US2837944A - Support for column and crosshead - Google Patents

Description

June 10, 1958 H. B. ALBERS SUPPORT FOR COLUMN AND CROSSHEAD Filed Jan. '12, 1954 I 'llI 45 l,,@ l 30 45 4/ Il l lll I! 47 SUPPQRT F012 COLUMN AND CROSSHEAD Heinrich B. Aibers, Malverne, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to liairlwin-Lima-Hamilton Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa.., a corporation of Pennsylvania Appiication January 12, 1954, Serial No. 403,539

7 Claims. (CI. 78-42) This invention relates to presses and the like wherein a crosshead, or similar part, is subjected to large stresses and is adapted to transmit such stresses to supports or col- For this purpose the crosshead is supported on the columns, and the functions of such support are two-fold:

First, the aforementioned function of supporting the crosshead, and, second, to transmit tensile forces from the crosshead to the column. Heretofore, these functions were normally performed by a support which consisted of nuts in threaded engagement with the column ends, but it is well-known that failure often occurs at the threads of press columns. Attempts have been made to avoid the above drawback, but previous arrangements have not been satisfactory.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide improved means for supporting the crosshead on a column and transmitting the tensile forces from the crosshead to the column without employing screw threads on the column, but which will provide adequate supporting and force transmitting surfaces.

Furtherobjects and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description thereof.

The single view of the accompanying drawing is a front elevation, partly sectioned vertically, of a forging press embodying this invention.

Referring to the drawing, the invention is illustrated as applied to a vertical forging press which comprises a base 10 which is fixed to a foundation 18 by means of arms or extensions, one of which is indicated at 19. The base 14} carries a die support 11 to which is fixed a lower die 12. An upper die 15 is carried by a platen 16 adapted to be moved toward and away from the lower die 12. The platen 16 is movable relative to an upper crosshead 20 which is supported, in a manner to be described hereinafter, on the upper ends of columns which are supported at their lower ends by the fixed base 10. The movable platen 16 is provided with lugs or collars 17 adapted to slide upon the columns and be guided thereby.

The upper crosshead 20 supports a cylinder to which may be admitted hydraulic pressure for lowering a ram 31 to the lower end of which the platen 16 is fixed. The platen and its upper die may thus be operated toward the lower die to forge an object between the dies. When the forging is completed, the pressure is released from cylinder 30 and the platen 16 and ram 31 are raised by means such as hydraulic cylinders (not shown) in which operate pistons connected to rods 32 fixed to the platen.

It will be understood that the large forging pressures developed during the forging operation will be transmitted to the upper entablature or crosshead, and the latter will transmit such forces to the connection between it and the supporting columns 25. As stated in the introduction hereto, such connection heretofore consisted normally of nuts threaded on the ends of the columns, but since such connection was found to be a frequent cause of failure and other prior arrangements were not "atent 2,837,944 Patented June 10, 1958 satisfactory, the present invention provides an improved connection which does not employ screw threads on the columns.

This invention provides (1) that each column, shall be provided with an integral or welded lateral extension, which in the form illustrated, is circumferential, said extension having an outer and an inner surface, (2) that the crosshead shall be suspended from the outer surface of the lateral extension or from the column end, and (3) that the crosshead shall transmit operating stresses developed therein to the inner surface of the lateral extension to develop tensile forces in the column. In this manner the lateral extensions integral with the columns absorb all of the operating stresses heretofore normally borne by screw threads.

To accomplish the foregoing results, there is provided adjacent the upper end of each column a lateral extension or head integral with the column. This extension has an outer surface 41 and an inner surface 42. A portion of the column extends axially beyond the extension 40 to form a guide post 45 on which is mounted a plate or auxiliary crosshead 47. Tie rods 48 which are provided with nuts depend from plate 47 and support at their lower ends the upper crosshead 20. In this manner the weight of the crosshead is supported on the outer surface 41 of the lateral extension 40.

For transmitting to the columns the stresses developed in the upper crosshead, the latter is'provided with cylindrical lug members 50 having a passageway 51 large enough to permit the lateral extension 40 to pass therethrough, each cylindrical member 50 supporting a split bearing 52 having a projection 53 at one end seated within opening 51 and hearing at its other end on the inner surface 42 of extension 40. A split bushing 54 positioned at the opposite end of opening 51 is held in place by screws 55 and serves to guide the column.

It is apparent from the above description that the forces developed in the upper crosshead will be transmitted through bearings 52 to the lateral extension 40 which is integral with the column. Thus there is no screw threaded connection required to take up these large forces, and failure due to such construction is avoided. The forces transmitted to the inner surface 42 of the extension 40 will produce tensile forces in the column which is held at its other end in the base.

For mounting the lower end of each column in the base there may be provided an auxiliary crosshead or plate 57 similar to crosshead 47 and connected to base 10 by tie-rods 58 which are provided with nuts.

The plates 57 have a central opening to fit over an axial extension or guide post 59 on the lower end of each column to engage the outer. surface 61 of a lateral extension or head integral with the column. The base is provided with a passageway 71 large enough to permit lateral extension 60 to pass therethrough. A split hearing 72, similar to bearing 52, is seated in opening 71 and bears against the inner surface 62 of extension 60 and the outer surface 63 of the base 10, a split stroke-limiting member being fixed to the base at the upper end of each opening 71. The stresses developed by the press are therefore transmitted to each column as tensile forces by reason of their application to the inner surfaces 42 and 62 of the integral lateral extensions 40 and 60 of the column.

It will be clear that instead of engaging outer surfaces 41, 61 of the lateral extensions proper, the auxiliary crossheads 47, 57 may engage adjacent outer surfaces of the guide posts 45, 59 or column ends. Therefore, the expression outer surfaces of the lateral extensions as used in the foregoing description and appended claims is to be understood as including the outer surfaces of the guide posts or column ends.

Although round columns are shown in the drawing, the invention may readily be applied to tie-bars of rectangular cross-section such as bars of the laminated plate type.

\ Having described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a press and the like having a base, columns connected to the base, a crosshead, means whereby said crosshead is supported by said columns, and actuating means whereby stresses are developed in said crosshead, said stresses being transmitted from said crosshead to said columns during operation of the press, the improvement which comprises a lateral extension of each column integral .with the column, each of said extensions having an outer surface and an inner surface, and means for supporting said crosshead on said outer surfaces, said crosshead being inoperative engagement with said inner surfaces for applying to, said inner surfaces the stresse developed in said crosshead during operation of said press. A device as specified'in claim 1, in which the means for supporting the crosshead on said outer surfaces comprises an auxiliary crosshead-in engagement with each of said outer surfaces, and a plurality of tie-rods spaced from said columns and connecting said auxiliary crossheads to said first-named crosshead.

3. A device as specified inr claim 2, inwhich eachvof said columns has an axial extension, and each of said auxiliary. crossheads has an opening through which the respective axial extension projects.

4. A device as specified in claim 1, in which said crosshead is provided with passageways through which. the columns and their lateral extensions may pass, and a split bearing member is interposed between the crosshead and the inner surface of each lateral column extension.

5. A device as specified in claim 1, in which said base is fixed and has passageways therethrough, each of said columns extending through one of said passageways and having a second integral lateral extension, each of said second extensions having an. inner surface and anouter surface, means. being provided for supporting each column on said base,.and a bearing being interposed between the inner surfaceof each. of said second extensions and the outer surface of the base.

6. A device as specified in laim 5, in which the means for supporting the columns on the base comprises auxiliary crossheads connected to the inner surface of the base and engaging the outer surfaces of said second lateral column extensions.

7. In a press and the like having a base, columns conuected to the base, a crosshead having an outer end and an inner end, means whereby said crosshead is supported by said columns, and actuating means whereby stresses are developed in said crosshead, said stresses being transmitted from said crosshead to said columns during operation of the press, the improvement which comprises a lateral extension of each column integral with the column, each of said extensions having an outer surface and an inner surface, said crosshead having openings permitting passage of the columns and their lateral extensions therethrough, an auxiliary crosshead in engagement with the outer surface of each of said column extensions, a plurality of tie-rods spaced from said columns and connecting each auxiliary crosshead to the inner end of said firstnamed crosshead, and a split bearing member interposed between the outer end of said first-named crosshead and each lateral column extension, each of said bearing members being seated at one end in one of said openings while at its other end engaging the inner surface of one of said column extensions.

References (Zited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 18,342 Paul Jan. 26, 1932 336,604 Tweddell Feb. 23, 1886 610,524 Cleveland Sept. 13, 1898 959,094 Wray May 24, 1910 1,580,894 Hummel Apr. 13, 1926 1,632,462 Candee June 14, 1927 2,013,587 Stacy Sept. 3, 1935 2,722,144 Albers Nov. 1, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 882,799 Germany June 19, 1952 894,201 Germany Oct. 9, 1941

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