Forming die structure

Abstract

A die assembly for forming nuts or the like in which a die cavity is formed to extend into two abutting members of super hard alloy, the cavity extending through one member and having a bottom surface in the other. The hard alloy members rest on a hardened steel stock die and the three elements are shrink fitted in a reinforcement ring. A passageway communicates with the interface between the hard alloy members and extends to a position adjacent but spaced from the interface between those members. When forming pressure is applied to a workpiece in the cavity, the stock die yields resiliently to permit a slight separation between the hard alloy members and thus provide a vent passage for trapped air to the exterior of the assembly. The interface between the die members and the reinforcement ring permits such downward movement of the lower alloy die member but prevents upward ejection of the die members from the reinforcement ring upon operation of a work ejecting mechanism.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.