WO1997047914A1

WO1997047914A1 - Machine frame

Info

Publication number: WO1997047914A1
Application number: PCT/SE1997/001026
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lars Persson
Original assignee: Lars Persson I Skane Ab
Priority date: 1996-06-14
Filing date: 1997-06-12
Publication date: 1997-12-18
Also published as: SE9602349L; AU3200697A; SE509340C2; SE9602349D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a machine frame (2), e.g. hydraulic presses, and more specifically to frames of the type exhibiting vertical, parallel plates held together by connecting devices. According to the invention, the plates have through holes (3) and the fastening means comprise threaded rods, placed in said holes and holding said plates at definite distances from each other. Preferably, the threaded rods are fastened by means of nuts on both sides of the plates (2). The vertical plates may exhibit through recesses (7) for machinery, e.g. a hydraulic press. The invention teaches an arrangement enabling plates and connecting devices of standard types to be used, and eliminates the need for special spacer means between the plates to maintain a definite spacing between them.

Description

INVENTION DENOMINATION: MACHINE FRAME

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a frame for machines, e.g. hydraulic presses, and more specifically to frames ofthe type exhibiting vertical, parallel plates held together by connecting devices. The invention teaches an arrangement enabling plates and connecting devices of standard types to be used, and eliminates the need for special spacer means between the plates to maintain a definite spacing between them.

State ofthe art

It is, as such, previously known to utilise parallel, vertical plates in frames for various machines. The plates are held at suitable distances from each other with the aid of spacer means, or are placed against each other. The plates are held together by welds or by bolts and nuts. With this type of arrangement follows the problem of providing bolts of appropriate length and spacer means of appropriate thickness for each model ofthe frame. This entails disadvantages from a manufacturing aspect, as the different spacer means and bolts have to be manufactured and kept in stock.

The present invention solves the above problem by providing through holes in the vertical, parallel plates. Rods are provided through the holes, thereby holding the plates with the appropriate spacing, without the need for any dedicated spacer means. The distance between the plates can then be arbitrarily selected and the through rods may only have to be cut into shorter lengths if needed.

Summary ofthe invention

The present invention thus provides a machine frame, comprising vertical plates secured to each other by fastening means.

According to the invention, the plates have through holes, and the fastening means comprise threaded rods, placed in said holes and holding said plates at de¬ finite distances from each other by means of nuts, located on both sides ofthe plates. The vertical plates may have through recesses for machinery, e.g. a hydraulic press.

The present invention is defined in detail by the accompanying claims.

Brief description ofthe drawings

The invention will be described in detail below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which

Fig. 1 is a vertical front view of an embodiment of the frame according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the line II-II of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 is a cross-section along the line III-III of Fig. 1 ; and Fig. 4 is a horizontal top view ofthe frame.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

The present invention will be described below, with reference to its use in connection with a hydraulic press, but it will be appreciated that the invention may be used also for other types of machinery.

Hydraulic presses are used for the manufacture of numerous products and are of course needed in many different sizes. It would be advantageous if the various sizes could be constructed from components having a standardised shape, enabling the size to be varied by using a different number of components and by varying the distance between them.

With reference to the drawings, a frame 1 is shown, which is suitable for a hydraulic press. The actual machinery equipment for the hydraulic press, i.e. pressure cylinders, pressing dies, etc. are of conventional design and not shown in the drawings, for increased clarity in illustrating the idea of the invention. The frame 1 mainly comprises vertical and parallel plates 2. In the embodiment shown, the number of plates is five. The plates 2 have been provided with a number of through holes 3. Running through these holes 3 are threaded rods 4, of which only one rod 4 is shown in Fig. 2. The number of vertical plates 2 and threaded rods 4 may of course be varied as necessary.

The plates 2 are held at correct distances from each other by means of nuts 1 1 , which are placed on both sides of each plate 2, and which are tightened to fix the plates in position. The distance between the plates can be easily adjusted by loosening the nuts and screwing them in one direction or the other to displace the plate located between them. In this manner, the distance between the plates 2 may be set completely arbitrarily.

A frame 1 according to the present invention can be constructed solely from these vertical plates and threaded rods. The latter will hold the plates at a definite distance from each other, without requiring any spacer means between the plates. The distance between the plates may be varied arbitrarily.

In order to further stabilise the frame, and to fasten items of machinery, a horizontal top plate 5 may be attached to the upper side of the frame. The plate 5 is shown in a horizontal top view in Fig. 4. The top plate 5 may conveniently be fastened by screws 6, as shown in the drawings.

The frame may also be equipped with a bottom plate (not shown), which may be similar to the top plate 5 and fastened in a corresponding manner.

If the frame 1 according to the invention comprises only two vertical plates, the machinery may be arranged between them in a suitable manner. If more than two plates are included, it is however convenient for the vertical plates 2 to have through recesses 7 for housing the machinery. If the machinery consists of a hydraulic press, the frame preferably also includes an upper press table 8 and a lower press table 9 for fastening the hydraulic press (not shown). The press tables 8 and 9 are thereby provided with entrance holes for the hydraulic and other connectors of the hydraulic press. The press tables are fastened to the different plates with their respective screws 10.

The frame according to the invention is transported in a disassembled condition in order to require as little space as possible. The frame is subsequently assembled on location by raising the vertical plates, fixing them with suitable spacing and then fastening the threaded rods. Thereupon, if applicable, the top plate, the bottom plate and the press tables are mounted. Finally, the actual machinery is fitted and connected.

The present invention thus provides a machine frame with major advantages compared to the prior art. The frame is manufactured from a number of stan¬ dardised components, i.e. vertical plates, threaded rods and, if necessary, top and bottom plates, which may be easily assembled in various ways for different applications. This will lower the manufacturing cost, as a smaller number of different parts has to be manufactured. Separate spacer means, for maintaining the distance between the plates, do not have to be manufactured at all. The frame according to the invention is also easy to transport in its disassembled state, which reduces the spatial needs. The machine frame is easy to assemble on location.

The invention has been described in detail with reference to a hydraulic press, but may also be used for other machinery. As has been mentioned above, and as is evident to the person skilled in the art, numerous modifications and variations may be applied without departing from the scope ofthe invention, as defined in the fol¬ lowing claims.

Claims

1. Machine frame (1), comprising vertical plates secured to each other by fastening means, characterized in that the plates (2) have through holes (3), and that the fastening means comprise threaded rods (4), placed in said holes (3) and holding said plates (2) at definite distances from each other by means of nuts (11), located on both sides ofthe plates (2).

2. Machine frame according to claim 1, characterised in that a horizontal top plate (5) is attached to the top sides ofthe vertical plates (2).

3. Machine frame according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a horizon¬ tal bottom plate is attached to the bottom sides ofthe vertical plates.

4. Machine frame according to any one ofthe preceding claims, character¬ ised in that the vertical plates (2) have through recesses (7) for housing machinery.

5. Machine frame according to claim 4, characterised in that upper and lower press tables (8, 9) are attached to the upper and lower sides, respectively, of the recesses (7).

6. Machine frame according to any one ofthe preceding claims, character¬ ised in that connectors to the machinery are arranged in entrance holes in the press tables.

7. Machine frame according to any one ofthe preceding claims, character¬ ised in that the machinery is a hydraulic press.