Method and apparatus for forming ball studs

• US 3,255,623 A
• Filed: 12/26/1962
• Issued: 06/14/1966
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1962
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bernard E. Ricks
• Original Assignee: Bernard E. Ricks
• Inventors: Ricks, Bernard E.
• Application Number:
  US04/246,985
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• US Class Current: 72/256
• CPC Class Codes: B21K 1/44 bolts, studs, or the like making screw-thread B21K1/56; making U-bolts B21K1/74
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/0604 Construction of the male part
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/0685 Manufacture of ball-joints and parts thereof, e.g. assembly of ball-joints
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49664 Ball making

Claims

1. IN A METHOD OF FORMING A BALL STUD FROM A METAL ROD, THE STEPS OF DISPOSING AN END OF THE METAL ROD WITHIN THE DIE CAVITY DEFINED BETWEEN A PUNCH HOLDER AND A DIE MEMBER AND MOVING THE PUNCH HOLDER IN FLUSH ENGAGEMENT WITH THE DIE MEMBER, MOVING A SLIDING GATHER PUNCH HAVING A CONICAL END FACE AXIALLY THROUGH THE PUNCH HOLDER AGAINST THE END OF THE ROD AND FORMING A LOCKING METAL MASS UPSTREAM OF THE CAVITY DEVELOPING A FORWARD FORCE VECTOR IN EXCESS OF A BACKWARD FORCE VECTOR ACTING TO SEPARATE ENGAGED FACES OF THE PUNCH HOLDER AND THE DIE MEMBER LOCKING THE PUNCH GUIDE AND THE DIE MEMBER TOGETHER AT THE DIE CAVITY WHILE DIRECTING THE METAL INTO THE DIE CAVITY AND WHILE CONFINING THE PATH OF METAL FLOW IN AN OPPOSITE AXIAL DIRECTION TO FORM A SEGMENTED SPHERICAL HEAD PORTION AND WITH THE SLIDING GATHER PUNCH FORMING A CONICAL RECESS IN THE SPHERICAL HEAD PORTION OF THE METAL ROD AT THE END OF ITS STOKE, PLACING LUBRICANT IN SAID RECESS, DIRECTING AN EXTRUSTION PUNCH AGAINST THE SPHERICAL HEAD PORTION WHILE DISPOSED IN A SECOND CAVITY OF A SECOND DIE MEMBER WITH THE INCLUDED ANGLE ON A CONICAL END OF THE EXTRUSION PUNCH BEING LARGER THAN THE INCLUDED ANGLE OF THE CONICAL END ON THE SLIDING GATHER PUNCH PROVIDING AN OIL TRAP PREVENTING METAL TO METAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE CONICAL END AND THE CONICAL RECESS CAUSING THE OIL TO FLOW AXIALLY FROM THE OIL TRAP WITH THE METAL OF THE HEAD PORTION AS THE EXTRUSION PUNCH IN PUSHED AGAINST THE SPHERICAL HEAD PORTION DISPLACING A CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID HEAD PORTION AXIALLY AROUND SAID EXTRUSION PUNCH TO FORM AN EXTENDED SKIRT PORTION WHILE CONTEMPORANEOUSLY DISPLACING A PORTION OF A SHANK OF SAID ROD INTO THE SECOND DIE MEMBER LOCKING THE SHANK WITH THE SECOND DIE MEMBER TO ENABLE THE EXTRUSION PUNCH TO BE RETRACTED AND DISENGAGED FROM THE EXTENDED SKIRT PORTION, KNOCKING THE THUS FORMED BALL STUD BLANK FROM THE SECOND DIE MEMBER WHILE CONTEMPORANEOUSLY WIPING OF THE DISPLACED PORTION ON THE SHANK OF THE ROD, AND DIE FORMING SAID EXTENDED SKIRT PORTION OF TO A CONTOUR COMPLEMENTING THE CONTOUR OF SAID HEAD PORTION.