U.S. patent application number 14/847369 was filed with the patent office on 2017-03-09 for shaping tool die.
The applicant listed for this patent is Con-Tech Manufacturing Inc.. Invention is credited to Garwin B. McNeilus, Brian R. Meldahl.
Application Number | 20170066029 14/847369 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57964444 |
Filed Date | 2017-03-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170066029 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Meldahl; Brian R. ; et
al. |
March 9, 2017 |
SHAPING TOOL DIE
Abstract
A shaping tool die for shaping components from sheet material
includes two matching shaping tool die halves, each shaping tool
die half having a plurality of spaced plate die shapes, each die
shape having a rotatable curved surface mated with a curved recess
in the free end of a base mounting plate such that each plate die
shape is separately adjustable relative to a mated mounting plate.
A position fixing plate is associated with each plate die shape and
base mounting plate combination to adjustably fix the position of
the plate die shape relative to the base mounting plate in a
desired position. A base member is provided for receiving the base
mounting plates for each tool die half, and at least one clamp
plate member threaded through corresponding base mounting plates of
each die half and removably fixed to a corresponding base member is
provided to fix the base mounting plates in place.
Inventors: |
Meldahl; Brian R.;
(Brownsdale, MN) ; McNeilus; Garwin B.; (Dodge
Center, MN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Con-Tech Manufacturing Inc. |
Dodge Center |
MN |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
57964444 |
Appl. No.: |
14/847369 |
Filed: |
September 8, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B21D 37/02 20130101;
B21D 22/02 20130101; B21D 37/01 20130101; B21D 11/14 20130101; B21D
11/00 20130101; B21D 5/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B21D 37/02 20060101
B21D037/02 |
Claims
1. A shaping tool die for shaping components from sheet material
comprising: (a) two matching shaping tool die halves; (b) each
shaping tool die half comprising a plurality of spaced plate die
shapes and a plurality of base mounting plates, each plate die
shape having a rotatable curved surface mated with a curved recess
in a free end of a corresponding base mounting plate such that each
plate die shape is separately adjustable relative to the
corresponding base mounting plate; (c) a position fixing plate
associated with each plate die shape and base mounting plate
combination to adjustably fix the position of the plate die shape
relative to the base mounting plate; (d) a base member for
receiving the base mounting plates for each tool die half; and (e)
at least one clamp plate member threaded through the base mounting
plates of each die half and removably fixed to a corresponding base
member to fix the base mounting plates in place.
2. A shaping tool die as in claim 1 wherein the plurality of spaced
plate die shapes of each die half is arranged in a curved
profile.
3. A shaping tool die as in claim 1 wherein each die half includes
two clamp plate members.
4. A shaping tool die as in claim 1 wherein the shaping tool die is
made of steel.
5. A shaping tool die as in claim 1 wherein parts are bolted
together.
6. A shaping tool die as in claim 4 wherein parts are bolted
together.
7. A shaping tool die as in claim 1 wherein at least some parts are
made of a plastic material.
8. A shaping tool die as in claim 1 wherein at least some parts are
made of wood.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] I. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates generally to a shaping tool
die for shaping a component, in particular, a component fabricated
from a steel sheet. More particularly, the invention relates to a
shaping tool having adjustable upper and lower tool half die
arrangements using a plurality of spaced adjustable die plates.
[0005] II. Related Art
[0006] It is known to use shaping tools that combine an upper
shaping tool half with a corresponding lower shaping tool half
which combine to shape a plate or other blank inserted and clamped
therebetween. The upper and lower shaping tool halves normally have
fixed shapes that are cast or forged and are limited to producing
one particular shape of one particular item. One such device, which
also includes a cooling aspect, is shown in U.S. Pat. No 8,047,037
B2. A further shaping tool arrangement made up of a plurality of
components assembled together is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,679,757
B2. While those devices have met with success, they remain limited
to producing a single shape and are expensive to repair.
[0007] Accordingly, there remains a need for a shaping tool die
having a shape-adjustable upper shaping tool half and
shape-adjustable lower shaping tool half such that the die shape
can be varied. There also remains a need for such a shaping tool
that has die plates that are readily replaceable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] By means of the present invention, there is produced a
shaping tool die having an upper shaping tool die half and a lower
shaping tool die half that are readily adjustable to give the tool
an adjustable die shape. The upper shaping tool die half and the
lower shaping tool die half include a plurality of spaced plate die
shapes that have a rotatable curved mounting shape that mates with
the free end of a base mounting plate member having a round recess.
Position fixing plates removably and adjustably fixed (preferably
bolted) to the sides of each plate die shape and base mounting
plate fix the position of each die shape relative to the base
mounting plate at a predetermined desired position. The base
mounting plates are carried by base members which are upper and
lower plate members. The upper and lower base members are slotted
to receive the base mounting plates in spaced fixed locations.
Clamp plates threaded through the spaced base mounting plates are
removably fixed to the base members and used to hold the mounting
plates in the base members. They are also preferably bolted.
[0009] Each of the plurality of spaced plate die shapes can be
rotated relative to its corresponding base member and the
corresponding mating upper or lower plate die shape rotated to
match. This enables variations in shaping along the length of a
work piece. The spaced die shapes can be arranged in a straight
line or in a curved or fan profile. The fan profile enables the use
on curved work pieces and the addition of a twist of a formed part.
The use of the plates bolted to the sides between each adjustable
plate die shape and associated base mounting plate member secures a
desired rotational position of the die shape which is readily
adjustable.
[0010] It will be appreciated that the shaping tool of the
invention may be made out of any of various materials including
steel, plastic, wood or any other durable material depending on the
forces needed to shape the corresponding work piece involved. The
concept of bolting the parts together gives the assembly a great
deal of adjustability and the freedom to replace or remove any
individual plate die plates or other parts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] In the drawings wherein like numerals depict like parts:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing spaced assembled upper
and lower shaping tool halves;
[0013] FIG. 2 depicts a base plate of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of spaced upper and lower
shaping tool halves;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of spaced upper and lower
shaping tool halves;
[0016] FIG. 5A is a side elevational view of a set of corresponding
mated upper and lower plate die shapes assembled in respective base
mounting plates;
[0017] FIG. 5B is an end elevational view of the assembly of FIG.
5A; and
[0018] FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5A with securing upper and
lower side plates.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] The following description details one or more exemplary
embodiments illustrating the present invention. It should be noted
that the detailed descriptions are intended by way of example only
and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any
respect. It will be further understood that the embodiments of the
invention can be modified by those skilled in the art while
remaining in keeping with the inventive concepts.
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing assembled upper and
lower shaping tool die halves 10 and 12, respectively. Each shaping
tool die half includes an identical opposed base plate 14 which
includes a series of front and rear slots as at 16 and 18, which
are designed to hold tabs of upper base mounting plates 20 and
lower base mounting plates 22 in position and secure top to bottom
alignment using upper base mounting plate member tabs 26 and lower
base mounting plate member tabs 28, as best shown in FIG. 5A and 6.
The upper and lower base mounting plates are further secured by
front and rear clamp plates as at 30 and 32 in FIG. 1, which are
shaped bars that entered the length of the disc and engage openings
in all of the die base mounting plates 20 and 22 through openings
34 and 36 in the upper tool half and 38 and 40 in the lower tool
half. The clamp plates are bolted to the respective base plates 14
thereby fixing the upper and lower base mounting plates in
place.
[0021] As best seen in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 6, each upper shaping tool
half includes an associated upper plate die shape which nests in a
corresponding upper base mounting plate member 20 and is able to
rotate with respect to the mounting plate as the interface is a
circle segment. In the same manner, each lower shaping tool half
includes an associated lower plate die shape 52 which nests in a
corresponding lower base mounting plate 22 and is able to rotate in
the same manners As shown in FIG. 6, the position of the upper die
plate shapes 50 and the lower die plate shapes 52, once adjusted,
are fixed in place by plates 54 and 56 which may be bolted between
openings 58 in series in upper base mounting plates 20 and openings
60 in upper plate die shapes 50. The lower plate die shapes are
fixed in place in the same manner using openings 62 and 64.
[0022] The detailed description shows a particular die shape bend
but it will be appreciated that the die shape can vary to any
configuration and the radius of the associated die plates and
mounting plates may also vary depending on the size and desired
formed shape of the part or work piece formed. Also, adjacent die
shapes may have different rotational positions to add a twist or
different curvature. Also, the series of die shapes are shown in an
arcuate or fan-shaped pattern, however, the shape may be straight
or in some other configuration.
[0023] FIGS. 3 and 4 show front and rear elevational views of
spaced upper and lower shaping tool die halves of the embodiment of
FIG. 1.
[0024] It will be appreciated that the shaping tool of the
invention may be made out of any of various materials including
steel, plastic, wood or any other durable material depending on the
forces needed to shape the corresponding work piece involved. The
concept of bolting the parts together gives the assembly a great
deal of adjustability and the freedom to replace or remove any
individual die plates. This clearly is not possible with common
welded structures and also avoids the possibility of parts being
warped from the heat of the welding process.
[0025] This invention has been described herein in considerable
detail in order to comply with the patent statutes and to provide
those skilled in the art with the information needed to apply the
novel principles and to construct and use embodiments of the
example as required.
[0026] However, it is to be understood that the invention can be
carried out by specifically different devices and that various
modifications can be accomplished without departing from the scope
of the invention itself.
* * * * *