US2670025A - Apparatus for spreading split bars to circular forms - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 23, 1954 T. RLLANDERS APPARATUS FOR SPREADING SPLIT BARS TO CIRCULAR FORMS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 14, 1951 INVENTOR v THO/ms RIM/050s BY *Za ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1954 r. R. LANDERS APPARATUS FOR SPREADING SPLIT BARS TO CIRCULAR FORMS Filed March 14, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES PATIENT omcs APPARATUSFORSPREADING;Semi:Baits T0 CIRCULARFORMS Thomas R; sanders, Holy'olg'e, Ma'ss.', assigno'r to Moore Drop Forging Company, Springfield, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application Mar'ch14, 1951, Serial No. 215,574

"1 claim. (01. 153-48) This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for spreading steel bar stool; or billets of steel into ring shape for drop forging work and has for its object to provide economy in'the'fabrication of rings of extremely hard and tough steel compositions. Y

- Another object of the invention is to provide novel mechanism which will prevent wastage of expensive stock normally incident to the usual method employed in drop forging such rings.

Another object of the invention is to form rings for drop forging work of the type disclosed inappreciably less time than is employed under prior methods of operation.

A further object is to provide apparatus of a simplified type which will permit greater utilization of available drop hammer equipment in a drop forging shop.

These and other objects and advantages will be seen from the following disclosure of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings.

.In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the app-aratusin open position with a split billet shown disposed in position for the spreading operation;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the apparatus as-shown by Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan showing the parts of the apparatus in-closed position with the ring halves "spread;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the parts as shown by Fig. 4 with the ring in section; and

Figs. 6 to 10 are views showing successive steps in the formation of a ring.

It has long been a general practice to forge "steel rings by upsetting a billet or block of stock into ring shape by pounding the stock over a plug and thus spreading the steel gradually.

The ring is then brought to shape for any fulleri'ng, trimming, and blocking die operations with a thinned down web in the center which must be cut or punched out for the ring to be forged finish dies and subsequently brought to size;

In working steels of a hard and tough alloy composition this type of operation is excessively time consuming, wasteful of expensive material,

and requires the use of several preliminary forgi'n'g die blocks. Two or more drop hammers may be necessary to progressively form a from plicity of preliminary shaping impressionsmay require the use of several hammers. Thus-prior processes so far as I and aware are relatively expensive from the standpoint of utilizing costly equipment as well as resulting wastage of material. V

Referring to the drawings, the method willbe disclosed in connection with a preferred form of ring spreader tool used in the preliminary shaping of a steel billetprior to the blocking and edging operations on a worl; piece.

As shown by Fig. 1, a supporting block-orbed plate I is provided with a stationary die 2 mounted at one end of plate l. Die 2 isformed with a semi-circular born 3, horizontally disposed and having its curved edge 4 facing the curved edge 5 of a complementary horn 6 of a movable die 1. Die 1 is'adapted'for reciprocatory motion being slidably mounted in ways "8 of the bed I, and as shown by Fig. 2, isofiset upwardly of the die 2.

The dotted line representation of, a steel bar or billet 9 is shown by Fig.1 in'positionfor movement of the horns together intoan overlapping position as shown by Fig. 5. It will 'ben'oted in Figsql and 2 that the billet is split having in its upper and lower surface longitudinal recessed portions as "the V cuts 19. The bottom of the recesses or cuts are registered at meangitudinal chterline of the billet. The length and width of the split between the ends'of the billet is controlled by the size of the ring desired and the material being worked. As will be appreciated, the two sides of the spur sense the approximate internal circumference or the ring to beformed. The split may be conveniently made by suitabledies-as 'i-I r'a drop forg''ham'mer.

It will be seen from the drawings of Figs. 2, 4 and 5 that the billet is placed angularly against the tip of the stationary horn with one side of a recess centrally at the top edge of the horn. In this position the upper angular side of the adjacent V rests on the upper marginal edge surface of horn 3. The edges of the horns will thus apply pressure angularly against opposite sides of the bar and on opposite sides of the split.

The method is especially adapted to work forging stock having a comparatively narrow range of forging temperatures, but may be used Wherever economy of operations is desired. As a representative example of the new method of producing rings the steps in forming a ring from a block of steel such as AMS. 5642 Stainless will be discussed and the detail of the apparatus shown by the figures described. This steel is of the following analysis: C. .30, M. .85, Phos.

.010, Sul. .009, Sil. .30, Ni. .63. Cr. Ai Mo. .22. GS. 6-8.

The bar or block of steel is first heated to approximately 2100 degrees. A tong handle as at I I is formed and the block is split at I U as in the dies of a drop hammer. A line through the center of the stock is thus provided. The split block is then reheated and placed on the sta" tionary horn as in Figs. 1 and 2. Power is applied to move the slidable horn 6 for applying pressure against the opposite surface of the V cut and the two halves of the block are pressed to separate and open up into a ring shape. In steels of less toughness a single pass of the movable horn may form the desired circular shape. 7

However, in the example of the above analysis steel two passes are necessary. The first pass spreads the sides of the block approximately half way and the piece is then reheated to temperature. A second pass is made with the reheated partially formed ring then spread to the extent shown by Fig. 4.

In the form shown by Fig. 4, the ring is reheated and placed in the dies of a drop hammer for ordinary blocking and finishing operations into the desired annular ring form.

It will be realized by those skilled in this art that a true circle is not necessary for a proper shaping of the ring to be worked for the blocking and finishing operation of the drop hammer die.

I The tolerances of the die are such that the metal at each end of the bar, when spread as in Fig. 4, may readily be hammered into the desired ring shape.

The ring as blocked out by the hammer is then placed in a usual press trimming punch and any flash is cut away to leave the ring in condition for finish machining.

The progressive formation of a ring from the split block of steel is shown by Figs. 6-10.

The apparatus shown by the drawings will now be specifically described. In Fig. 2 the bed plate I is shown mounted on a supporting member as a table I3 and is fixed thereon by a plurality of bolts Id. The stationary die 2 is in elevated position in overlying relationship to plate I, being fixed on a spacer block. is as by bolts I 8. Block I5 is in turn fixed to plate I by bolts I'I. Block I5 is also secured against movement by the mortise and tenon arrangement as at I8.

The horn 3 faces the other end of the plate I and is spaced from its surface to permit sulficient clearance for various dimensions in the thickness of the ring as will be obvious.

Movable die "I is slidably mounted at the other end of the plate I with its horn 6 facing horn 3. A spacer deck is fixed by bolts 2| to the plate I (see Fig. 3). Ways 8 are formed by the sides 22 bolted at 23 to deck 20. Sides 22 at' the top are inwardly flanged at 25. Roller plates 25 are fixed to flanges 24 to retain in a plurality of longitudinal spaced roller pockets 26 (see Fig. 1) upper rolls 27 for the die I. The pockets 2B are formed in the underside of fianges 24. Lower rolls 28 are recessed in pockets 29 cut in the surface of a roller insert 30. Inserts 30 are embedded in slots cut longitudinally at each side adjacent the inner edges of sides 22. Upper and lower rolls are thus provided to embrace the marginal edges of the die I for its sliding movement relative to deck 2i! when the die 'I is moved toward the stationary die 2.

At the rearmost end of die 1 and centrally thereof between ways 8 an abutment or pusher block 3| is secured as by bolts to the upper surface of the die. Block 3i is raised above the sides 22 and has a threaded engagement at 32 with the fore end of a piston rod 33 of a pneumatic or hydraulic pressure cylinder at mounted in any suitable manner so as to apply a direct thrust to the movable die I.

As will be noted from Fig. 4, the piston 33 when fully extended causes the horn t to overlap horn t with the diametrical base line of horn 6 as at 35 directly superimposed over the diametrical base line of horn 3. The lower edge of horn 6 and the upper edge of horn 3 thus closely approximate a true circle around which the ring halves are spread by the die pressure in oppositely directly parallel paths.

On the top of the sides 22 and extending crosswise between them is a stop bar 36 bolted at each end to the sides as shown. Bar 38 lies in the path of block 3| and is located to terminate the outward travel of the piston rod 33 when the horns are overlapped to the extent desired for formation of the ring on the apparatus.

It will readily be appreciated that semi-circular horns 3 and i; may be provided with various dimensions so that rings of a smaller diameter may be produced. In this event the rear edge of stop 35 may be moved rearwardly as may be needed by placing a check or other block against its edge and further limiting the outward thrust of the piston. In the embodiment of the apparatus illustrated by the drawings, the dies shown are designed to produce a ring diameter of 12 inches.

What is claimed is:

Apparatus for spreading a bar of hard and tough steel stock split between the ends thereof into circular form comprising a table support, a stationary die horizontally disposed at one end thereof having an arcuate semi-circular portion the opposite of the support and overlying the table in parallel relation therewith, guideway structure mounted at the other end of said support and defining a horizontal path in adjacent parallel relation to said stationary die, a movable die in guide-way with rollers pocketed at each side of the guideway embracing the top and bottom side edges of said mov able die for rolling movement thereof, said movable die having a complementary arcuate semicircular edge formed at its inner end and at its outer end portion having an abutment projecting upwardly of the sides of said guideway structure, a piston rod fixed to said abutment and fluid pressure means for extending said piston to move said die toward and away from said stationary die, said guideway structure including a transverse stop member fixed to the sides thereof and extending between the same above said movable die in the path of said abutment, said movable die being limited in its movement inwardly of said stationary die by the engagement 5 of said abutment against said transverse stop and in said position overlying the stationary die with the arcuate portions of the dies forming a circle around which the split halves of a steel bar may be spread.

THOMAS R. LANDERS'.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Kennedy Feb. 27, 1900 Bailey Apr. 19, 1910 Kennedy Aug. 6, 1912 Steinmann June 18, 1929 Braun Jan. 5, 1932 Braun Jan. 5, 1932 Belanger June 12, 1945 Peterson Aug. 26, 1947

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