Punch and die retainers

Claim 2

For use in combination with a retainer, including a passage for insertion therein of a tool element and providing means for connection thereof to a die shoe, a stress transfer means for the tool element including a pluglike insert portion, the outer peripheral surface of which is adapted to have a friction fit to the wall of said passage, and an expanded head portion, the extremity of said pluglike insert portion remote from said head portion providing an abutting backup surface for the head of the tool element and the remote extremity of said head portion providing a surface portion for engagement to the die shoe to provide for a direct transmission therethrough of the load and shock applied to the tool element, the head of said transfer means being so formed that in application to the retainer, the surface portion thereof adjacent the retainer is normally spaced therefrom.

Claim 3

Apparatus as in claim 1 characterized by means for establishing a required position of said stress transfer means in reference to the die shoe, whereby to establish per se the required position of the tool element which it backs.

Claim 4

Apparatus as in claim 1 characterized by said transfer means having a through passage which may be transferred to the related die shoe and said through passage providing means for centering thereof and the abutted tool element.

Claim 5

Apparatus as in claim 1 characterized by said stress transfer means being a centering device and the head portion thereof having an expanding generally conical peripheral configuration.

Claim 6

Apparatus as in claim 4 characterized by said transfer means having a central through passage and means defining an extension for supporting said transfer means in a precisely positioned relation to a die shoe.

Claim 7

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 characterized by said stress transfer means being an integral structure having two distinct portions, one being cylindrically formed in its outer periphery and the other being conically formed at its outer periphery and the remote ends of said portions being parallel.

Claim 8

Retainer apparatus for a tool element comprising a retainer body including means defining a through passage for insertion in one end thereof of the head of a tool element and means for retention of the inserted element characterized by a backing means for the inserted element adapted for the precise alignment thereof with an axis of reference, said backing means being adapted for a surface contact with a die shoe to which one surface of said retainer body directly abuts, a portion of said backing means having a plug fit in said passage to have one end thereof abut and back the inserted element to orient said retainer body and the inserted element in the proper frame of reference, the fit of said backing means and the centering produced thereby of the inserted element enabling a removal and replacement of the retainer body whereby on replacement the proper frame of reference for the inserted element will be maintained.

Claim 9

Retainer apparatus for a tool element comprising a retainer body including means defining a through passage for insertion in one end thereof of the head of a tool element and means for retention of the inserted element characterized by a backing means for the inserted element adapted for the precise alignment thereof with an axis of reference, said backing means being adapted for a surface contact with a die shoe to which one surface of said retainer body directly abuts, a portion of said backing means having a plug fit in said passage to have one end thereof abut and back the inserted element to orient said retainer body and the inserted element in the proper frame of reference, the fit of said backing means and the centering produced thereby of the inserted element enabling a removal and replacement of the retainer body whereby on replacement the proper frame of reference for the inserted element will be maintained.

Claim 10

Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 characterized by said backing means having a plug form for a frictional and releasable fit in said passage in backing relation to the inserted element and having a portion adapted for flush abutment with the die shoe and adjacent said die shoe a peripheral portion which is free of contact with the retainer body.

Claim 11

A retainer unit including a passage for insertion therein of a tool element characterized by a backup device a portion of which is inserted in and generally conforms in cross section to the cross section of said passage and a remote portion of which is expanded, one end of said passage being expanded in adjacent and complementary fashion to accommodate an expanded portion of said backup device, the end of said backup device remote from its expanded end providing a surface serving As an abutment for the tool element.

Claim 12

A retainer unit including a passage for insertion therein of a tool element characterized by a backup device a portion of which is inserted in and generally conforms in cross section to the cross section of said passage and a remote portion of which is expanded, one end of said passage being expanded in adjacent and complementary fashion to accommodate an expanded portion of said backup device, the end of said backup device remote from its expanded end providing a surface serving As an abutment for the tool element.

Claim 13

A retainer unit as set forth in claim 9 characterized by said passage being formed to accommodate said backup device for insertion therein to have its outermost surface flush with a surface of the body of the retainer unit and said backup device being centrally apertured to accommodate the insertion therethrough of a single locating pin to provide a precise orientation of an inserted tool element irrespective of other holding devices applied for securing the retainer unit to a die shoe.

Claim 14

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 characterized by said backup device being a plug, said passage being conically expanded to the end thereof remote from that receiving a tool element, and the outer periphery of said plug conforming to the expansion of said passage and having at least an outermost peripheral portion thereof relatively spaced from adjacent expanded surface portions of the wall defining said passage, whereby on application of a tool element it will be insured that the substantial portion of shock and vibration force attendant the operation thereof will be transmitted through said plug while inhibiting significant transmission of the applied shock and vibration to the body of the retainer unit per se.

Claim 15

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 characterized by said plug having a cylindrical extension projected beyond the retainer unit, said cylindrical extension having a lesser cross-sectional area than the relatively expanded portion of said plug and being adapted to be inserted in a die shoe to thereby center said plug without the need for a dowel or other locating-type pins.

Claim 16

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 characterized by said retainer unit having a generally triangular configuration and being relatively thick in depth and provided with upper and lower surfaces which are parallel.

Claim 17

Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 characterized by said retainer unit having two through apertures which triangularly position in respect to said passage and provide means for insertion therethrough of the sole hold down means required for applying the retainer unit to a die shoe.

Claim 18

A retainer unit including a retainer body having plural through passages at least one of which is adapted to receive therein a tool element, and at least another passage spaced from said one through passage to receive therethrough holding means for the retainer unit on application thereof to a backing die shoe or the like, said body being distinguished by a peripheral outline of generally triangular configuration to provide that a plurality thereof may be arranged on a backing die shoe or the like in a nested closely fit relation, said retainer body including three through passages triangularly arranged, one of which positions generally concentric to one corner of the said generally triangular configuration of said body to receive therein the tool element and the other of said three through passages being located toward other respective corners of said triangular configuration, the latter passages being for receiving therethrough holding screws for fixing the retainer unit to a backing die shoe or the like, said other passages having a stepped configuration to accommodate the heads of said holding screws within said retainer body.

Claim 19

A retainer unit including a retainer body having plural through passages at least one of which is adapted to receive therein a tool element, and at least another passage spaced from said one through passage to receive therethrough holding means for the retainer unit on application thereof to a backing die shoe or the like, said body being distinguished by a peripheral outline of generally triangular configuration to provide that a plurality thereof may be arranged on a backing die shoe or the like in a nested closely fit relation, said retainer body including three through passages triangularly arranged, one of which positions generally concentric to one corner of the said generally triangular configuration of said body to receive therein the tool element and the other of said three through passages being located toward other respective corners of said triangular configuration, the latter passages being for receiving therethrough holding screws for fixing the retainer unit to a backing die shoe or the like, said other passages having a stepped configuration to accommodate the heads of said holding screws within said retainer body.

Claim 20

A retainer unit as in claim 15 characterized by said one through passage providing means for centering and locating the punch, die or like element received therein in reference to the backing die shoe or the like and said other of said passages being variably positionable in reference to the die shoe or the like for receipt therethrough of holding means.

Claim 21

A retainer unit as in claim 15 characterized by said retainer body having three through passages including one which positions generally concentric to one corner of the said generally triangular configuration of said body to receive therein the punch, die or like element and the other of said three through passages being triangularly positioned in referEnce to said one through passage for receipt therethrough of the holding screws for application of the retainer unit to a backing die shoe or the like.

Claim 22

A retainer unit as in claim 15 characterized by said one through passage generally concentric to one corner of said generally triangular configuration which receives therein the tool element providing means serving as a precise center or locating device for the retainer body on the die shoe or the like and the other of said through passages being adapted to be variably positioned in reference thereto.

Claim 23

A retainer unit including a retainer body having plural through passages at least one of which is adapted to receive therein a tool element, and at least another passage spaced from said one through passage to receive therethrough holding means for the retainer unit on application thereof to a backing die shoe or the like, said body being distinguished by a peripheral outline of generally triangular configuration to provide that a plurality thereof may be arranged on a backing die shoe or the like in a nested closely fit relation, said retainer body including three through passages one of which positions generally concentric to one corner of the said generally triangular configuration of said body to receive therein the tool element and the other of said three through passages being triangularly positioned in reference to said one through passage for receiving therethrough of the holding screws for application of the retainer unit to a backing die shoe or the like, opposed surfaces of said retainer unit at the respective ends of said concentric through passage being generally parallel and there being a plug insert in one of said surfaces to project inwardly of said concentric passage in frictional engagement with a wall portion thereof, said plug serving as a backing and force disseminating medium for an inserted tool element.

Claim 24

A retainer unit including a retainer body having plural through passages at least one of which is adapted to receive therein a tool element, and at least another passage spaced from said one through passage to receive therethrough holding means for the retainer unit on application thereof to a backing die shoe or the like, said body being distinguished by a peripheral outline of generally triangular configuration to provide that a plurality thereof may be arranged on a backing die shoe or the like in a nested closely fit relation, said retainer body including three through passages one of which positions generally concentric to one corner of the said generally triangular configuration of said body to receive therein the tool element and the other of said three through passages being triangularly positioned in reference to said one through passage for receiving therethrough of the holding screws for application of the retainer unit to a backing die shoe or the like, opposed surfaces of said retainer unit at the respective ends of said concentric through passage being generally parallel and there being a plug insert in one of said surfaces to project inwardly of said concentric passage in frictional engagement with a wall portion thereof, said plug serving as a backing and force disseminating medium for an inserted tool element.

Claim 25

A retainer unit as set forth in claim 15 characterized by the opposed surfaces of said retainer unit at the respective ends of said through passages being parallel to provide a precise frame of reference for the tool element which is applied to said retainer body, the stepped configuration of said other passages including counter bores opening through one of said opposed surfaces.

Claim 26

A retainer unit including a retainer body having approximately parallel end surfaces and convergent-divergent sides providing an apex and a base portion, a through opening in the apex portion to receive a tool element, a pair of through openings longitudinally spaced apart in the base portion to receive holding screws whereby to fix the retaining unit to a backing member, said openings defining a triangular pattern of holes extending to and through opposite end surfaces, and another hole in said body opening at one end through one of said end surfaces in said triangular pattern and inclining in said body to terminate at its other end in the said through opening in said apex portion, said other hole accommodating tool element retaining means.

Claim 27

A retainer unit including a retainer body having approximately parallel end surfaces and convergent-divergent sides providing an apex and a base portion, a through opening in the apex portion to receive a tool element, a pair of through openings longitudinally spaced apart in the base portion to receive holding screws whereby to fix the retaining unit to a backing member, said openings defining a triangular pattern of holes extending to and through opposite end surfaces, and another hole in said body opening at one end through one of said end surfaces in said triangular pattern and inclining in said body to terminate at its other end in the said through opening in said apex portion, said other hole accommodating tool element retaining means.

Claim 28

A retainer unit according to claim 21 wherein said pair of through openings in said body have counterbores opening through the other one of said end surfaces.

Claim 29

A retainer unit according to claim 21 characterized by a plug-type insert member installed in said opening in said apex portion at the said one end surface of said body, said insert member acting as a backing for the tool member and being constructed for mounting of a dowel pin therein to dispose in the axis of said apex portion opening and to project relatively to said retainer body to be received in said backing member.