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 each die holder (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d) to mount to a machine; b. a stress relief slot (103) at each die holder (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d), wherein the stress relief slot (103) uniformly distributes the stress concentration and thereby reducing the chances of the die holder (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d) breakage due to the impact forces, during the swaging operations; c. a radius curve (104) at a corner of the die holder (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d) avoids the clashing between the die holders (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d) in the closed conditions, during the sliding operations of the a flexible shaft; d. a recess (105) extended longitudinally throughout at a bottom of each 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 profiles at a end of the 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 in 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 the cobalt content to achieve optimal life.

4. The swaging die holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insert (106) is further increased in length than the actual required length to avoid the clashing at edges and corners due to stress concentration at the end of 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 the 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 profiles and sizes as per the 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 the cryogenic or heat or sub-zero temperatures to avoid distortion in shape or profile at the end of the flexible shaft, during the operating condition.

8. The swaging die holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the die holders (101a, 101b, 101c and 101d) are varied in numbers depending on the 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 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 the insert (106) face is wornout, during the swaging operation of the flexible shaft.

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

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] 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.

[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a swaging die holder, according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates the perspective view of the swaging die holder, according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the swaging die holder with a packing shim, according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0026] 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

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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. Each 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 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 designed at holder position of each die holder 101a, 101b, 101c and 101d to avoid the crack or breakage at the mounting surface of the die holder. The radius curve 104 at the corner of each die holder 101a, 101b, 101c and 101d avoids chipping off and clashing during sliding operations of the flexible shafts. The recess 105 is created at the bottom of each die holder 101a, 101b, 101c and 101d. The recess 105 is in the shape of 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 each die holder holds the insert 106 from falling off therein during the swaging operation. The insert 106 is adapted 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 insert 106 at the bottom is designed to one or more profiles or shapes and sizes as per the user (s) requirement. The die holders 101a, 101b, 101c and 101d are treated with cryogenic or heat or sub-zero temperatures to avoid distortion in shape or profile at the end of the flexible shaft 107 during 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] In one embodiment, the insert 106 is further re-grinded or re -sharpened for same or other profile applications of the flexible shaft.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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 designed at holder position of each die holder 101a, 101b, 101c and 101d to avoid the crack or breakage at the mounting surface of the die holder. The radius curve 104 at the corner of each die holder 101a, 101b, 101c and 101d avoids chipping off and clashing during sliding operations of the flexible shafts. The recess 105 is created at the bottom of each die holder 101a, 101b, 101c and 101d. The recess 105 is in the shape of 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 adapted 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 wornout during swaging operation of the flexible shaft. The insert 106 at the bottom is designed to one or more profiles or shapes and sizes as per the user (s) requirement. The die holders 101a, 101b, 101c and 101d are treated with cryogenic or heat or sub-zero temperatures to avoid distortion in shape or profile at the end of the flexible shaft 107 during operating condition.

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] 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.

[0038] 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.

[0039] 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.

[0040] 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.