MULTI-PART MACHINE FRAME FOR A FORMING MACHINE

Abstract

Multi-part machine frame (12) for a, preferably percussive, forging machine, preferably a forging hammer (10), for forging workpieces, a) comprising at least two prefabricated frame parts (14, 15, 16) which are formed separately from each other, rest against each other in at least one or at least two support areas (65, 66) and are mutually supported and are pretensioned against each other with a set or adjustable pretension by means of pre-tensioning means, preferably a wire rope, and are thereby pressed onto each other in the one or more support area(s) (65, 66) and/or are connected to one another in a force-fitting manner, b) in which in the support area or at least one or each of the at least two support areas (65, 66) between two frame parts at least two pairs of abutting support surfaces (45A and 55A, 45B and 55B, 46A and 56A, 46B and 56B) are formed, which are separated by free surfaces (45C and 55C, 46D and 56D) arranged therebetween, between which an intermediate space is formed, c) wherein the support area(s) or the at least two pairs of support surfaces in the associated support area(s) constitute or act as a positive and/or self-positioning connection.

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18. A multi-part machine frame for a, preferably percussive, forging machine, preferably a forging hammer, for forging workpieces, a) comprising at least two prefabricated frame parts which are formed separately from each other, bear against each other in at least one or at least two support areas and are mutually supported and are pretensioned against each other with a set or adjustable pretension by means of pre-tensioning means, preferably comprising at least one wire rope, and are thereby pressed onto each other in the one or more support area(s) and/or are connected to one another in a force-fitting manner, b) wherein in the support area or at least one or each of the at least two support areas between two frame parts at least two pairs of abutting (or: contacting) support surfaces are formed, which are separated by free surfaces arranged therebetween, between which an intermediate space is formed, c) wherein the support area(s) or the at least two pairs of support surfaces in the associated support area(s) constitute or act as a positive (or: complementing, shape-locking) and/or self-positioning connection.

19. The multi-part machine frame according to claim 18, wherein the at least one pre-tensioning means associated with the two frame parts, preferably the at least one wire rope, extends: through the intermediate space formed between the free surfaces and spaced from the pairs of support surfaces, and/or between the two pairs of support surfaces, preferably along a tensile force direction or prestressing direction.

20. The multi-part machine frame according to claim 18, wherein the support area(s) or the at least two pairs of support surfaces in the associated support area(s) constitute or effect: a non-self-locking connection and/or a double wedge tension and/or wherein a fixing with a respective feather key is provided at each support area.

21. The multi-part machine frame according to claim 18, in which the support surfaces in the at least one support area are flat surfaces and preferably form at least part of a regular or also irregular polyhedron, at least in part of a pyramid or a truncated pyramid, or of a prism, in particular with a V-shaped cross-section or in the form of a saddle roof and/or wherein the support surfaces in the at least one support region are complementary to one another, wherein preferably a projecting or convex arrangement of support surfaces is opposite a receding or concave arrangement of support surfaces.

22. Multi-part machine frame according to claim 18, wherein: the pairs of support surfaces are each inclined upwardly with respect to the horizontal, or one pair of support surfaces is arranged horizontally and the other pair of support surfaces is inclined upwardly with respect to the horizontal.

23. Multi-part machine frame according to claim 18, wherein: a third or further pair of support surfaces, which is arranged in particular between the free surfaces or the intermediate space and another, preferably one or the horizontally arranged, of the pairs of support surfaces, is provided and is preferably oriented vertically or perpendicularly, a free surface or an intermediate space preferably being formed in at least one corner region or transition region of the third pair of support surfaces.

24. Multi-part machine frame according to claim 18, wherein an outer pair of support surfaces is inclined at an outer inclination angle (α) to the pre-tensioning means or the direction of tensile force in the pre-tensioning means, in particular to the channel of the wire rope or to the direction of tensile force in the wire rope, and an inner pair of support areas is inclined at an inner inclination angle (β) to the pre-tensioning means or the direction of tensile force in the pre-tensioning means, in particular to the channel of the wire rope or to the direction of tensile force in the wire rope, wherein: the force component acting as a contact force on the respective pair of support surfaces in the normal direction corresponds in amount to the tensile force multiplied by the factor cosine of 90° minus the corresponding angle of inclination (α, β), and/or the inner inclination angle (β) is selected to be equal to or greater than the outer inclination angle (α), and/or the inner inclination angle (β) is selected from the interval of 60° to 100° and the outer inclination angle (α) is selected from the interval of 30° to 90°.

25. The multi-part machine frame according to claim 18, wherein: the tensile stress in the or each wire rope is set to at least 600 N/mm2 or at least 800 N/mm2 or at least 1000 N/mm2 and/or wherein the tensile force in the or each wire rope is set between 2 MN and 15 MN and preferably between 7 MN and 12 MN, and/or each wire rope is formed according to the standard EN 12385 and/or comprises a predetermined number, in particular 3 to 80, of strands which are preferably twisted together, in particular around a central core and/or in a helical form, for example with a pitch angle between 10° and 20°, the strands preferably being formed according to the standard EN 10138-3 and/or comprising several, in particular 3 to 245, preferably 7 to 19, individual wires, the wires preferably being twisted, in particular around a central core of the strand.

26. The multi-part machine frame according to claim 18, wherein: at least one or each wire rope is guided in a continuous channel in the machine frame, preferably wherein at least one continuous channel and the wire rope guided therein runs only through two frame parts; and/or preferably at least one continuous channel and the wire rope guided therein runs through three frame parts.

27. The multi-part machine frame according to claim 26, wherein: the frame parts each have at least one subchannel, at least one subchannel of a frame part being connected in each case to at least one subchannel of one of the other frame parts and the continuous channel for the wire rope being formed from the interconnected subchannels, and a subchannel, in particular U-shaped or curved, in a frame part is connected at its two ends to a respective subchannel of a respective further frame part and forms with these two subchannels a continuous channel for a wire rope and preferably runs partially below a recess for a forming tool.

28. The multi-part machine frame according to 26, wherein the continuous channels or subchannels of two different wire ropes cross within a frame part, preferably partially below a recess for a forming tool, and/or run from one side of the frame to an opposite side of the frame and/or in which the subchannels are arranged in a straight line to each other or form a straight continuous channel and/or run vertically or inclined to the vertical.

29. The multi-part machine frame according to claim 18, having any one of the following features: a) a frame base and at least one, two or four separately formed uprights preferably extending substantially upwards from the frame base are provided as separate frame parts, b) an, in particular U-shaped, inner channel in the base of the frame is connected at its two ends to a respective inner channel in one or two uprights and forms a continuous channel and the ends of the wire rope guided in this continuous channel lie in each case on or in the upright(s), and/or c) at least two inner channels in the frame base form a continuous channel with an inner channel in one or two uprights and optionally in a crossbeam, and the ends of the wire rope guided in this continuous channel each lie at or in the frame base.

30. The multi-part machine frame according to claim 18, wherein: a) the pre-tensioning of the frame parts against one another in the support area results in amount and direction from the tensile stress in the associated at least one wire rope and its course or the course of the interconnected channel and the vertical and horizontal tensile stress components resulting therefrom, wherein preferably the ratio of the horizontal tensile stress component and the vertical tensile stress component in the wire rope over its course lies in a range of 0% to 80% and in the support area preferably between 0% and 50% and/or b) at least one wire rope or the continuous channel for the wire rope runs substantially vertically at least in the support area and/or at least one wire rope or the continuous channel for the wire rope runs at an angle (α) or obliquely to the vertical at least in the support area.

31. The multi-part machine frame according to claim 18, wherein: the pre-tensioning means comprise at least one tensioning device at each wire rope, in particular the rope end thereof, for tensioning and generating the tensile stress in the wire rope, preferably a tensioning device at each end of each wire rope, the tensioning device preferably enclosing the associated wire rope and is preferably clamped, locked or brought into force-fitting contact with the frame part at the corresponding end of the continuous channel, wherein an outwardly open receiving space is preferably provided in the frame part for receiving the wire rope end and the associated tensioning device, at least one tensioning device comprises an anchor block and a plurality of clamping jaws, wherein the clamping jaws are preferably formed as conical sleeves and each enclose a strand of the wire rope, and wherein preferably the anchor block has a plurality of parallel conical bores for receiving the clamping jaws and/or wherein preferably the tensioning device has a press-fit socket with a wide end and a narrow end, wherein the narrow end of the press-fit socket is arranged towards the channel and the wide end of the press-fit socket is in force-fitting contact with the anchor block, and wherein preferably the press-fit socket has transverse ribs which surround the press-fit socket in the circumferential direction.

32. A percussive forging machine, preferably forging hammer, for forging workpieces, comprising: a) a multi-part machine frame according to claim 18, b) a tool carrier, in particular a ram, which is guided on at least one frame part, in particular an upright, of the machine frame, can be moved towards or away from the frame base and on which at least one first forming tool is arranged, c) at least one second forming tool arranged on a further frame part, in particular on a frame base or anvil bed, preferably on an anvil or insert block arranged on a recess of the frame base.

33. The forming machine according to claim 32, comprising at least one crossbeam connecting the uprights on a side facing away from the frame base, wherein at least one drive for the ram is provided on the crossbeam; and/or wherein each support area between the frame base and the upright(s) is located above at least the support area or mounting wedges of the anvil or insert block, preferably above the entire anvil.

34. The forming machine according to claim 32, wherein the or one of the upwardly inclined pair of support surfaces, inclined with respect to the horizontal, is arranged on an inner side of the frame facing the second forming tool.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] The invention is further described below by means of examples of embodiments and with reference to the drawings. They show in each case in a schematic representation:

[0053] FIG. 1 a forging hammer as a forming machine with a multi-part frame according to a first embodiment of the invention in a front view,

[0054] FIG. 2 the frame for the forging hammer according to FIG. 1 in a perspective view,

[0055] FIG. 3 the frame according to FIG. 2 in a partial sectional view,

[0056] FIG. 4 a frame for a forging hammer according to a second embodiment of the invention in a partial sectional view,

[0057] FIG. 5 a tensioning device for a wire rope for a rack according to the invention in a sectional view,

[0058] FIG. 6 a frame for a forging hammer according to a third embodiment of the invention in a partial sectional view,

[0059] FIG. 7 a frame for a forging hammer according to a fourth embodiment of the invention in a perspective view,

[0060] FIG. 8 a frame for a forging hammer according to a fifth embodiment of the invention in a partial sectional view,

[0061] FIG. 9 a frame for a forging hammer according to a sixth embodiment of the invention in a perspective view,

[0062] FIG. 10 an embodiment of a support area between an upright and an anvil bed of a forging hammer according to the invention in a front view and

[0063] FIG. 11 another embodiment of a support area between an upright and an anvil bed of a forging hammer according to the invention in a front view.

[0064] Corresponding parts and sizes are marked with the same reference signs in FIGS. 1 to 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0065] In the embodiments, the forming machine 10 for forging metallic, generally solid, workpieces is disclosed as a forging hammer.

[0066] However, a multi-part machine frame according to the invention is not limited to use in a forging hammer, but can also be used for other forming machines, in particular forging machines, for example hydraulic press machines or electromotive presses such as screw presses or linear drive presses or electric upsetting machines or also rolling machines, but in principle also for sand-lime brick presses.

[0067] In the embodiments shown, the forging hammer as a forming machine 10, as shown for example in FIG. 1, comprises a multi-part frame (or: machine chassis) 12, a crossbeam (or: machine head, head piece) 21 above the frame 12, a ram 26 (or in general: a first tool carrier) guided on the frame 12, and an anvil (or: insert block) 30 (or in general: second tool carrier) arranged on the frame 12, here fastened in a recess 41 in the frame 12, in particular wedged by means of wedges not shown.

[0068] An upper forming tool (or: die) 24 is attached to the ram 26. The ram 26 with the upper forming tool 24 is movable up and down by a drive system 22 provided on the crossbeam 21. The drive system 22 may in particular be a hydraulic and/or electric motor drive system.

[0069] A lower forming tool 28 is attached to the anvil 30. The forming tools 24 and 28 are adapted to the desired shape of the metallic workpiece, which is formed or forged by the impacting forming action during the downward movement of the ram 26 between the forming tools 24 and 28. An operating device of a control system 77 is shown to the side of the frame 12.

[0070] Examples of embodiments of the frame 12 of the forging hammer according to FIG. 1 are also shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 to 4.

[0071] The frame 12 comprises a number of frame parts, in particular an anvil bed 14 as the first frame part and two uprights 15 and 16 as further frame parts. Preferably, the frame 12, in particular the anvil bed 14, stands on a base 11 which is anchored in a foundation 13. If necessary, an additional anvil bed, not shown, could also be provided, which could, for example, be cast in highly dynamic concrete.

[0072] The anvil bed 14 and the two uprights 15 and 16 are formed as separate components. The uprights 15 and 16 are supported in associated support areas (or: connecting areas, parting planes) 65 and 66 on the anvil bed 14. The separate design of these components and the corresponding multi-part nature of the frame 12 allow for modular construction and also the combination of different materials. For example, the anvil bed 14, which must withstand greater forming forces and stresses, may be formed of cast steel or high-strength steel, and the uprights 15 and 16, which must withstand low stresses during forming, may also be formed of grey cast iron. Furthermore, the separate construction of the components allows for easier transport and assembly than with a one-piece frame.

[0073] Outer surfaces or upright side surfaces of uprights 15 and 16 are designated 15A and 16A, respectively, upper surfaces or upright top surfaces are designated 15B and 16B, respectively, and outer chamfer side surfaces of chamfer 14 are designated 14A and 14B, respectively, and a chamfer bottom surface is designated 14C.

[0074] In a further embodiment according to the invention, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 1, the connection or support areas 65 and 66 between the anvil bed 14 and the uprights 15 and 16 are preferably arranged above at least the support area or the fastening wedges of the anvil (or: insert block) 30, preferably above the entire anvil 30. As a result, the uprights 15 and 16 have no (direct) contact with the anvil 30 and displacement of the uprights 15 and 16, especially in the horizontal direction, is greatly reduced or even completely avoided.

[0075] In the support area 65, one or more support surfaces 55 of the upright 15 rest on corresponding support surfaces 45 of the anvil bed 14 directly or if necessary: also indirectly via intermediate elements or discs. In the support area 66, one or more support surfaces 56 of the upright 16 rest on corresponding support surfaces 46 of the anvil bed 14 directly or, where appropriate: also indirectly via intermediate elements or discs, as described in more detail in particular in FIGS. 3 and 4 and 6 to 11. The support surfaces 55 and 56 of the uprights 15 and 16 are preferably adapted to the shape of the adjacent support surfaces 45 and 46 of the anvil bed 14, i.e. they form complementary or mutually adapted contact surfaces.

[0076] In embodiments such as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the support surfaces 45 and 55 or 46 and 56 are each flat and preferably arranged horizontally or in at least one horizontal plane so that, unlike in the case of inclined surfaces, no force component parallel to the force of gravity is effective at the support areas which could cause the uprights 15 and 16 to slide or slip.

[0077] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 can also be modified to advantageous embodiments in which both wire ropes and their associated channels and support areas are arranged equally or symmetrically with respect to each other, i.e. both wire ropes 85 and 86 curved outwards like the wire rope 85 in FIGS. 2 and 3 or both wire ropes 85 and 86 vertically and straight like the wire rope 86 in FIGS. 2 and 3 (see also FIG. 4).

[0078] In further, independent further embodiments according to the invention, which can be seen in particular in the embodiment examples according to FIG. 4 and in FIGS. 10 and 11, the connecting or support areas 65 and 66 between the anvil bed 14 and the uprights 15 and 16 are at least partially formed with support surfaces 45 and 55 or 46 and 56, respectively, which are inclined or inclined with respect to the vertical or gravity, allow the uprights 15 and 16 to be self-positioned or centred on the anvil bed 14 by form-fitting locking and are preferably not self-locking. In this embodiment, the support surfaces 45 and 55 or 46 and 56 are also preferably flat surfaces and preferably form at least part of a regular or also irregular polyhedron, at least part of a pyramid or a truncated pyramid, or also of a prism, for example continuous with a downwardly tapering or upside-down V-shaped cross-section (saddle-roof-shaped) or also already with only two slopes, i.e. a double wedge clamping. However, other surface shapes are also possible at the support areas 65 and 66 which allow a form-fitting connection, for example curved support surfaces such as spherical surfaces or oval surfaces or conical or frustoconical ones. The support surfaces 45 and 55 and the support surfaces 46 and 56 preferably form complementary surfaces so that they can be in direct contact with each other, wherein a protruding, in particular convex, support surface can correspond to or be opposite a receding, in particular concave, support surface. The receding support surface, which receives the protruding support surface, is normally the lower support surface in the direction of the force of gravity, in order to allow stable bearing and centring.

[0079] Due to this form-fitting design of the support surfaces 45 and 55 in the support area 65 or 46 and 56 in the support area 66, a self-alignment and self-positioning or self-centring and support of the uprights 15 and 16 relative to the anvil bed 14 is achieved and no additional displacement device is required to align the position of the uprights 15 and 16. Furthermore, due to the form-fitting connection, even with only two bevels, i.e. a double wedge clamping, a fixation with one feather key 67 each at the support area 65 or 66 is sufficient.

[0080] A combined embodiment may also be chosen in which one portion of the support surfaces is horizontal and another portion is inclined to the vertical, as shown for example in FIG. 10 and explained in further detail.

[0081] Furthermore, in a further embodiment, in addition to horizontal or level and/or inclined support (sub)surfaces, a pair of support surfaces or of sub-regions of support surfaces may be oriented vertically or nearly vertically, i.e. parallel to gravity, in order to completely prevent lateral movement or movement with a horizontal component of the frame parts against each other in this direction, as shown for example in FIG. 11 and explained in further detail. Such lateral movement may in particular occur due to lateral deformation resulting from eccentric loads on the forming tools.

[0082] Preferably, in the support area, in particular 65 and 66, there is a free surface between two pairs of support surfaces or support sub-surfaces, in which the two frame parts do not abut each other or are spaced apart from each other by an intermediate space or gap.

[0083] Due to the reaction forces during the forming process in forming machines, in particular during the impacting (massive) forming of a forging hammer or other impacting forming machines such as screw presses, the frame parts can briefly lift off from each other, in particular the uprights from the scraper, or gaps can briefly form in the dynamic behaviour at the support areas. The contact times considered here during forming are in the range of tenths of microseconds, e.g. 0.3 ms.

[0084] In order to counteract this, the frame parts, in particular the anvil bed 14 and the two uprights 15 and 16, are placed under a pre-tension at the associated support areas 65 and 66 respectively by means of pre-tensioning devices (or: pre-tensioning means), so that this tensile stress in the pre-tensioning devices in turn generates a contact pressure at the support surfaces 45 and 55 or 46 and 56 and thus a force-fitting connection between the frame parts in the support areas 65 and 66.

[0085] For this purpose, the values of the forces or stresses/pressures (forces per unit area) to be expected at the support areas 65 or 66 as well as the deformations are preferably determined empirically or by means of a computational simulation, and the contact pressure or contact force is set higher than these expected values by means of the pretension or tensile forces in the pre-tensioning devices in order to prevent or at least greatly reduce gap formation or lift-off. Physically, kinematic forces or acceleration forces are generated that at least approximately correspond to the product of the mass and the acceleration of the ram. The acceleration forces briefly create (without preloading devices in the simulation or empirical investigation) a deformation of the lower tool carrier and the upper tool carrier away from each other. For example, if accelerations of the hammer ram of, say, 1000 m/s.sup.2 occur during impact in a forging hammer, then acceleration forces of 6 MN or tensile stresses directed away from the other part of the frame corresponding to the forces divided by the transmission cross-sectional area of 6 MPa (1 Pa=1 N/m.sup.2) occur in a hammer ram with a mass of 6000 kg, then 9 MN or 9 MPa in a mass of 9000 kg, which must then be compensated by means of the pre-tensioning devices.

[0086] Therefore, the pre-tensioning force or the pretension (tensile force per area) of the pre-tensioning devices is set higher than these acceleration forces or the corresponding dynamic stresses by a safety margin of typically at least 10%, preferably at least 20%, e.g. higher than 6 MN or 6 MPa in the first case example and higher than 9 MN or 9 MPa in the second case.

[0087] According to the preferred embodiments according to the invention, the pre-tensioning devices used to generate this pre-tensioning are no longer the tie rods used in the prior art, but wire ropes that can be loaded with a higher tensile stress. For the same cross-sectional area, the adjustable tensile force of wire ropes is typically four times as high as that of tie rods.

[0088] The construction of the wire ropes is chosen in particular depending on the desired tensile strength, the available cross-section and the course of the guide channel in the frame, preferably within the framework of DIN EN 12385.

[0089] The load-bearing capacity and tensile strength of wire ropes depend on the structure, rope diameter and the materials used. Thus, the minimum breaking load of a wire rope is approximately equal to the product of the nominal cross-sectional area of the rope determined by the outer diameter, the filling factor, the strength of the material, especially steel, and the stranding factor. The tensile strength or tensile load capacity or maximum tensile stress of the wire rope is then the minimum breaking force divided by the cross-sectional area.

[0090] A wire rope generally comprises a predetermined number, for example 3 to 80, of strands, which also determine the nominal cross-sectional area and tensile strength of the wire rope. The strands are preferably twisted together, in particular around a central core and/or in a helical shape, for example with a pitch angle between 10° and 20°.

[0091] The strands may in particular be formed in accordance with standard EN 10138-3. Each strand may comprise several, for example 3 to 245, in particular 7 to 19, individual wires, the wires preferably being twisted, in particular around a central insert of the strand.

[0092] Typically, the wire ropes are pretensioned to tensile forces between 2 MN and 15 MN and preferably between 7 MN and 12 MN.

[0093] E.g. a wire rope with the designation 31C15 has a number of 31 strands and a nominal cross-sectional area of typically 4650 mm.sup.2 and a maximum tensile force of 8.215 MN and a wire rope 37C15 with 37 strands allows a tensile force of 10 MN corresponding to a tensile stress of 752 MPa=752 MN/m.sup.2=752 N/mm.sup.2 for a diameter of 130 mm (for comparison: A solid tie rod requires a diameter of 254 mm corresponding to a tensile stress of 196 MPa=196 MN/m.sup.2=196 N/mm.sup.2) for a pre-tensioning force of 10 MN.

[0094] A wire rope of 55 strands with a strand diameter of 15.7 mm and a yield strength of the individual strands of 1770 N/mm.sup.2 bears a tensile stress in the entire wire rope of 1090 N/mm.sup.2, which is far beyond the tensile stresses possible in tie rods, when a tensile force of 9 MN is applied.

[0095] With the high tensile stresses that can be set with wire ropes, i.e. tensile force per surface area, which would not be possible with tie rods, the gaps that occur at the connection interfaces, i.e. the support areas 65 and 66, during impact forming in the frame 12 can also be reliably avoided. This increases the positional and movement accuracy of the upper forming tool 24 relative to the lower forming tool 28.

[0096] By means of the wire ropes it is now possible, especially by means of referenced simulation, to create a connection that remains closed during the impact. The problem observed when using drop-in anchors, namely that the multi-part frames of forging hammers opened up in the parting plane or the uprights lost contact with the anvil bed for a short time, which could also be determined on the basis of deposits in the joint, can now be avoided.

[0097] Ideally, only one continuous wire rope is used per support area 65 and 66, but two or more wire ropes may be arranged in parallel and pre-tensioned at a support area 65 or 66. In the FIGs, one wire rope 85 and 86 are shown for each upright 15 and 16, but two or more wire ropes may be provided for one or both uprights 15 and 16.

[0098] Each wire rope 85 and 86 is guided through and tensioned in a channel in the frame. The internal cross-sections of the channels are adapted to the external cross-sections of the wire ropes and are slightly larger, typically up to a maximum of 5%, to allow threading.

[0099] In particular, each wire rope 85 and 86 is pulled through an associated inner channel 43 and 44 respectively in the anvil bed 14 and through an inner channel 53 and 54 respectively of the associated upright 15 and 16 respectively. The channels 43 and 53 and 44 and 54, which are placed or joined together with their mouths or ends, each form a continuous channel 18 for the respective wire rope 85 or 86. One channel 18 penetrates one upright 15 and the anvil bed 14 and another channel 18 penetrates the other upright 16 and the anvil bed 14.

[0100] The channel 18 and thus the wire rope 85 or 86 guided therein may extend vertically, as shown in FIG. 3 for the wire rope 86 and shown in FIG. 4 for both wire ropes 85 and 86, so that the acting tensile stress is directed substantially parallel to the force of gravity. However, the channel 18 with the wire rope guided therein can also, as shown in FIG. 4 in the case of wire rope 85, run along a line that is curved or bent, preferably outwards, at least in the inner channel in the stator. As a result, the tensile stress acting in the upright, here 85, and preferably also in the support area 65, in the wire rope and thus from upright against anvil bed, has a vertical component and a horizontal component, in particular an outwardly directed horizontal component. Thus, in the support area, the upright is pressed downwards and also sideways, preferably outwards, against the anvil bed 14. The wire rope 85 and the channel 18 thus run in the support area at an angle α to the horizontal.

[0101] The ratio of the horizontal component to the vertical component of the tensile stress in the wire rope can vary over the course or length of the wire rope, especially in the case of a curved or bent course, and lies in particular in the support range in an interval of 0 to 0.5.

[0102] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, the frame 12 may have a continuous channel 18 which extends in a U-shape from the top of one upright 15 first downwards, then, in particular in an arc, through the anvil bed 14 and finally upwards again through the other upright 16. A wire cable then runs through the channel, which is provided with a tensioning device 32 at one end on the upright 15 and is provided with a further tensioning device 32 at the other end on the upright 16. In addition, a wire cable running over the crossbeam 21 between the uprights 15 and 16 or even a U-shaped or arched upright would also be conceivable, although not the first choice due to the loss of installation space for the drive.

[0103] At the rope ends 85A and 85B of the wire rope 85 as well as at the rope ends 86A and 86B of the wire rope 86 there is in each case a tensioning device 32 which encloses the associated wire rope 85 or 86 and which is clamped and locked at the corresponding end of the channel 18 or brought into force-locking contact with the upright 15 or 16 as well as with the anvil bed 14.

[0104] In this example, one tensioning device 32 is located outside the curved channel 18 at its end, while the three remaining tensioning devices 32 are recessed in funnel-shaped ends of the channels 18. However, all upper tensioning devices 32 may also be recessed in funnel-shaped ends of the respective channel 18.

[0105] Furthermore, in all embodiments as shown in FIGS. 6 to 11, the upper tensioning devices and the upper rope ends may also be arranged in receiving spaces 95 and 96 formed inwardly in the uprights 15 and 16 and preferably open towards the upright side surface 15A and 16A, respectively, and be placed and tensioned on base surfaces 97 and 98, respectively, of the receiving spaces 95 and 96 in which the respective channels for the wire rope open.

[0106] The lower tensioning devices 32 are recessed in the lower funnel-shaped ends of the channels 18, preferably on the underside of the anvil bed 14. With the tensioning devices 32, the wire rope 85 or 86 is pre-tensioned to the desired tensile stress.

[0107] Preferably, known tensioning devices 32 with single strand tensioning are used, as they are well suited for limited installation space and also for vertical installation or assembly of the frame. Hydraulic strand jacks are particularly advantageous here, which can also be actuated in several smaller strokes up to an entire pre-tensioning stroke of, for example, several centimetres.

[0108] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a tensioning device 32 for a wire rope for a rack according to the invention. Such a tensioning device 32 is available, for example, from the manufacturer Freyssinet.

[0109] The tensioning device 32 has an anchor block 34, a plurality of clamping jaws 36 and possibly also a press-fit socket 38 and a guide 42. The clamping jaws 36 are formed as conical sleeves and each enclose a strand 20 of the wire rope. The anchor block 34 is in particular cylindrical in shape and has a plurality of conical bores which extend parallel to an axis of symmetry of the anchor block 34. The conical bores are provided for receiving the clamping jaws 36. The press-fit socket 38 surrounds the end portion of the wire rope and has a wide end and a narrow end. The narrow end of the press-fit socket 38 is arranged towards the channel 18. The wide end of the press-fit socket 38 is in force-fitting contact with the anchor block 34. The press-fit socket 38 has transverse ribs 40 which circumferentially surround the press-fit socket 38. In this example, the press-fit socket 38 has two transverse ribs 40. The guide 42 encloses another area of the wire rope. The narrow end of the press-fit socket 38 again encloses the guide 42. The guide 42 is formed as a transversely ribbed sleeve.

[0110] However, press-fit socket 38 and guide 42 can also be omitted, since the frame itself is made of steel and the anchor block 34 can also rest directly on a mating surface on the associated frame part. In addition, the anchor block 34 can also have a support surface adapted to the mating surface of the frame part, possibly also at an angle.

[0111] The tensioning device 32 is formed to be connected to the end of the wire rope and its strands and pressed into the end of the channel 18. Two tensioning devices 32 at the two ends of the wire rope allow sufficient pre-tensioning between the anvil bed 14 and the uprights 15 and 16.

[0112] There may be an active tensioning device 32 at one of the ends of the wire rope for tensioning the wire rope and a passive tensioning device 32 at the other end which only holds the wire rope at the end. Preferably, an active tensioning device 32 is provided at both ends of the wire rope.

[0113] The pretension can be adjusted in particular by actuating the tensioning device 32 mechanically by means of tools or by means of electric motor(s) or also by means of hydraulic actuators, and this can be done before commissioning, also in several steps, to a fixed value or also subsequently adjustable. For the actuation and adjustment of the tensioning devices 32, for example, a hydraulic or mechanical actuation device from STS Systems, which is known per se and which is not described in more detail here, can be used.

[0114] The use of the wire ropes 85 and 86 as pre-tensioning means enables a particularly high pretension between the anvil bed 14 and the respective upright 15 and 16. The wire ropes have a higher tensile strength than, for example, comparable tie rods. The wire ropes enable a very high tensile stress. The wire ropes ensure that the force-fitting connections between the anvil bed 14 and the uprights 15 and 16 remain closed during the impact. Furthermore, only a relatively small installation space is required for the bracing of the anvil bed 14 with the uprights 15 and 16 by means of the wire ropes. Despite the division of the frame, the precise ram guidance is not lost because the uprights do not jump or change their position or deform during the impact.

[0115] In order to reduce the internal stresses (e.g. notch stresses) on the recess 41 due to the pre-tensioning, in particular in the lower corner regions 78 and 79, these corner regions 78 and 79 are provided with roundings or radii and/or are spaced apart from the channel 18 and the tensioned wire rope in the channel by a minimum distance of in particular at least 80 mm, preferably at least 100 mm, as determined by the simulations.

[0116] The inward biases in the recesses 71 and 72 above the recess 41 are also reduced by their roundings.

[0117] By sufficiently spacing the separating surfaces or support surfaces of the support areas 65 and 66 from the anchor block 34 or the upper tensioning devices 32 at the wire rope ends, the best possible cone of force can be realised.

[0118] FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a multi-part machine frame. A wire rope 87 connects both uprights 15 and 16 to the anvil bed 14. For this purpose, the wire rope 87 runs in an arcuate channel 18 from one rope end 87A, which is attached to one upright 15 with a tensioning device 32, to the other rope end 87B, which is attached to the other upright 16 with a tensioning device 32.

[0119] In a preferred embodiment, the wire rope ends, at least the upper wire rope ends, are each arranged in a receiving space 95 or 96 formed in the upright 15 or 16, preferably open towards the upright side surface 15A or 16A, as shown in FIG. 6, but also in FIGS. 7 to 9 and 11, and are clamped and pre-tensioned there by means of the tensioning device 32. The tensioning device 32 with the clamped strands of the wire rope end, in particular the anchor block 34, is placed or arranged on a base surface 97 or 98. The subchannel in the upright 15 or 16 opens into the receiving space at the respective base surface and the wire rope projects out of the subchannel into the receiving space or the tensioning device.

[0120] The channel 18 is composed of a subchannel 57 in the upright 15, which runs obliquely to the vertical and essentially straight inwards, an arcuate subchannel 47 in the anvil bed 14, which first runs downwards to a lowest point 47C and then upwards again, and a subchannel 58 in the upright 16, which runs obliquely to the vertical and essentially straight inwards. The subchannels 57 and 47 meet at the intermediate space 51 of the support area 65 and the subchannels 58 and 47 meet at the intermediate space 52 of the support area 66.

[0121] The support surfaces 45 and 55 or 46 and 56 are each inclined upwards to the horizontal in FIG. 4 and FIGS. 6 to 8. The outer support sub-areas 45 and 55 or 46 and 56 are inclined at an outer angle of inclination α to the subchannel 57 and thus to the direction of the tensile force in the wire rope guided therein, and the inner support sub-areas 45 and 55 or 46 and 56 are inclined at an inner angle of inclination β to the subchannel 57.

[0122] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, only one of the two pairs of support surfaces, namely 45B and 55B, is inclined upwards and arranged at the inclination angle β to the channel 53 and thus the tensile force in the wire rope. The other pair of support surfaces, namely 45A and 55A, is oriented horizontally and arranged at the angle of inclination β to the channel 53 and thus the tensile force in the wire rope. Other orientations of the support surfaces than described here are also possible.

[0123] In all embodiments, the ratio of the inner inclination angle β to the outer inclination angle α can generally be used to set the ratio of the contact pressure forces on the support surfaces as force components of the tensile force in the wire rope. In particular, the force component acting as a contact force on the respective support (sub-)area in the normal direction corresponds in terms of amount to the tensile force in the wire rope multiplied by the factor cos (90°−α) or cos (90°−β). With equal inclination angles α=β the force distribution is equal or symmetrical, with unequal inclination angles α≠β the force distribution is unequal or asymmetrical.

[0124] The inner inclination angle β is preferably equal to or greater than the outer inclination angle α. Preferably, the angles of inclination are chosen so that the contact force on the inner support (sub-)area caused by the wire rope is greater, for example by at least a factor of 2 greater, than the contact force on the outer support (part) surface, i.e. in particular cos (90°−α)<cos (90°−β) or cos (90°−α)<2 cos (90°−β).

[0125] Preferred values for the inner inclination angle β are selected from the interval of 60° to 100°, preferably about 90°, and for the outer inclination angle α are selected from the interval of 30° to 90°, preferably about 60°.

[0126] FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment in which two wire ropes 85 and 86 cross each other and run partially below the lower or second tool carrier 28, connecting opposite sides of the frame parts. The wire rope 85 terminates with its upper rope end 85A at the upright 15 in the region of its upright side surface 15A and is tensioned there with the tensioning device 32, preferably in a receiving space 95. The lower end 85B of the wire rope 85 is tensioned on the opposite anvil bed side surface 14B with the anvil bed 14 via a tensioning device 32. Similarly, the other wire rope 86 is tensioned at its upper end 86A on the upright 16 in the region of its upright side surface 16A with the tensioning device 32, preferably in the receiving space 96, and is tensioned with its lower end 86B on the opposite anvil bed side surface 14A with the anvil bed 14 via a tensioning device 32. The offset of the end 86B of the wire rope 86 from a centre plane ME of the frame 12 is denoted d1 and the offset of the end 85B of the wire rope 85 from the centre plane ME is denoted d2.

[0127] In FIG. 8 an embodiment is shown, in which the two channels 18 for the two wire ropes 845 and 86 run through the frame 12 in a straight line and at an angle, illustrated by the angles of inclination α and β. The subchannels 53 in the upright 15 and 43 in the anvil bed 14, which form the channel 18 for the wire rope 85, are thus arranged coaxially or in a straight line behind one another, as are the subchannels 54 and 44 of the channel 18 of the wire rope 86. The lower ends 85B and 86B of the wire ropes 85 and 86 are thus arranged closer to one another than the upper ends 85A and 86A.

[0128] FIG. 9 now shows an example of an embodiment in which splitting or dividing a wire rope into at least two partial ropes takes place. A wire rope section 81 or 82 with a number of strands guided in a subchannel 53 or 54 is split in a splitter 88 or 89 into two partial ropes 81A and 81B each guided in a subchannel 43A or 43B or 44A or 44B with a divided reduced number of strands. This makes it possible to achieve a more uniform force load within the anvil bed 14.

[0129] In FIG. 10, an embodiment of the connection area or support area 65 is shown enlarged. Between outer support surfaces 45A and 55A and inner support surfaces 45B and 55B there are free surfaces 45C of the anvil bed 14 and 55C of the upright 15, between which the intermediate space 51 is formed. At the intermediate space 51, the subchannel 53 in the upright 15 ends from above and the subchannel 43 in the anvil bed 14 ends from below, so that the wire rope in the support area 65, which is not shown, passes through the intermediate space 51 at a distance from the support surfaces 45A and 55A and 45B and 55B, which are in contact. The outer support surfaces 45A and 55A here run horizontally and at an outer angle of inclination α, preferably from the interval of 60° to 90°, to the subchannel 53. The inner support surfaces 45B and 55B again run obliquely upwards to the horizontal at an inner angle of inclination β, preferably from the interval of 60° to 90°, to the subchannel 53. The angles of inclination α and β are here in particular equal.

[0130] In FIG. 11, an embodiment of the support area 66 between the upright 16 and the anvil bed 14 and a tensioned end 86A of a wire rope 86 is shown. A pair of external support surfaces 46A and 56A, arranged horizontally and at the external angle of inclination α to the wire rope 86, is here first joined by a pair of support surfaces 46C and 56C arranged steeply, preferably vertically or perpendicularly, which is thus directed at the angle of inclination γ of close to or preferably equal to 90° to the horizontal, and prevents lateral outward movement of the upright 16. A shoulder or step-shaped support surface arrangement is thus implemented here. Downstream of the support surfaces 46C and 56C, the upright 16 and the anvil bed 14 form free surfaces 56D and 46D respectively, between which a gap 51 is again formed and which are inclined at an angle of inclination δ of typically 80° to 90° to the wire rope 86.

[0131] In the corner area adjoining the support surfaces 46C and 56C at the bottom, the clearance surfaces 46D and 56D are rounded and the gap 51 is widened to a rounding 51A to reduce notch stresses.

[0132] Likewise, in the upper corner area of the support surfaces 56C and 46C, a free surface 46F and thus an intermediate space is formed in order to avoid notch stresses there as well and, above all, to increase the contact pressure in the area 55B due to the overall smaller contact pressure surface.

[0133] On the other side of the wire rope 86, the free surfaces 46D and 56D are joined by the internal support surfaces 46B and 56B, which extend upwards at an angle to the horizontal and are again directed towards the wire rope 86 at the internal angle of inclination β.

[0134] The wire rope thus preferably runs in the support areas between the frame parts through an intermediate space or gap between the frame parts, which separates at least two pairs of support surfaces of the frame parts from each other. By means of the arrangement and inclination of the pairs of support surfaces relative to the direction of the tensile force in the wire rope or its channel in the support area, the respective contact force can be adjusted as a vectorial force component of the tensile force, i.e. in amount and direction, and thus the deformation of the frame parts determined by simulation or empirically can be specifically counteracted.

[0135] In the event of incorrect operation or improper use, such as excessive off-centre loading, the guides and the ram are not damaged but the uprights “give way” and return to their original position due to the special arrangement of the ropes and contact or support surfaces.

[0136] In all embodiments, the drive system 22 is preferably a hydraulic drive system and in particular comprises a hydraulic cylinder, for example a double-acting hydraulic cylinder or differential cylinder, with a piston provided for driving the ram 26 or ram 26 via a piston rod coupled to the piston. The drive system 22 further comprises a hydraulic circuit having hydraulic lines, valves, pumps, control units and/or regulating units necessary for operating the hydraulic cylinder.

[0137] Instead of two individual uprights, in all embodiments several individual uprights or also a connected upright part, which forms both uprights and the crossbeam in one piece, can be provided.

[0138] The frame 12 according to the invention is not limited to use in a forging hammer, but can also be used for other forming machines 10, in particular forging machines, for example forging presses such as screw presses or electric upsetting machines or also pressing machines or rolling machines or also sand-lime brick presses.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0139] 10 forming machine [0140] 11 base [0141] 12 frame [0142] 13 foundation [0143] 14 anvil bed [0144] 14A, 14B anvil bed side surface [0145] 14C anvil bed underside [0146] 15, 16 upright [0147] 15A, 16A upright side surface [0148] 15B, 16B upright top [0149] 18 channel [0150] 20 wire strand [0151] 21 crossbeam [0152] 22 drive system [0153] 24 upper forming tool [0154] 26 ram [0155] 28 lower forming tool [0156] 29 wedge clamp [0157] 30 anvil [0158] 32 tensioning device [0159] 34 anchor block [0160] 36 clamping jaw [0161] 38 press-fit socket [0162] 40 transverse rib [0163] 41 recess [0164] 42 guide [0165] 43, 44 channel [0166] 43A, 43B subchannel [0167] 44A, 44B subchannel [0168] 45 support surface [0169] 45A, 45B support surface [0170] 45C free surface [0171] 46 support surface [0172] 46A, 46BA support surface [0173] 46C free surface [0174] 46F free surface [0175] 47 subchannel [0176] 47C lowest point [0177] 51, 52 intermediate space [0178] 52A rounding [0179] 53, 54 channel [0180] 55 support surface [0181] 55A, 55B support surface [0182] 55C free surface [0183] 56 support surface [0184] 56A, 56B support surface [0185] 56C free surface [0186] 57, 58 subchannel [0187] 65, 66 support area [0188] 67 feather key [0189] 71, 72 recess [0190] 73, 74 overhang [0191] 75, 76 guide [0192] 77 control system [0193] 78, 79 rounded corner areas [0194] 81, 82 wire rope [0195] 81A, 81B partial rope [0196] 82A, 82B partial rope [0197] 85, 86 wire rope [0198] 85A,85B rope end [0199] 86A,86B rope end [0200] 87 wire rope [0201] 87A, 87B rope end [0202] 88, 89 splitter [0203] 95, 96 receiving room [0204] 97, 98 clamping surface [0205] ME centre plane [0206] α, β angle of inclination [0207] d1, d2 distance