Guided keeper assembly and method for metal forming dies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10343206-B2
Application number	US-201816031192-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 10, 2018
Priority date	Feb 21, 2011
Publication date	Jul 9, 2019
Grant date	Jul 9, 2019

Abstract

A guided keeper assembly and related method includes a cylindrical base that mounts to a die member using a multi-piece, interlocking flange. The flanges have outer fastener holes and inner arcuate walls that matingly engage a complimentary profile on the outer surface of the base to axially interconnect the same. The flanges also have male and female end connectors which snap lock together around the base in an assembled condition. Mounting screws pass through the fastener holes in the flanges and are anchored in the die member to securely retain the guided keeper assembly in place. A retainer ring is mounted in an associated groove in the base over the heads of the screws to prevent unintentional unfastening of the screws from the die member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. In a metal forming die having first and second die members mounted a spaced apart distance for reciprocation between converged and diverged positions, the improvement of a guided keeper assembly, comprising:
a base having:
a body with an outside wall portion, first and second oppositely disposed end portions, and a central portion with a central aperture extending therethrough;
a retainer ring groove in said outside wall portion, disposed between said first and second end portions; and
a mounting flange groove on said outside wall portion;

a two-piece, interlocking mounting flange, including:
a first flange member having a width that is substantially the same as the width of said mounting flange groove, at least one through hole for attaching said first flange member to said first die member, a mounting flange groove profile which matingly engages half of said mounting flange groove on said outside wall portion of said base and interconnects said base and said first flange member, and first and second end connectors; and
a second flange member that is identical to said first flange member having at least one through hole for attaching said second flange member to said first die member, a mounting flange groove profile which matingly engages half of said mounting flange groove on said outside wall portion of said base and interconnects said base and said second flange member, and third and fourth end connectors which securely, yet detachably lock with said first and second end connectors on said first flange member to interconnect said first and second flange members with and about said base in an assembled condition to facilitate installing the same in said first die member, wherein when said first and second flange members are interconnected, said mounting flange grooves keep said first and second flange members aligned;

a guide pin having:
a central portion closely received in said central aperture in said base for precisely guiding reciprocal motion between said first and second die members;
a first end having an enlarged head shaped to abut said base to positively limit travel between said first and second die members; and
a second end, positioned generally opposite said first end, and having a locator portion that engages said second die member, and precisely locates said second end of said guide pin on said second die member;

fasteners extending through said through holes in said first and second flange members and being anchored in said first die member; and
a retainer ring detachably received and securely retained in said retainer ring groove in said base, and having an interior face disposed over at least a portion of said fasteners, whereby engagement between said fasteners and said retainer ring positively prevents said fasteners from unintentionally unfastening from said first die member.

2. A metal forming die as set forth in claim 1 , wherein:
said mounting flange groove on said base comprises a groove which opens outwardly and is defined by first and second oriented mutually parallel sidewalls spaced apart a predetermined distance, and an interior end wall disposed generally perpendicular to said first and second sidewalls.

3. A metal forming die as set forth in claim 2 , wherein:
said first flange member comprises a generally flat plate with mutually parallel first and second faces, and includes an outer end portion in which said through hole is disposed, and an inner end portion with an end edge configured for close reception in an adjacent portion of said mounting flange groove in said base.

4. A metal forming die as set forth in claim 3 , wherein:
said second flange member comprises a generally flat plate with mutually parallel first and second faces, and includes an outer end portion in which said through hole is disposed, and an inner end portion with an end edge configured for close reception in an adjacent portion of said mounting flange groove in said base.

5. A metal forming die as set forth in claim 4 , wherein:
said first end connector is disposed adjacent a terminal portion of said inner end portion of said first flange member and protrudes outwardly therefrom, and has a first finger with a first contoured surface that faces in a first direction; and
said third end connector is disposed adjacent a terminal portion of said inner end portion of said second flange member and protrudes outwardly therefrom, and has a third finger with a third contoured surface that mates with said first contoured surface of said first finger on said first end connector and faces in a second direction that is opposite said first direction, whereby convergence of said first and third end connectors causes said first and third end connectors to snap lock together in a self-locking relationship.

6. A metal forming die as set forth in claim 5 , wherein:
said second end connector is disposed adjacent a terminal portion of said inner end portion of said first flange member and protrudes outwardly therefrom, and has a second finger with a second contoured surface that faces in a first direction; and
said fourth end connector is disposed adjacent a terminal portion of said inner end portion of said second flange member and protrudes outwardly therefrom, and has a fourth finger with a fourth contoured surface that mates with said third contoured surface on said third finger on said third end connector and faces in a second direction that is opposite said first direction, whereby convergence of said second and fourth end connectors causes said second and fourth end connectors to snap lock together in a self-locking relationship.

7. A metal forming die as set forth in claim 1 , wherein:
said fasteners are detachably anchored in said first die member.

8. A metal forming die as set forth in claim 1 , wherein:
said retainer ring comprises a split snap ring.

9. A metal forming die as set forth in claim 1 , including:
an anti-friction bushing mounted in said central aperture of said base and slidingly receiving said central portion of said guide pin therein.

10. A guided keeper assembly for a metal forming die having first and second die members mounted a spaced apart distance for reciprocation between converged and diverged positions, comprising:
a base having:
a body with an outside wall portion, first and second oppositely disposed end portions, and a central portion with a central aperture extending therethrough;
a retainer ring groove in said outside wall portion, disposed between said first and second end portions; and
a mounting flange groove on said outside wall portion, disposed between said second end portion and said retainer ring groove;

a two-piece, interlocking mounting flange, including:
a first flange member having a width that is substantially the same as the width of said mounting flange groove, at least one through hole for attaching said first flange member to the first die member, an inside wall portion with a profile which matingly engages half of said mounting flange groove on said outside wall portion of said base and interconnects said base and said first flange member, and first and second end connectors; and
a second flange member that is identical to said first flange member having at least one through hole for attaching said second flange member to the first die member, an inside wall portion with a mounting flange groove profile which matingly engages half of said mounting flange groove on said outside wall portion of said base and interconnects said base and said second flange member, and third and fourth end connectors which securely, yet detachably lock with said first and second end connectors on said first flange member to inter

Assignees

• Standard Lifters Inc

Inventors

• Breen Scott M
• Pyper Joel T

Classifications

• B21D37/14 Primary

  Particular arrangements for handling and holding in place complete dies · CPC title

• B23P15/24

  dies (B21C3/18, B21C25/10, B21D37/20 take precedence) · CPC title

• B21D37/12 Primary

  Particular guiding equipment, {e.g. pliers}; Special arrangements for interconnection or cooperation of dies · CPC title