IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0116377
(2002-04-04)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Boyle, Fredrickson, Newholm, Stein & Gratz, S.C.
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
4 인용 특허 :
6 |
초록
▼
A mobile carriage system includes a pair of spaced, parallel end rails fixed to a support surface, often with one or more intermediate rails fixed to the support surface and located parallel to and between the pair of end rails. At least one carriage is supported for movement on the end and intermed
A mobile carriage system includes a pair of spaced, parallel end rails fixed to a support surface, often with one or more intermediate rails fixed to the support surface and located parallel to and between the pair of end rails. At least one carriage is supported for movement on the end and intermediate rails. The carriage includes an elongated frame that spans all of the rails. At least two drive units, each including a pair of wheels and supporting the carriage on a different one of the rails are provided. The drive units are operatively connected to a drive shaft which extends across a plurality of the rails. The drive shaft and each of the drive units are coupled by a drive gear on the shaft which has a first effective diameter and a driven gear on the drive unit, which has a second effective diameter substantially greater than the first effective diameter. Thus, the drive units minimize torsion twisting of the drive shaft during use. A source of rotational power such as an electric motor is operatively connected to the drive shaft.
대표청구항
▼
A mobile carriage system includes a pair of spaced, parallel end rails fixed to a support surface, often with one or more intermediate rails fixed to the support surface and located parallel to and between the pair of end rails. At least one carriage is supported for movement on the end and intermed
A mobile carriage system includes a pair of spaced, parallel end rails fixed to a support surface, often with one or more intermediate rails fixed to the support surface and located parallel to and between the pair of end rails. At least one carriage is supported for movement on the end and intermediate rails. The carriage includes an elongated frame that spans all of the rails. At least two drive units, each including a pair of wheels and supporting the carriage on a different one of the rails are provided. The drive units are operatively connected to a drive shaft which extends across a plurality of the rails. The drive shaft and each of the drive units are coupled by a drive gear on the shaft which has a first effective diameter and a driven gear on the drive unit, which has a second effective diameter substantially greater than the first effective diameter. Thus, the drive units minimize torsion twisting of the drive shaft during use. A source of rotational power such as an electric motor is operatively connected to the drive shaft. lly outwardly on said radial forming surface until the outer end part of the second end portion of the workpiece becomes spaced generally axially from the radial forming surface substantially at the outer diameter of the mandrel; continuing to rotate the mandrel and the workpiece and moving a second forming tool against the outer end part of the second end portion of the workpiece, and using said second forming tool to curl the outer end part radially inwardly and move it substantially against an adjoining radial part of the second end portion of the workpiece that is in contact with the radial forming surface on the mandrel; and removing the formed workpiece from the mandrel to serve as a connector ring having a radial flange at a first end and a cylindrical flange at a second end, wherein said radial flange has an outer marginal portion with a rounded outer edge. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the second forming tool to press the outer end part of the second end portion of the workpiece flat against the adjoining radial part of the second end portion of the workpiece. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a first forming tool that includes a roller having a center axis; mounting the first forming tool for free rotation of the roller about its center axis; providing the roller with a convex face; placing the roller inside the second end portion of the workpiece, with its convex face directed towards the second end portion of the workpiece; and moving the roller along a radial path that is within a plane that includes the spin axis of the mandrel and the center axis of the roller, whereby as it moves the roller progressively stretches the second end portion of the workpiece and progressively forces it against the generally radial forming surface on the mandrel. 4. The method of claim 3, comprising providing a support arm for the first forming tool; pivotally connecting a lower end of the support arm to a support, for pivotal movement about a pivot axis that extends perpendicular to the center axis of the roller; mounting the roller onto the support arm at a location spaced from said pivot axis; and swinging the support arm about the pivot axis to place the roller inside of the second end portion of the workpiece and in position to contact the second end portion of the workpiece and stretch it and force it against the radial forming surface of the mandrel as the roller is being moved along said radial path. 5. The method of claim 1, comprising mounting the mandrel for rotation about a spin axis that extends substantially vertically, placing the generally radial forming surface in a plane that extends substantially horizontally. 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising providing a first forming tool that includes a roller that has a substantially horizontal center axis; mounting the roller for free rotation about its center axis; providing the roller with a convex face; placing the roller inside the second end portion of the workpiece, with its convex face directed towards the second end portion of the workpiece; and moving the roller along a path that extends radially of the mandrel and workpiece, progressively stretching the second end portion of the workpiece and progressively forcing it against the generally radial forming surface on the mandrel, as said roller moves along said workpiece. 7. The method of claim 6, comprising providing a support arm for the roller; pivotally connecting a lower end of the support arm to a support frame, for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal pivot axis that extends perpendicular to the center axis of the roller; mounting the roller on the support arm at a location spaced from and above said pivot axis; and swinging the support arm about the pivot axis to place the roller inside the second end portion of the workpiece and in position to contact the second end portion of the workpiece and stretch it and force it against the radial formi ng surface of the mandrel as the roller is moved radially along the workpiece. 8. The method of claim 7, comprising moving the support for the support arm for moving the support arm and the roller relative to the second end portion of the workpiece. 9. The method of claim 1, comprising mounting the first forming roller for movement towards and away from the generally radial forming surface on the mandrel; and spring biasing the roller towards the radial forming surface. 10. The method claim 1, comprising providing a second forming tool that includes a roller that has a center axis and a cam surface surrounding the center axis; and moving the second forming tool so as to contact the outer part of the second end portion of the workpiece, and move it radially inwardly and axially towards an adjoining radial part of the second end portion of the workpiece that is in contact with the radial forming surface on the mandrel. 11. The method of claim 10, comprising mounting the roller of the second forming tool on a movable support, for rotation about the center axis of said roller, and moving the support towards the mandrel and workpiece to move the cam surface of the roller against the outer end part of the second end portion of the workpiece. 12. The method claim 11, comprising providing a support in the form of a swing arm; mounting one end of the swing arm for rotation about a swing axis; mounting the roller on an opposite end of the swing arm for rotation about an axis that is parallel to the swing axis; and swinging the swing arm towards the mandrel and workpiece to move a cam surface of the roller against the outer end part of the second end portion of the workpiece. 13. In a method of spin forming a cylindrical sheet metal workpiece, to form a sheet metal connector ring for sheet metal ducting, by using a mandrel that has an open center, a generally radial forming surface surrounding the open center, and an outer diameter, wherein a first end portion of the workpiece is positioned in the open center of the mandrel, and is secured to the mandrel, and a second end portion of the workpiece projects axially outwardly from the center opening in the mandrel and has an outer end part, and wherein the mandrel and the workpiece are spun together about a common spin axis and the second end portion of the workpiece is progressively stretched in diameter and moved radially outwardly along the generally radial forming surface of the mandrel by a forming roller, the improvement comprising: mounting the mandrel for rotation about a substantially vertical spin axis with its generally radial forming surface in a substantially horizontal plane; mounting the forming roller for rotation about an axis that is in a common radial plane with the spin axis of the mandrel; providing the roller with a convex face and a periphery; placing the roller inside the second end portion of the workpiece, with its convex face directed radially outwardly towards the second end portion of the workpiece and its periphery directed downwardly; spring biasing the roller downwardly when it is inside the second end portion of the workpiece, to place its periphery initially below the level of the radial forming surface; spinning the mandrel and the workpiece around the spin axis of the mandrel; moving the roller radially outwardly of the mandrel and its convex face against the second end portion of the workpiece, so as to radially stretch the second end portion of the workpiece as the roller moves radially outwardly; positioning the periphery of the roller where it will press the second end portion of the workpiece against the generally radial forming surface as it moves radially outwardly, whereby as the roller moves radially outwardly its contact with the second end portion of the workpiece will move the roller upwardly against the spring bias, allowing the second end portion of the workpiece to move radially outwardly along the radial forming surface, between
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.