Pilot assembly

Abstract

A pilot assembly has an integral stripper and is coupled to a die member from the non-working side of the die member. The pilot tip precisely locates the stock strip in the metal forming die. The reciprocating ejector pins surrounding the pilot strip the stock from the pilot. The pilot assembly fits into an opening in the die member and can be secured by a single fastener that is received in the bottom of the pilot body of the pilot assembly.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 . A modular pilot assembly for metal forming dies having a stock strip between at least two mutually converging and diverging die members, comprising:
 a pilot configured for operable support on an associated die member, having an outer end portion oriented toward the stock strip, an oppositely disposed inner end portion oriented away from the stock strip, and a medial portion disposed between said outer and inner ends;
 wherein said medial portion having an outer end oriented toward the stock strip, an inner end oriented away from the stock strip, and at least one ejector pin aperture extending through said medial portion from said inner end to said outer end; 
 wherein said outer end portion extends from said outer end of said medial portion, said outer end portion including a tapered surface; 
 wherein said inner end portion having an outer end oriented toward the stock strip that extends to said medial portion and an inner end oriented away from the stock strip, including a retaining ring groove on an exterior surface of said inner end portion and a fastener aperture extending into said pilot from the inner end of said inner end portion; 
   a spring member received over said inner end portion of said pilot, having an outer end oriented toward the stock strip and an inner end oriented away from the stock strip;   at least one ejector pin slidingly received in said at least one ejector pin aperture in said medial portion;   a spring retainer having an outer end oriented toward the stock strip and an inner end oriented away from the stock strip, a pilot aperture with an internal shoulder, and an external shoulder; and   a retainer ring positioned on said retainer ring groove that contacts said internal shoulder on said spring retainer;   wherein said outer end of said spring member contacts a surface of said at least one ejector pin;   wherein said inner end of said spring member contacts said external shoulder of said spring retainer; and   a fastener that is received in said fastener aperture of said pilot to couple said pilot to a die member.   
     
     
         2 . The modular pilot assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said fastener aperture extends into said medial portion of said pilot. 
     
     
         3 . The modular pilot assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said pilot is a single piece. 
     
     
         4 . The modular pilot assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said medial portion has a first diameter and said inner end portion has a second diameter that is smaller than said first diameter. 
     
     
         5 . The modular pilot assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said outer end portion includes an outer end oriented toward the stock strip and an inner end oriented away from the stock strip, said outer end including a pilot point and said inner end having a third diameter that is smaller than said first diameter. 
     
     
         6 . The modular pilot assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said inner end of said outer end portion includes a section that is approximately the same diameter as a pilot hole in said stock strip. 
     
     
         7 . The modular pilot assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one ejector pin aperture is two or more ejector pin apertures, spaced radially equidistant from each other on said medial section. 
     
     
         8 . A pilot assembly for metal forming dies, comprising:
 a pilot configured for operable support on an associated die member, having an outer end portion, an oppositely disposed inner end portion, and a medial portion disposed between said outer and inner ends;
 wherein said medial portion having an outer end, an inner end, and at least one ejector pin aperture extending through said medial portion from said inner end to said outer end; 
 wherein said outer end portion extends from said outer end of said medial portion, said outer end portion including a tapered surface; 
 wherein said inner end portion has an outer end that extends to said medial portion and an oppositely disposed inner end portion, said inner end portion including a retaining ring groove on an exterior surface of said inner end portion and a fastener aperture extending into said pilot from the inner end of said inner end portion; 
   a spring member received over said inner end portion of said pilot, having an outer end oriented toward the stock strip and an inner end oriented away from the stock strip;   at least one ejector pin slidingly received in said at least one ejector pin aperture in said medial portion, said at least one exterior pin including a shoulder;   a spring retainer having an outer end oriented toward the stock strip and an inner end oriented away from the stock strip, a pilot aperture with an internal shoulder, and an external shoulder; and   a retainer ring positioned on said retainer ring groove that contacts said internal shoulder on said spring retainer;   wherein said outer end of said spring member contacts a surface of said at least one ejector pin;   wherein said inner end of said spring member contacts said external shoulder of said spring retainer; and   wherein said shoulder on said at least one ejector pin contacts said inner end portion when said spring member is in an uncompressed position.   
     
     
         9 . The pilot assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said fastener aperture extends into said medial portion of said pilot. 
     
     
         10 . The pilot assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said pilot is a single piece. 
     
     
         11 . The pilot assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said medial portion has a first diameter and said inner end portion has a second diameter that is smaller than said first diameter. 
     
     
         12 . The pilot assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said outer end portion includes an outer end and an inner end, said outer end including a pilot point and said inner end having a third diameter that is smaller than said first diameter. 
     
     
         13 . The pilot assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one ejector pin aperture is two or more ejector pin apertures, spaced radially equidistant from each other on said medial section. 
     
     
         14 . A progressive metal forming die having a stock strip between at least two mutually converging and diverging die members, the improvement of a pilot assembly with self-contained stripper for locating the stock strip in the metal forming die, comprising:
 a pilot configured for operable support on an associated die member, having an outer end portion oriented toward the stock strip, an oppositely disposed inner end portion oriented away from the stock strip, and a medial portion disposed between said outer and inner ends;
 wherein said medial portion having an outer end oriented toward the stock strip, an inner end oriented away from the stock strip, and at least one ejector pin aperture extending through said medial portion from said inner end to said outer end; 
 wherein said outer end portion extends from said outer end of said medial portion, said outer end portion including a tapered surface; 
 wherein said inner end portion having an outer end oriented toward the stock strip that extends to said medial portion and an inner end oriented away from the stock strip, including a retaining ring groove on an exterior surface of said inner end portion and a fastener aperture extending into said pilot from the inner end of said inner end portion; 
   a spring member received over said inner end portion of said pilot, having an outer end oriented toward the stock strip and an inner end oriented away from the stock strip;   at least one ejector pin slidingly received in said at least one ejector pin aperture in said medial portion;   a spring retainer having an outer end oriented toward the stock strip and an inner end oriented away from the stock strip, a pilot aperture with an internal shoulder, and an external shoulder;   a retainer ring positioned on said retainer ring groove that contacts said internal shoulder on said spring retainer;   a pilot aperture formed in a die member, said aperture including a first shoulder that contacts said medial portion of the pilot, a second shoulder that contacts said spring retainer, and a fastener opening;   wherein said outer end of said spring member contacts a surface of said at least one ejector pin;   wherein said inner end of said spring member contacts said external shoulder of said spring retainer; and   a fastener that is received in said fastener aperture of said pilot to couple said pilot to a die member.   
     
     
         15 . The progressive metal forming die of  claim 14 , wherein said fastener aperture extends into said medial portion of said pilot. 
     
     
         16 . The progressive metal forming die of  claim 14 , wherein said pilot is a single piece. 
     
     
         17 . The progressive metal forming die of  claim 14 , wherein said medial portion has a first diameter and said inner end portion has a second diameter that is smaller than said first diameter. 
     
     
         18 . The progressive metal forming die of  claim 14 , wherein said outer end portion includes an outer end oriented toward the stock strip and an inner end oriented away from the stock strip, said outer end including a pilot point and said inner end having a third diameter that is smaller than said first diameter. 
     
     
         19 . The progressive metal forming die of  claim 18 , wherein said inner end of said outer end portion includes a section that is the same diameter as a pilot hole in said stock strip. 
     
     
         20 . The progressive metal forming die of  claim 14 , wherein said at least one ejector pin aperture is two or more ejector pin apertures, spaced equidistant from each other on said medial section.