Forging die heating apparatuses and methods for use

Abstract

A forging die heating or preheating apparatus comprises a burner head comprising a plurality of flame ports. The burner head is oriented to compliment an orientation of at least a region of a forging surface of a forging die and is configured to receive and combust a supply of an oxidizing gas and a supply of a fuel and produce flames at the flame ports. The plurality of flame ports are configured to impinge the flames onto the forging surface of the forging die to substantially uniformly heat at least the region of the forging surface of the forging die.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A forging die drift hard-stop system for a forging die apparatus including a top forging portion and a bottom forging portion, wherein the top forging portion is attached to a cross head, the forging die drift hard-stop system comprising:
 an arm comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the second end of the arm is pivotably attached to a portion of the forging die apparatus; and   a spacer attached to the first end of the arm;   wherein the arm is movable between a first position, where the spacer is free from engagement with a portion of the forging die apparatus and a portion of the cross head, and a second position, where the spacer is engaged with the portion of the forging die apparatus and the portion of the cross head to inhibit movement of the top forging portion toward the bottom forging portion.   
     
     
         2 . The forging die drift hard-stop system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a lever attached to the arm at a position of the arm intermediate the first end and the second end, the lever comprising
 a handle, and 
 an engagement member configured to engage a solid portion of the forging die apparatus when the arm is in the first position to maintain the spacer free from engagement with the portion of the forging die apparatus and the portion of the cross head.