US2966139A

US2966139A - Hydraulic feed means

Info

Publication number: US2966139A
Application number: US798006A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gerhard H Appel
Original assignee: Appel Process Ltd
Current assignee: Appel Process Ltd
Priority date: 1959-03-09
Filing date: 1959-03-09
Publication date: 1960-12-27
Anticipated expiration: 1977-12-27

Description

Dec. 27, 1960 G. H. APPEL 2,966,139

HYDRAULIC FEED MEANS Filed March 9, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INI ENTOR.

GERHARD a APPEL ATTORNEYS G. H. APPEL HYDRAULIC FEED MEANS Dec. 27, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 9, 1959 INVENTOR.

GERHARD H. APPEL BY M r- W ATTORNEYS Dec. 27, 1960 G. H. APPEL 2,966,139 I HYDRAULIC FEED MEANS Filed March 9, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FORWARD REVERSE VI4A FIG. 4

+ To DRAIN f INTAKE mmvrm GERI'IARD H. APPEL BY ATTORNEYS Dec. 27, 1960 e. H. APPEL 2,966,139

HYDRAULIC FEED MEANS .FIG.5

INVENTOR.

GERHARD H. APPEL WIM ATTORNEYS Dec. 27, 1960 e. H. APPEL 2,966,139

HYDRAULIC FEED MEANS Filed March 9, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

GERHARD H. APPEL QMEN 5; @1565 A TTOR/VEYS.

2,966,139 Patented Dec. 27, 1960 HYDRAULIC FEED MEANS Gerhard H. Appel, Belle River, Ontario, Canada, assignor to Appel Process, Ltd., Oshawa, Ontario, Canada Filed Mar. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 798,006

12 Claims. (Cl. 121-38) This application relates to feed means, particularly hydraulic feed means, useful for feeding workpieces through the forming dies of a forming machine; and is a continuation-in-part of my prior application Ser. No. 561,466 of January 26, 1956, and now abandoned.

One object of the invention is to provide a feed mechanism which is adaptable to hold a workpiece rigidly while the forming dies are acting on it and to effectively prevent any axial movement of the workpiece by the forces exerted on it by the dies. The feed mechanism thus prevents the workpieces from skidding under the action of the dies whereby to minimize axial stresses in and eliminate fracturing of the workpiece.

Still another object is to provide feed means adapted to apply a more stable holding pressure to the workpieces during the forming strokes of the dies so that axial 610111 gation contrary to the direction of feed is minimized and a larger portion of the available energy is effectually employed in producing the desired radial. deformation.

Still another object is to provide an improved Work feeding means which insures a workpiece remaining stationary while the forming dies are acting on it.

A still further object is to provide feed means simple and rugged in construction, eflicient and reliable in operation, and easily maintained in proper working order.

More specifically, it will be understood that the feed means hereof is of the type that causes cyclical intermittent and alternate incremental forward movement as well as blocking of the workpiece, and generally is of the type that includes a differential area piston with a hydraulic circuit for controlling it.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a forming machine and feeding means hereof.

Fig. 2 is a section view as if on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

' Referring to Figs. 1-3, the exemplary forming machine shown comprises an annular housing 20 enclosing four forming die sets which include four equally spaced radially movable dies 21 actuated by four die movers 22 which impart radial forming pressures or thrusts in quick succession to the dies and thus to a workpiece W in the throat of the dies and fed forwardly and axially of the group of dies by

feed mechanism

75, 80, 90 (Fig; 1) to be described in detail later.

The four die movers 22 are moved inwardly radially by four sets or pairs of cams 402 operating through four 1 sets or pairs of rollers 403. The cams are on four setsor pairs of reciprocating driver rods 404 terminating in four sets or pairs of eccentric rings 405 surrounding four eccentrics 406 which in turn are secured to and are concentric with four driven pinions 407 (Fig. 2) meshing with a ring gear 408 driven by a drive pinion 409 connected through a clutch 27 (Fig. 3) to a driving motor M.

The control for such clutch (Fig. 3) is established through a hydraulic valve 173 whose piston 174 and rod 175 are connected to the clutch through a suitable fork 421.

For determining and adjusting the position of the forming stroke imparted to the dies 21 by the die movers 22, cams 402, rods 404, andeccentrics 406, there are pro;

vided four wedges 23 between the housing 20 and four sets of backing pads 424 and backing rollers 422. These wedges are actuated, that is to say, advanced and re.- tracted for varying the positions of the strokes of thedies by individual ,hydraulic actuators 24, one of which is provided for each of the die sets.

axially forwardly endwise between the dies.

In forming hollow workpieces, asuitably shaped and dimensioned mandrel is inserted in the work and posi: tioned within the area acted upon by the dies.

During its passage through the forming dies, the workpiece may be rotated about the longitudinal axis, par-' ticularly if it is to be finished with a rounded exterior surface.

Through the action of the clutch 27 and the drive parts previously described which are connected to the motor Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of a part of the system which starts the prime mover or motor of the system.

Figs. 4 to 6 are three position views of the feed means and control circuit in its various positions, namely, forward feed (Fig. 4) blocking (Fig. 5) and reverse (Fig. 6).

For purposes of illustration only, and not by way of limitation, a single preferred form of invention and its application to a specific type of forming machine have been illustrated and will here be described.

The forming machine The operation and advantages of the feed mechanism constituting the subject matter of the present invention will be more readily appreciated by first considering briefly a construction and functioning of the forming machine with which it is associated, namely, the one illustrated in my copending application, Ser. No. 450,500 filed August 17, 1954. Such a forming machine is shown diagrammatically here in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and reference to these figures will now be made.

M through such clutch, the dies are individually forced towards the axis of the workpiece. The forming pressures are delivered with great force and rapidity.

Such pressures or thrust on the workpiece, radially inwardly, produce by reaction rearward endwise thrust on the workpiece as a reaction from and during these radial 5 or rearwardly skid relative to the dies.

The workpiece It addies. This operation and that of the forming machine are effectively coordinated by suitable interlocking controls.

Although the parts now to be described will be described more in detail later, it will be observed that the workpiece W is connected mechanically to a workpiece feed piston rod 80 (Fig. l)' in a work feed cylinder 75 having a differential areapiston 9i) and controlled for the purposes just above mentioned by a valve V9 (Fig. 1).

Piston 90 on rod 89, in cylinder 75, is a differentially acting piston having a greater effective area at one face than at the other. The rear face here presents the greater effective area and consequently the piston is advaneed in a work feeding direction when both ends of the, cylinder 75 are connected to a common source of fluid under pressure. However, if the connection with the fluid source is closed, fluid is locked in the cylinder and rearward movement of the piston is positively prevented.

Hydraulic system The forward, and reverse movement and blocking of the piston 90 in cylinder 75 is controlled and coordinated with the operation of the forming machine by an electrical control system not here disclosed.

Through the joint action of the electrical control system which is connected to the hydraulic circuit for controlling the movements of piston 90 and also to the hydraulic circuit which controls the action of the movement of piston 174, and clutch 27, the various operational steps in forming a workpiece are effected in proper sequence, with a minimum of supervision by the machine attendant who is required merely to load and unload the workpiece and to manipulate a few simple push button switches; to enable the machine to convert a raw work blank into a finished product.

Since-weareconcerned heremainly with the hydraulic circuitfor controlling piston 90 we will now describe suchcircuitin detail with particular reference to Figs. 4, 5 and 6.

Forward feed-Fig. 4

The barrel of an operator control valve V8 is shifted to the left by the operator acting through a solenoid which controls such barrel position. At a proper time, supply valve V9 opens, because it responds to the time when the eccentrics of the forming machine which control it, reach and remainin the feeding part of the cycle. Eluid pressure from a pump (not shown) acting through line 177, valve V8 (Fig. 4) line 179, and line 179, shifts the barrel of-a selector valve V11 to the left and acting through open valve V9 also overcomes the spring of the breather check valve V14a and opens it and supplies pressure through line 183 to the rear part A of the cylinder 75 to shift piston 90 to the leftfor forward feed. Piston 90 so responds because the area of its warm rightside exceeds that of its forward or left side. The forward or left side of B of cylinder 75 is bled or relieved of its pressure to right side A forming aclosed loop or circuit through lines 182-186. Line 185 is closedv at valve V11. Line 178 is closed at valve V8. Feed forward continues while valve V9 remains open and this valve, opened by the eccentric-timing, remains open while forward feeding should'take place.

BlockFig; 5

When the eccentrics reach the forming moment, they cause valve V9 to close at onceand without bleeding.

Despitetthat the rightor rearside of cylinder 75 is open. .to the left or forward side of cylinder 75 but because the ing to bias the workpiece to the right and thus tending,

to bias the workpiece and the piston rod to the right. The circuit through cylinder 75 and parts 186-483 is 4 closed and remains so until certain of the valves are moved, either for reverse or retraction of piston 90, or until the eccentrics cause valve V9 to open again for further incremental forward feed.

Thus, once the operator moves the barrel of valve V8 to the left, alternately there takes place opening and closing of valve V9 (timed by the eccentrics) and the consequent forward feed and blockage of piston 90 until the operator terminates such cyclic action. and causes forward feed to terminate and reverse movement to start.

Reverse-Fig. 6

For this action, the operator acting through a solenoid shifts the barrel of V8t0 the right which closes and deactivates 179V9, the forward feed parts; and connects pilot pressure line 178' to pump pressure at 177, whereupon such pressure shifts the barrel of valve V11 to the right to open line 185 to drain, the pressure in cylinder part A now overcoming the spring of check valve V13; and also opens line 178 to pump pressure. Now the pump pressure on the left side B of piston 90 (177-V8 178) overcomes that on the right side A of piston 90, open to drain through 185V11-V13176 and shifts piston 90 to the right for reverse and this movement continues until the barrel of valve V8 is shifted to the left for forward feed.

Considering only the forward feed, intermittent feed, and blocking means, we summarize as follows:

Forward feedFig. 4.-With valve V9 open, pump pressure through 177179 overcomes the spring of valve V14a and supplies pressure at rear cylinder part A. Forwardcylinder part B bleeds into part A through 186 and V141: and forward feed takes place.

BlockingFig. 5.When' valve V9 is closed, valve V14'a will close. Rear cylinder part A cannot bleed, and hence rearward thrust on piston 90 from the. left cannotmove piston 90 to the rear.

against skidding or movement in either direction whilethe dies are in contact with the workpiece. The mech anism thus minimizes axial stresses on the dies'and the workpiece, and thus eliminates fracturing or other damage to these parts. Furthermore, by holding the workpiece steady during the forming cycle, amajor proportion of the available energy is effectively employed in producingthe desired radial. deformation and consequently rearward axial deformation is minimized.

Now having described the construction herein disclosed, reference should be had to the claims which follow.

I claim:

7 l. Means-for causing cyclical intermittent and alternate incremental forward movements and blockings ofa member comprising a fluid pressure source-using a non-compressible fluid, a cylinder, a differential area piston therein whose forward'face is connected to said member and is smaller-in exposed area than its rear face, a forward movement fluid pressure line connecting the'pressure source to the rear of the cylinder, rearward of the piston,

' a forward bleeder line connecting the forward part of the cylinder, forward of the piston, to the rear part ofthe cylinder through the forward'pressure line; a quick open ing and closing supply valve in the forward pressureline for quickly opening and closing said forward pressure line for controlling communication between the pressure source and the rear part of the cylinder, and located between the pressure source and the forward bleeder line; means for cyclically and intermittently opening and closing said supply valve; and a forward bleeder valve between the supply valve and the rear part of the cylinder which opens automatically when the supply valve opens, to permit the forward part of the cylinder to bleed to the rear part of the cylinder and which closes automatically when the supply valve closes, to prevent bleeding of the rear part of the cylinder and thus to block rearward movement of the piston and the member.

2. A construction according to claim 1 including means for moving the member rearwardly comprising a reversing line connecting the pressure source to the forward part of the cylinder and a reverse bleeder line for bleeding the rear part of the cylinder while the supply valve and the forward bleeder valve are closed.

3. A construction according claim 2 including an operator controlled valve for selectively connecting the pressure source either to the first named forward pressure line for forward incremental movement of the piston or to the reversing line for reverse movement of the piston.

4. A construction according to claim 3 including a selector valve for selectively connecting either the forward part of the cylinder through the forward bleeder line to the rear side of the cylinder while closing the reverse bleeder line, or the rear part of the cylinder through the reverse bleeder line to drain while closing the forward bleeder line, said selector valve being operable automatically by and in response to the movements of the operator controlled valve.

5. Means for causing cyclical intermittent and alternate incremental forward feed movements and blockings of a ram member comprising a fluid pressure source using a non-compressible fluid; a cylinder; a differential area piston therein whose forward face is connected to said ram and is smaller in exposed area than its rear face; a forward feed movement fluid pressure line connecting the pressure source to the rear of the cylinder rearward of the piston; a forward bleeder line connected to the forward part of the cylinder forward of the piston for bleeding it; a quick opening and closing supply valve in the forward feed pressure line for quickly opening and closing it for controlling communication between the pressure source and the rear part of the cylinder; means for cyclically and intermittently opening and closing said supply valve; and a forward bleeder valve in the pressure supply line between the supply valve and the rear part of the cylinder which opens automatically when the supply valve opens to communicate the pressure line to the rear part of the cylinder and also to permit the forward bleeder line to bleed for forward feed and which closes automatically when the supply valve closes to block and thus prevent bleeding of both parts of the cylinder and thus to block rearward movement of the piston and'the ram.

6. Means according to claim 5 wherein the forward bleeder line connects to the pressure line between the two valves for bleeding the forward part of the cylinder to the rearward part of the cylinder when the forward bleeder valve is open.

7. A construction according to claim 5 including means for moving the member rearwardly comprising a reversing line connecting the pressure source to the forward part of the cylinder and a reverse bleeder line for bleeding the rear part of the cylinder while the supply valve and the forward bleeder valve are closed,

8. A construction according to claim 5 including an operator controlled valve for selectively connecting the pressure source either to the first named forward pressure line for forward incremental movement of the piston or to the reversing line for reverse movement of the piston.

9. A construction according to claim 5 including a selector valve for selectively connecting either the forward part of the cylinder through the forward bleeder line to the rear side of the cylinder while closing the reverse bleeder line, or the rear part of the cylinder through the reverse bleeder line to drain while closing the forward bleeder line, said selector valve being operable automatically by and in response to the movements of the operator controlled valve.

10. A machine comprising a set of dies defining a workpiece receiving die throat; means for causing cyclical intermittent and alternate advance and retracting movements of the die set; means for causing cyclical intermittent and alternate incremental forward feed movements and blockings of a workpiece in said die throat; and a common control for the die moving means and the feed and block means for timing feed and blocking of the workpiece to retraction and advance of the die set respectively.

11. A machine according to claim 10 wherein the workpiece feed and blocking means comprises a ram, and a hydraulic cylinder and piston motor.

12. A machine according to claim 10 wherein the workpiece feed and blocking means comprises a ram and a hydraulic cylinder and difierential area piston motor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS