US3412471A

US3412471A - Gage system

Info

Publication number: US3412471A
Application number: US408024A
Authority: US
Inventors: Smith Robert Earl
Original assignee: Dayton Perforators Inc
Current assignee: Dayton Perforators Inc
Priority date: 1964-11-02
Filing date: 1964-11-02
Publication date: 1968-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 1985-11-26

Description

R. E. SMITH GAGE SYSTEM Nov. 26, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 2, 1964 INVENTOR leoaaertarr/r4 BY P 3M ATTORNEYS Nov. 26, 1968 R. E. SMITH 3,412,471

GAGE SYSTEM Filed Nova 2, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR BM WW knee-era: sn/nv i'igl ywmzsaw ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,412,471 GAGE SYSTEM Robert Earl Smith, Kettering, Ohio, assignor to Dayton Perforators Inc., Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Nov. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 408,024 Claims. (Cl. 33-180) This invention relates to gage units and more particularly to gage units enabling a more critical inspection of tools for production piercing procedures.

A production piercing tool, in reference to which the present invention will be described, uses a spring pressed locking ball to fix a punch relative its retainer, as in US. Patent No. 1,621,811. The optimum use of this tool requires that the piercing punch be precisely and firmly fixed to its retainer. To hand finish the respective tool components to insure they will properly mate introduces an unreasonable time and cost factor in their procurement. On the other hand, in many instances it has been found that a piercing punch and a punch retainer randomly selected from a supply of each, respectively resulting from ordinary production runs which utilize conventional inspection tools and procedures, will not properly interfit.

The present invention is directed to a system and apparatus which obviates the above described problem. It provides means to insure that independently fabricated punches and punch retainers of the type described may be brought together, even from remote sources, and on the application of the locking ball they will properly interfit in substantially all cases.

A primary object of the invention is to provide apparatus for a more critical inspection of tools for production piercing procedures which is economical to fabricate, more efficient and satisfactory in use, and more precise in its performance.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved devices for a correlated inspection of production piercing punches and punch retainers.

A further object of the invention is to provide inspection tools enabling production fabricated piercing punch elements and punch retainers to be universally interrelated in a more precise fashion.

An additional object of the invention is to provide improved production gage means for retainers and piercing punch elements of the type described which insure that these elements, even when randomly selected, will critically interfit.

Another object of the invention is to provide correlated inspection gages for components of production piercing tools possessing the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritorious characteristics and the means and mode of use herein described.

With the above and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein is shown one but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 1 shows an elevation view, in perspective, of an element of a compound gage for inspection of a retainer head for a production piercing punch;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view, in perspective, of a retainer head for a production piercing punch showing the application of the compound gage elements in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the application of the gage elements as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view, in perspective, of a production piercing punch and, applied thereto, an inspectlon gage unit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the application of the gage unit as shown in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are fragmentary illustrations, in cross section, of an improper interfit of a production piercing punch and its retainer; and

FIGS. 8-10 illustrate a proper and more critical interfit of a production piercing punch and its retainer as enabled by the present invention.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

As may be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, a retainer head 10 for a production piercing punch has a block form and includes, at one end thereof, a vertical through passage or bore 11 which accommodates the head of a punch. Opening from the top of the head, in adjacent spaced relation to the upper end of passage 11, is a relatively inclined intersecting passage or bore 12. The passage 12 has a teardrop shaped opening into the side of passage 11, adjacent and spaced from the bottom of the head 10. As particularly seen in FIG. 3, the passage 12 inclines at a 15 angle to the central axis of the passage 11.

The invention apparatus for the critical gaging of the head 10 consists of a rod-like device 13 for insertion in the passage 11 to simulate the application of the head of a punch and a further rod-like unit 14 for application as insert means in the passage 12.

The device 13 includes an elongated tubular handle 15 having longitudinally flatted surface portions 16. Nesting in fixed relation to one end of the handle 15 is a projecting rod 17 formed integral with and generally coaxial to a generally cylindrical gage head 18. The projected extremity of the head 18 includes a step forming diametrically separated axially spaced

end surface'portions

19 and 20. Spaced inwardly of its

surface portions

19 and 20, the head 18 is peripherally reduced to form thereon a conical surface portion 21 which deviates inwardly at a 15 angle. The innermost convergent extremity of the surface portion 21 merges with an arcurately expanding surface portion 22 of the head 18 and terminates at its remote extremity in a bevel portion 25. Outside of its projected extremity and the particularly formed

intermediate portions

21, 22, and 25, the head 18 has a generally uniform transverse section.

The companion gage unit 14 includes a cylindrical handle portion 23 the extremities of which are knurled. Projecting coaxial with and from one end of the handle 23 is a tube 24. Fixed in the projected extremity of the tube 24 is a carbide ball bearing element 26 the diameter of which is larger than that of the tube 24. It is to be noted that the end of the handle 23 from which the tube 24 projects has the form of a conical section 27 the outer surface of which inclines at a 15 angle to its base.

In checking a retainer for a production piercing punch as illustrated, the head 18 of the gage element 13 is inserted in the punch receiving passage 11. During this process, the bevel 25 precludes damage to the retainer surface. At the same time, the tube 24 and ball 26 of the gage unit 14 is inserted in the passage 12, which passage is adapted to receive a punch retaining element. The tapered 15 angle portion 27 of the handle 23 insures a proper orientation of the ball 26 as it is projected through the teardrop shaped opening to the passage 11. The ball 26 is projected inwardly, in the manner of a ball type retainer, to abut the conical surface portion of the punch simulating gage head 18. In the event the ball 26 engages the surface portion 21 within substantially the intermediate half of its longitudinal extent, the gage 13 is so held that the upper surface portion of the retainer will fall within the limits defined by the

gage surfaces

19 and 20. In such event the retainer is acceptable and, in such instance, it is assured that on application of a properly formed punch to this retainer, the punch will properly interfit and be firmly held to the retainer by a locking ball in a manner as evidenced in FIGS. 8-10 of the drawings.

For the checking of punches P to be applied to satisfactory punch retainers, the invention provides the gage structure 28, as shown in FIGS. 4 and of the drawings.

The body of the device 28 consists of an annular block 29 having a central through passage 30 which accommodates the head of a production piercing punch P. The peripheral surface of block 29 has a flatted portion 31. The block 29 also includes a radial passage 32 perpendicular to the fiat 31, opening to one end to the passage 30 and at its other end from the center of the flat. Slidably mounting in the radial passage 32 of the block 29 is a tubular projection 33 on a relatively expanded head portion 34. The head 34 forms a shoulder 35 adapted to seat in abutting relation to the flat 31, The inner end of the tube 33 fixedly mounts a projected ball bearing element 36. The dimension of the tube 33 and the element 36 provides that as the shoulder 35 of head 34 abuts the flat 31 the ball 36 will project inwardly of the passage 30 in the block 29. l

The tube 33 has a circumferential groove providing longitudinally spaced shoulders. Projected perpendicular thereto through one face of the block 29 is a threadedly engaged screw pin 37. The inner end of the pin 3'1 is adapted to depend in the radial passage 32 and to pro ect between the spaced shoulders on the tube 33. In this way one defines the limits of radial movement of the gage element including the head 34, tube 33 and ball 36. The positioning of the shoulders on the tube 33 is such to prevent a relative displacement of the tube from the body 29 except in the event the screw 37 is displaced from the passage 32.

As seen in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the block 29 has a step formed in one face 40, on a diametrical line 41 parallel to the plane defined by the fiat 31. This step is provided by one wall of a groove 42 having a base 43. The groove 42 thereby creates axially displaced gage surfaces 43 and 44.

In applying the device 28 to check production run piercing punch elements, the head of each punch P is inserted in passage 30. The punch P has, of course, conventionally formed in one side thereof, a teardrop shaped concave recess R. For inspection purposes the recess is oriented to face the bearing element in the radial passage 32. The head 34 is pressed inward of the passage 32 to seat the ball 36 in the recess R and the punch is pulled down against the ball as far as it will go, the ball and its mount 33 acting as a retainer. If the head extremity of the punch P then falls between the limits defined by the

respective surfaces

43 and 44 of the block 29, the punch is satisfactory.

It is to be noted from FIG. 3 of the drawings that in checking a retainer for optimum positioning the ball 26 of the gage in this instance, should position against the approximate center ofthe longitudinal extent of the conical surface 21 on the gage element 13. The center of the ball 26 is, at this point, at a predetermined depth from the uppermost surface of the retainer. Further, in checking a properly formed punch element P in the device 28, the depth of the contacting ball 36 to the outermost face surface 44 of the body 29 corresponds to the aforementioned predetermined depth within approximately .01 inch. Since ball 36 simulates a locking ball it will therefore be seen that any punch P checked out in the body 29 which has its head extremity position between surfaces 43 and 44 will properly mate with a retainer which on checking thereof by

gage elements

13 and 14 has its upper surface fall between the

surfaces

19 and 20 of the gage head 18.

When a retainer and punch check out they will mate within the range shown in FIGS. 8-10 of the drawings.

FIG. 10 represents the optimum inspection results. In this case the inspection predetermines that a retainer ball B applied to the head 10 will achieve a proper locking position in respect to the punch P, contacting the base surface of the punch recess R at approximately the center of the longitudinal extent of its inwardly directed portion C.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show the acceptable limits of the contact of the retainer ball B along the surface C as dictated by the inspection apparatus and procedure of the invention.

The invention thus precludes a condition, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, wherein a punch is applied to a retainer head and there is a resultant contact of a retainer ball B which occurs outside the middle or safety zone of the surface C as prescribed by the invention. In the instance of FIG. 6 where the punch surface is engaged short of the safety zone, the punch may pull out during its operation. In the instance of FIG. 7 the punch may be engaged at the other extreme of the safety zone and, as a consequence thereof, work loose and destroy itself and its retainer by a relative vertical movement.

Thus by correlating the gage units, one achieves the objectives of the invention. In the case of properly gaged punch and retainer unith, irrespective of their source, the retention of the punch relative the retainer will be achieved in a predetermined safe zone of the punch.

The devices applied and the defined limits of acceptance achieved by the invention and the inspection system afforded thereby enable, therefore, a substantially universal interfit of resultantly accepted punch and punch retainer elements of allegedly related size. This insures that at the use level there is little, if any, likelihood of individual punches and retainers being brought together and producing a loose, misaligned or misfit punch element. Accordingly, the invention obviates poor production results in the work to which the inspected punch units are applied. It also minimizes the need for punch replacement or the hand finishing of the punch assembly components to render them fit for use.

From the above it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A gage unit for a ball retainer production piercing punch comprising a body having a central through passage accommodating the head of a punch, a peripheral portion of said body being fiat, a second passage in said body one end of which opens to said central through passage and the other end of which opens from said fiat, a retainer unit positioned for reciprocal movement in said second passage one extremity of which has an arcuate surface portion adapted to project in said central passage and fix relative said body the head of the piercing punch, means connected with said body to limit the extent of the reciprocal movement of said retainer unit, one face of said body lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said through passage, and means on asid one face of said body defining the acceptable limits of projection of the head extremity of a punch held within said body by said retainer unit.

2. A gage unit for the retainer head of a production piercing punch having a concave retention surface portion in one side, adjacent its head end, the retainer head having a punch receiving passage and an intersecting passage for accommodating a punch retainer element, comprising a first rod-like element, the head of which is positionable in the punch receiving passage and includes an angularly inclined surface portion at its side, said rod-like element including at one extremity a diametral step, said step providing, to either side thereof, surfaces in relatively spaced parallel planes adapted to position in the vicinity of the upper surface of the retainer head and a second rod-like element for positioning in said intersecting passage the inner extremity of which includes an arcuate retention surface projectable to engage the angularly inclined surface portion of the first mentioned rod-like element and position the stepped extremity thereof in a predetermined relation to the upper surface of the retainer head, the positioning of said upper surface within the limits of said planes defined by said stepped surface indicating the accept-ability of the retainer head.

3. An inspection gage for the retainer head of a production piercing punch having a concave retention recess in the one side, the head including a vertical passage for receiving the head of a punch and an intersecting passage for receiving a spring biased retainer ball to engage in the punch recess and thereby fix the punch relative the head, comprising, a rod-like element having surfaces in axially spaced planes to one end and a conically reduced peripheral portion adjacent thereto, said one end being adapted for insertion in the punch passage of a retainer head, and a plug-like retention element for insertion in the punch retainer passage including a projected extremity adapted to bear on said conically reduced peripheral portion of said rod-like element and dispose said one end thereof in a fixed relation to the outer or upper surface of the retainer, the surface positioning within the limits of said axially spaced planes determining its acceptability.

4. Gaging apparatus for insuring the universal interfit of production piercing punches of the type held by a ball retainer element and their retainer heads consisting of a first compound gage unit including a gage element having a surface portion exteriorly thereof defining relatively axially spaced planes and operatively related thereto a retainer rod the projected extremity of which mounts a ball-type bearing element and, a second gage unit functionally related to said first unit including a body element having a surface portion defining axially spaced planes and in conjunction therewith a rod-like element the projected extremity of which has the contour of a ball hearing element, said units being respectively applied for inspection of the respective punch and retainer components and being characterized by the outermost of the axially spaced planes of each gage element and the appropriate positioning in relation thereto of the associated ball-type bearing element establishing a spacing therebetween in reference to the elements being checked which is substantially identical.

5. Gaging apparatus as described in claim 4 characterized by the said spacing having an acceptable deviation in the range of 0.1 inch.

6. Apparatus for inspecting the assembly characteristics of components of a production piercing punch means comprising a first element and a retainer element operatively related thereto, mating therewith and including a retention surface, disposed in a predetermined angularity in reference to said first element, when said elements are in gauging position in a component, said first element consisting of a rod one end of which is formed to define spaced parallel planes and an intermediate portion of which is conically tapered for engagement by the retention surface of said retainer element when said elements are in gauging position in a component, the other end of said rod being projected to serve as a handle for manipulation thereof.

7. Apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein said retainer element consists of a rod-like means and the retention surface thereof at one extremity has an arcuate contour.

8. Apparatus for gauging the assembly characteristics of components of a production piercing punch means, including a gauge adapted for telescopic engagement with one of said components whereby to define an assembly comprised of inner and outer members, the inner member having an inclined surface in the side thereof and the outer member having a through bore receiving said inner member and having another relatively angularly disposed bore opening at one end into said through bore and opening at its other end to the exterior of said outer member, insert means having entrance into said other bore limited by said outer member for achieving wedging engagement with the inclined surface on said inner member positively limiting axial motion of said inner member in said through bore in one direction, and means for visually indicating acceptable and non-acceptable positions of said inner member relative to said outer member when wedged by said insert means.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that said inner member is a gauge and the outer member a retainer component, said gauge having a head end for insertion in the through bore of said retainer and wherein is formed said inclined surface and having a relatively projected handle end by which the gauge is inserted in said retainer and drawn down to wedge with said insert means.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized it that said inner member is a punch component and tilt outer member is the gauge, the gauge being constructet as an annular body and said other bore opening througl the side of said body, the top face of the body having ad jacent longitudinally spaced surfaces cooperating with on end of said punch to define said visual indicating means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,466,185 4/ 1949 Stoothofi.

2,514,794 7/ 1950 Prince.

2,667,700 2/ 1954 Pistoles.

2,718,706 9/ 1955 Kustusch.

3,092,914 6/ 1963 Buscher.

SAMUEL S. MATTHEWS, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A GAGE UNIT FOR A BALL RETAINER PRODUCTION PIERCING PUNCH COMPRISING A BODY HAVING A CENTRAL THROUGH PASSAGE ACCOMMODATING THE HEAD OF A PUNCH, A PERIPHERAL PORTION OF SAID BODY BEING FLAT, A SECOND PASSAGE IN SAID BODY ONE END OF WHICH OPENS TO SAID CENTRAL THROUGH PASSAGE AND THE OTHER END OF WHICH OPENS FROM SAID FLAT, A RETAINER UNIT POSITIONED FOR RECRIPROCAL MOVEMENT IN SAID SECOND PASSAGE ONE EXTREMITY OF WHICH HAS AN ARCUATE SURFACE PORTION ADAPTED TO PROJECT IN SAID CENTRAL PASSAGE AND FIX RELATIVE SAID BODY THE HEAD OF THE PIERCING PUNCH, MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID BODY TO LIMIT THE EXTENT OF THE RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT OF SAID RETAINER UNIT, ONE FACE OF SAID BODY LYING IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF SAID THROUGH PASSAGE, AND MEANS ON ASID ONE FACE OF SAID BODY DEFINING THE ACCEPTABLE LIMITS OF PORJECTION OF THE HEAD EXTREMITY OF A PUNCH HELD WITHIN SAID BODY BY SAID RETAINER UNIT.