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US 4,277,996 AGranted
Force application apparatus, especially for severing materials
AssigneeStanztechnik GmbH R & S
InventorErnst M. Spengler
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AssigneeStanztechnik GmbH R & S
InventorErnst M. Spengler
Estimating the term…
The present apparatus applies force along a line or to a surface through one or more linear or rather longitudinal, elastically expandable or deformable members. The expansion of the elongated member, such as an elastic, reinforced hose or membrane, is transmitted to the tool proper, for example, a strip steel knife or a clamping device, along the entire length of the tool, whereby a linear force application is achieved. Several of such members may be arranged in parallel to obtain substantially a surface area force application. The force application member may also be curved for applying the force, such as a cutting force to an equally curved tool such as a strip steel knife. The force application member is returned to its starting position after a work stroke is completed. The work stroke is performed by expanding the member with the aid of a medium under pressure. The return is accomplished by a spring force or by a similar expansion member.
An apparatus for applying force to a three-dimensional work piece, comprising a plurality of work performing means each including rigidly supported frame means forming a plurality of hollow housing members, longitudinal, elastically deformable expansion means having a longitudinal axis, said expansion means being operatively supported in said hollow housing members, elongated force transmission means (24) operatively arranged in each housing member for cooperation with said longitudinal, elastically deformable expansion means, pressure means operatively connected to said longitudinal elastically, deformable expansion means for expanding said expansion means along its entire length to perform a work stroke which is applied to said work piece along a line curved in space, at least two power transmitting rods operatively secured to said elongated force transmission means in a row extending substantially in the same plane as said longitudinal axis, whereby all power transmitting rods are operated in synchronism in said row, said power transmitting rods extending through said housing member, guide means secured to said housing member for guiding said power transmitting rods for a back and forth movement substantially perpendicularly to said housing member, reset means operatively arranged to return said power transmitting rods to a rest position when the pressure in said elastically deformable expansion means is released and support means for operatively supporting said plurality of work performing means in a three-dimensional relationship relative to each other for performing work on a three-dimensional work piece.
An apparatus for applying force to a work piece along a line curved in space, comprising elongated tool means shaped to substantially conform to said line curved in space, a plurality of work performing means, each work performing means including rigidly supported frame means, forming at least one hollow housing member, longitudinal, elastically deformable expansion means having a longitudinal axis, said expansion means being operatively supported in said hollow housing member, elongated force transmission means (24) operatively arranged in said housing member for cooperation with said longitudinal, elastically deformable expansion means, pressure means operatively connected to said longitudinal, elastically deformable expansion means for expanding said expansion means along its entire length to perform a work stroke which is applied to said work piece, at least two power transmitting rods operatively secured at one end of each rod to said elongated force transmission means to form a row of rods which row extends substantially in the same plane as said longitudinal axis, means securing said other end of each rod to said tool means, at least some of said securing means comprising spacer means operatively interposed between the tool means and the respective other end of the rod, whereby all power transmitting rods are operated in synchronism in said row and to an extent defined by said line curved in space, said power transmitting rods extending through said housing member, guide means secured to said housing member for guiding said power transmitting rods for a back and forth movement substantially perpendicularly to said housing member, and reset means operatively arranged to return said power transmitting rods in unison to a rest position when the pressure in said elastically deformable expansion means is released, whereby the uniform expansion of said expansion means is transmitted to different extents due to said rods of different length.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.