Closed-Housing Forging Die Heating for Stable Hot Forging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hot forging techniques face challenges in maintaining uniform temperatures of upper and lower dies and preventing temperature drops in the forging space, leading to inefficient forging processes and die deterioration due to exposure to outside air and frequent heating fluctuations.

Innovation Solution

A forging apparatus with a housing that surrounds the upper and lower dies and heating mechanism, allowing for closed operation to maintain temperature uniformity and prevent oxidation, featuring a door to control the charging port and independent heating adjustments for the upper and lower heating portions, along with a gas supply mechanism to reduce oxygen concentration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the upper and lower outer frames and heating portions are in the open condition to allow charging of forging material, then the charging operation can be performed, but the temperature of the forging space and forging material decreases and the upper and lower dies are exposed to outside air causing oxidation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging operationVSAvoidtemperature of forging space and forging material
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion that can move independently relative to each other in the vertical direction. This segmentation allows the upper die passage port and lower die passage port to be opened separately for charging operations while maintaining temperature in the forging space, resolving the contradiction between ease of charging and temperature maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The heating portions are configured to heat specific local areas of the upper and lower dies independently. The upper heating portion heats the upper die while the lower heating portion heats the lower die, allowing localized temperature control that maintains forging space temperature even when passage ports are open for charging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If the upper and lower dies are exposed to outside air in the open condition, then charging can be performed, but the upper and lower dies easily oxidize and deteriorate, shortening replacement cycle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging operationVSAvoiddie durability and replacement cycle
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is segmented into upper and lower portions with separate passage ports that can be opened independently. This allows the charging operation to occur through the upper die passage port while the lower die passage port remains closed, protecting the lower die from oxidation and extending its service life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing creates a controlled environment that protects the upper and lower dies from direct exposure to outside air during charging operations. By opening only the necessary passage port while keeping others closed, the dies are protected from oxidation, improving reliability and extending replacement cycles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

3Temperature

If frequent heating operations are performed to increase forging space temperature when it drops, then temperature can be restored, but the temperatures of upper and lower dies fluctuate frequently causing deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature of forging spaceVSAvoiddie temperature stability
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The heating portions are configured to provide localized heating to the upper and lower dies independently. This allows precise temperature control of each die, maintaining stable temperatures even when the forging space temperature fluctuates during charging operations, thereby improving die reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The heating mechanism includes heating portions that respond to temperature conditions of the dies and forging space. By providing targeted heating to specific dies based on their individual temperature needs, the system maintains stable die temperatures and reduces frequent fluctuations that would cause deterioration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Productivity

If the housing allows movement of upper and lower dies in the facing direction, then forging operation can be performed, but the heating mechanism must also move relatively to maintain heating effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforging operation capabilityVSAvoidheating mechanism movement configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating mechanism is configured with upper and lower heating portions that can move independently in the vertical direction, matching the movement of the upper and lower dies. This dynamic configuration ensures that heating effectiveness is maintained during forging operations while allowing full productivity of the forging process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The heating mechanism is segmented into independent upper and lower heating portions that can move separately. This segmentation allows each heating portion to follow the movement of its corresponding die, maintaining effective heating during forging operations without requiring complex coupled movement mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration effectively maintains uniform die temperatures, reduces temperature fluctuations, and extends die replacement cycles by minimizing exposure to outside air and oxidation, thereby enhancing forging efficiency and product quality.

Implementation Method 1

a heating mechanism configured to be able to heat the upper and lower dies

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

the upper and lower dies, too, are exposed to the outside air in the open condition of the upper and lower outer frames, the upper and lower dies, which are typically made of metal, easily oxidize

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentEP3960327B1Forging device, and method for manufacturing forged product
Publication Date: 2024.04.03 PROTERIAL LTD
  • EP3960327B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3960327B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3960327B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A forging apparatus and a forged product manufacturing method aim to prevent decrease in the temperature of a forging space and the temperature of a forging material, efficiently maintain the uniformity of the temperatures of upper and lower dies, and improve forging efficiency. In the forging apparatus and the forged product manufacturing method according to the present invention, the upper and lower dies are heated by a heating mechanism in a housing in which a charging port of an integrally formed housing body is closed by a door, the upper and lower dies are moved relatively in a facing direction of the upper and lower dies, the heating mechanism is moved relatively in the facing direction with respect to at least one of the relatively moving upper and lower dies, and whereby the forging material is forged between the upper and lower dies. Furthermore, the forged product manufacturing method is used to manufacture a forged product from the forging material.