Modular spring retainer and method for metal forming dies and the like

A modular spring retainer for metal forming dies of the type having first and second die plates mounted in a spaced apart relationship for mutual reciprocation between converged and diverged positions, and a spring member disposed operatively between the first and second die plates for biasing the same to the diverged position, comprising:

• a base having a first face, a second face shaped to abut an adjacent face of the first die plate, a connector portion for detachably mounting said base to the first die plate, a central aperture extending axially through said base and including a threaded interior surface, and a lock dowel aperture extending axially through said first face of said base at a location laterally adjacent to said central aperture such that said lock dowel aperture forms a window through said threaded interior surface of said central aperture and communicates with said central aperture;
• an elongate, cylindrically-shaped spring retainer having a housing portion with a hollow interior shaped for closely receiving the spring member therein, an end cap portion configured to abuttingly support thereon an associated end of the spring member, and a threaded exterior portion which threadedly engages said threaded interior surface of said central aperture in said base, whereby rotation of said spring retainer relative to said base adjusts the longitudinal position of the spring member with respect to the first die plate;
• and
• a locking dowel pin closely received in said lock dowel aperture in said base and having an unthreaded exterior surface portion thereof which protrudes through said window in said central aperture of said base and abuttingly engages an adjacent portion of said threaded exterior surface of said spring retainer to securely, yet detachably, retain the spring member in a selected longitudinal position relative to the first die plate.

In a method for making a metal forming die of the type having first and second die plates mounted in a spaced apart relationship for mutual reciprocation between converged and diverged positions, and a spring member disposed operatively between the first and second die plates for biasing the same to the diverged position, the improvement comprising:

• forming a base with a first face, a second face shaped to abut an adjacent face of the first die plate, a connector portion for detachably mounting the base to the first die plate, a central aperture extending axially through the base and including a threaded interior surface, and a lock dowel aperture extending axially through the first face of the base at a location laterally adjacent to the central aperture such that the lock dowel aperture forms a window through the threaded interior surface of the central aperture and communicates with the central aperture;
• positioning the second face of the base abuttingly against the adjacent face of the first die plate;
• detachably, yet securely, connecting the base with the first die plate;
• forming an elongate, cylindrically-shaped spring retainer having a housing portion with a hollow interior closely receiving the spring member therein, an end cap portion abuttingly supporting thereon an associated end of the spring member, and a threaded exterior portion;
• threadedly engaging the threaded exterior portion of the spring retainer with the threaded interior surface of the central aperture in the base, whereby rotation of the spring retainer relative to the base adjusts the longitudinal position of the spring member with respect to the first die plate;
• forming a locking dowel pin with an unthreaded exterior portion;
• and
• inserting the locking dowel pin in the lock dowel aperture in the base, such that the unthreaded exterior surface portion of the locking dowel pin protrudes through the window in the central aperture of the base and abuttingly engages an adjacent portion of the threaded exterior surface of the spring retainer to securely, yet detachably, retain the spring member in a selected longitudinal position relative to the first die plate.