Title of Invention

C-FRAME PRESS FOR PRESSING COMPONENTS TO FORM AN ASSEMBLY.

Abstract A C-frame press (5) for pressing components to form an assembly, said press comprising a hydraulic cylinder (6) at the upper end of the press, a hydraulic power pack (7) at the lower end of the press for actuating the ram of the hydraulic cylinder up and down; and a fixture (8) located below the ram for mounting the components (1, 2) to be assembled together, is characterised by: a load cell (13) bolted to the ram (6') for recording loads required; a linear variable displacement transducer (14) mounted on the hydraulic cylinder and fixture for recording displacement; and an electric control panel (9) to which the load cell and said transducer are connected so as to control the operation of the hydraulic cylinder.
Full Text This invention relates to a C-Frame Press for pressing components to form an assembly.
C-frame press comprises of a hydraulic cylinder located at the upper end of the press, and a hydraulic power pack located at the lower end of the press. This press is especially used for assembling water pumps. The pressing force of the hydraulic cylinder is varied depending on the size and tolerance of the components.
In the known press operations, the following are the deficiencies:
1. It is not possible to know the loads at various pressing strokes during pressing operations.
2. It is not possible to measure the exact stroke/distance the ram moves.
3. Due to the variations in the components accuracies/ tolerances the force on the ram varies. Hence one cannot expect uniform load on the component during pressing.
4. Hence it requires stringent inspection of the components before taking the assembly on these presses.
5. It requires to check/inspect the component after assembly by applying pulling force to verify whether the pressing force for interference is correct or not.
6. Hence component acceptance or rejection will be known only after pressing and during inspection.
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The present invention will overcome all the above problems and also have the following automation in the presses:
a) Measures the force experienced during pressing operation.
b) Measures the exact distance moved by the ram during any instant of time.
c) It compiles the measured data and fits in the ideal curve of force v. distance. More than the allowable deviation, if any, is indicated automatically. The component is rejected for deviation in the initial stages itself.
d) Prior inspection of components is eliminated.
e) Final inspection after assembly is also eliminated. Accordingly, the present invention provides a C-frame
press for pressing components to form an assembly, said press
comprising a hydraulic cylinder at the upper end of the
press, a hydraulic power pack at the lower end of the press
for actuating the ram of the hydraulic cylinder up and down
and a fixture located below the ram for mounting the
components to be assembled together, characterised by;_
a load cell bolted to the said ram for recording loads
required;
a linear variable displacement transducer mounted on the
hydraulic cylinder and fixture for recording displacement;
and
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an electric control panel to which said load cell and transducer are connected so as to control the operation of the hydraulic cylinder.
In the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention, -
Fig. 1 shows front view of the C-frame press according to the invention;
Fig. 2 shows side view of the press of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows plan view of the press of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 shows side view of the upper portion of the press of Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 shows two components prior to their assembly; Fig. 6 shows the components of Fig. 4 in the assembly condition; and Fig. 7 shows a schematic block diagram.
Figs. 5 and 6 show the assembling of a bracket pulley 1 on a bearing. The pulley 1 has a hole 3 which fits over a shaft 4 of the bearing 2. The hole 3 has an inner diameter 0D which must match with the outer diameter 0d of the shaft 4. The variation between the diameters 0D and 0d should be within tolerance limits. If the inner diameter 0D of the hole 3 exceeds the tolerance limit, the pulley will fit loosely on the bearing shaft and is likely to fly off the shaft and damage other parts. On the other hand, if the outer diameter of the shaft exceeds the tolerance limit, during assembly itself the pulley will not fit on the shaft and as a result both are likely to be damaged.
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The present invention proposes to overcome these problems. From Figs. 1 to 4 and 7, it can be seen that C-frame press 5 comprises a hydraulic cylinder 6 at the upper end of the press, a hydraulic power pack 7 located at the lower end of the press, and a fixture 8 located between the hydraulic cylinder and the power pack. An electric control panel 9 which can be a CPU is provided at the top of the press, preferably at a corner thereof. The control panel enables operation of the machine automatically as well as manually.
The hydraulic cylinder 6 has a ram 6' which is moved vertically up and down by means of hydraulic fluid supplied by the hydraulic power pack 7. The power pack 7 supplies hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinder 6 at required pressure depending on instructions from the electric control panel 9 so that ram 6' of the hydraulic cylinder 6 moves up and down vertically.
The fixture 8 mounted on the press is aligned with the ram of the hydraulic cylinder. One of the components to be assembled is placed on a base plate of the fixture, the base plate being clamped on to the C-frame 10 of the press. The fixture 8 has also a top plate to which the other component to be assembled is secured.
When the hydraulic power pack is actuated, it moves the ram downwardly by giving signals to press the other component onto the said one component. In Fig. 1, the components to be fitted are shown to be a bracket pulley 1 and a bearing 2.
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Bearing 2 forms part of an impeller 11 having a water pump body 12.
On the moving part of the fixture 8 is provided a load cell 13, which is bolted through an adopter 13' to the ram 6' of the hydraulic cylinder. The load cell records the loads required for pressing.
The power pack 7 preferably comprises a pump 7' driven by an electric motor. The pump supplies hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinder at required pressure. A directional control valve provides flow of hydraulic fluid from the power pack to the hydraulic cylinder and vice versa. A relief valve is provided for setting the pressure needed for pressing the ram of the hydraulic cylinder.
A linear variable displacement transducer (LVDT) 14 is fitted to the hydraulic cylinder and the fixture. The transducer 14 measures the displacement of the component 1 to be fitted on the component 2 and has a digital indicator for indicating the distance of displacement.
From the records of this transducer, the output can be taken and a graph can be drawn and the range of pressing can be set at maximum or minimum. The load cell 13 and LVDT 14 are connected to the CPU 9. If the load exceeds the maximum of the range, the two components will not match because there will be too small a clearance between the two components. If the load is less than the minimum of the range, there will be a large clearance between the two components. In each of these conditions, a red light on the electric control panel
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would indicate rejection, followed by a beep sound. When the load used for pressing is within the range, then the components are correct, and a green light appears on the electric control panel. Further, when either of the components is rejected, the pressing action of the hydraulic cylinder stops, and the piston rod retracts, on command from the electric control panel.
CPU 9 is provided at the top of the press and is connected to load cell 13, LVDT 14, motor of the pump 7' and solenoids for travelling the hydraulic cylinder up and down. The CPU receives input signals from -i) Load cell to detect the load; ii) LVDT to detect the position; iii) Solenoid for travelling the cylinder up; iv) Solenoid for travelling the cylinder down; and v) Electric motor connection to start the power pack.
Fig. 7 shows the system block schematically. It shows a display unit 15 having digital outputs 16, digital inputs 17, Analogue Inputs 18 and power supply port 19. The display unit is connected to control panel 9. On the control panel are shown Power Supplies 20, LVDT Signal Conditioner 21, and Load cell signal conditioner 22. LVDT Signal Conditioner 21 is connected to LVDT 14 while load cell signal conditioner 22 is connected to load cell 13. An output card 23 and an input card 23' on the control panel is connected to an Up Solenoid S1 and to a Down solenoid S2. Motor 24 for operating the hydraulic power pack is connected to the
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control panel and is connected through a contactor 25, fuses 26 and isolator 27 to a 3-phase power supply 28. Start and stop switches SW1, SW2 are provided on the control panel for operating the motor 24. Upper and lower limit stop switches LS1, LS2 are provided on the hydraulic cylinder, and are actuable at the extreme positions by the ram. The limit stop switches are connected to the solenoids.
When the motor 24 is started . by actuating the start switch, the hydraulic power pack is actuated. Fuses and isolator protect the apparatus against excess or overload of power. As the ram 6' (Fig. 4) moves down, LVDT 14 senses the signal continuously and LVDT signal conditioner 21 monitors the movement. The change in position is displayed on the display unit 15 also, by means of the digital inputs and outputs 16 and 17. The load cell 13 senses the load and transmits signal to the load cell signal conditioner 22 for display on the display unit 15.
When the ram 6' comes to extreme positions either by touching the upper or lower limit switch (LS1, LS2), or a load cell preset value position, up solenoid S1 and down solenoid S2 sense the position and control the position of the ram by controlling oil flow to the hydraulic cylinder.
The load cell 13 detects the load applied. The LVDT 14 detects the position of travel. When the components are not pressed into each other, there is zero load. If the pressing is started then load cell indicates it. The position at which load is applied is sensed by LVDT. From there onwards,
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till the depth to which jpressing is continued, load cell senses the load and detects whether the component is rejected or accepted.
When the cylinder 6 moves down and applies force, the load cell 13 senses what load is applied. The LVDT 14 senses the position and the load applied. The components 1 and 2 are pressed into each other by friction. If the load applied at position of inserting the components into each other after inserting the components is within the set range, the component is accepted. Otherwise it is rejected.
If the dimension is more in hole than in shaft, there is less force in turn-load required to press the component. If this load is not within the range required, the load cell senses and the cylinder returns back to the normal position i.e., upper position, on receipt of signal from the CPU to the motor.
If the dimension is more in shaft than in hole, then there is more force in turn-load required to press the component. If this load is not within the range required, the load cell senses and the cylinder returns back to the normal position i.e., upper position on receipt of signal from the CPU to the motor.
If the components are within the tolerance limit and the force in turn-load required to press each other is within the tolerance range, the pressing continues till the operation is completed and the cylinder returns back to the original position i.e., upper position.
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WE CLAIM:
1. AC- frame press (5) for pressing components to form an assembly, said press comprising a hydraulic cylinder (6) at the upper end of the press, a hydraulic power pack (7) at the lower end of the press for actuating the ram of the hydraulic cylinder up and down; and a fixture (8) located below the ram for mounting the components (1, 2) to be assembled together, characterised by :
a load cell (13) bolted to the said ram for recording loads required;
a linear variable displacement transducer (14) mounted on the hydraulic cylinder and fixture for recording displacement; and
an electric control panel (9) to which said load cell and said transducer are connected so as to control the operation of the hydraulic cylinder.
2. A C-frame press as claimed in claim 1, wherein said load cell (13) is bolted to a moving part of the fixture.
3. A C-frame press as claimed in claim 2, wherein said load cell (13) is fixed to an adopter (13') mounted on the ram (6') of said hydraulic cylinder, said ram being movable in relation to the fixture.
4. A C-frame press as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said transducer (14) is provided with a digital indicator for indicating the distance of the displacement.
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5. A C-frame press as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said power pack comprises a pump (7'), a control valve for controlling flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the power pack and a relief valve for setting the pressure needed for pressing the ram of the hydraulic cylinder.
6. A C-frame press as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said control panel (9) comprises a CPU.
7. A C-frame press as claimed in claim 6, wherein solenoids (S1, S2) for controlling upward and downward travel of said hydraulic cylinder, are connected to said CPU.
8. A C-frame press as claimed in claim 7, wherein said linear variable displacement transducer and load cell are connected to respective signal conditioners provided in the CPU.
9. A C-frame press as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein upper and lower limit switches are connected to said solenoids so that said ram actuates either of the switches on reaching the extreme positions to actuate said solenoids.
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10. A C-frame press for pressing components to form an assembly, substantially as
herein described, particularly with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
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A C-frame press (5) for pressing components to form an assembly, said press comprising a hydraulic cylinder (6) at the upper end of the press, a hydraulic power pack (7) at the lower end of the press for actuating the ram of the hydraulic cylinder up and down; and a fixture (8) located below the ram for mounting the components (1, 2) to be assembled together, is characterised by:
a load cell (13) bolted to the ram (6') for recording loads required; a linear variable displacement transducer (14) mounted on the hydraulic cylinder and fixture for recording displacement; and an electric control panel (9) to which the load cell and said transducer are connected so as to control the operation of the hydraulic cylinder.

Documents:


Patent Number 206192
Indian Patent Application Number 00537/CAL/2000
PG Journal Number 16/2007
Publication Date 20-Apr-2007
Grant Date 20-Apr-2007
Date of Filing 19-Sep-2000
Name of Patentee DYNAMATIC TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
Applicant Address 79/7-B ACHARYA JAGDISH CHANDRA BOSE ROAD, CALCUTTA-14, WEST BENGAL.
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 KATTI ANILKUMAR PANDURANGACHARYA C/O DYNAMATIC TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED DYNAMATIC PARK, PEENYA, BANGALORE 560058, KARNATAKA, INDIA.
PCT International Classification Number B 30 B 9/00
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 NA