Force unit for metal working

Claim 2

A force unit for applying a pulling force to a work piece through a flexible cable attached thereto, said force unit comprising: a hydraulically operated ram including a cylindrical sleeve and an extensible piston, said ram being vertically positioned to enable said piston to be extended upwardly along an essentially vertical axis; a power member operatively connected to said piston to develop said pulling force on said pulling chain by extension of said piston; a fulcrum pulley secured to said cylindrical sleeve of said ram at a selected position along said vertical axis for directing said flexible cable from said work piece to said power member; a suppoRt post having an elongate cylindrical configuration, said support post serving to elevate said ram, said fulcrum pulley being adapted to be secured at selected positions along said support post; anchor means for restraining said force unit from movement in the direction of said work piece, said anchor means being connected to a stationary body independent of said work piece; and support means for maintaining said ram in a vertical position, said support means being independent of any contact or connection with said work piece other than through said flexible cable.

Claim 3

The apparatus defined by claim 1 wherein said power member includes: a yoke having a body portion and a pair of parallel arms extending from said body portion, said body portion being adapted for attachment to said extensible piston; and a sprocket wheel rotatably mounted between said pair of parallel arms.

Claim 4

The apparatus defined by claim 2 further including means positioned on said ram for securing an end of said flexible cable to said force unit.

Claim 5

The apparatus defined by claim 1 wherein said power member includes a cylindrical element having a first end adapted for attachment to said extensible piston and a second end having a longitudinal slot for receiving an end of said flexible cable.

Claim 6

The apparatus defined by claim 1 wherein said fulcrum pulley includes: a yoke having a pair of arms; a sprocket wheel rotatably mounted between said pair of arms; bracket means for securing said yoke at a selected position along said cylindrical sleeve; and bias means for urging engagement of said flexible cable with said sprocket wheel, said bias means being secured to said yoke and extending between said pair of arms.

Claim 7

The apparatus defined by claim 5 wherein said anchor means includes a coupling device attached to said bracket means at a point diametrically opposite said pair of arms and situated along an essentially horizontal line extending tangentially to a lowermost peripheral point of said sprocket wheel.

Claim 8

The apparatus defined by claim 1 wherein said support means comprises a flat plate having a centrally located mounting means for receiving said support post and ram.

Claim 9

The apparatus defined by claim 7 wherein said flat plate further includes means for securing said support means to an immovable independent body.

Claim 10

The apparatus defined by claim 1 wherein aid support means includes an elongate member having: means for receiving said support post and ram, and means situated at one end of said elongate member for enabling an anchor member to be coupled to said support means.

Claim 11

The apparatus defined by claim 1 wherein said power member includes: a power yoke having a body portion and a pair of parallel arms extending from said body portion, said body portion being adapted for attachment to said extensible piston; and a power sprocket wheel rotatably mounted between said pair of parallel arms included on said power yoke.

Claim 12

The apparatus defined by claim 10 further including means positioned on said ram for securing an end of said flexible cable to said force unit.

Claim 13

The apparatus defined by claim 6 wherein said power member includes a cylindrical element having a first end adapted for attachment to said extensible piston and a second end having a longitudinal slot for receiving an end of said flexible cable.

Claim 14

The apparatus defined by claim 11 wherein said support means comprises a flat plate having a centrally located mounting means for receiving said support post and ram.

Claim 15

The apparatus defined by claim 13 wherein said flat plate further includes means for securing said support means to an immovable independent body.

Claim 16

The apparatus defined by claim 11 wherein said support means includes an elongate member having: means for receiving said ram, and means situated at one end of said elongate member for enabling an anchor member to be coupled to said support means.

Claim 17

A force uniT for transmitting a pulling force to a work piece via a pulling chain, the force unit comprising: a hydraulically operated ram having an extensible member and a stationary member forming two ends of the ram, extension of the extensible member operating to separate said two ends along a longitudinal axis of the ram; a power member secured to said extensible member to be moved and thereby apply a pulling force to said work piece via said pulling chain in response to extension of the extensible member; a base for supporting the ram in a substantially vertical position atop a supporting surface, said base being operatively connected to said stationary member and aligned along said longitudinal axis, said base being independent of any contact or connection with the work piece other than via the pulling chain; a cylindrical support post for elevating said ram by being interposed between, and connected, to said base and said stationary member of said ram; a fulcrum pulley secured to said stationary member of said ram for directing the pulling chain from the work piece to the power member; and anchor means for anchoring said force unit to said supporting surface to substantially restrain movement of said force unit towards said work piece.

Claim 18

A force uniT for transmitting a pulling force to a work piece via a pulling chain, the force unit comprising: a hydraulically operated ram having an extensible member and a stationary member forming two ends of the ram, extension of the extensible member operating to separate said two ends along a longitudinal axis of the ram; a power member secured to said extensible member to be moved and thereby apply a pulling force to said work piece via said pulling chain in response to extension of the extensible member; a base for supporting the ram in a substantially vertical position atop a supporting surface, said base being operatively connected to said stationary member and aligned along said longitudinal axis, said base being independent of any contact or connection with the work piece other than via the pulling chain; a cylindrical support post for elevating said ram by being interposed between, and connected, to said base and said stationary member of said ram; a fulcrum pulley secured to said stationary member of said ram for directing the pulling chain from the work piece to the power member; and anchor means for anchoring said force unit to said supporting surface to substantially restrain movement of said force unit towards said work piece.

Claim 19

The force unit defined by claim 16, said fulcrum pulley including: a sprocket wheel; and yoke means for securing said sprocket wheel to said force unit along said longitudinal axis, said yoke means including a pair of arms between which said sprocket wheel is rotatably mounted, the pulling chain engaging said sprocket wheel to direct said chain from the work piece to the power member.

Claim 20

The force unit defined by claim 17, said fulcrum pulley further including means for urging engagement of said chain with said sprocket wheel.

Claim 21

The force unit defined by claim 17, said anchor means including a coupling device attached to said yoke means at a point along said longitudinal axis and opposite said pair of arms, said anchor means adapted to receive an anchor chain for connection to said supporting surface.

Claim 22

The force unit defined by claim 16 further including means positioned on said force unit along said longitudinal axis for securing an end of said pulling chain, said power member including: a power yoke having a body portion and a pair of upstanding parallel arms extending therefrom, said body portion being adapted for attachment to said extensible member of said ram; and a power sprocket wheel rotatably mounted between said pair of upstanding arms for receiving said power chain.

Claim 23

A force unit for applying a pulling force to a work piece through a flexible cable attached thereto, said force unit comprising: a hydraulically operated ram including a cylindrical sleeve and an extensible piston, said piston being adapted to be housed by said sleeve and extended therefrom along a longitudinal axis mutual to said sleeve and said piston; a power pulley operatively connected to an end of said piston to be moved by extension of said piston from said sleeve; a fulcrum pulley secured to an exterior surface of said sleeve for receiving and directing said flexible cable from said work piece towards said power pulley, said extension of said piston and movement of said power pulley causing said flexible cable to exert a pulling force on a work piece attached to said flexible cable; cable securing means secured to the exterior surface of said sleeve for securing an end of said flexible cable to the force unit such that resultant force on the power pulley resulting from said pulling force is directed along the longitudinal axis of the ram; anchor means for restraining said force unit from movement in the direction of said work piece, said anchor means being a flexible member operatively connected between said sleeve and a stationary body that is independent of said work piece; and support means for supporting said ram in an upright position, said suppoRt means being independent of any contact or connection with said work piece other than through said flexible cable.

Claim 24

A force unit for applying a pulling force to a work piece through a flexible cable attached thereto, said force unit comprising: a hydraulically operated ram including a cylindrical sleeve and an extensible piston, said piston being adapted to be housed by said sleeve and extended therefrom along a longitudinal axis mutual to said sleeve and said piston; a power pulley operatively connected to an end of said piston to be moved by extension of said piston from said sleeve; a fulcrum pulley secured to an exterior surface of said sleeve for receiving and directing said flexible cable from said work piece towards said power pulley, said extension of said piston and movement of said power pulley causing said flexible cable to exert a pulling force on a work piece attached to said flexible cable; cable securing means secured to the exterior surface of said sleeve for securing an end of said flexible cable to the force unit such that resultant force on the power pulley resulting from said pulling force is directed along the longitudinal axis of the ram; anchor means for restraining said force unit from movement in the direction of said work piece, said anchor means being a flexible member operatively connected between said sleeve and a stationary body that is independent of said work piece; and support means for supporting said ram in an upright position, said suppoRt means being independent of any contact or connection with said work piece other than through said flexible cable.

Claim 25

The force unit defined by claim 21, said power pulley being aligned along said longitudinal axis of said ram to receive said flexible cable, said power pulley including: a yoke having a body portion and a pair of parallel arms extending in a direction away from said end of said piston and parallel to said longitudinal axis of said ram, said body portion attached to said end of said piston; and a sprocket wheel rotatably mounted between said pair of parallel arms, said sprocket wheel engaging said flexible cable to produce said pulling force by the extension of said piston.