US 6,186,061 B1 · Press bearing lubrication system

Abstract

A plurality of hydrostatic bearing pads are each integrally formed in a respective pin or journal member being used within a mechanical press machine. The hydrostatic bearing pads are supplied with pressurized fluid sufficient to create a combined hydrostatic and hydrodynamic effect between the opposed bearing surfaces of the pin and an associated bushing. The hydrostatic bearing pads are used in conjunction with rotational and oscillating bearings in which relatively little rotation, oscillation, or slow rotational speeds exist or where it is desired to minimize the effects of hydrodynamic action which creates bearing “lift off” on journal bearings. These types of bearings are particularly associated with crankshaft and connection journal bearings, connection pins, and pivot pins used by a rocker-type coupling assembly that couples a weight assembly to the press machine piston or slide assembly or drive assembly.

Claims40

Dependent claims

A press, comprising:

a frame structure with a crown and a bed;
a slide associated with the frame structure for reciprocating movement in opposed relation to said bed;
a drive means associated with said frame structure for reciprocating said slide;
a balance means associated with said frame structure for balancing said slide;
a coupling means for coupling said balance means to said drive means, said coupling means comprising:
a rocker assembly, said rocker assembly including a plurality of pivot pins,
a first link assembly for coupling said drive means to said rocker assembly, said first link assembly including a first plurality of connection pins, and
a second link assembly for coupling said balance means to said rocker assembly, said second link assembly including a second plurality of connection pins;
a plurality of hydrostatic bearing pads each integrally associated with a respective pin from among said first plurality of connection pins, said second plurality of connection pins, and said plurality of pivot pins and each arranged to facingly oppose the bearing surface of an associated bushing disposed about said respective pin;
and
means for providing each one of said plurality of hydrostatic bearing pads with pressurized fluid at least sufficient to create a hydrostatic bearing between the pin associated therewith and its respective bushing.

8 more elements

A press, comprising:

a frame structure with a crown and a bed;
a slide associated with said frame structure for reciprocating movement in opposed relation to said bed;
a drive means associated with said frame structure for reciprocating said slide, said drive means including a piston assembly coupled to said slide;
a weight assembly;
a coupling means, including at least one connection assembly, for coupling said weight assembly to said piston assembly in a manner defining a balancing relationship between said weight assembly and said slide, each one of said at least one connection assembly comprising:
a rocker arm pivotingly mounted to an associated pivot pin, said pivot pin including a hydrostatic bearing formation arranged to facingly oppose the bearing surface of an associated bushing disposed about said pivot pin,
a first linking member connected at one end thereof to said rocker arm using a respective one of an associated connection pin pair and connected at another end thereof to said piston assembly using a respective another of the associated connection pin pair, each one of said connection pin pair associated therewith including a respective hydrostatic bearing formation arranged to facingly oppose the bearing surface of an associated bushing disposed about said connection pin, and
a second linking member connected at one end thereof to said rocker arm using a respective one of an associated connection pin pair and connected at another end thereof to said weight assembly using a respective another of the associated connection pin pair, each one of said connection pin pair associated therewith including a respective hydrostatic bearing formation arranged to facingly oppose the bearing surface of an associated bushing disposed about said connection pin;
and
means for providing each one of said hydrostatic bearing formations associated with the at least one connection assembly of said coupling means with pressurized fluid at least sufficient to create a hydrostatic bearing between the pin associated therewith and its respective bushing.

7 more elements

A bearing system for use in a press machine, said press machine including a slide;

a drive means including a piston assembly for operatively reciprocating the slide;
a weight assembly;
a rocker assembly including a plurality of pivot pins;
a first link assembly for coupling said piston assembly to said rocker assembly using a first plurality of connection pins;
and a second link assembly for coupling said weight assembly to said rocker assembly using a second plurality of connection pins, said bearing system comprising:
a plurality of hydrostatic bearing formations each integrally associated with a respective one of said plurality of pivot pins and each arranged to facingly oppose the bearing surface of an associated bushing disposed about said respective pivot pin;
a plurality of hydrostatic bearing formations each integrally associated with a respective one of said first plurality of connection pins and each arranged to facingly oppose the bearing surface of an associated bushing disposed about said respective connection pin;
a plurality of hydrostatic bearing formations each integrally associated with a respective one of said second plurality of connection pins and each arranged to facingly oppose the bearing surface of an associated bushing disposed about said respective connection pin;
and
means for providing each one of said hydrostatic bearing formations with pressurized fluid at least sufficient to create a hydrostatic bearing between the pin associated therewith and its respective bushing.

7 more elements

A bearing system for use in a press machine, said press machine including a slide;

a drive means including a piston assembly for operatively reciprocating the slide;
a weight assembly;
and at least one connection assembly for coupling said weight assembly to said piston assembly, each one of said at least one connection assembly comprising a rocker arm pivotingly mounted to an associated pivot pin, a first linking member connected at respective ends thereof to said rocker arm and said piston assembly using a pair of connection pins associated therewith, and a second linking member connected at respective ends thereof to said rocker arm and said weight assembly using a pair of connection pins associated therewith, said bearing system comprising:
a plurality of hydrostatic bearing formations each integrally associated with a respective pivot pin of an associated rocker arm of a corresponding one of said at least one connection assembly and arranged to facingly oppose the bearing surface of an associated bushing disposed about said respective pivot pin;
a plurality of hydrostatic bearing formations each integrally associated With a respective one of the pair of connection pins of an associated first linking member of a corresponding one of said at least one connection assembly and arranged to facingly oppose the bearing surface of an associated bushing disposed about said respective connection pin;
a plurality of hydrostatic bearing formations each integrally associated with a respective one of the pair of connection pins of an associated second linking member of a corresponding one of said at least one connection assembly and arranged to facingly oppose the bearing surface of an associated bushing disposed about said respective connection pin;
and
means for providing each one of said hydrostatic bearing formations with pressurized fluid at least sufficient to create a hydrostatic bearing between the pin associated therewith and its respective bushing.

5 more elements

A press, comprising:

a frame structure with a crown and a bed;
a slide associated with the frame structure for reciprocating movement in opposed relation to said bed;
a drive means associated with said frame structure for reciprocating said slide, said drive means including a piston assembly coupled to said slide;
a balance means associated with said frame structure for balancing said slide;
a coupling means for coupling said balance means to said piston assembly, said coupling means comprising:
a rocker assembly, said rocker assembly including a plurality of pivot journal members;
a first link assembly for coupling said piston assembly to said rocker assembly using a first plurality of connection journal members;
and
a second link assembly for coupling said balance means to said rocker assembly using a second plurality of connection journal members;
a plurality of hydrostatic bearing formations each integrally associated with a respective journal member from among said first plurality of connection journal members, said second plurality of connection journal members, and said plurality of pivot journal members and each arranged to facingly oppose the bearing surface of an associated bushing disposed about said respective journal member;
and
means for providing each one of said plurality of hydrostatic bearing formations with pressurized fluid at least sufficient to create a hydrostatic bearing between the journal member associated therewith and its respective bushing.

9 more elements

A bearing system for use in a press machine, said press machine including a slide;

a drive means including a piston assembly for operatively reciprocating the slide;
a weight assembly;
a rocker assembly including a plurality of pivot journal members;
a first link assembly for coupling said piston assembly to said rocker assembly using a first plurality of connection journal members;
and a second link assembly for coupling said weight assembly to said rocker assembly using a second plurality of connection journal members, said bearing system comprising:
a plurality of hydrostatic bearing formations each integrally associated with a respective one of said plurality of pivot journal members and each arranged to facingly oppose the bearing surface of an associated bushing disposed about said respective pivot journal member;
a plurality of hydrostatic bearing formations each integrally associated with a respective one of said first plurality of connection journal members and each arranged to facingly oppose the bearing surface of an associated bushing disposed about said respective connection journal member;
a plurality of hydrostatic bearing formations each integrally associated with a respective one of said second plurality of connection journal members and each arranged to facingly oppose the bearing surface of an associated bushing disposed about said respective connection journal member;
and
means for providing each one of said hydrostatic bearing formations with pressurized fluid at least sufficient to create a hydrostatic bearing between the journal member associated therewith and its respective bushing.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Press bearing lubrication system

Life of this patent

Press bearing lubrication system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims40