Forging apparatus
AssigneeThe Harris-Thomas Drop Forge Company
InventorDonald L. Theobald
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A blank section of a steel rod is heated and then successively impacted between hot forging dies to form a preform or rough forging ball joint socket having a tubular socket portion and a laterally projecting mounting flange portion. The rough forging is then inserted into a die set assembly including an upper die member surrounding a relatively movable punch and a lower die member surrounding a relatively movable ejector member. The upper die member is supported by a piston of a hydraulic cylinder which moves with the punch, and the upper and lower die members cooperate to produce the desired precision external configuration of the socket and flange portions. After the die members are closed, the punch cooperates with the ejector member to form the desired precision internal configuration of the tubular socket portion.
Claims10
Forging apparatus adapted to be mounted on a press having a ram movable relative to a bolster plate and for producing a forged metal part such as a ball joint socket, said apparatus comprising a die set assembly including a first annular die member and a mating second die member, said first die member being movable with said ram between a retracted position and a closed position relative to said second die member, said die members cooperating in said closed position to define a cavity corresponding in configuration with the desired external shape of the part, a hydraulic cylinder including a movable annular piston, means for rigidly securing said cylinder to said ram, said cylinder including a center hub portion movable with said ram and projecting into said annular piston, means for rigidly and removably securing said first annular die member to said annular piston, a punch removably mounted on said hub portion of said cylinder and projecting through said first annular die member to said cavity, support means rigidly securing said second die member to said bolster plate, and means for supplying hydraulic fluid to said cylinder for extending said piston and said first die member relative to said punch and providing for retraction of said piston and said first die member under substantial hydraulic pressure in response to continued movement of said punch with said ram after said die members move to said closed position.
Forging apparatus adapted to be mounted on a press having a ram movable relative to a bolster plate and for producing a forged metal part such as a ball joint socket, said apparatus comprising a die set assembly including a first annular die member and a mating second die member, said first die member being movable with said ram between a retracted position and a closed position relative to said second die member, said die members cooperating in said closed position to define a cavity corresponding in configuration with the desired external shape of the part, a hydraulic cylinder including an annular section surrounding an annular piston movable within said annular section, said cylinder further including a base section removably secured to said annular section, means for rigidly securing said base section to said ram, said base section including a hub portion movable with said ram and projecting into said annular piston, means for rigidly and removably securing said first annular die member to said annular piston, a punch removably mounted on said hub portion and projecting through said first annular die member to said cavity, support means rigidly securing said second die member to said bolster plate, and means for supplying hydraulic fluid to said cylinder for extending said piston and said first die member relative to said punch and providing for retraction of said piston and said first die member under substantial hydraulic pressure in response to continued movement of said punch with said ram after said die members move to said closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.