Oct. 8, 1968 A. M.

MURPHY EAL 3,404,552

EILLET PIERCING AND EXTRUST ON
Filed May 17, 1965

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134 ALFREDMMURPY
INVENTOR
CAR. M. FLAK

BY
3%v, (24-wee 7%.
ATTORNEYs
 United States Patent Office
1.
3,404,552
BLLET PERCING AND EXTRUSION
Alfred M. Murphy, and Carl M. Filak, Chester, Va., as
signors to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va.,
a corporation of Delaware
Filed May 17, 1965, Ser. No. 456,107
9 Claims. (Cl. 72-266)
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An extrusion press extrudes metal tubing by a "two
stroke' cycle. In the first forward stroke a ram without
a mandrel crushes and upsets the billet. The ram is with
drawn and, with a piercing mandrel affixed, pierces and
extrudes the upset billet in a second forward stroke. To
provide centering, the front of the mandrel base is
tapered to mate with an internal cavity in the ram.
This invention relates to piercing metal billets and
extruding them into metal tubing.
It is known in the prior art that in providing annular
billets for the extrusion of metal tubing, the annular bil
let may be cast directly, or a solid billet may be bored or
pierced prior to being located within the extrusion press.
It is also known in the prior art that in the extrusion
of metal tubing the billet may be located within the con
tainer, and pierced immediately prior to being extruded.
Performing this piercing with the extrusion press is not
only economical, but also prevents the inner surface of
the billet from accumulating foreign material during
storage and becoming exposed to air and thereby oxidized,
increasing mandrel wear and possibly leading to defects
in the tubing.
Conventionally the pircing is performed on a piercing
extrusion press wherein a piercing mandrel is independ
ly movable with respect to the ram. After the main ram
crushes the billet, it is stopped and the piercing mandrel
is driven through the billet and into the die orifice. Then
the ram is advanced to extrude the metal over the sta
tionary mandrel and through the die orifice.
Although such conventional piercing presses are rela
tively efficient, they are also quite complicated and ex
pensive. Accordingly the present invention is directed
to adapting conventional "non-piercing' extrusion presses
for piercing billets and immediately thereafter extruding
them into metal tubing. This is achieved by affixing a
piercer to the ram and providing means to keep it cen
tered during piercing and extrusion.
For a better understanding of the invention, and of its
other details, objects, and advantages, reference is now
made to the accompanying drawings which show, for pur
poses of illustration only, present preferred embodiments
of the invention.
In the drawings, FIGURES 1 and 3-5 are semi-dia
grammatic sectional elevation views showing a sequence
of operations in accordance with the invention, while
FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus
used in carrying out the invention.
Referring now to the drawings, the extrusion press
comprises ram 10 having a detachable head portion 12
with centering land 13, container 14 having at its front
end a tapered sealing surrface 16, and die means 18, which
may include a die holder. Die means 18 has an extru
sion orifice 20 and rear tapered sealing surface 22 adapted
to mate with surface 16 of container 14 so as to form a
metal-tight seal and to center container 14 with respect
to die means 18. Attached to the front end of ram 10 is
relatively short centering projection 24 having an en
larged base which includes a tapered portion 26 and a
larger, cylindrical portion 28. Centering projection 24
3,404,552
Patented Oct. 8, 1968
2
fits into the top of ram 10 with cylindrical lug portion
28 mating with slot 30 in ram 10 and tapered portion 26
mating with corresponding passageway surfaces 32 in ram
10. Used with ram 10 is guide dummy block 34 having at
5 one end a passage 35 which is enlarged and tapered for
mating with the base of centering projection 24.
Initially guide dummy block 34 and metal billet 36
are loaded into container 14, container 14 being abutted
against die means 18 either before or after such loading,
10 thereby forming a metal-tight seal between surfaces 16
and 22; see FIGURE 1. Ram 10 then advances so that
centering projection 24 mates with guide dummy block
passage 35, centering guide dummy block 34, and billet
36 is crushed and upset against the face of die means
18 and the inner wall of container 14; see FIGURE 3.
Ram 10 is then retracted from the rear of container 14,
and centering projection 24 replaced by piercing mandrel
38 having an enlarged, tapered base which is identical to
that of centering projection 24 and fits into ram 10 in
20 the same manner. Guide dummy block 34 remains ad
hered to billet 36 and thereby centered; see FIGURE 4.
Ram 10 is then advanced back into container 14 so that
piercing mandrel 38 pierces billet 36. During piercing,
passage 35 in guide dummy block 34 keeps piercing
25 mandrel 38 accurately centered. When the front face of
ram 10 reaches guide dummy block 34, the tip of piercing
mandrel 38 is disposed within orifice 20 of die means 18
and extruding of the tube 40 begins. During extruding,
30
the pressure of the metal flowing through die orifice 20
and around piercing mandrel 38 serves further to center
piercing mandrel 38; see FIGURE 5.
The slot arrangement whereby centering projection 24
and piercing mandrel 38 fit into ram 10 not only facili
tates rapid interchange of centering projection 24 and
piercing mandrel 38, but also provides piercing mandrel
38 with a slight amount of play with respect to ram 10.
This play enables piercing mandrel 38 to "float,' and
thereby accurately to respond during piercing and ex
40
truding to the several centering influences mentioned
above.
While present preferred embodiments of the invention
have been illustrated and described, it will be understood
that the invention may be otherwise variously embodied
45
and practiced within the scope of the claims set forth
below. It will be understood further that certain of the
steps recited in these claims may be performed in any
convenient order.
What is claimed is:
50 1. A method of extruding a solid metal billet to form
metal tubing by means of apparatus including a die
means having therein an extrusion orifice, a container
disposed rearwardly of and aligned with said die means,
a ram aligned with said die means and said container
55 and mounted for movement into said container, a center
ing projection having an enlarged tapered base and adapted
to be affixed to the front end of said ram with said en
larged tapered base thereof abutting said ram, a piercing
mandrel likewise having an enlarged tapered base and
60
likewise adapted to be affixed to the front end of said ram
with said enlarged tapered base thereof abutting said
ram, and a guide dummy block having therein an axial
passage which has a tapered portion at one end for
mating with said enlarged tapered base of either said
65
centering projection or said piercing mandrel when either
said centering projection or said piercing mandrel is in
serted therethrough, said method comprising the steps of:
(A) abutting said container against said die means so
as to form therewith a metal-tight seal;
70
(B) affixing said centering projection to said front end
of said ram with said enlarged tapered base thereof
abutting said ram;
(C) disposing said billet in said container;
 3,404,552.
3 4
(D) disposing said guide dummy block in Said con
tainer rearwardly of said billet;
(E) advancing said ram into the rear of said container,
so that said centering projection extends through
said passage in said guide dummy block and said
enlarged tapered base of said centering projection
mates with said enlarged tapered portion of said
passage in said guide dummy block, thereby center
ing said guide dummy block with respect to said
ram, said container, and said orifice in said die
means;
(F) continuing to advance said ram until said billet is
completely crushed and upset against said die means
and said container;
(G) retracting said ram from the rear of said con
tainer, said guide dummy block remaining adhered
to said billet and thereby centered with respect to
said ram, said container, and said orifice in said die
means;
(H) removing said centering projection from said
front end of said ram;
(I) affixing said piercing mandrel to said front end
of said ram with said enlarged tapered base thereof
abutting said ram;
(J) advancing said ram into the rear of said container,
so that said piercing mandrel, extending through and
being centered by said passage in said guide dummy
block, pierces a cylindrical cavity along the axis of
said upset billet; and
(K) continuing to advance said ram, thereby ex
truding said billet through said orifice in said die to
form said extruded tubing, said enlarged tapered
base of said piercing mandrel mating with said en
larged tapered portion of Said passage in said guide
dummy block, and the metal forming said tubing
flowing uniformly around said piercing mandrel
through said orifice in said die means, thereby main
taining said piercing mandrel in alignment with said
ram, said container, and said orifice in said die
caS
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said pierc
ing mandrel is affixed to said ram in such a manner as
to be slightly movable with respect thereto and thereby
is easily centered during said piercing and said extruding.
3. In an extrusion press for extruding a solid metal
billet to form metal tubing, the combination comprising:
(A) a die means having an extrusion orifice;
(B) a container disposed rearwardly of and aligned
with said die means;
(C) a piercing mandrel having, from front to rear,
(1) a piercing nose,
(2) a relatively long, cylindrical male extruding
surface, and
(3) an enlarged base including
(a) a tapered portion and
(b) a lug portion disposed rearwardly of
said tapered portion; and
(D) a ram aligned with said container and mounted
for movement into and through said container, said
ram having at its front end
(1) a slot
(a) extending radially through said ram,
(b) spaced from the front surface of said
ram, and
(c) having a width slightly greater than the
width of said lug portion of said enlarged
base of said piercing mandrel, and
(2) a passageway communicating at its rear end
with said slot and at its front end with said front
surface; w 70
(E) so that when said piercing mandrel is affixed to
said ram with said lug portion of said piercing man
drel disposed within said slot in said ram with said
piercing nose, said male extruding surface, and at
Jeast a part of said tapered portion of said enlarged
base of said piercing mandrei protruding forwardly
of said front surface of said ram, said piercing man
drel is responsive to centering influences acting upon
its said piercing nose, its said cylindrical male ex
truding surface, and its said protruding tapered por
tion of its said enlarged base.
4. In an extrusion press for extruding a solid metal
billet to form metal tubing, the combination according
to claim 3 comprising further a guide dummy block hav
O ing therein an axial passage which has a tapered portion
at one end, said axial passage being dimensioned so as
to fit closely with said piercing mandrel when said pierc
ing mandrel is inserted therethrough with said protrud
ing tapered portion of said enlarged base of said piercing
mandrel closely mating with said tapered portion of said
axial passage.
5. A method of extruding a solid metal billet to form
metal tubing by means of apparatus including a die means
having therein an extrusion orifice, a container disposed
rearwardly of and aligned with said die means, a ram
aligned with said die means and said container and mount
ed for movement into said container, a centering projection
adapted to be affixed to the front end of said ram, a
piercing mandrel likewise adapted to be affixed to the
front end of Said ram, and a guide dummy block having
therein an axial passage for receiving either said center
ing projection or said piercing mandrel, said method
comprising the steps of:
(A) abutting said container against said die means
30 SO as to form therewith a metal-tight seal;
(B) affixing Said centering projection to said front end
of said ram;
(C) disposing said billet in said container;
(D) disposing said guide dummy block in said con
tainer rearwardly of said billet;
(E) advancng said ram into the rear of said container,
So that said centering projection extends through said
passage in Said guide dummy block, thereby centering
Said guide dummy block with respect to said ram,
Said container, and said orifice in said die means;
(F) continuing to advance said ram until said billet
is completely crushed and upset against said die
means and said container;
(G) retracting said ram from the rear of said con
45 tainer, said guide dummy block remaining adhered
to said billet and thereby centered with respect to
Said ram, said container, and said orifice in said die
Imeans;
(H) removing said centering projection from said front
end of said ram;
(I) affixing Said piercing mandrel to said front end
of said ram;
(J) advancing said ram into the rear of said container,
So that Said piercing mandrel, extending through and
being centered by said passage in said guide dummy
block, pierces a cylindrical cavity along the axis of
said upset billet; and
(K) continuing to advance said ram, thereby extrud
ing said billet through said orifice in said die to form
60 Said extruded tubing, said piercing mandrel mating
with Said passage in said guide dummy block, and
the metal forming said tubing flowing uniformly
around Said piercing mandrel through said orifice
in said die means, thereby maintaining said piercing
65 mandrel in alignment with same ram, said container,
and said orifice in said die means.
6. The method according to claim 5 wherein said pierc
ing mandrel is affixed to said ram in such a manner as to
be slightly movable with respect thereto and thereby is
easily centered during Said piercing and said extruding.
7. In an extrusion press for extruding a metal billet
to form metal tubing, the combination comprising:
(A) a mandrel having, from front to rear,
(1) a relatively long, cylindrical male extruding
75 Surface, and
 3,404,552
5 6
(2) an enlarged base having a tapered portion
whose cross-section increases with distance from
said male extruding surface; and
(B) a ram having at its front end a cavity
(1) extending radially through said ram, and
(2) defined at least partly by a tapered internal
surface adapted to mate with said tapered por
tion of said enlarged base of said mandrel.
8. A "two-stroke' method of extruding a solid metal
billet to form metal tubing by means of apparatus in
cluding a die means having therein an extrusion orifice,
a container disposed rearwardly of and aligned with said
die means, a ram aligned with said die means and said
container and mounted for movement into said container,
and a piercing mandrel adapted to be affixed to the front
end of said ram, said method comprising the steps of:
(A) preparing for extruding by providing that said
container is abutted against said die means so as to
form a metal-tight seal and that said billet is dis
posed in said container;
(B) advancing said ram, without a mandrel attached
to it, into the rear of said container until said billet
is crushed and upset against said die means and said
container;
(C) retracting said ram from the rear of said con
tainer;
(D) affixing a piercing mandrel to the front end of said
ram;
(E) advancing said ran into the rear of said container,
so that said piercing mandrel pierces a cylindrical
cavity through said upset billet; and
(F) continuing to advance said ram, thereby extruding
said billet through said orifice in said die to form
said tubing.
9. A "two-stroke' method of extruding a solid metal
billet to form metal tubing by means of apparatus in
cluding a die means having therein an extrusion orifice,
a container disposed rearwardly of and aligned with said
die means, a ram aligned with said die means and said
container and mounted for movement into said container,
a piercing mandrel adapted to be affixed to the front end
of said ram, and a dummy block having therein an axial
passage, said method comprising the steps of:
5 (A) preparing for extruding by providing that said
container is abutted against said die means so as
to form a metal-tight seal, that said billet is dis
posed in said container, and that said dummy block
is disposed in said container behind said billet;
O (B) advancing said ram, without a mandrel attached
to it, into the rear of said container until said billet
is crushed and upset against said die means and said
container;
(C) retracting said ram from the rear of said con
5 tainer said dummy block remaining adhered to said
billet;
(D) affixing a piercing mandrel to the front end of
said ram;
(E) advancing said ram into the rear of said con
20 tainer, so that said piercing mandrel passes through
said axial passage in said dummy block and pierces
a cylindrical cavity through said upset billet; and
(F) continuing to advance said ram, thereby extrud
ing said billet through said orifice in said die to form
said tubing.
References Cited
UNITED STATES PATENTS
976,529 1 1/1910 Westerman.
30 2,337,804 12/1943 Dempsey.
3,054,177 9/1962 Duhamel.
1,859,990 5/1932 Scheenstedt ------- 72-264
2,713,418 7/1955 Kent ---------------- 72-273
35 FOREIGN PATENTS
258,083 9/1926 Great Britain.
CHARLESW. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.
K. C. DECKER, Assistant Examiner.