Barnes Group Inc.

Teledyne Industries, Inc.

Henry J Kelm

Steven J Reilly

Terry L Gang, Jr

Harold L Lanterman

Walter Santee

Joseph John Janos

Harold I Lanterman

Edward C Kuhar

Steve J Reilly

A die separator cylinder for use in separating first and second portions of a metal forming die set comprises a housing including a bore. A piston is adapted to reciprocate in the bore between an extended position and a depressed position. The die separator cylinder further includes gas flow paths leading to and from the bore that define asymmetrical gas flow rates relative to each other so that said when the bore is charged with an inert gas, the inert gas biases the piston to the extended position with a force that varies depending upon a time interval elapsed since the piston moved from the depressed position to the extended position. As such, the cylinder is configured so that during opening and closing of the press for metal-forming operations, the piston moves inward and outward with reduced force, while during periods of inactivity, the piston is biased outward with maximum force sufficient to separate the die halves of the die set to protect the die surfaces and to facilitate stacking of the die set for storage. The die separator cylinder can be configured as a stand-alone self-contained cylinder or can be configured as part of a hosed system or the like.

Die separator cylinder

A high-pressure, inert gas cushion assembly for the ram or bolster of a metal stamping press includes a manifold having fluid-flow passages defined therein, along with a plurality of cylinder mounting locations each in communication with at least one of the fluid-flow passages. A plurality of cushion cylinders are located respectively in the cylinder mounting locations. Each cylinder includes a body having an inner wall that defines a bore of diameter D. A piston is located in the bore and includes opposite inner and outer faces, wherein the outer face is oriented outwardly relative to the bore and manifold. A fluid seal is supported on the piston and is slidably engaged with the wall defining the bore. One or more bearings are supported on the piston and slidably engaged with the inner wall that defines the bore. The bearing(s) support the piston slidably in the bore for reciprocal sliding movement between extended and retracted positions. The bearing(s) define a bearing-length L that is less than or equal to 40% of said bore diameter D.

Cushion and cushion cylinder for ram or bolster of a press

A fluid spring assembly. The spring assembly preferably includes a body that slidably supports a piston that is attached to a piston rod. The piston serves to define a fluid chamber within the body that is charged with a pressurized fluid medium. The piston is retained within the body by a rigid retainer member. A biasing member is provided between the retaining member and the piston for resisting the force generated by the fluid medium within the fluid chamber.

Low contact force spring

A self-lubricating cylinder assembly for use in a press operable in an upright orientation and in an inverted orientation. The cylinder assembly contains a working fluid under pressure and lubricating oil. The cylinder assembly includes a cylinder body that has sidewalls that terminate in an opening at a first end and an end wall at a second end. The cylinder assembly further includes an interior wall assembly that connects to the cylinder body and has walls that extend within the cylinder body to the end wall. The wall assembly walls are preferably formed of a cylinder liner in connection with an insert. The cylinder liner has a piston mounted for reciprocal motion therebetween. A variable volume wall assembly space is defined as a space between the piston, the wall assembly walls and the housing end wall. An expansion reservoir is defined as a space between the side walls of the cylinder body, the wall assembly walls and the cylinder body end wall. A first passage opens to the wall assembly space and to the expansion reservoir. At least the expansion reservoir opening of the first passage is positioned below the level of the lubricating oil when the cushion assembly is in the upright orientation. Both first passage openings are positioned above the level of the lubricating oil when the cushion assembly is in the inverted orientation. A second passage opens to the wall assembly space and to the expansion reservoir. Both second passage openings are positioned above the level of the lubricating oil when the cushion assembly is in the upright orientation. The second passage opening that opens to the expansion reservoir is positioned below the level of the lubricating oil when the cushion assembly is in the inverted orientation. Lubricating oil recirculation is accomplished by means of a jet mixture of compressible working fluid and lubricating oil sprayed onto the cylinder wall by means of a controlled pressure differential of the compressible working fluid while the piston is moving during the expansion stroke of the work cycle.

Self-lubricating fluid cylinder

A press assembly includes first and second members which engage opposite sides of a workpiece during operation of the press assembly. A cushion assembly is provided to absorb force transmitted from at least one of the members during operation of the press assembly. A high pressure reservoir is connected in fluid communication with a cylinder of the cushion assembly to receive fluid during operation of the press assembly. Hydraulic fluid is supplied to the cushion assembly at a relatively low pressure during operation of the press assembly. A valve is operable to block a flow of hydraulic fluid from the cushion assembly as the press assembly begins to operate from a closed condition toward an open condition to thereby retain the cushion assembly in a retracted condition. A secondary or pump cylinder may be actuated by operation of the press assembly to pump hydraulic fluid to the cushion assembly. A modulating valve is operable to modulate the fluid pressure conducted from the pump cylinder assembly to the cushion cylinder assembly during operation of the press assembly.

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Litchfield, OH, United States of America

Henry J Kelm