Mechanical die pressure monitoring system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11292047-B2
Application number	US-201916402978-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2019
Priority date	May 3, 2019
Publication date	Apr 5, 2022
Grant date	Apr 5, 2022

Abstract

A die assembly for use with a stamping die. The die assembly having a system for monitoring a gas pressure in the stamping die. The system including first and second piston-cylinder assemblies acting on a flag block wherein movement of the flag block corresponds to a pressure change. A sensor detects a movement of the flag block.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A die assembly comprising:
a movable die component;
a first pressure source acting on and moving the movable die component;
a pressure monitoring system, including a first piston-cylinder assembly coupled to the first pressure source and a second piston-cylinder assembly coupled to a second pressure source;
the first piston-cylinder assembly including a piston engaging a flag block and operative to move the flag block independently of the moveable die component and the second piston-cylinder assembly including a piston engaging the flag block and operative to move the flag block independently of the moveable die component; and
a sensor, the sensor detects a movement of the flag block.

2. The die assembly of claim 1 wherein the first pressure source includes a plurality of gas cylinders piped together in a first cylinder array with a first array pressure line connecting the pressure monitoring system to the first pressure source.

3. The die assembly of claim 1 wherein the second pressure source includes a plurality of gas cylinders piped together in a second cylinder array with a second array pressure line connecting the pressure monitoring system to the second pressure source.

4. The die assembly of claim 1 wherein the pressure monitoring system includes a mount, the flag block mounted for reciprocal movement on the mount between the first piston-cylinder assembly and the second piston-cylinder assembly.

5. The die assembly of claim 4 wherein the piston of the first piston-cylinder assembly engages a side of the flag block and the piston of the second piston-cylinder assembly engages an opposite side of the flag block such that the first piston-cylinder assembly and the second piston-cylinder assembly generate opposing forces on the flag block.

6. The die assembly of claim 1 wherein the die assembly includes an upper die and a lower die, the pressure monitoring system on the upper die and the sensor on the lower die.

7. The die assembly of claim 6 wherein the first pressure source and the second pressure source are on the upper die.

8. The die assembly of claim 1 wherein the sensor is a proximity sensor.

9. The die assembly of claim 8 including a tuning flag, the tuning flag positioned adjacent the proximity sensor.

10. The die assembly of claim 9 wherein the tuning flag includes a U-shaped member attached to the flag block.

11. A die assembly comprising:
a first pressure source acting on a first die component in an upper die wherein the first pressure source includes a first plurality of gas cylinders piped together in a first cylinder array with a first array pressure line connecting the pressure monitoring system to the first pressure source;
a pressure monitoring system, including a die mount connected to the upper die;
a first piston-cylinder assembly coupled to the first pressure source and supported by the die mount;
a second pressure source acting on a second die component in the upper die, the second pressure source includes a second plurality of gas cylinders piped together in a second cylinder array with a second array pressure line connecting the pressure monitoring system to the second pressure source;
a second piston-cylinder assembly coupled to the second pressure source and supported by the die mount;
a flag block positioned between the first piston-cylinder assembly and the second piston-cylinder assembly;
a piston of the first piston-cylinder assembly contacting the flag block and a piston of the second piston-cylinder assembly contacting the flag block wherein a force applied on one side of the flag block by the piston of the first piston-cylinder assembly and a force applied on the opposite side of the flag block by the piston of the second piston-cylinder assembly maintains the flag block in equilibrium when the pressure in both the first pressure source and the second pressure source remains constant wherein a pressure change in one of the first pressure source or the second pressure source moves the flag block independent of first die component, second die component, or upper die movement; and
a sensor adjacent the flag block.

12. The die assembly of claim 11 wherein the sensor is mounted to a lower die.

13. The die assembly of claim 11 wherein the sensor is a proximity sensor.

14. A die assembly comprising:
a first pressure source acting on a die component in an upper die;
a pressure monitoring system, including a die mount connected to the upper die;
a first piston-cylinder assembly coupled to the first pressure source and supported by the die mount;
a second pressure source;
a second piston-cylinder assembly coupled to the second pressure source and supported by the die mount;
a flag block positioned between the first piston-cylinder assembly and the second piston-cylinder assembly;
the first piston-cylinder assembly engaging the flag block and the second piston-cylinder assembly engaging the flag block;
a sensor adjacent the flag block;
a U-shaped tuning flag attached to the flag block, with a base portion of the U-shaped tuning flag spaced from the flag block; and
the sensor is a proximity sensor positioned adjacent the base portion of the U-shaped tuning flag and to sense movement of the U-shaped tuning flag.

15. The die assembly of claim 14 wherein the first pressure source includes a first plurality of gas cylinders piped together in a first cylinder array with a first array pressure line connecting the pressure monitoring system to the first pressure source; and
the second pressure source includes a second plurality of gas cylinders piped together in a second cylinder array with a second array pressure line connecting the pressure monitoring system to the second pressure source.

16. A die assembly comprising:
an upper die and a lower die, at least one of the upper die and the lower die movable to position the upper die and the lower die in a closed position;
a first pressure source acting on a die component in the upper die;
a pressure monitoring system, including a die mount connected to the upper die;
a first piston-cylinder assembly coupled to the first pressure source and supported by the die mount;
a second pressure source;
a second piston-cylinder assembly coupled to the second pressure source and supported by the die mount;
a flag block moving laterally slidably mounted for lateral movement on the die mount between the first piston-cylinder assembly and the second piston-cylinder assembly;
the first piston-cylinder assembly engaging the flag block and the second piston-cylinder assembly engaging the flag block;
a U-shaped tuning flag attached to the flag block, with a base portion of the U-shaped tuning flag spaced from the flag block;
a sensor mounted to the lower die and adjacent the flag block when the upper die and the lower die are in the closed position; and
the sensor is a proximity sensor positioned adjacent the base portion of the U-shaped tuning flag and to sense lateral movement of the U-shaped tuning flag resulting from a pressure difference between the first pressure source and the second pressure source.

17. The die assembly of claim 16 wherein the first pressure source includes a first plurality of gas cylinders piped together in a first cylinder array with a first array pressure line connecting the pressure monitoring system to the first pressure source; and
the second pressure source includes a second plurality of gas cylinders piped together in a second cylinder array with a second array pressure line connecting the pressure monitoring system

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc
• Ford Global Tech

Inventors

• Westbrook Aaron A

Classifications

• B21D37/10

  Die sets; Pillar guides · CPC title

• B21C51/00 Primary

  Measuring, gauging, indicating, counting, or marking devices specially adapted for use in the production or manipulation of material in accordance with subclasses B21B - B21F · CPC title

• B21D22/02

  Stamping using rigid devices or tools · CPC title

• B21D37/00 Primary

  Tools as parts of machines covered by this subclass · CPC title

• B21D24/14

  pneumatically or hydraulically · CPC title