RADIAL PRESS

Abstract

A radial press comprises a housing having a lateral portion and a supporting disk on the end face. A ring-like structure extends in the housing and can be displaced along a pressing axis. Multiple pressing jaws arranged around the axis are radially movably supported on the supporting disk. The ring-like structure acts upon the jaws with control faces angled relative to the axis and are seated against counter-faces of the jaws. The angle of the control faces changes as they progress in the axial direction, such that, along the maximum path of travel of the ring-like structure, the axial movement of said structure and the radial movement of the jaws produced thereby are at different ratios. The ring-like structure has exchangeable control elements on which control faces are provided. In planes perpendicular to the pressing axis, each control face is seated on a polygon having corners arranged between adjacent jaws.

Claims

1. A radial press having a housing (1) provided with a jacket portion (6) and an annular bracing disk (7) on the end face, an annular structure (2) guided displaceably therein along a press axis (X) and several press jaws (3), which are disposed around the press axis (X), which are braced in radially displaceably guided manner on the bracing disk (7), and on which the annular structure (2) acts by means of control faces (14), which are inclined relative to the press axis (X) and which bear on mating faces of the press jaws (3) constructed as sliding faces (13), wherein the angle of inclination of the control faces (14) is changed along their travel in axial direction in such a way that their axial movement and the resulting radial movement of the press jaws (3) are in different ratios relative to one another over the maximum movement path of the annular structure (2), Wherein: the annular structure (2) has a base structure (15) and, received therein, exchangeable control members (16) with control faces (14) constructed thereon, wherein, in planes perpendicular to the press axis (X), the control faces (14) respectively lie on a polygon with corners disposed respectively between two press jaws (3) adjacent to one another.

2. The radial press of claim 1, wherein the control members (16) bear respectively along a plane bracing face (26) on the base structure (15).

3. The radial press of claim 1, wherein the control members (16) bear respectively with full surface on a convex bracing face (26) of the base structure (15).

4. The radial press of claim 2, wherein the bracing faces (26) converge in axial direction.

5. The radial press of claim 2, wherein the bracing faces (26) extend parallel to the press axis (X).

6. The radial press of claim 1, wherein press-jaw guide ribs (36) constructed between two control members (16) are respectively provided on the base structure (15).

7. The radial press of claim 1, wherein the control members (16) are provided with lateral press-jaw guide ribs (36).

8. The radial press of claim 1, wherein the control members (16) respectively have a bed plate (17) bearing on the base structure (15) and a hump (18) placed on a portion thereof.

9. The radial press of claim 1, wherein the angle of inclination of the control faces (14) changes continuously over a considerable fraction of their extent.

10. The radial press of claim 1, wherein the control faces (14) are provided with at least two separate plane regions (32; 33).

11. The radial press of claim 10, wherein the control faces (14) are provided with plane regions (32; 33) offset parallel to one another in pairs.

12. The radial press of claim 10, wherein plane regions (32, 33) adjacent to one another merge edgelessly into one another.

13. The radial press of claim 1, wherein at least during individual operating positions of the annular structure (2), the control faces (14) thereof and the sliding faces (13) of the press jaws (3) bear with full surface on one another.

14. The radial press of claim 1, wherein the control faces (14) are constructed on the surface of exchangeable sliding plates (19).

15. The radial press of claim 1, wherein the press jaws (3) are provided with exchangeable sliding plates (55), on which the sliding faces (13) are constructed.

16. The radial press of claim 1, wherein the annular structure (2) comprises an annular piston (37), which is guided sealingly in a press-cylinder portion (38) constructed in the jacket portion (6) of the housing (1) and together therewith bounds an annular press working chamber (40).

17. The radial press of claim 16, wherein an annular return-stroke working chamber (42), which is bounded by a cylinder face (45) disposed on an outer circumference of the annular structure (2) and is guided in a sealing shoulder (44) integral with the housing, is disposed between the press working chamber (40) and the bracing disk (7).

18. The radial press of claim 17, wherein the return-stroke working chamber (42) is bounded by the press-cylinder portion (38) and an annular zone (43) constructed on the annular piston (37) at its end face turned away from the press working chamber (40).

19. The radial press of claim 17, wherein the jacket portion (6) of the housing (1) is provided between the sealing shoulder (44) and the bracing disk (7) with a dirt outlet opening (47).

20. The radial press of claim 16, wherein the press working chamber (40) is bounded by a housing closure ring (8) disposed opposite the bracing disk (7) and a sleeve-like extension (39) of the annular structure (2) guided sealingly therein.

21. The radial press of claim 1, wherein the bracing disk (7) and the jacket portion (6) are part of a one-piece housing basic structure (5).

22. The radial press of claim 1, wherein the annular structure (2) is surrounded at its end region turned toward the bracing disk (7) by a nonmetallic fiber reinforcing ring (53).

23. The radial press of claim 1, wherein exchangeable guide elements (11) cooperating with the press jaws (3) are attached to the bracing disk (7).

24. The radial press of claim 1, wherein the housing (1) is provided at the transition from the jacket portion (6) to the bracing disk (7) with a number of cutouts (56) corresponding to the number of press jaws (3).

25. The radial press of claim 23, wherein the guide elements (11) can be inserted through the cutouts (56) into the housing (1).

26. The radial press of claim 25, wherein the guide elements (11) are angled and are respectively provided with a fixation bracket (58) bearing radially on the outside of a bracing face (57).

27. The radial press of claim 26, wherein the guide elements (11) are bolted with the housing (1) from radially outside in the region of the cutouts (56).

28. A radial press having a bracing plate (7) extending annularly at the end face around a cutout (66), an annular structure (2) guided displaceably relative thereto along a press axis (X), a drive unit (67) acting between the bracing plate (7) and the annular structure (2) and several press jaws (3), which are disposed around the press axis (X), which are braced, in displaceably guided manner with radial directional components, on the bracing plate (7), and on which the annular structure (2) acts by means of control faces (14), which are inclined relative to the press axis (X) and which bear on mating faces of the press jaws (3) constructed as sliding faces (13), wherein the angle of inclination of the control faces (14) is changed along their travel in axial direction in such a way that the axial movement in question and the resulting radial movement of the press jaws (3) are in different ratios relative to one another over the maximum movement path of the annular structure (2) and of the bracing plate relative to one another, wherein the annular structure (2) has a base structure (15) and, received therein, exchangeable control members (16) with control faces (14) constructed thereon, wherein, in planes perpendicular to the press axis (X), the control faces (14) respectively lie on a polygon with corners disposed respectively between two press jaws (3) adjacent to one another.

29. The radial press of claim 28, wherein the press jaws (3) are guided in radially displaceable manner on the bracing plate (7).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0020] The present invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter on the basis of various preferred exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawing, wherein

[0021] FIG. 1 shows an axial section through a first exemplary embodiment of a radial press constructed with opened die,

[0022] FIG. 2 shows an axial section of the radial press according to FIG. 1 with closed die,

[0023] FIG. 3 shows a cutaway perspective view of the radial press according to FIGS. 1 and 2 in its maintenance position,

[0024] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the back side of the control members used in the radial press according to FIGS. 1 to 3,

[0025] FIG. 5 shows a cutout from an axial section through a radial press constructed according to a first comparison example with closed die,

[0026] FIG. 6 shows an axial section through a radial press constructed according to a second comparison example with closed die,

[0027] FIG. 7 shows a cutaway perspective view of a radial press constructed according to a second exemplary embodiment with closed die and

[0028] FIG. 8 shows an axial section through the radial press according to FIG. 7 in an operating condition during power pressing. Furthermore,

[0029] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a radial press constructed in pressure-plate design,

[0030] FIG. 10 shows an implementation corresponding to a further preferred exemplary embodiment on the pressure-plate radial press illustrated in FIG. 9 in open operating position,

[0031] FIG. 11 shows the radial press according to FIG. 10 in closed operating position and

[0032] FIG. 12 shows a detail view of the control members used in the radial press according to FIGS. 10 and 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] The hydraulic radial press according to a first exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawing comprises, as main components, a substantially rotationally symmetric housing 1, an annular structure 2 guided displaceably therein along axis X and a press die 4 provided with eight press jaws 3 disposed around press axis X. Housing 1 comprises a one-piece housing basic structure 5 with a jacket portion 6 and an annular bracing disk 7 on the end face, as well as a housing closure ring 8 disposed opposite bracing disk 7 in the jacket structure and fixed there. Press jaws 3 are bracedin a manner guided radially displaceably via guide elements 11 (sliding blocks), which are attached exchangeably by means of bolts 9 (preferably two respectively) to bracing disk 7 and which cooperate with guideways 10 provided on press jaws 3on bracing disk 7, wherein respectively one friction-reducing bearing plate 12 is disposed between the end faces of press jaws 3 and bracing disk 7. Radially outside, press jaws 3 have sliding faces 13. These form mating faces to control faces 14, which are provided on annular structure 2 and inclined relative to press axis X and which cooperate with sliding faces 13 in such a way that an axial displacement (arrow A) of annular structure 2 relative to bracing disk 7 causes a radially inwardly directed movement (arrow B) of press jaws 3. Over the total possible movement path of annular structure 2, the ratio of the axial movement of annular structure 2 to the radial movement of press jaws 3 then changes by the fact that the angle of inclination of control faces 14 varies along their travel in axial direction.

[0034] Within the scope described in the foregoing, the radial press according to FIGS. 1 to 4 corresponds to the sufficiently well known prior art disclosed in the documents cited in the introduction, to which reference is made, and so more extensive explanations are not needed.

[0035] Annular structure 2 has an annularly closed base structure 15 and eight exchangeable control members 16, on which control faces 14 are constructed, received therein. These control members in turn are multi-part components, by the fact that they are respectively provided with a bed plate 17 (substantially plane in the present case) and a hump 18 placed on a portion thereof as well as two sliding plates 19, which are placed exchangeably on bed plate 17 or hump 18 and on which control faces 14 are constructed. Sliding plates 19 (which may be angled) are respectively fastened to bed plate 17 or to hump 18 via laterally disposed, angled fixation brackets 20 and bolts 21. Humps 18 are respectively fixed on the associated bed plate 17 via centering pins 22 and bolts 23.

[0036] To receive the eight control members 16, eight pockets 24, which are defined by respectively two ribs 25 and a bracing face 26 disposed between these, are constructed on the inside of base structure 15. Bed plates 17 of control members 16 then rest on base structure 15 on plane bracing faces 26; accordingly, they have plane rear faces 27. For their assembly, control members 16 are pushed axially into the associated pockets 24, wherein pegs 28 protruding from bed plate 17 are inserted into associated recesses 29 provided in ribs 25. By means of a locking ring 31, which is fixed on base structure 15 of annular structure 2 by bolts 30, which are screwed at their end face into ribs 25, the eight control members 16 are then secured in their assembled position.

[0037] According to the foregoing descriptions, it is therefore, control members 16received exchangeably in base structure 15which, by their specific geometry determining the travel of control faces 14, define that individual characteristic relationship between the axial movement of annular structure 2 and the radial movement of press jaws 3 induced hereby which is determining for the operating characteristic of the respective radial press in its specific assembly with control members 16.

[0038] Expedient modifications of the construction described in the foregoing may consist in the fact that, for fixation of control members 16, a segmented locking ring 31 or individual locking plates are used, wherein the locking-ring segments or locking plates in question are in turn preferably fixed at their end face on ribs 25 by means of bolts (e.g. respectively disposed in the joint between two locking plates). Pegs 28 on control members 16 may be omitted, for example by the fact that control members 16 are fixed (e.g. by means of two bolts) on the end face of locking ring 31 or the locking-ring segments or locking plates. And instead of bracing faces 26 converging in axial direction, annular structure 15 could be providedfor simplified manufacturer thereofwith, for example, (plane or convex) bracing faces extending parallel to press axis X, wherein in this case control members 16 would have a basic form that in principle is wedge-shaped.

[0039] Control faces 14 of each control member 16 have four plane regions, which are respectively offset parallel to one another in pairs, namely two rapid-mode regions 32 with a large angle of inclination relative to axis X and two power-mode regions 33 with a small angle of inclination relative to axis X. In this way, control faces 14 in planes perpendicular to press axis X respectively lie on a polygon with corners disposed respectively between two press jaws 3 adjacent to one another. By the fact that each of the two sliding plates 19 of each control member 16 is singly angled, an edgeless transition (with small radius) is formed from the respective rapid-mode region 32 of control face 14 to the associated power-mode region 33. In an improvement preferred compared with the illustrated configuration, the two sliding plates 19 are respectively identical to one another.

[0040] Sliding faces 13 of press jaws 3 likewise have four plane regions, which are respectively offset parallel to one another in pairs, namely two rapid-mode regions 34 with a large angle of inclination relative to axis X and two power-mode regions 35 with a small angle of inclination relative to axis X. Hereby, during the pressing process, each of the eight press jaws 3 bears constantly with full surfaceexcept for the transition from rapid mode to power modeof their sliding faces 13, and specifically in the region of two faces disposed axially apart from one another, on corresponding control faces 14 of annular structure 2, wherein the size of the contact faces increases steadily during the power mode. Ribs 25 already mentioned hereinabove protrude radially inwardly beyond control faces 14, such that they also ensureas press-jaw guide ribs 36the guidance of press jaws 3 in axial direction.

[0041] A double-acting hydraulic drive is used to move annular structure 2. For this purpose, annular structure 2 comprises an annular piston 37, which is guided sealingly in a cylinder portion 38 constructed in jacket portion 6 of housing 1. Cylinder portion 38, annular piston 37, housing closure ring 8 and a sleeve-like extension 39 of annular structure 2 guided sealingly therein together bound an annular press working chamber 40. This can be pressurized via press port 41. An annular return-stroke working chamber 42 is disposed between press working chamber 40 and bracing disk 7. This is bounded by cylinder portion 38which also bounds press working chamber 40and by an annular zone 43 constructed on annular piston 37 on its end face turned away from press working chamber 40, a sealing shoulder 44 integral with the housing and a cylinder face 45 guided therein and disposed on the outer circumference of base structure 15 of annular structure 2. Return-stroke working chamber 42 can be pressurized via return-stroke port 62.

[0042] Jacket portion 6 of housing 1 is provided between bracing disk 7 and sealing shoulder 44, and specifically in a manner directly adjacent to the latter, with a dirt outlet opening 47 at the lowest point of annular space 46 in question. According to the present exemplary embodiment, its diameter or opening width is preferably larger than the maximum spacing between two press jaws 3 adjacent to one another in the maximally opened position of the die. Thus dirt that has penetrated into annular space 46 is able to exit this reliably once again via dirt outlet opening 47.

[0043] FIG. 5 illustrateswithin the scope relevant herean embodiment modified compared with the radial press according to FIGS. 1 to 4. In view of the foregoing explanations of FIGS. 1 to 4, to which reference is made, this is largely self-explanatory. In particular, two technical features must be pointed out: On the one hand, the control faces, in contrast to FIGS. 1 to 4, have not four plane regions but instead only one plane region 48. A region 49, which extends over a considerable fraction of the axial extent of control face 14, and in which the angle of inclination of control face 14 relative to axis X changes continuously, merges edgelessly therein. Corresponding to this, sliding faces 13 of press jaws 3 are configured such that they respectively have precisely one plane region 50 and, merging edgelessly into it, a region 51, which extends over a considerable fraction of the axial extent of sliding face 13, and in which the angle of inclination of sliding face 13 relative to axis X changes continuously.

[0044] This geometry is then illustrated on the basis of a construction in whichin contrast to the present disclosurecontrol faces 14 are constructed directly on base structure 15 of annular structure 2. Obviously, however, the same can also be realized with separate, exchangeable control members by the principle, characteristic for the present disclosure, shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. This control-face geometry is likewise realizable not only in such radial presses which need lubrication, such as that according to FIG. 5, but also in lubrication-free radial presses provided with separate sliding plates.

[0045] Furthermore, it is illustrated in FIG. 5 that a nonmetallic fiber reinforcing ring 53 is worked into annular structure 2, namely into a corresponding annular groove 52 of base structure 15 on its end region turned toward bracing disk 7. This extends in closed manner around axis X in a plane perpendicular to axis X and on the outside is connected flush with cylinder face 45, so that wiper 54 inserted in sealing shoulder 44 cleans dirt from the outer face of fiber reinforcing ring 53 just as well as from cylinder face 45.

[0046] FIG. 6 illustrates yet another modified (lubrication-free) radial press, which differs from that according to FIGS. 1 to 4 substantially by the fact that sliding plates 55 are associated here not with annular structure 2 but instead with press jaws 3, so that sliding faces 13 are constructed on sliding plates 55. As regards the shown specified geometry of control faces 14 and of sliding faces 13, the foregoing description of FIG. 5 is applicable, i.e. the illustrated principle of sliding plates 55 on the press-jaw side could obviously also be implemented with geometries of control faces 14 and of sliding faces 13 different from those according to FIG. 5. And once again it is obvious that control faces 14, instead of being constructed directly on base structure 15 of annular structure 2, can be constructed in a manner corresponding to the present disclosure on separate, exchangeable control members.

[0047] As regards fiber reinforcing ring 53, which is also provided here, the foregoing explanations of FIG. 5 apply correspondingly.

[0048] The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 is likewise largely explained from the foregoing explanations of FIGS. 1 to 6, to which reference is made in order to avoid repetitions. A substantial feature distinguishing this embodiment from those described in the foregoing consists in the eight cutouts 56disposed in alignment with press jaws 3provided on housing 1 at the transition from jacket portion 6 to bracing disk 7. These assume the function of dirt outlet opening 47 according to the exemplary embodiments explained in the foregoing and in other respects are dimensioned such that guide elements 11 can be inserted through cutouts 56 into housing 1. Guide elements 11 are angled and are respectively provided with a fixation bracket 58 bearing radially outside on a bracing face 57. Guide elements 11 are bolted there to housing 1 from radially outside in the region of cutouts 56. In this way, threaded bores machined into bracing disk 7 from the end face thereof are unnecessary, which is favorable to the flow of force in this highly stressed part. Return-stroke working chamber 42 is also configured somewhat differently from the embodiments described in the foregoing. In particular, sealing takes place here not in the region of a sealing shoulder integral with the housing but instead in the region of a seal 59, which is inserted into an annular groove 60 of base structure 15 of annular structure 2 and is guided sealingly in a cylinder portion 61, which is constructed in jacket portion 6 and has a slightly smaller diameter than cylinder portion 38 bounding the press working chamber.

[0049] And, finally, separate control members, which with control face 14 constructed respectively thereon (on a sliding plate 19) can again be inserted exchangeably into base structure 15 of annular structure 2, as in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 4. However, the control members are only two-piece components here, with a stepped sliding-plate carrier 63, which unites the functions of bed plate 17 and hump 18 of the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 4 in itself and is geometrically configured accordingly. The through-going exchangeable sliding plates 19, respectively of one-piece construction, are respectively bolted axially (at the end face) to the sliding-plate carrier 63 in question. The explanations of FIGS. 1 to 4 apply correspondingly for the geometry of control faces 14 and of sliding faces 13.

[0050] In all exemplary embodiments, it is obvious that press jaws 3 are constructedin conventional mannerso as to receive press-jaw heads exchangeably. For this purpose, they are provided with receiving bores 64 for retaining pegs and associated interlocks 65 disposed on the press-jaw heads.

[0051] In the realization of the present disclosure illustrated in FIGS. 9-12 on a radial press constructed in pressure-plate design, this possesses a bracing plate 7 of approximately square format extending annularly at the end face around a cutout 66 and an annular structure 2 guided displaceably relative to bracing plate 7 along press axis X. The function of bracing plate 7 corresponds in the scope relevant here to the function of bracing disk 7 according to the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 8. Specifically, the eight press jaws 3 are braced in radially displaceable manner on it. And the function of annular structure 2 corresponds in the scope relevant here to the function of annular structure 2 according to the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 8. In implementation of the present disclosure, annular structure 2 comprises a base structure 15 and eight exchangeable control members 16 received thereinrespectively between two guide ribs (not shown) for press jaws 3with control faces 14 constructed thereon. Control members 16 are fixed by means of locking ring 31 on base structure 15. The construction of these control members (see FIG. 12) is based on that of the control members 16 shown in FIG. 4, and so reference is made to the corresponding explanations. A corresponding situation applies for the incorporation of control members 16 into the rest of annular structure 2. In particular, control faces 14 in planes perpendicular to press axis X also lie respectively heredue to the geometry of the control memberson a polygon with corners disposed respectively between two press jaws 3 adjacent to one another.

[0052] Between bracing plate 7 and annular structure 2, a drive unit 67 comprising several (e.g. four) cylinder-piston structures actsin a way known in itselfto bring about their movement relative to one another. Cylinders 70 of the cylinder-piston structures are firmly joined to base structure 15 of annular structure 2. Piston rods 68 connected to the pistons are constructed as pulling rods 69 and are joined at their end to bracing plate 7.

[0053] From the foregoing explanations, it is easily apparent for a person skilled in the art that, instead of the radial guidance of press jaws 3 on bracing plate 7as realized in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 9-12a guide, inclined relative to press axis X and having a radial movement component as well as an additional axial movement component, may also be considered. In a special configuration that is conceivable in this respect, the slidingly guided bracing of press jaws 3 on bracing plate 7 may be constructed as a mirror image of the slidingly guided bracing of press jaws 3 on annular structure 2.