Bush widening apparatus and process for forging a bush blank

Abstract

The invention relates to a bush widening apparatus and a process by means of which it is possible to partially, in sections, forge at relatively low investment costs large and heavy bush blanks by means of a motor-driven, e. g. hydraulic, forming tool, and during which process both the diameter and the height of these banks increase in size.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . Bush widening device wherein a large perforated bush blank having a weight of many hundreds of tons, e. g. approximately 200 to 600 tons, having a diameter of 3,000 to 10,000 millimeters, having a height of one to nine meters can be drawn over a forging mandrel which has extending through it a channel, and wherein the channel has a suitable cooling agent, preferably cooling water, flowing through it, which can be fed continually into the channel from above or below and that is drained, for example, below to a collection reservoir or drain, and wherein the cooling agent supply is, for example, incorporated as part of the entire facility, and wherein the forged bush blank can be further processed, for example, into rings, lengths of pipe or pipes, and wherein the bush blank can be placed upon support rollers and partially forged at small angles at circumference by at least one laterally disposed, intermittently motor-driven forming tool, and wherein, after each forging stroke, the bush blank can be radially moved away from the forging mandrel and rotated by a small angle around the longitudinal axis of the forging mandrel in a cycle-wise fashion while being supported on the forging mandrel and after which time it can be worked again by the respective forming tool, and wherein the support rollers can be in part motor-driven in a time cycle-wise manner, and wherein the forging mandrel can be locked in its operating position by a counter-support which absorbs the forging forces entirely or in part, and wherein at least one laser device is disposed that permanently measure the outer diameter of the bush blank and move the work piece via centering and support rollers in the correct operating position relative to the forging mandrel and the respective forming tool, and wherein the forging process occurs very rapidly by forging strokes of between 30 to 60 strokes per minute, until the respective laser device gives the signal “diameter achieved” and the forging process is brought to a halt, and wherein in order to achieve the exactly desired bush shape laser measurements are taken at different locations and any necessary corrections can be made by skipping several forging steps. 
     
     
         32 . Bush widening apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , characterized in that several forming tools are disposed around the circumference of the bush blank that partially forge the bush blank, synchronously in a cycle-wise manner or alternating in a cycle-wise manner, at its outer jacket area. 
     
     
         33 . Bush widening apparatus as claimed in  claim 32 , characterized in that the forming tools are configured as spherical, convex or textured on their side that is directed toward the bush blank. 
     
     
         34 . Bush widening apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , characterized in that one or several forming tools can be brought to a standstill in order to skip several forging strokes during the forging process or in that by utilizing different positions of the forming tool or a corresponding texturing of the forming tool it is possible to compensate for diameter variations on the bush blank. 
     
     
         35 . Bush widening apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , characterized in that a descaling device is envisioned that removes scale from the outer circumference and/or the inside of the bush blank, and wherein the descaling device comprises one or several high-pressure nozzles that direct their jets against the outer side and/or the inner side of the bush blank, and characterized in that the compressed water supply can be controlled or adjusted correspondingly by the temperature and/or the volume of the bush blank. 
     
     
         36 . Bush widening apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , characterized in that the motor-driven actuation devices of the centering rollers as well as the motor-driven actuation devices for the support rollers, but also the descaling device and the motor-driven actuation devices of the one or multiple forming tools are incorporated in a subsequent control system and wherein the drive devices are CNC-controlled. 
     
     
         37 . Bush widening apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , characterized in that the respective forming tool is configured in such a way that a maximum lengthening of the bush blank can be achieved. 
     
     
         38 . Bush widening apparatus as claimed in  claim 37 , characterized in that the respective forming tool is driven by two or more actuating devices. 
     
     
         39 . Bush widening apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , characterized in that the bush blank is made of steel. 
     
     
         40 . Bush widening apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , characterized in that the bush blank has a height of three to six meters. 
     
     
         41 . Bush widening apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , characterized in that the forging process occurs by forging strokes between 40 to 60 strokes per minute. 
     
     
         42 . Process for forming a heat-forged, perforated bush bank comprised of a steel alloy or a similar material weighing many hundreds of tons having a diameter of 3,000 to 10,000 mm a height of one to nine meters, having a channel extending through it for the purpose of the forging mandrel onto which the bush blank is drawn, and wherein the bush blank is partially forged in angular sections at its circumference area by one or several forming tools, which are disposed in an offset manner over its circumference and/or height, by rotation of the bush blank and/or the forging mandrel and/or the counter-support, and wherein during the forging process the bush blank is supported on the forging mandrel, and wherein the forging occurs very rapidly at forging strokes of 30 to 60 strokes per minute, and wherein at least one laser device are envisioned that permanently measure the outside diameter of the bush blank and that move the work piece in the correct operating position relative to the forging mandrel via centering and support rollers, and wherein the forging process is brought to a halt when the respective laser device gives the signal “diameter achieved,” after which time the forging process is discontinued. 
     
     
         43 . Process as claimed in  claim 42 , characterized in that the forging mandrel is rotated by the same amount as the bush blank. 
     
     
         44 . Process as claimed in  claim 42 , characterized in that the bush blank is being forged, simultaneously or intermittently, by one or several forming tools that are disposed over its circumference and/or its height. 
     
     
         45 . Process as claimed in  claim 42 , characterized in that the bush blank has a height of three to six meters. 
     
     
         46 . Process as claimed in  claim 42 , characterized in that the forging occurs at forging strokes at 40 to 60 strokes per minute.