Radial Press Jaws with Segmented Sliding Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional radial presses face challenges in maintaining dimensional accuracy and reproducibility due to potential shape changes and tipping of pressing jaws under eccentric loads, which affect the precision of workpieces.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of free spaces between load-bearing areas in the sliding and counter-surface arrangements distributes the load and prevents shape changes, ensuring that the pressing jaws do not tip, even under eccentric loads, by providing recesses on the pressing jaws, sliding plates, or structural elements, which allows for equal wear distribution and easy replacement of mating surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the pressing jaws are supported on continuous load-bearing sliding surfaces, then the structural strength is improved, but the pressing jaws become prone to shape changes and tipping under eccentric loads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoiddimensional accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous load-bearing sliding surface is segmented into two or more separate load-bearing areas by introducing free spaces. This segmentation prevents the pressing jaws from experiencing uniform stress distribution, thereby avoiding shape changes and tipping while maintaining adequate structural strength through the distributed load-bearing areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Force

If the pressing jaws are supported on continuous load-bearing sliding surfaces, then the load-bearing capacity is improved, but the pressing jaws tip under eccentric loads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload-bearing capacityVSAvoidstability of pressing jaw
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The sliding surface is divided into multiple discrete load-bearing areas separated by free spaces. This segmentation creates a stable support configuration that resists tipping moments caused by eccentric loads, as the separated support points provide better rotational stability compared to a continuous surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If the pressing jaws operate for long periods on sliding surfaces, then productivity is improved, but the sliding surfaces become crowned due to shape changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational durationVSAvoidshape of sliding surface
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the sliding surface into separate load-bearing areas with free spaces between them, the patent prevents the cumulative shape changes (crowning) that occur during prolonged operation. The free spaces allow for thermal expansion and stress relief, maintaining the flatness and precision of the sliding surfaces over extended operational periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2691192B1Radial press
Publication Date: 2015.04.08 UNIFLEX HYDRAULIC
  • EP2691192B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2691192B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2691192B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a radial press having a base structure and having a press tool accommodated therein, wherein the base structure has two structural elements which can be moved relative to one another by means of a drive unit and the press tool comprises a plurality of press jaws (15) arranged around a press axis, which press jaws are supported slidingly via in each case two slide surface arrangements (16, 20) on corresponding counterpart surface arrangements (23, 31) assigned to the structural elements, the load-absorbing support of the press jaws (15) on the respective structural element takes place, at least in the region of in each case one of the interacting slide and counterpart surface arrangements (16, 31; 20, 23), in two regions which are spaced apart from one another and between which there is situated a free space, without load-absorbing function, which extends in the sliding direction of the respective press jaw relative to the associated structural element, wherein the identical sliding plane exists in both load-absorbing regions of the respective interacting slide and counterpart surface arrangements.