Apparatus for the manufacture of powder metal helical gears

Claim 2

A powder pressing apparatus comprising: at least one tool member adapted for reciprocating motion, the tool member including peripherally disposed helically configured path cam track means and coacting cam follower means associated with the cam track means for imparting controlled rotary motion to the tool member during its reciprocation, cam follower support means positioning the cam follower means in engagement with the cam track means, vertically movable ram means for reciprocating the tool members, a powder receiving die member positioned to receive an end of the tool member, punch means disposed at the end of the tool member for insertion into the die when the tool member reciprocates, the punch means and die including mating lands and grooves which are so shaped relative to the configuration of the cam track means such that when the tool member reciprocates and controllably rotates the punch means into and out of the die member the rotation imparted to the punch means, by the cam track means and cam follower means alone, twists it into and out of the die member in mating fashion.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 including: a rotary pressure plate connected to the tool member and oppositely disposed thereon with respect to the punch means, a fixed pressure plate overlaying the rotary pressure plate and adapted for contact with the ram of a press for transmitting pressure therefrom to the rotary pressure plate and the tool body, a clamping means positioning the rotary plate against the fixed plate but rotatable with respect thereto, and a bearing assembly positioned between the rotary plate and fixed plate whereby the rotary plate may rotate freely with respect to the fixed plate.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 including: a pair of oppositely disposed upper and lower tool members, the punch means comprises upper and lower punches fixed to the inner end of the upper and lower tool members respectively and disposed toward each other, and wherein the cam follower support means includes oppositely disposed upper supports for receiving the upper tool member therebetween and oppositely disposed lower supports for receiving the lower tool member therebetween, the supports being positioned on the upper and lower sides of a die table carrying the die member, the cam follower means comprises a pair of spaced inwardly projecting bodies carried by the supports in a position of engagement with the cam track means of the tool members, aNd the cam track means on each of the tool members comprises spaced grooves for accommodating the projecting bodies and imparting rotary movement to the tool members when they are moved toward and away from each other.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 including: upper and lower rotary pressure plates connected to the upper and lower ends of the upper and lower tool members respectively, upper and lower fixed pressure plates overlaying the upper and lower rotary pressures plates respectively, each being adapted for contact with the upper and lower rams of a press respectively, clamping means positioning the rotary pressure plates against the fixed pressure plates, and upper and lower bearing assemblies carried between the upper and lower pressure plates respectively to facilitate rotation of the rotary pressure plates with respect to the fixed pressure plates.

Claim 6

Apparatus for pressing helical gears or the like from powder comprising: a die table a die having a powder receiving bore extending between opposite major surfaces thereof, the bore walls having a grooved female pattern, means for holding the die to the table, upper and lower tool members, each member having a pair of equally spaced helical cam track grooves peripherally positioned thereon, the grooves extending over at least a portion of the length thereof, support members positioning the tool members on opposite upper and lower sides of the die for axial reciprocating movement into the die bore from opposite directions, vertically movable ram means for reciprocating the tool members, an upper punch fastened to the lower end of the upper tool member, a lower punch fastened to the upper end of the lower tool member, each of said punches having a male pattern complementary to that of the female die pattern, a pair of oppositely disposed cam followers carried by each of the upper and lower support members, said followers extending inwardly of the support members into the cam track grooves whereby upon axial reciprocating movement of the tool members axial rotation is also provided to them and to the punches, the cam track grooves being so shaped relative to the patterns of the punches and die such that the rotary motion imparted to the punches, by the cam track grooves and cam followers alone, twists them into and out of the die in mating fashion.

Claim 7

Apparatus for pressing helical gears or the like from powder comprising: a die table a die having a powder receiving bore extending between opposite major surfaces thereof, the bore walls having a grooved female pattern, means for holding the die to the table, upper and lower tool members, each member having a pair of equally spaced helical cam track grooves peripherally positioned thereon, the grooves extending over at least a portion of the length thereof, support members positioning the tool members on opposite upper and lower sides of the die for axial reciprocating movement into the die bore from opposite directions, vertically movable ram means for reciprocating the tool members, an upper punch fastened to the lower end of the upper tool member, a lower punch fastened to the upper end of the lower tool member, each of said punches having a male pattern complementary to that of the female die pattern, a pair of oppositely disposed cam followers carried by each of the upper and lower support members, said followers extending inwardly of the support members into the cam track grooves whereby upon axial reciprocating movement of the tool members axial rotation is also provided to them and to the punches, the cam track grooves being so shaped relative to the patterns of the punches and die such that the rotary motion imparted to the punches, by the cam track grooves and cam followers alone, twists them into and out of the die in mating fashion.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5 including: upper and lower rotary pressure plates connected to the upper and lower ends of the upper and lower tool members respectively, upper and lower fixed pressure plates overlaying the upper and lower rotary pressure plates respectively, each being adapted for contact with the upper and lower rams of a press respectively, clamping means positioning the rotary pressure plates against the fixed pressure plates, and upper and lower bearing assemblies carried between the upper and lower pressure plates to facilitate rotation of the rotary pressure plates with respect to the fixed pressure plates.