Extrusion Puller Guide Layout to Prevent Interference and Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for moving metal profiles from an extrusion press face issues such as mutual interference, increased costs, vibration transmission, and complexity due to dedicated guides and pullers, leading to higher installation and maintenance costs, as well as limited interchangeability and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A system with separate, non-overlapping guides anchored to the ground, where each guide is dedicated to either the 'pulling' or 'return' step, allowing for the use of identical pullers and enabling repositioning between guides, reducing vibration transmission and simplifying construction and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If dedicated guides are used for each puller in both pulling and return steps, then puller movement is enabled, but mutual interference between pullers occurs and gripping means must be moved to avoid interference
Solution Approach 1:
The guide system is segmented into two separate functions: dedicated guides for pulling step and shared guides for return step. This segmentation allows pullers to use different paths during pulling (avoiding interference) and enables sharing during return (reducing complexity).
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches guide usage based on operational phase: during pulling, each puller uses its dedicated guide; during return, both pullers use the shared guide. This dynamic allocation optimizes both interference avoidance and system simplicity.
2Reliability
If gripping means are moved vertically and/or transversely to avoid interference during return step, then interference is prevented, but costs increase and breakdowns and wear occur
Solution Approach 1:
The guide system is segmented into dedicated guides for pulling and shared guides for return. By separating the functions spatially, interference is prevented without requiring complex moving mechanisms for the gripping means, thus reducing costs and wear.
3Adaptability or versatility
If two guides are arranged in overlapping position with vertical moving system, then puller transfer is enabled, but construction complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of arranging guides in overlapping positions requiring vertical movement, the invention uses separate parallel guides in the horizontal plane. Pullers transfer between guides by moving horizontally along the extrusion line, eliminating the need for vertical moving systems and reducing complexity.
4Reliability
If pullers are translated along dedicated guides in both directions, then puller movement is ensured, but interchangeability between pullers is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The shared guides can be used by either puller during the return step, making the guides universal. This universality enables interchangeability between pullers while dedicated guides ensure reliable movement during pulling. Any puller can operate on either guide set depending on the operational phase.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system of pullers (200), in particular for extruding metals, said system (200) comprising at least a first puller (201) and a second puller (202), each equipped with gripping means (221, 222) adapted to engage and grip an end portion of a profile, in particular of an extruded profile (P) exiting from an extrusion press (300), said system (200) comprising a first guide (203) and a second guide (204), where said at least two, first (201) and second (202), pullers can be translated along said first (203) and second (204) guides, where said first guide (203) is dedicated to the translation of both said at least two, first (201) and second (202), pullers in a single first translation direction (T1), and where said second guide (204) is dedicated to the translation of both said at least two, first (201) and second (202), pullers in a second translation direction (T2) opposite to said first translation direction (T1). The guides are not overlapping and are both anchored to the ground on the same side with respect to an extrusion line. The invention also relates to a plant for extruding metals.