Forming Machine, in Particular Forging Hammer, and Method for Controlling a Forming Machine

A forging hammer, for machining workpieces by forming, comprising:

• a striking tool;
• a hydraulic linear drive coupled to the striking tool and configured for driving the striking tool;
• a hydraulic circuit comprising a servomotor-assisted hydro pump;
• a hydraulic cylinder, in particular a differential cylinder, which by way of a multi-way valve assembly in terms of fluid technology is disposed downstream of the hydro pump;
• a servomotor-assisted hydro generator which by way of the multi-way valve assembly in terms of fluid technology is disposed downstream of the hydraulic cylinder;
• and
• a control unit which is conceived for at least controlling the hydro pump, the hydro generator, and the multi-way valve assembly;
• wherein the servomotor-assisted hydro generator, while using the multi-way valve assembly is specified as a unidirectional servomotor-assisted hydro generator and is integrated in the hydraulic circuit.

A method for controlling an operating cycle of a forging hammer, comprising:

• driving a hydraulic cylinder, in particular the differential cylinder, that is coupled to a striking tool by the supply of hydraulic fluid by way of a servomotor-assisted hydro pump of a hydraulic linear drive, said hydro pump in terms of fluid technology being coupled to a hydraulic circuit, and by way of a multi-way valve assembly that in terms of fluid technology is disposed upstream of said hydraulic cylinder;
• directing hydraulic fluid that herein flows from the differential cylinder by way of the multi-way valve assembly to a servomotor-assisted hydro generator that in terms of fluid technology is disposed downstream in the hydraulic circuit of the multi-way valve assembly;
• and
• operating the servomotor-assisted hydro generator while using the multi-way valve assembly as a unidirectional servomotor-assisted hydro generator.

A method for controlling an operating cycle of a forging hammer, comprising:

• driving a hydraulic cylinder, in particular the differential cylinder, that is coupled to a striking tool by the supply of hydraulic fluid by way of a servomotor-assisted hydro pump of a hydraulic linear drive, said hydro pump in terms of fluid technology being coupled to a hydraulic circuit, and by way of a multi-way valve assembly that in terms of fluid technology is disposed upstream of said hydraulic cylinder;
• directing hydraulic fluid that herein flows from the differential cylinder by way of the multi-way valve assembly to a servomotor-assisted hydro generator that in terms of fluid technology is disposed downstream in the hydraulic circuit of the multi-way valve assembly
• operating the hydro pump while using the multi-way valve assembly as a unidirectional servomotor-assisted hydro pump;
• wherein, so as to coincide with reaching a or the first reversal point (U1) that is assigned to a forming region of the forging hammer, or when reaching the one predefined speed of the ram, the method further comprises actuating the multi-way valve assembly in such a manner that elastic energy that is stored, generated and/or created in the hydraulic system of the forging hammer by decompressing the hydraulic fluid or the hydraulic system is converted to electric energy by way of the hydro generator.

A method for controlling a forging hammer that comprises a striking tool, a hydraulic linear drive coupled to the striking tool and configured for driving the striking tool, a hydraulic circuit comprising a servomotor-assisted hydro pump, a hydraulic cylinder, in particular a differential cylinder, which by way of a multi-way valve assembly in terms of fluid technology is disposed downstream of the hydro pump, a servomotor-assisted hydro generator which by way of the multi-way valve assembly in terms of fluid technology is disposed downstream of the hydraulic cylinder;

• and a control unit which is conceived for at least controlling the hydro pump, the hydro generator, and the multi-way valve assembly, the method comprising:
• driving a hydraulic cylinder, in particular the differential cylinder, that is coupled to a striking tool by the supply of hydraulic fluid by way of a servomotor-assisted hydro pump of a hydraulic linear drive, said hydro pump in terms of fluid technology being coupled to a hydraulic circuit, and by way of a multi-way valve assembly that in terms of fluid technology is disposed upstream of said hydraulic cylinder;
• directing hydraulic fluid that herein flows from the differential cylinder by way of the multi-way valve assembly to a servomotor-assisted hydro generator that in terms of fluid technology is disposed downstream in the hydraulic circuit of the multi-way valve assembly;
• operating the servomotor-assisted hydro generator while using the multi-way valve assembly as a unidirectional servomotor-assisted hydro generator via a plurality of cycles;
• and
• operating the hydro pump across the plurality of operating cycles at least at a minimum rotational speed that is unequal to zero.