Improvements in Axle Forging Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Axle Forging Machines.
1, CAMILLE MERCADER, of Bruddock, in the County of Allegheny and State
of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to axle forging machines constructed and operating
as I shall describe referring to the accompanying drawings,
Fig. is a longitudinal section of the machine.
Fig. 2 is an end elevation partly in section.
Fig. 3 is a side view of the forged axle, partly in section.
2 is the lower die on which the axle blank is laid, and 3 is the upper die which
is a counterpart of the lower, these two dies forming, when joined, a cavity
approximately the shape of the finished axle. The upper die 3 has a holder 4,
preferably fixed to the frame 5 of the machine. The lower die 2, which is
the movable die, is fixed to a die-head 6 and is capable of two movements, a vertical
movement towards the upper die, and a lateral or travelling movement by which the
blank is carried into the machine. For this lateral movement, I provide a track 7,
for slides 8, upon which the die-head 6 rests when in its lowest position. These
slides are connected by a cross-head 9 to the plunger of a cylinder 10, or other
suitable motor, by which the slides carrying the die-head and die are moved
from a position B outside of the machine, to the position shewn in the drawing
inside the machine with the die 2 directly under the die 3. 11, 11 are wedges
moved forwards by motors 12 under the die-head, in order to support it and
lock it when elevated. When the die 2 is directly under 3, the die-head 6 is
raised by the plunger 13 of the cylinder 14. Some other suitable motor may
be substituted for this cylinder and plunger.
For removing the finished axle from the machine, I mount on the slides 8 a
carrier 15, consisting preferably of upright arms having notched or concave
upper ends, adapted to receive and support an axle-blank.
in order to shape the ends of the axle, employ punches 16 which enter the
ends of the axle longitudinally, being moved by the plungers 17 of hydraulic
cylinders 18 or by any other suitable motors. These punches are made
sufficiently long, and have sufficient stroke to penetrate the axle blank lengthwise
to and preferably beyond the wheel seat of the axle. At each end of the die-
cavity, is a box 19 having a follower die-block 20, through which passes the
end of the punch 16. This follower block serves as a guide for the punch and
also as a shaping die for the end of the axle. It is provided with retracting
springs 21 and its inner end is of proper form to shape the end of the axle-
blank.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-
The die-head 6 and die 2 being moved out from beneath the die 3 as indicated by
dotted lines in Fig. 2, the operator places on the die 2 an axle-blank A at a
welding heat. Then by operation of the cylinder 10 the die 2 is drawn under the
die 3 and the plunger 13 is raised in its cylinder 14, so as to lift the die 2 up
To the die 3. To retain the dies in this position, the wedges 11 are pushed by
the cylinders 12 under the die-head 6. The die 2 being then locked by the

page_text: wedges, the cylinders IS are actuated so as to force the punches 16 through the
follower blocks 20 into the ends of the axle-blank, which they penetrate, dis-
placing the metal of the axle-blank outwardly so as to make it fill the cavity
of the dies, forming the wheel seat and taper of the axle to their proper size
and contour. Near the end of the forward stroke of the punches, shoulders 22
meet the follower-blocks 20 and carry them forward, pressing them against
the ends of the axle-blank, and thus, by compressing them, shaping the ends and
forming the colars of the axle, thus completing the forging of the axle.
To remove the axle, the punches 16 are partially retracted, the wedges 11
are pulled back so as to free the die-head 6, and the plunger 13 is lowered to
lower the die 2 out of contact with the axle, and to deposit the die-head 6 upon
the slides S. Then the slides are moved by the cylinder 10, carrying the
die to the position shewn by dotted lines in Fig. 2, ready to receive another
axle-blank.
As the slides move, carrying the die 2 from under the die 3, they also bring
under the die the carrier 15, which is mounted upon the slides. The punches 16
which had supported the axle are then withdrawn permitting the finished axle
to drop upon the carrier 15. The slides are then retracted, bringing back the
finished axle on the carrier 15 and bringing into the machine under the die 3
the axle-blank which had been placed on the die 2, and the operations are
repeated.
The machine above described produces a strong and light axle with hollow
ends. This is an advantage, because the action of the punches greatly compacts
and strengthens the metal and renders the axle less apt to break. Axles, as
hitherto forged, in the finishing operation have been greatly weakened by cutting
away the outer skin which had been compacted by the forging operation; but
in axles forged by my machine, a tough dense layer is formed in the interior
of the axle by the action of the entering punches, and this layer is not cut away,
but remains as a permanent element of strength.
An axle forged as described does not require to be turned throughout its entire
length, for it is made so true that only the end portions require to be turned.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. An axle forging machine comprising a fixed upper die a lower die with
means of moving it vertically and supporting wedges with means of moving them
horizontally under the die, transverse slides having on them a carrier for the
finished axle, with means of moving them liorizontally, a pair of end punches
and spring followers with means of moving the punches, arranged and operating
substantially as described.
2. For forging an axle, the combination of a pair of dies to form the external
shape and a pair of end punches and followers to form the end hollows and
shape the ends, substantially as described.
3. In combination with the lower die, a motor for raising it, a pair of wedges
for supporting it and their motors, transverse slides for moving the die laterally
and their motor, substantially as described.
4. In combination with the dies a pair of end punches and spring followers and
motors for the punches, substantially as described.
1001
1
1004
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.