Extrusion press container and mantle for same

Abstract

A container for use in a metal extrusion press comprises a mantle having an elongate body comprising an axial bore, an elongate liner accommodated within the axial bore, the liner comprising a longitudinally extending passage through which a billet is advanced, and a fluid channel in thermal communication with the mantle through which a fluid for cooling the container flows.

Claims

1. A container for use in a metal extrusion press, the container having a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis being oriented generally horizontally and dividing the container into an upper portion and a lower portion when the container is in the use position, the container comprising: a mantle having an outer surface and an elongate body comprising an axial bore; an elongate liner accommodated within the axial bore, the liner comprising a longitudinally extending passage through which a billet is advanced; and a fluid channel in thermal communication with the mantle through which a fluid for cooling the container flows, wherein the mantle comprises a plurality of longitudinal bores, each of the bores accommodating a respective heating element, and wherein the fluid channel comprises a continuous serpentine groove formed only in the outer surface of the upper portion of the mantle when the container is in the use position.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the mantle has a generally cylindrical shape, and wherein at least a portion of the serpentine groove extends in a circumferential direction.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the fluid channel further comprises a cover plate covering the serpentine groove.

4. The container of claim 1, further comprising a fluid guide configured for one or more of directing fluid into the fluid channel, and directing fluid out of the fluid channel.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the fluid channel is adjacent a die end of the container.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the fluid is a gas.

7. The container of claim 6, wherein the gas is air.

8. The container of claim 1, wherein the mantle is configured for connecting to an extrusion press.

9. The container of claim 1, wherein the fluid channel does not circumscribe the mantle.

10. The container of claim 1, wherein the fluid channel comprises at least two adjacent portions in the upper portion of the container that are each configured to direct the fluid in a different respective circumferential direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a metal extrusion press;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a container forming part of the metal extrusion press of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 2, with a cover plate removed therefrom;

(5) FIG. 4 is an elevational side view of the container of FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the container of FIG. 3;

(7) FIGS. 6a and 6b are side sectional views of a mantle forming part of the container of FIG. 3, taken along the indicated section lines;

(8) FIG. 7 is an elevational side view of a portion of the mantle;

(9) FIGS. 8a to 8c are rear perspective, rear elevational, and top sectional views, respectively, of a fluid guide forming part of the container of FIG. 2; and

(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a heating element for use with the container of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(11) FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration of an extrusion press for use in metal extrusion. The extrusion press comprises a container 20 having an outer mantle 22 that surrounds an inner tubular liner 24. The container 20 serves as a temperature controlled enclosure for a billet 26 during extrusion of the billet. An extrusion ram 28 is positioned adjacent one end of the container 20. The end of the extrusion ram 28 abuts a dummy block 30, which in turn abuts the billet 26 allowing the billet to be advanced through the container 20. An extrusion die 32 is positioned adjacent a die end 36 of the container 20.

(12) During operation, once the billet 26 is heated to a desired extrusion temperature (typically 800-900° F. for aluminum), it is delivered to the extrusion press. The extrusion ram 28 is then actuated to abut the dummy block 30, thereby to advance the billet 26 into the container and towards the extrusion die 32. Under the pressure exerted by the advancing extrusion ram 28 and dummy block 30, the billet 26 is extruded through the profile provided in the extrusion die 32 until all or most of the billet material is pushed out of the container 20, resulting in the extruded product 34.

(13) The container 20 may be better seen in FIGS. 2 to 8. The container 20 is configured at the die end 36, and along the side sections thereof, in a manner known in the art to facilitate coupling of the container 20 to the extrusion press. The mantle 22 has an elongate shape and comprises an axial bore 37 accommodating the liner 24. In this embodiment, the mantle 22 and the liner 24 are shrunk-fit together.

(14) The mantle 22 also comprises a plurality of longitudinal bores 38 extending from the ram end 40 of the mantle 22 to the die end 36 of the mantle 22, and surrounding the liner 24. Each longitudinal bore 38 is shaped to accommodate an elongate heating element, described further below, that can be energized to provide thermal energy to the mantle 22 in the vicinity of the liner 24 during use. The number of longitudinal bores 38 needed depends on the size of the container 20 and on the voltage used to energize the elongate heating elements. In this embodiment, the mantle comprises 22 ten (10) longitudinal bores 38. In the embodiment shown, the container 20 has an end cover plate installed 41 on its die end 36 that covers the ends of the longitudinal bores 38.

(15) The mantle 22 further comprises a plurality of bores 42 and 44 adjacent the liner 24 and extending partially into the length of the mantle 22. In this embodiment, the mantle 22 comprises two (2) bores 42 extending from the die end 36 approximately four (4) inches into the mantle 22, and two (2) bores 44 extending from the ram end 40 approximately four (4) inches into the mantle 22. Each bore 42 and 44 is shaped to accommodate a temperature sensor (not shown). The bores 42 and 44 are positioned in a manner so as to avoid intersecting any of the longitudinal bores 38 configured for accommodating the heating elements. In this embodiment, one (1) of the bores 42 is positioned above the liner 24 while the other bore 42 is positioned below the liner 24, and one (1) of the bores 44 is positioned above the liner 24 while the other bore 44 is positioned below the liner 24.

(16) The liner 24 comprises a billet receiving passage 46 that extends longitudinally therethrough and, in the embodiment shown, the passage 46 has a generally circular cross-sectional profile.

(17) The container 20 also comprises a heat sink that is in thermal communication with the mantle, and which is configured for cooling the container 20. In this embodiment, the heat sink comprises a fluid channel 50 adjacent an upper surface of the container 20 at the die end 36. The fluid channel 50 comprises a circumferentially-oriented, serpentine groove 52 formed in an upper portion of the outer surface of the mantle 22, and a cover plate 54 that is sized to cover the groove 52. When the cover plate 54 is installed so as to cover the groove 52, the fluid channel 50 provides a generally enclosed, continuous channel through which fluid may flow to cool the container 20.

(18) The fluid channel 50 is in fluid communication with a supply of pressurized fluid via an elongate fluid guide 60 accommodated within a longitudinal groove 61 that extends along a side of the mantle 22. The fluid guide 60 comprises an input port 62 that is in fluid communication with a first end 64 of the fluid channel 50, and that is also in fluid communication with a supply of pressurized fluid (not shown) via a supply line (not shown). In this embodiment, the fluid is air. A flow rate control apparatus (not shown) is connected to the supply of pressurized fluid and/or the supply line, and is configured to allow the flow rate of fluid entering the input port 62 to be controlled by an operator. The fluid guide 60 also comprises an output port 66 that is in fluid communication with a second end 68 of the fluid channel 50, and which is also in fluid communication with an exhaust line (not shown).

(19) FIG. 9 shows one of the elongate heating elements for use with the container 20, and which is generally indicated by reference numeral 70. Heating element 70 is a cartridge-type element. The regions of the container in greatest need of added temperature are generally the die end 36 and ram end 40, referred to as die end zone 72a and ram end zone 72b, respectively. As such, each heating element 70 may be configured with segmented heating regions. In this embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 9, each heating element 70 is configured with a die end heating section 74 and a ram end heating section 76, which are separated by a central unheated section 78. To energize and control the heating elements, lead lines 82 feed to each heating section 74, 76. The lead lines connect to various bus lines (not shown), which in turn connect to a controller (not shown). The arrangement of the bus lines may take any suitable configuration, depending on the heating requirements of the container 20. In this embodiment, the bus lines are configured to selectively allow heating of the die end zone 72a and ram end zone 72b of the container, or more preferably just portions thereof, as deemed necessary by the operator. In this embodiment, the arrangement of lead lines enables each of the heating elements 70 to be individually controllable, and also enables each of the heating sections 74, 76 within each heating element 70 to be individually controllable. For example, the operator may routinely identify temperature deficiencies in a lower die end zone 72c and a lower ram end zone 72e. The elongate heating elements 70 in the vicinity of the lower die end zone 72c and the lower ram end zone 72e are configured to be controlled by the operator to provide added temperature when required. Similarly, the elongate heating elements 70 in the vicinity of an upper die end zone 72d and an upper ram end zone 72f are configured to be controlled by the operator to provide reduced temperature when required. It will also be appreciated that the operator can selectively heat zones so as to maintain a preselected billet temperature profile. For example, the operator may choose a billet temperature profile in which the temperature of the billet progressively increases towards the die end, but with a constant temperature profile across the cross-sectional area of the billet. This configuration is generally referred to as a “tapered” profile. Having the ability to selectively heat zones where necessary enables the operator to tailor and maintain a preselected temperature profile, ensuring optimal productivity.

(20) Each temperature sensor (not shown) is configured to monitor the temperature of the container during operation. The positioning of the two (2) bores 42 enables one (1) temperature sensor to be placed in the upper die end zone 72d, and one (1) temperature sensor to be placed in the lower die end zone 72c. Similarly, the positioning of the two (2) bores 44 enables one (1) temperature sensor to be placed in the upper ram end zone 72f, and one (1) temperature sensor to be placed in the lower ram end zone 72e. In this embodiment, the sensing elements are thermocouples. The temperature sensors feed into the controller, providing the operator with temperature data from which subsequent temperature adjustments can be made. As will be appreciated, the positioning of temperature sensors in the mantle 22 both above and below the liner 24 advantageously allows the vertical temperature profile across the liner 24 to be measured, and moreover allows any vertical temperature difference that arises during extrusion to be monitored by the operator.

(21) During operation, temperature data output from the temperature sensors is monitored by the operator. The position of the fluid channel 50 advantageously allows any temperature increase within the upper die end zone 72d to be reduced or eliminated by increasing the fluid flow rate therethrough. As will be understood, fluid provided by the pressurized fluid supply line enters the first end 64 of the fluid channel 50 via the input port 62 of the fluid guide 60. As the fluid travels along the length of fluid channel 50 to the second end 68, heat is transferred from the mantle 22 to the flowing fluid. The fluid exits from the fluid channel 50 via the output port 66 and enters the exhaust line. As will be appreciated, the transfer of heat from the mantle 22 to the flowing fluid results in a temperature reduction within the upper die end zone 72d of the container 20.

(22) Additionally, the positioning of the elongate heating elements also advantageously allows any temperature increase within the upper die end zone 72d to be reduced or eliminated by reducing the thermal energy supplied by heating elements 70 positioned above the liner 24. Thus, as each of the heating elements are individually controllable, and as the flow rate of fluid through the fluid channel 50 is also controllable, the thermal profile across the liner 24 and within the container 20 can be accurately controlled. As will be understood, one or both of control of the fluid flow rate through the fluid channel 50, and control of the thermal energy supplied the heating elements, may be used to control the thermal profile across the liner 24 and within the container 20.

(23) It will be understood that the liner is not limited to the configuration described above, and in other embodiments, the liner may alternatively have other configurations. For example, the liner may alternatively comprise a billet receiving passage having a generally rectangular cross-sectional profile that may comprise any of flared ends, rounded corners, and rounded sides, as described in U.S. Application Publication No. 2013/0074568, filed Sep. 17, 2012, entitled “EXTRUSION PRESS CONTAINER AND LINER FOR SAME”, the content of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

(24) Although in the embodiment described above, the fluid channel comprises a circumferentially-oriented, serpentine groove formed in the upper portion of the outer surface of the mantle, in other embodiments, the groove may have other configurations. For example, in other embodiments, the fluid channel may alternatively comprise a longitudinally-oriented, serpentine groove formed in the upper portion of the outer surface of the mantle. Those skilled in the art will understand that still other groove configurations are possible. Additionally, the groove need not necessarily be serpentine, and in other embodiments, the groove may alternatively have a non-serpentine configuration.

(25) Although in the embodiment described above, the longitudinal bores for the elongate heating elements extend the length of the mantle, in other embodiments, the longitudinal bores for the elongate heating elements may alternatively extend only partially the length of the mantle. For example, in one embodiment, the longitudinal bores may alternatively extend from the ram end of the mantle to approximately one-half (0.5) inches from the die end of the mantle.

(26) Although in the embodiment described above, the elongate heating elements are configured with die end heating sections and ram end heating sections, in other embodiments, the elongate heating elements may alternatively be configured with additional or fewer heating sections, and/or may alternatively be configured to heat along the entire length of the heating cartridge.

(27) Although in the embodiment described above, the elongate heating elements in the vicinity of the lower die end zone and the lower ram end zone are described as being configured to be controlled by the operator to provide added temperature, it will be understood that these elongate heating elements are also configured to be controlled by the operator to provide reduced temperature. Similarly, although in the embodiment described above, the elongate heating elements in the vicinity of the upper die end zone and the upper ram end zone are described as being configured to be controlled by the operator to provide reduced temperature, it will be understood that these elongate heating elements are also configured to be controlled by the operator to provide added temperature.

(28) Although in the embodiment described above, the mantle comprises four (4) bores for accommodating temperature sensors, in other embodiments, the mantle may alternatively comprise additional or fewer bores for accommodating temperature sensors.

(29) Although in the embodiment described above, the bores for accommodating temperature sensors extend partially into the length of the mantle, in other embodiments, the bores may alternatively extend the full length of the mantle. In related embodiments, the temperature sensors may alternatively be “cartridge” type temperature sensors, and may alternatively comprise a plurality of temperature sensing elements positioned along their length.

(30) Although in the embodiment described above, the fluid is air, in other embodiments, one or more other suitable fluids may alternatively be used. For example, in other embodiments, the fluid may be any of nitrogen and helium. In other embodiments, the fluid may be cooled by a cooling apparatus prior to entering the fluid channel.

(31) Although in the embodiment described above, the fluid channel comprises a groove formed in an upper portion of the outer surface of the mantle, in other embodiments, other configurations in which the fluid channel is in thermal communication with the mantle are possible. For example, in other embodiments, the fluid channel may alternatively comprise a groove formed in one or more other portions of the outer surface of the mantle. In still other embodiments, the fluid channel may alternatively comprise a fluid channel passing through the interior of the mantle.

(32) Although embodiments have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those of skill in the art will appreciate that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.