High-speed anvilless hammer

A high-speed anvilless hammer comprising:

• a bed;
• guides provided on said bed;
• a frame supported on cushions and mounted in said bed guides;
• a hammer head mounted on said frame;
• a working tool mounted on the lower end of said hammer head;
• a die block mounted underneath said working tool;
• a drive for imparting an axial reciprocating motion to said hammer head so that said hammer head moves between an initial position and a work position, in which the working tool strikes a workpiece, said drive being constructed in the form of a power chamber with a working medium contained therein and a power cylinder with a piston and a piston rod;
• retention means for retaining said hammer head in the initial position;
• said piston rod having a central guide hole which is situated in the piston rod portion nearest the die block, is sealed at the end nearest said power chamber and accommodates said hammer head;
• the stroke of said piston exceeding the distance between said die block and the lower end of said piston rod, due to which, when the piston is in a lowermost position, a closed zone is formed around said hammer head between said piston rod and the surface of said die block in which zone deformation of the blank is effected;
• means operative after formation of the closed zone for releasing said hammer head from said retention means so that said drive moves said hammer head to said work position;
• and means for lifting said hammer head to the said retention means after the working tool strikes a workpiece.