US3915044A

US3915044A - Hydraulically operated bench-mounted press unit

Info

Publication number: US3915044A
Application number: US524977A
Authority: US
Inventors: Erich Bley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-11-18
Filing date: 1974-11-18
Publication date: 1975-10-28
Anticipated expiration: 1992-10-28

Abstract

A highly portable bench-mounted press unit having hydraulically movable cylinder supports for the punch and die holders of the press unit, with the hydraulically movable cylinders providing the only support and connection between the punch and die holders.

Description

[ Oct. 28, 1975 [5 1 HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED 3,371,569 3/1968 Pearson et a1. 3 472,109 10/1969 Haas et BENCH-MOUNTED PRESS UNIT [76] Inventor:

Erich Bley, 1301 Tonne, Elk Grove;

y d mm r h m wC 6d m w d GE .w F r W0 .m t mm Mm E, W a m mm rt PA 4 7 9 m 8 0 1 6 v .LO N m m H 1 2 2 1 [21] Appl. No.1 524,977

ABSTRACT [52] US. 83/639; 100/269 R A highly portable bench mounted press unit having [51] Int. Cl. B26D 5/12; B3OB 1/32 Field of S rch 83/639 100 269 R hydraulically movable cyllnder supports for the punch ea and die holders of the press unit, with the hydraulically movable cylinders providing the only support References (Med and connection between the punch and die holders. UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,091,147 Holl et a1. 83/639 X 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct.28, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,915,044

3 1 2? 2% 3 HI! F I i a ii! i m l i ii? 1 2a 2a 1 E m 1% r 1 EL. I? flill WWW W W 19 1 F I 1 l I! 11 /1O flS. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,915,044

HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED BENCH-MOUNTED PRESS UNIT SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A press unit which may be readily mounted upon a worktable or bench, which is highly efficient in operation, and which is of the construction illustrated. The press unit includes a pair of parallel cylindrical supports for the upper and lower dies. Each of these supports comprises a hydraulic cylinder and piston arrangement, with the cylinder carried by the lower die half or die holder and with the piston support connected to the upper die half or punch holder. A sufficient guide bushing is provided between the cylinder and piston for proper linear movement relative to each other, as well as proper seals and bearing portions between the movable parts of the press unit.

The invention is best illustrated by the accompanying drawings which show the preferred embodiment of the invention and its best mode of construction, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the press unit of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the press unit of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional detail view of one of the hydraulically movable column supports for the press unit.

As shown in FIG. 1, the press unit of this invention comprises a base or lower die half which functions as the die holder and which supports a pair of

columns

11 and 12. Each of the

columns

11 and 12 is connected to the base 10 in a like manner, and therefore only one will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the column 12 is adapted to be projected into an opening 13 formed in the base 10 transversely with respect to its longitudinal length. The column 12 provides an insert end 14 which is projected partially into the opening 13. The remaining portion of the opening 13 is adapted to be closed by a cap plate 15 which has an insert portion 16 projecting into the column 12 for sealing the same. The cap plate 15 is mounted to the column 12 by a series of mounting screws 17, with the cap plate 15 in turn connected to the base 10 by mounting screws 18.

The column 12 is, in effect, the cylinder for a hydraulic cylinder-piston arrangement.

As shown, the column 12 is journalled in a guide bushing 19 which provides intermediate its ends an external circumferentially extending flange 20 which forms a mounting surface for the upper die half 21 which functions as the punch holder. The guide bushing 19 by mounting screws 22 which project through the flange 20, is connected to the punch holder 21. The guide bushing 19 is of a length so as to axially extend through a suitable opening 23 formed in the punch holder 21 as shown.

Adapted to be mounted over the upper end of the column 12 as well as the upper end of the guide bushing 19, is a pusher housing 24. The pusher housing 24 provides a circumferentially extending end flange 25 which by a series of mounting screws 26 is fixedly connected to the punch holder 21. A top wall 27 closes the upper end of the pusher housing 24 and, as shown, is provided with a center opening 28 through which a reduced upper end portion 29 of the piston 30 projects. Externally of the top wall 27 there is mounted a washer 2 31 and a connecting nut 32 for connecting the piston 30 to the pusher housing 24.

Within the pusher housing 24 there is provided an upper cap plate 33 which by a plurality of mounting screws 34 is connected to and seals the upper end of the column 12. The upper cap plate 33 provides an insert portion 35 which has a reduced diameter and which is adapted to be projected into the upper end of the column 12 as shown. Between the upper edge of the column 12 and at the junction of the reduced insert 35 with the main body portion of the upper cap plate 33, is placed an O-ring 36 for effectively sealing the interior area of the column 12.

The opposite end of the upper cap plate 33 provides a reduced bearing portion 37 adapted to be projected into the center opening of a stop disc 38.

The piston 30 is adapted to be journalled through a central opening formed in the upper cap plate 33 as well as the insert portion 35 and circular bearing portion 37. The insert 35 of the upper cap plate 33 has its internal bore 39 of a size to receive a bronze bearing 40 which is adapted to encircle the piston 30 as well as a series of wiper packings 41. The bronze bearing 40 and wiper packings 41 are held within the center bore 39 of the insert 35 by a retainer ring 42.

The inner end of the piston 30 provides a piston head 43 which is of a diameter equal to the inner diameter of the column 12. Encircling the piston head 43 and adapted to be in contact with the inner wall of the cylinder 12 are a pair of packing rings 44.

The cap plate 15 is provided with two inlet ports 45 and 46 each of which is adapted to receive the ends of a suitable hydraulic line. The inlet port 45 is associated with a passage 47 which has open communication with the interior of the column 12 between the inner face of the piston head 43 and the inner wall surface of the insert portion 16 of the cap plate 15. The inlet port 46 is in communication with a passage 48 formed in the cap plate 15, which in turn is in communication with a passage 49 formed in the wall of the column 12. The passage 49 provides an exhaust. port 50 which has open communication with an area surrounding the piston 30 between the inner wall face of the piston head 43 and the upper cap plate insert 35.

By this arrangement the punch holder or upper die half 21 is hydraulically supported in relation to the lower die half or die holder 10. When suitable hydraulic fluid is introduced into the: inlet port 45 and through the passage 47, it will hydraulically react upon the piston head 43 and piston 30, moving the same in a vertical path of travel upwardly within the column 12, raising the punch holder 21 away from the die holder 10. This upward movement will continue until the inner edge of the guide bushing 19 engages the stop disc 38 which is fixedly connected to the column 12.

In the event that the hydraulic fluid is introduced through the inlet 46 and

passages

48 and 49 and exhausts through the exhaust port 50, it will react upon the piston head 43 of the piston 30, driving the same in a downward direction within the column 12 and moving the punch holder 21 in a direction toward the die holder 10.

As there is provided a pair of hydraulic supports between the punch holder 21 and die holder 10, the hydraulic moving force may be regulated so as to be uniform in each of the

columns

11 and 12 and obtain the optimum operating pressure necessary to perform the desired task.

" the hydraulic reacting cylinder-piston arrangement providing the necessary supports between the punch holder and'the die 'holder of the press unit.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A hydraulically operated press unit having a base die holder and a movable punch holder comprising a; a pair of hollow support columns extending vertically from the base die holder and freely journalled through the movable punch holder,

b. means connecting said columns to the'base die holder and for sealing the lower ends thereof,

' 0. means encircling and guiding said columns as they project through the punch holder,

'd. pistons reciprocally movable axially through said hollow columns,

e. means connecting the punch holder to said pistons for movement therewith relative to said base die holder,

f. means closing the upper ends of said hollow columns while permitting movement of said pistons 7 through said columns, and

g.'hydraulic means for moving said pistons reciprocally through said columns to move the punch holder toward and away from the base die holder.

2. A hydraulically operated press unit as defined by claim 1, wherein said pistons and said hollow support columns cooperate to define a first expandable chamber on one side of one end of said pistons and a second expandable chamber on the other side of said one end of said pistons,'said columns and said closing and sealing means therefor providing first and second axial passages open to said first and second chambers respectively, with said passages adapted to be selectively connected to a valved source of fluid under pressure so as and movable therewith about said columns so as to 4 holder and to maintain axial alignment of said pistons during such movement.

4. A hydraulically operated press unit as defined by claim 3, wherein said pistons and said hollow support columns cooperate to define a first expandable chamber on one side of one end of said pistons and a second expandable chamber on the other side of said one end of said pistons, said columns and said closing and sealing means therefor providing first and second axial passages open to said first and second chambers respectively, with said passages adapted to be selectively connected to a valved source of fluid under pressure so as guide said columns as they project through said punch to reciprocally move said pistons through said columns.

5. A hydraulically operated press unit as defined by claim 1, wherein said means connecting the punch holder to said pistons comprises a housing over the upper end of each of said columns connected to each of said pistons, with the side walls of said housings extending axially of each of said pistons and peripherally connected to the top surface of the punch holder, with said housings cooperating with said pistons to move said punch holder toward and away from the base die holder. I

6. A hydraulically operated press unit as defined by claim 5, wherein said pistons and said columns cooperate to define a first expandable chamber on one side of one end of said pistons and a second expandable chamber on the other side'of said one end of said pistons, said columns and said closing and sealing means therefor providing first and second axial passages open to said first and second chambers respectively, with said passages adapted to be selectively connected to a valved source of fluid underpressure so as to reciprocally move said pistons through said columns.

7. A hydraulically operated press unit as defined by claim 5, wherein said means encircling and guiding said columns comprises an elongaged bushing encircling said columns and of a length greater than the-thickness of the punch holder so as to extend beyond either side thereof, said bushings connected to the punch holder and movable therewith about said columns so as to guide said columns as they project through said punch holder and to maintain axial alignment of said pistons during such movement.

8. A hydraulically operated press unit as defined by claim 4, wherein said means connecting the punch holder to said pistons comprises a housing over the upper end of each of said columns connected to each of said pistons, with the side walls of said housings extending axially of each of said pistons and peripherally connected to the top surface of the punch holder, with said housings cooperating with said pistons to move said punch holder toward and away from the base die holder.

Claims

1. A hydraulically operated press unit having a base die holder and a movable punch holder comprising a. a pair of hollow support columns extending vertically from the base die holder and freely journalled through the movable punch holder, b. means connecting said columns to the base die holder and for sealing the lower ends thereof, c. means encircling and guiding said columns as they project through the punch holder, d. pistons reciprocally movable axially through said hollow columns, e. means connecting the punch holder to said pistons for movement therewith relative to said base die holder, f. means closing the upper ends of said hollow columns while permitting movement of said pistons through said columns, and g. hydraulic means for moving said pistons reciprocally through said columns to move the punch holder toward and away from the base die holder.

2. A hydraulically operated press unit as defined by claim 1, wherein said pistons and said hollow support columns cooperate to define a first expandable chamber on one side of one end of said pistons and a second expandable chamber on the other side of said one end of said pistons, said columns and said closing and sealing means therefor providing first and second axial passages open to said first and second chambers respectively, with said passages adapted to be selectively connected to a valved source of fluid under pressure so as to reciprocally move said pistons through said columns.

3. A hydraulically operated press unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said means encircling and guiding said columns comprises an elongated bushing encircling said columns and of a length greater than the thickness of the punch holder so as to extend beyond either side thereof, said bushings connected to the punch holder and movable therewith about said columns so as to guide said columns as they project through said punch holder and to maintain axial alignment of said pistons during such movement.

4. A hydraulically operated press unit as defined by claim 3, wherein said pistons and said hollow support columns cooperate to define a first expandable chamber on one side of one end of said pistons and a second expandable chamber on the other side of said one end of said pistons, said columns and said closing and sealing means therefor providing first and second axial passages open to said first and second chambers respectively, with said passages adapted to be selectively connected to a valved source of fluid under pressure so as to reciprocally move said pistons through said columns.

5. A hydraulically operated press unit as defined by claim 1, wherein said means connecting the punch holder to said pistons comprises a housing over the upper end of each of said columns connected to each of said pistons, with the side walls of said housings extending axially of each of said pistons and peripherally connected to the top surface of the punch holder, with said housings cooperating with said pistons to move said punch holder toward and away from the base die holder.

6. A hydraulically operated press unit as defined by claim 5, wherein said pistons and said columns cooperate to define a first expandable chamber on one side of one end of said pistons and a second expandable chamber on the other side of said one end of said pistons, said columns and said closing and sealing means therefor providing first and second axial passages open to said first and second chambers respectively, with said passages adapted to be selectively connected to a valved source of fluid under pressure so as to reciprocally move said pistons through said columns.

7. A hydraulically operated press unit as defined by claim 5, wherein said means encircling and guiding said columns comprises an elongated bushing encircling said columns and of a length greater than the thickness of the punch holder so as to extend beyond either side thereof, said bushings connected to the punch holder and movable therewith about said columns so as to guide said columns as they project through said punch holder and to maintain axial alignment of said pistons during such movement.