Swaging die holder

Abstract

The present invention discloses a swaging die holder for the flexible shaft operations. In the preferred embodiment, the swaging die holder comprises of an elliptical die holder slot, a stress relief slot, a radius curve, a recess and an insert. The die holder slot at top of the die holder allows each die holder to mount to the machine. The insert is adapted through the recess at the bottom of each die holder and designed to produce the different output profiles at the end of the flexible shaft. The insert is made of HSS material with cobalt content to achieve optimal life. The insert is further re-grinded or re-sharpened for same or other profile applications of the flexible shaft.

Claims

1. A swaging die holder comprises: a. at-least one die holder slot (102a, 102b, 102c and 102d) at a top of the die holder (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d), wherein the die holder slot (102a, 102b, 102c and 102d) allows the die holder (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d) to mount to a machine; b. a stress relief slot (103) on the top of the die holder (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d) on the periphery therein, wherein the stress relief slot (103) uniformly distributes a stress concentration and thereby reducing a chance of a die holder (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d) breakage due to an impact forces, during a swaging operations; c. a radius curve (104) at a corner of the die holder (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d) avoids a clashing between the die holders (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d) in a closed condition, during a sliding operation of a flexible shaft; d. a recess (105) extended longitudinally throughout at a bottom of the die holder (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d); and e. an insert (106), wherein the insert (106) is inserted through the recess (105) at a bottom of each die holder (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d), wherein the insert (105) at the bottom is designed to produce one or more output shapes at an end of a flexible shaft (107).

2. The swaging die holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the die holder slot (102) at the top of each die holder (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d) is an elliptical shape.

3. The swaging die holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insert (106) is made of a High-Speed Steel (HSS) material with a cobalt content to increase the lifespan therein.

4. The swaging die holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insert (106) is further increased in length than an actual required length to avoid a clashing at edges and corners due to stress concentration at the end of the flexible shafts.

5. The swaging die holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insert (106) is further re-grinded or re-sharpened for same or other profile applications of a flexible shaft.

6. The swaging die holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insert (106) at the bottom is designed to one or more shapes and sizes as per a user(s) requirement.

7. The swaging die holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the die holders (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d) are treated with a cryogenic or heat or sub-zero temperature to avoid distortion in shape or profile at an end of a flexible shaft, during an operating condition.

8. The swaging die holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein a die holder (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d) is varied in numbers depending on a required shape and size at the end of flexible shaft.

9. The swaging die holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the swaging die holder further comprises of at-least one packing slip, wherein the packing slip (108) is placed in between the recess (105) and the insert (106), wherein the packing slip (108) is placed when an insert (106) face is worn out, during a swaging operation of a flexible shaft.

10. The swaging die holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recess (105) is in a shape of dove tail (105a) to accommodate the insert (106).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The foregoing and other features of embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a swaging die holder, according to one embodiment of the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates the perspective view of the swaging die holder, according to one embodiment of the invention.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the swaging die holder with a packing shim, according to one embodiment of the invention.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates the perspective view of the swaging die holder with the packing shim, according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) Reference will now be made in detail to the description of the present subject matter, one or more examples of which are shown in figures. Each embodiment is provided to explain the subject matter and not a limitation. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable a person skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, physical, and other changes may be made within the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is, therefore, not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention, but instead the invention is to be defined by the appended claims.

(7) The present invention discloses a swaging die holder for the flexible shaft operations. In the preferred embodiment, the swaging die holder comprises of an elliptical die holder slot, a stress relief slot, a radius curve, a recess and an insert. The die holder slot at top of the die holder allows each die holder to mount to the machine. The insert is placed through the recess at the bottom of each die holder and designed to produce the different output profiles at the end of the flexible shaft. The insert is made of HSS material with cobalt content to achieve optimal life. The insert is further re-grinded or re-sharpened for same or other profile applications of the flexible shaft.

(8) The present invention avoids the complete replacement of die holder when there is occurrence of chip off and clash during sliding and swaging operations. The invented die holder uses reusable and replaceable insert at the bottom of the die holder. The insert at the bottom may be replaced or re-sharpened when there is chip off or breakage at the bottom of the die holder during swaging operations of the flexible shaft and thereby avoiding the complete replacement of the die holder.

(9) FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a swaging die holder, according to one embodiment of the invention. In the preferred embodiment, the exploded view comprises of four die holders (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d). The die holder (101a) comprises of an elliptical die holder slot (102a, 102b, 102c and 102d), a stress relief slot (103), a radius curve (104), a recess (105) and an insert (106). The elliptical die holder slot (102) is located at top of the die holder. The die holder slot (102) provides easy mounting of the die holders (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d) to mount to the swaging machine. The stress relief slot (103) on the top of the die holder (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d) on the periphery therein. The stress relief slot (103) uniformly distributes the stress concentration and thereby reducing the chances of a die holder breakage due to an impact force, during a swaging operations. The radius curve (104) at the corner of the die holder (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d) avoids chipping off and clashing during a sliding operation of a flexible shaft. The recess (105) is created at the bottom of the die holder (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d). The recess (105) is in the shape of a dove tail (105a) to accommodate the insert (106). The recess (105) is extended longitudinally throughout the bottom of each die holder (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d). The dove tail shape recess (105a) at the bottom of the die holder holds the insert (106) from falling off therein during the swaging operation. The insert (106) is inserted through the recess at the bottom of the die holder (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d) and designed to produce the one or more output shapes at an end of a flexible shaft (107). The insert (106) is made of HSS material with a cobalt content to increase a lifespan therein. The insert (106) may be further increased in length than an actual required length to avoid a chipping off at edges and corners due to a stress concentration during an operation of swaging at the end of the flexible shaft (107). In the preferred embodiment, the insert (106) at the bottom is designed to one or more shapes and sizes as per a user (s) requirement. The die holders (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d) are treated with a cryogenic or heat or sub-zero temperature to avoid distortion in shape or profile at the end of the flexible shaft (107) during an operating condition. The die holders (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d) are made of D2 or any die steel material to withstand heavy load and operating cycles.

(10) In further embodiment, the die holders 101a, 101b, 101c and 101d may vary in numbers depending on the required shape and size at the end of flexible shaft 107.

(11) In one embodiment, the insert 106 is further re-grinded or re-sharpened for same or other profile applications of the flexible shaft.

(12) FIG. 2 illustrates the perspective view of the swaging die holder, according to one embodiment of the invention. In the preferred embodiment, the perspective view shows four die holders 101a, 101b, 101c and 101d, the dove tail shape recess 105 and the elliptical shape die holder slot 102a, 102b, 102c and 102d. The four die holders 101a, 101b, 101c and 101d are conjoined each other and attached to the machine for swaging operation of the flexible shaft 107.

(13) FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the swaging die holder with a packing shim, according to one embodiment of the invention. In the preferred embodiment, the exploded view comprises of four die holders (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d). Each die holder (101a) comprises of an elliptical die holder slot (102), a stress relief slot (103), a radius curve (104), a recess (105), an insert (106) and a packing slip (108). The elliptical die holder slot (102) is located at top of each die holder. The die holder slot (102) provides easy mounting of the die holders (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d) to mount to the swaging machine. The stress relief slot (103) is the die holder (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d). The stress relief slot (103) uniformly distributes the stress concentration and thereby reducing the chances of the die breakage due to the impact forces, during the swaging operations. The radius curve (104) at the corner of the die holder (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d) avoids chipping off and clashing during the sliding operations of the flexible shafts. The recess (105) is created at the bottom of the die holder (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d). The recess (105) is in the shape of the dove tail to accommodate the insert (106). The dove tail shape recess (105) at the bottom of each die holder holds the insert (106) from falling off therein during the swaging operation. The recess (105) is extended longitudinally throughout the bottom of each die holder (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d). The insert (106) is inserted through the recess at the bottom of each die holder (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d) and designed to produce the different output profiles at the end of the flexible shaft (107). The insert (106) is made of HSS material with cobalt content to achieve optimal life. The insert (106) may be further increased in length than the actual required length to avoid chipping off at edges and corners due to stress concentration during the operation of swaging at end of the flexible shaft (107). In the preferred embodiment, the die holders (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d) comprises of packing slip (108), which is placed in the between the recess (105) and the insert (106). The packing slip (108) is placed when the insert face (106) is worn-out during swaging operation of the flexible shaft. The insert (106) at the bottom is designed to one or more shapes and sizes as per the user(s) requirement. The die holders (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d) are treated with the cryogenic or heat or sub-zero temperatures to avoid distortion in shape or profile at the end of the flexible shaft (107) during the operating condition.

(14) In one embodiment, the insert 106 working area surfaces are mirror finished to avoid friction, stress and resistance between material elongations during pressing operations of the flexible shaft.

(15) FIG. 4 illustrates the perspective view of the swaging die holder with a packing shim, according to one embodiment of the invention. In the preferred embodiment, the perspective view shows four die holders 101a, 101b, 101c and 101d, the packing slip 108, the dove tail shape recess 105 and the elliptical shape die holder slot 102. The four die holders 101a, 101b, 101c and 101d are conjoined each other and attached to the machine for swaging operation of the flexible shaft.

(16) The present invention avoids the complete replacement of die holder when there is occurrence of chip off and clash during sliding and swaging operations. The invented die holder uses reusable and replaceable insert at the bottom of the die holder. The insert at the bottom may be replaced or re-sharpened when there is chip off or breakage at the bottom of the die holder during swaging operations of the flexible shaft and thereby avoiding the complete replacement of the die holder.

(17) The designed flexible shaft is used to drive a gearbox to impart necessary torque to equipment like harvester or any other such industrial applications in the engineering, construction or the automotive industries.

(18) The present invention provides a die holder which is simple, resource efficient, and cost effective. The invention may be used in machineries, which are used for the swaging purpose.

(19) It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.