US2751076A

US2751076A - Extrusion press installation

Info

Publication number: US2751076A
Application number: US336913A
Authority: US
Inventors: Daniel L Lombard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-02-16
Filing date: 1953-02-16
Publication date: 1956-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 1973-06-19

Description

June 19, 1956 D. 1.. LOMBARD EXTRUSION PRESS INSTALLATION 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Feb 26. 1947 3 vw /rvfw DANEEL l... LOMBARD June 19, 1956 D. LOMBARD EXTRUSION PRESS INSTALLATION 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Feb. 26, 1947 DANIEL L. LOMBARD June 19, 1956 D. LOMBARD 2,751,076

EXTRUSION PRESS INSTALLATION Original Filed Feb. 26. 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 3 -[mm-1 L. LOMBARD June 19, 1956 D. LOMBARD EXTRUSION PRESS INSTALLATION 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Feb. 26. 1947 ammo M DANIEL L. LOMBARD yw M United States EXTRUSION PRESS INSTALLATION Daniel L. Lombard, Youngstown, Ohio Continuation of abandoned application Serial No.

734L955, February 26, E47. This application February 16, 1953, Serial No. 336,913

2 Claims. (Cl. 2i)7-2) This application is a continuation of my co-pending application Ser. No. 730,955, filed February 26, 1947, and now abandoned, entitled Metal Extrusion Press.

The present invention relates to hydraulic extrusion machinery, and more particularly to certain improvements in the construction and operation of horizontal extrusion press installations having the ultimate effect of materially improving the usefulness and productive efiiciency of such apparatus and of simplifying and substantially lessening the cost of manufacture and installation thereof.

As an important overall object, this invention seeks to provide an extrusion press installation of improved and novel construction whereby high rates of production may be economically attained and whereby such installations are rendered suitable for, and economically feasible to smaller manufacturers and fabricators.

More particularly, the present invention seeks to provide a novel extrusion press installation comprising a horizontal extrusion press and improved and substantially simplified power facilities and appurtenant apparatus therefor whereby the complete press installation may be of a unitary and compact nature, utilizing relatively inexpensive components of moderate power capacity, while at the same time providing that the operating cycle time of the extrusion press may be efficiently maintained at a practical minimum, thereby assuring adequate productive capacity and improved quality in production.

The above object contemplates the provision in combination with a horizontal extrusion press of the type hav ing a large diameter operating ram or piston of improved hydraulic power facilities for operating the ram whereby movement of the same while not under full operating pressure may be carried out as rapidly as possible with power facilities of moderate capacity. In this respect the invention seeks to provide an extrusion press installation which is characterized by the use in an extrusion press having a large diameter operating ram of one or more small diameter actuating cylinders which are arranged to carry the main ram in all movements except during the extruding operation proper wherein extremely high operating forces are necessary, the invention further providing that the large diameter main cylinder of the press may be filled or drained of operating fluid independently of the principal power facilities whereby the latter need be only of relatively moderate power capacity in relation to the productive capacity of the installation.

Prior to the present invention various attempts have been made to accomplish a similar mode of extrusion press operation, all of which attempts have been characterized by the use of expensive and intricate components and circuitry, and of gas-hydraulic or other type accumulating devices for effecting rapid movement of the main ram when not under full operating pressure. And in all instances such prior installations, in addition to being not completely satisfactory and dependable in operation, have been complicated and expensive to construct, operate and maintain. As a necessary result extrusion press facilities have heretofore had only limited applica- Patented June 19, 1956 tion, and generally only in the large and well established manufacturing concerns to whom the expense of extru sion press installation and servicing was a surmountable burden. These objectionable features are substantially eliminated by my invention, however, as will hereafter become apparent, whereby extrusion press installations are substantially more economical to construct and main tain, the apparatus being rendered within the financial scope of small manufacturers and fabricators.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision in combination with a horizontal extrusion press of improved hydraulic circuitry and equipment and of an improved arrangement for incorporating the same in the extrusion press proper whereby an improved mode of press operation may be realized while at the same time the press installation as a whole is cheaper to construct and is substantially more compact and unified and otherwise more desirable for general and diversified operations of small manufacturers.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved and novel horizontal extrusion press installation which is characterized by the incorporation into the installation of a suitable platform superstructure constructed vertically above the main power ram of the extrusion press apparatus for the purpose of supporting the bulk of the hydraulic apparatus employed in connection with the press, the arrangement being such that an improved type of hydraulic circuitry may be advantageously combined in the installation, while at the same time substantial and highly important savings in floor space are efiected.

Heretofore extrusion press installations of any substantial productive capacity have required hugh power circuit installations which, in addition to necessitating high initial expenditures and subsequent high maintenance costs, occupied enormous quantities of plant floor space in addition to the already large floor area required by the extrusion press proper. Thus, of those relatively few manufacturers capable of sustaining the large initial outlay for extrusion press installations of prior design, a substantial number have been simply precluded from acquiring such installations due to lack of adequate plant facilities. The present invention, therefore, in simplifying and reducing the required power capacity of the hydraulic circuitry utilized in extrusion press installations, not only brings such installations within the financial scope of many manufacturers, but further renders such installations practical to those manufacturers who have been heretofore precluded because of limited plant facilities.

Various other substantial advantages accrue from my novel installation including, for example, a material reduction in the required capacity, and accordingly the expense of the hydraulic pump apparatus required to obtain rapid operation of the press. Thus, in the contemplated press installation, filling of the large diameter main cylinder during initial advancing movement of the ram, before the same engages with the work, is accomplished independently of the pump which supplies fluid only to small diameter actuators during such time. After pressure contact has been made with the work to be extruded suitable valving causes the output of the pump to be directed into the main cylinder whereupon advance of the ram proceeds under slow speed as is desired. Independent pro-filling of the main cylinder is effected, as will be hereafter more fully explained, by merely permitting a gravity flow of hydraulic fluid to the cylinder from a suitable reservoir tank positioned above the main cylinder on the above mentioned platform superstructure.

Another specific object of this invention resides in the combination with an extrusion press installation incorporating the features set forth above of means for transversely retracting the extruding ram or plunger during the loading into the apparatus of a workpiece whereby to materially reduce the required length of stroke of the main ram. Many obvious advantages are realized from this arrangement including, in addition to a shorter overall operating stroke, a materially reduced take-up stroke wherein the main ram is advanced into extruding engagement with the billet or workpiece. Not only are production rates increased substantially by this arrangement, but great savings are eifected in the construction of the main ram which may be of considerably less length as will be readily understood. And the combination of the reduction in take-up stroke with my improved arrangement for obtaining rapid ram advance during such stroke provides for the realization of substantial commercial advantages in the operation of the press installation. Not the least of theseadvantages arises from the fact that by carrying out an operating cycle in a minimum of time billets may be maintained at a more uniform temperature during the whole of the extruding operation whereby undesirable non-uniformities in the extruded product are substantially eliminated.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more fully apparent upon consideration of the following detailed specification and accompanying drawing wherein is disclosed a certain preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a horizontal metal extrusion press installation constructed in accordance with the teachings of the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the installation of Figure 1;

Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are transverse sections through the machine of Figures 1 and 2, the sections being taken along the lines IIIIII, IVIV, VV and VIVI, respectively, of Figure 2; and

Figure 7 is a schematic hydraulic actuating and control circuit employed in the installation of Figures 1 and 2.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, reference numeral 10 designates generally a base fabricated of structural steel members which is normally contained in a depression 11 formed in the floor 12. Rigidly secured to and extending upwardly from the base 10 is a head block 13 having an enlarged aperture therein for the reception of the main press cylinder 14 which, as shown, is open ended and has slidably received therein a ram-type piston 15. Secured to and extending upwardly from the opposite end of the base 10 is a tail block 16which carries the die and shear of the assembly and which is connected with the head block 13 by means of' four circumferentially spaced heavy rods or bolts 17 to resist the enormous expansive force exerted by the cylinder 14 during active operation of the press.

In accordance with usual practice, the die through which the metal is extruded in forming the section desired is carried in a ring or block 18 which is slidably received in a bore formed in a bracket 19 which is attached to the front face of the tail block 16. Fitted in keyways formed longitudinally in the side wall of the bore in bracket 19 is a pair of rearwardly projecting guide keys 20 and the die block 18 is correspondingly slotted to slide along the keys 20. In the rear portion of the bracket 19 and contiguous to the front face of the block 16 is a vertical guideway 21 for the slidable reception of an inverted U-shaped retainer 22 which is arranged to be raised and loweredby a hydraulic cylinder 23. When the retainer 22 is in lowermost position it transmits, the thrust of the die block 18 to the front face of the tail block 16 but when it is inelevatedposition the die block 18 may be withdrawn rearwardly through the-central aperture formed in block 16.

Independently supported from .the base 10.011 a bracket.

24 is a carrier 25 for housing and supporting the billet container 26. As shown more clearly in Figure 5, the carrier 25 is mounted on the bracket 24 by means of the vertically extending screws 27 and the horizontally inwardly disposed screws 28, and it should be obvious that upon proper manipulation of the supporting and adjusting screws 27 and 28 the carrier 25 as well as the billet container 26 housed therein may be shifted either laterally or vertically to bring the longitudinal axis of the billet container into exact registry with the longitudinal axis of the extruding ram of the assembly.

During extrusion the rear face of the container 26 which is in abutting relation with the front face of the die holder 18 tends to become welded to such front face and there is also some small amount of metal remaining in the bottom end of the container at the completion of an extrusion cycle which further tends to unite the die holder and container, thereby preventing the ready withdrawal of the die holder to the shear. To overcome this difliculty I provide a pair of hydraulic cylinders 29 which are carried by and project outwardly from the front face of the block 16 and which have their piston rods 30 connected to the carrier 25. Thus, upon admission of fluid pressure to the back ends of cylinders 29 the carrier 25 and consequently the container 26 housed therein is drifted slightly away from the face of the die holder 18 thus breaking the bond between the die holder and billet container.

Axially aligned with the billet-receiving bore in the container 26 is a ram 31 which is mounted in a member 32 which in turn is rigidly bolted to the free end of the piston 15. To enable the ram 31 to be readily elevated out of the way of a billet being loaded into the container 26 the ram 31 is carried by and projects outwardly from a slide block 33 which is vertically slidable in ways 34 formed in the member 32. A pair of rods 35 are connected to the block 33 and projects upwardly through a guide 36 (carried by member 32) and terminate at an attached cross-link 37. A ram lift cylinder 38 is carried by a bracket 39 spanning the upper two rods 17 and has its piston rod connected to a vertically slidable hook 40. As shown, the bight of the hook 40 extends toward the tail block 16 and when in lowermost position is slightly below the link 37. Thus, when thehook 40 is in lower position the piston 15 is free to move the members 31-37 outwardly and upon retraction the link 37 moves over the bight of hook 40 so that if the cylinder 38 is then actuated the block 33 and consequently the ram 31 will be moved upwardly.

To load the billets into the container 26 in an expeditions manner I provide a vertically movable frame 41 which is arranged to be raised and lowered by a hydraulic cylinder 42 and which carries at its upper end a trough 43 which is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the machine. The trough 43 is formed of transversely spaced members to provide a slot therebetween in which is disposed a finger 44 carried by a slide 45 which is suitably guided on the under surface of the trough 43. To move the slide 45 and consequently the finger 44 I provide a bellcrank lever 46 which is pivotally mounted at its lower end to the frame 41 and which is pivoted at its upper end to the slide 45. Engaging against an edge of the longer leg of the lever 46 in free abutting relation is the piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder 47 and it should be apparentthat actuation of cylinder 47 will cause the finger 44 to traverse the trough 43 longitudinally and assuming a billet to be in the trough and the trough elevated in proper position in front of the container 26, the billet will thus.

be injected into the container. During normal operation, immediately upon the billet being advanced into the container,

cylinders

42 and 47 are reversed (retracted) and the frame 41 lowers. As the frame approaches its lowermost position the shorter leg of the lever 46 engages a stop 48 to rock the lever clockwise, as'viewed in Figure 2,

to thereby moVe thefinger-M to its initial starting position" as shown in the drawing preparatory to the reception in the rough of the next succeeding billet. Suitable conveying means, shown, may be employed to deposit the succeeding billets in the trough in properly timed relation.

Extending rearwardly along the longitudinal axis of the machine is an elongated table 49 which is slidably supported for longitudinal movement and which is guided between suitable side guides 50. The forward end of the table 49 extends through the opening of the tail block 16 and is detachably connected with the die holder 18. Thus, upon retraction of the table 49 the die holder also moves rearwardly and such retraction is accomplished by an elongated hydraulic cylinder 51 which has its piston rod connected to the table 49. At the point of connection I provide a bumper 52 which is aligned to move into engagement with the stop 53 which is spring-cushioned and provided with an adjustable bolt 54 to precisely limit the return movement of the stop. Thus the adjustment of the bolt 54 definitely determines the final resting position of the die holder 18 following its retraction by actuation of cylinder 51. This feature is utilized to accurately align the forward face of the die holder with a shear now to be described for close and accurate cropping of the metal still adhering to the face of the die block following a retraction cycle.

As the die block 18 is retracted it enters a holder comprised of the laterally spaced bars 55 each carrying a longitudinally extending key 56 (Figure 3) which mesh with the longitudinal slots or keyways formed in the die holder 18 as previously described. In this manner the die holder is rigidly retained during the shearing or crop ping operation. The shear comprises a blade 57 which is carried by a slide 58 which is suitably guided for vertical movement in a bracket 59 mounted on the tail block 16. A hydraulic cylinder 60 is employed to move the slide 58 downwardly and upwardly and it will be understood that upon retraction of the die holder 18 to its position as determined by the stop 53 the blade 57 will, upon its downward stroke, scrape against the front face of the die holder to thereby remove the excess metal adhering thereto.

An important feature of the invention and one which contributes substantially to the economical feasibility and productive capacity of the press installation is the nowto-be described method and means for moving and applying the required extrusion force to the ram 31. Of course, the piston acting in the main cylinder 14 is employed to exert the major part of the extrusion force and since the large force required necessitates a large working diameter for the cylinder 14 a large volume of fluid must be introduced into the main cylinder during the take-up movement of the ram 31, and heretofore this condition has been met in extrusion press installations by employing accumulators or other ancillary apparatus to supply the requisite volume of hydraulic fluid to the main cylinder. However, the means heretofore employed to initially fill up the cylinder to the point where extrusion resistance is encountered, particularly in large press installations is slow and variable in operation, resulting, among other things, in an appreciable time delay which allows the billet to cool unevenly thereby making a uniform quality product diflicult of attainment. In the press installation of my invention I may employ a pair of pull-back cylinders 61, the tail ends of which are anchored in or on the head block 13 while the piston rods of which are connected to lugs 62 which may form an integral part of the member 32. I employ these pull-back cylinders 61 not only for the purpose of retracting the main ram piston 15 but also for the purpose of initially advancing the ram 31 and piston 15 through the take-up portion of forward movement, while independently filling the main cylinder 14 with fluid, and of thereafter assisting the main cylinder in applying the extruding force.

' Coupled with the main port of the cylinder 14, and

8 preferably mounted directly on the cylinder, is a 'valve 63 having a spool-type of plunger 64 therein which is arranged to be actuated by a servo-piston 64' slidably received in a cylinder 65 formed integral with the main housing of the valve 63. Valve 63 has a large port in its upper wall which is connected with a short largediametered upwardly extending conduit 66 which leads to the bottom of a hydraulic fluid sump 67. By referring to Figure 7 it will be obvious that when plunger 64 is in downward position, as shown, the sump 67 is directly and closely connected with the space in cylinder 14 so that upon outward movement of the piston 15 oil or other hydraulic fluid can surge into the cylinder 14 to keep the cylinder instantaneously filled.

In accordance with the teachings of my invention the sump 67, as well as other primary components of the press power system, is supported directly over the rear end of the main cylinder 14 by means of a suitable frame or superstructure 68. As shown in Figure 2, the frame 68 also supports a conventional high pressure hydraulic fluid pump 69 and a driving motor 70 therefor. The pump 69 may be of conventional construction, having two ports connected with

conduits

71 and 72 through which hydraulic fluid is caused to circulate in one direction or the other according to the setting of a control element 73.

Conduit 71 is connected through conduit 74 with the rod ends of pull-back cylinders 61, and also, through conduit 75, with the space in cylinder 65 above the piston 64'. Conduit 72 is connected with the head ends of cylinders 61 through conduit 76, and with an annular port 77 surrounding the spool portion of plunger 64 through a conduit 73. By means of a conduit extension 79 and an adjustable pressure controlled valve 80 housed in the valve structure 63, conduit 72 is also connected to the space in cylinder 65 below the piston 64.

Thus, to effect a forward advancing movement of the main ram or piston 15 the control element 73 is manipulated to direct fluid from pump 69 into conduit 72 leading to the head ends of cylinders 61 and to the pressure valve 86 through conduit 79. Plunger 64 will be maintained in its lower position, as indicated in Figure 7, at such time.

Upon application of fluid pressure to the head ends of cylinders 61 the main ram 15 will be caused to move rapidly forward until the extruding ram 31 engages the workpiece or billet. And it will be observed that during such time a free path is provided for the flow of hydraulic fluid, independently of the pump 69, into the main cylinder 14 to maintain the same constantly in a filled condition, such path comprising the large diameter conduit 66 and valve 63. In addition, the present invention teaches the positioning of the sump or reservoir 67 of hydraulic fluid on a frame or platform 68, directly over the cylinder 14, so that a certain amount of pressure head is inherently applied to the cylinder 14 during prefilling thereof in order that various velocity and friction losses may be overcome to prevent the formation or tendency of formation of vacuum pockets in the cylinder. And further in this regard, it is desirable to extend the large conduit 66 directly vertically upward into the reservoir 67 so that friction and similar inhibitants to the free flow of fluid are minimized.

When the ram 31 engages the work to be extruded the fluid pressure in conduit 72 is caused to rise, which in turn causes valve 80 to open admitting fluid to the lower side of piston 64. The plunger 64 is accordingly raised to close off large conduit 66 while connecting conduit 78 and pump 69 directly to the cylinder 14. Forward movement of the main ram 15 then proceeds at a slow rate under the high pressure output of pump 69 and the extruding operation is carried out in the manner desired.

To retract the main ram 15 fluid from pump 69 is directed through conduit 71 into the rod ends of actuators 61 and simultaneously, through conduit 75, against the 7 upper side of piston 64'. Plunger 64 is accordingly lowered and fluid is permitted to flow freely and independently of the pump 69 through conduit 66 back into the reservoir 67.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention the valve 63 is provided with a check valve 81 and metering valve 82 whereby upon application of fluid pressure to the upper side of piston 64 the plunger 64 will be shifted to its lower position at a predetermined controlled rate. Thus, the enormous pressures stored in the main cylinder 14 are released gradually rather than instantaneously, and extreme shock forces on the system are thereby avoided.

A source of hydraulic fluid under relatively low pressure for control and other purposes is supplied by a small pump 83 driven by a motor 84 and having its outlet connected through conduit 85 with a distributing manifold 37. Manifold 87 is associated with a control panel 88 on which is conveniently grouped a series of four-way control valves 8995 and a manually operable lever 96 suitably coupled with the control member 73 of the pump 69. A return manifold 97 is also associated with the panel 88, being connected with each of the valves 89-95, and discharges into sump 67 through a conduit 93. Fluid is supplied to pump 33 directly from sump 67. As shown in Figure 7, manipulation of valve 89 controls cylinder 60 to raise and lower the shear blade 57, valve 90 controls cylinder 51, valve 91 controls cylinders 29, valve 92 controls the die release cylinder 23, valve 93 controls the loading trough lifting cylinder 42, valve 94 controls the billet injecting cylinder 47, and the valve 95 controls the ram lifting cylinder 38.

At the start of a cycle of operation the shear blade 57 is retracted, the key 22 is in lower or operative position, the cylinders 29 are deenergized, ram 31 is raised, the piston is retracted, and the billet loading mechanism is in the position shown in Figure 2. Upon a billet being deposited on the trough 43 valve 93 is manipulated to raise the carrier 41 and upon the trough 43 reaching its uppermost position the valve 94 is manipulated to energize cylinder 47 thereby injecting the billet in the container 26.

Valves

93 and 94 are then immediately reversed and simultaneously the valve 95 is manipulated to lower the ram 31. With the ram thus properly positioned control lever 96 is moved in one direction to admit fluid pressure to the conduit 72 and thence to the conduit 76 to the head ends of the cylin ders 61. This moves the piston 15 outwardly at a rapid rate because of the small areas of the cylinders 61 and since the pump 69 delivers fluid at substantially a constant volumetric rate, the time required to take up the lost motion in the press for any particular length of billet is substantially uniform. During such preliminary movement of the ram and piston the plunger 64 of valve 63 is in lower position allowing hydraulic fluid from sump 67 to flow by force of gravity into the cylinder 14 to keep the space in back of piston 15 completely filled at all times. As ram 31 encounters further resistance to movement the output of pump 69 through conduit 72 temporarily ceases its flow to cylinder 61 and pressure builds up in conduit 79 to open the springloaded valve 80 thereby admitting fluid under pressure to the cylinder 65 below the piston 64'. Plunger 64 now rises and seals off the large port in valve 63 connecting with conduit 66 and by means of the spool recess of the plunger 64 the conduit 78 is interconnected with the head end of the cylinder 14 to admit fluid from conduit 72 directly into the large cylinder 14. The main cylinder 14, aided by the cylinders 61, now takes up the load to effect the extrusion of the metal of the billet through the die 18-. The extruded section travels outwardly along the table 49. Upon the billet being extruded the operator reverses the position of control lever 96 to cause the output of pump 69 to flow through conduit 71 while fluid is. returned to the pump through conduit 72. Fluid pressure is now admitted, through conduit 74, to the tail ends of cylinders 61 to retract piston 15 and at the outset the high pressure in cylinder 14 is relieved through conduits 78 and 7-2. At this time fluid pressure is also admitted to the upper end of cylinder 65 through conduit 75 and the piston 64 moves downwardly, the fluid below this piston being returned through valve 82 and check valve 81. Thus, the plunger 14 is retracted and the large volume of hydraulic fluid in the cylinder 64 can surge directly into the sump 67 through conduit 66.

Valves

91 and 92 are now manipulated to break the container away from the die holder and to withdraw the die retainer 22. Valve can now be operated to energize cylinder 51 to thereby withdraw the extruded stock and the die in the manner specified above to position the front face in alignment with the cutting edge of the blade 57 which is brought down by operation of the valve 89. The extruded stock is now withdrawn from the die and the die is moved back to operative position by reversing the valve 90 after which

valves

91 and 92 are reversed to re-locate the retainer 22 and container 26. The press is thus recycled preparatory to receiving the next succeeding billet to be extruded.

In addition to the aligning adjustment which is provided by the bolts 27 and 28 for the container, the tail block 16 may be similarly adjusted by the vertically extending bolts and the horizontally extending bolts 101 which interconnect the tail block and the base 10 as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

The many advantages of my invention should now be apparent. Of prime importance is the fact that through the teachings of my invention it is possible to provide horizontal extrusion press installations wherein the hydraulic circuit apparatus employed is of moderate power capacity and commensurately moderate expense and bulk, yet it is possible to obtain maximum productive output from the extrusion press, and the product realized therefrom is, in general, of an improved quality. All this is made possible by my novel system comprising a pre-fill valve and a fluid reservoir mounted directly above the horizontal main ram by means of suitable platform means.

This type of operation has heretofore never been accomplished in a horizontal extrusion press installation except insofar as a form of rapid advance has been accomplished in prior installations through the use of a number of large accumulator devices to supplement the normal capacity of the hydraulic power components. The apparatus of my invention is of course far superior in operation to such prior apparatus, and is in addition substantially more simplified and economical, both in regard to initial installation costs and maintenance and operating expenses.

An additional and important advantage of my extrusion press installation is its generally simple and highly compact overall structure which not only facilitates installation and maintenance work, but effects vast savings in plant floor area, all of which operates to render installations of this type open to an entire new class of users. Furthermore, the teachings of my invention permit the construction and sale of complete extrusion press installations as more or less of a package unit, which has not heretofore been practical, and further savings and advantages are thereby derived.

Still another advantage of my invention is derived from the combination in an extrusion press installation of the type described of means to laterally retract the extruding ram or plunger during loading of billets into the apparatus. Thus, not only is the length of the no'n-' productive portion of the operating stroke maintained at a minimum, but uniform and dependable quick-acting takeup means are provided to actuate the press apparatus during such non productive' portion whereby the productive capacity of the installation is a practical maximum, and the quality of work obtained therefrom is uniformly high.

It should be understood, however, that the extrusion press installation herein disclosed and described in detail is intended to be representative only, and reference should therefore be had to the following appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A self-contained metal extrusion press installation having a horizontally disposed frame adapted to be installed at floor level and mounting at one end an extru sion die with an adjacent billet container and at the other end a horizontally disposed cylinder having an integrally closed outer exposed end, a ram-type piston projecting into said cylinder, a ram interposed between said piston and said billet container and adapted to enter the latter during extrusion of a billet, means for retracting said ram laterally of the axis of extrusion when loading a billet into said container, at double acting cylinder of smaller diameter than said horizontally disposed cylinder for actuating said ram and piston in either direction, a hydraulic power source mounted directly over said horizontally disposed cylinder comprising a reservoir having a bottom wall positioned immediately above said horizontally disposed cylinder and a motor-driven pump of the kind having integral control means and two ports whereby the direction of flow of hydraulic fluid through the pump and between said ports may be stopped or reversed, said horizontally disposed cylinder having an enlarged port in its outer end, a dumping valve having an enlarged port closeiy coupled with said port in the outer end of said horizontally disposed cylinder and a second enlarged port closely coupled through an enlarged conduit with the lower portion of said reservoir as well as having means to close oil? said second port, said last named means comprising a fluid pressure responsive device, conduit means connecting one of said ports of said pump with one end of said double acting cylinder and with said device, other conduit means connecting the other of the ports of said pump with the other end of said double acting cylinder, said dumping valve including further valving means to interconnect the first men tioned conduit means with the port leading to said horizontally disposed cylinder upon said means to close ofl being actuated, and means to actuate said integral pump control means, the arrangement being such that upon actuation of said control means and during the subsequent initial stage of an extrusion cycle said piston and ram are rapidly moved in an extruding direction by said double acting cylinder while the outer end portion of the horizontally disposed cylinder is rapidly filled with fluid by free gravity flow of fluid from said reservoir after which said pressure responsive means actuates said closing off means and high pressure fluid from the first mentioned conduit means is discharged into said horizontally disposed cylinder to continue the movement of said piston and ram in an uninterrupted manner.

2. A self-contained metal extrusion press installation having a horizontally disposed frame adapted to be installed at floor level and mounting at one end an extrusion die with an adjacent billet container and at the other end a horizontally disposed cylinder having a closed outer end, a ram-type piston projecting into said cylinder and connected at its outer end to a transversely disposed cross head, a pair of double-acting hydraulic cylinders on 0pposite sides of said horizontally disposed cylinder interconnecting said other end of said frame and said cross head whereby said piston may be moved in either direction, a ram interposed between said piston and said billet container and adapted to enter the latter during extrusion of a billet, a hydraulic power source mounted directly over said horizontally disposed cylinder comprising a reservoir and a motor-driven pump of the kind having integral control means and two ports whereby the direction of flow of hydraulic fluid through the pump and between said ports may be stopped or reversed, said horizontally disposed cylinder having an enlarged port in its outer end, a dumping valve having an enlarged port closely coupled with said port in the outer end of said horizontally disposed cylinder and a second enlarged port closely coupled through an enlarged conduit with the lower portion of said reservoir as well as having means to close ofi said second port, said last named means comprising a fluid pressure responsive device, conduit means connecting one of said ports of said pump with one end of said double acting cylinders and with said device, other conduit means connecting the other of the ports of said pump with the other end of said double acting cylinders, said dumping valve including further valving means to interconnect the first mentioned conduit means with the port leading to said horizontally disposed cylinder upon said means to close off being actuated, and means to actuate said integral pump control means, the arrangement being such that upon actuation of said control means and during the subsequent initial stage of an extrusion cycle said piston and ram are rapidly moved in an extruding direction by said double acting cylinders while the outer end portion of the horizontally disposed cylinder is rapidly filled with fluid by free gravity flow of fluid from said reservoir after which said pressure responsive means actuates said closing ofl means and high pressure fluid from the first mentioned conduit means is discharged into said horizontally disposed cylinder to continue the movement of said piston and ram in an uninterrupted manner.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,317,238 Summey Sept. 30, 1919 1,574,792 Clark Mar. 2, 1926 1,700,363 Barrett et al. Jan. 29, 1929 1,930,155 Wiedmann Oct. 10, 1933 2,188,076 Dinzl Jan. 23, 1940 2,324,697 Harrington et al. July 20, 1943 2,379,622 Butler July 3, 1945 2,423,120 Sedgwick July 1, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 522,631 Great Britain June 24, 1940