Abstract: An improved snubber apparatus for an air cushion within a forming press is provided. A floating piston is mounted within the air cushion and defines a snubbing chamber. As the air cushion returns to its top stroke position after yieldably deforming to cushion a member within the forming press, a movable piston within the air cushion contacts the floating piston, forcing it to move in the direction reducing the volume of the snubbing chamber. A check valve is provided between a cushion chamber and the snubbing chamber which maintains the pressure in the snubbing chamber at a minimum equivalent to the pressure in the cushion chamber. As the volume of the snubbing chamber is reduced, the air trapped within is rapidly compressed to a value snubbing the motion of the air cushion. The snubber valve is provided communicating with the snubbing chamber and maintained in a closed position by the air pressure within the cushion chamber.

Abstract: A forming machine (10) is provided for forming a finished part (12) from a flat blank (14). Draw stations (18-24) are provided to initially form the intermediate part. Each draw station includes a punch (44, 62, 66, 70') and a draw die (48, 64, 68, 72). Each punch defines a shoulder along its length to create a first step (60) in the side walls (26) of the intermediate part. In a subsequent draw stage, a draw punch (70') forms a second shoulder along its length to create a second step (100) in the side walls (26) of the intermediate part. A draw shoulder (61) on the draw punch (71') mates with the step (60) to maintain the concentric shape thereof. In the subsequent necking and final form stages (30, 32, 34) the punch employed also has a shoulder to permit variation of the force applied to the intermediate part between the step and bottom portion.

Abstract: A forming machine (10) is provided for forming a finished part (12) from a flat blank (14). Draw stations (18-24) are provided to initially form the intermediate part. Each draw station includes a punch (44, 62, 66, 70) and a draw die (48, 64, 68, 72). Each punch defines a shoulder along its length to create a step (60) in the side walls (26) of the intermediate part. In the subsequent necking and final form stages (30, 32, 34) the punch employed also has a shoulder to permit variation of the force applied to the intermediate part between the step and bottom portion.

Abstract: A forming machine (10) is provided for forming a finished part (12) from a flat blank (14). Draw stations (18-24) are provided to initially form the intermediate part. Each draw station includes a punch (44, 62, 66, 70') and a draw die (48, 64, 68, 72). Each punch defines a shoulder along its length to create a first step (60) in the side walls (26) of the intermediate part. In a subsequent draw stage, a draw punch (70') forms a second shoulder along its length to create a second step (100) in the side walls (26) of the intermediate part. A draw shoulder (61) on the draw punch (71') mates with the step (60) to maintain the concentric shape thereof. In the subsequent necking and final form stages (30, 32, 34) the punch employed also has a shoulder to permit variation of the force applied to the intermediate part between the step and bottom portion.

Abstract: An improved hydraulic press having adjustable preloading or prestressing means on the cylinder body to compensate for, and neutralize, any deflection or deformation of the cylinder body under the hydraulic pressures at which the press operates. The press is designed to operate at zero clearance.

Abstract: The application discloses a control system for a mechanical press in which two separate control circuits must simultaneously produce control signals to operate the ram through its ram cycle. If either of the control circuits produces a spurious output or intermediate signal or fails to produce a proper output or intermediate signal, circuitry will detect such occurrences and stop or prevent operation of the ram. A plurality of checking circuits constantly monitor input signals, intermediate signals, and output signals to insure that the press is not activated by spurious signals. A circuit is provided to allow the run buttons to be used to initiate an upstroke of the ram of the press, and an indicator transmits information to the operator of the press to indicate operational status of the press.

Abstract: The specification discloses a clutch and brake system wherein low and high speed clutch assemblies are mounted about a rotatable shaft. A brake assembly is disposed between the low and high speed clutch assemblies and includes friction surfaces mounted about the shaft. The brake assembly is normally biased to an engaged position to prevent rotation of the shaft. A housing is disposed about the brake assembly and annular pistons are slidably mounted in the housing on opposite sides of the brake assembly. The pistons are operable in response to fluid pressure to selectively disengage the brake assembly while engaging a selected one of the clutch assemblies. Structure is provided to interconnect the pistons to prevent simultaneous engagement of both the clutch assemblies. Structure is also provided to sense a temperature above a predetermined level in the pistons in order to cause deenergization of the clutch and brake system.

Abstract: A link drive mechanism for vertically moving the slide of a mechanical press comprises a power driven eccentric unit carried by a horizontal shaft arranged substantially vertically above the connecting means for the slide and having first and second adjacent eccentrics, a first eccentric strap carried by the first eccentric and extending downwardly therefrom and having first and second laterally arranged pivot connections, a first link pivotally connected between the first pivot connection and the connecting means for the slide, a second eccentric strap carried by the second eccentric and extending laterally therefrom, a substantially vertically extending fulcrum lever arranged laterally from the horizontal shaft and pivoted intermediate its ends and having one of its arms pivotally connected to the second eccentric strap, and a second link pivotally connected to the other arm of the fulcrum lever and to the second pivot connection of the first eccentric strap.

Abstract: A brake assembly for large mechanical presses of the type which employ large gears and operate at relatively high speeds. The brake assembly is especially adapted to reduce noises emanating from the brake housing of such presses due to sudden shocks and stresses placed on the mechanical gearing and drive means of the press when the reciprocating slide of the press delivers its power stroke for performing work functions on a workpiece supported on the bed of the press. The brake assembly and the clutch of the press are coupled to the main driveshaft of the press, and the brake assembly may comprise an integral unit with the clutch or it may be a separate unit.

Abstract: A sound abatement device for large mechanical presses of the type which employ large gears and operate at relatively high speeds. The device is especially adapted to reduce noises emanating from the enclosed crown of such presses where the press gearing, drive means and bearings are located, and, to this end, the device desirably is positioned in openings in the base of the enclosed crown through which the pitmans or connecting links for moving the slide or ram of the press extend, and through which the crown generated noises normally are released. The device, while being positioned in the openings through which the pitmans or connecting links extend, does not interfere with, or impede, the vertical and oscillating movements thereof.

Abstract: The specification discloses a low inertia clutch and brake system which includes a rotatable shaft and high speed and low speed clutch assemblies spaced apart along the shaft. A brake assembly is disposed between the high and low clutch assemblies and includes a stationary housing enclosing friction surfaces mounted about the shaft which are normally engaged with the housing to prevent rotation of the shaft. A pair of pistons are slidably mounted in the housing and are operable in response to fluid pressure to selectively disengage the brake assembly and to engage one of the clutch assemblies. Structure is provided to selectively apply fluid pressure to either of the pistons. The pistons include spring carrying rods which extend through the housing in order to normally bias the pistons toward the housing to normally engage the brake assembly.

Abstract: The specification discloses a transmission system for a press. A rotatable shaft is mounted within an oil lubrication housing and a flywheel is rotatably mounted in the housing about the shaft. A shaft extends through the oil housing for transmitting rotation to the flywheel within the oil housing. Low and high speed clutch assemblies are spaced apart along the shaft and include pistons selectively movable to engage the clutch assemblies. Gears are provided to transmit rotation from the flywheel to the clutch assemblies. A brake assembly is mounted between the clutch assemblies and includes friction surfaces carried about the shaft. The brake assembly also includes a stationary housing mounted about the friction surfaces and engaging the friction surfaces to brake the shaft when the friction surfaces are engaged. Brake plates are mounted on opposite sides of the brake assembly for causing engagement of the friction surfaces.

Abstract: High and low speed clutch assemblies are spaced apart along a rotatable shaft. Each of the clutch assemblies includes a plurality of annular friction plates which may be engaged by movement of annular pistons. A brake assembly is mounted between the clutch assemblies and includes friction surfaces carried about the rotatable shaft and annular brake plates mounted on opposite sides of the friction surfaces. A stationary housing is mounted about the brake assembly. Adjacent ones of the pistons and the brake plates are interconnected, such that the friction surfaces of the brake assembly are disengaged when either of the clutch assemblies are engaged by application of fluid pressure. The pistons and brake plates are spring-loaded such that when both of the clutch assemblies are disengaged, the brake plates move to engage the friction surfaces with the stationary housing to brake the shaft.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for blanking from coil stock blanks to be supplied to and formed by a transfer press having a transfer feed line through the transfer press along which the blanks are fed. The coil stock is fed along a coil stock feed line which is below the transfer feed line of the transfer press over a male blanking punch. A female blanking die is lowered from above the transfer feed line of the press over the male blanking punch for blanking blanks from the coil stock. The blanks so formed are elevated from the male blanking punch to the transfer feed line of the press for transfer thereof along the transfer feed line. The scrap of the coil stock resulting from such blanking operation is discharged along the coil stock feed line below the transfer feed line of the press so as not to interfere with the transfer of the blanks along the transfer feed line of the press.

Abstract: The specification discloses a method and system for detecting brake wear in a metal forming machine having a ram operable by a rotative drive and further having a brake for stopping the ram. The amount of rotation of the drive for the machine is determined from the time of energization of the brake to the time of stopping of the ram by the brake. This determined amount of rotation is compared with a predetermined magnitude. An alarm is generated as the determined amount of rotation of the drive exceeds the predetermined magnitude, thereby indicating excessive brake wear. Further operation of the ram is then prevented upon the generation of an alarm. The specification further discloses a check system for checking the operation of various components of the detection system prior to detecting of the brake wear.