US3380160A

US3380160A - Piercing punch device

Info

Publication number: US3380160A
Application number: US502919A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kirchberger Walter Carl; Nelson Dennis Edwin
Original assignee: Globe Union Inc
Current assignee: Globe Union Inc
Priority date: 1965-10-23
Filing date: 1965-10-23
Publication date: 1968-04-30
Anticipated expiration: 1985-04-30
Also published as: ES329746A1; DE1552611B2; DE1552611A1; FR1487914A; GB1099615A

Description

April 1968 v w. c. KIRCHBERGER ET AL 3,380,160

PIERCING PUNCH DEVICE Filed Oct. 25, 1965 United States Patent 3,380,160 PIERCING PUNCH DEVICE Walter Carl Kirchberger, Menomonee Falls, and Dennis Edwin Nelson, Milwaukee, Wis., assignors to Globe- Union Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 502,919 2 Claims. (Cl. 30-362) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for punching holes in the partition walls of a battery case is disclosed. The device is intended for The present invention relates generally to a piercing punch device and, more specifically, relates to a portable, hand-operated piercing punch device which finds particular advantageous utilization in the random piercing of holes in the partitions of battery casings to facilitate intercell welding.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved piercing punch device. More specifically, it is an object to provide a new and improved portable, hand-operated piercing punch device. In this connection, it is an object to provide such a piercing punch device for use in piercing of holes in the partitions of battery casings in any one of several directions, locations or positions to facilitate intercell welding.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved portable, hand-operated piercing punch device which may be readily modified for the formation of different size holes.

A further object is to provide a piercing punch device which allows for the formation of holes in any location, direction or position.

A general object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved portable, hand-operated piercing punch device characterized in its simplicity, economy, ease of handling, and ease of operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the attached detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawing.

In one form of the present invention a portable, handoperated piercing punch device is provided which includes a die plate having a die mounted thereon, a handle secured to the die plate, and a punch plate having a punch mounted thereon which is aligned with the die. The punch plate is mounted in spaced relationship with respect to the die plate for movement toward and away from the die plate to respective punching and spaced positions. Additionally, means are provided which are operable to move the punch plate between spaced rela tionship and punching relationship with the die plate. A stop member may be mounted on the die plate for limiting the movement of the punch plate toward the die plate and thus for establishing the position of punching relationship between the die plate and the punch plate. A stripper member may also be disposed between the die plate and the punch plate for freeing a pierced article from the punch when the punch plate is moved from punching relationship to spaced relationship with the die plate. Finally, the punch plate may be adapted to accommodate various size punches, whereas the die plate may be adapted to accommodate corresponding size dies.

For the purpose of providing a detailed description of a portable piercing punch device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, reference will now be made to the drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an end elevational view of a portable, handoperated piercing punch device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional View taken substantially along line 22 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective View of the piercing punch device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 positioned relative to a battery casing or the like.

While the invention has been shown and will be described in some detail with reference to a particular exemplary embodiment thereof, there is no intention that it be limited to such detail. Quite to the contrary, it is intended here to embrace all modifications, alternatives and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawing, a portable, hand-operated piercing punch device 10 is shown which is constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. While not so limited in its uses, the portable piercing punch device 10 finds particular advantageous utilization in connection with the piercing of holes in any desired direction, location or position in the partitions of a battery casing 12 (FIG. 3) or the like to facilitate inter-cell welding within the battery formed therewith. The piercing punch device 10 includes a die plate 14 having a handle 16 suitably secured thereto which is adapted to be manually grasped as shown in FIG. 3 for manual handling of the piercing punch device. In the exemplary arrangement, the handle 16 has a threaded portion 16a which is threaded into a threaded aperture 14a in the die plate 14.

For the purpose of cooperating with the die plate 14 to form the punching portion of the piercing punch device 10, a punch plate 18 is mounted in spaced relationship with the die plate for movement toward and away from the die plate to respective punching and spaced positions. In the exemplary arrangement, three dowel pins 20 are provided for guiding the movement of the punch plate 18 toward and away from the die plate 14. The dowel pins 26 are suitably secured to the die plate 14, such as by set screws, and extend through apertures in the punch plate 18 defined by bushings 22 which allow the dowel pins to slide freely through the punch plate as the punch plate moves toward and away from the die plate.

In keeping with the present invention, suitable means are provided for moving the punch plate 18 toward and away from the die plate 14 to the respective punching and spaced positions. In the exemplary arrangement, a double-acting, hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 24 is provided for this purpose. As may be seen, one end of the cylinder abuts the die plate 14 and the driving shaft thereof 24a has a threaded portion which is threaded into a threaded aperture 18a in the punch plate 18 so that the punch plate moves with the drivin shaft 24a relative to the die plate. Fluid, either oil or air as the case may be, is supplied to the cylinder 24 via hydraulic or pneumatic supply lines 26a and 26b which are suitably connected to opposite ends of the cylinder. Control means (not shown),

associated with the cylinder and manually operable, controls the operation thereof. For the purpose of this description, it will be assumed that, when the control means is in the non-operated position, the cylinder is in the position shown so that the punch plate 18 is in spaced relationship with the die plate 14. On the other hand, when the control means is manually operated, the cylinder 24 functions to drive the punch plate 18 to the left, as viewed in FIG. 2, into punching relationship with the die plate 14 so that a punching operation may be performed by the piercing punch device 10. Thereafter, when the control means is again released, the cylinder functions to drive the punch plate 18 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 2, back to the spaced positions with respect to the die plate 14.

For the purpose of performing a punching operation responsive to movement of the punch plate 18 into punching relationship with the die plate 14, a selected shear punch 30 is mounted on the punch plate which is aligned with and cooperates in a conventional manner with a selected die 32 mounted on the die plate. The punch 30 has a threaded portion 30a which is threaded into a threaded aperture 18b in the punch plate 18 so that the punch is secured thereto and preferably has a tool steel cutting tip. On the other hand, the die 32 is received Within an aperture 14b in the die plate 14 and is suitably secured thereto, such as by a set screw. The die 32 has an aperture 32a formed therein which is aligned with and is adapted to receive the punch 30 during a punching operation. Thus it will be apparent that various size shear punches and dies may be readily interchanged in the piercing punch 10.

For the purpose of limiting the movement of the punch plate 18 toward the die plate 14 and thus for the purpose of establishing the punching position therebetween, a stop member 34 may be suitably secured to the die plate 14 between the die plate and the punch plate 18. Additionally, for the purpose of freeing a pierced article from the punch 30 when the punch plate 18 is being moved away from the die plate 14 into spaced relationship therewith subsequent to a punching operation, a stripper member 36 may be disposed between the punch plate and the die plate. The stripper member functions to hold the article in place as the punch 30 is being extracted from the hole formed therein. In the exemplary arrangement, the stripper member 36 is suitably mounted on and secured to the stop member 34 so that the stop member 34 and the stripper member 36 cooperate to limit the movement of the punch plate toward the die plate and thus to define the punching position of the punch plate. As may be seen, an aperture 36a, which is aligned with the punch 30 and the die 32, is formed in the stripper member 36 to accommodate the punch 30 during a punching operation.

In order to provide a better understanding of the present invention, a brief description of the operation of the portable hand-operated piercing punch device 10, constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, will now be set forth. Initially, the handle 16 of the piercing punch device is manually grasped, as shown in FIG. 3, and the piercing punch device is moved into desired punching relationship with a partition of a battery casing 12 (FIG. 3) or the like so that the wall to be pierced is positioned between the die plate 14 and the stripper member 36. The control means is then operated so that the cylinder 24 functions to drive the punch plate 18 toward the die plate 14 until it engages the stripper member 36. Accordingly, the punch 30 is driven through the aperture 36a in the stripper member, into engagement with and through the partition, and into the aligned bore 32a of the die 32 so that a hole correspond ing in diameter to the punch is pierced in the partition. The punched-out portion of the partition is forced outwardly by the punch 30 through the aperture 32a in the die during the punching operation. Thereafter, the control means is released and the cylinder 24 functions to drive the punch plate 18 away from the die plate 14 to the spaced position shown in FIG. 2. Consequently, the punch 30 is drawn out of the aperture 32a in the die 32, out of the aperture formed thereby in the partition and out of the aperture 36a in the stripper member 36, the

stripper member 36 functioning to free the partition from the punch 30. When the piercing punch device 10 has assumed the position shown in FIG. 2, the piercing punch may be moved to another position on the partition, or may be moved out of punching relationship with the partition punched thereby and may be moved into punching relationship with another partition or casing wall or with another position on the already punched casing wall.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that a new and improved piercing punch device has been provided. More specifically, it will be seen that a new and improved portable hand-operated piercing punch device has been provided which finds particular advantageous utilization in connection with the piercing of holes in the partitions of a battery casing or the like in any desired direction, location or position to facilitate intercell welding. Moreover, it will be readily apparent that the piercing punch device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention may be readily modified by the interchanging of punches and dies for the formation of different size holes. Finally, it will be apparent that the piercing punch device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention allows for the formation of holes in partitions of a battery casing or the like in any selected location, direction or position.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable punch device for use in forming a hole in a partition wall of a battery case comprising first and second substantially planar longitudinal members mounted approximately parallel to one another and adapted for relative transverse motion toward and away from one another, a die carried by one of said longitudinal members and a punch carried by the other of said longitudinal members, handle means attached to one of the said longitudinal members, drive means secured to one of said longitudinal members and located between said handle means and said die and punch for moving said members relative to one another, said drive means being spaced from said punch and die a distance suflicient to allow said longitndinal members to extend into the battery case to position said die and punch on opposite sides of said partition wall at the desired position of said hole, said longitudinal members having a greater surface area at the location where the drive means is positioned than the surface area at the location where the die and punch are carried by said longitudinal members, and guide means attached to one of the said longitudinal members between said handle means and the die and punch, said guide means slidably disposed through openings in the other of said longitudinal members.

2. The punch device of claim 1 further including a stripper plate mounted between said die and punch and attached to the longitudinal member with which said die is associated.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 641,175 1/1900 Wigtel 30361 1,746,043 2/1930 Maguire 83637 X 2,015,645 9/1935 Chase et al. 269--25 2,374,400 3/ 1945 Westervelt 30-258 FOREIGN PATENTS 557,626 6/ 1957 Belgium.

640,303 3/ 1928 France.

851,760 10/1939 France.

JAMES L. JONES, JR., Examiner.