PUNCHING DEVICE, PUNCH AND METHOD

Abstract

A punching device for punching a workpiece includes a punching part and a broaching part. The punching part has a punching cutting edge that limits a punching cutting area, the punching part being intended to pierce the workpiece. The broaching part is intended to tear the workpiece later than the punching part, and includes at least a broaching tooth with a cutting edge that limits a cutting area which is greater than the punching cutting area.

Claims

1. A punching device for punching a workpiece, the punching device comprising: a punching part including a punching cutting edge that limits a punching cutting area, the punching part being intended to pierce the workpiece; and a broaching part intended to tear the workpiece later than the punching part, the broaching part comprising at least one broaching tooth which comprises a broaching cutting edge that limits a broaching cutting area such that the at least one broaching tooth as a whole defines a total broaching cutting area which is greater than the punching cutting area.

2. The punching device according to claim 1, wherein the broaching part comprises a first broaching tooth and a second broaching tooth, and wherein the first broaching tooth comprises a first broaching cutting edge limiting a first broaching cutting area, and the second broaching tooth comprises a second broaching cutting edge limiting a second broaching cutting area, the first broaching cutting area covering the punching cutting area except for at least one first gap, the second broaching cutting area covering the at least one first gap.

3. The punching device according to claim 2, wherein the broaching part further comprises a third broaching tooth and a fourth broaching tooth, and wherein the third broaching tooth comprises a third broaching cutting edge limiting a third broaching cutting area and the fourth broaching tooth comprises a fourth broaching cutting edge limiting a fourth broaching cutting area, the third broaching cutting area being greater than the first broaching cutting area and covering the second broaching cutting area except for at least one second gap, the fourth broaching cutting area covering the at least one second gap.

4. The punching device according to claim 2, further comprising a final broaching tooth, with a final cutting edge that limits a final cutting area greater than any other cutting area.

5. The punching device according to claim 2, wherein the punching cutting edge is circular and comprises a punching radius, the first broaching cutting edge comprises first broaching circle arcs with a first broaching radius of curvature and the second broaching cutting edge comprises second broaching circle arcs with a second broaching radius of curvature which is the same as the first broaching radius of curvature and greater than the punching radius, and wherein the first broaching circle arcs and the second broaching circle arcs have the same center.

6. The punching device according to claim 5, wherein the third broaching cutting edge comprises third broaching circle arcs with a third broaching radius of curvature, and the fourth broaching cutting edge comprises fourth broaching circle arcs with a fourth radius of curvature which is the same as the third broaching radius of curvature and greater than the first broaching radius of curvature, and wherein the third broaching circle arcs and the fourth broaching circle arcs have the same center.

7. The punching device according to claim 5, wherein the first broaching cutting edge further comprises at least one straight portion such that the first broaching cutting area is a circle with at least one chord in such a way that the first gap is a circular segment.

8. The punching device according to claim 6, wherein the third broaching cutting edge further comprises at least one straight portion such that the third broaching cutting area is a circle with at least one chord in such a way that the second gap is a circular segment.

9. The punching device according to claim 1, wherein the second cutting area is between 1.025 and 2.8 times the punching cutting area.

10. The punching device according to claim 1, wherein the second cutting area is up to 1.25 times the punching cutting area.

11. The punching device according to claim 1, wherein the punching part and the broaching part are attached and are portions of a single punch.

12. A punch comprising a punching part comprising a punching cutting edge that limits a punching cutting area, the punching part being intended to pierce the workpiece; and a broaching part attached to the punching part and intended to tear the workpiece later than the punching part, the broaching part comprising at least one broaching tooth which comprises a broaching cutting edge that limits a broaching cutting area which is greater than the punching cutting area.

13. A punching method including the following steps: providing a punching machine with a punching device according to claim 1; punching a workpiece with this punching device; and broaching the workpiece with this punching device.

14. The punching method according to claim 13, wherein the punching part and the broaching part pierce the workpiece in the same hit of the punching machine.

15. The punching method according to claim 13, wherein the punching part and the broaching part pierce the workpiece in two different hits of the punching machine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] To complete the description and in order to provide for a better understanding of the disclosure, a set of drawings is provided. Said drawings form an integral part of the description and illustrate an embodiment of the disclosure, which should not be interpreted as restricting the scope of the disclosure, but just as an example of how the disclosure can be carried out. The drawings comprise the following figures:

[0054] FIG. 1a and 1b show a scheme of a punching operation with a punch according to a method which is already known in the state of the art wherein the workpiece is too thick for the punch;

[0055] FIG. 2 shows a punching device according to the disclosure, in a side view;

[0056] FIG. 3a shows a top view of the punching cutting edge according to the punching device of FIG. 2;

[0057] FIG. 3b shows a top view of the first broaching cutting edge according to the punching device of FIG. 2;

[0058] FIG. 3c shows a top view of the second broaching cutting edge according to the punching device of FIG. 2;

[0059] FIG. 3d shows a top view of the third broaching cutting edge according to the punching device of FIG. 2;

[0060] FIG. 3e shows a tope view of the fourth cutting edge according to the punching device of FIG. 2;

[0061] FIG. 4a shows a first embodiment of a method according to the disclosure wherein the punching device is entering a workpiece;

[0062] FIG. 4b shows the result of the punching device entering the workpiece from FIG. 4a;

[0063] FIG. 5a shows a second embodiment of a method according to the disclosure wherein a punching part of a punching device enters a workpiece; and

[0064] FIG. 5b shows the result of the punching device entering the workpiece from FIG. 5a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0065] FIGS. 1a and 1b show a scheme of a punching operation as already known in the state of art, where the workpiece is too thick for the punch. The threshold value which defines when a workpiece is too thick depends on the material of the workpiece and the material of the punch.

[0066] FIG. 1a shows a conventional punch 101 entering the workpiece 102. During the first third of the thickness, the cut is regular, and a burnished surface 103 is obtained.

[0067] FIG. 1b shows the final outcome of the punching operation. The conventional punch 101 exits the workpiece 102 after piercing it, leaving an irregular conical surface 104 after it.

[0068] FIG. 2 shows a punching device 1 according to the disclosure. This punching device 1 comprises [0069] a punching part 2 comprising a punching cutting edge 21 that limits a punching cutting area (not shown in this figure), the punching part 2 being intended to pierce a workpiece 12; and [0070] a broaching part 3 attached to the punching part 2 and intended to tear the workpiece 12 later than the punching part 2, the broaching part 3 comprising a first broaching tooth 4, a second broaching tooth 5, a third broaching tooth 6, a fourth broaching tooth 7 and a final broaching tooth 8.

[0071] The first broaching tooth 4 comprises a first broaching cutting edge 41, the second broaching tooth 5 comprises a second broaching cutting edge 51, the third broaching tooth 6 comprises a third broaching cutting edge 61 and the fourth broaching tooth 7 comprises a fourth broaching cutting edge 71. The broaching cutting edges 41, 51, 61 y 71 limit respectively broaching cutting areas (not shown in this figure).

[0072] The punching device also comprises a final broaching tooth which limits a final cutting area (not shown in this figure) which is greater than the fourth broaching cutting area (not shown in this figure), but the difference between the final broaching cutting area and the fourth broaching cutting area is lower than the difference between the broaching cutting areas of any pair of the remainder cutting edges 41, 51, 61, 71.

[0073] FIGS. 3a to 3e show a top view of the cutting areas of the different elements comprised in the punching part and the broaching part.

[0074] FIG. 3a shows a top view of the punching cutting edge 21 of a particular embodiment of punching device according to the disclosure, which delimits a punching cutting area 22. The punching cutting edge 21 is a circumference with a punching radius pr.

[0075] FIG. 3b shows a top view of the first broaching cutting edge 41 of the same punching device as in the previous figure, which delimits a first broaching cutting area 42. The punching cutting edge 21 is shown in dotted lines to show the relation between them. This first broaching cutting edge 41 comprises first broaching circle arcs 44 with a first broaching radius of curvature br1 and straight portions that makes the first broaching cutting area 42 a circle with chords, such that the first gaps 43 are circular segments. The first broaching radius of curvature br1 is greater than the punching radius of curvature pr, but the centre used to define the punching cutting edge 21 and the first broaching cutting arcs 44 is the same.

[0076] FIG. 3c shows a top view of the second broaching cutting edge 51 of the same punching device as in the previous figure, which delimits a second broaching cutting area 52. The first punching cutting edge 41 is shown in dotted lines to show the relation between them. This second broaching cutting edge 51 comprises second broaching circle arcs 54 with a second radius of curvature br2 which is the same as the first radius of curvature br1. The second broaching cutting area 52 covers all the gaps which were left by the first broaching cutting area 42, so that the first group cutting area 45, which is the cutting area covered by both first and second broaching cutting area is greater than the punching cutting area 22. In this particular case, this cutting area covered by both first and second broaching cutting area is a circle having a radius of curvature br1, which is greater than the radius pr of the punching cutting area 22.

[0077] In this embodiment, the second broaching cutting edge 51 also comprises straight portions that makes the second broaching cutting area 52 a circle with chords. The second circle arcs 54 cover the circular segments left by the first broaching cutting edge 41. But in this case, the chords of the second broaching cutting area 52 define circular segments which have already been cut by the first broaching cutting edge 41, so that the shape of the second broaching cutting edge 51 in this zone is irrelevant, as this material has been cut by the circle arcs 44 of the first broaching cutting edge 41.

[0078] FIG. 3d shows a top view of the third broaching cutting edge 61 of the same punching device as in the previous figure, which delimits a third broaching cutting area 62. The first group cutting area 45 is shown in dotted lines to show the relation between them. This third broaching cutting edge 61 comprises third broaching circle arcs 64 with a third broaching radius of curvature br3 and straight portions that makes the third broaching cutting area 62 a circle with chords, such that the second gaps 63 are circular segments. The third broaching radius of curvature br3 is greater than the first broaching radius of curvature br1, but the centre used to define the first group cutting area 45 and the third broaching cutting arcs 64 is the same.

[0079] FIG. 3e shows a top view of the fourth broaching cutting edge 71 of the same punching device as in the previous figure, which delimits a fourth broaching cutting area 72. The first punching cutting edge 61 is shown in dotted lines to show the relation between them. This fourth broaching cutting edge 71 comprises fourth broaching circle arcs 74 with a fourth radius of curvature br4 which is the same as the third radius of curvature br3. The fourth broaching cutting area 72 covers all the gaps which were left by the third broaching cutting area (not shown in this figure), so that the second group cutting area 65, which is the cutting area covered by both third and fourth broaching cutting area is greater than the first group cutting area 45. In this particular case, this second group cutting area 65 is a circle having a radius of curvature br3 which is greater than the radius of curvature br1 of the first group cutting area 45.

[0080] In this embodiment, the fourth broaching cutting edge 71 also comprises straight portions that make the fourth broaching cutting area 72 a circle with chords. The fourth circle arcs 74 cover the circular segments left by the third broaching cutting edge 61. But in this case, the chords of the fourth broaching cutting area 72 define circular segments which have already been cut by the third broaching cutting edge 61, so that the shape of the fourth broaching cutting edge 71 in this zone is irrelevant, as this material has been cut by the circle arcs 64 of the third broaching cutting edge 61.

[0081] FIGS. 4a and 4b show a first embodiment of a method according to the disclosure, where the punching part 2 and the broaching part 3 are attached and are parts of a single punch.

[0082] FIG. 4a shows a punching device 1 according to the disclosure entering a workpiece 12. During the first third of the thickness, the cut is regular, and a burnished surface 13 is obtained when the punching portion 2 passes, the same as in the punching process which uses a conventional punch. The punching portion 2 exits the workpiece 12 after piercing it, leaving an irregular conical surface 14 after it.

[0083] FIG. 4b shows the final outcome of the punching operation. As the broaching portion 3 subsequently enters the workpiece 12, it gradually cuts the part of the hole which contains the cracks, providing a final result with a good dimensional tolerance and without cracks.

[0084] FIGS. 5a and 5b show a different embodiment of a method according to the disclosure. In this method, the punching part 2 and the broaching part 3 are not part of a single punch, but are used with the same punching machine.

[0085] FIG. 5a shows a punching part 2 of a punching device according to the disclosure entering a workpiece 12. During the first third of the thickness, the cut is regular, and a burnished surface 13 is obtained when the punching portion 2 passes, the same as in the punching process which uses a conventional punch. But as the punching portion 2 exits the workpiece 12 after piercing it, it leaves an irregular conical surface 14 after it

[0086] FIG. 5b shows the final outcome of the punching operation. A broaching portion 3 is subsequently used to pierce the workpiece 12, and it gradually cuts the part of the hole which contains the cracks, providing a final result with a good dimensional tolerance and without cracks.

[0087] The disclosure is obviously not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but also encompasses any variations that may be considered by any person skilled in the art (for example, as regards the choice of materials, dimensions, components, configuration, etc.), within the general scope of the disclosure as defined in the claims.