US3344650A

US3344650A - Die structure

Info

Publication number: US3344650A
Application number: US496364A
Authority: US
Inventors: James A Kilmer
Original assignee: Olin Corp
Current assignee: Olin Corp
Priority date: 1965-10-15
Filing date: 1965-10-15
Publication date: 1967-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 1984-10-03

Description

Oct. 3, 1967 J. A. KILMER 3,344,650

DIE STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 15, 1965 'Q'II/(IIIII/IIII I gm v INVENTOR. JAMES A. K/LMER BY 31 34W A T TORNEV United States Patent 3,344,650 DIE STRUCTURE James A. Kilmer, Bethalto, Ill., assignor to Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, a corporation of Virginia Filed Oct. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 496,364 Claims. (Cl. 72-469) This invention relates in general to die structures, and more particularly to a die structure adapted to be modified for use with blanks of material each of a different predetermined size.

It is a common expedient in the production of various articles to position a blank of material upon a die, or between two opposed dies, so that various operations may be performed to achieve the desired article. Merely exemplary of such uses of die structures are those employed in connection with the fabrication of hollow articles known in the art as the Roll-Bond process, as described in US. Patent No. 2,690,002, issued to Grenell on Sept. 28, 1954. In the practice of this process, a specially prepared blank may be positioned between opposed dies, or platens and the blank is expanded from Within, as by fluid pressure, to form the desired hollow article. As fluid pressures are employed exteriorly of the blank during interior expansion of the blank, it is necessary to provide appropriate sealing means between the blank and the die around the periphery of the portion of the blank to be expanded. Typically, this sealing means takes the form of a sealing ring located in an indentation, or groove, of the die. Therefore, in this and analogous operations it has heretofore been considered necessary to provide a specific die for each size of blank to be produced- According to the instant invention, it has been found that a multiplicity of dies may be obviated by a single die structure which may be modified to receive blanks of material of varying sizes, accordingly, it is only necessary to employ a single die structure corresponding to the largest blank contemplated to be employed in a given apparatus. The ancillary devices required to modify the single structure are considerably lighter than the primary die structure, and are easy to install; thus, the inventory of required dies is considerably reduced, the change-over time between blanks of different sizes is substantially reduced, and the operating cost of apparatus employing such a die structure is resultingly reduced.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide a die structure susceptible to being modified for use with blanks each of a different predetermined size.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a die structure which is inexpensive of construction and easily modified.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a die structure obviating the disadvantages of the prior art structures.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art as a detailed description of a particular embodiment proceeds with reference to the drawings which form a part hereof, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a die structure according to this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of an insert employed to modify the die structure of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the insert of FIGURE 2 as applied to the die structure of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, a die structure according to this invention includes as a primary part thereof a platen adapted to be suitably mounted in appropriate apparatus for performing the desired function. The discussion which continues Will be directed to a single die structure, it being understood 3,344,650 Patented Oct. 3, 1967 however that in appropriate environment two die structures will be employed to achieve the desired results.

The platen 10 is a size for use with the largest size blank contemplated to be encountered with the apparatus involved. Upon one surface 11 of the platen 10 there is formed by any appropriate method a plurality of systems of indentations, each of the systems being adapted for cooperation with a particular blank of predetermined size to achieve the desired results. For example, in the Roll-Bond process, it is sometimes desirable to produce hollow articles having one sideflat. The expedient employed in production of such items is to provide one of the platens between which the expansion of the blank takes place with a flat surface, with a single groove around the periphery of this platen corresponding to the periphery of the blank. Within the groove there is situated a sealing member to provide a pressure seal between the platen and the contacting surface of the blank. In the surface of the platen beneath the blank there may be located one or more holes for exhaust of fluids between the platen and the blank to insure intimate contact between platen and blank. Thus, as is illustrated in FIG- URE 1, a plurality of

grooves

12, 13 and 14 are provided in the surface 11 of platen 10, each of the

grooves

12, 13 and 14 being arranged for use with a selected blank of predetermined size. Within the areas enclosed by each of the

grooves

12, 13 and 14, there may be a plurality of holes 15, 16 and 17, respectively, serving as exhaust holes for the function indicated above.

Thus, where a blank corresponding to the groove 12 is to be inflated, no modification of the platen 10 would be required; the appropriate blank would be merely positioned over the area of platen 10 covered by the groove 12, and the remaining portions of platen 10 would not interfere with the inflation of such a groove. Where, however, a blank corresponding to the groove 13 is to be inflated, it will be evident that such a blank would cover the area Within the groove 13, and the groove 12 would interfere with the inflation of such a blank. Specifically, the groove 12, being other than flat, would allow the side of the blank which is to remain flat to instead expand slightly into the groove 12. Similarly, for a blank corresponding to the groove 14, both the

grooves

12 and 13 would interfere with the appropriate expansion of such a blank in the same manner.

To obviate the influence of the grooves lying within the area to be covered by a selected blank, there is provided "with the platen 10 a plurality of insert members for closing off a selected number of the grooves lying Within the groove corresponding to the blank to be inflated. For example, in FIGURE 2 there is illustrated an insert plate 20 to be employed with a blank corresponding to the groove 14 of platen 10. Insert plate 20 includes a substantially flat upper surface 21 and a peripheral flange 22 adapted to fit Within the groove 14. Additionally, to provide the exhaust function previously described, there is provided through the insert member 20 a plurality of exhaust holes 23 in communication with the exhaust holes 17 of the platen 10.

The function of the insert plate 20 will be apparent from the illustration in the partial cross-sectional view of FIGURE 3. The insert plate 20 is placed upon the surface 11 of the platen 10 with its surface 21 closing off the grooves 12 and 13'. The flange 22, which may consist of a downwardly turned portion 24 and an outwardly turned portion 25, is so designed as to be closely received within the groove 14. A sealing member 30, such as a resilient ring, may then be positioned within the groove 14, atop the flange 22, for cooperation with the blank to be inflated. The remaining grooves, such as 13 illustrated in FIGURE 3, are then covered over by the fiat portion 21 of platen 20, and accordingly will not interfere with operations performed upon the blank. To insure that the platen 20 does not flex downwardly into any of the grooves covered, a suitable filler 31, for example of rubber, may be positioned within each of these covered grooves.

From the above description of an exemplary die structure, it will be evident that the objects indicated above are achieved. Clearly, many variations will appear to those skilled in the art. For example, while the die structure illustrated is one designed to achieve a fiat surface on the corresponding surface of a blank, if a pattern is desired in the blank, the platen and insert plates may be appropriately recessed to provide such a pattern. Moreover, the rectangular configuration of the die structure illustrated, the shape of the grooves, and the use of the exhaust holes are by way of example only as applied to the production of a Roll-Bond one-side-flat article.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustrations described and shown herein which are deemed to be merely illustrative of the best modes of carrying out the invention, and which are susceptible of modifications of form, size, arrangement of parts and detail of operation, but rather is intended to encompass all such modifications which are Within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A die structure adapted to be modified for use with blanks of material each of a different predetermined size, comprising (A) a platen having on one surface thereof a plurality of systems of indentations, each of said systems 4 being adapted for cooperation with a blank of predetermined size, and

(B) means for closing off a selected number of said systems lying within one of said systems corresponding to a selected blank.

2. A die structure according to claim 1 wherein said means comprises a plate having a configuration to cover said selected number of systems.

3. A die structure adapted to be modified for use with blanks of material each of a different predetermined size, comprising (A) a platen having on one surface thereof a plurality of grooves each adapted to receive a sealing member for contact with the periphery of a blank of predetermined size, and

(B) means for covering a selected number of grooves lying within the area to be covered by a selected blank of predetermined size.

4. A die structure according to claim 3 wherein said means comprises an insert plate having a flange adapted for insertion into the groove corresponding to said selected blank.

5. A die structure according to claim 4 further including means filling said selected number of grooves covered by said insert plate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,993,263 7/1961 Staples 29-157.3 3,024,525 3/1962 Wisberger 29-157.3

CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

H. D. HOINKES, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A DIE STRUCTURE ADAPTED TO BE MODIFIED FOR USE WITH BLANKS OF MATERIAL EACH OF A DIFFERENT PREDETERMINED SIZE, COMPRISING (A) A PLATEN HAVING ONE ONE SURFACE THEREOF A PLURALITY OF SYSTEMS OF INDENTATIONS, EACH OF SAID SYSTEMS BEING ADAPTED FOR COOPERATION WITH A BLANK OF PREDETERMINED SIZE, AND (B) MEANS FOR CLOSING OFF A SELECTED NUMBER OF SAID SYSTEMS FOR CLOSING OFF A SELECTED NUMBER OF SAID ING TO A SELECTED BLANK.