Patent ID: 9327335
Filing Date: 2016-05-03
CPC Classification: B21D,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A retainer for holding a tool during a stamping operation, the retainer comprising: a body including a first surface, a second surface, a first passage extending from the first surface to the second surface and configured to receive the tool, a second passage intersecting the first passage at a first opening, and a third passage intersecting the second passage at a third opening, the first passage extending along a longitudinal axis, the second passage including a longitudinal axis that is inclined at an acute angle from the longitudinal axis of the first passage and also including a second opening that is located at the second surface and spaced along the longitudinal axis of the second passage from the first opening, the third passage extending from the first surface along a longitudinal axis that is inclined at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the first passage, and the third passage having an internally threaded portion; a locking member disposed in a first portion of the second passage, the locking member projecting from the first opening to contact the tool, when the tool is received in the first passage, to limit axial movement of the tool within the first passage, wherein the tool held in the retainer includes a ball seat and the locking member is a locking ball that is spherical shaped and thereby configured for engagement with the ball seat to establish a contacting relationship with the tool that limits the axial movement of the tool within the first passage; a biasing member disposed in a second portion of the second passage between the locking member and the second opening, the biasing member configured to applying a biasing force to resiliently bias the locking member in a direction toward the first opening; and a threaded constraint member disposed in the third passage and including a plurality of threads engaged with the internally threaded portion of the third passage, the threaded constraint member having a rigid tip configured to project from the third opening of the third passage into the second portion of the second passage such that the rigid tip at least partially occludes the second passage to establish an axial limit for movement of the locking member within the second passage in a direction toward the second opening by contacting the locking member during the stamping operation, the locking member thereby being positively locked in position by sandwiching between contact with the tool and a mechanical stop provided by contact with the rigid tip, this positive lock in position eliminating any motion or vibration of the locking member during the stamping operation and preventing disengagement of the locking member from the tool until the threaded constraint member is threadably rotated to move the rigid tip out of the third opening and out of the second passage, wherein the body further includes a fourth passage defining a ball release passage which is configured and sized to selectively receive a release member, the fourth passage extending between the first surface of the body and an intersection with the second passage, the fourth passage intersecting the first surface at a location spaced from and between corresponding intersections of the first and third passages with the first surface, and the intersection of the fourth passage with the second passage being located between the first and third openings such that when the release member is inserted through the fourth passage, the release member enters the second passage at a location where further advancement of the release member against the locking member can push the locking member against the biasing member and away from the first opening, to thereby disengage from the tool and release the tool from the retainer, and wherein the body includes a sidewall connecting the first surface with the second surface, the sidewall intersects the first surface along an edge defining a corner of the body, and the third passage extends through the body from the third opening to an intersection with the edge defining the corner of the body.