Abstract: An improved workpiece ejecting system for presses includes an ejector piston hydraulically driven in response to reciprocation of the press slide in a manner whereby the motion of displacement of the ejector piston corresponds to the motion of displacement of the press slide during the stroke thereof, and the extent of displacement and velocity of the ejector piston are proportional to the corresponding characteristics of the slide. Ejector piston displacement is achieved by the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the ejector piston chamber during reciprocation of the press slide through its total stroke. Ejector pins of various lengths are selectively associated with the press tooling and ejector piston to provide for varying the length of the workpiece ejecting stroke.

Abstract: An improved hydraulic fluid shock dampening system is disclosed for a shearing press to minimize shock loading vibration, and the level of noise emanating upon breakthrough of the material being sheared. The system includes cylinder and piston units interposed between the press bed and slide, each providing a variable volume fluid receiving chamber from which fluid under pressure is expelled during movement of the slide toward the bed to achieve a shearing operation. A flow sensitive valve in communication with the chambers has a first fixed flow rate thereacross during the shearing operation, and prior to breakthrough, and is responsive to accelerated movement of the slide upon breakthrough to provide a second and substantially lower fixed flow rate thereacross during completion of the movement of the slide toward the press bed.

Abstract: A pair of press tools, such as punches, are mounted on a tool support for axial reciprocation between extended and retracted positions with respect to the support. The tool support may be defined by a press slide, bed or component part of a tooling package mountable thereon and is provided with a hydraulic fluid receiving cylinder for each of the tools. Each tool is interconnected with a piston received in the corresponding cylinder and the cylinders are in flow communication with one another. Accordingly, if one of the tools engages a workpiece before the other during operation of the press, the one tool is displaced in the direction of retraction causing the other tool to be displaced in the direction of extension until both tools engage the workpiece, thus to avoid eccentric loading of the press slide and frame.

Abstract: A double acting press is disclosed having upper and lower vertically reciprocable slides and a bolster assembly therebetween, which bolster and slides support tooling for cutting and drawing a cup-shaped article from a flat blank of sheet metal in response to a cycle of reciprocation of the upper and lower slides. The bolster assembly is releaseably clamped in place with respect to the press frame during press operation and is adapted to be released from the frame and supported for rolling movement laterally outwardly of the frame to facilitate tool inspection, maintenance and replacement operations. Tooling associated with the upper and lower slides is adapted to be supported by the bolster assembly so that the entire tool package is movable into and out of the press confines with the bolster assembly.

Abstract: A hydraulic fluid shock dampening system is disclosed for a shearing press to minimize shock and vibration imposed on the press following breakthrough of the material being sheared by cutting die components carried by the press bed and slide. The system includes cylinder and piston units interposed between the press bed and slide each providing a variable volume fluid receiving chamber from which fluid under pressure is expelled during movement of the slide toward the bed to achieve a shearing operation. A flow sensitive shutoff valve is responsive to accelerated movement of the slide upon breakthrough to block fluid flow from the chambers and thus restrain further slide movement toward the press bed. In preferred structural embodiments of the system, the cylinder and piston units, shutoff valve and fluid pressure accumulator components are structurally associated with a bolster plate mountable on a press, or with die components mountable on a bolster plate.

Abstract: The reciprocating slide of a mechanically driven press has a ball and socket type interconnection with the connecting rod of the press drive mechanism. The socket component of the interconnection provides a rotatable adjusting screw threadedly interengaged with an annular piston received in a cylinder component on the slide. A locking nut threadedly engages the adjusting screw and is rotatable relative thereto and to the piston to lock the adjusting screw against displacement relative to the piston. During normal press operation the locking nut is biased against a shoulder on the cylinder by hydraulic fluid under pressure in a variable volume chamber between the piston and cylinder components. In response to an overload on the slide, a pressure responsive relief valve releases hydraulic fluid from the chamber and enables relative movement between the piston and cylinder components and thus between the slide and connecting rod.

Abstract: The reciprocating slide of a mechanically driven press has a ball and socket type interconnection with the connecting rod of the press drive mechanism. The socket component of the interconnection provides a rotatable adjusting screw by which the shut height of the slide is adjustable, and a locking nut threadedly engages the adjusting screw and is rotatable relative thereto and to the slide to lock the adjusting screw against displacement relative to the slide during operation of the press.

Abstract: A press drive mechanism is disclosed having brake and clutch units including corresponding disc assemblies concentric with respect to the output shaft of the mechanism. A fluid operated piston-cylinder assembly concentric with the output shaft is operable to alternately actuate the brake and clutch units, and an auxiliary fluid operated piston-cylinder assembly is selectively operable to effect simultaneous actuation of the brake and clutch units.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated ejector mechanism is mounted on a press bed and includes a pair of opposed cams connected to the press slide for vertical displacement therewith. The cams actuate corresponding followers in the form of hydraulic pistons which operate together to hydraulically displace an ejector member during upward movement of the slide following a metalworking operation. The cam contours enable timing the ejector pin displacement with the press slide stroke so as to achieve optimum acceleration and deceleration of the stroke of the ejector pin.

Abstract: A unitary coining die assembly is provided which is mountable on the frame of an underdriven coining press independent of the press slide. The die assembly is positioned on the frame above the slide and is comprised of a mounting plate attached to the frame and a pair of support plates suspended therebeneath. An upper coining die is carried by the mounting plate, and a vertically displaceable lower coining die is carried by the lower support plate. A ring providing a die cavity cooperable with the coining dies is carried by the upper support plate. The support arrangement provides for the lower coining die to be pivotal laterally about an axis spaced from the die axis to facilitate access to the component parts. Further, the portion of the upper support plate is pivotal about the same axis to provide access to the die cavity ring and upper coining die.

Abstract: A high response relief or unloading valve is disclosed for use in a pressurized hydraulic system. The valve includes a housing supporting a reciprocable spool valve element having opposite ends cooperable with separate fluid receiving chambers in the housing and which chambers receive fluid at a given system pressure. The valve includes a common discharge passage for the chambers and to which one of the chambers is opened before the other and in response to fluid pressure in the other chamber exceeding the given system pressure. Movement of the spool element in the opening direction is accelerated by the decrease in fluid bias in the one chamber and the excess pressure in the other chamber, and the spool element is structured for the opening movement thereof to be decelerated following release of the fluid at excess pressure from the other chamber.

Abstract: A hydraulic pressure actuated fluid flow control circuit is connected to a press actuated overload cylinder and piston assembly. The fluid flow circuit including the cylinder and piston assembly are charged to a given pressure, and upon an overload on the press the cylinder and piston assembly operate to increase fluid pressure in the circuit. The circuit includes a high response fluid pressure actuated relief valve operable in response to such increase in system pressure to dump system fluid in a manner whereby the entire system pressure is released so as to accelerate opening of the relief valve and dumping of the system fluid.