US3368376A

US3368376A - Method and apparatus for making pulleys

Info

Publication number: US3368376A
Application number: US509854A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dominick L Previte
Original assignee: Eaton Yale and Towne Inc
Current assignee: Eaton Corp
Priority date: 1965-11-26
Filing date: 1965-11-26
Publication date: 1968-02-13
Anticipated expiration: 1985-02-13

Description

Feb. 13, 1968 D. L. PREVITE 3,368,376

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PULLEYS Filed Nov. 26, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR. DOMlN/CK L PRE V/ TE 80 BY WW FIG. 3 ATTORNEYS D. L. PREVITE Feb. 13, 1 968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 26, 1965 V; la .y 32 H05 DOM/NICK L PRE V/ TE INVENTOR.

FIGA

My Arrekus'vs United States Patent 3,368,376 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PULLEYS Dominick L. Previte, Willowick, Ohio, assignor to Eaton Yale and Towne Inc., a corporation of Ohio Filed Nov. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 509,854 17 Claims. (Cl. 72-82) The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming grooves in a metal blank and, in particular, relates to a method and apparatus for forming a plurality of V-grooves in a flange portion of a metal cup-shaped pulley blank.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved economical, simple, and reliable method and apparatus for forming a plurality of V-grooves in an integral flange portion of a cup-shaped metal pulley blank in which the metal of the pulley blank is readily displaced and the plurality of V-grooves are fully formed in a single operation of a set of working dies.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved method and apparatus for forming a plurality of V-grooves in a flange portion of a cup-shaped metal pulley blank and in which the pulley blank is rotated and die members engage opposite radial sides of said flange portion to shape the flange portion, and wherein one of the dies has converging surfaces defining separate V-grooves therein of a given angle and the other die member has projections thereon defined by converging sides defining an angle smaller than the angle defined by the converging sides defining the groove, and wherein the die with the projections thereon is moved so as to engage the metal of the blank and force or displace the metal of the blank into the grooves formed in the other die member with the converging sides defining the grooves and projections cooperating to provide for a uniform displacement of metal of the blank, as well as a predetermined controlled radial outward displacement of the metal.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved method and apparatus for forming a plurality of V-grooves in an integral flange portion of a cup-shaped metal pulley blank, as noted in the next preceding paragraph, wherein the die having the grooves into which the metal is displaced comprises a die member located within the pulley blank and is rotatable upon rotation of the pulley blank and the die having the projections which displace the metal into the grooves comprises a roller-type die which rotates upon engagement with the flange portion of the pulley blank and, while rotated, is forced toward the other die member with a sufficient pressure to effect a forming or displacement of the metal into the V-grooves.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved method and apparatus for forming a V-groove in a flange portion of a rotatable cup-shaped metal pulley blank and in which die members engage opposite radial sides of the flange portion of the blank and have surface portions which are shaped so as to displace the metal of the flange portion and provide the V-shaped groove, and wherein at least one of the dies is provided with a recess means located axially of the groove for receiving displaced metal from the pulley blank in the area contiguous to the recess thereby permitting sufficient movement of the dies so that the V-groove is completely formed.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved method and apparatus for forming a plurality of V-grooves in a portion of a flange of a cup-shaped metal pulley blank, and wherein the plurality of grooves are formed in the flange by die 3,368,37fi Patented Feb. 13, 1968 ice members having working surfaces which engage opposite sides of the flange and one of the die members is movable toward the other so as to displace the metal of the flange portion and shape the metal into the desired V-groove configuration and wherein the other die member includes a pair of grooves located on opposite sides of the working surface of the other die to receive metal which is radially displaced due to engagement of a portion of the one die member with the side of the pulley blank opposite the pair of grooves.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved method and apparatus for forming a plurality of 'V-grooves in the flange portion of a cup-shaped pulley blank, wherein the V-grooves are formed by a pair of dies, one of which is located internally of the pulley cup and engages the inner side of the flange, the other of which engages the outer side of the flange and is movable inwardly so as to effect a shaping of the metal of the flange portion of the pulley cup, and wherein the outer die is movable under a suflicient pressure to form all of the V-grooves simultaneously in one operation of the cooperating dies.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved apparatus for forming at least one V-groove in the flange portion of a cup-shaped pulley blank wherein a pair of die members engage opposite radial sides of the flange portion with one of the die members located internally of the pulley cup and comprising a circular die member having a diameter substantially the size of the diameter of the flange portion of the pulley cup and which is formed in segmental portions which are retractable inwardly so as to permit easy withdrawal of the pulley cup from the die member after formation thereof.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof made with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating an apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with parts removed;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a pulley constructed by the appartus of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are enlarged sectional views illustrating portions of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in diiferent operative positions.

The present invention provides a new and improved method and apparatus for forming grooves in a metal blank. The method and apparatus is particularly adapted to the forming of a plurality of V-grooves in a one-piece homogeneous integral flange portion of a cup-shaped pulley blank, and particularly relates to a method and apparatus wherein a plurality of Vegrooves is formed by engaging opposite radial sides of the flange portion of a cup-shaped pulley blank with die members which are rotatable and movable radially relatively so as to effect a shaping of the flange portion of the cup-shaped pulley blank into the desired configuration.

As representing the preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus 10 for forming a plurality of V-shaped grooves in a cup-shaped metal pulley blank 11. The pulley blank 11 comprises a bottom or disk portion 12 and a spherical ring portion 13 which encircles the bottom portion 12 and extends angularly outwardly away from the bottom portion 12. The ring portion 13 connects with a disk or flat ring portion 14 which extends radially outwardly of the ring portion 13. The disk portion 14 is connected at its outermost edge with a one-piece integral flange or skirt portion 15 3 which, as shown in FIG. 1, projects axially of the pulley blank 11.

The pulley-blank 11 is made of a suitable metal material and is a one-piece integral blank. The cup-shaped pulley blank is formed by a metal drawing process, and the thickness of the flange portion of the blank varies due to the formation thereof. In the areas adjacent the ring portion 14, the flange portion is thinnest while at its outermost end it is thickest. The V-grooves to be formed in the pulley cup blank 11 are formed in the flange portion 15 of the pulley cup 11 and the difference in thickness of the flange portion of the blank is an adverse condition in the forming of the V-grooves.

When the V-grooves are to be formed in the flange portion of the cup-shaped pulley blank 11, the cup-shaped pulley blank 11 is placed in the apparatus 10. The apparatus includes an inner die member 16 which is located in the interior of the flange portion 15. The inner die member 16 comprises a plurality of individual separate segments 17. The individual segments 17 are movable between a retracted position and a working position, shown in the drawings. When the segments 17 are in their working position, the outer periphery of the segments form a circular configuration defining a continuous circular working surface 18 of substantially the same diameter as the inner diameter of the flange portion. The working surface 18 engages the inner surface of the flange of the pulley blank so as to effect Shaping thereof, as will be described hereinbelow.

The individual segments 17 are biased to an inward or retracted position by a plurality of springs 19 which act between the individual segments 17 and a portion of a spindle member 20 which carries the internal die 16. The individual segments 17 are held in their outer or working positions by a central die member 21 which is located centrally of the segments 17. The die member 21 has a projecting portion 22 with a bore therein and a spring member 23 is located in the bore and acts between a portion of the spindle 20 and a pilot pin member 24 which has a flange portion 25 which engages a shoulder at the upper end of the die member 21. When this occurs, the spring 23, due to this construction, biases the die member 21 to a vertical position. When the die member 21 is moved to its vertical position, the movement thereof is sufficient so that the die segments 17 move inwardly under the bias of the springs 19 to their retracted positions.

The die segments 17 are moved to their working position, as shown in the drawings, upon downward movement of the die member 21. The die member 21 has an inclined surface 26 which engages an inclined surface 27 on the individual segments 17 upon downward movement when the segments are in their inner position. These inclined surfaces cooperate and effect a camming of the segments 17 outwardly upon downward movement of the member 21. The member 21 eventually upon downward movement takes the position shown in the drawings wherein the outer radial surface 28 thereof engages an inward radial surface of each of the die segments 17 to hold the die segments 17 in their outer positions against the bias of the springs 19.

The die member 21 carries at its upper end a plurality of driving pins 29 which are adapted to engage in openings 30a in the disk portion of the pulley blank so as to rotate the pulley blank upon rotation of the spindle 20. The pilot pin member 24 is also adapted to extend through an opening in the disk portion of the pulley blank. The pilot pin member 24 is engaged and moved downwardly by a clamping member 30 which moves downwardly and clamps the pulley blank in position on the spindle 20. The clamping member is movable vertically into the position shown in FIG. 1 and upon such movement engages the upper end of the pilot pin 24 and moves the pilot pin downward. The downward movement of the pilot pin causes the flange 25 thereof to move away from the shoulder on the die member 21 and causes the spring 23 to be compressed. Thus, the weight of the member 21 causes the member 21 to move downwardly, causing the member 21 to effect a radial movement of the die segments 17 to their working position. Either before or after the die segments are moved to their working positions, the pulley blank is placed in position in the apparatus 10.

The pulley blank is placed in the apparatus 10 with the lower end 21a of the flange portion 15 of the pulley cup supported by a surface portion 32 of the spindle member 20. The surface portion 32 of the spindle member 20 and an outer portion 33 of the spindle 20 which extends upwardly along the outer surface of the flange portion 15 function to trap the lower end 21a of the flange portion 15 and prevent radial or axial displacement of the metal therein during formation of the V-groove in the flange portion 15. To compensate for the varying thickness of the flange portion 15 of the pulley blank, the outer or working surfaces of the inner dies member segments may be relieved or tapered somewhat. The clamping member 30 is also relieved at its upper end so as to provide a gap 35 between the upper surface of the bottom portion 12 of the pulley blank 11 and the clamping member 30 applies a clamping force parallel to the extent of the flange portion 15 and thereby restricts the lateral flow or displacement of material axially along the flange portion 15.

When the cup-shaped pulley blank 11 is located and clamped in position, as shown in FIG. 1, a V-groove or a plurality of V-grooves in the flange portion 15 of the cu -shaped pulley blank 11 are formed. The V-grooves as formed in the blank 11 are illustrated in their final form in FIG. 3 which illustrates the final pulley formed by the apparatus in FIG. 1. The formed pulley includes six V-grooves, designated 41-46. The V-grooves 41-43 are separated from the V-grooves 44-46 by a central land portion 47 of the flange 15. The V-grooves 41-46 are formed on the outermost portion of the flange 15, namely, the portion spaced outwardly farthest from the ring portion 14 thereof.

The plurality of V-grooves 41-46 formed in the flange portion 15 of the pulley blank 11 are formed by the cooperative action of an external die member 48 with the internal die 16. The die member 48 is, in the preferred embodiment, a roller having an outer peripheral surface which cooperates with the outer peripheral surface of the die 16, so as to effect the formation of the flange portion 15 of the pulley blank 11 into the desired configuration. The die member 48 is supported for movement by a hydraulic cylinder arrangement 49, shown schematically, and is moved toward and away from the die 16 thereby. The die member 48 or roller is supported for rotation and rotates upon engagement with the flange portion 15 of the pulley blank 11 due to the pressure engagement therebetween and is actually rotated by this pressure engagement with the flange portion 15.

As it is rotated, the roll die member 48 is maintained in a pressure engagement with the flange portion 15 by the hydraulic cylinder arrangement 49. The V-grooves 41-46 are formed, as noted above, by the cooperative action of the outer peripheral surfaces of the die roll 48 and the internal die 16 which are located on opposite radial sides of the flange portion 15. The internal die 16, as best shown in FIG. 3, is provided with a plurality of V-grooves 50. Each of the V-grooves 50 is defined by converging surface portions 51, 52. The converging surface portions 51, 52 converge as they extend inwardly of the die, and the surfaces 51, 52 define therebetween an acute angle, designated A in the drawings, and comprise the groove angle. The V-grooves 50 on the internal die are separated by projections 55. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the V-grooves 50 in the die 16 are separated into groups of three by a central land portion 56.

The external form roll die 48 includes; a plurality of projections 60, each of which are located in alignment with a respective one of the grooves 50. The projections 60 upon inward movement of the die 48, engage the outer radial surface a of the flange 15 and displace the metal of the flange 15 into the grooves 50 formed in the die 16. The projections 60 are located in alignment with the grooves 50 and are located in sets of three projections 60 located on the upper side of a central portion 61 of the form roll 48, as viewed in the drawings, and three projections 60 located on the lower side of the central portion 61 of the roller die 48. The projections 60 are each defined by a pair of converging material shaping surfaces 62, 63 which converge as they extend outwardly of the die and have grooves 64 located therebetween. The

surfaces

62, 63 form an acute angle, designated B on the drawings.

The angle B is substantially less than the angle A defined by the material shaping working surfaces 51, 52 defining the groove 50 into which the metal is forced by the projections 60. The angle B is preferably degrees less than the angle A; however, the angle B may be 10-30 degrees less than the angle A. The difference in the inclination of the

surfaces

62, 63 and the surfaces 51, 52 permits a more uniform radial displacement of the metal, as well as a controlled predetermined, radial outward displacement thereof. Moreover, these surfaces assist in guiding and shaping the metal so that the metal completely fills the

grooves

64 and 50 when the die 48 is moved inwardly, as shown in FIG. 4.

Of course, it should be apparent that when the die 48 is moved into engagement with the flange portion 15 of the cup-shaped pulley blank 11, all of the V-grooves 41-46 in the pulley are formed simultaneously and by the cooperative action of the dies 48, 16, and the projections 60 cooperate with the grooves 50 in the dies 48, 16, respectively, to effect a displacement of the metal and a complete filling of the grooves so as to provide a properly formed pulley. In the formation of the V-grooves of the pulley, the metal in the flange portion is, course,

shaped and displaced and tends to move axially of the flange portion.

As noted above, the outer die 48 is moved during the formation of the V-grooves inwardly toward the inner die 16. The present structure is constructed so as to readily permit complete formation of the V-grooves without locking of the die member 48 from inward movement before the V-grooves are completely formed. Locking occurs when the surfaces 65 on the opposite axial ends on the outer die 48 engage the flange portion 15 before the V-grooves are completely formed, and the outer die 48 is locked from further inward movement. In order to prevent this locking of the die 48 from movement inwardly and thereby provide for the COrnplete formation of the peaks of the V-grooves, preferably the internal die 16 is provided with recess means so as to provide a relieved area where metal may flow during the completion of the formation of the pulley grooves.

The recess means formed in the internal die 16 is in the form of a pair of

recesses

70, 71 located in the upper and lower

peripheral portions

72, 73, respectively, of the internal die 16. The grooves 78, 71 are located on opposite axial sides of the grooves St) in the die 16. These recesses permit metal of the flange portion 15 in the area contiguous to the

recesses

70, 71 to be radially displaced after the surfaces 65 engage the flange portion and allow a suflicient penetration of the roll form die 48 so that the V-grooves in the flange portion of the pulley blank are fully formed. These recesses result in providing

arcuate ridges

80, 81 in the finally formed pulley.

From the above, it should be apparent that a plurality of V-grooves are formed simultaneously in the flange portion 15 of the cup-shaped pulley blank 11 due to the cooperative action of the roll form die 48 and the in ternal die 16. The means for moving the external roll die 48 into engagement with the flange 15 and for shaping the flange portion 15, applies a suflicient force so as to effect a forming of the plurality of V-grooves due to a single operation of the two dies. Thus, the plurality of V-grooves in the pulley is formed in substantially a onestep process, utilizing the two dies.

It should be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in great detail hereinabove, and that certain modifications, changes, and adaptations may be made therein by those skilled in the art to which it relates, and it is hereby intended to cover all such modifications, changes, and adaptations which come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An apparatus for forming a plurality of V-grooves in a flange portion of a pulley blank comprising first and second rotatable die members engageable with the opposite sides of said flange portion, said first die member having a material shaping die surface provided with a plurality of grooves defined by inwardly converging surface portions which define a first angle therebetween, said second die member also having a material shaping die surface and including a plurality of projections defined by outwardly converging surface portions which define a second angle therebetween less than said first angle, said projections on said second die member being located opposite said grooves in said first die member, and means for moving said second die member toward said first die member to cause said projections to force the material of said flange into said grooves with said converging surfaces of different angularity directing the material of said flange portion.

2. An apparatus for forming a plurality of V-grooves in a flange portion of a pulley blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said second die member is located outwardly of said flange portion so as to engage the outer surface of said flange portion and said first die member is located internally of said flange portion so as to engage the internal surface of said flange portion.

3. An apparatus for forming a plurality of V-grooves in a flange portion of a pulley bank as defined in claim 1 wherein said second angle defined by said converging surface portions on said second die is 10-30 degrees smaller than said first angle defined by the converging surfaces defining the grooves in said second die member.

4. An apparatus for forming a plurality of V-grooves in a flange portion of a pulley blank as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said die members in;ludes recess means spaced from the die surface thereof for receiving radially displaced metal during the formation of said V-grooves thereby allowing for the complete formation of the V- grooves.

5. An apparatus for forming a plurality of V-grooves in a flange portion of a pulley blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said first die member is located internally of said pulley blank and supports said pulley blank, and further including means for rotating said first die member and said pulley blank, and said second die member is located outwardly of said pulley blank and is in the form of a roller and is rotated upon engagement with the rotating flange portion of the pulley blank due to the pressure and frictional engagement therebetween.

6. An apparatus for forming a plurality of V-grooves in a flange portion of cup-shaped pulley blank as defined in claim 5 further including recess means located in said internal die for receiving radially displaced metal during the formation of said V-grooves and including a pair of recesses located on opposite axial sides of said plurality of Vgrooves.

7. An apparatus for forming at least one V-groove in the flange portion of a pulley blank comprising first and second die members engageable with opposite respective sides of said flange portion, said first die member having a material shaping die surface provided with at least one groove defined by inwardly converging surface portions, said second die member also having a material shaping die surface and including a projection defined by outwardly converging surface portions, said projection on said second die member being located opposite said groove in said first die member, means for moving said second die member toward said first die member to cause said projection to force the material of said flange into said groove, and recess means in at least one of said die members located on one side of said V-groove for receiving radially displaced metal during the formation of said V-groove thereby allowing for the complete formation of the V-groove.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said first die member is rotatable and has a first planar side surface portion with a plurality of V-grooves adjacent thereto and supports said blank for rotation therewith and said second die member is rotatable and has a second planar die surface portion opposite said first planar surface portion and a plurality of projections thereon, and said recess means comprises a pair of recesses formed in said first planar die surface portion of said first die member to receive metal radially displaced due to pressure engagement of the second planar surface with the flange portion adjacent the recess during the shaping of said flange portion.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said first die member comprises an internal die member located internally of the flange portion to engage the inner radial surface of the flange portion and including a plurality of retra ctible segments and said second die member comprises an external die member in the form of a roller located to engage the external radial surface of the flange portion.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said converging surface portions defining the grooves in said first die member define a first angle therebetween and said converging surface portions which define the projections on said second die member define a second angle therebetween substantially less than said first angle.

11. An apparatus for forming a plurality of V-grooves in an integral flange portion of a pulley blank comprising a first rotatable die member constituting an internal die member located internally of said flange portion to engage the inner surface thereof, a second rotatable die member located outwardly of said flange portion to engage the outer surface of the flange portion, said first die member having a material shaping die surface provided with a plurality of grooves .therein, said second die member also having a mateiral shaping die surface including a plurality of projections for forcing the material of said flange into said grooves in said first die member, said projections on said second die member located opposite said grooves in said first die member and in alignment therewith, means for rotating said first die member and said pulley blank, and means for moving said second die member toward said first die member and into pressure engagement with said flange portion to cause said projections to force the material of said flange into said grooves simultaneously in a single inward movement of said second die member.

12. -An apparatus for forming a plurality of V-grooves as defined in claim 11 wherein said grooves on said first die member are defined by converging surface portions which define a first angle therebetween and said projections on said second die member are defined by outwardly converging surface portions which define a second angle therebetween substantially less than said first angle.

13. An apparatus for forming a plurality of V-grooves as defined in claim 12 wherein said first die member includes recess means for receiving metal which is radially displaced during the formation of the V-grooves, and further including means for at least partially confining the opposite axial ends of said flange portion to minimize axial displacement of the material thereof during the formation of the V-grooves.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said internal die member comprises a plurality of die segments movable be'twen a retracted position and a working position, said die segments when in their working position definin'g a circular die surface having a diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the flange portion of the pulley blank and when in their retracted position having a diameter substantially less than the inner diameter of theflange portion of the pulley blank, and means operable to effect movement of said die segments between their working and retracted positions.

15. A method of forming a plurailty of V-grooves in a cylindrically shaped flange portion of a pulley blank comprising the steps of positioning said pulley blank with one surface of said flange portion adpacent a material shaping die surface of a first die member including a plurality of grooves, engaging the other surface of said flange portion with a material shaping die surface of a second die member including a plurality of projections corresponding to said grooves, rotating said pulley blank and said first and second die members, moving said second die member toward said first die member while said die members are rotating and under pressure to force the material of said flange portion into the grooves formed in said first die member simultaneously and in a single inward movement of said second die member.

16. A method of forming a plurality of V-grooves in a cylindrically shaped flange portion of a pulley blank as defined in claim 15 further including the steps of at least partially confining the opposite axial ends of said cylindrically shaped flange portion to limit axial displacement of the material of said flange portion during the formation of said V-grooves, and receiving radially displaced material in recesses in one of said dies.

17. A method of forming a plurality of V-grooves in a cylindrically shaped flange portion of a pulley blank as defined in claim 16 further including the step of shaping said material as said second die member is moved inwardly of said first die member between inwardly converging surfaces on said first die member defining a groove angle therebetween and outwardly converging surfaces on said second die member defining a projection angle therebetween substantially less than the groove angle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,828,464 10/1931 Harrison 7282 2,159,290 5/1939 Penkala 72-179 2,685,856 8/1954 Wickwire et al 7282 2,730,795 1/1956 Bloss 29 159 2,892,431 6/1959 Killian et al 72--82 RICHARD J. HERBST, Primary Examiner.

' L. A, LARSON, Assistant Examiner.