Patent GB-772496-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to heavy duty metal working presses
IPC: B21D43/10
Filed: 1954-07-05
Abstract: 772,496. Angular bending; metal-working presses. BABCOCK & WILCOX, Ltd. July 5, 1954 [July 8, 1953], No. 19611/54. Class 83 (4). A vertical heavy duty metal-working press has associated therewith a plurality of workmanipulating units. An upper platen 27, vertically reciprocated by one, two or all of hydraulic rams 24, 26, 24, detachably carries, at 36, 39, an upper beam 30 having hooked thereon at 43 an upper die 35. A lower beam 50, supporting a lower die 55, is movable on horizontal ways 57, 58 into and out of the press by hydraulic piston and cylinder means 135, Fig. 4, and Fig. 11 (not shown). The lower ends of the beam 50 are curved upwardly to allow it to move easily from the ways 57 to 58, the ways 57 being shorter than the beam 50 so that its ends may be deflected under pressure. Four work-handling units 70 are arranged two on each side of the lower beam 50 and each comprises a hydraulically extensible ram 75, carrying a hook 40 at its upper end, mounted on trunnions through which pressure fluid passes, Fig. 8 (not shown), in a carriage 65 to swing to or from the beam 50 under the action of opposed hydraulic cylinders 115, Fig. 2A and Figs. 9 and 10 (not shown). The carriage 65 runs on a fixed rail 66 and on a rail 68 on the beam 50 and may be clamped to either rail, Figs. 6 and 7 (not shown). In operation, the lower beam 50 is withdrawn from the press with the manipulating unit carriages 65 clamped thereto, a plate is placed on the die 55 of the beam 50 with its edge against adjustable side stops 240, Figs. 3A, 19 (not shown). The manipulating units 70 are then moved to engage the plate which has U-shaped clips welded to its edges for engagement by the hooks 40 on the rams 75 of the units 70. The beam 50 is then moved back into the press with the plate and, if desired, the units 70 retracted while the press operates. For bending a plate to part-cylindrical form an initial bend is effected near one of its longitudinal edges and the manipulating units 70 then shift the plate laterally of the die so that successive bends may be formed to curve the plate. The manipulating units 70 may support the offset part of the plate during bending. When the lower beam 50 is in the press horizontal creep thereof is prevented by means 200 attached thereto which includes a pendulum engaging the rail 66 and carrying cams which operate switches to actuate the hydraulic means 135 to centre the lower beam. Slatted safety platforms 220 and platforms 222 projecting from the side of the beam 50 are provided, Figs. 3A and 15 (not shown), the slatted platforms 220 being secured to the units 70 and folding into wells carried by the beam 50 as the units move into the centre of the beam. To remove the upper beam 30 from the press lugs 42 thereon are engaged by the hooks 40 of the units 70, the units are clamped to the lower beam 50, the upper beam is disconnected from the platen 27 and the lower beam is moved out of the press carrying the upper beam on the units 70. The upper beam is presented to stationary supporting frames, Figs. 16, 17, 18 (not shown), to be held thereby and the units 70 are disengaged therefrom. The press may also be used for forming hemispherical end shells for pressure vessels and for heavy duty piercing.