Punch assembly

Claim 2

In a punch, punch retainer or like assembly a body portion of which has a bore therein to receive retention means, a loading device for application in said bore comprising a coiled compression-type spring having leading and trailing end portions with respect to its manner of introduction into said bore, the leading end portion having a working functions to apply a spring load to a component of the punch assembly, characterized by said spring having segments thereof which are differentially formed, at least one segment having a diameter which is oversize relative to that of said bore whereby on application of the spring to said bore, said oversize segment will be contracted and the coil or coils thereof will automatically press radially outward against the wall of the bore to per se frictionally anchor the spring without need for further retention means, the trailing end portion of said spring terminating in an inwardly directed terminal portion providing means for winding said spring on itself in the process of insertion in said bore whereby to contract said oversize spring segment to facilitate insertion of the spring in said bore.

Claim 3

In a punch, punch retainer or like assembly a body portion of which has a bore therein to receive retention means or other components of the assembly, a loading device for application in said bore comprising a coiled compression-type spring having leading and trailing end portions with respect to its manner of introduction into said bore, the leading end portion having a working function to apply a spring load to a component of the punch assembly, characterized by said spring having segments thereof which are differentially formed, at least one segment having a diameter which is oversize relative to that of said bore whereby on application of the spring to said bore, said oversize segment will be contracted and the coil or coils thereof will automatically press radially outward against the wall of the bore to per se frictionally anchor the spring without need for further retention means, the spring coils at the trailing end portion thereof providing integrally formed projecting means for winding the spring on itself to contract said oversize segment and facilitate the insertion of the spring in said bore, the release of the spring when inserted in said bore producing an automatic self-locking reaction of said oversize segment.

Claim 4

In a punch, punch retainer or like assembly a body portion of which has a bore therein to receive retention means or other components of the assembly, a loading device for application in said bore comprising a coiled compression-type spring having leading and trailing end portions with respect to its manner of introduction into said bore, the leading end portion having a working function to apply a spring load to a component of the punch assembly, characterized by said spring having segments thereof which are differentially formed, at least one segment having a diameter which is oversize relative to that of said bore whereby on application of the spring to said bore, said oversize segment will be contracted and the coil or coils thereof will automatically press radially outward against the wall of the bore to per se frictionally anchor the spring without need for further retention means, the spring coils at the trailing end portion thereof providing integrally formed projecting means for winding the spring on itself to contract said oversize segment and facilitate the insertion of the spring in said bore, the release of the spring when inserted in said bore producing an automatic self-locking reaction of said oversize segment.

Claim 5

Apparatus as in claim 2 characterized by said spring segment of oversize diameter being formed of compacted tightly wound coils and the said leading end portion of said spring including coils arranged in spaced relation to enable their relatively free compression and extension in applying endwise thrust to said component of the assembly.

Claim 6

Apparatus as in claim 3 characterized by said oversize spring segment and said leading portion being at opposite ends of said spring and the working extremity of said leading portion being tightly wound to a reduced diameter, there being a further tightly wound segment intermediate said oversize spring segment and said leading portion.

Claim 7

In a punch, punch retainer or like assembly, a body portion of which has a bore therein to receive retention means or other components of the assembly, a loading device for application in said bore comprising a coiled compression-type spring having leading and trailing end portions with respect to its manner of introduction into said bore, the leading end portion having a working function to apply a spring load to a component of the punch assembly, characterized in that said spring is formed over a major part of its length with readily deflectable, relatively widely spaced coils having a diameter equal to or slightly less than the bore diameter, said trailing end portion thereof comprising a less readily deflectable portion of more closely spaced coils and being of substantial length for the achieving of a relatively long bearing in said bore, said trailing end being connected to said widely spaced coils by another like portion of approximately the same diameter as said widely spaced coils.

Claim 8

In a punch, punch retainer or like assembly, a body portion of which has a bore therein to receive retention means or other components of the assembly, a loading device for application in said bore comprising a coiled compression-type spring having leading and trailing end portions with respect to its manner of introduction into said bore, the leading end portion having a working function to apply a spring load to a component of the punch assembly, characterized in that said spring is formed over a major part of its length with readily deflectable, relatively widely spaced coils having a diameter equal to or slightly less than the bore diameter, said trailing end portion thereof comprising a less readily deflectable portion of more closely spaced coils and being of substantial length for the achieving of a relatively long bearing in said bore, said trailing end being connected to said widely spaced coils by another like portion of approximately the same diameter as said widely spaced coils.

Claim 9

In a punch or like assembly, a body having a bore, an outer planar surface on said body through which one end of said bore opens, a punch component in said bore at least a portion of which is disposed to seat to said body inwardly from said one end of said bore, a coiled compression spring introduced endwise into said bore through said one end thereof, said spring having leading and trailing end portions with respect to its manner of introduction into said bore, said spring having a designed length such that in a seated position of said punch component in said bore the leading end portion of the spring contacts said component while the trailing end extends to at least said one end of said bore, said trailing end portion of said spring being oversize in diameter relative to the leading end portion and to the bore diameter to a degree that when received in the bore it inherently expands to a frictional lock with the bore wall sufficient to maintain the spring in an assembled relation, said bore wall and oversize spring portion being formed and operatively related to provide that said spring will self-adjust on working of said punch component and react against backing plate means seating against said outer planar surface of said body in closing relation to said one end of said bore, whereby said spring, despite being compressed in assembly to less than its designed length, is in use self-adjusting to its designed length, the spring coils at said trailing end portion of said spring being formed to be susceptible of winding to reduce the diameter of the spring at said trailing end portion, facilitating insertion and removal of the spring relative to the bore, said trailing end portion including integrally formed means accessible through the open end of said bore to apply a winding torque to said spring.

Claim 10

In a punch or like assembly, a body having a bore, an outer planar surface on said body through which one end of said bore opens, a punch component in said bore at least a portion of which is disposed to seat to said body inwardly from said one end of said bore, a coiled compression spring introduced endwise into said bore through said one end thereof, said spring having leading and trailing end portions with respect to its manner of introduction into said bore, said spring having a designed length such that in a seated position of said punch component in said bore the leading end portion of the spring contacts said component while the trailing end extends to at least said one end of said bore, said trailing end portion of said spring being oversize in diameter relative to the leading end portion and to the bore diameter to a degree that when received in the bore it inherently expands to a frictional lock with the bore wall sufficient to maintain the spring in an assembled relation, said bore wall and oversize spring portion being formed and operatively related to provide that said spring will self-adjust on working of said punch component and react against backing plate means seating against said outer planar surface of said body in closing relation to said one end of said bore, whereby said spring, despite being compressed in assembly to less than its designed length, is in use self-adjusting to its designed length, the spring coils at said trailing end portion of said spring being formed to be susceptible of winding to reduce the diameter of the spring at said trailing end portion, facilitating insertion and removal of the spring relative to the bore, said trailing end portion including integrally formed means accessible through the open end of said bore to apply a winding torque to said spring.

Claim 11

A punch assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that said spring is formed over a major part of its length with readily deflectable relatively widely spaced coils having a diameter equal to or slightly less than the bore diameter, said trailing end portion thereof comprising a less readily deflectable portion of more closely spaced coils and being of substantial length for the achieving of a relatively long bearing in said bore.