Presses – Reciprocating press construction – With mechanical force multiplier
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-06
2001-11-27
Gerrity, Stephen F. (Department: 3721)
Presses
Reciprocating press construction
With mechanical force multiplier
C100S299000, C192S113340
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321646
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mechanical press drive and particularly to a wet clutch/brake unit which utilizes a recirculating flow of press lubricant to access and lubricate the clutch/brake unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Mechanical presses of the type performing stamping and drawing operations have a conventional configuration including a frame structure with a crown and a bed connected by uprights and a slide supported within the frame for reciprocating movement toward and away from the bed. A crankshaft rotatably disposed within the crown is arranged in driving connection with the slide using a connecting arm assembly. A flywheel assembly rotatably driven by the drive mechanism is selectively connectable with the crankshaft for driving rotation thereof, utilizing a clutch/brake combination to make the driving connection. Such mechanical presses are used in a wide variety of workpiece operations employing a large selection of die sets with the press machine varying substantially in size and available tonnage depending upon the intended use.
The primary apparatus for storing mechanical energy within a press is a flywheel. The flywheel is mounted on the crankshaft and mechanically connected to the press motor such that when the press motor is energized, the mass of the flywheel rotates continuously. The press drive motor replenishes the energy that is lost or transferred from the flywheel during press operations when the clutch engages the flywheel to translate rotary motion of the flywheel to the crankshaft. During engagement of the clutch, the flywheel drops in speed as the press driven parts are brought up to running speed.
Prior wet clutch/brake systems have been used in mechanical presses since they offer the advantage of little or no wear on the plates of the disc stacks and no brake fade. This provides a precise operation of the press and dramatically increases press run time.
Wet clutch/brake units known in the art are generally filled with oil and sealed, whereby no oil enters or leaves the unit unless it is manually removed at a service interval. In these configurations, the flywheel operates as a heat sink.
What is needed in the art is a wet clutch/brake combination which is open to allow a flow of recirculating lubricant to enter and exit the clutch/brake assembly and which provides a larger heat sink. What is additionally needed in the art is a wet clutch/brake combination which does not require an additional lubricant source in the press machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to improve upon the aforementioned wet clutch/brake assemblies, wherein it is desired to provide a wet clutch/brake assembly which is open to allow a recirculating flow of lubricant to access the clutch/brake assembly and which provides a significant heat sink to cool the recirculating lubricant.
The present invention provides a wet clutch/brake assembly for a mechanical press which is open to allow a recirculating flow of lubricant to access the clutch/brake assembly and which utilizes press lubricant as the recirculating lubricant in the wet clutch/brake assembly.
The invention, in one form thereof, comprises a mechanical press which has press lubricant and which includes a drive mechanism which drives a flywheel. The mechanical press further includes a quill which is non-rotatably connected to the press and which rotatably supports the flywheel. A first bronze bushing is connected to the press and rotatably supports the press driveshaft. A clutch/brake unit is supplied and selectively applies a braking action to the driveshaft and selectively couples the flywheel and the driveshaft in driving relationship. The clutch/brake unit is operatively connected to the press and is open to allow a recirculating flow of lubricant to access the clutch/brake unit. The recirculating flow of lubricant supplied to the clutch/brake unit may be press lubricant or lubricant from a secondary lubrication source.
The invention, in another form thereof, comprises a mechanical press which includes a clutch/brake unit for selectively applying a braking action to the press driveshaft and for selectively coupling the press flywheel and the press driveshaft in driving relationship. The clutch/brake unit is operatively connected to the press and is open to allow a recirculating flow of lubricant to access the clutch/brake unit. The recirculating flow of lubricant comprises press lubricant.
The invention, in another form thereof, comprises a mechanical press which includes a drive mechanism and a quill which is non-rotatably connected to the press. A flywheel is rotatably supported by the quill and is driven by the drive mechanism. A first bronze bushing is connected to the press and a driveshaft is rotatably supported by the first bronze bushing. A clutch/brake unit is provided and selectively applies a braking action to the driveshaft and selectively couples the flywheel and the driveshaft in driving relationship. The clutch/brake unit is operatively connected to the press and is open to allow a recirculating flow of lubricant to access the clutch/brake unit. The recirculating flow of lubricant comprises press lubricant.
A second bronze bushing is connected to the press and further rotatably supports the driveshaft. A ball bearing is provided and rotatably supports the outboard side of the flywheel. A flywheel quill bushing is affixed to the flywheel and is rotatably supported by the quill. The flywheel quill bushing supports the inboard side of the flywheel and allows the flywheel to rotate relative to the quill. A press lubricant reservoir maintains a supply of press lubricant and supplies press lubricant to a pressurization device which is in fluid communication with the press lubricant reservoir. The pressurization device pressurizes press lubricant and supplies the pressurized press lubricant to a first lubricant port within the quill. The second bronze bushing has a radially inward portion and a radially outward portion. The radially outward portion of the second bronze bushing is in direct fluid communication with the first quill lubricant port. The first quill lubricant port supplies press lubricant (i.e. the recirculating flow of lubricant) to the radially outward portion of the second bronze bushing. The quill has a second lubricant port which is in direct fluid communication with the flywheel quill bushing. In this way, the second quill lubricant port distributes the recirculating flow of lubricant to the flywheel quill bushing. The second bronze bushing additionally includes a lubricant access which is in fluid communication with the first quill lubricant port and the radially inward portion of the second bronze bushing. The lubricant access distributes the recirculating flow of lubricant to the radially inward portion of the second bronze bushing.
The driveshaft includes a driveshaft lubricant port which is in fluid communication with the lubricant access and an orifice. The driveshaft lubricant port distributes the recirculating flow of lubricant to the orifice and the orifice works to maintain the lubricant pressure in the second bronze bushing. The ball bearing is in fluid communication with the orifice and the recirculating flow of lubricant proceeds through the orifice and lubricates the ball bearing. The clutch/brake unit includes a clutch disc pack which is in fluid communication with the ball bearing. The recirculating flow of lubricant proceeds from the ball bearing to the clutch disc pack and from the clutch disc pack to the inside flywheel rim. The clutch/brake unit further includes a brake anchor bracket which has a first oil port and a second oil port. The clutch/brake unit includes a brake disc pack which is in fluid communication with the second quill lubricant port via the second brake anchor bracket oil port. The second brake anchor bracket oil port includes an orifice which is operative to supply lubricant to the brake disc pack while maintaining pressure in the lubricant distribution sy
Gerrity Stephen F.
Knuth Randall J.
The Minster Machine Company
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