Edging press with horizontally opposed dies

Abstract: A pair of opposed dies (4a) define between them a transport line along which a slab (1) of forgeable material is passed. Each die (4a) is mounted on a slide (4) which is reciprocated in a direction (S) parallel to the slab and in a direction (W) perpendicular to it. Each slide (4) is driven by a connecting rod (10) and crankshaft (7) which is mounted in bearing boxes (6a, 6b) which are slidable perpendicular to the length of the slab. The position of the bearing boxes (6a, 6b) may be adjusted by a width setting device located behind the bearing boxes with respect to the die (4a) in order to vary the width of the path along which the slab to be forged passes.

Description: The present invention relates to a horizontally opposed die type edging press according to the precharacterising part of claim 1 for forging slabs of steel and the like, in particular, for decreasing the width of a slab upstream of a rolling line or downstream of a continuous casting line. A number of examples of conventional horizontally opposed die type edging presses for forging a slab from a continuously moving billet by the impact of dies are disclosed in Japanese Patent 1st Publication No. 68646/1987, Japanese Utility Model 1st Publicatiron No. 15901/1987 and Japanese Patent 1st Publication No. 273229/1986. The press of Japanese Patent 1st Publication No. 68646/1987 representing the closest prior art comprises opposed dies between which a slab is passed. Each die is mounted on a slide which is reciprocated in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the slab, by means of a respective connecting rod fitted over an eccentric portion of a rotating crankshaft. A width setting device comprising a lead screw is threaded at one end into each connecting rod and detachably fitted at its other end to a respective slide and thus moves with the connecting rod and the slide. The lead screws are rotated by a worm connected to a worm wheel, whereby the position and thus the spacing of the dies may be adjusted. By adjusting the screws on each side of the slab, it is possible to move the opposing dies towards or away from one another, thereby setting the width of the slab to be forged. The edging press of the type described above has the following various problems: 1) Since the width setting device is disposed in the connecting rod, the load exerted on the connecting rod becomes excessive so that the device for driving the edging press has to be large and the energy required to accelerate the press is increased. 2) Since the motion of the eccentric portions of the crankshaft is transmitted to the slides through the connecting rods in which the width setting device is disposed, the connecting rods tend to vary in length when they receive impact loads during the forging of a slab, resulting in variation of the load torque on the crankshaft. 3) Since the width setting devices are of complicated structure, and disposed in the connecting rods which translate the rotation of the eccentric portion of the crankshaft into reciprocal motion of the slides, inspection and maintenance of the width setting devices is difficult. Thus the rate of operation of the edging press is reduced and the shutdown time of the production line as a whole is increased. As a result, it is difficult to improve production efficiency. It is the object of the present invention to solve the above and other problems and thus to provide a horizontally opposed die type edging press with a width setting device capable of operating at a high degree of efficiency and allowing easy inspection and maintenance. According to the present invention an edging press of the type comprising two substantially horizontally opposed dies which define between them a transport line along which, in use, a slab of forgeable material is passed, the dies being mounted on respective carriers mounted to reciprocate in the direction parallel to the transport line and in a direction transverse to the transport line, each carrier being connected to a displacement mechanism arranged to reciprocate it in the direction parallel to the transport line and to a connecting rod arranged to reciprocate in the direction transverse to the transport line, the connecting rod being connected to the eccentric portion of a crankshaft supported in bearing boxes and width setting means arranged to vary the spacing of the dies is characterised in that the bearing boxes are mounted so as to be movable in the direction transverse to the transport line and that the width setting means are situated on the side of the bearing boxes remote from the transport line and comprise means arranged to move the bearing boxes and thus the associated connecting rod in the direction towards and away from the transport line. The axis of the crankshaft may be substantially parallel to the direction of the transport line or perpendicular to it and may extend substantially vertically. In use, the width setting device moves the bearing boxes in the direction of the width of the transport line so as to set the width of the slab. Thereafter the crankshafts are rotated to cause the carriers, which are preferably in the form of slides, to reciprocate in the direction of the width of the slab while the parallel displacement mechanisms cause the slides to reciprocate in the direction parallel with the transport line. As a result, the dies are caused not only to reciprocate in the direction of the width of the slab but also to move parallel to the length of the slab transportation line, whereby a slab is forged. According to the present invention, the width setting device for setting the width of a slab to be forged is disposed at one side of the bearing boxes remote from the transport line so that the slabs can be forged without variation of the load torque which would otherwise be caused by the impact forces exerted on the dies and the slides. A number of specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the following drawings, in which:- Figures 1 to 4 are partial sectional views of the first to fourth preferred embodiments, respectively, of the present invention; Figure 5 is a partial sectional view of the frame in the fourth embodiment shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a partial sectional view of a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 7 is a sectional view of the gear box of the fifth embodiment shown in Figure 6. The same reference numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout the figures. Referring first to Figure 1, a frame 2 is disposed on each side of a slab transport line, along which a slab moves in a direction S, to sandwich the slab 1 between the two frames. On each side of the transportation line a travel guide 3 is fitted in a pair of guides 2a extending upwardly from the frame 2 whereby the travel guide 3 is free to slide in a direction parallel to the direction of travel S of the slab. A carrying member, in this case a slide 4, is fitted in the travel guide 3 to be moved in a direction W perpendicular to the direction of travel S of the slab 1. A die 4a for forging the slab 1 is detachably fixed to the side of the slide 4 nearest the slab 1. A frame 5 is disposed at the side of the slide 4 remote from the transport line to be movable in the direction perpendicular to the direction of travel S of the slab 1. Bearing boxes 6a and 6b, mounted on the frame 5, support a crankshaft 7 extending in the direction S. A spherical bearing 8 fitted over an eccentric portion 7a of the crankshaft 7 is connected through a connecting rod 10 to a spherical bearing 9 mounted on the side of the slide 4 remote from the transport line. Smaller spherical bearings 89 are fitted over the eccentric portion 7a and connected by respective counterbalance cylinders 91 and rods 92 to corresponding spherical bearings 90 attached to the slide 4. Nuts 12 are securely fitted into corresponding through holes which are drilled or otherwise defined through the end 11 of the frame 2 which projects beyond the frame 5 away from the transport line and extends in the direction S. Width setting rods 13 pass through the nuts 12 and frame end 11. Part of the outer surface of each rod defines a thread which engages with the internal thread of the nuts 12. The ends of the rods 13 nearest the slab 1 contact the bearing boxes 6a and 6b on the side of the boxes remote from the slab 1. A worm wheel 14 is fitted over each rod 13 and engages with a spline 13a defined in the outer periphery near the end of the rod remote from the slab 1 and meshes with a respective worm 15 carried by a common drive shaft 16 which is connected through a shaft coupling 17 to a drive shaft 19 of drive 18. The press thus includes a width setting device generally indicated by reference numeral 79. A gear box 22 has an output shaft 20 extending in the direction S and an output shaft 21 extending in the direction W, perpendicular to the direction S and is disposed downstream of the frame 2 with respect to the direction S. The output shaft 20 is drivingly connected through flexible couplings 23 and intermediate shaft 23a to the crankshaft 7. The gear box 22 supports at its side near the transport line a crankshaft 24 which extends in the direction W and which is connected through a shaft coupling 25 to the output shaft 21. A spherical bearing 26 fitted over an eccentric portion 24a of the crankshaft 24 is connected through a connecting rod 28 to a spherical bearing 27 attached to the downstream end of the travel guide 3 with respect to the direction S. Thus a parallel displacement mechanism generally indicated by reference numeral 80 is provided. A gear box 31 has an output shaft 29 and an input shaft 30, both of which extend in the direction S, and is disposed downstream of the gear box 22 with respect to the direction S. The output shaft 29 is drivingly connected through a shaft coupling 33 to the input shaft 32 of the gear box 22 and the input shaft 30 is drivingly connected through a shaft coupling 34 to an output shaft 36 of a drive 35. A counterbalance cylinder 37 has a piston rod 38 which reciprocates in the direction W and which extends through the frame end 11 and is connected to the side of the frame 5 remote from the transport line. In order to set the width of the slab 1 to be forged, the drive 18 is energized to rotate the worms 15 and thus also the worm wheels 14. This causes not only rotation of the rods 13 but also linear movement of the rods 13 towards or away from the transport line due to the cooperation of their threaded portions with the nuts 12. When the rods 13 are moved toward the transport line, the ends of the rods 13 nearest the transport line engage the sides of the bearing boxes 6a and 6b, respectively, remote from the transport line. The bearing boxes 6a and 6b and the frame 5 are thus forced to move toward the transport line. This results in the slide 4 on each side of the transport line being caused to move inwardly by the crankshaft 7, the bearing 8, the rod 10 and the bearing 9 so that the dies 4a move towards the centreline of the transport line, thereby reducing the width of the slab 1. When the rods 13 are moved away from the transport line, the ends of the rods 13 nearest the transport line are moved away from the sides of the bearing boxes 6a and 6b remote from the transport line. The bearing boxes 6a and 6b and the frame 5 then remain at their respective positions to which they were pushed by the rods 13. By charging a liquid into the chamber of the cylinder 37, the piston rod 38 may retract the bearing boxes 6a and 6b and the frame 5 away from the transport line until the ends of the rod 13 nearest the transport line contact the side surfaces of the bearing boxes 6a and 6b remote from the transport line. Retraction of the bearing boxes 6a and 6b and the frame 5 away from the transport line causes the slide 4 to be moved away from the transport line by the crankshaft 7, the spherical bearing 8, the connecting rod 10 and the spherical bearing 9 so that the die 4a is moved away from the centreline of the transport line whereby the width of the slab 1 to be forged is increased. After the width of a slab 1 to be forged has been set, the drive 35 is energized to forge the slab 1. Rotation produced by the drive 35 is transmitted through the gear box 31 to the gear box 22 which is connected to the crankshaft 7 through the flexible joints 23 and the intermediate shaft 23a so that the slide 4 is caused to reciprocate in the direction W. Even if the frame 5 is displaced in the direction W during the operation to adjust the width of the forged slab, the torque produced by the drive 35 is transmitted to the crankshaft 7 without restriction since the output shaft 20 is connected to the crankshaft 7 through the flexible joints 23 and the intermediate shaft 23a. Torque produced by the drive 35 is further transmitted from the second output shaft 21 of the gear box 22 to the crankshaft 24 so that the slide 4 is caused to reciprocate in the direction S whilst being retained in the travel guide 3. As a result, the die 4a reciprocates in the direction W whilst also reciprocating in the direction S, whereby the slab 1 is forged. In the first embodiment, the width setting device 79 is disposed at the side of the bearing boxes 6a and 6b remote from the transport line so that, when forging a slab, the impact of the die 4a against the slab 1 is not directly transmitted to the width setting device 79 so that the latter is not subject to failure. Referring next to Figure 2, a gear box 41, which has an output shaft 39 extending in the direction S and a splined input shaft 40 extending in the direction W, is attached to the downstream side of the bearing box 6a with respect to the direction S. The output shaft 39 is connected through a shaft coupling 42 to the crankshaft 7. A gear box 43 is disposed at the side of the gear box 41 remote from the transport line and has an output gear 44 and an input shaft 45. The output gear 44 engages the input shaft 40 of the gear box 41 and the input shaft 45 is connected through a shaft coupling 48 to an output shaft 47 of a drive 46. In the second embodiment described above, when setting the width of the slab 1 to be forged, the threaded rods 13 are rotated so as to displace the bearing boxes 6a and 6b and the frame 5 in the direction W, as in the first embodiment. Thereafter, the drive 46 is energized so as to forge the slab 1. The torque produced by the drive 46 is transmitted through the output gear 44 to the gear box 41 from which the torque is further transmitted through the output shaft 39 and the shaft coupling 42 to the crankshaft 7 so that the slide 4 is caused to reciprocate in the direction W. Even if the frame 5 is displaced in the direction W during the operation to set the width of the slab 1 to be forged, the torque produced by the driving means 46 is transmitted without any difficulty since the splined input shaft 40 extending from the gear box 41 is slidably engaged with the output gear 44 of the gear box 43. Torque produced by a drive (not shown) is transmitted to the crankshaft 24 and causes the slide 4 to reciprocate in the direction S. As a result, the die 4a is reciprocated in the direction W whilst being reciprocated in the direction S to forge the slab 1. Referring next to Figure 3, a gear box 52 is securely disposed at a position downstream of the bearing box 6b with respect to the direction S. The gear box 52 has an output shaft 49 extending in the direction S and an input gear 51 into which a splined output shaft 50 slidably extends in the direction W. The output shaft 49 is connected through a shaft coupling 53 to the crankshaft 7. A gear box 54 with an output shaft 50 and an input shaft 55 is disposed at the gear box 52 remote from the transport line. The output shaft 50 is fitted into the input gear 51 of the gear box 52 and the input shaft 55 is connected through a shaft coupling 48 to the output shaft 47 of the drive 46. The rods 13 are in contact with the sides of the bearing boxes 6a and 6b, respectively, remote from the transport line. Piston rods 71 of counterbalance cylinders 70 are in contact with the sides of the bearing boxes 6a and 6b nearest the transport line. When setting the width of a slab to be forged in the third embodiment, the threaded rods 13 are rotated as in the first embodiment to displace the bearing boxes 6a and 6b in the direction W and, if necessary, the counterbalance cylinders 70 are energized. Thereafter the drive 46 is energized to forge a slab 1. The torque produced by the drive 46 is transmitted through the gear box 54 to the gear box 52 from which the torque is transmitted through the output shaft 49 and the shaft coupling 53 to the crankshaft 7. The slide 4 is thus caused to reciprocate in the direction W. Even if the bearing boxes 6a and 6b are displaced in the direction W, the torque is transmitted from the drive 46 to the crankshaft 7 without any restriction since the splined output shaft 50 of the gear box 54 is in slidable engagement with the input gear 51 of the gear box 52. Torque from a drive (not shown) is transmitted to the crankshaft 24 and causes the slide 4 to be reciprocated in the direction S, whilst slidably retained in the travel guide 3. Thus the dies 4a reciprocate in the direction W whilst reciprocating also in the direction S when forging a slab 1. Referring next to Figures 4 and 5, the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a frame 55 disposed at the side of the slide 4 remote from the slab 1 such that the frame 55 is movable in the direction W. A crankshaft 57 is vertically supported by bearing boxes 56a and 56b mounted on the frame 55 and an eccentric portion 57a of the crankshaft 57 is connected through a connecting rod 10 to a spherical bearing 9 attached to the slide 4 at its end remote from the slab 1. Nuts 60 are securely fitted into through holes 82 which extend in the direction W through an end portion 59 of the frame 58 which in turn extends in the direction away from the transport line. The nuts 60 mesh with external threads on threaded rods 61 extending in the direction W so that the ends of the rods 61 nearest the transport line bear on the side surfaces of the bearing boxes 56a and 56b remote from the transport line. A worm wheel 62 is fitted over a splined end portion 61a of each of the rods 61 and meshes with a respective worm 63 carried by a common drive shaft 64 which is connected through a shaft coupling 65 to an output shaft 67 of a drive 66. Thus, a width setting device generally indicated by reference numeral 81 is provided. A gear box 84 is disposed above the bearing box 56a and has an upwardly extending output shaft 68 and an input shaft 83 extending in the direction W. The output shaft 68 is connected through flexible joints 69 and an intermediate shaft 69a to the crankshaft 57 and the intput shaft 83 is connected through a shaft coupling 85 to an output shaft 87 of a drive 86. Counterbalance cylinders 70 disposed in the frame 58 have forwardly and backwardly movable piston rods 71 which are in contact with the side surfaces of the bearing boxes 56a and 56b nearest the transport line. Referring to Figure 5, the frame 58 has windows or openings 88 into which the travel guide 3 is slidably inserted such that the travel guide 3 can be moved in the direction S. In order to set the width of a slab 1 to be forged, the drive 66 is energized to rotate the worms 63. Upon rotation of the worms 63, the worm wheels 62 engaged with the splines 61a of each of the rods 61 are rotated to move the rods 61 towards or away from the transport line. When the rods 61 are moved toward the transport line, the ends of the rods 61 nearest the transport line contact the side of the bearing boxes 56a and 56b remote from the transport line and the bearing boxes 56a and 56b and the frame 55 are pushed toward the transport line. Movement of the bearing boxes 56a and 56b and the frame 55 toward the transport line causes the slide 4 to be moved towards the transport line by the crankshaft 57, the connecting rod 10 and the spherical bearing 9. As a result, the die 4a is forced to move toward the centreline of the transport line, thereby reducing the width of the slab to be forged. When the rods 61 are moved away from the transport line, the ends of the rods 61 nearest the transport line are moved away from the bearing boxes 56a and 56b. The bearing boxes 56a and 56b and the frame 55 remain at their respective positions to which they were pushed. A fluid may be charged into the chamber of each of the counterbalance cylinders 70 adjacent to the piston rods 71 and the piston rods 71 cause the bearing boxes 56a and 56b and the frame 55 to move away from the transport line until the sides of the bearing boxes 56a and 56b remote from the transport line again contact the ends of the rods 61. Retraction of the bearing boxes 56a and 56b and the frame 55 away from the transport line causes the slide 4 to be moved away from the transport line by the crankshaft 57, the connecting rod 10 and the spherical bearing 9 so that the die 4a is moved away from the centreline of the transport line, thereby increasing the width of the slab 1 to be forged. After setting the width of a slab to be forged, the drive 86 is energized to forge the slab 1. The torque produced by the drive 86 is transmitted from the gear box 84 through the flexible joints 69 and the intermediate shaft 69a to the crankshaft 57 so that the slide 4 is caused to reciprocate in the direction W. Even when the bearing boxes 56a and 56b have been displaced in the direction W to set the width of the forged slab 1, the torque produced by the drive 86 is transmitted to the crankshaft 57 without any restriction since the output shaft 68 is connected to the crankshaft 57 through the flexible joints 69 and the intermediate shaft 69a. Torque produced by a drive (not shown) is transmitted to the crankshaft 24 and causes the slide 4 to reciprocate in the direction S, whilst being slidably retained by the travel guide 3. The die 4a thus reciprocates not only in the direction W but also in the direction S. In the fourth embodiment, the width setting devices 81 are disposed at the sides of the bearing boxes 56a and 56b remote from the transport line S so that, during the forging operation, no impact from the dies 4a and slides 4 is directly transmitted to the width setting devices 81. As a result, breakdown of the device 81 rarely occurs. Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a fifth embodiment of the present invention in which a gear box 74 is disposed above a frame 58 and has an output gear 72 into which a vertically extending splined shaft 78 is fitted and an input shaft 73 extending in the direction W such that the gear box 74 can be moved in the direction W. The input shaft 73 is connected through a sliding joint 75 to an output shaft 77 of drive 76 and the splined upper end portion 78 of a crankshaft 57 is securely fitted into the output gear 72. The gear box 74 is driven by a drive (not shown) at the same speed as the rods 61 in the direction of displacement of the frame 55. In order to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the device, the side surfaces of the bearing box 56b are shortened by a distance α as compared with the bearing box 56a (see Figure 7). A reciprocable piston rod 38 of a counterbalance cylinder 37 which extends in the direction W, extends through the frame end portion 59 and is connected to the frame 55 which is attached to the bearing boxes 56a and 56b. A spherical bearing 93 is fitted to each bearing box 56a and 56b and connected through a counterbalance cylinder 95 and a rod 96 to a respective spherical bearing 94 attached to the slide 4. When setting the width of a slab to be forged, as in the fourth embodiment, the threaded rods 61 are rotated to displace the frame 55 in the direction W. Thereafter, the drive 76 is energized so as to forge the slab 1. The torque from the drive 76 is transmitted through the joint 75 to the gear box 74 and is further transmitted to the crankshaft 57 so that the slide 4 is caused to reciprocate in the direction W. Even if the bearing boxes 56a and 56b have been displaced in the direction W, the torque produced by the drive 76 is transmitted to the crankshaft 57 without any restriction since the output shaft 77 of the drive 76 is connected through the expansion joint 75 to the input shaft 73 of the gear box 74. Torque produced by a drive (not shown) is transmitted to the crankshaft 24 causes the slide 4 to reciprocate in the direction S, whilst being slidably retained by the frame 58. As a result, the die 4a reciprocates not only in the direction W, but also in the direction S, whereby a slab 1 is forged. In each of the embodiments described above the slab 1 is advanced along the transport line by means of the dies 4a. The reciprocation of the dies 4a in the directions S and W is thus so phased that when each die begins to contact the slab 1 it is in its most upstream position in the direction S and when each die moves out of contact with the slab 1 it is in its most downstream position. Between these two times the dies are in engagement with the slab and move in the direction S and thus move the slab with them. The two mutually perpendicular reciprocations are of course made possible by the provision of the various spherical bearings. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and that various modifications may be effected without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claims: An edging press comprising two substantially horizontally opposed dies (4a) which define between them a transport line along which, in use, a slab (1) of forgeable material is passed, the dies (4a) being mounted on respective carriers (4) mounted to reciprocate in the direction (S) parallel to the transport line and in a direction (W) transverse to the transport line, each carrier (4) being connected to a displacement mechanism (80) arranged to reciprocate it in the direction (S) parallel of the transport line and to a connecting rod (10) arranged to reciprocate it in the direction (W) transverse of the transport line, the connecting rod (10) being connected to the eccentric portion (7a;57a) of a crankshaft (7;57) supported in bearing boxes (6a,6b) and width setting means (79;81) arranged to vary the spacing of the dies (4a), characterised in that the bearing boxes (6a,6b) are mounted so as to be movable in the direction (W) transverse of the transport line and that the width setting means (79;81) are situated on the side of the bearing boxes (6a,6b) remote from the transport line and comprise means arranged to move the bearing boxes (6a,6b) and thus the associated connecting rod (10) in the direction (W) towards and away from the transport line. A press as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the crankshaft (7) extends substantially parallel to the direction (S) of the transport line. A press as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the crankshaft (57) extends substantially vertically. A press as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the crankshaft (7;57) is connected to a drive (35;86) having an output shaft (30;87) which is substantially parallel to the crankshaft (7;57) and which is connected to the crankshaft via flexible joints (23). A press as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the crankshaft (7;57) is connected to a drive (35;46;86;76) via a gearbox (31,22;43,41;54,52;84;74). A press as claimed in claim 5 characterised in that the output shaft (47;87;77) of the drive extends transverse to the crankshaft (7;57) and that the connection between the drive and the gearbox or between the gearbox and the crankshaft is constructed to permit relative movement in the direction (W) perpendicular to the transport line. A press as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the width setting means (79;81) includes one or more screws or threaded rods (13) and means (14,15,16) to rotate them, the screw or screws (13) engaging the bearing boxes (6a,6b) and being so mounted that on rotation in one sense they cause the bearing boxes (6a,6b) to move towards the transport line. A press as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the width setting means (79;81) includes one or more piston/cylinder arrangements (37,38) arranged to move the bearing boxes (6a,6b) away from the transport line.

Inventors: ICHIKAWA MITSUHIKO, IDE KENICHI, MASUDA BUNPEI, TAZOE NOBUHIRO, YOSHIDA MASUJIRO, ICHIKAWA, MITSUHIKO, IDE, KENICHI, MASUDA, BUNPEI, TAZOE, NOBUHIRO, YOSHIDA, MASUJIRO
Applicants: ISHIKAWAJIMA HARIMA HEAVY IND, ISHIKAWAJIMA-HARIMA JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B21B1
IPC codes: B21B15, B21J1, B30B7