APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING STEERING RACK BARS

摘要

A forging die for forming a steering rack portion having teeth and two longitudinally extending guide faces from a blank. The die comprising first (18) and second (19) die members and four forming elements (52, 53, 54, 55) to converge on the blank. The first forming element (52) being on the second die member (19) for forming the teeth, the second (53) and third (54) forming elements being on the first die member (18) for forming the guide faces. The fourth forming element (55) slidable relative to the first die member (18) for forming a surface of the portion and connected to a first bias means (83, 84) allowing movement of the fourth forming element (55) during forging. The die having opposed first and second grippers holding the blank during forging, the first gripper (23) connected to a second bias means (25, 36) and slidable relative to said first die member (18) and the second gripper (24) connected to a third bias means (26, 28) and slidable relative to said second die member (19), with the first bias means mechanically separated from the second bias means.