PIN CAM DEFLECTOR NUT

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to extrusion die systems. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a specialty pin cam nut designed for the ease of assembly and disassembly of extrusion dies.

Claims

1. A device comprising: a first extrusion die subassembly containing a pitched groove; a second extrusion die subassembly containing a pin, wherein said second subassembly is mated and aligned with the pin engaged in the groove of the first extrusion die subassembly; said first subassembly pitched groove is angled such that the second subassembly pin will align to said first extrusion die subassembly pitched groove such that as the second subassembly fully tightens to said first subassembly in under one rotation in one direction, and said second subassembly fully loosens in under one rotation in the opposite direction.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said second subassembly will eject said first subassembly from said second subassembly when rotated in the loosening direction.

3. A device according to claim 1 in which a spring operably linked to the first subassembly is compressed during the tightening of the device.

5. A device according to claim 1 in which the first subassembly attaches to an external surface of the second subassembly.

6. A device according to claim 1 in which the first subassembly attaches to an internal surface of the second component.

7. A method of fastening multiple extrusion die subassemblies in which a first subassembly is fully fastened or fully loosened from a second subassembly by under one rotation of one or more of said subassemblies.

8. A method according to claim 7 in which continued rotation in the loosening direction will eject one assembly from another.

9. A method according to claim 7 in which a first subassembly is fastened to a second subassembly resulting in a third component or subassembly being retained.

10. A method according to claim 7 in which a spring is compressed during the tightening of the device.

11. A method according to claim 7 in which in which the first subassembly attaches to an external surface of the second subassembly.

12. A method according to claim 7 in which the first subassembly attaches to an internal surface of the second subassembly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The accompanying drawings illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure. As shown throughout the drawings, like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows an example die body with pins protruding internally which would house and attach internally to the cam nut and deflector shown in FIG. 2.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows an example cam nut with an attached deflector.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows an example cross section showing how a cam nut can be attached to a deflector.

[0036] FIG. 4(a) shows the first step of assembly involves sliding the cam nut towards the pin such that it is roughly aligned with surface 1.

[0037] FIG. 4(b) The second step involves rotating the cam nut such that the pin slides along surface 1 tightening the assembly.

[0038] FIGS. 5(a)-(b) demonstrate the disassembly process to using the cam nut.

[0039] FIG. 6 shows an example external cam nut which would attach to the outside of another die component.

[0040] FIG. 7 shows an example die body with machined features on it external surface which will fasten to the corresponding features with a cam nut

[0041] FIG. 8 shows a cross section of a die assembly showing how these components look assembled.

[0042] FIG. 9 shows how a cam nut subassembly can be attached to a die body.

[0043] FIG. 10 shows the cross section of the die assembly and shows how the latch pins will hook onto the machined features of the die body which can be seen in FIG. 11.

[0044] FIG. 11 shows the machined features of the die body which hook onto latch pins shown in FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] The aspects of the disclosed embodiments involve at least two components; the component that is being fastened while attached to the cam nut and the component which contains pins or machined features that the cam nut is attaching to. The cam nut can be designed to attach to the interior surface of a component or to an exterior surface. Also the cam nut and its mating component could have their features switched to perform the same fastening and disassembly functions. For instance the cam nut could contain the pins or other machined feature while the mating component would contain the cam design which allows for tightening and optionally rapid removal. FIG. 1 shows an example die body with pins protruding internally which would house and attach internally to the cam nut and deflector shown in FIG. 2.

[0046] Depending on the component and if the cam nut has a secondary surface for rapid removal, a third component may be necessary to allow for rotation of the cam nut without rotation of the deflector, die, tip, or other primary die component. In FIG. 3, a retainer component is threaded onto a deflector and acts to lock the cam nut from sliding off the deflector while allowing the cam nut to move rotationally as the deflector remains stationary.

[0047] FIGS. 4(a)-(b) demonstrate the fastening process to use an internal version of the cam nut. The cam nut fastening process begins with sliding the cam nut and attached components forward into the pin or locking feature bearing component such that the pin or feature roughly aligns with Surface 1. Using tools such as handles, wrenches, or motors, the cam nut is rotated such that the pin or locking feature slide along the pitched Surface 1 forcing the nut and associated components forward until the nut is sufficiently tightened.

[0048] FIGS. 5(a)-(b) demonstrate the disassembly process to using the cam nut. The cam nut disassembly process begins with rotating the cam nut with tools such as handles, wrench or spanner wrenches such that the pin or locking feature slides along the pitched Surface 1 pushing the cam back from the feature and loosening the nut. The second step involves further rotating the cam nut such that the pin slides along the highly pitched Surface 2 rapidly forcing and removing the cam nut and attached components from the pin or locking feature bearing component.

[0049] In another example the cam nut can attach to the external portion of a component. In this case, the cam nut can also have a pitched surface for tightening as well as highly pitched surface for rapid extraction. FIG. 6 shows an example external cam nut which would attach to the outside of another die component. FIG. 7 shows an example die body with machined features which will fasten to the corresponding features shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 8 shows a cross section of a die assembly and how these components look assembled.

[0050] In this example, the cam nut in FIG. 6 will tighten as Surface 1 slides along Surface 1 of the die body in FIG. 7. As it slides along it will be driving forward a die component, or in this case the deflector in FIG. 8, which is what will cause the pressure between the Surface 1 on the cam nut and Surface 1 on the die body. This pressure is caused because as the deflector is driven forward by the cam nut at the driving surface, the deflector's sealing surface meets with the die body. In this example, the cam nut can also rotate without rotating the deflector as it assembles over the deflector via keys and keyways as seen in FIGS. 6 and 8. During disassembly, a the cam nut is rotated such that it loosens, Surface 2 of the cam nut and Surface 2 on the die body will drive the cam nut from the die body quickly due to its high pitch. The cam nut will pull the deflector back for removal with it as the keys on the deflector will contact with the cam nut.

[0051] The examples so far have been chosen to illustrate the difference between an internal version of the cam nut and an external version. Also the first example uses pins while the second example uses features machined onto the die body. There are many variations feasible to accomplish the task set out by use of the cam nut and should be considered obvious. These include but are not limited variation in the number of cam features on the nut and corresponding component. In both examples there were three cam features but the cam could be designed to have one or more. Other variations include the degree of pitch of the surfaces as well as the number of pitches of the surfaces machined on the cam nut. Another variation would be one such that the cam nut is retained by the die body while allowing it to rotate. The cam nut could then be used to fasten or remove die components to or from the body. Any tools or means of rotating the cam nut along with features required for their use should be considered obvious and encompassed in the scope of this invention.

[0052] Another variation of this device involves the use of a spring or springs in conjunction with the cam nut to apply pressure to attached components. There are various ways to incorporate a spring or springs in this manner. The spring could be one of many varieties including but not limited to Belleville washers and coiled springs. The spring could be integrated into the cam nut or die body or be assembled to either component. In the following example, the spring is attached to an external version of the cam nut with a retaining plate, pins and latch pins to form a cam nut subassembly. A cam nut subassembly can be seen attached to a die body in FIG. 9. The spring is sandwiched between the cam nut and the retaining plate while the latch pins are pinned to constrain the retaining plate. A sub assembly can be understood as a combination of components which when assembled can be viewed as single component of another assembly.

[0053] The cam nut subassembly including a spring may function similarly to the previous examples. FIG. 10 shows the cross section of the die assembly and shows how the latch pins will hook onto the machined features of the die body which can be seen in FIG. 11. The hooks of the latch pins will ride along the pitched surface 1 during assembly until it turns into the slot which does not have a pitch. While this occurs, the spring is being compressed as it forces another component forward. In this case the component would be a deflector which is not shown in the figures. The slot without a pitch allows for a maximum compression of the spring and could prevent over tightening. The slot could also be pitched however to allow for more refined tightening. The use of a spring could also serve as a safety measure because if there was an over pressure condition inside the head, the spring may compress further to relieve some of this pressure. The cam nut subassembly would function similar to the other examples during disassembly as the latch pin's hook will ride along surface 2 resulting in rapid removal as the cam nut is rotated.

[0054] Thus, while there have been shown, described and pointed out, fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details of devices and methods illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the presently disclosed invention. Further, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements, which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results, are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.