US 5,176,023 AGranted

Die set carrying apparatus and method

AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.

InventorJohn B. Baldwin

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Abstract

A die set having first and second dies is provided with first and second handles for carrying the die set. The first and second handles are each pivotally connected to the second die by a pin. First and second latches maintains the first and second handles at a carry position and from inadvertent pivotal movement. Each latch is releasable to permit axial movement of the handles relative to the pins and thus free the first and second handles for pivotal movement to a position at which the handles are free from interfering with connection to a ram of a press. A support is provided for maintaining the first die at a preselected position relative to the second die and from inadvertent movement relative to the second die. A lever enables rocking of the first die relative to the second so that connection to the ram of the press is easily achieved.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A die set carrying arrangement:

comprising:
first and second mated dies each having a forming surface, said first die forming surface being in cradled engagement with said second die forming surface;
first and second die carriers each having a handle and a lifting device engaging member connected to each of said handles;
first pin means for pivotally and axially slidably connecting the first die carrier handle to the second die;
second pin means for pivotally and axially slidably connecting the second die carrier handle to the second die, said first and second pin means being connected to the second die at spaced locations, said first die carrier handle being movable along a longitudinal axis of the first pin means between first and second spaced axial positions, and said second die carrier handle being movable along a longitudinal axis of the second pin means between first and second spaced axial positions;
first latch means for maintaining the first die carrier handle from pivotal movement about said first pin means in response to said first die carrier handle being at the first position along the longitudinal axis of said first pin means;
and
second latch means for maintaining the second die carrier handle form pivotal movement about said second pin means in response to said second die carrier handle being at the first position along the longitudinal axis of said second pin means, said first and second latch means being connected to the second die and positioned to engage the first and second die carrier handles at the first axial position of the first and second die carrier handles.

5 more elements

A method for positioning a die set relative to a press brake having a bed and a ram, said die set having first and second dies, first and second die carrier handles pivotally connected to the second die and pivotally movable between a first position at which the die set is adapted to be carried by the first and second die carrier handles and a second position spaced from the first position at which the first die is adapted to be connected to the ram, said method comprising the steps of:

carrying the die set by the first and second die carrier handles;
placing the second die in position on the bed;
pivoting first and second die carrier handles to the second position and freeing the die carrier handles from interference with the ram;
and
connecting the ram to the first die.

2 more elements

A carrying arrangement for a die set having first and second matable dies each having a forming surface, said first die forming surface being cradled by the second die forming surface;

comprising:
first and second die carriers each having a handle and a lifting device engaging member connected to each of said handles;
first pin means for pivotally connecting the first die carrier handle to the second die, said first pin means being connected to the second die;
second pin means for pivotally connecting the second die carrier handle to the second die, said second pin means being connected to the second die at a location on the second die spaced from the first pin means, said first and second die carrier handles being spaced from each other;
first latch means for maintaining the first die carrier handle from pivotal movement about said first pin means and at a preselected die set carrying position;
a second latch means for maintaining the second die carrier handle from pivotal movement about said second pin means and at a preselected die set carrying position, said first and second latch means each being movable to release the first and second die carrier handles for pivotal movement about the first and second pin means, said first and second latch means each including an abutment means, said abutment means being connected to said second die adjacent the first and second pin mans and relatively movable with respect to the first and second die carrier handles between a first position at which said first and second die carrier handles are engaged with said abutment means and a second position spaced from said first position at which said first and second die carrier handles are spaced from engagement with said abutment means, said first and second die carrier handles being maintained from pivotal movement about said first and second shaft means at the first position and free to pivot about said first and second pin means at the second position.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.