US2737916A

US2737916A - Spinning machine

Info

Publication number: US2737916A
Application number: US88249A
Authority: US
Inventors: Keith R Thompson
Original assignee: Monroe Auto Equipment Co
Current assignee: Tenneco Automotive Inc
Priority date: 1949-04-19
Filing date: 1949-04-19
Publication date: 1956-03-13
Anticipated expiration: 1973-03-13

Description

March 13, 1956 K. R. THOMPSON 2,737,916

SPINNING MACHINE Filed April 19. 1949 2 Sheets$heet l I J I 6 I l 77 p" 2/ I 13; 9

I l EFL, I 4;

United States Patent This invention relates to assembly machines and in particular refers to a machine for interconnecting parts soas to provide them with a predetermined initial set with respect to relative movement caused by the subsequent application of external forces.

An illustrative embodiment of the principles of the invention is a machine for assembling the resilient valve port-closure to the ported'valve plug of. base valves ofthe type which form a part of shock absorbers. The valve plug is a body having a' plurality of angularly spaced apertures'or ports as well as a central tubular portion or neck which may be integral or provided by ahollow rivet. The closure is a flexible disk which fits over the ports and is mounted on the plug neck. In assembly the neck is-spun or turned down on'the disk and theextent of spinning determines the initial set of. the disk and thus the minimum iluidrpressure required. for flow through the ports of the base'valve.

With respectto the assembly of base valves,'-itis an object-of the invention to provide a machinewhich indicates the pressure of the diskon-thevalve plug ports during assembly so that the-extent of spinning may be accurately regulated to provide thedesired initial. disk setting.

In'accompli-shing this object, the invention, in a preferred form, contemplates the-manualcontrol by an operator of the axial force with which the spinningv tool is driven against the plugneck. This control isvexercised: through the medium of a suitable handle or lever which when moved by the-operator; forces the spinning tool-toward or from the neck. Movement. of the handle controls two circuits which incombination serveto visually indicate to the operator the pressure that he has applied to the flexible disk by means of the spinningoperation. The first'of these circuits is actuatedduring downward movement to cause a movablejigtoengage the base valve being assembled and forcibly hold it in adesired position; The

second of these circuits is actuated after the-first has completed its function to apply fluid pressure to the disk closure and to visually indicate the magnitude of this pressure. Since this pressure-gradually increases from zero as the spinning operation proceeds,v theoperatorcan cease actuation of the handle or downward feed of the spinning tool when it reaches the desired value. I-n'this manner thepresent machine insures'the uniform andaecu rate procurement'of the desired initial setting of the disk.

.It will lie-evident that the principles of-the inventionas illustrated in the specific embodiment herein described are capable of more general application; hence the object of the invention may be more broadly stated as being to provide a machine for interconnecting parts in which fluid pressure is applied during assembly to efiect 'a control of the initial set of. the parts with respect to relative movement caused by the subsequent application of exte'rnal forces.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1a is a plan view of the workpiece;

Fig. 1b is a cross'section of theworlipiece;

2. Fig. 1 is a" perspective view of one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is'a section taken on line2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3'is a section'taken on line 3''-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a section taken online 44 of Fig. 2; and

Figs. 5 and 6' are sections taken. on'lines 55 and 6-6' the material surrounding its inner periphery. The extent of this spinning determines the fluid deflect the disk D and E in the valve body.

The machine includes'a stationary frame 1 and table 3. Abed 5 or lower support for the workpiece is afiixed to pressure required to permit flow through the apertures the table 3: The bed 5 hasa suitable recess 7 which conforms to the periphery of thebase valve A and serves to align the latter with the axis of the tool shank 9. The tool shank-9 is rotated by suitable means and axially fed by movement of the handle 11 which rotates a shaft 13 that is suitably connected to the shank 9. It will be recognized that the shank 9- and' the means for rotating and feeding it comprise a conventionaldrill press. The

spinning tool 15 is mounted onthe bottom of the shank 9 and is thus arranged to operatively'engage the neck C for spinning it over upon the flexible disk D.-

In order tomeasure the extent of spinning during the actual assembly operation, the'recess -7 communicates with a pressure chamber 17 withinthe'bed 5 and, to prevent undesired escape of pressure fluid, the periphery of the recess 7 is provided with an O or other suitable sealing ring 19 upon whichthe'workpiece A seats. The chamber 17 may be formed in the bed5 by a suitable boring operation and, if so,1a plug 21 may be placed in the chamber to reduce its volume. Pressure fluid;.preferably oil, from asuitable sourceis-admitted to the chamber 17 through a conduit 23' and desirably'passesthrough an orifice plug 251 Thepressure in chamber 1 7 is, of course, dependent upon the resistance of the disk D to flow through the apertures E which furnishthe only avenues of escape for fluid in-ch'amber 1 7 andis visually indicate-d by a gauge 27 which is connected tothe chamber 17 by a conduit 29.

Pressure from the chamber 17 tends to lift the base valve A fromits seatyupon the O-ring'19. To prevent this,

means are provided for controlling the period duringwhich pressure is admitted to the chamber and means'are also provided for forcibly holding the-workpiece A upon its seat during theperiod that pressure fluid is introduced cludes a normally open-switch'S-1. Closingof the switch S-1-',, by' means to be described'hereinafter;energizes and opens the solenoid-valve 31 to admit pressure fluid to chamber 17.

The means for forciblyseatingthe workpiece A- includes ahead: or jig'33 that is mounted on thetable 3 for limited vertical movementby means'of columns-'35. The tool shank 9 is capable of both axial and rotary movement.

relative to the head 33 and asasupport for the lower end of the-shank 9, the'head may have a bushing 37 through which the shank passes (Fig. 3)'; The head 33carries a collar 39 which surrounds the tool 15 and engages the' periphery of thevalvebo'dy B to'forcibly'hold' it upon the O ring- 19. The rear of'thecollar39may engageth e bal- Patented Man 13, 1956' ated four-way valve 51 with the pressure line 53 and the exhaust line 55. The valve 51 may be spring biased to interconnect lines 53 and 49 and therefore admit pressure air to the bottom of the cylinder. Upon energization of the solenoid, the valve connects the lines 53 and 47 and therefore admits air to the top of the cylinder. The solenoid is connected by leads C-2 to the bus line L1 and current flow is controlled by a normally open switch 5-2 which is actuated by means to be described hereinafter.

The piston rod of the cylinder 45 has a rack portion 57 that is guided in a suitable slot in the bracket or fixture 59 that serves to attach the cylinder to the table 3. The rack 57 drives a pinion 61 which is keyed to a cross shaft 63 that is journaled at one end in an arm 65 that extends from the fixture 59. The other end of the shaft 63 is journaled in a support 67 that is mounted on the table 3 and rotatively carries a pinion 69. This pinion drives a rack 71 that is secured to the rear of the head 33. It will be evident that upon energization of the valve 51 to connect lines 53 and 47 to drive the rack 57 downwardly, the shaft 63 will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4, resulting in downward movement of the head 33 until the collar 39 forcibly seats the workpiece A on the O ring 19.

The switches S-1 and 8-2 control the admission of pressure to the chamber 17 and the movement of the support jig 33. When 5-1 is closed the solenoid valve 31 is opened to admit pressure through line 23 to chamber 17, and when S2 is closed, the solenoid four-way valve 51 is energized to admit pressure to the top of cylinder 45 and drive the head 33 in a downward direction. These switches are closed by means of cams that are mounted on the handle shaft 13.

The cam 73 (Fig. 5) closes the switch S-2 through the agency of its follower 75. The cam 77 (Fig. 1) closes the switch S1 through the agency of its follower 79. It will be evident that as the operator rotates the shaft 13 through the medium of handle 11 to feed the tool 15 toward the workpiece, the cam 73 will close its switch S-2 before the cam 77 closes its switch S1. Thus, the head will have engaged the workpiece to prevent movement thereof by the time pressure is admitted to chamber 17. When the handle 11 is moved upwardly to raise the spinning tool 15, the cam 77 will release its switch S-1 and cut ofi pressure to chamber 17 before the cam 73 releases the switch 8-2 to raise the head 33.

After the tool 15 contacts the neck C, further feed motion of the shank 9 by downward movement of the handle 11 will progressively spin more of the neck over upon the disk D and therefore increase the pressure with which the spring holds the apertures in the valve body B closed. This pressure, of course, determines the pressure of the fluid in the chamber 17 which is escaping through these ports. When this pressure reaches the desired amount as indicated by gauge 27, the operator ceases downward movement of the handle 11 and moves it upwardly. As already described, this stops the flow of pressure to the chamber 17 and raises the head 33 so that he can remove the workpiece A from the recess 7 and place another therein.

It will be readily apparent that various modifications may be made in the construction shown. For example, the gauge 27 may be replaced by an adjustable pressure switch to automatically control feed movement Without departing from the broad principles and advantages of the invention. Furthermore, the invention may be employed in operations other than spinning, simple pressing, for example. It is therefore not intended to restrict the invention to the specific details of construction shown herein by way of illustration.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for assembling and prcloading first and second parts of a workpiece by deforming a portion of the first part over upon the second part, said first part having an aperture whereby fluid pressure can be applied to the second part in a direction opposite to the direction of assembly and prcloading and whereby deformation of the first part urges the second part to re strict fluid flow through the aperture, the combination of a bed for a workpiece, means for applying fluid pressure to the side of a workpiece resting on said bed so that it communicates with the aperture in the first part, said means including a pressure chamber having the aperture as an outlet, and axially movable tool operatively engageable with the other side of the workpiece to deform the first part portion, valve means for controlling the application of fluid pressure, common means for controlling axial movement of the tool and operation of the valve means so that fluid pressure is applied during engagement of the tool with the workpiece, and a pressure responsive device connected to said fluid pressure for indicating the magnitude thereof.

2. In an apparatus for assembling and prcloading first and second parts of a workpiece by deforming a portion of the first part over upon the second part, said first part having an aperture whereby fluid pressure can be applied to the second part in a direction opposite to the direction of assembly and prcloading and whereby deformation of the first part urges the second part to restrict fluid flow through the aperture, the combination of a bed for a workpiece, first means for applying fluid pressure to that side of a workpiece resting on said bed so that it communicates with the aperture in the first part, said means including a pressure chamber having the aperture as an outlet, a valve for controlling the flow of fluid to the chamber, a movable head engageable with the other side of the workpiece to prevent lifting of the workpiece from the bed by fluid pressure, an axially movable tool extending through and guided by the head and operatively engageable with the workpiece to deform the first part portion, second means for moving the head, third means for moving the tool, fourth means actuated by movement of the tool to a predetermined position for actuating the second means, fifth means actuated by movement of the tool to a predetermined position for actuating the valve so that fluid pressure is applied during engagement of the tool with the workpiece, and a pressure responsive device connected to said fluid pressure for indicating the magnitude thereof.

3. In an apparatus for assembling and prcloading first and second parts of a workpiece by deforming a portion of the first part over upon the second part, said first part having an aperture whereby fluid pressure can be applied to the second part in a direction opposite to the direction of assembly and prcloading and whereby deformation of the first part urges the second part to restrict fluid flow through the aperture, the combination of a bed for a workpiece, first means for applying fluid pressure to that side of a workpiece resting on said bed so that it communicates with the aperture in the first part, said means including a pressure chamber having the aperture as an outlet, a valve for controlling the flow of fluid to the chamber, said valve being solenoid-operated, a movable head engageable with the other side of the workpiece to prevent lifting of the workpiece from the bed by fluid pressure, an axially movable tool extending through and guided by the head and operatively engageable with the workpiece to deform the first part portion, second means for moving the head, third means for moving the tool, fourth means actuated by movement of the tool to a predetermined position for actuating the second means, fifth means including a cam and a limit switch operated by the cam for controlling the solenoid actuated by movement of the tool to a predetermined position so that fluid pressure is applied during engagement of the tool with the workpiece, and a pressure responsive device connected to said fluid pressure for indicating the magnitude thereof.

4. In a machine for attaching a flexible disk to the neck of and over an aperture of a body by spinning the neck upon the disk, the combination of a bed for the body, means including a passage in the bed for applying fluid pressure to the side of the body opposite the disk and neck, said side of the body resting on the bed and forming a pressure chamber with said passage with the aperture in the body as an outlet to the chamber, a pressure gauge operatively connected to the passage, a valve for controlling the flow of fluid to the bed, a first cam for controlling the valve, a movable head engageable with the other side of the workpiece to prevent lifting thereof from the bed by fluid pressure in the chamber, an axially movable spinning tool operatively engageable with the neck of a workpiece and acting against fluid pressure in the chamber and having a shank extending through and guided by the head, manually operated means connected to the shank for axially moving the tool, a pressure cylinder operatively connected to the head for moving the same, valve means for controlling the pressure cylinder, a second cam for controlling the valve means, said first and second cams being connected to the shank and moved by axial movement thereof and arranged so that the valve is open only when the head engages the body.

5. The method of assembling a resilient valve port cover on a valve body containing the ports so that the cover has a predetermined initial setting comprising the steps of supporting the body with the cover disposed in operative relation to said ports, applying fluid pressure through said ports against said cover while simultaneously applying force to clamp the cover to the body in opposition to said pressure until said pressure reaches a value substantially equal to said initial setting, and then ceasing application of force and application of pressure.

6. In an apparatus for assembling and preloading first and second parts of a workpiece by deforming a portion of the first part over upon the second part, said first part having an aperture whereby fluid pressure can be applied to the second part in a direction opposite to the direction of assembly and preloading and whereby deformation of the first part urges the second part to restrict fluid flow through the aperture, the combination of a bed for a workpiece, first means for applying fluid pressure to that side of a workpiece resting on said bed so that it communicates with the aperture in the first part, said first means including a pressure chamber having the aperture as an outlet and a fluid passage for the flow of fluid to said chamber, an axially movable tool operatively engageable with the other side of the workpiece to deform the first part portion, second means for axially moving said tool, a movable head also engageable with the other side of the workpiece to prevent lifting of the workpiece from the bed by said fluid pressure, third head moving means connected to said second means and controlled by axial tool movement for actuating the head, fourth means connected to said second means and controlled by axial tool movement for controlling the flow of pres sure fluid through said passage so that fluid pressure is applied during engagement of the tool with the workpiece, and a pressure responsive device connected to said fluid pressure for indicating the magnitude thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,511,202 Rabezzana Oct. 7, 1924 1,777,772 Shera Oct. 7, 1930 1,836,921 Harrison Dec. 15, 1931 1,842,571 Sebell Jan. 26, 1932 1,915,661 Gibson June 27, 1933 1,946,756 Oberg Feb. 13, 1934 2,006,691 Giesler July 2, 1935 2,143,429 Auble Jan. 10, 1939 2,223,324 Kosatka Nov. 26, 1940 2,446,621 Thiry Aug. 10, 1948