Method and apparatus for achieving thermal stability in a press

Abstract

The invention relates to a mechanical press and in particular to a means for achieving thermal stability, particularly shutheight stability, by utilizing the waste heat from lubricant circulated through the drive assembly to heat the uprights. The oil is circulated through the crankshaft and connection arm assembly in the crown and then caused to flow through a thermal transfer device mounted to each of the uprights wherein the heated oil transfers a portion of its heat to the uprights so that they elongate due to thermal expansion at the same rate as the connection arms. The thermal transfer devices comprise a plurality of baffles over and through which the oil flows under gravity or pressure, wherein the baffles cause the oil to form a plurality of vertically spaced pools in good thermal contact with the uprights. By adjusting the baffle structure so that the oil flows downwardly at a higher or lower rate, the amount of thermal transfer can be adjusted to ensure that equal thermal growth of the uprights and connections occurs.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.