US3611496A - Guides for bolsters in horizontal presses - Google Patents

Abstract

IN THE GUIDES FOR BOLSTERS, A SUPPORT BLOCK IS IN SLIDABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH A STRAIN ROD AND A PAIR OF KEEPER PLATES ARE SECURED TO ADJACENT OPPOSITE FACES OF THE SUPPORT BLOCK AND ENCOMPASS THE STRAIN ROD. A SUPPORT MEMBER IS RECEIVED BETWEEN PERIPHERAL PORTIONS OF THE OPPOSED KEEPER PLATES AND HAS AN EXTENSION PROTURDING THEREFROM SECURED TO A SUPPORTING THE BOLSTER, WHILE THE BOLSTER ITSELF IS POSITIONED IN FLOATING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE KEEPER PLATES, A PLURALITY OF SUPPORT BLOCK ASSEMBLIES BEING PROVIDED.

Description

Oct. 12, 1971 H. A.TR|SHMAN 3,611,496

GUIDES FOR BOLSTERS IN HORIZONTAL PRESSBS Filed April 23, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HARRY A.TR|SHMAN W 2 w m,

ATTORNEYS Oct. 12, 1971 TR|$HMAN 3,611,496

GUIDES FOR BOLSTERS IN HORIZONTAL PRESSES Filed April 25, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HARRY A.TR|SH MAN ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent US. Cl. 18-16 a 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In the guides for bolsters, a support block is in slidable engagement with a strain rod and a pair of keeper plates are secured to adjacent opposite faces of the support block and encompass the strain rod. A support member is received between peripheral portions of the opposed keeper plates and has an extension protruding therefrom secured to and supporting the bolster, while the bolster itself is positioned in floating relationship between the keeper plates, a plurality of support block assemblies being provided.

The present invention particularly relates to horizontal presses and especially to an improved bolster guide or means for use in securing a vertically positioned bolster in temperature compensating relation to the strain rods for slidably positioning the bolster and load carried thereby on the strain rods.

Heretofore it always has been a problem to position the relatively heavy bolsters in horizontal presses on the horizontally extending strain rods of the presses so that the bolster and the support bushings or other means used to attach the bolster to the strain rods will compensate for temperature variations and consequent size changes of the bolster when in use.

The general object of the present invention is to provide novel and improved bolster guides and assemblies for securing bolsters operationally to horizontally positioned presses.

Another object of the invention is to use a pair of keeper plates and a support block in association with a bolster for positioning the same in a horizontal press in an automatically adjustable temperature compensating manner.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a pair of improved, durable, bolster guide and support means for positioning relatively heavy bolster plates in heavy or massive horizontally positioned presses in substantial equal load relationship on all four strain rods of the press.

Another object of the invention is to position a movable bolster and any mold section carried thereby in accurate relation to any cooperating mold section on a fixed portion of the press, and to maintain the bolster in a predetermined accurate position in relation to fixed portions of the press with temperature changes in the press.

Other objects of the invention will be made apparent as the specification proceeds.

Attention now is directed to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical section of one side of a horizontally positioned press, bolster and associated bolster support means embodying the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section of a lower bolster guide assembly taken on line 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section of a modification of the invention.-

When referring to corresponding members shown in the drawings and referred to in the specification, corresponding numerals are used to facilitate comparison therebetween.

With reference to the details of the structure shown in Patented Oct. 12, 1971 the accompanying drawings, a portion of a horizontally positioned press is indicated by the number 10. This press 10 includes a plurality of horizontally positioned strain rods 11 and 12 on which a bolster 13 is slidably positioned all in accordance with conventional horizontal press construction. As the construction of both sides of the press are identical in reverse to each other only the left side of the press is shown. The bolster is adapted to have a mold or platen of any type and mold means (not shown) secured thereto and insulated therefrom in a conventional manner while also a ram (not shown) also normally is secured to and extends from the bolster 13 for association with a suitable cylinder means whereby movement of the bolster 13 on the strain rods 11 and 12 would be provided in accordance with conventional practice.

The present invention particularly relates to the novel construction used for positioning the weight or load of the relatively heavy bolster plate 13 and associated means on the upper and lower strain rods 11 and 12 so as to maintain the bolster centered in the press under varying temperatures. Usually two lower strain rods are used in the press. Details of the particular bolster assembly and support guides of the invention are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a support block 14 is shown positioned on the strain rod 11 as by conventional bronze bushing 15 suitably operatively secured to a bore formed in and extending through the support block 14. The support block 14 has a pair of keeper plates 16 and 17 individually associated with and positioned on opposite faces or surfaces of the support block 14. The keeper plates 16 and 17 encompass the strain rod 11 but have peripheral portions protruding beyond the support block, as hereinafter described in more detail. FIG. 2 of the drawings best shows that a peripheral portion of the bolster 13 is received between peripheral sections 16a and 17a of the keeper plates 16 and 17 to be adjustably positioned therebetween, as described hereinafter.

As another element of the bolster assembly of the invention, other peripheral sections 16b and 17b of the keeper plates have a support member, or an arm 20 adjustably received therebetween, and positioned thereby.

It should be noted that normally the support block 14 has a slightly greater thickness than the bolster 13, such as at least about .001 to .003 of an inch so that when any suitable means, such cap screws 30 or equivalent anchoring means are brought into engagement with suitable tapped bores or equivalent anchor means 31 formed in or positioned in opposite face portions of the support block 14, the keeper plates 16 and 17 will effectively be positioned adjacent opposed peripheral portions of the bolster 13 and will also locate the support member or arm 20 in the position as shown, clearance also being provided for such support member 20.

It will be seen that at the support 20 is of angular shaped and that it has a vertically upwardly extending section 21 provided thereon. Such section 21 is adapted to extend to and engage a shoulder 22 formed on a side edge portion of the bolster 13 whereby a part of the load or weight of the bolster itself and any means or members supported thereby is effectively transferred to the support 20 through the section 21 thereof. In addition,.a shim 50 is positioned between the edge of the bolster and the section 21. Cap-screws 51 secure the support arm section 21 to the bolster 13.

Initially the bolster 13 is centered in the press 10 by placing the press, during assembly, with the strain rods extending vertically. Then the bolster 13 is placed horizontally on a fixed press section, such as the head plate, and the bolster is centered in the press by use of suitable shims 50' on the lower strain rods in conjunction with similar shims in the support block assemblies at the upper strain rods 12. Substantially uniform load support on 3 all strain rods is provided by this centering action and the special bolster support assemblies.

The drawings indicate that complementary angled fiat surfaces 23 and 24 are formed on the contacting faces of the support 20 and of the support block 14, respectively. These flat surfaces 23 and 24 are in engagement or register with each other and the necessary sliding action can occur between these faces during operative use of the press 10 depending upon changing temperature conditions on the bolster and expansion and contraction thereof so as to maintain the bolster in a centered position.

In all events, the novel and improved support members 20 provide for engagement with opposed peripheral portions of the bolster 13 to carry some of the weight thereon and transmit it to the strain rods by the support blocks provided in the bolster assembly of the invention as the surfaces 23 and 24 remain in automatically adjustable sliding engagement with each other even with expansion and contraction of the bolster.

The upper bolster assembly for the bolster 13 is shown and in general, such assembly comprises a support block 40, like the support block 14, and which has a pair of vertically positioned, opposed keeper plates, only one of which, 41 is shown in the drawings in clamped engagement with such support block 40 so as to secure a support member or arm 42 in position relating thereto. These keeper plates 41 are positioned with clearance to the bolster and clamped to the support block 40 by a plurality of cap screws or equivalent known anchor members 43 in the same manner previously described. In this instance, however, the support 42 has one vertically extending face or surface 44 provided thereon which is in sliding engagement with a vertically extending peripheral portion or edge 45 provided on an upper corner part of the bolster 13 whereby adjustment of the position of the bolster 13 with relation to the support 42 may occur. Capscrews 52 secure the support 42 to the bolster. The support 42 has a flat surface 46 thereon that is complementary to and formed at the same angle as a fiat surface 47 on the support block of 40 so that expansion and contraction of the bolster 13 can be compensated for under different temperature conditions of operation of the press 10 by continuing sliding engagement of such surfaces. However, the vertically extending faces 44 and 45 are retained in engagement with each other to aid in retaining the bolster in centered, operative position. Any arcuate or turning movement of the bolster is prevented by the supports 42 engaging opposed upper edges of the bolster. A shim 51, like the shim 50, is used in initially centering the bolster in the press.

The slidably engaged flat surfaces 23 and 24 provided on opposite lower guide assemblies of this invention and the surfaces 46 and 47 define converging planes which intersect at the center axis of the press 10. In a particular press of the invention, the surfaces 23 and 24 formed an angle of a of 46 48 to a vertical plane and the surfaces 46 and 47 were at an angle of b of 34 32' to the vertical. However, all presses of diiferent size would require different angles of support to have the planes of support intersect at the center of the press for automatic temperature compensating positioning action.

In use, the press 10, while still considered a horizontal press, frequently is provided with a pivotal mount at one end of the press to enable the press to be tilted to have its longitudinal axis at an angle of from about to about 20 to a horizontal plane. Such tilt facilitates the molding of articles in the press with a minimum of air entrapped in the molds.

It will be noted that the bushing 15 is elongate to form good support contact with the strain rods.

Two parallel cylinders (not shown) may be used to move the bolster 13 to aid in maintaining it parallel to fixed platens or head plates of the press.

Naturally suitable clearance is provided between the bolster 13 and the supports 14 and 40 to enable the bolster to expand and contract freely and to shift the support members 20 and 42 relative to the slide supports 14 and 40 and provide a floating support for the bolster.

FIG. 3 shows a portion of a press 10a of the metal frame plate type which has the same self-adjusting action as the press 10. A side plate is provided that has flat supporting surfaces 24a and 47a formed on a support bar 61 and on an upper edge portion of the side plate, respectively. The support bar 61 is of any suitable construction and is shown attached to and extending along the side plate as by capscrews 62.

Bolster 13a has a shim 50a between it and an angled support device 63 secured to the bolster. The support device 63 is secured to the bolster 13a by capscrews or the like and it has a downwardly and outwardly inclined end section 64 that has a flat surface 23a thereon slidably engaging the surface 2411.

An upper angled support device 42a is suitably attached to an upper corner of the bolster and extends therefrom to provide a flat surface 46a to engage the surface 47a.

A shim 51a is also used in positioning the bolster 13a and a support shoulder 22a on the bolster engages the upper end of the support device 63 as in the other embodiment of the press. Hence the bolster is floated on its four corner supports in the same manner as the bolster 13 for automatic temperature compensating action to maintain a centered position. The flat surfaces 46a, 24a etc. define planes, as before, that pass through the center axis of the press. From the foregoing, it is believed that a novel and Improved horizontally positioned press has been provrded, and particularly that improved bolster guide and/ or assembly means have been furnished in the horizontal press that provides a freely movable bolster which will retain close tolerances in its position in the press for good molding action. Thus the objects of the invention have been achieved.

While two embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that modification may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a horizontally positioned press including horizontally positioned upper and lower strain rods and a vertically positioned bolster having peripheral portions ad acent the strain rods, a bolster guide, comprising:

a support block slidably engaging a strain rod and havln-g two substantially flat side portions, one of the side portions being adjacent one part of the periph eral portion of the bolster;

a pair of keeper plates on said support block encompassing said strain rod adjacent opposite end faces of said support block and having peripheral portions protruding beyond said support block;

a support member received between the keeper plates,

contacting the other of the side portions of the support block, and having a section extending therefrom in supporting engagement with a second part of the peripheral portion of the bolster.

2. In a press as in claim 1, where a pair of lower strain rods are provided, said bolster has downwardly facing shoulders on the sides thereof, and said support members on said lower strain rods engage said shoulders to carry part of the weight of said bolster.

3. In a press as in claim 2 Where a pair of upper support blocks are provided to engage the upper strain rods, a pair of said support members are positioned by said upper support blocks and slidably engage and guide said bolster by vertically extending surfaces.

4. In a press as in claim 1 where a pair of lower strain rods and a pair of upper strain rods are provided and where a said bolster guide. engages each of saidstrain rods, and all of said support blocks and said support members each having a flat surface thereon directed toward the center of the press, said flat surfaces being in sliding engagement with each other.

5. In a press as in claim 4 where said bolster is centered in said press by shim means positioned between said bolster and said support members, and said flat surfaces of said support blocks on said upper strain rods being at a different angle to the vertical than said fiat surfaces on said support blocks on said lower strain rods.

6. In a horizontally positioned press including horizontally positioned strain rods including pairs of upper and lower strain rods, a vertically positioned bolster, and a bolster guide engaging each of said strain rods wherein said bolster guides each comprises a support block and bushing means slidably engaging a said strain rod,

a pair of keeper plates on each support block encompassing a said strain rod adjacent opposite faces of said support block and having peripheral portions protruding beyond said support block,

a support member received between each set of said keeper plates and having a section extending there from and secured to a marginal portion of said bolster,

said bolster having a peripheral portion thereof positioned between each set of said keeper plates, and

said support blocks and said support members each having a fiat surface thereon, said fiat surfaces being in sliding supporting engagement with each other to adjust the relative position of said bolster with relation to said support blocks with changes in temperature of said bolster, said surfaces lying in planes passing through the center axis of the press.

7. In a press as in claim 6 where said bolster has shoulders formed thereon engaging said support members on said lower strain rods.

8. In a horizontally positioned press including an upper and a lower support device positioned on horizontal axes on each side of the press, a vertically positioned bolster, and a bolster guide means on each side of the press wherein said bolster guide means comprises individual upper and lower support members secured to said bolster adjacent its upper and lower margins at one side thereof, each of said support devices having a flat support surface thereon, the support surface on said upper support device extending downwardly and inwardly of said press, the support surface of said lower support device extending upwardly and inwardly of said press,

said upper and lower support members each having a flat supporting surface thereon oifset from said bolster and complementary to said support surfaces of said upper and lower support devices respectively for sliding support engagement therewith for automatic temperature compensation in the positioning of said bolster.

9. A press as in claim 8 where shim means are positioned between said support members and said bolster to center said bolster in said press when the press is assembled. ii

10. A press as in claim 8 where said upper and lower support members are of different shapes and have flat surfaces thereon forming different angles with a vertical plane.

11. A press as in claim 8 where a press frame is provided and said support devices are operatively associated with said frame and extending longitudinally thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1947 Land et a1.

1/ 1962 Htillfritsch 18-30 US. Cl. X.R. 18-17H UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 2 611L496 Dated October lzr 1971 Inv HalrV A. Irishman It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

C01 3, fine 5L afier'Wower ddmflster-- Signed and sealed this 7th day of March 1972.

( SEAL) Attest:

ROBERT GOTTSCHALK USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 b u 5 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE I969 0 355-334 FORM PO-105U E10-69J

Images