U.S. patent number 3,730,039 [Application Number 05/180,367] was granted by the patent office on 1973-05-01 for high velocity press.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Ing. C. Olivetti. Invention is credited to Renzo Fedrigo.
United States Patent |
3,730,039 |
Fedrigo |
May 1, 1973 |
HIGH VELOCITY PRESS
Abstract
Presses for metal or other hard material in which the driving
power for the punch is derived primarily from the kinetic energy of
the punch element and the supporting structure moving at high
speed. Capacitive discharge through a coil produces an
electromagnetic interaction with a conductive plate adjacent to the
coil and secured to the punch element to achieve the high velocity
and therefore the desired kinetic energy, which energy is
transformed to mechanical punching force.
Inventors: |
Fedrigo; Renzo (Torino,
IT) |
Assignee: |
Ing. C. Olivetti (Ivrea
(Torino), IT)
|
Family
ID: |
22660182 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/180,367 |
Filed: |
September 14, 1971 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
869059 |
Oct 24, 1969 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
83/170; 83/575;
83/613; 83/588; 83/637 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B30B
1/42 (20130101); B21D 28/002 (20130101); Y10T
83/283 (20150401); Y10T 83/8765 (20150401); Y10T
83/8855 (20150401); Y10T 83/8821 (20150401); Y10T
83/8785 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
B30B
1/42 (20060101); B30B 1/00 (20060101); B21D
28/00 (20060101); B26d 005/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;83/170,575,577,588,637,613,576,13 ;234/108 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Yost; Frank T.
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation in part of application Ser. No.
869,059 dated Oct. 24, 1969, entitled "HIGH VELOCITY PUNCH, " now
abandoned, which claimed the priority of Italian Application No.
53694-A/68 filed on Oct. 31, 1968, in Italy, and Italian
application No. 53038-A/69 filed on Aug. 19, 1969 in Italy.
Claims
I claim:
1. An electrodynamic press including a punch mounted for
rectilinear motion therein, comprising:
a substantially planar element of highly conductive material
affixed to said punch normal to the direction of motion
thereof,
a planar coil fixedly mounted in said press coaxially with said
planar element and adjacent thereto,
means for positioning a workpiece in the path of said punch for
being struck by said punch after said punch has traveled a stroke
of at least 10% of the diameter of said coil to allow
transformation of energy of a low frequency energization pulse into
kinetic energy of said punch, and
means for energizing said coil with a low frequency pulse of
electrical energy for generating flux linking said conductive
element to repel said element from said coil, the frequency of said
pulse being such that said pulse continues to accelerate said punch
over a stroke of at least 10 percent of the diameter of said
coil.
2. A press according to claim 1 further comprising movable guide
means joined to said punch; fixed guide means fixedly mounted in
the press; said movable guide means and said fixed guide means
cooperating for assuring rectilinear movement of the punch toward
the workpiece and for limiting the travel of said punch.
3. A press according to claim 2 in which said movable guide means
comprise bushings and said fixed guide means comprise columns upon
which said bushings ride.
4. A press according to claim 2 further including shock absorbing
means comprising resilient washers encircling said fixed guide
means and disposed between said movable guide means and said base.
cm 5. A press according to claim 2 further including shock
absorbing means comprising recesses that are entered and closed by
said movable guide means toward
the end of travel of said punch forming hydraulic cushions. 6. A
press according to claim 1 in which said coil comprises a conductor
spirally wound in a single stratum, said spiral having an outside
diameter
substantially equal to that of said element. 7. A press according
to claim 6 in which said conductor has a constant rectangular cross
section with
the longer dimension parallel to the axis of punch movement. 8. A
press according to claim 1 further comprising a chamber closed by a
deformable membrane disposed between said coil and said element,
said chamber containing a dielectric cooling liquid circulatable by
motion imparted to
said membrane from said element during operation of said punch. 9.
A press according to claim 1 in which said means to change the flow
of electrical
current comprises a capacitive discharge system. 10. A press
according to claim 9 in which said capacitive discharge system has
in conjunction with
said coil and said element a resonant frequency of less than 170
Hz. 11. The press of claim 9 further including means operable on
the following cycle of said press for using the energy stored in
said capacitive discharge system at the end of said low frequency
pulse as a portion of the input energy for the next actuation cycle
of the press.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to punch presses comprising a base, a
rigid frame, a die fixed on the base and a movable punch supported
on the frame with respect to the die. Particularly it relates to
such a press used for stamping sheet metal and plate in industrial
applications.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are known arrangements for providing energy quickly by a
process of combustion for activating the movable part of a press.
Presses of this type present the inconvenience of moving a
considerable mass over a long distance. Moreover, they have many
difficulties in guiding and stopping the movable part of the
press.
There are other known arrangements for providing energy derived
from the decompression of compressed fluid for activating the
movable part of a press. These presses also have the inconvenience
of considerable mass in motion. Also there are other difficulties
with respect to the circuits of the activating fluid.
Finally there are known devices that utilize the magnetic field
generated from the discharge of a bank of capacitors across an
electrical coil to form or stamp pieces of conductive material. In
these devices the workpiece is held in a preestablished fixed
position within the magnetic field generator. This lately excites a
direct pressure on the workpiece without physically touching the
workpiece with parts of the device.
With these devices it is possible to form pieces of metal having
relatively high conductivity such as copper, aluminum and brass.
For working metal having less electrical conductivity, as stainless
steel, it is necessary to make use of an intermediate conductive
screen that is normally constituted by a sheet or a tube of
aluminum. Thus these devices can work only metal material or other
conductive materials, utilizing the fact that an electrical current
is induced when they are positioned in a varying magnetic
field.
The technical problem that the present invention solves is that of
actuating a punch press at high velocity in which the masses in
motion are greatly reduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This problem is resolved in the press of high velocity according to
the invention which is characterized by a conductive element
integral or solidly fixed with the punch and having relatively high
electrical conductivity, the element being positioned in the
magnetic field of a coil connected to a source of electrical energy
for providing a pulse of current such as to furnish to the punch by
means of the conductive element the energy necessary to achieve the
high velocity toward the die required to punch the piece. One
preferred embodiment of the invention is given by way of example in
the following description and the attached drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 represents a cross-section of a press according to the
invention.
FIG. 2 represents schematically the electrical circuit for driving
the press of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a front view, partially sectioned, of a variation of the
press.
FIG. 4 is a section according to the line IV--IV of FIG. 3
FIG. 5 is a section according to the Line V--V of FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 is a section according to the line VI--VI of FIG. 3.
FIG. 7 is a diagram of the input and drive circuit of the press of
FIG. 3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A punch press of high velocity according to a first embodiment of
the invention, represented in FIG. 1, can cut sheet metal for
producing extremely precise cleanly cut pieces that have
essentially no burr on the cut edges. The press comprises massive
support plate 10, on which is fixed rigid frame 11, consisting of
uprights 12 and top crosspiece 13. This last is arranged parallel
to plate 10 and the distance between crosspiece 13 and plate 10 is
adjustable within certain limits, by means of adjusting nuts 14
threaded on uprights 12.
At the center of plate 10 is fixed a die 15 and plate 10 has a
passage 16 situated under die 15 for discharge of the punched
piece.
At the top of plate 10, aligned coaxially with die 15, is disposed
a punch 17 for movement in a rectilinear direction to cooperate
with die 15 and to operate the punching of metal sheet 18 fixed on
plate 10 in correspondence with die 15. Punch 17 and die 15 are
disposed so that punch 17 travels a stroke of at least 10 percent
of the diameter of coil 27.
Punch 17 is fixed by means of bolts 19 to the bottom of plate 20.
This latter is guided on bushings 21, each of which is provided
with axial cavities 22 and is fixed by means of a nut 23 screwed on
a threaded portion 24 of the respective bushing. Each bushing 21 is
inserted with the axial cavity 22 on a vertical rod 25, the lower
end of which is fixed to plate 10.
In conclusion, punch 17 is able to move for a stroke of at least 10
percent of the diameter of the coil 27 in a rectilinear direction
guided by the rods 25 over which the bushings 21 run
telescopically.
A ring 26 of elastic material, for example rubber, is encircled on
each rod 25 and is disposed in contact with the upper surface of
plate 10.
Travel of punch 17 is stopped when bushings 21 in passing over rods
25, strike through rings 26 against plate 10.
The rings 26 have the function of deadening the strike of the
bushings 21 against the plate 10 after the action of the punch 17
for effecting punching.
The rings 26 furnish automatically an elastic reaction in the
opposite direction with respect to the movement of punch 17 and is
sufficient for withdrawing the punch from the hole punched in the
sheet 18.
The punch 17 is actuated utilizing force based on electrodynamic
action that is manifested between two circuits for conducting
current.
When a varying current runs through a winding, the flux generated
links it with a conductor disposed in the field and induces
currents of opposite phase. Such currents produce an electrodynamic
force that tends to separate the conductor from the winding. In the
present invention, this force is not used directly for punching,
but for accelerating the punch 17 so as to cause this latter to
accumulate the maximum kinetic energy before the punching begins.
In effect the electrodynamic force is practically finished when the
punching begins.
In the illustrated example of the invention's application, the
winding is represented by coil 27, fixed by means of screw 28, on
the bottom surface of plate 29 made of an insulating material, for
example a synthetic resin of adequate thickness. Plate 29 is fixed
in turn on the bottom surface of crosspiece 13. The conductor is
depicted as disc 30 of material with a high electric conductivity,
for example copper, fixed to the top of plate 20. For purposes of
this invention, high electrical conductivity is considered to be
less than 10 microohm-centimeters resistivity.
The electrical circuit driving the press, depicted schematically in
FIG. 2, includes transformer and rectifier unit 31. Unit 31 is
connected to a capacitor 32 by a switch 33. Voltmeter 34 is
connected across capacitor 32 for monitoring the capacitor voltage.
Switch 35 connects capacitor 32 to coil 27. Switches 33 and 35 are
reciprocally controlled so that the operation of one of them
disenables the other one.
The punch 17 is kept in close proximity to coil 27 and is returned
to the rest position adjacent to coil 27, as represented in FIG. 1,
by elastic means such as cylindrical helical springs 36 disposed
vertically between plate 10 and plate 20. The lower end of each
spring 36 is inserted into a recess 37 integral with plate 10; the
upper end of each spring 36 is located by pin 38 fixed on the lower
surface of the plate 20.
To carry out the operation of punching, metal sheet 18 is first
fixed on plate 10 in correspondence with die 15, and capacitor 32
is charged by unit 31 (FIG. 2). For this purpose switch 33 is
closed connecting the transformed and rectified current from unit
31 to capacitor 32. Switch 33 is closed until voltmeter 34 shows
capacitor 32 has attained the predetermined voltage. At this point
switch 35 can be closed, automatically disenabling switch 33 and
discharging the capacitor 32 through the circuit including coil 27
rapidly changing the current flow through coil 27. The wave form of
the current through coil 27 is similar to a damped sinusoid, of
which the first half cycle is used to accelerate the punch 17. The
frequency of the pulse should be such that the current wave form
passes through zero after the punch 17 has traveled a stroke of at
least 10 percent of the diameter of coil 27.
The current going through coil 27 produces a magnetic field which
links with copper disc 30 inducing a current that is substantially
of opposite phase with the current through coil 27. The result is
that disc 30 is accelerated away from coil 27.
The electrodynamic force on disc 30 supplies the necessary energy
at punch 17 to accomplish the high speed motion towards die 15 thus
acquiring the necessary kinetic energy for cutting metal sheet 18.
The movement of punch 17 is guided by bushings 21 sliding on rods
25 and is controlled at the completion of cutting when bushings 21
strike rings 26 against support plate 10.
After the punching operation, switch 35 opens automatically. The
springs 36 return punch 17 to the rest position, in which disc 30
is in contact with coil 27. The press is now ready for a new
operation cycle.
In a variation of the punch press, die 15 (FIG. 3) comprises
portion 55 that is flared toward the bottom facilitating discharge
of cut pieces. To the top of plate 10 is fixed jug 39 for
registering the sheet or piece for cutting 18. Punch 17 is fixed to
a support constituted by plate 40 to which copper disc 30 is fixed
by means of four screws 50.
On plate 40 two guide columns 41 are fixed directed downward. Each
column 41 slides in a bushing 42 pressed in a hole of base plate
10. The hole for each bushing 42 is furnished with rings 43, which
cooperates with column 41 to act as a seal.
The lower end of each column 41 extends into oval chamber 44 (FIG.
6) in plate 10. Chambers 44 are closed at the bottom by another
plate 45 (FIG. 3) which is fixed to plate 10.
Plate 45 is furnished with two blind holes 46 in which the bottom
ends of the respective columns 41 can come to rest. Two holes 46
are interconnected by crossover trunk 47 (FIG. 6) for pressure
balance. In the plate 45 are fixed two cups 48 (FIG. 3) the upper
rims of which seal a flexible material against a rim in plate 45 to
form chamber 49. A suitable flexible material is polyethylene
terephthalate. The cups 48 are each furnished with a hole 51 which
communicates with the outside.
The plate 40 is, in addition, furnished with two drilled flanges
52, each of them engaging a corresponding column 53 fixed within a
cylindrical recess 54 of plate 10. Two compression springs 56,
arranged each in one of the recesses 54 and a hollowed recess of
corresponding flange 52, normally hold plate 40 in a raised
position as in FIG. 3, with each flange 52 resting against a top
flange 57 of the corresponding column 53.
The plate 40 is made of a light alloy, for example aluminum, and is
furnished with fins 58 (FIG. 5) separated by channels so as to make
the movable parts of the press lighter. The fins also cool plate
40, dissipating the heat produced by the current induced in disc 30
(FIG. 3). The cooling can, in addition be completed by circulating
water in passage 59 coming in through a conduit 61 and leaving
through a conduit 62 (FIG. 5).
The electrodynamic action on disc 30 of a turn of coil 27 varies
inversely with distance of disc 30 from coil 27 and directly with
square of current through the turn. To obtain maximum efficiency of
the press, coil 27 is constructed of a conductor of constant
section spirally wrapped in a single plane. In particular coil 27
is made of conductor 63 of copper having a rectangular section with
the long side inclined vertically or parallel with the direction of
movement of punch 17, so as to present a section of a large number
of turns with small resistance to the current. The conductor 63 is
wound spirally on a core 66 from an inside point 67 to an outside
point 68. The turns are isolated by means of an insulating
polyethylene terephthalate ribbon likewise wound spirally. The
inside point 67 of conductor 63 is connected electrically with
copper ring 69 which is connected to a terminal 70, while the
outside point 68 is connected to a ferrous ring 71 connected to
another terminal 72.
Coil 27 has an external diameter substantially equal to that of
disc 30 and is disposed in hollow 73 of plate 74. Plate 74 is made
of an insulating and nonmagnetic material and is fixed to plate 13.
In particular, ring 71 is fixed to plate 74 by a series of screws
(not shown). The lower surface of plate 74 is furrowed with a
series of substantially radial grooves 75 (FIG. 4), which
communicate with core 66 through a series of fissures 76. The
hollow 73 (FIG. 3) is closed from the bottom by a membrane 77 made
of a plastic material, for example reinforced epoxid resin, which
is a rigid material, or polyethylene terephthalate, which is a
flexible one. The edge of membrane 77 is fixed to plate 74 by a
ring 78. In hollow 73, oil can circulate by entering from above
through the core 66 and leaving through a horizontal pipe 79
connected laterally to the plate 74.
For efficiency it is further desirable that disc 30 initially be in
close proximity to coil 27 and that it travels most of the stroke
over which it maintains effective electromagnetic coupling with
coil 27. It has been found that with a stroke of at least 10
percent of the diameter of disc 30, acceptably high efficiencies
are obtained. In the illustrated embodiment the diameter of disc 30
is about 200mm.
The useful energy of the press depends on the final velocity
attained by punch 17. The speed can be increased by increasing the
path of punch 17 within the limits in which disc 30 reacts to the
electrodynamic action of coil 27. In practice, the velocity of
punch 17 is greater as the quantity of electrodynamic force on disc
30 is greater. Since the force that is exerted on disc 30 is the
sum of the forces exerted on each turn of coil 27, the diameter of
disc 30 desirably approaches the most possible so as to have a
maximum number of turns of conductor 63. In the device of this
invention with a diameter of disc 30 of 200 mm, 200 spirals are
provided in the coil 27. The thickness of disc 30 does not
influence the energy provided that it be at least equal to the
depth of penetration of the inductive current caused in disc 30 by
coil 27. In one embodiment with a moving part mass of 5 kg., an
impact velocity of about 10 meters/sec is obtained after an
acceleration stroke of about 20mm. This sheared a 40mm diameter
hole in hardened steel (Rockwell C.congruent.50) 2mm thick.
In order to actuate the punch to high velocity with a maximum
efficiency, it is important to choose a frequency of electric
current as low as possible in relation to other elements of the
machine. As is known, capacitors 32 and coil 27 create a resonant
circuit that generates current oscillations having dampened
pseudosinusoidal waveform and a frequency depending on the capacity
of the capacitors and the inductance of the coil. The current pulse
that concerns the press is the one due to a first half cycle of the
waveform. The waveform is not truly sinusoidal since the inductance
of coil 27 changes according to the proximity of disc 30.
The principal limiting factor for the efficiency of the press is
the electrical resistance of the circuit. For a given coil this
resistance increases with increase of resonant frequency due to
skin effects. Thus it is necessary to use a low resonant frequency
circuit such as to have a current passing through zero after the
moving part has been displaced at least 10 percent of the diameter
of the coil. In the press of FIG. 3, the inductance of coil 27 with
disc 30 elevated is approximately 2mH. For the capacitors a
capacity of 500.mu.F amp such as to produce a resonant frequency of
170 Hz has been chosen so that the action of the skin effect is
within acceptable limits. With such a frequency the penetration
depth in the copper is 5.6 mm and the thickness of the copper plate
has been chosen on 6 mm and the thickness of the coil 12 mm, that
is, twice the thickness of the plate. The initial resistance of the
copper plate and the coil is 0.75.OMEGA. whereas the initial
derivative of inductance with respect to the displacement is 0.12
mH/mm. Table A gives the operating data for a press in which the
capacitor is charged to 4200V so that the initial electrostatic
energy is 4400J. With a moving part weighing 8 kilograms, a final
velocity of punch 17 is attained of about 17.5 meters per second
after a displacement of 30mm acquiring energy of about 1200 J. The
dissipated energy due to losses is 2000 J, so that the efficiency
is e=1200/200 + 1200 = 37.5 percent. This does not count as lost
energy the energy stored in capacitor 32 at the end of the cycle
since this energy is used in the next press cycle. Table A also
shows that the maximum acceleration is obtained after a
displacement of 1.8 mm and the maximum force exerted by the coil 27
on the disc 30 is about 10 tons. The average force is about 4
tons.
The kinetic energy of the punch, however, is sufficient for cutting
in a 2mm thick sheet having a Rockwell hardness HRc50, a hole of
140mm in diameter. The described press of a very small dimensions
and weight can be considered equivalent to a conventional press of
100,000 kilograms.
TABLE A
Kinetic Capacitor Time Stroke Velocity Accel. Energy Losses Energy
.0 .0 0.0 0. 0. 0. 4400. .0004 .00006 0.604 4279. 1. 61. 3761.
.0008 .00084 3.784 11210. 57. 3.83. 2331. .0010 .00183 6.197 12604.
154. 632. 1602. .0014 .00529 10.969 10440. 481. 1145. 521. .0018
.01040 14.310 6298. 819. 1540. 50. .0022 .01653 16.171 3232. 1046.
1794. 39. .0026 .02320 17.072 1454. 1166. 1942. 285. .0030 .03012
17.449 546. 1218. 2018. 618. .0034 .03713 17.574 145. 1235. 2050.
911. .0038 .04417 17.598 13. 1239. 2059. 1082. .0040 .04821 17.599
0. 1239. 2059. 1108. Where time is in seconds, strokes in meters,
velocity in meters/sec, acceleration is meters/sec.su p.2, and
energy in joules.
For charging of capacitors 32, transformer and rectifier unit 31 is
controlled by a control unit generally indicated as 82 (FIG. 7).
Charging of capacitors 32 is automatically controlled by control
unit 82 after each operation of punch 17. The discharge of the
capacitors is controlled by ignitron 83 also under the control of
control unit 82. Another ignitron 84 controlled by circuit 85
controls the discharge of capacitors 32 in the following operation
cycle, when the capacitors are charged with an opposite polarity
thus recovering the energy still held by the capacitors after the
first discharge. This acts to further increase the efficiency.
The control circuit of the press if provided (secured), finally,
with a voltage adjustment unit 86 for controlling the charge
potential, comprising a manual adjustor 87 for selecting the
desired voltage. By means of manual adjustor 87 the energy to punch
17 (FIG. 3) can be manually adjusted according to the sheet to be
perforated and the size of the perforation.
The function of the press of FIG. 3-7 is as follows:
At the start of the apparatus, control unit 82 automatically calls
for charging of capacitors 32. After sheet 18 is placed (FIG. 3) on
plate 10, by means of a control (not shown) a signal 88 is
generated which conditions the control unit 82 (FIG. 7) to trigger
ignitron 83 discharging capacitors 32. Consequently a current
impulse at the resonant frequency of the circuit passes through
coil 27. Such current produces a magnetic field the flux of which
links with copper disc 30 (FIG. 3). Disc 30 is thus motivated by a
downwardly directed electrodynamic force that makes disc 30 move
quickly downward together with plate 40 and punch 17. This last
effects then the cutting of sheet 18 at the highest speed.
The movement of the plate 40 is guided by means of the columns 41
on bushings 42 and is effected against the action of the springs
56. Toward the end of the path of plate 40, the lower ends of
columns 41 engage blind holes 46 reducing the impact as the moving
parts of the press stop. At the end of the path of punch 17 columns
41 reach the position shown by dashed lines in FIG. 3.
After the first half wave of current, the ignitron 83 stops the
current, then springs 56 (FIG. 3) return plate 40 upward to the
rest position. The punch 17 withdraws from sheet 18, which remains
retained by jig 39. When the moving parts of the press return to
the upper position, it generates, in a known way, an electric
signal which conditions control unit 82 (FIG. 6) for recharge of
capacitors 32 with a voltage opposite the previous one. A new cycle
is now started in which the ignitron 84 is energized.
The cooling oil of the coil 27 and the cooling water of the plate
40 are circulated by suitable pumps (not shown), which can function
continuously during the functions of the press or
intermittently.
Although the illustrated embodiments of the press, according to the
invention, relate to a punch press, it is clear that the method and
apparatus according to the invention could equally well be used in
other types of presses such as, for instance, powder metal
compacting presses and forging presses.
The invention has been described with relation to a press having a
circular coil. Although this is the easiest and most efficient
shape, other coils such as square or oval coils, could also be
used. In these cases the disc should be the same size and shape as
the coil or larger.
* * * * *