Abstract: Hydraulic jacks, stands and other support structures for temporarily supporting and/or lifting the crosshead of a forging press or other components thereof are built-in at the foundation pit of the forging press. As the need arises to support or lift the lower crosshead during maintenance, repair or daylight adjustment procedures, the support and lifting implements can be rolled from under specially provided alcoves in the foundation pit to predetermined locations under the forging press. The permanent location of the support implements in the foundation pit reduces the down time of the forging press from a week or more to about one or two days.

Abstract: A table shift apparatus for large hydraulic presses employs two sets of cylinders for moving the working table of the press back and forth along a given path. To prevent ram buckling as would occur if rams or pistons were operated in compression, a first group of cylinders operated in tension only is provided for pulling the table in one direction while a second group of cylinders disposed at the other end of the path and also operated in tension is used for pulling the table back. While one group of cylinders is pulling the table the other group may assist the pulling operation by pushing the table as long as the applied hydraulic pressure is controlled to prevent buckling of its rams under all circumstances.

Abstract: A frame for a large 50-500 kiloton forging press including a pair of spaced horizontally crossheads which are interconnected by left and right upright tie-rod assemblies. The crosshead and tie-rod assemblies are connected to one another by way of yoke shaped couplings which are disposed around each end region of the upper and lower crossheads. The tie-rod assemblies which are constructed of a plurality of overlapping elongated plates are pivotally connected to the couplings. The absence of link pins for connecting the tie-rods and crossheads directly to one another improves the distribution of stresses in the frame of the forging press. Apart from the above, plates of the tie-rods are fabricated in sections which are interlinked by suitable link plates to produce sufficiently long tie-rods. The plates of the tie-rods are provided with more than one linking position to the crossheads to allow adjustment of the size of the daylight of the forging press.

Abstract: A guiding arrangement is provided for guiding the movement between the frame and other components of a forging press during the up and down movement that takes place during each forging press cycle. Upright left and right columns of the frame are constructed of multiple layers of tie-rods which are spaced from each other by the thickness of crosshead plates with which they are interlaced. The guiding arrangement includes a plurality of metal segments, resembling triangular plates, located between the tie-rod plates of the columns and pivotably mounted thereto. Each metal segment has a smooth edge which is oriented to slide smoothly up and down on sliding plates which are connected to forging press components. The pivoted mounting of the metal segments is inherently self aligning and the accessibility of the metal segments permits easy maintenance and repair.

Abstract: Each tie-rod bar or beam from which tie-rod assemblies for large forging presses are assembled is constructed of a middle section made of a lower yield strength alloy steel to which end sections made of steel alloy having comparatively higher yield strengths are welded. A link pin hole is formed in each end section for receiving a link bolt intended for securing a plurality of the tie-rod bars to one another and/or to the frame of the forging press. The end section may be slightly wider to more easily withstand the larger stresses developed there during operations of the press. In one preferred adaptation, the material of the middle section is designed for a minimum of 45,000 psi and the end section for a minimum of 80,000 psi.

Abstract: A pull-down type forging press is provided with a horizontally extending tunnel in its foundation pit through which the large main cylinders which generate the forging press forces can be removed from the press. A vertical shaft in communication with the horizontal tunnel and a suitable crane located in the main building containing the press enable the main cylinders to be lifted from the foundation pit for maintenance or servicing. Guide rails on the floor of the tunnel and hydraulic jacks braced against the walls of the tunnel or other stationary structures in the foundation pit serve to push the cylinders under the vertical shaft over a straight course and also return them back into the proper position in the press after the servicing is completed.

Abstract: Crosshead and tie-rod assemblies, from which a frame for a forging press is constructed, include several sections each of which is comprised of a plurality of overlapping plates which are held together by ties. Auxiliary clearance holes are provided in the outermost sections through which the ties of the intermediate sections can be removed. Alternatively, the ties which hold together the intermediate middle sections are coaxially aligned with the ties in the outer sections. However, to permit withdrawal of the ties from the middle section without dismantling the outer sections, hollow tubular ties are employed in the outer sections and the solid ties of the middle sections can be removed by guiding them through the tubular ties.

Abstract: The cylinder of a fluid actuated, extremely high pressure ram has an insert in its interior surface which carries a packing seal. The interface between the insert and the cylinder portion which receives the insert can also receive the pressurizing fluid which operates the ram so that the insert inner diameter will not change as the fluid pressure is increased to operate the ram and so that the gap between the interior diameter of the insert and the ram will not change even though the main cylinder body has its interior diameter increased due to the ram operating pressure.