US RE34,621 E · Self equalizing piercing machine

Abstract

An apparatus for performing two successive work operations on a workpiece in an equalized force mode. The apparatus includes a base; a yoke mounted for bi-directional movement on the base and carrying a two-sided punch on its upper face; a ram member mounted within the yoke and including two bores opening in opposite faces of the ram member and slidably receiving two pistons secured to the opposite end walls of the yoke; and means for delivering pressurized fluid through the pistons to sealed pressure chambers defined at the inner ends of the pistons between the piston inner ends and the respective confronting faces of the ram to selectively move a pair of die members carried on the upper face of the ram into and out of punching coacting with the double punch carried on the yoke. A force balance system acts to initially move the ram on the yoke in response to the introduction of pressurized fluid to either sealed chamber whereafter, upon engagement of suitable stop means, the pressure fluid acts to move the yoke on the base in a complimentary direction to bring one of the punches into coaction with one of the die members whereafter the pressure fluid is routed to the other sealed chamber and a similar sequence follows to achieve the second punching operation involving the double punch and the other die member.

Claims21

Dependent claims

Apparatus for performing work operations on a workpiece in an equalized force mode so as to prevent distortion of the workpiece during the work operations, said apparatus comprising:

(A) a base;
(B) a yoke member mounted for bi-directional movement on said base along a first axis;
(C) a ram member mounted for bi-directional movement on said yoke along a second axis parallel to said first axis;
(D) first and second fabricating tools mounted in spaced relation on one of said members;
(E) a third fabricating tool mounted on the other of said members in a postion between but spaced from said first and second tools and respectively coactable with said first and second tools to perform respective first and second work operations on the workpiece;
and
(F) means operative to move said ram on said yoke and said yoke on said base in complimental converging directions effective to bring said third tool into coaction with said first tool whereby to perform the first work operation on the workpiece, and thereafter operative to move said ram on said yoke and said yoke on said base in complimental converging directions effective to bring said third tool into coaction with said second tool, whereby to perform the second work operation on the workpiece.

4 more elements

An apparatus for performing a work operation on a workpiece comprising:

a yoke defining an axially extending bore and a pair of laterally spaced, axially extending flat elongated bearing surfaces;
a ram mounted for reciprocal axial movement in said bore;
power means for moving said ram member axially within said bore;
a first fabricating tool on said yoke;
a second fabricating tool on said ram operative to coact with said first fabricating tool to perform the work operation on the workpiece;
an axially extending base defining a pair of laterally spaced, axially extending flat elongated bearing surfaces, each arranged in confronting relation to a respective one of said flat elongated yoke bearing surfaces and coacting with the respective yoke bearing surface to define a pair of laterally spaced elongated bearing ways between said base and said yoke;
and
elongated bearing means disposed in each elongated bearing way in rolling contact with said flat bearing surfaces to allow low friction axial movement of said yoke on said base.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Self equalizing piercing machine

Life of this patent

Self equalizing piercing machine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21