HIGH-TEMPERATURE HIGH-PRESSURE PRESSES (HTHP) PRESSES, SYSTEMS FOR HTHP PRESSES AND RELATED METHODS
A press, an automated loading system for a press and related methods are provided including a loading system having a first assembly configured to carry a reaction cell to an anvil of a press base and a second assembly configured to assist in positioning and orientating the reaction cell on the anvil. In one embodiment, the first assembly may include a trolley displaceable along a guide member to carry the reaction cell to the anvil. The first and second assemblies may each include guide members that are displaceable relative to the anvil that are configured to position the reaction cell at a desired location and orientation on the anvil. In one embodiment, each of the guide members include arms that engage distinct sides of a cubic reaction cell. A clearing mechanism may also be incorporated to clear the surface of the anvil during operation of the system.
The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/738,647 filed Jan. 10, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates to high-temperature, high-pressure presses including systems for loading cubes to be pressed thereby and related methods.
BACKGROUNDHigh pressure presses have been used for decades in the manufacture of synthetic diamond. Such presses are capable of exerting a high pressure and high temperature on a volume of carbonaceous material to create conditions for sintering polycrystalline diamond. Known designs for high pressure presses include, but are not limited to, the belt press, the tetrahedral press, and the cubic press.
In the operation of conventional presses, the reaction cell is conventionally placed on an anvil 24 (i.e., on the lowermost anvil of the press) by an operator of the press. Typically, to ensure correct positioning of the reaction cell, the operator uses a spacer or a template structure configured to help place the reaction cell at a specified position on the supporting anvil and in a predetermined orientation with respect to one or more of the anvils 24. Positioning of the reaction cell by hand, even when using precision templates or spacers, often results in inconsistencies in the placement of the reaction cell relative to each of the anvils 24. For example, the pistons may have variation in their positioning when they return to a “rest” state from one cycle to another, thereby making the method of using a template inaccurate. Additionally, human error inevitably impacts the placement of a reaction cell regardless of how careful an operator is.
Improper placement of the reaction cell can affect the operations of the press and, importantly, affect the quality of the synthetic diamond material being produced. Furthermore, in order to properly position the reaction cell, an operator has to position their body between adjacent press bases and reach in towards the anvils. This can be difficult from an ergonomic standpoint and can also be a safety hazard in certain situations. Additionally, hand placement and alignment of the reaction cell is not a particularly fast process and may be a limiting factor in the production efficiency of synthetic diamond or other superabrasive compacts.
It is a desire within the industry to continually improve the process of fabricating synthetic diamond and other superabrasive compacts, including providing methods, components and systems that, among other things, may help to improve the safe conditions of workers, improve the consistent quality of the work product, and improve the efficiency of the manufacturing process.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with the present invention, embodiments of a high-temperature, high-pressure (HTHP) press, a loading system, and related methods are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, an automated loading system for a HTHP press is provided. The system includes a first assembly comprising a support member, a trolley displaceable relative to the support member and a positioning mechanism coupled with the trolley configured to carry a reaction cell. The system further includes a second assembly comprising a bracket, a body portion displaceable relative to the bracket, an alignment guide and a first positioning guide configured to cooperate with the positioning mechanism of the first assembly to position a reaction cell carried by the positioning mechanism at a desired location relative to a defined component of a HTHP press.
In other embodiments, other features and components may be included. For example the first assembly may further include a guide member coupled to the support member, the trolley being slidably coupled with the guide member.
The positioning mechanism may include a base member and a second positioning guide movably coupled with the base member. The first positioning guide may include a pair of guide arms configured to engage two distinct sides of a cubic reaction cell while the second positioning guide may also include a pair of guide arms configured to engage two other distinct sides of a cubic reaction cell.
In one embodiment, a first actuator may be configured to displace the trolley along the guide member and a second actuator may be configured to displace the second positioning guide relative to the base member.
The second assembly may comprise a pair of arms pivotally coupled between the bracket and the body portion to form a multiple bar linkage. A third actuator or a dyad is configured to displace the pair of arms between at least two different positions.
The loading system may also include a clearing mechanism associated with the second assembly. In one embodiment, the clearing mechanism includes a sweeper and another actuator configured to displace the sweeper between at least two positions relative to the body portion of the second assembly.
The loading system may include a coupling assembly configured to couple the support member of the first assembly to a component of a HTHP press such as a press base or a piston. In one embodiment the coupling assembly includes a first body portion coupled with the support member and a second body portion configured to be coupled with a component of a HTHP press such as a press base or a piston. One of the first body portion and the second body portion may include a latching member and the other of the first body portion and the second body portion may include a pin to be engaged by the latching member. Additionally the first body portion may include a first engagement structure and the second body portion may include a second engagement structure sized and configured to mate with the first engagement structure.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a high-temperature, high-pressure press is provided. The HTHP press includes a first press base having a piston and an anvil coupled with the piston and an automated loading system. The automated loading system includes a first assembly and a second assembly associated with the first press base. The first assembly includes a support member, a trolley displaceable relative to the support member and a positioning mechanism coupled with the trolley configured to carry a reaction cell to the anvil of the first press base. The second assembly includes a bracket coupled with the first press base, a body portion displaceable relative to the bracket, an alignment guide configured to engage a surface of the anvil and a first positioning guide configured to cooperate with the positioning mechanism of the first assembly to position a reaction cell at a desired location on the anvil.
The press may also include any of the various features or components described herein with respect to the loading system. In one particular embodiment, the press may be configured as a cubic press having six press bases.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, a method of operating a high-pressure, high-temperature press is provided. The method includes positioning a reaction cell on a first assembly of a loading system. The reaction cell is carried on a trolley of the first assembly to a location adjacent an anvil of a press base of the HTHP press. A first guide member associated with a second assembly is positioned at a desired location relative to the anvil and the reaction cell is placed on the anvil in a desired position and orientation by engaging the reaction cell with the first guide member and with a second guide member associated with the first assembly. The first guide member and the second guide member are retracted while leaving the reaction cell on the anvil and the reaction cell is subject to a HTHP process.
In one embodiment, the method includes actuating a clearing mechanism associated with the second assembly to remove the reaction cell subsequent the HTHP process. In another embodiment, the method includes actuating a clearing mechanism associated with the second assembly to sweep a surface of the anvil prior to placing the reaction cell on the anvil.
Features, aspects and acts of any of the various embodiments described herein may be combined, without limitation, with other described embodiments.
The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:
Referring to
Each press base 102A and 102B may include, for example, a body portion 104 which houses a piston 106 having an anvil 108 coupled therewith. The pistons 106 may be cooperatively actuated so that their associated anvils 108 are displaced and converge upon a central point, at which a reaction cell may be positioned. When actuated, the pistons 106 apply pressure to a reaction cell through their associated anvils 108 as part of a high-temperature, high-pressure (HTHP) process for forming polycrystalline diamond or another sintered material. As noted above, with a cubic press, six different press bases would be arranged such that their respective anvils converged to apply pressure on a reaction cell with pressure being applied substantially equally on each side of the reaction cell.
The loading system 100 includes a first assembly 110 configured to carry and place a reaction cell 112 on the face of an anvil (i.e., on the anvil 108 of press base 102B) and a second assembly 114 that helps to correctly position the reaction cell on the anvil 108. The second assembly 114 also ensures that the surface of the anvil is clear of debris or obstacles prior to a reaction cell 112 being positioned thereon, and further assists in removing the reaction cell 112 after it has been subjected to an HTHP process by the press.
Referring to
Attached to the trolley 124 is a positioning mechanism 130 that includes a base member 132, a positioning guide member 134 and an actuator 136 configured to displace the positioning guide member 134 relative to the base member 132. In one embodiment, the positioning guide member 134 may include a pair of forked arms 135 configured to engage two adjacent sides of a cubic reaction cell while the reaction cell 112 rests upon a surface of the base member 132. As will be discussed in further detail below, the positioning guide member 134 is configured to assist in the placement of the reaction cell on a surface of the anvil 108. The relative displacement of the positioning guide member 134 with respect to the base member 132 may be accomplished by a variety of mechanisms including bearing elements (e.g., ball bearings or roller bearings), an interface surface with reduced friction (e.g., Teflon) positioned between the two components or other dry contact materials as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art.
Referring to
Referring briefly to
In one embodiment, the first assembly 110 may include a quick-connect coupling assembly 140 for coupling with an associated press base 102B. For example, referring to
One or more engagement pins 148 may be associated with the first body member 142 and configured to engage associated holes, apertures or other keyed geometric features (referred to generally herein as apertures 150) to ensure a desired orientation and alignment of the first assembly 110 of the loading system 100 with a press base 102B. Similar features may be used in coupling the first body member 142 with the beam 120 and/or the second body member 144 with the flange 146 or other component if desired. A locking mechanism 152 may also be associated with the first body member 142. For example, a lever 154 or other actuating mechanism may be associated with one or more latching members 156 such that, when assembled with the engagement pins 148 positioned within their associated apertures 150, the lever 154 may be actuated causing the latching members 156 to engage an associated pin 158 or other structure and lock the first body member 142 in position relative to the second body member 144. Such an assembly acts as a quick connect/disconnect system and enables the loading system 100, or portions thereof, to be easily coupled to, and removed from, a press base for replacement, repair or routine maintenance. Additionally, such an assembly provides the ability to easily adapt the present loading system to an existing press without the need to substantially modify a press base or other component of the press. For example, the loading system 100, or various components thereof, may be directly coupled to a piston 106 of a press base and be fully supported by such a connection (e.g., the first assembly 110 being cantilevered therefrom). Of course other coupling mechanisms, including other quick connect/disconnect mechanisms, may be used for coupling the loading system, or any specific assemblies or components thereof, with a press.
Referring now to
A variety of components and mechanisms are coupled with the body portion 176. For example, a guide member 182 is coupled with the body portion and, in one embodiment, may include a pair of spaced apart arms 184. The guide member 182 may be used to help ensure proper alignment and positioning of the various components of the second assembly 114 relative to the anvil 108 of a press base 102B during operation of the loading system 100. For example, the spaced apart arms 184 may be configured to engage the peripheral sides of an anvil when the body portion 176 is rotated into a desired position (e.g., when the body portion 176 is rotated into the position shown in
It is noted that components of the first assembly 110 and the second assembly 114 may be adjustable (e.g., laterally, elevationally, angularly, etc.), and may even include additional components, for purposes of alignment and/or to enable the handling and accurate placement of a variety of different sized reaction cells. For example, in one embodiment, adjustment may be accomplished through control of the first and second assemblies 110 and 114 by providing a reference point relative to the position of the anvil and then tracking or sensing the position of certain components of the first and second assemblies (e.g., through the use of appropriate sensors or encoders) and then comparing them to an intended position of such components based on a desired placement of a reaction cell (in terms of location and orientation) relative to the reference point and in light of the size and shape of the reaction cell being positioned. In another embodiment, in order to accommodate various sizes of reaction cells, the bracket 188 and angled arms 189 may be adjustable relative to the body portion 176 in a direction towards and away from the anvil. For example, relative adjustment of up to 0.5 inches or greater may be used to accommodate different sized reaction cells. Such adjustment may be done by hand, or may be done using additional actuators. In one particular example, a ball screw actuator may be used to automatically adjust the position of the bracket 188 and arms 189 relative to the body portion 176 based on input to the system from an operator or from a computerized controller.
A clearing mechanism 190 may also be coupled with or otherwise associated with the body portion 176. The clearing mechanism 190 may include an actuator 192 such as a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder (or other appropriate mechanism such as set forth above) coupled with a sweeper 194. The sweeper 194 may be configured, for example, as a brush or as a squeegee. As will be discussed below, the clearing mechanism 190 may be used to remove reaction cells from an anvil as well as to ensure that the surface of the anvil is clear of debris or obstructions prior to placing a reaction cell thereon. As shown in
Referring now to
As seen in
Referring to
Once the surface of the anvil 108 is cleared and the sweeper 194 is retracted, the positioning mechanism 130 of the first assembly 110 may be actuated such that the base member 132 engages the anvil 108 as shown in
With the base member 132 engaged with the anvil 108, the guide member 134 may be displaced relative to the base member 132 causing the reaction cell to be transferred from the base member 132 to the anvil as shown in
As shown in
While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and have been described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.
Claims
1. A method of operating a high-pressure, high-temperature (HTHP) press, the method comprising:
- positioning a reaction cell on a first assembly of a loading system;
- carrying the reaction cell on a trolley of the first assembly to a location adjacent an anvil of a press base of the HTHP press;
- positioning a first guide member associated with a second assembly at a desired location relative to the anvil;
- placing the reaction cell on the anvil in a desired position and orientation by engaging the reaction cell with the first guide member and with a second guide member associated with the first assembly;
- retracting the first guide member and the second guide member while leaving the reaction cell on the anvil;
- subjecting the reaction cell to an HTHP process.
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising removing the reaction cell subsequent the HTHP process.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein removing the reaction cell includes repositioning the first guide member adjacent the anvil and displacing the reaction cell from the anvil with a mechanism associated with the second assembly.
4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:
- positioning a new reaction cell on the first assembly of the loading system;
- carrying the reaction cell on the trolley of the first assembly to a location adjacent the anvil of the press base;
- positioning the first guide member associated with the second assembly at a desired location relative to the anvil;
- placing the new reaction cell on the anvil in a desired position and orientation by engaging the reaction cell with the first guide member and with the second guide member;
- retracting the first guide member and the second guide member while leaving the new reaction cell on the anvil;
- subjecting the new reaction cell to an HTHP process.
5. The method according to claim 5, further comprising removing the new reaction cell subsequent its being subject to the HTHP process.
6. The method according to claim 2, further comprising sweeping a surface of the anvil prior to placing the reaction cell on the anvil.
7. The method according to claim 6, wherein sweeping a surface of the anvil prior to placing the reaction cell on the anvil includes displacing a sweeper associated with the second assembly across the surface of the anvil.
8. The method according to claim 2, wherein engaging the reaction cell with the first guide member and with the second guide member includes engaging at least a first side and a second side of the reaction cell with the first guide member and engaging at least a third side and a fourth side of the reaction cell with the second guide member.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein positioning a reaction cell on a first assembly of a loading system includes positioning a cubic reaction cell on the first assembly.
10. The method according to claim 2, further comprising collecting the reaction cell in a hopper adjacent the press base.
11. The method according to claim 1, wherein carrying the reaction cell on a trolley of the first assembly to a location adjacent an anvil of a press base of the HTHP press includes displacing the trolley along a rail.
12. The method according to claim 1, wherein positioning a first guide member associated with a second assembly at a desired location relative to the anvil includes pivoting a body portion of the second assembly from a first position to a second position.
13. The method according to claim 1, wherein subjecting the reaction cell to an HTHP process includes applying pressure to the reaction cell from at least six different sides of the reaction cell.
14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising positioning the trolley to the first location using a first actuator.
15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising positioning the first guide member at the desired location relative to the anvil using a second actuator.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 15, 2014
Publication Date: Oct 13, 2016
Inventors: Josh J. Nell (Herriman, UT), Derek M. Lontine (Orem, UT), Eric T. Johnson (Orem, UT), Scott Williams (Payson, UT), Tyson D. Bunker (Spanish Fork, UT), Kevin C. Bach (Orem, UT)
Application Number: 14/486,856