Wiping unit for ram of bodymaker
AssigneeSequa Corporation
InventorRalph Main
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bodymaker that transforms shallow metal cups into elongated can bodies includes a reciprocated ram which, during its forward stroke, drives the cups through a set of graduated circular dies. Ring shaped wipers engage the outer cylindrical surface of the ram and are arranged so that a first of the wipers scrapes tool coolant from the ram as the latter moves rearward and a second of the wipers scrapes hydraulic bearing fluid from the ram as the latter moves forward. The wipers are provided with flexible flaps that are in relatively low pressure frictional engagement with the ram resulting in only a very low temperature rise for the wipers to increase operating life thereof at production rates of approximately 400 per minute for cans of 21/2 inch diameter.
Claims18
A bodymaker for transforming metal cups into elongated can bodies, said bodymaker comprising:
- an elongated ram having a front end and a cylindrical outer surface, and a tool on said ram at said front end;
- a hydrostatic bearing surrounding said ram and including:
- pressurized hydraulic fluid supporting said ram for horizontal longitudinal reciprocating movement, said hydraulic fluid being applied at high pressure to said cylindrical outer surface of said ram;
- a groove disposed annularly and on a forward end of said bearing for relieving the high pressure of said hydraulic fluid at the forward end of said bearing;
- and
- a still disposed annularly, in close proximity to said cylindrical outer surface, and in front of said groove, for limiting a thickness of hydraulic fluid left on said cylindrical outer surface after said hydraulic fluid passes through said groove and said sill;
- drive means operatively engaged with said ram to impart said reciprocating movement to said ram to move said ram forward in a working stroke followed by rearward movement of said ram in a return stroke;
- a die set forward of said bearing for transforming said cups into said can bodies as said cups are driven one by one through said die set by said tool as said ram operates through said working stroke;
- a liquid coolant which impinges upon said outer surface at a location on said ram disposed in front of said bearing;
- first and second ring wipers having aligned respective first and second apertures through which said ram extends;
- said first and second ring wipers being self-biased into engagement with the cylindrical outer surface, and including respective flexible annular first and second flaps that define the respective first and second apertures;
- said first and second flaps having respective radially inward first and second free edges that are biased radially inward into low pressure engagement with said outer surface;
- said first flap being forward of said second flap and both of said flaps being in front of said bearing;
- said first flap being inclined rearward and radially outward from said first free edge to shear liquid coolant that is forward of said first flap from said outer surface is a forward direction as said ram moves rearward;
- said second flap being inclined forward and radially outward from said second free edge to shear hydraulic fluid that is rearward of said second flap from said outer surface in a rearward direction as said ram moves forward.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.