Method and apparatus for eliminating free clearances in a press shutheight adjustment mechanism

• US 6,715,409 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2002
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Minster Machine Company (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Minster Machine Company (Nidec Corporation)
• Inventors: Burns, Bradley, Brewer, W. Craig, Pax, Bryan, Bornhorst, Donald, Schockman, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Ostrager, Allen
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, JIMMY T
• Application Number:
  US10/154,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20030217651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 100/35, 100/42, 100/48, 100/257, 100/282, 100/299, 724/46, 724/48, 724/55, 745/83, 745/86, 746/03, 835/27, 835/30
• US Class Current: 100/35
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 15/0035 using an adjustable connection between the press drive means and the press slide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/87 By varying length of tool stroke

Abstract

An apparatus for use in a press machine eliminates the free clearances present between the threaded portions of a screw and adjustment nut assembled in a shutheight adjustment mechanism. A hydraulic assembly directs a pressurized fluid against an outer periphery of the adjustment nut to effectively compress the adjustment nut and cause its threaded portion to be displaced into interlocking engagement with the threaded portion of the screw. Alternatively, the hydraulic assembly may be arranged to hydraulically pressurize an interior space of the screw to effectively expand the screw and cause its threaded portion to be displaced into interlocking engagement with the threaded portion of the adjustment nut.

Claims

1. A press machine, comprising:

a frame structure with a crown and a bed;

a slide guided by said frame structure for operative reciprocating movement in opposed relation to said bed;

a drive assembly attached to said frame structure for operatively reciprocating said slide;

a bolster assembly mounted to said bed;

a shutheight adjustment mechanism configured within said press machine and arranged to controllably adjust the press shutheight between said slide and said bed;

said shutheight adjustment mechanism comprising a male threaded member threadedly engaging a female threaded member, wherein at least one of said threaded members being rotatable relative to the other of said threaded members to change the press shutheight, said shutheight adjustment mechanism operatively including at least one clearance space defined between respective threaded portions of said male threaded member and said female threaded member; and

means for inducing a deformation activity in at least one of said male threaded member and said female threaded member sufficient to effectuate a substantial interlocking engagement between, at least in part, the respective threaded portions of said male threaded member and said female threaded member, wherein said deformation inducement means includes a hydraulic assembly arranged to compress said female threaded member by applying pressurized fluid along a periphery thereof and/or expand said male threaded member by hydraulically pressurizing an interior space thereof.

2. The press machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said male threaded member includes a screw and said female threaded member includes an adjustment nut disposed, at least in part, about said screw.

3. The press machine as recited in claim 1, wherein the interlocking engagement between said male threaded member and said female threaded member being characterized by a substantial elimination of a clearance space associated with respective threaded portions of said male threaded member and said female threaded member disposed in interlocking engagement.

4. The press machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said hydraulic assembly is arranged to direct pressurized fluid against an outer periphery of said female threaded member to generate deformation activity therein sufficient to bring said respective threaded portion thereof into interlocking engagement with said male threaded member at the respective threaded portion thereof.

5. The press machine as recited in claim 4, wherein the deformation activity generated in said female threaded member being sufficient further to induce an accompanying elongation of said female threaded member along an axial dimension thereof which is sufficient to substantially close out at least one clearance space defined adjacent a respective axial end surface of said female threaded member.

6. The press machine as recited in claim 4, wherein said hydraulic assembly being arranged further to selectively direct pressurized fluid against one axial end surface of said female threaded member to effectively displace another axial end surface of said female threaded member in a manner sufficient to substantially close out a clearance space defined adjacent said another axial end surface.

7. The press machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said hydraulic assembly is arranged to hydraulically pressurize said interior space of said male threaded member to generate deformation activity therein which is sufficient to bring said respective threaded portion thereof into interlocking engagement with said female threaded member at the respective threaded portion thereof.

8. The press machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said shutheight adjustment mechanism is attached to a one of said slide and said bolster assembly.

9. The press machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said shutheight adjustment mechanism being arranged further to enable an adjustment-in-motion operability.

10. The press machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said drive assembly further comprises:

a crankshaft;

a plurality of connection assemblies each arranged to couple said crankshaft to said slide, each one of said plurality of connection assemblies respectively including a wrist pin and an associated connecting rod pivotingly connected to said wrist pin and defining therewith at least one clearance space therebetween; and

second means for inducing a deformation activity in at least one of said plurality of wrist pins which is sufficient to displace an outer periphery of said at least one wrist pin to substantially close out at least one of the at least one clearance space associated therewith.

11. The press machine as recited in claim 10, wherein said second means for inducing a deformation activity comprises:

a hydraulic assembly arranged to hydraulically pressurize an interior space of said at least one wrist pin to effectuate the respective deformation activity therein.

12. A press machine, comprising:

a frame structure with a crown and a bed;

a slide guided by said frame structure for operative reciprocating movement in opposed relation to said bed;

a drive assembly attached to said frame structure for operatively reciprocating said slide;

a bolster assembly mounted to said bed;

a shutheight adjustment mechanism configured within said press machine and arranged to controllably adjust the press shutheight between said slide and said bed;

said shutheight adjustment mechanism comprising a male threaded member threadedly engaging a female threaded member, wherein at least one of said threaded members being rotatable relative to the other of said threaded members to change the press shutheight, said shutheight adjustment mechanism operatively including at least one clearance space defined between respective threaded portions of said male threaded member and said female threaded member; and

a hydraulic assembly arranged to operatively perform at least one of compressing at least in part said female threaded member by applying pressurized fluid along a periphery thereof in a manner sufficient to bring said respective threaded portion thereof into interlocking engagement with said male threaded member at the respective threaded portion thereof and expanding at least in part said male threaded member by hydraulically pressurizing an interior space thereof by supplying a pressurized fluid directly therewithin in a manner sufficient to bring said respective threaded portion thereof into interlocking engagement with said female threaded member at the respective threaded portion thereof.

13. The press machine as recited in claim 12, wherein the compression of said female threaded member is associated with the presence of reversible deformation activity occurring therein and wherein the expansion of said male threaded member is associated with the presence of reversible deformation activity occurring therein.

14. The press machine as recited in claim 12, wherein said male threaded member includes a screw and said female threaded member includes an adjustment nut disposed, at least in part, about said screw.

15. The press machine as recited in claim 12, wherein the interlocking engagement between said male threaded member and said female threaded member being characterized by a substantial elimination of a clearance space associated with respective threaded portions of said male threaded member and said female threaded member disposed in interlocking engagement.

16. The press machine as recited in claim 12, wherein the deformation activity generated in said female threaded member being sufficient further to induce an accompanying elongation of said female threaded member along an axial dimension thereof which is sufficient to substantially close out at least one axial clearance space defined adjacent a respective axial end surface of said female threaded member.

17. The press machine as recited in claim 12, wherein said hydraulic assembly being arranged further to selectively direct pressurized fluid against one axial end surface of said female threaded member to effectively displace another axial end surface of said female threaded member in a manner sufficient to substantially close out an axial clearance space defined adjacent said another axial end surface.

18. The press machine as recited in claim 12, wherein said shutheight adjustment mechanism being arranged further to enable an adjustment-in-motion operability.

19. The press machine as recited in claim 12, wherein said shutheight adjustment mechanism is attached to a one of said slide and said bolster assembly.

20. A press machine, comprising:

a frame structure with a crown and a bed;

a slide guided by said frame structure for operative reciprocating movement in opposed relation to said bed;

a drive assembly attached to said frame structure for operatively reciprocating said slide;

a bolster assembly mounted to said bed;

a shutheight adjustment mechanism configured within said press machine and arranged to controllably adjust the press shutheight between said slide and said bed;

said shutheight adjustment mechanism comprising a male threaded member threadedly engaging a female threaded member, wherein at least one of said threaded members being rotatable relative to the other of said threaded members to change the press shutheight, said shutheight adjustment mechanism operatively including at least one clearance space defined between respective threaded portions of said male threaded member and said female threaded member; and

an actuating assembly operatively associated with said shutheight adjustment mechanism and being arranged to effectuate a substantial interlocking engagement between, at least in part, the respective threaded portions of said male threaded member and said female threaded member by compressing at least in part said female threaded member and/or expanding at least in part said male threaded member, wherein said actuating assembly includes a hydraulic assembly being arranged to apply a pressurized fluid along a periphery of said female threaded member to exert a compressive influence thereon and/or to apply a pressurized fluid directly within an interior space formed in said male threaded member to exert an expansive influence thereon.

21. The press machine as recited in claim 20, wherein said male threaded member includes a screw and said female threaded member includes an adjustment nut disposed, at least in part, about said screw.

22. The press machine as recited in claim 20, wherein the interlocking engagement between said male threaded member and said female threaded member being characterized by a substantial elimination of a clearance space associated with respective threaded portions of said male threaded member and said female threaded member disposed in interlocking engagement.

23. The press machine as recited in claim 20, wherein the compression of said female threaded member being sufficient to induce an accompanying elongation of said female threaded member along an axial dimension thereof which is sufficient to substantially close out at least one clearance space defined adjacent a respective axial end surface of said female threaded member.

24. The press machine as recited in claim 20, wherein said shutheight adjustment mechanism is attached to a one of said slide and said bolster assembly.

25. A method of adjusting the shutheight in a press machine, said press machine comprising a frame structure with a crown and a bed, a slide guided by said frame structure for operative reciprocating movement in opposed relation to said bed, a drive assembly attached to said frame structure for operatively reciprocating said slide, and a bolster assembly mounted to said bed, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a shutheight adjustment mechanism configured within said press machine and arranged to controllably adjust the press shutheight between said slide and said bed, said shutheight adjustment mechanism comprising a male threaded member threadedly engaging a female threaded member, wherein at least one of said threaded members being rotatable relative to the other of said threaded members to change the press shutheight, said shutheight adjustment mechanism operatively including at least one clearance space defined between respective threaded portions of said male threaded member and said female threaded member;

when a locking mode is desired for said shutheight adjustment mechanism, inducing a deformation activity in at least one of said male threaded member and said female threaded member sufficient to effectuate a substantial interlocking engagement between, at least in part, the respective threaded portions of said male threaded member and said female threaded member, the step of inducing a deformation activity in at least one of said male threaded member and said female threaded member comprising at least one of the steps of directing pressurized fluid against an outer periphery of said female threaded member to generate deformation activity therein and hydraulically pressurizing an interior space of said male threaded member by supplying a pressurized fluid directly within said interior space to generate deformation activity in said male threaded member, wherein the inducement of said deformation activity is associated with a holding influence acting upon the at least one of said male threaded member and said female threaded member to adjustably continuously maintain said interlocking engagement;

when an adjustment mode is desired for said shutheight adjustment mechanism and said shutheight adjustment mechanism is in said locking mode, performing the steps of reducing the holding influence to a level sufficient to accommodate operative rotational activity between said male threaded member and said female threaded member, actuating said shutheight adjustment mechanism to controllably change the shutheight, and then selectively restoring said holding influence to a level sufficient to effectuate said locking mode; and

when an adjustment mode is desired for said shutheight adjustment mechanism and said shutheight adjustment mechanism is not in said locking mode, actuating said shutheight adjustment mechanism to controllably change the shutheight.

26. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the step of inducing a deformation activity in at least one of said male threaded member and said female threaded member comprises the steps of:

directing said pressurized fluid against said outer periphery of said female threaded member to generate said deformation activity therein; and

hydraulically pressurizing said interior space of said male threaded member to generate said deformation activity therein.

27. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein the step of reducing said holding influence further comprises the steps of:

reducing the pressurization level of fluid directed against the outer periphery of said female threaded member; and

reducing the hydraulic pressurization level within the interior space of said male threaded member.

28. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the interlocking engagement between said male threaded member and said female threaded member being characterized by a substantial elimination of a clearance space associated with respective threaded portions of said male threaded member and said female threaded member disposed in interlocking engagement.

29. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein said male threaded member includes a screw and said female threaded member includes an adjustment nut disposed, at least in part, about said screw.

30. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein said shutheight adjustment mechanism is attached to a one of said slide and said bolster assembly.

31. A method of adjusting the shutheight in a press machine, said press machine comprising a frame structure with a crown and a bed, a slide guided by said frame structure for operative reciprocating movement in opposed relation to said bed, a drive assembly attached to said frame structure for operatively reciprocating said slide, and a bolster assembly mounted to said bed, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a shutheight adjustment mechanism configured within said press machine and arranged to controllably adjust the press shutheight between said slide and said bed, said shutheight adjustment mechanism comprising a male threaded member threadedly engaging a female threaded member, wherein at least one of said threaded members being rotatable relative to the other of said threaded members to change the press shutheight, said shutheight adjustment mechanism operatively including at least one clearance space defined between respective threaded portions of said male threaded member and said female threaded member;

when a locking mode is desired for said shutheight adjustment mechanism, effectuating a substantial interlocking engagement between, at least in part, the respective threaded portions of said male threaded member and said female threaded member by compressing at least in part said female threaded member and/or expanding at least in part said male threaded member, the compression of said female threaded member including directing a pressurized fluid against an outer periphery thereof, the expansion of said male threaded member including hydraulically pressurizing an interior space formed therein by supplying a pressurized fluid within said interior space;

when an adjustment mode is desired for said shutheight adjustment mechanism and said shutheight adjustment mechanism is in said locking mode, performing the steps of reducing at least one of the compression of said female threaded member and the expansion of said male threaded member to a level sufficient to accommodate actuation of said shutheight adjustment mechanism, actuating said shutheight adjustment mechanism to controllably change the shutheight, and then selectively restoring at least one of the compression of said female threaded member and the expansion of said male threaded member to a level sufficient to effectuate said locking mode; and

when an adjustment mode is desired for said shutheight adjustment mechanism and said shutheight adjustment mechanism is not in said locking mode, actuating said shutheight adjustment mechanism to controllably change the shutheight.

32. The method as recited in claim 31, wherein the interlocking engagement between said male threaded member and said female threaded member being characterized by a substantial elimination of a clearance space associated with respective threaded portions of said male threaded member and said female threaded member disposed in interlocking engagement.

33. The method as recited in claim 31, wherein said male threaded member includes a screw and said female threaded member includes an adjustment nut disposed, at least in part, about said screw.

34. The method as recited in claim 31, wherein said shutheight adjustment mechanism is attached to a one of said slide and said bolster assembly.