High energy rate counterblow forming machine

In a high energy rate impact forming machine, the combination comprising:

• a frame,
• forming means including a forming ram, and a pressure chamber on said frame receiving said ram for ram extension through a working stroke by fluid pressure in said chamber and ram retraction through a return stroke to a cocked position,
• retractor means for retracting said ram to cocked position,
• ram locking means for latching said ram in cocked position including a ram locking member rotatable on an axis normal to the ram axis into and from latching engagement with said ram when in cocked position, and means for rotating said locking member, and
• means for adjusting said forming means, retractor means, and locking means in unison along said frame parallel to the ram axis.

In a high energy rate impact forming machine, the combination comprising:

• a frame,
• forming means including a forming ram, and a pressure chamber on said frame receiving said ram for ram extension through a working stroke by fluid pressure in said chamber and ram retraction through a return stroke to a cocked position,
• retractor means for retracting said ram to cocked position,
• said retractor in position, said retractor means comprising a fluid pressure actuated retractor on said pressure chamber including a cylinder, a retractor piston movable in said cylinder, and a lost motion connection between said piston and ram, whereby said piston is movable in one direction to retract said ram and in the opposite direction to release said ram for extension through its working stroke, and
• ram locking means independent of said retractor means for latching said ram in cocked position, whereby said ram may be retracted to said cocked position by said retractor piston and latched in the cocked position after which said retractor piston may be moved to release said ram for movement through its working stroke while the ram remains latched in cocked position.

A high energy rate impact forming machine, comprising:

• a frame,
• forming means including a pair of coaxial forming rams, and pressure chambers on said frame receiving said rams for extension of the rams toward one another through working strokes to extended positions by fluid pressure in said chambers and retraction of said rams away from one another through return strokes to cocked positions,
• retractor means for retracting said rams to cocked position, and
• ram locking means for latching said rams in cocked position including a pair of locking members rotatable about axes normal to the ram axis to ram latching positions wherein said locking members are disposed for latching engagement with said rams when in cocked position and to ram releasing positions wherein said locking members are disposed for complete disengagement from said rams to release said rams for movement through their working strokes without movement of said locking members with said rams, and common actuator means connected to said locking members for rotating said locking members in unison from their ram latching positions to their ram releasing positions to effect simultaneous release of said rams for movement through their working strokes by said chamber fluid pressure.

A high energy rate impact forming machine, comprising:

• a frame,
• forming means including a pair of coaxial forming rams,
• stationary bolster means on said frame between said rams for holding work to be formed with the work confronting each of the rams,
• coacting work forming die parts on said rams and bolster means,
• pressure chambers on said frame receiving said rams for extension and retraction of the rams along their common axis toward one another through working strokes to extended positions by fluid pressure in said chambers and away from one another through return strokes to cocked positions,
• ram retractor means on said frame for retracting said rams to cocked position,
• ram locking means movable into engagement with said rams for latching said rams in cocked position and movable from disengagement with said rams to release the rams for free independent movement through their working strokes without movement of said locking means with the rams, and
• common means connected to said ram locking means for actuating the ram locking means in unison such that the rams are released simultaneously.