US3903993A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydrostatic bearing arrangement for press slide
Assignee: MINSTER MACHINE CO
•
Filing: 1973-03-26
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Granted: 1975-09-09
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Expires: 1993-03-26
Abstract
Abstract A press slide which is reciprocably guided on the uprights of a press frame as by a gib structure is held in the proper position relative to the gibs by hydrostatic bearings interposed between the opposed surfaces of the gibs and the press slide. The hydrostatic bearings may be formed in the surfaces of the gibs which face the press slide or in the surfaces of the press slide which face the gibs. The hydrostatic bearings not only provide for highly accurate guiding of the press slide as it moves in reciprocation but resist deflection of the press slide due to unbalanced load imposed thereon and likewise substantially eliminate any wear of the opposed surfaces of the gibs and slide. The areas of the gib and slide surfaces outside the range of the hydrostatic bearings have an oil film therebetween which adds to the ability of the bearings to support dynamic loads.
Inventors
- 👤 John E Vorrhees
- 👤 Robert L Schockman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:29
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C32/00; F16C32/06; B; B30; B30B; B30B15/00; B30B15/04; B30B15/041; F16C29/00; F16C29/02; F16C29/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
In a press having a press frame and a slide reciprocable in the frame; guiding surface means formed on said slide and press fraMe parallel to the direction of reciprocation of the slide in the press frame, said guiding surface means comprising closely spaced equivalent pairs of parallel planar surfaces in opposed forced balancing relation one pair to another with one surface of each pair on the press frame and the other surface of each pair on the press slide, each said pair of surfaces having at least one hydrostatic bearing area operatively interposed therebetween, adjusting means for controlling the clearance space between said opposed planar surfaces, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said hydrostatic bearing areas, and means for maintaining a fluid squeeze film between the said surfaces of each pair of surfaces outside the range of said hydrostatic bearing areas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a press having a press frame and a slide reciprocable in the frame; guiding surface means formed on said slide and press fraMe parallel to the direction of reciprocation of the slide in the press frame, said guiding surface means comprising closely spaced equivalent pairs of parallel planar surfaces in opposed forced balancing relation one pair to another with one surface of each pair on the press frame and the other surface of each pair on the press slide, each said pair of surfaces having at least one hydrostatic bearing area operatively interposed therebetween, adjusting means for controlling the clearance space between said opposed planar surfaces, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said hydrostatic bearing areas, and means for maintaining a fluid squeeze film between the said surfaces of each pair of surfaces outside the range of said hydrostatic bearing areas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A press according to claim 1 in which said means for maintaining a fluid film between each pair of opposed surfaces comprises groove means formed in at least one of said surfaces and continuously communicating with a said hydrostatic bearing area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A press according to claim 1 which includes gib members fixedly mounted on said press frame and having wear plates carried on said slide, one surface of each pair of surfaces being formed on a respective gib member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A press according to claim 3 in which the hydrostatic bearing areas are disposed in the wear plates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
81 words
A press according to claim 1 in which said slide is substantially rectangular when viewed in plan and has two angularly related surfaces formed thereon at each corner thereof, gib members fixed to said press frame and having portions extending into adjacent relation to said angularly related surfaces, each said portion having two angularly related surfaces thereon each of which forms a said pair of surfaces with one of the said angularly related surfaces on the pertaining corner of the slide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A press according to claim 5 in which all of said hydrostatic bearing areas are formed in the said surfaces of said gib members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A press according to claim 1 in which said means for supplying fluid is a substantially constant pressure source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A press according to claim 1 in which said means for supplying fluid is a substantially constant delivery source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
99 words
A press according to claim 1 in which each said pair of surfaces has at least two hydrostatic bearing areas therebetween spaced in the direction of reciprocation of the slide, the hydrostatic bearing areas pertaining to each pair of surfaces comprise a pair of endless grooves formed in one of said surfaces in spaced relation and each defining a bearing pad inside the respective groove, a port in each bearing pad, said means for supplying fluid to said hydrostatic bearing areas comprising a source of fluid under pressure, and a respective conduit connecting said source to each said port.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A press according to claim 9 in which said means for maintaining a fluid film between the surfaces of each pair of surfaces comprises groove means formed in said one surface and connected at the ends to the said grooves.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A press according to claim 10 in which said groove means follows a zig-zag path from one said groove to the other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
A press according to claim 1 wherein the fluid in said hydrostatic bearing areas compensates for the change in clearance between the press slide and guiding surface means caused by increase or decrease of temperature in said press slide and guiding surface means thereby providing positive centering of the press slide within said guiding surface means during operation of the press.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A press according to claim 1 wherein said reciprocable slide travels in a non-vertical direction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
A press according to claim 13 wherein the hydrostatic bearing areas that support a portion of the dead weight of said slide are made larger than said opposed hydrostatic bearing areas by an amount sufficient to maintain said slide centered between said guiding surfaces.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A press according to claim 1 wherein the adjusting means Includes at least one wedge member.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
123 words
The method of guiding a press slide reciprocation in a press frame which comprises forming pairs of opposed closely spaced surfaces on said slide and frame respectively parallel to each other in opposed forced balancing relation one pair to another and parallel to the direction of movement of the slide and elongated in said direction, supplying fluid through a restrictor from a source at a given pressure to each of at least one point of one of said surfaces, connecting a region which extends in a closed narrow path spaced from and surrounding said point to drain, maintaining a squeeze film of fluid between said surfaces outside the area confined inside said region, and adjusting the clearance space between said opposed planar surfaces.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
123 words
The method of guiding a press slide reciprocation in a press frame which comprises forming pairs of opposed closely spaced surfaces on said slide and frame respectively parallel to each other in opposed forced balancing relation one pair to another and parallel to the direction of movement of the slide and elongated in said direction, supplying fluid through a restrictor from a source at a given pressure to each of at least one point of one of said surfaces, connecting a region which extends in a closed narrow path spaced from and surrounding said point to drain, maintaining a squeeze film of fluid between said surfaces outside the area confined inside said region, and adjusting the clearance space between said opposed planar surfaces.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 16 in which said fluid is supplied at a predetermined rate of flow.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-08 | 1979-03-10 | 1979-09-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-08 | 1983-03-10 | 1983-09-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-08 | 1987-03-10 | 1987-09-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |