Method of and apparatus for preparing copper and brass billets for extrusion into hollow shells

Claim 2

In a method of prepiercing and scalping billets for subsequent extrusion into hollow shells, the steps which comprise compressing a billet to a predetermined size by releasably confining said billet against movement of a ram thereagainst, piercing the confined billet by means of a piercing mandrel moving in the same direction as said ram, retracting the piercing mandrel from the confined billet, thereafter releasing the confined and pierced billet and moving the released billet by movement of said ram in the same direction as said initial movement of the ram through a scalping die to remove a thin outer skin from the released billet, and then continuing movement of the billet beyond the scalping die by continued movement of the ram in said direction.

Claim 3

The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the billet is confined against a removable means comprising a gate lock, which is withdrawn from operative position prior to the scalping of the pierced billet.

Claim 4

The method, as recited in claim 2, wherein the slug or breakout produced incidental to the piercing operation is removed from the pierced billet simultaneously with the withdrawal of said gate lock.

Claim 5

The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said scalped material is severed into segments during the scalping operation.

Claim 6

In a method of prepiercing and scalping an unpierced billet for subsequent extrusion into hollow shells, the steps which comrpise pushing a billet into a container by movement of a ram in a predetermined direction, whereby to compress or upset the billet in the container, retracting the ram from the billet, piercing the billet axially by piercing means moving in the same direction as said ram movement, retracting the piercing means from the pierced billet, shearing off the slug or breakout on the end of the billet caused by the breakthrough of the piercer through the billet, and causing the pierced billet to move in the same direction as said initial movement of the ram and pass through a scalping die, to remove a skin portion of the billet.

Claim 7

In a method of prepiercing and scalping an unpierced billet for subsequent extrusion into hollow shells, the steps which comrpise pushing a billet into a container by movement of a ram in a predetermined direction, whereby to compress or upset the billet in the container, retracting the ram from the billet, piercing the billet axially by piercing means moving in the same direction as said ram movement, retracting the piercing means from the pierced billet, shearing off the slug or breakout on the end of the billet caused by the breakthrough of the piercer through the billet, and causing the pierced billet to move in the same direction as said initial movement of the ram and pass through a scalping die, to remove a skin portion of the billet.

Claim 8

The method, as recited in claim 5, including the step of cutting said skin portion into segments incidental to said scalping operation.

Claim 9

In a press of the character described, a container having a cylindrical inner wall, means independent of said container disposed at one end of said container and comprising a vertically movable gate, one wall of which provides an abutment, means for supporting a billet to be pierced and scalped, a ram for forcing said billet from said supporting means inTo said container and against said abutment, whereby to compress said billet to a predetermined external diameter, means movable independently of said ram for piercing said billet while in said container, and means disposed at that side of said gate remote from said container and comprising a scalping die having an annular cutting edge for removing a thin outer skin from said billet.

Claim 10

In a press of the character described, a container having a cylindrical inner wall, means independent of said container disposed at one end of said container and comprising a vertically movable gate, one wall of which provides an abutment, means for supporting a billet to be pierced and scalped, a ram for forcing said billet from said supporting means inTo said container and against said abutment, whereby to compress said billet to a predetermined external diameter, means movable independently of said ram for piercing said billet while in said container, and means disposed at that side of said gate remote from said container and comprising a scalping die having an annular cutting edge for removing a thin outer skin from said billet.

Claim 11

A press, as defined in claim 7, wherein said gate is provided with an opening having a circular cutter therein for shearing off the slug or breakout produced by the piercing of the billet.

Claim 12

A press, as defined in claim 8, including a series of circumferentially spaced knives mounted on said scalping die and adapted to sever said skin into segments during removal of said skin.

Claim 13

A press, as defined in claim 9, wherein said means for supporting the billet comprises angularly disposed plates, and means for adjusting said plates in a direction normal to their planes.

Claim 14

In a press of the character described, a stationary platen, a movable platen, hydraulically actuated means mounted on said stationary platen for moving said movable platen relatively to said stationary platen, a ram mounted on said movable platen, a piercing mandrel disposed within said ram, hydraulically actuated means mounted on said movable platen for moving said piercing mandrel independently of said ram, billet-supporting means disposed at that end of said ram remote from said movable platen, a container disposed at that end of said supporting means remote from said ram and adapted to receive a billet from said supporting means, a gate disposed at that end of said container remote from said supporting means and having a wall providing an abutment for the front of said container, and an opening adapted to receive the slug or breakout resulting from piercing of the billet by said mandrel, means for hydraulically moving said gate vertically upward out of the path of movement of said billet, a second stationary platen disposed at that side of said gate remote from said container and having an opening therein for passage of said billet when said gate has been elevated, said second stationary platen having means for guiding said gate during movement of the latter, and a scalping die mounted at one end of the opening in said second stationary platen for removing a thin outer skin from the billet as it passes through said opening.

Claim 15

In a press of the character described, a stationary platen, a movable platen, hydraulically actuated means mounted on said stationary platen for moving said movable platen relatively to said stationary platen, a ram mounted on said movable platen, a piercing mandrel disposed within said ram, hydraulically actuated means mounted on said movable platen for moving said piercing mandrel independently of said ram, billet-supporting means disposed at that end of said ram remote from said movable platen, a container disposed at that end of said supporting means remote from said ram and adapted to receive a billet from said supporting means, a gate disposed at that end of said container remote from said supporting means and having a wall providing an abutment for the front of said container, and an opening adapted to receive the slug or breakout resulting from piercing of the billet by said mandrel, means for hydraulically moving said gate vertically upward out of the path of movement of said billet, a second stationary platen disposed at that side of said gate remote from said container and having an opening therein for passage of said billet when said gate has been elevated, said second stationary platen having means for guiding said gate during movement of the latter, and a scalping die mounted at one end of the opening in said second stationary platen for removing a thin outer skin from the billet as it passes through said opening.

Claim 16

A press, as defined in claim 11, including hydraulically driven means for removing said slug or breakout from the opening in said gate after the gate has been elevated.

Claim 17

In a method of prepiercing and scalping billets for subsequent extrusion into hollow shells, the steps which comprise pushing a billet into a container by movement of a ram in a predetermined direction, whereby to compress or upset the billet in the container and against a movable abutment, retracting the ram from the billet, piercing the billet axially by piercing means moving in the same direction as said ram movement, retracting the piercing means from the pierced billet, removing said abutment to permit continued movement of the pierced billet out of the container, causing said ram to push said pierced billet out of said container, and by continued movement of the ram, pushing said pierced billet through a scalping die having an annular cutting edge for removing a skin portion of the pierced billet.

Claim 18

In a method of prepiercing and scalping billets for subsequent extrusion into hollow shells, the steps which comprise pushing a billet into a container by movement of a ram in a predetermined direction, whereby to compress or upset the billet in the container and against a movable abutment, retracting the ram from the billet, piercing the billet axially by piercing means moving in the same direction as said ram movement, retracting the piercing means from the pierced billet, removing said abutment to permit continued movement of the pierced billet out of the container, causing said ram to push said pierced billet out of said container, and by continued movement of the ram, pushing said pierced billet through a scalping die having an annular cutting edge for removing a skin portion of the pierced billet.