# US 5,706,696 A · Modular pressure set and system for stamping press > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,706,696 A - Document ID: US5706696A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/707,855 - Filed: 1996-09-09 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1996-09-09 - Inventors: Wendell J. Wagner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5706696A ## CPC - B21D 22/02: Stamping using rigid devices or tools - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) ## Abstract A pressure set for use in a stamping press has a pressure cylinder placed between an upper and lower plate of the pressure set. In addition, an adjustable pressure regulating means is coupled to the cylinder for changing the pressure applied between the upper and lower plates. A controller coupled to the adjustable pressure regulator adjusts the pressure in the pressure cylinder to provide a predetermined pressure between the upper and lower plates. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A removable pressure set for placement between a die and a surface of a press comprising: an upper plate for placement adjacent the die; a lower plate for placement against the surface of the press; a pressure cylinder placed between said upper plate and said lower plate; an adjustable pressure regulator coupled to said cylinder that controls the pressure applied between said upper plate and said lower plate; and a computer controller coupled to said adjustable pressure regulator that communicates to said adjustable pressure regulator to provide a predetermined pressure between said upper plate and lower plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A pressure set as recited in claim 1, wherein said pressure cylinder contains hydraulic fluid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A pressure set as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of die cylinders mounted between said upper plate and said lower plate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A pressure set as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of die set bushings, said die set bushings being mounted between said upper plate and said lower plate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) A pressure set as recited in claim 2, wherein said pressure regulator comprises a plurality of adjustable metering components coupled within said pressure cylinder to control a rate of flow of hydraulic fluid within said pressure cylinder. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A pressure set as recited in claim 5, wherein said adjustable metering components comprise a first tube having a plurality of orifices and a second tube having a plurality of metering slots, said first tube and said second tube being relatively adjustable so that an alignment of said slots with said orifices may be changed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A pressure set as recited in claim 6, wherein said pressure cylinder comprises a piston operatively coupled to said upper plate and within said first tube, and a fluid accumulator, so that when a pressure is placed on said upper plate, said piston forces hydraulic fluid to flow though said slots and orifices at a rate of flow depending on said alignment of said slots with said orifices. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) A pressure set as recited in claim 5, wherein said adjustable pressure regulator comprises an adjuster external to said pressure cylinder and coupled to said adjustable metering components, said adjuster adjusting said adjustable metering components to control said flow. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A pressure set as recited in claim 8, wherein said adjuster comprises a first gear concentric with said pressure cylinder. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) A pressure set as recited in claim 8, wherein said adjustable pressure regulator further comprises a motor and a second gear coupled to said motor, said first gear cooperating with said second gear to adjust said adjustable metering components. ### Claim 11 A removable pressure set for placement between a die and a surface of a press comprising: an upper plate for placement adjacent the die; a lower plate for placement against the surface of the press; a pressure cylinder placed between said upper plate and said lower plate; pressure regulating means coupled to said cylinder for remotely controlling a pressure applied between said upper plate and said lower plate; and computer control means coupled to said adjustable pressure regulating means for communicating with said adjustable pressure regulating means to provide a predetermined pressure between said upper plate and lower plate; said pressure regulating means comprises internal pressure adjustment means coupled within said pressure cylinder for regulating the pressure within said pressure cylinder and external adjustment means coupled to said internal pressure adjustment means for adjusting said internal pressure adjustment means; said external adjustment means comprises a motor coupled to said internal pressure adjustment means and a first gear coupled to said internal pressure adjustment means and a second gear coupled to said motor, said first gear cooperating with said second gear to adjust said internal adjustment means. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A pressure set as recited in claim 11, further comprising a plurality of die cylinders mounted between said upper plate and said lower plate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A pressure set as recited in claim 11, further comprising a plurality of die set bushings, said die set bushings being mounted between said upper plate and said lower plate. ### Claim 14 A removable pressure set for placement between a die and a surface of a press comprising: a support frame; and a plurality of pressure modules supported by said frame, each of said pressure modules having independently remotely adjustable pressures; each of said modules having an upper plate for placement adjacent the die; a lower plate for placement on the surface of the press; a pressure cylinder placed between said upper plate and said lower plate; and an adjustable pressure regulator coupled to said cylinder that controls the pressure applied between said upper plate and said lower plate; said adjustable pressure regulator comprises a plurality of adjustable metering components coupled within said pressure cylinder to control the pressure within said pressure cylinder; said adjustable metering components comprise a first tube having a plurality of orifices and a second tube having a plurality of metering slots, said first tube and said second tube being relatively adjustable so that an alignment of said slots with said orifices may be changed; said pressure cylinder comprises a piston operatively coupled to said upper plate and within said first tube, and a fluid accumulator, so that when a pressure is placed on said upper plate, said piston forces a hydraulic fluid to flow though said slots and orifices at a predetermined rate depending on said alignment of said slots with said orifices; said pressure regulator comprises an adjuster external to said pressure cylinder and coupled to said adjustable metering components; said adjuster comprises a first gear concentric with said pressure cylinder; said adjustable pressure regulator further comprises a motor and a second gear coupled to said motor, said first gear cooperating with said second gear to adjust said adjustable metering components. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A pressure set as recited in claim 14, further comprising a plurality of die cylinders mounted between said upper plate and said lower plate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) A pressure set as recited in claim 14, further comprising a plurality of die set bushings, said die set bushings being mounted between said upper plate and said lower plate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) A pressure set as recited in claim 14, further comprising a controller coupled to said adjustable pressure regulator to communicate to said adjustable pressure regulator to provide a predetermined pressure between said upper plate and lower plate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) A pressure set as recited in claim 14, further comprising a connector coupled to said frame for electrically coupling said motor to said controller. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) A pressure set as recited in claim 17, wherein said controller comprises a programmable computer. ### Claim 20 A stamping press having a lower die comprising: a press bed; a ram; a frame supported by said press bed; and a removable pressure set having a plurality of independently remotely adjustable pressure modules supported by said frame, each of said pressure modules having an upper plate for placement adjacent the lower die; a lower plate for placement on the press bed; a pressure cylinder placed between said upper plate and said lower plate; and an adjustable pressure regulator coupled to said cylinder that controls a pressure applied between said upper plate and said lower plate. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A stamping press as recited in claim 20, further comprising a plurality of die cylinders mounted between said upper plate and said lower plate. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) A stamping press as recited in claim 20, further comprising a plurality of die set bushings, said die set bushings being mounted between said upper plate and said lower plate. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) A stamping press as recited in claim 20, further comprising a controller coupled to said adjustable pressure regulator to communicate to said adjustable pressure regulator to provide a predetermined pressure between said upper plate and lower plate. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) A stamping press as recited in claim 20, wherein said pressure regulator comprises adjustable metering components coupled within said pressure cylinder to control a pressure within said pressure cylinder. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) A stamping press as recited in claim 23, wherein said controller comprises a programmable computer. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) A stamping press as recited in claim 24, wherein said adjustable metering components comprise a first tube having a plurality of orifices and a second tube having a plurality of metering slots, said first tube and said second tube being relatively adjustable so that an alignment of said slots with said orifices may be changed. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) A stamping press as recited in claim 24, wherein said pressure regulator comprises an adjuster external to said pressure cylinder and coupled to said adjustable metering components. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) A stamping press as recited in claim 26, wherein said pressure cylinder comprises a piston operatively coupled to said upper plate and within said first tube, and a fluid accumulator, so that when a pressure is placed on said upper plate, said piston forces a hydraulic fluid to flow though said slots and orifices at a predetermined rate depending on said alignment of said slots with said orifices. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) A stamping press as recited in claim 27, wherein said adjuster comprises a first gear concentric with said pressure cylinder. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) A stamping press as recited in claim 29, wherein said adjustable pressure regulator further comprises a motor and a second gear coupled to said motor, said first gear cooperating with said second gear to adjust said adjustable metering components. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) A stamping press as recited in claim 30, further comprising a connector coupled to said frame for electrically coupling said motor to said controller. ### Claim 32 A method for using a stamping press comprising the steps of: placing a lower plate of a removable pressure set on a surface of a press, said pressure set having a module with an adjustable pressure cylinder; placing a die against an upper plate of said pressure set; remotely adjusting said adjustable pressure cylinders to provide a predetermined pressure between said upper plate and said lower plate during stamping; and stamping a part. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) A method as recited in claim 32, wherein said pressure set further comprises adjustable metering components, wherein said adjustable metering components comprise a first tube having a plurality of orifices and a second tube having plurality of metering slots, said step of remotely adjusting comprising the steps of moving said first tube relative to said second tube to adjust an alignment of said orifices with said slots. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) A method as recited in claim 33, wherein said pressure set further comprises a upper plate, a second plate, a piston and an accumulator, said piston operatively coupled to said upper plate and within said first tube, said step of remotely adjusting comprising the steps of placing a pressure on said upper plate, moving said piston in response to said pressure and forcing hydraulic fluid to flow though said slots and orifices at a predetermined rate depending on said alignment of said slots with said orifices. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) A method as recited in claim 33, wherein said adjustable pressure cylinder comprises a pressure regulator, said pressure regulator comprises an adjuster external to said pressure cylinder and coupled to said adjustable metering components, said adjuster comprises a first gear concentric with said pressure cylinder, said adjustable pressure regulator further comprises a motor and a second gear coupled to said motor, said step of remotely adjusting further comprising energizing said motor, rotating said second gear, rotating said first gear and thereby adjusting said adjustable metering components.