US3260084A

US3260084A - Apparatus for drawing linear stock

Info

Publication number: US3260084A
Application number: US191770A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leo D Mersek
Original assignee: Ajax Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Ajax Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1962-05-02
Filing date: 1962-05-02
Publication date: 1966-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 1983-07-12

Description

July 12, 1966 D. MERSEK 3,260,084

APPARATUS FOR DRAWING LINEAR STOCK Filed May 2, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet l II 4 I 1 m ill 5 FIG. 3

{1 INVENTOR.

50 0. MEPSEK Arro NEYS July 12, 1966 D. MERSEK APPARATUS FOR DRAWING LINEAR STOCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 2, 1962 INVENTOR. 50 a MEASEK wmw, Q

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Arron/vars 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. [0 0. M'PSEK D. MERSEK APPARATUS FOR DRAWING LINEAR STOCK BY @eww,

Arr p/vsvs w i il/rill Q July 12, 1966 Filed May 2, 1962 n W wil m j if Q: .1\ m :3 it WW E r a 1 u N. mfim Q.\ TELWEW m MK 7 v: a Q $9 g g Q Fw.

July 12, 1966 L. D. MERSEK 3,260,084

APPARATUS FOR DRAWING LINEAR STOCK Filed May 2, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. [0 0. MEA EK wza TTOPNE Y5 July 12, 1966 D. MERSEK APPARATUS FOR DRAWING LINEAR STOCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 2, 1962 INVENTOR. 50 0. MEPSEK W,

? g ww Arr-0 N575 United States Patent of Ohio Filed May 2, 1962, Ser. No. 191,770 21 Claims. (Cl. 7220) This invention relates to drawing apparatus for drawing linear stock, such as bar stock, rod stock and Wire and, more particularly, to drawing apparatus of the reciprocating type in which the drawing action is produced "by a relative axial drawing traverse between the stock and a drawing die in the form of a succession of drawing strokes.

One form of reciprocating drawing apparatus heretofore available has been used in conjunction with an associated mechanism or fabricating machine, such as a cut-off mechanism or a cold header, and supplies the drawn stock, hereinafter referred to merely as wire, to the associated mechanism at substantially the rate of production of the drawn stock by the drawing apparatus. The drawing operation has been accomplished in such previous apparatus by pushing a drawing die axially along and over the wire while the latter is being held against backward movement by an associated gripping device.

The drawing die and the gripping device thus comprise drawing components of a drawing unit of which the drawing die has usually been mounted on a reciprocably movable slide. The slide has frequently been actuated by a swingable d-raw lever to which movement is imparted by suitable drive means such as a rotatable eccentric or a drag link extending between such lever and the power means of the associated mechanism.

When a reciprocating wire drawer of the previous type just above referred to is actuated by power transmitted thereto from the associated mechanism it imposes an added work load thereon which is often undesirable. It is also characteristic of such previous type of reeipro eating wire drawer that it requires a strong and rugged frame for supporting the die slide and draw lever, and also requires a large area of floor space. Objectionable noise and vibration have usually occurred during operation, particularly from the repeated reversal of the direction of swing of the draw lever and from the repeated bumping of the draw lever against the die slide. These problems are further aggravated when the frame, die slide, draw lever and grip device are constructed of an increased size and weight to enable the drawing apparatus to handle wire of a thick or heavy cross-sectional size. To successfully carry out such drawing operation on wire of a large size also necessitated stronger and heavier actuating means for the draw lever in order to safely handle the increased power needed to be supplied to the wire drawer.

Other problems have been encountered in the construction and operation of a reciprocating wire drawer of the previous type referred to above including the fact that a long drawing stroke has been difiicult and costly to achieve and the fact that pull back of the drawn stock has heretofore imposed a limitation on the minimum length of article which could be produced from the drawn stock. Other problems encountered concern the fact that the feed rolls for advancing the drawn stock have heretofore been subjected to heavy loading because the return stroke of the die slide utilizes pulling movement transmitted thereto from the feed rolls through the drawn stock, and the fact that when pointing of the drawn stock was to be performed in the associated mechanism the increased length of feed needed for that operation was not readily obtainable.

An object of the present invention is to provide novel drawing apparatus capable of producing a smooth, rapid and powerful drawing action by a drawing unit comprising relatively movable drawing die and grip device components, and wherein the problems referred to above are minimized or eliminated by embodying the power means for producing the drawing strokes directly in the drawing unit.

Another object is to provide novel drawing apparatus having a drawing unit with the power means embodied directly therein, as just above referred to, and wherein the power means comprises reeiprocably co-operable cylinder and piston members connected with the respective drawing components for causing opening and closing axial relative movements therebetween.

A further object is to provide such novel drawing apparatus wherein fluid pressure supply means for the power means comprises reversing means for controlling the power means in a manner such that the drawing traverse is a succession of drawing strokes for a resulting substantialy continuous production of drawn wire, the reversing means preferably comprising a reversing solenoid valve means whose energization is controlled by switch means responsive to the opening and closing relative movements between the drawing components.

Yet another object is to provide such novel drawing apparatus wherein the drawing unit is shiftable on a support means in a direction along the axis of the wire and control means responsive to such shifting of the drawing unit controls the rate of operation of the power means, and therefore, the rate of production of the drawn wire.

As still another object thereof this invention provides novel fluid-actuated drawing apparatus of the character above mentioned and having feeding means for feeding the drawn wire, and wherein the shifting of the drawing unit on the support means is dependent upon the rate of production of the drawn wire in relation to the rate of feeding of the drawn wire, such resultant shifting of the drawing unit being utilized as a control function for causing variation in the delivery of power medium to the power means for controlling the rate of production of the drawn wire.

Additionally, this invention provides novel drawing apparatus of the character above referred to wherein the power means is hydraulically actuated and a pressure fluid supply means connected therewith has a variable delivery controlled in response to the resultant shifting of the drawing unit along the support means.

Other objects, novel characteristics and advantages of this invention will be apparent in the following detailed description and in' the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which,

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of drawing apparatus embodying this invention, the apparatus being shown with portions thereof broken away and with the grip means and die means of the drawing unit in their adjacent or closed relation;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus from the opposite side thereof and showing the grip means and die means in open relation;

. FIG. 3 is a partial end view of the apparatus as seen from the wire-entry end thereof;

FIG. 4 is mainly a sectional plan view of the apparatus taken as indicated by section line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial transverse vertical section taken through the apparatus at the location of the grip means thereof, as indicated by section line 5-5 of FIGS. 1 and 4;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view showing variable delivery pump means forming a part of the pressure fluid supply means for the power means of the drawing unit; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional plan view similar to that of FIG. 4

but showing a modified form of the novel drawing apparatus.

In FIGS. 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings there is shown a preferred embodiment of this invention. The novel drawing apparatus 16, shown by way of example comprises, in general, a support means 11 having a longitudinally extending guideway 12 thereon, and a drawing unit 13 shiftable in opposite directions along such guideways. The drawing unit 13 comprises carriage means 15 and a pair of first and

second drawing components

16 and 17 thereon and adapted for opening and closing relative movements along the axis of a wire 18 to be drawn. The opening and closing relative movements between the

drawing components

16 and 17 are produced by a power means 19 embodied directly in the drawing unit 13 and described hereinafter.

The first drawing component 16 comprises a drawing die 20 for reducing the wire 18 during drawing traverse therebetween, and the second drawing component 17 comprises a grip device 21 for gripping the wire during the drawing traverse. In the apparatus 10 as herein disclosed the drawing die 20 is pushed back, referring to the direction in which the wire progresses or feeds through the apparatus as forward, along the wire 18 as a drawing stroke during the separating or opening relative movement between the

drawing components

16 and 17. The grip device 21 grips and holds the wire 18 thus preventing forward movement of the gripping component along the wire during the drawing stroke of the die 20 but automatically release-s the wire to permit backing movement of the gripping component during the closing relative movement between the drawing components.

The support means 11 can be of any suitable form and need be of only a relatively light construction because the power for the drawing operation is developed directly in the drawing unit 13 with the result that the support means is not required to transmit or resist any great forces. The support means 11 is here shown as comprising an open type of base 22 of a suitable size and shape and having legs 27 adapted to stand on a floor 23 or other support surface. At the top thereof the base 22 is provided with a rectangular horizontal frame 24 which is here shown as comprised of channel-shaped members secured to the legs 27 and supporting a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending

rails

25 and 26. The

rails

25 and 26 are channel-shaped members whose channel recesses provide the longitudinally extending guideway 12.

The carriage means 15 is here shown as comprising first and

second carriers

28 and 29 which have incorporated therein the first and

second drawing components

16 and 17, respectively, and are provided with pairs of

suitable rollers

30 and 31 which operate in the guideway 12 for mounting the carriage means on the base 22 in a manner to provide for longitudinal shifting of the carriage means and to also provide for the above-mentioned opening and closing relative axial movements between the first and

second drawing components

16 and 17. The wire .18 enters the drawing unit 13 through the drawing component 16 which contains the drawing die 24} and leaves the drawing unit through the component 17 which contains the grip device 21. The drawn wire 18* passes from the drawing component 17 to an associated feeding means 33 which is here shown as comprising a pair of suitably driven feed rolls 34 and 35 having grooved peripheries in gripping engagement with the drawn wire for exerting a pulling action thereon in imparting a forward feeding movement thereto.

The first carrier 28 comprises a body 38 supported mainly by the rollers 30 and an upright transverse plate member 39 secured thereto as by suitable screws 40 and having forked end portions 19" and 39 for a purpose to be explained hereinafter. The body 38 contains a die socket 41 adjacent the plate member 39 and in nvhich the drawing die 20 is received. The die 20 is retained in the socket 41 as by means of a suitable set screw 42.

The body 38 also contains a lubricant chamber 43 adjacent the drawing die 20 for holding lubricant, such as a suitable powder, to be supplied to the wire 18 and to the drawing die 26. The lubricant chamber 43 is closed by a suitable cover 44 removably received on the body 36. The wire 18 extends through and across the lubricant chamber 43, and is accommodated by a suitable guide bushing 46 provided on the side wall 47 of the lubricant chamber and a clearance opening 48 provided in the wall member 39 on the exit side of the drawing die 20.

The second carrier 29 is here shown as comprising a substantially horizontally disposed flat body 519 having a grip box 51 mounted thereon or incorporated therein. The body 51 is here shown as comprising upper and

lower plates

52 and 53 connected by welding to the side walls 51' and 51 of the grip box 51 and to upright end walls 54 and 55 located on axially opposite sides of the grip box. The end Wall 54- is provided with a clearance opening 56 through which the drawn wire 18 passes to the grip device 21 located in the grip box 51.

The rollers 31 supporting the second carrier 29 are here shown as comprising two pairs of such rollers 31* and 31 mounted on a pair of parallel upright longitudinally extending

brackets

58 and 59. The

brackets

58 and 59 are suitably secured, as by welding, to the underside of the lower plate 53 on laterally opposite sides of the grip box 51 and, as shown in FIG. 1, the brackets have arm portions 60 which are of a length to extend beneath the carrier 28. The rollers 31 are mounted on the arm portions 61) adjacent the free ends thereof.

The grip device 21 is of a conventional construction comprising a pair of tapered grip blocks 61 and 62 (see FIG. 4) having gripping portions engageable with the drawn wire 18 and which blocks are located between a pair of stationary wedge blocks 63 and 64 received in the pocket 65 of the grip box 51. Roller assemblies 66 comprising groups of antifriction rollers are interposed between the tapered surfaces of the grip blocks 61, 62 and the Wedge blocks 63, 64 and provide for limited axial shifting of the grip blocks whereby they are automatically actuatable into gripping engagement with the drawn wire 18 upon any forward movement of the grip ping device along the wire, and automatically release the wire in response to any relative reverse or advance movement of the wire through the grip box. The grip device 21 is here shown as also having filler plates 68 and 69 interposed between the Wedge blocks 63, 64 and the upright side walls 51 51 of the grip box 51.

The end wall 55 of the body 50 is provided with a suitable mounting sleeve 71 which is threaded internally thereof and supports a bushing 72 through which the drawn wire 18 passes as it leaves the grip blocks 61, 62. The bushing 72 also forms a seat for a compression spring 73 which is effective against the grip blocks for urging the same toward their gripping position against the drawn wire 18*. Resilient holding members 74- are provided on the second carrier 29 on opposite sides of the mounting sleeve 71 and are connected with the roller assemblies 66 for yieldably retaining the latter in operative position between the grip blocks 61, 62 and their associated wedge blocks 63, 64.

The power means 19 of the drawing unit 13 is fluid pressure actuated, preferably by hydraulic fluid, and comprises reciprocably cooperating cylinder and

piston members

77 and 78. In the drawing apparatus 14 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 inclusive, the power means 19 comprises two

such cylinder members

77 and 77 mounted on the first carrier 28 in a longitudinally extending substantially parallel relation. The

cylinder members

77 and 77 are spaced apart laterally of the carrier 28 and located on opposite sides of the portion of the body 38 containing the lubricant chamber 43.

The power means 19 also comprises two of the piston members 78 mounted on piston rods 8% and 81 which project from the

cylinder members

77 and 77 The pair of cylinder chambers 90 and piston rods 80 and 81 have their outer ends secured to the end wall 54 of the second carrier 29 by threaded portions 82 extending therethrough and carrying clamping nuts 83. The

cylinder members

77 and 77 are mounted on the carrier 28 by having the front heads 84 and 85 thereof attached to the forked

portions

39 and 39 of the plate member 39 as by means of the screws 89. The piston rods 80 and 81 project through the front heads 84 and 85 and are guided and sealed therein by suitable bushings 86. The

cylinder members

77 and 77 are closed at the opposite end thereof by

rear cylinder heads

87 and 88.

Each of the

cylinder members

77 and 77 contains a 91 on opposite sides of the piston member 78 for a double-acting pressure fluid responsive functioning of the power means 19. Motive fluid is supplied to, and exhausted from, the

cylinder chambers

90 and 91 through pairs of

flexible conduit members

92 and 93. The conduit members 92 are connected with the front heads 84 and 85 for communication with the cylinder chambers 90, and the conduits 93 are connected with the

rear cylinder heads

87 and 88 for communication with the cylinder chambers 91.

From the construction of the drawing apparatus as thus far described it will be recognized that when pressure fluid is supplied to the cylinder chambers 91 of the power means 19 the

rear cylinder heads

87 and 88 will be pushed away from the piston members 78 thereby causing the first carrier 28 to be moved toward the right along the guideway 12 and the drawing die 20 to be pushed along the wire 18 through a drawing stroke. During this drawing stroke the second carrier 29 remains relatively stationary with the grip device 21 in gripping engagement with the drawn portion 18* of the wire for holding the wire against a backward movement, that is against movement toward the left in FIGS. 1 and 4.

- When pressure fluid is supplied to the cylinder chambers 90 and the pressure fluid previously supplied-to the cylinder chambers 91 is exhausted, the piston members 78 will be moved toward the right in the

cylinder members

77 and 77 with the result that the second carrier 29 will be moved rearwardly along the wire, that is, in a closing direction relative to the first carrier 28 while the latter is stationary relative to the wire by reason of the tight engagement of the drawing die 20 therewith. During this relative closing movement the grip device 21 releases its grip on the wire. At some time which may be during the relative opening and closing movements between the

carriers

28 and 29, as just described above, are taking place the wire 18 is fed forward by the feed device 33 as the wire is fed forward it pulls the carriage means along with it. The net result of these relative opening and closing movements between the

carriers

28 and 29 in conjunction with the forward feeding of the Wire 18 by the feed device 33 is a succession of drawing strokes of the die along the wire and a shifting of the drawing unit 13 back and forth along the guideway 12 of the support means 11.

The power means 19 has a substantially continuous reciprocating operation when the drawing apparatus 10 is in service and produces a rapid succession of the drawing and return strokes of the die 20, as explained above, so that a substantially continuous drawing operation on the wire 18 is achieved. The substantially continuous reciprocating operation of the power means 19 is obtained by an automatic reversal of the pressure fluid supply thereto and, for this purpose, the drawing apparatus 10 is provided with reversing valve means 95 located between the power device and a pressure fluid supply means 96.

The pressure fluid supply means 96 is here shown as comprising a pump 97 driven by an electric motor 98. The pressure fluid supply means 96 also includes a reservoir tank 99 located in the space within the base 22 and supporting the pump 97 and its driving motor 98. They 6 pump 97 has the intake conduit 100 thereof connected with the reservoir chamber of the tank 99 and has the discharge conduit 101 thereof connected with the reversing valve means 95. A return conduit 102 extends from the reversing valve means 95 to the tank 99 for returning exhaust fluid to the latter.

The reversing valve means 95 is here shown as comprising a solenoid actuated reversing valve 105 suitably mounted on the base 22 and having combined fluid delivery and return

connections

106 and 107. The connection 106 has the pair of flexible conduits 92 attached thereto, and the connection 107 has the other pair of flexible conduits 93 attached to it.

The reversing means for the power means 19 includes an electric switch 104 for controlling the solenoid valve 105 and which switch, in this case, is mounted on the first carrier 16 (see FIGS. 2 and 4). An energizing circuit is provided for the solenoid valve 105 and is here represented by a conductor cord 108 having a plug 109 adapted to be connected with a source of energizing current. The energizing circuit for the solenoid valve 105 also includes a conductor cord 110 extending to the electric switch 104.

The electric switch 104 includes an actuating lever 113 which is engageable by one or the other of a pair of axially spaced thrust screws 114 and 115. The thrust screws 114 and 115 are carried by a bracket arm 116 of the second carrier 29 so that during opening and closing relative movements between the first and second carriers the switch 104 will be actuated to intermittently energize and de-energize the solenoid 117 of the solenoid valve 105. The energization and de-energization of the solenoid valve '105 causes the same to perform its reversing function for reversing the flow of the pressure fluid, and consequently, causing relative reciprocation between the cylinder and

piston members

77 and 78 of the power means 19. I Since the electric switch 104 will be actuated automatically at the ends of the opening and closing relative movements between the first and

second carriers

28 and 29, the supply of motive fluid to the power means 19 will be substantially continuous but with a repeated re versal in the direction of flow, and the drawing unit 13 will consequently be operated to produce a succession of drawing strokes and a substantially continuous drawing operation on the wire 18.

The extent and direction of the shifting of the drawing unit 13 along the guideway 12 bears an important relation to the rate at which the drawn wire 18 is fed by the feeding means 33. If the feeding means 33 feeds the drawn wire 18* at exactly the rate at which the drawn wire is produced by the drawing unit 13, this unit will remain at a given point of the guideway 12. If, however, the drawing unit '13 produces drawn wire at a faster rate than such wire is fed by the feeding means 33, the drawing unit will move toward the right along the guideway 12 and, in so doing, will perform what can be conveniently referred to as a crawling movement by which it pulls itself along the wire. On the other hand, if the rate of feed by the feeding means 33 is greater than the rate at which the drawn wire 18" is produced by the drawing unit 13, the unit will shift toward the left along the guideway 12 by a tendency to move with the wire.

This shifting of the drawing unit 13 along the guide Way 12 in relation to the feeding action of the feeding means 33 is utilized as a control function and movement for varying the rate at which the pressure fluid is supplied to the power means 19 to correspondingly vary the rate of operation of the drawing unit and thus automatically correlate the rate of production of the drawn wire with the rate of feed thereof by the feeding means 33. For this cor-relating purpose, the drawing apparatus 10 is provided with a second control means 120 which is associated with the pressure fluid supply means 96 and will be described next.

The pump 97 is here shown as being of the type having a variable volume delivery (see FIG. 6) but which is capable of maintaining a predetermined discharge pressure for the full range of volume variation. The volume variation is achieved by the shifting of an inner component of the pump such as the cylinder ring 121. The shifting of the cylinder ring 121 varies the eccentricity thereof relative to the pump rotor 122 to increase or decrease the volume of fluid delivery depending upon the direction and amount of shift imparted to the cylinder ring. In the pump 97 shown in FIG. 6 the cylinder ring 121 is shiftable toward the left for decreasing the volume of fluid delivery, as by means of shift plunger 123. Shifting of the cylinder ring 121 in the opposite direction causes an increase in the volume of fluid delivery and is produced by a compression spring 124.

The control means '120 comprises a rotatable drum 127 having a threaded stub shaft 128 received in a threaded opening 129 of a support bracket 130. The threaded shaft 128 includes an adjusting screw 131 which extends therethrough and has a thrust stem 132 projecting therefrom for thrust engagement with the shift plunger 123 of the pump 97. A lock nut 133 provided on the adjusting screw 131 locks the same in the desired position of adjustment relative to the threaded shaft 128. Rotation of the drum 127 rotates the threaded shaft 128 thereof in the threaded opening 129 to thereby advance or retract the thrust stem 132 to cause a corresponding control shifting of the cylinder ring 121 of the pump 97.

Rotational movement is imparted to the drum 127 by a cable 134 having a portion 135 in wrapped engagement with the drum. The cable 134 is connected with the car rier means 15 of the drawing unit 13, in this case, with the second carrier 29 which supports the grip device 21. The cable 134 is suitably connected with the second carrier 29 as by means of a plate bracket 136 depending from the latter as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. The portions of the cable 134 extending from the bracket 136 to the drum 127 are guided by suitably located fair-

lead pulleys

138, 139 and 140. The cable 134 is maintained under suitable tension as by means of a tension spring 141 provided therein.

The cable 134 transmits motion from the second carrier 29 to the drum 127 of the control means 120 in accordance with the extent and direction of the shifting movement of the drawing unit 13 along the guideway 12. The direction and extent of the control movement transmitted will actuate the control means 120 in the proper direction, and for the proper amount, for automatically varying the volume delivery of the fluid supply means 96 whereby the rate of operation of the drawing unit 13 by the power means 19 will be regulated for maintaining a correct rate of production of drawn wire 18 in relation to the rate at which the drawn 'wire is being fed by the feeding means 33.

Because of the piston rod displacement factor in the power means 19 of the wire drawing apparatus the cylinder chambers 90, to which pressure fluid is supplied for causing return movement between the drawing components, are of relatively smaller volume capacity than the cylinder chambers 91 to which pressure fluid is supplied for causing the drawing traverse between the die 29 and wire 18. An advantage results from this volume relationship because the longer time required to fill the large cylinder chambers 91 with pressure fluid causes a relatively slow drawing traverse between the die 20 and the wire 18, whereas the smaller volume of fluid required to fill the cylinder chambers 90' results in a more rapid return or closing movement between the drawing

components

16 and 17.

FIG. 7 of the drawings shows a modified drawing apparatus 145 which is similar to the apparatus 10 and functions in generally the same manner. The modified apparatus 145, however, is provided with power means 146 which comprises a single cylinder member 147 and a single piston member 148. In other respects the modified drawing apparatus 145 is substantially the same as the drawing apparatus 10 and corresponding parts have been designated by the same reference numerals.

The cylinder and piston members 147 and 148 are located in a coaxial relation with respect to the wire 18 so that the wire passes through these members during its movement from the drawing die 20 to the grip device 21. The cylinder member 147 is an annular cylinder member having ring-shaped cylinder chambers 1'47 and 147 located on opposite sides of the piston 148. The cylinder member 147 includes an axial sleeve 149 having a passage 150 to accommodate the wire 18. The piston member 148 is also ring-shaped and is carried by a hollow piston rod 151. The piston rod 151 has an axial passage 152 to accommodate the wire 18 and in which the sleeve 149 of the cylinder member 147 is slidable.

In the drawing apparatus 10 the drawing component 16, which carries the drawing die 20 and has only one pair of support rollers 30, is supported in part by the sliding cooperation of the cylinder and

piston members

77 and 78. Similarly, in the modified drawing apparatus the drawing component supporting the drawing die 20 and having the hollow piston rod 151 connected therewith is supported in part by the single pair of rollers 30 and in part by the sliding of'the piston 148 in the cylinder member 147.

From the accompanying drawings and the foregoing detailed description it will now be readily understood that this invention provides novel drawing apparatus in which numerous important advantages and new results are achieved, including those already described above, by having the power means for the drawing operation embodied directly in a drawing unit comprising a die means and a gripping means as drawing components and the said components having relative opening and closing movements produced by such power means. It will also be recognized that by employing double-acting fluid pressure responsive cylinder means as the power means for the drawing operation and embodying the same directly in the drawing unit, a smooth, rapid, quiet and powerful drawing operation can be achieved and the apparatus can be readily constructed to handle linear stock of a heavy or thick cross sectional size and can be used with, or independently of, any cut-off or fabricating mechanism or the like. Additionally, it will be recognized that this novel drawing apparatus will require only a small amount of floor space, will place no load on the associated mechanism to which it supplies the drawn wire, permits an accurate feeding of the drawn wire with substantially no pull-back movement, and requires only a relatively light support means for the drawing unit. It will further be understood that the wire may be fed either continuously or intermittently without regard to the length or rate of repetition of the stroke of the drawing unit.

Although the drawing apparatus of this invention has been illustrated and described herein to a somewhat detailed extent, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be regarded as being limited correspondingly in scope but includes all changes and modifications coming within the terms of the claims hereof.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In drawing apparatus for continuous linear wire stock; a support means; drawing means comprising a pair of drawing components on said support means for drawing continuous stock; one of said components comprising a die means for drawing the stock, the other of said components being located at the die-exit or drawn stock side of said one component and comprising during drawing traverse between said die means and the stock, and a grip device for gripping the stock during the drawing traverse; said components having opening and closing relative movements along the axis of the stock for causing said drawing traverse; double-acting hydraulic pressure fluid responsive power means comprising reciprocably co-operable cylinder and piston power members for producing said opening movement and said closing movement; said cylinder member having cylinder chambers therein on opposite sides of said piston member; one of said power members being connected with said component comprising said grip device and the other being connected with said component comprising said die means; and hydraulic pressure fluid supply means connected with said cylinder chambers including a reversing valve means responsive to predetermined relative movement between said cylinder and piston members for reversing the fiow of hydraulic fluid into and out of said cylinder chambers; said power means being operable to produce a continuous succession of said opening and closing relative movements between said components and a consequent substantially continuous drawing of the stock.

; 2. Drawing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said drawing means is shiftable on said support means in opposite directions lengthwise of the stock and said reversing valve means is solenoid controlled and which comprises control switch means for controlling said solenoid controlled valve means in response to said predetermined relative'movement between said cylinder and piston members.

3. Drawing apparatus according to claim 2 and comprising feed means engaging the drawn stock and operable to impart a pulling movement to the stock and to said drawing means through said stock.

4. In wire drawing apparatus; a support means; drawing means comprising a pair of drawing components, one being a die means for reducing the wire during drawing traverse between the die means and wire and the other being a grip device for gripping the wire during the drawing traverse; said gripping device being located at the dieexit side of said die means and said components having opening and closing relative movements along the axis of .the wire for causing said drawing traverse and a return movement; carriage means ,shiftableon said support means along said axis and comprising first and second relatively movable carriers supporting said drawing components for said opening and closing movements; doubleacting hydraulic pressure fluid responsive power means comprising reciprocably co-operable cylinder and piston power members for producing the drawing traverse movement and said return movement; said cylinder member having cylinder chambers therein on opposite sides of said piston member; one of said power members being connected with the carrier supporting said die means and the other being connected with the carrier supporting said grip device; hydraulic pressure fluid conduit means connected with said cylinder chambers; fluid flow reversing means for the fluid being supplied to said cylinder chambers; and control means located on said carriage means and automatically responsive to predetermined relative movement between said carriers for connecting said fluid flow reversing means. 7

I 5. Wire drawing apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said fluid flow reversing means comprises solenoid valve means located on said support means; said control means comprising switch means electrically connected with said solenoid valve means for controlling energization thereof.

6. Wire drawing apparatus according to claim 4 and comprising means operable to vary the amount of pressure fluid being supplied to said cylinder chambers for varying the rate of production of drawn wire by said drawing means.

7. Wire drawing apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said pressure fluid supply means comprises variable delivery pump means connected with said cylinder chambers through said flow reversing means.

8. Wire drawing apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said pressure fluid supply means comprises variable delivery pump means connected with said cylinder chambers through said flow reversing means; and other control means connected between said carriage means and said pump means for varying the fluid delivery by the latter in response to predetermined shifting of said carriage means on said support means.

9. Wire drawing apparatus according to claim 4 and also comprising feed means operable to impart feeding movement to the drawn wire being produced by said drawing means; the shifting of said carriage means on said support means being a resultant movement in one direction when the rate of production of the drawn wire exceeds said feeding movement and in the other direction when the feeding movement exceeds the rate of production of the drawn wire; and means operable in response to said resultant movement for varying the amount of pressure fluid being supplied to said cylinder chambers.

10. In wire drawing apparatus; a support means; drawing means comprising a pair of drawing components, one being a die means for reducing the wire during drawing traverse between the die means and wire and the other being a grip device for gripping the wire during the drawing traverse; said gripping device being located at the dieexit side of said die means and said components having opening and closing relative movements along the axis of said wire for causing a drawing stroke in one direction and a return movement in the opposite direction; carriage means shiftable on said support means and along said axis comprising first and second relatively movable carriers supporting said drawing components for said opening and closing movements; power means comprising reciprocably co-operable cylinder and piston power members for producing said drawing stroke and said return movement; said cylinder member having an expansible cylinder chamber therein on one side of said 'piston member; one of said power members being connected with the carrier supporting said die means and the other being connected with the carrier supporting said grip device; hydraulic pressure fluid supply means connectedv with said cylinder chamber including fluid flow reversing solenoid valve means for causing pressure fluid to be intermittently supplied to said cylinder chamber for causing the drawing strokes, and to be intermittently exhausted from said cylinder chamber to permit the return move ment; switch means located on said carriage means and responsive to predetermined relative movement between said carriers for controlling energization of said solenoid valve means; said fluid supply means comprising variable delivery control means for varying the volume delivery of pressure fluid to said cylinder chamber for varying the rate of production of drawn stock; and means responsive to predetermined shifting of said carriage means on said support means for causing actuation of said variable delivery control means.

11. Wire drawing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said cylinder and piston power members comprise a pair of cylinder members containing associated piston members and disposed in a laterally spaced substantially parallel relation on opposite sides of said axis for passage of said wire therebetween.

12. Wire drawing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said cylinder and piston power members comprise a cylinder and an associated piston substantially coaxial with said axis and having a common longitudinal passage for movement of said wire therethrough.

13. In drawing apparatus for continuous linear wire stock; a support means; a grip means and a drawing die means in a spaced-apart relation on said support means and relatively movable along the axis of the stock in opening and closing directions for causing drawing and return strokes; said grip means being on the die-exit side of said die means; power means comprising reciprocably co-operable cylinder and piston members connected directly with said grip means and die means; said cylinder member having cylinder chambers of diflerent volumes on opposite sides of said piston member; pressure fluid supply means for the actuation of said power means and means for controlling the flow of pressure fluid to and from said cylinder chambers of said cylinder member for causing a succession of said drawing strokes; the volume relation of said cylinder chambers being such that the pressure fluid being supplied thereto produces said drawing strokes at a given rate of movement and said return strokes at a relatively faster rate of movement.

14. In a wire drawing apparatus; a support means having longitudinally extending guide means; first and second carrier means movable relative to each other along said guide means; drawing means comprising a drawing die on said first carrier means and a grip device on said second carrier means; said grip device being on the dieexist side of said die power means comprising reciprocably co-operable cylinder and piston members connected with said' first and second carrier means and operable to produce successive drawing strokes of said die means along a Wire to be drawn; said grip device being effective to grip the wire for holding the same against backward movement during said drawing strokes; hydraulic pressure fluid supply means connected with said power means including a reversing solenoid valve means; switch means controlling the energization of said solenoid valve means and responsive to predetermined relative movement between said first and second carriers for causing automatic reversal of the direction of operation of said power means; said hydraulic pressure fluid supply means comprising variable delivery means having control means selectively movable for varying the fluid delivery and thereby controlling the rate of operation of said power means; and motion transmitting means connected between said second carrier means and said control means for actuating the latter in response to predetermined shifting of said second carrier means along said guideway.

15. Wire drawing apparatus according to claim 14 and comprising feed means engageable with the drawn wire and operable to feed the same during the production of the drawn wire by the drawing operation; said second carrier means being shiftable along said guideway in one direction when the rate of production of the drawn wire exceeds the rate of feeding thereof by said feed means, and in the opposite direction when the rate of production of drawn wire exceeds the rate of feeding by said feed means; the actuation of said variable delivery control means by said motion transmitting means being effective to increase or decrease the rate of production of drawn wire in relation to the rate of feeding of the drawn wire by said feed means.

16. Wire drawing apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said variable delivery control means includes a rotatable drum member and said motion transmitting means comprises cable means connected with said second carrier means and having a portion thereof in wrapped engagement with said drum member.

17. Wire drawing apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said variable delivery means comprises pump means having a movable control member; a rotatable drum member; and threaded means effective between said drum member and said movable control member for actuating the latter; said motion transmitting means comprises cable means connected with said second carrier means and having a portion thereof in wrapped engagement with said drum member.

18. In drawing apparatus for continuous linear wire stock: a support means; drawing means comprising a pair of drawing components for drawing continuous stock and means for producing opening and closing relative movements of said components along the stock; means operatively connecting said drawing components to said support means for movement relative thereto lengthwise of the stock; one of said components comprising a die means for drawing the stock during drawing traverse between said die means and the stock and the other of said' components comprising a grip device for gripping the Stock during the drawing traverse; said gri device being on the die-exit side of said die means; means for producing said opening and closing movements of said components along the stock; and means for varying said opening movement of said components along the stock as a function of the position of said drawing means in said support means.

19. In drawing apparatus for continuous linear wire stock: a support means; drawing means comprising a pair of drawing components for drawing continuous stock; means operatively connecting said drawing components to said support means for movement relative thereto lengthwise of the stock; one of said components comprising a die means for drawing the stock during drawing traverse between said die component and the stock and the other of said components comprising a grip device for gripping the stock during the drawing traverse; said grip device being on the die-exit side of said die means; said components having opening and closing relative movements along the stock for causing said drawing traverse; power means for producing said opening and closing movements of said components along the stock; and means for varying said opening movement of said components along the stock as a function of the position of said drawing means in said support means.

20. In drawing apparatus for continuous linear wire stock: a support means; drawing means comprising a pair of drawing components for drawing continuous stock; means operatively connecting said drawing components to said support means for movement relative thereto lengthwise of the stock; one of said components comprising a die means for drawing the stock during drawing traverse between said die means and the stock and the other of said components comprising a grip device for gripping the stock during the drawing traverse; said grip device being on the die-exit side of said die means; said components having opening and closing relative movements along the stock for causing said drawing traverse; hydraulic pressure fluid responsive power means comprising cooperating piston and cylinder members for producing said opening movement of said components along the stock; and means for controlling the rate of flow of fluid to said power means as a function of the position of said drawing means in said support means.

21. In drawing apparatus for linear wire stock: a support means; drawing means movably carried by said support means and comprising a pair of drawing components on said support means; one of said components comprising a die means for drawing the stock during drawing traverse between said die means and the stock, and the other of said components comprising a grip device for gripping the stock during the drawing traverse; said grip device being on the die-exit side of said die means, said components having opening and closing relative movements along the axis of said stock for causing said drawing traverse in one direction and a return movement in the opposite direction; double-acting hydraulic pressure fluid responsive power means comprising reciprocably co-operable cylinder and piston power members for opening said components and producing the drawing traverse movement and said return movement; said cylinder member having cylinder chambers therein on opposite sides of said piston member; one of said power members being operatively connected with one of said components and the other being operatively connected with the other of said components; hydraulic pressure fluid supply means connected with said cylinder member including valve means responsive to predetermined relative movement between said cylinder and piston members for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid into and out of said cylinder member; and means for varying the rate of flow of said hydraulic pressure fluid to said power means as a function of the position of said drawing means on said support means.

(References on following page) 13 14 References Cited by the Examiner 2,880,854 4/ 1959 Friedman 20516 3,017,016 1/1962 Ehlert 205 13 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,195,336 7/1965 Lindemann 72 72 2,5 6, 2 6 50 2 2 gig 5 CHARLES w. LANHAM, Primary Exammer.

2,803,110 8/ 1957 Chittenden 91275 H. D. HOINKES, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. IN DRAWING APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUS LINEAR WIRE STOCK; A SUPPORT MEANS; DRAWING MEANS COMPRISING A PAIR OF DRAWING COMPONENTS ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR DRAWING CONTINUOUS STOCK; ONE OF SAID COMPONENTS COMPRISING A DIE MEANS FOR DRAWING THE STOCK, THE OTHER OF SAID COMPONENTS BEING LOCATED AT THE DIE-EXIT OR DRAWN STOCK SIDE OF SAID ONE COMPONENT AND COMPRISING DURING DRAWING TRAVERSE BETWEEN SAID DIE MEANS AND THE STOCK, AND A GRIP DEVICE FOR GRIPPING THE STOCK DURING THE DRAWING TRAVERSE SAID COMPONENTS HAVING OPENING AND CLOSING RELATIVE MOVEMENTS ALONG THE AXIS OF THE STOCK FOR CAUSING SAID DRAWING TRAVERSE; DOUBLE-ACTING HYDRAULIC PRESSURE FLUID RESPONSIVE POWER MEANS COMPRISING RECIPROCABLY CO-OPERABLE CYLINDER AND PISTON POWER MEMBERS FOR PRODUCING SAID OPENING MOVEMENT AND SAID CLOSING MOVEMENT; SAID CYLINDER MEMBER HAVING CYLINDER CHAMBERS THEREIN ON OP-