the completed'. bullet@ being;

tourL surfaces-54.; off the pluer. can. the under; carriage,completeslitszupwardnrnnfementatheleven1 arm; 55; which swingsfin'v clockwise; direction: dur,-r ingthe, upward: movement: of the .gate, is brought:

s, into; cQntact; with; the proj ectediupper. endrof the stem rod, sov that` asV theundercarriage *movesY downwardly,v withdrawing; thefl punch; 5 I from.; ther die cavity. the; ejectonr pinis-gpressedzv downwardly; by: the;-` uernbinedA action ofi the;v lever: 551/.and'pthe'L Spring? 45'. thus; positively. eXi-rting;1 disengaging4 force1-upon the; upper end; of; the;` bullet: within the die.: cavity-.'-` Irresrnectivel ofi the; tiglrtnessh off the bullet inA the;` cavity its disengagement; and; ejectiontakes place simultaneously with .thepwitlrdrawing-:action ofrthe; puncn15al, the;actiornoffthe.

where :the bullet ,is-:fQreed-:back-,intothef dial pock.- et; 4As, soon as theb'ullet is fully` engaged:inthe.. dial. pocket, and: the; punch 5I descends. below.` the dia-l,the dialg-iszrotated togtransferfthe -bulletf finally ejected by a suitable ejector punch.

The form of the invention illustrated in the drawing and described herein is typical and illustrative only, and it is evident that the invention is capable of embodiments in other forms, all falling within the scope of the appended claims, which are to be broadly construed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a die press, the combination with a table; article supporting means movably mounted on said table; a gate reciprocably mounted above said supporting means; an under-carriage reciprocably mounted beneath said supporting means; a die having a die cavity xedly mounted on said table above said supporting means; an article ejector mounted in said die and movable into and out of said die cavity; resilient means arranged normally to project said ejector into said die cavity, said ejector being adapted to be engaged and displaced therefrom by an article thrust into said die cavity from said supporting means; and means carried by said under-carriage constructed and arranged to engage an article in said supporting means to move said article therefrom up into said die cavity and to subsequently retire downwardly therefrom; of means to positively return the displaced ejector into said die cavity and thereby to eject the article therefrom comprising a stem on said ejector arranged to be moved from a normal position corresponding to the normal position of said ejector to a displaced position by displacement of said ejector from said die cavity, a lever arm pivotally supported on said table, one end of said lever arm being arranged to engage said stem in its displaced position and to postively move said stem to its normal position inV response to predetermined movement of said lever arm; and means associated with said gate constructed and arranged to impart said predetermined movement to said lever substantially simultaneously with the retirement of said article moving means carried by the under-carriage.

2. In a die press, the combination with a table; article supporting means movably mounted on said table; a gate reciprocably mounted above said supporting means; an under-carriage reciprocably mounted beneath said supporting means; a bracket xed to said table having a cylinder; a die having a die cavity xedly mounted in the lower end of said cylinder above said supporting means; an article ejector slidably mounted in said cylinder having an ejector pin movable into and out of said die cavity; resilient means in said cylinder arranged normally to project said ejector 7 pin into said cavity, said pin being adapted to be engaged and displaced therefrom by an article thrust into said die cavity from said supporting means; and means carried by said under-carriage to engage an article in said supporting means to move said article therefrom up into said die cavity; of means to positively return the displaced ejector pin into said die cavity and thereby to eject the article therefrom comprising a stem on said ejector arranged to project upwardlyin 8 said cylinder in response to movement of said gate.

` ANTOINE F. GAGNE. JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 493,519 Richards Mar. 14, 1893 631,785 Gebhart Aug. 29, 1899 970,092 McDonald Sept. 13, 1910 1,176,897 Hinde Mar. 28, 1916 1,241,517 Jacoby Oct. 2, 1917 1,949,407 Bettucci Mar. 6, 1934 2,229,393 Steffen Jan. 21, 1941 2,283,503 Johnson May 19, 1942 2,329,325 Berry Sept. 14, 1943 2,331,490 Menkin Oct. 12, 1943