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US 11,292,047 B2Granted
Mechanical die pressure monitoring system
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorAaron A. Westbrook
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A die assembly for use with a stamping die. The die assembly having a system for monitoring a gas pressure in the stamping die. The system including first and second piston-cylinder assemblies acting on a flag block wherein movement of the flag block corresponds to a pressure change. A sensor detects a movement of the flag block.
Claims18
A die assembly comprising:
- a movable die component;
- a first pressure source acting on and moving the movable die component;
- a pressure monitoring system, including a first piston-cylinder assembly coupled to the first pressure source and a second piston-cylinder assembly coupled to a second pressure source;
- the first piston-cylinder assembly including a piston engaging a flag block and operative to move the flag block independently of the moveable die component and the second piston-cylinder assembly including a piston engaging the flag block and operative to move the flag block independently of the moveable die component;
- and
- a sensor, the sensor detects a movement of the flag block.
3 more elements
A die assembly comprising:
- a first pressure source acting on a first die component in an upper die wherein the first pressure source includes a first plurality of gas cylinders piped together in a first cylinder array with a first array pressure line connecting the pressure monitoring system to the first pressure source;
- a pressure monitoring system, including a die mount connected to the upper die;
- a first piston-cylinder assembly coupled to the first pressure source and supported by the die mount;
- a second pressure source acting on a second die component in the upper die, the second pressure source includes a second plurality of gas cylinders piped together in a second cylinder array with a second array pressure line connecting the pressure monitoring system to the second pressure source;
- a second piston-cylinder assembly coupled to the second pressure source and supported by the die mount;
- a flag block positioned between the first piston-cylinder assembly and the second piston-cylinder assembly;
- a piston of the first piston-cylinder assembly contacting the flag block and a piston of the second piston-cylinder assembly contacting the flag block wherein a force applied on one side of the flag block by the piston of the first piston-cylinder assembly and a force applied on the opposite side of the flag block by the piston of the second piston-cylinder assembly maintains the flag block in equilibrium when the pressure in both the first pressure source and the second pressure source remains constant wherein a pressure change in one of the first pressure source or the second pressure source moves the flag block independent of first die component, second die component, or upper die movement;
- and
- a sensor adjacent the flag block.
6 more elements
A die assembly comprising:
- a first pressure source acting on a die component in an upper die;
- a pressure monitoring system, including a die mount connected to the upper die;
- a first piston-cylinder assembly coupled to the first pressure source and supported by the die mount;
- a second pressure source;
- a second piston-cylinder assembly coupled to the second pressure source and supported by the die mount;
- a flag block positioned between the first piston-cylinder assembly and the second piston-cylinder assembly;
- the first piston-cylinder assembly engaging the flag block and the second piston-cylinder assembly engaging the flag block;
- a sensor adjacent the flag block;
- a U-shaped tuning flag attached to the flag block, with a base portion of the U-shaped tuning flag spaced from the flag block;
- and
- the sensor is a proximity sensor positioned adjacent the base portion of the U-shaped tuning flag and to sense movement of the U-shaped tuning flag.
8 more elements
A die assembly comprising:
- an upper die and a lower die, at least one of the upper die and the lower die movable to position the upper die and the lower die in a closed position;
- a first pressure source acting on a die component in the upper die;
- a pressure monitoring system, including a die mount connected to the upper die;
- a first piston-cylinder assembly coupled to the first pressure source and supported by the die mount;
- a second pressure source;
- a second piston-cylinder assembly coupled to the second pressure source and supported by the die mount;
- a flag block moving laterally slidably mounted for lateral movement on the die mount between the first piston-cylinder assembly and the second piston-cylinder assembly;
- the first piston-cylinder assembly engaging the flag block and the second piston-cylinder assembly engaging the flag block;
- a U-shaped tuning flag attached to the flag block, with a base portion of the U-shaped tuning flag spaced from the flag block;
- a sensor mounted to the lower die and adjacent the flag block when the upper die and the lower die are in the closed position;
- and
- the sensor is a proximity sensor positioned adjacent the base portion of the U-shaped tuning flag and to sense lateral movement of the U-shaped tuning flag resulting from a pressure difference between the first pressure source and the second pressure source.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.