Ironing press laminar flow lubrication ring
AssigneeReynolds Metals Company
InventorsJames L. Kunka, Donald R. Haulsee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lubrication ring, for use in a fabrication press having an assembly with a main cavity and a die nib disposed on a surface of the cavity for ironing a workpiece passing through the cavity, includes a groove surrounding a periphery of and opening into the main cavity of the assembly. At least one passage is provided for introducing a fluid into the groove so as to flow within the groove. The fluid is introduced into the groove at a velocity which causes a centrifugal force exceeding the force of gravity to act on the fluid flowing in the groove.
Claims20
A lubrication ring for use in a fabrication press including an assembly having a main cavity and a die nib disposed on a surface of said cavity for ironing a workplace passing through said cavity, comprising:
- a groove surrounding a periphery of said main cavity and opening into said cavity;
- and
- at least one passage for introducing a fluid into said groove so as to flow within said groove;
- wherein a centrifugal force on said fluid flowing in said groove exceeds a gravitational force acting on said fluid.
An ironing press comprising:
- an assembly having a cylindrical main cavity with a substantially horizontal main axis and a plurality of die nibs disposed on a surface of said cavity;
- a press for forcing a workpiece through said cavity;
- a groove encircling said main cavity and forming a continuous opening in the surface of said cavity;
- and
- a plurality of passages disposed substantially tangential to said groove for introducing a continuous flow of fluid into said groove at a velocity such that said fluid flows in a single radial direction within said groove and a centrifugal force corresponding to said velocity and which exceeds a gravitational force acts on said fluid flowing in said groove;
- wherein fluid flowing from said groove opening maintains a substantially laminar flow over said die nib.
A method of lubrication in a sheet metal forming press having walls defining a main cavity having a longitudinal axis, a toroidal die nib disposed on the interior surface of the cavity for forming a workpiece passing axially through the cavity, and a groove which surrounds and opens into the cavity, which method comprises the steps of:
- introducing a fluid into the groove in such a direction and at such a velocity as to cause fluid in the groove to rotate circumferentially about the axis of the cavity, with the velocity of the rotating fluid being sufficient to create a high centrifugal force urging the fluid into continuous contact with the radially outer surface of the groove, and
- flowing the rotating fluid out of the groove and onto the nib, with the velocity of the rotating fluid being sufficient to create a high centrifugal force urging the fluid into continuous and intimate contact with the radially inner surface of the nib, thereby completely and uniformly coating that nib surface with a layer of rotating fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.