Closed drop forging die

Claim 1

A closed hot drop-forging die for shaping a blank into a claw coupling member, including a first upper die member (1) having first cavity elements (9, 10) including respective first cavity bottoms (9', 10') and a second lower die member (2) having second cavity elements (5, 5'), including a second cavity bottom (6), said first and second cavity elements (5, 5') forming a closed die cavity (11) when the die members are in interface contact with each other, the volume of the die cavity in the closed condition of the die members corresponding to the volume of said blank, the die members having interface surfaces which completely contact each other in the closed condition of said die members to avoid a flash gutter at said interface surfaces, and wherein one of the die members is movable relative to the other along a central, longitudinal axis common to both die members, wherein the first upper die member (1) comprises a first facing surface (4') having a central portion and sectional portions extending radially outwardly from said central portion, said first facing surface being located symmetrically and centrally relative to said longitudinal axis and adapted to initially engage one facing surface (17) of the blank to apply the forging pressure to the blank, said first facing surface (4') being located axially and radially remote from the first cavity bottoms (9', 10') of the first cavity elements (9, 10), said first facing surface (4') having a given surface area, and wherein the second, lower die member (2) comprises a second, substantially ring shaped facing surface (8) constituting a counter support adapted to initially support a corresponding ring surface (18) of the blank opposite said one facing surface (17) of the blank, said second facing surface (8) being located axially remote from the second bottom (6) of the second cavity elements (5') of the second lower die member (2), wherein the second cavity elements include a recess (5) below said ring shaped facing surface (8) and an annular cavity element (5') above said ring shaped surface (8), and a cylindrical wall portion (19) between said surface (8) and said second cavity element (5') to center the blank and close the lower cavity when the blank rests on said surface (8), said second ring shaped facing surface (8) having a surface area substantially less than said given surface area of said first facing surface (4') which applies the forging pressure to the blank, whereby upon relative movement between the two die members (1, 2) the material of the blank is forced to first flow axially into said recess (5) below said ring shaped facing surface (8) of the second die member (2) to fill this recess (5) completely prior to being forced to flow axially in the opposite direction to then enter the cavity elements (9, 10) of the first upper die member (1) whereafter the cavity (11) of the first and second die members is completely filled, said die further comprising venting means.