Abstract:
Triple action piercing structure comprising an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder, a shaft and radially extending piston means operable between the inner and outer cylinders for providing a plurality of separate pressure chambers between the inner and outer cylinders, specific, simple and efficient passage means for passing a pressure medium into and exhausting the pressure medium from the pressure chambers to produce relative axial movement between the inner and outer cylinders at a particularly high pressure for cylinders of predetermined diameter to facilitate piercing of large diameter openings in thick hard workpieces.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to piercing structures and refers more particularly to a piercing structure of relatively small diameter capable of exerting extremely high pressures due to a plurality of separate axially spaced apart and aligned pressure chambers therein, whereby particularly heavy workpieces may be readily pierced at relatively close intervals of spacing. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The piercing structure of the invention is similar to the piercing structure disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,841,117. The piercing structure of the invention is an improvement over prior piercing structures in that, for example, three separate axially aligned pressure chambers are provided in the piercing structure of the present invention which increases the available pressure in the piercing structure for a given diameter. 
     With the piercing structure of the current design, it is thus possible to provide increased pressure necessary to pierce large diameter openings in thick hard metal plates. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a piercing structure is provided including an outer cylinder having an end cap in one end thereof and including an axis of generation, a shaft having one end secured to the end cap of the outer cylinder on the center of the axis of generation of the outer cylinder and including a radially extending piston portion centrally thereof, and an annular, radially extending piston member secured to the other end thereof, an inner cylinder having a radially extending end portion at one end thereof, an end cap secured thereto at the other end thereof, and an annular piston member rigidly secured within the inner cylinder centrally thereof between the piston portion of the shaft and the piston member on the other end of the shaft whereby four separate, axially spaced apart and axially aligned pressure chambers are provided acting between the outer cylinder and inner cylinder on actuation of the piercing structure. 
     The piercing structure further includes specific, simple, and efficient means for introducing a pressure transferring medium into three of the pressure chambers simultaneously or withdrawing the pressure medium from the three pressure chambers, and for introducing into or withdrawing a pressure medium out of a fourth pressure chamber provided between the radially extending end portion of the inner cylinder and the piston portion of the shaft, whereby the inner cylindrical member may be axially reciprocated relative to the outer cylindrical member. 
     The piercing structure of the present invention further includes means for securing the outer cylinder of the piercing structure to structure for moving the entire piercing structure axially or holding the outer cylinder stationary, means for preventing relative rotation between the inner and outer cylinders, and means for securing a piercing tool and stripping structure to the other end of the inner cylinder. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section view of piercing structure constructed in accordance with the invention, taken substantially on the line 1--1 in FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross section of the piercing structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken substantially on the line 2--2 in FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross section of the piercing structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken substantially on the line 3--3 in FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross section of the piercing structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken substantially on the line 4--4 in FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown best in FIG. 1, the piercing structure 10 includes an outer cylinder 12 having an end cap 14 secured thereto, a shaft 16, one end of which is secured in the end cap 14, having a piston member 18 secured to the other end thereof, and an inner cylinder 20, having one end secured within the outer cylinder 12 and including an end cap 22 secured in the other end thereof. Slot and key means 24 are operable between the outer and inner cylinders 12 and 20 to prevent relative rotation therebetween while allowing relative axial movement. A piercing tool 140 and stripping means 142 are secured to the end cap 22 as shown in FIG. 1. 
     More specifically, the outer cylinder 12 is provided with a short radially extending flange 26 at the one end 28 thereof which provides a seat for the end cap 14. Openings 30 and 32 extend through the outer cylinder 12 adjacent the one end 28 thereof through which a pressure transfer medium such as air is passed into and out of the piercing structure. An additional opening 34 extends radially through the other end 36 of the outer cylinder 12 for receiving the key 38 of the key and slot means 24, as will be considered subsequently. 
     The end cap 14 is cylindrical and as shown has a reduced diameter end 40 including a threaded portion 42 thereon by which the piercing structure 10 may be secured to an appropriate fixture in position to perform a piercing operation on reciprocation of the inner cylinder 20 with respect to the outer cylinder 12. The outer cylinder 12 is secured to the end cap 14 by convenient means such as screws 44. A passage 46 having the larger diameter portions 48 and 50, with the smaller diameter portion 52 therebetween, extends through the end cap 14 on the axis of generation 54 of the outer cylinder 12. As shown, the central portion 52 of the passage 46 receives the body of the bolt 56 which secures the shaft 16 to the end cap 14, while the one end portion 48 of the passage 46 receives the washer 58 and head 60 of the bolt 56, and the portion 50 of the passage 46 receives the end 78 of shaft 16 secured therein by the bolt 56. 
     A first passage 62 having a radially extending portion 64 and an axially extending portion 66 extends through the end cap 14, as shown best in FIGS. 1 and 3. One end 68 of the radially extending portion of the passage 62 is threaded and is aligned with the opening 30 in the outer cylinder 12, whereby a pressure medium conduit may be connected to the end cap 14 to pass pressure transfer medium through the passage 62. 
     A second radially extending passage 74 having a threaded outer end portion 76 aligned with the opening 32 through the outer cylinder 12 extends through the end cap 14 as shown best in FIG. 2. Pressure transfer medium is also passed through the passage 74 from a pressure conduit not shown. 
     The shaft 16, as shown, has an end 78 extending into the portion 50 of the passage 46 in the end cap 14 and is held in position in the passage 46 by means of the bolt 56. The shaft 16 includes a centrally positioned, radially extending piston portion 80 thereon extending from the outer diameter of the shaft to the inner diameter of the inner cylinder. 
     In addition, the shaft 16 has a reduced diameter end portion 82 for receiving the annular piston member 18 and has a threaded other end 84. 
     A first passage 86 extends centrally of the one end 78 of the shaft 16 on the center of generation of the outer cylinder 12. A second passage 88 extends through the other end 84 of the shaft 16, and as shown best in FIG. 1, the second passage 88 stops short of passage 86. An end plug 90 is provided in the passage 88. 
     An annular groove 94 is provided adjacent the end 78 of the shaft 16 and is in communication with the passage 88. The annular groove 94 is also in communication with the radially inner end of the passage 74 through the end cap 14. 
     The passage 88 is in communication with the return pressure chamber 106 through the radially extending passage 108, as shown. 
     A further axial passage 96 is provided in the shaft 16 from the end 84 thereof, which passage 96 is in communication with the portion 64 of passage 62 through radial passage 63, as shown best in FIG. 1. A radially extending passage 100 is in communication with the passage 96 so that the passage 96 is in communication with the pressure chamber 102. The passage 96 is also in communication with the pressure chamber 104 through the end 84 of the shaft 16. 
     Inner cylinder 20 has a radially extending end portion 110 including the opening 112 for the shaft 16 therein. The cylinder portion 110 includes an annular portion 114, which provides an initial actuating pressure chamber 72 with the cylinder 20 retracted, as shown in FIG. 1. 
     The annular member 116 is secured within the inner cylinder 20 centrally thereof, as shown, by means of the retaining rings 118 and 120 on opposite sides thereof extending within the grooves 122 and 124 in the inner cylinder 20. 
     As previously indicated, the annular piston member 18 is secured over the reduced diameter portion 82 of shaft 16 by means of washer 126 and nut 128. 
     Slot 130 is provided in the outer surface of the cylinder 20, as shown best in FIG. 1, and cooperates with the key 38 to prevent relative rotation between the outer cylinder 12 and the inner cylinder 20. 
     End plate 22, having a cross section as shown best in FIG. 1, is secured over the end 132 of the inner cylinder 20 by convenient means such as bolts 134. 
     Annular sealing rings 136 are provided in annular grooves in the piercing structure as shown. 
     As shown best in FIG. 1, a cylindrical piercing tool 140 having a reduced diameter end portion 148 is secured to end cap 22 by convenient means such as bolts 150. 
     The stripping structure 142 includes the stripping plate 146 having openings 144 and 152 extending therethrough. Plate 146 is fitted over the reduced diameter end 148 of the stripping tool 140 with the tool 140 in opening 144. Plate 146 is held in position on end cap 22 by means of bolts 154 extending loosely through openings 152 and into end cap 22. Springs 154 are sleeved over bolts 154 and operate between end cap 22 and plate 146 to bias the plate 146 into engagement with the heads 156 on bolts 154. 
     A collar 158 having a cylindrical opening 160 therethrough surrounds the outer cylinder 12 adjacent the lower end thereof and is secured to cylinder 12 by convenient means such as welding. Collar 158 has opening 162 extending radially therethrough through which key 24 extends. Collar 158 includes aligning slot 165 therein and is adapted to be secured to a positioning ram or the like by bolts (not shown) extending into threaded openings 166 in the collar 158. 
     In operation of the piercing structure 10, the structure is first secured in a fixed position by means of collar structure 160 and/or the threads 42 on the end cap 14. A pressure transfer medium such as air is connected through the opening 30 in the outer cylinder 12 into the passage 62. A pressure transfer medium is also connected through the opening 32 into the passage 74. The pressure transfer medium may be passed to the piercing structure 10 through suitable hoses and connectors, not part of the invention and therefore not illustrated. 
     With the piercing tool 140 connected to end cap 22, the pressure transfer medium is passed into the passage 96 by known valve means, not shown. The actuating pressure may, for example, be 80 pounds per square inch and will be felt in the actuating pressure chambers 72, 102 and 104 at the same time. The actuating pressure will cause the inner cylinder 20 to move down in FIG. 1, out of the end 36 of the outer cylinder 12 to move the piercing tool 140 connected to the end plate 22 toward a workpiece to be pierced through opening 144 in stripping plate 146. 
     After the initial movement, the outer diameter of the chamber 72 will be the inner diameter of the outer cylinder 12. The outer diameter of the chamber 102 and the outer diameter of the chamber 104 will be the inner diameter of the inner cylinder 20. The inner diameter of the chambers 70 and 102 will be the outer diameter of the shaft 16. The chamber 104 will have no inner diameter. 
     Thus, with a four inch outer diameter of outer cylinder 12, the areas of chambers 70, 102 and 104 in a preferred embodiment may be 10.26 sq. in., 8.16 sq. in. and 8.94 sq. in., respectively. The total pressure area for an actuating stroke will thus be 27.26 sq. in., whereby with an 80-pound line pressure piercing could be performed at 2181 pounds pressure. With a 100-pound line pressure piercing could be performed with 2726 pounds pressure. Such pressures are not presently available in piercing structure having such small diameter utilizing similar line pressures and are essential in piercing thick metal and metal having a high shear strength. 
     The stroke of the piercing structure may, for example, be one inch. 
     After piercing is completed, the pressure medium is exhausted from the pressure chamber 70, 102 and 104 and pressure medium is applied through the passage 74 into the retraction pressure chamber 106 which may, for example, have an area of 8.16 sq. in. to provide a return stroke for the piercing structure 10. It will be readily understood that the pressure required for the return stroke is not as great as that required for the actuating stroke since no piercing is performed with the inner cylinder 20 retracted as shown in FIG. 1. 
     The workpiece is stripped from the piercing tool 140 on the return stroke by springs 148 of the stripping structure 142 acting on the plate 146. The plate 146 bears on the workpiece under bias of the springs 148. 
     While one embodiment of the triple acting piercing structure of the invention has been disclosed in detail, it will be understood that other modifications and embodiments are contemplated. It is the intention to include all embodiments and modifications of the invention as are defined by the appended claims within the scope of the invention.