阅读说明：本技术 一种铝合金锻造顶出机构 (Aluminum alloy forging ejection mechanism ) 是由 罗定洪 于 2021-08-01 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明公开了一种铝合金锻造顶出机构,包括顶出装置,所述顶出装置的中心位置处限位连接有支撑连接装置,所述顶出装置包括第一顶出结构、第二顶出结构和传动结构,所述第一顶出结构设在顶出装置的内端一侧,所述第一顶出结构的侧端与传动结构相啮合连接,所述传动结构的底端侧部与第二顶出结构相啮合连接,所述第一顶出结构包括传导杆、限制套架、位移推导杆、套环架、传输导杆、连接导杆、偏心盘、连接齿盘和安放支座,所述安放支座设在第一顶出结构的内端一侧位置,所述安放支座的中心位置贯穿连接有传输导杆,所述传输导杆靠近安放支座的一端设有连接齿盘。本发明为铝合金锻造顶出机构,通过顶出装置的设置,实现内端顶出的目的。(The invention discloses an aluminum alloy forging ejection mechanism, which comprises an ejection device, wherein a support connecting device is connected at the central position of the ejection device in a limiting way, the ejection device comprises a first ejection structure, a second ejection structure and a transmission structure, the first ejection structure is arranged on one side of the inner end of the ejection device, the side end of the first ejection structure is meshed with the transmission structure, the side part of the bottom end of the transmission structure is meshed with the second ejection structure, the first ejection structure comprises a conduction rod, a limiting sleeve frame, a displacement push guide rod, a sleeve ring frame, a transmission guide rod, a connecting guide rod, an eccentric disc, a connecting fluted disc and a placing support, the placing support is arranged at one side of the inner end of the first ejection structure, a transmission guide rod penetrates through the center of the placing support, and a connecting fluted disc is arranged at one end, close to the placing support, of the transmission guide rod. The invention relates to an aluminum alloy forging ejection mechanism, which realizes the purpose of ejecting the inner end through the arrangement of an ejection device.)

1. The utility model provides an aluminum alloy forges ejection mechanism, includes ejecting device (1), its characterized in that: the central position of the ejection device (1) is in limited connection with a supporting and connecting device (2);

the ejection device (1) comprises a first ejection structure (3), a second ejection structure (4) and a transmission structure (5), the first ejection structure (3) is arranged on one side of the inner end of the ejection device (1), the side end of the first ejection structure (3) is meshed with the transmission structure (5), and the side part of the bottom end of the transmission structure (5) is meshed with the second ejection structure (4);

the first ejection structure (3) comprises a conducting rod (6), a limiting sleeve frame (7), a displacement push guide rod (8), a sleeve ring frame (9), a transmission guide rod (10), a connection guide rod (11), an eccentric disc (12), a connection fluted disc (13) and a placing support (14), wherein the placing support (14) is arranged at one side of the inner end of the first ejection structure (3), the central position of the placing support (14) is connected with the transmission guide rod (10) in a penetrating manner, one end, close to the placing support (14), of the transmission guide rod (10) is provided with the connection fluted disc (13), the central position of the transmission guide rod (10) is sleeved with the connection guide rod (11), the upper end position of the connection guide rod (11) is sleeved with the eccentric disc (12), the side end position of the transmission guide rod (10) is sleeved with the sleeve ring frame (9) in a limiting manner, and the top end position of the sleeve ring frame (9) is arranged in a sliding connection with the displacement push guide rod (8), the center of the displacement push guide rod (8) is sleeved with a limiting sleeve frame (7), a conducting rod (6) is inserted at the lower end of the limiting sleeve frame (7), and the conducting rod (6) penetrates through the upper surface of the eccentric disc (12);

the transmission structure (5) comprises a first driving fluted disc (15), a first driving wheel (16), a belt (17), a second driving wheel (18), a second driving fluted disc (19), a limiting upright rod (20) and a rotary connecting frame (21), the limiting upright rod (20) is arranged at the inner end side part of the transmission structure (5), the side end position of the limiting upright rod (20) is communicated with the rotary connecting frame (21), the top of the rotary connecting frame (21) is fixedly connected with the first driving wheel (16), the bottom end position of the rotary connecting frame (21) is fixedly connected with the first driving fluted disc (15), the lower end of the first driving wheel (16) is rotationally connected with a belt (17), the bottom end position of the belt (17) is rotationally connected with a second driving wheel (18), the bottom end position of the second driving wheel (18) is fixedly connected with a second driving fluted disc (19);

the supporting and connecting device (2) comprises a chassis frame (22), a limiting installation disc (23), a first push guide sheet (24), a second push guide sheet (25), a central column frame (26), a stable connecting frame (27) and a central insertion rod (28), the chassis frame (22) is arranged at the bottom position of the inner end of the support connecting device (2), the front end of the chassis frame (22) is sleeved and connected with a central inserted link (28), the upper end of the central inserted rod (28) is sleeved with the limiting mounting disc (23), the front part of the central inserted bar (28) is fixedly connected with the central column frame (26), the upper end of the central column frame (26) is fixedly connected with the first push-guide sheet (24), the front end position of the first push-guide sheet (24) is fixedly connected with a stable connecting frame (27), the front end position of the stable connecting frame (27) is fixedly connected with the second push-guide sheet (25).

2. The aluminum alloy forging ejection mechanism of claim 1, wherein: the first push guide sheet (24), the first driving fluted disc (15) and the belt (17) can be arranged on the central column frame (26) in a sliding connection mode.

3. The aluminum alloy forging ejection mechanism of claim 1, wherein: the transmission structure (5) is hinged and fixed with the outside through a limiting vertical rod (20).

4. The aluminum alloy forging ejection mechanism of claim 1, wherein: the first driving fluted disc (15) is arranged in a half-tooth structure, and a tooth groove formed in the first driving fluted disc (15) is in adaptive connection with the connecting fluted disc (13).

5. The aluminum alloy forging ejection mechanism of claim 1, wherein: and a smooth layer is arranged on the first driving fluted disc (15), and the smooth layer is in sliding connection with the connecting fluted disc (13).

6. The aluminum alloy forging ejection mechanism of claim 1, wherein: the upper end of first drive fluted disc (15) is equipped with the promotion block, it is equipped with the poker rod to connect fluted disc (13) front position, it drives the poker rod and rotates to connect the setting to promote the block.

7. The aluminum alloy forging ejection mechanism of claim 1, wherein: the eccentric disc (12) can eccentrically swing on the upper end of the connecting guide rod (11), and the limiting sleeve frame (7) and the displacement push guide rod (8) are driven by the conducting rod (6) to slide on the sleeve frame (9).

8. The aluminum alloy forging ejection mechanism of claim 1, wherein: the first driving fluted disc (15) and the second driving fluted disc (19) rotate synchronously through the first driving wheel (16), the belt (17) and the second driving wheel (18).

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of metal forging equipment, in particular to an aluminum alloy forging ejection mechanism.

Background

According to chinese patent No. CN201420696962.0, the utility model relates to an aluminum alloy wheel hub forges lower ejection mechanism of hydraulic press, including being connected to the lower knockout cylinder on the terminal surface under the bottom end rail, be provided with the screw thread of being connected with the ejector pin on the piston head of lower knockout cylinder, the ejector pin is thick reducing structure down, and reducing department is excessive for the inclined plane, and the diameter of its thick footpath is the same with the diameter of piston head, and in its thin footpath one end got into the big backing plate that is connected to on the bottom end rail, big backing plate up end was provided with little backing plate. The lower ejection cylinder is installed from the lower plane of the lower cross beam, the opening area of the upper panel of the lower cross beam can be reduced, the lower cross beam is enabled to have better pressure resistance, other parts such as a base plate and the like do not need to be removed when the lower ejection cylinder is maintained in the installation mode, the ejector rod of the maintenance reducing structure convenient for future not only enables the ejector rod to be slightly better, but also enables aluminum scrap dust not to fall to the edge of the plunger of the lower ejection cylinder through the inclined plane of the reducing part of the ejector rod to scratch the plunger of the lower ejection cylinder.

Ejecting work when forging aluminum alloy can help carrying out aluminum alloy, provides portable way for the ejection of compact of aluminum alloy, solves traditional aluminum alloy and forges ejection mechanism's inconvenience, can conveniently carry out inner connection setting simultaneously for the device can match the setting with production mechanism, has reached the purpose of high-efficient production, conveniently carries out holistic maintenance processing work, improves holistic production productivity, but present aluminum alloy forges ejection mechanism and has following problem:

the phenomenon that the inner end is ejected synchronously is not convenient to carry out, three-dimensional regulation and control cannot be conveniently carried out, certain inconvenience can be caused, the phenomenon that the inner end is inconvenient to carry out intermittent adaptation ejection is also avoided, inconvenience is matched with production equipment, and improvement is needed.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to provide an aluminum alloy forging ejection mechanism to solve the problems in the background technology.

In order to achieve the purpose, the invention provides the following technical scheme: an aluminum alloy forging ejection mechanism comprises an ejection device, wherein a support connecting device is connected to the center of the ejection device in a limiting manner;

the ejection device comprises a first ejection structure, a second ejection structure and a transmission structure, the first ejection structure is arranged on one side of the inner end of the ejection device, the side end of the first ejection structure is meshed with the transmission structure, and the side part of the bottom end of the transmission structure is meshed with the second ejection structure;

the first ejection structure comprises a conduction rod, a limiting sleeve frame, a displacement push guide rod, a sleeve ring frame, a transmission guide rod, a connecting guide rod, an eccentric disc, a connecting fluted disc and a placing support, the placing support is arranged at one side of the inner end of the first ejection structure, a transmission guide rod is connected at the center of the placing support in a penetrating way, one end of the transmission guide rod, which is close to the placing support, is provided with a connecting fluted disc, the central position of the transmission guide rod is sleeved with a connecting guide rod, the upper end of the connecting guide rod is sleeved with an eccentric disc, the side end of the transmission guide rod is in limit sleeve joint with the lantern ring frame, the top end of the lantern ring frame is connected with a displacement push guide rod in a sliding way, the center of the displacement push guide rod is sleeved with the limiting lantern ring frame, a conducting rod is inserted at the lower end of the limiting sleeve frame and penetrates through the upper surface of the eccentric disc;

the transmission structure comprises a first driving fluted disc, a first driving wheel, a belt, a second driving wheel, a second driving fluted disc, a limiting vertical rod and a rotating connecting frame, the limiting vertical rod is arranged at the position of the side part of the inner end of the transmission structure, the side end position of the limiting vertical rod is communicated with the rotating connecting frame, the top of the rotating connecting frame is fixedly connected with the first driving wheel, the bottom end position of the rotating connecting frame is fixedly connected with the first driving fluted disc, the lower end of the first driving wheel is rotatably connected with the belt, the bottom end position of the belt is rotatably connected with the second driving wheel, and the bottom end position of the second driving wheel is fixedly connected with the second driving fluted disc;

the supporting and connecting device comprises a chassis frame, a limiting installation disc, a first pushing guide sheet, a second pushing guide sheet, a central column frame, a stable connecting frame and a central inserting rod, wherein the chassis frame is arranged at the bottom position of the inner end of the supporting and connecting device, the front end of the chassis frame is sleeved with the central inserting rod and is connected with the central inserting rod, the upper end of the central inserting rod is sleeved with the limiting installation disc and is connected with the limiting installation disc, the front end of the central inserting rod is fixedly connected with the central column frame, the upper end of the central column frame is fixedly connected with a first derivation sheet, the front end of the first pushing guide sheet is fixedly connected with the stable connecting frame, and the front end of the stable connecting frame is fixedly connected with a second derivation sheet.

Preferably, the first push-guide plate, the first driving fluted disc and the belt can be arranged on the central column frame in a sliding connection mode.

Preferably, the transmission structure is hinged and fixedly arranged with the outside through a limiting vertical rod.

Preferably, the first driving fluted disc is arranged in a half-tooth structure, and a tooth groove formed in the first driving fluted disc is in adaptive connection with the connecting fluted disc.

Preferably, a smooth layer is arranged on the first driving fluted disc and is in sliding connection with the connecting fluted disc.

Preferably, the upper end of first drive fluted disc is equipped with the promotion block, it is equipped with the poker rod to connect the fluted disc front end position, it drives the poker rod and rotates to connect the setting to promote the block.

Preferably, the eccentric disc can eccentrically swing at the upper end of the connecting guide rod, and the limiting sleeve frame and the displacement pushing guide rod are driven by the conducting rod to slide on the sleeve frame.

Preferably, the first driving fluted disc and the second driving fluted disc synchronously rotate through the first driving wheel, the belt and the second driving wheel.

Compared with the prior art, the invention has the beneficial effects that:

one, through installation ejecting device, ejecting device's inner is by first ejecting structure, ejecting structure and the transmission structure of second is constituteed, first ejecting structure and the ejecting structure of second adopt the symmetry to set up, and all be connected with the transmission structure, realize the function of drive through the transmission structure, thereby drive the work of the ejecting structure of first ejecting structure and second, and the ejecting structure mutual connection of first ejecting structure and second, it is ejecting to realize the interior end synchronous formula, conveniently carry out three-dimensional regulation and control, and through the ejecting structure's of second setting, it is ejecting to be convenient for carry out intermittent type adaptation, conveniently carry out intermittent type adjustment, satisfy the demand of processing production, make processing accomplish the back, directly ejecting through inside, realize mechanized production and processing purpose.

Two, support connecting device through the installation, support the work that connecting device help supported, realize being connected with ejecting device's spacing, and ejecting device and first bulldoze piece, the second bulldozes the piece and is connected, drive through ejecting device realizes the lapse of first bulldoze piece and second bulldoze piece, the help carries out ejecting operation, realize the lapse of machined part, conveniently use, and through the structure setting that supports connecting device, conveniently carry out and cooperate with external device to be connected, realize mutual composite set, conveniently carry out the collaborative work.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the main structure of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of the ejection device of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a first ejection structure according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a transmission structure of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a schematic structural view of the support connection device of the present invention.

In the figure: 1-an ejection device; 2-supporting the connecting device; 3-a first ejection structure; 4-a second ejection structure; 5-a transmission structure; 6-a conductive rod; 7-limiting the sleeve frame; 8-displacement push rod; 9-a lantern ring frame; 10-a transport guide; 11-connecting the guide rod; 12-an eccentric disc; 13-connecting a fluted disc; 14-placing a support; 15-a first driving fluted disc; 16-a first drive wheel; 17-a belt; 18-a second pulley; 19-a second driving fluted disc; 20-limiting vertical rods; 21-rotating the connecting frame; 22-a chassis frame; 23-a restraining mounting plate; 24-a first pusher tab; 25-a second pusher tab; 26-a central column frame; 27-firm connection frame; 28-central bayonet.

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Referring to fig. 1-5, the present invention provides a technical solution: an aluminum alloy forging ejection mechanism comprises an ejection device 1, a supporting and connecting device 2 is in limit connection with the central position of the ejection device 1, the ejection device 1 is installed, the inner end of the ejection device 1 is composed of a first ejection structure 3, a second ejection structure 4 and a transmission structure 5, the first ejection structure 3 and the second ejection structure 4 are symmetrically arranged and are connected with the transmission structure 5, the driving function is realized through the transmission structure 5, so that the work of the first ejection structure 3 and the second ejection structure 4 is driven, the first ejection structure 3 and the second ejection structure 4 are mutually connected, the inner end synchronous ejection can be realized, the three-dimensional regulation and control are convenient, the intermittent adaptive ejection can be conveniently carried out through the arrangement of the second ejection structure 4, the intermittent adjustment is convenient, the requirement of processing production is met, and after the processing is finished, the ejection is directly carried out through the inside, so that the purpose of mechanical production and processing is realized;

the ejection device 1 comprises a first ejection structure 3, a second ejection structure 4 and a transmission structure 5, wherein the first ejection structure 3 is arranged on one side of the inner end of the ejection device 1, the side end of the first ejection structure 3 is meshed with the transmission structure 5, and the side part of the bottom end of the transmission structure 5 is meshed with the second ejection structure 4;

the first ejection structure 3 comprises a conduction rod 6, a limiting sleeve frame 7, a displacement push guide rod 8, a sleeve frame 9, a transmission guide rod 10, a connecting guide rod 11, an eccentric disc 12, a connecting fluted disc 13 and a placing support 14, a placing support 14 is arranged at one side of the inner end of the first ejection structure 3, a transmission guide rod 10 is connected to the central position of the placing support 14 in a penetrating manner, a connecting fluted disc 13 is arranged at one end, close to the placing support 14, of the transmission guide rod 10, a connecting guide rod 11 is sleeved at the central position of the transmission guide rod 10, an eccentric disc 12 is sleeved at the upper end position of the connecting guide rod 11, the side end position of the transmission guide rod 10 is in limited sleeving connection with a lantern ring frame 9, the top end position of the lantern ring frame 9 is in sliding connection with a displacement push guide rod 8, the center of the displacement push guide rod 8 is in sleeved connection with a limiting lantern ring frame 7, a conducting rod 6 is inserted at the lower end position of the limiting lantern ring frame 7, and the conducting rod 6 penetrates through the upper surface position of the eccentric disc 12;

the transmission structure 5 comprises a first driving fluted disc 15, a first driving wheel 16, a belt 17, a second driving wheel 18, a second driving fluted disc 19, a limiting vertical rod 20 and a rotating connecting frame 21, wherein the limiting vertical rod 20 is arranged at the position of the inner end side part of the transmission structure 5, the side end position of the limiting vertical rod 20 is communicated with the rotating connecting frame 21, the top part of the rotating connecting frame 21 is fixedly connected with the first driving wheel 16, the bottom end position of the rotating connecting frame 21 is fixedly connected with the first driving fluted disc 15, the lower end of the first driving wheel 16 is rotatably connected with the belt 17, the bottom end position of the belt 17 is rotatably connected with the second driving wheel 18, and the bottom end position of the second driving wheel 18 is fixedly connected with the second driving fluted disc 19;

the supporting and connecting device 2 comprises a chassis frame 22, a limiting installation disc 23, a first pushing guide piece 24, a second pushing guide piece 25, a central column frame 26, a stable connecting frame 27 and a central inserting rod 28, wherein the chassis frame 22 is arranged at the bottom position of the inner end of the supporting and connecting device 2, the front end position of the chassis frame 22 is sleeved with the central inserting rod 28 and connected with the central inserting rod 28, the upper end of the central inserting rod 28 is sleeved with the limiting installation disc 23, the front end position of the central inserting rod 28 is fixedly connected with the central column frame 26, the upper end position of the central column frame 26 is fixedly connected with the first pushing guide piece 24, the front end position of the first pushing guide piece 24 is fixedly connected with the stable connecting frame 27, the front end position of the stable connecting frame 27 is fixedly connected with the second pushing guide piece 25, the supporting and connecting device 2 helps the supporting work to realize the limiting connection with the ejecting device 1 by installing the supporting and connecting device 2, and the ejecting device 1 and the first pushing guide piece 24, the second pushing guide piece 24, the central inserting rod 28 and the central inserting rod 28 are fixedly connected with the central column frame 26, and the supporting device 2, The second guide piece 25 is connected, through the drive of ejecting device 1, realizes the lapse of first guide piece 24 and second guide piece 25, and the help carries out ejecting operation, realizes the lapse of machined part, conveniently uses, and through the structure setting that supports connecting device 2, conveniently carries out to cooperate with external device to be connected, realizes mutual aggregate erection, conveniently carries out collaborative work.

The first push-guide piece 24, the first driving fluted disc 15 and the belt 17 can be arranged on a central column frame 26 in a sliding connection mode, the transmission structure 5 is fixedly hinged with the outside through a limiting vertical rod 20, the first driving fluted disc 15 is arranged in a half-tooth type structure, a tooth groove formed in the first driving fluted disc 15 is in adaptive connection with a connecting fluted disc 13, a smooth layer is arranged on the first driving fluted disc 15 and is in sliding connection with the connecting fluted disc 13, a push block body is arranged at the upper end of the first driving fluted disc 15, a poking rod is arranged at the front end of the connecting fluted disc 13 and drives the poking rod to rotate and be connected, the eccentric disc 12 can eccentrically swing at the upper end of the connecting guide rod 11, the limiting sleeve frame 7 and the displacement push-guide rod 8 are driven to slide on the sleeve frame 9 through the conducting rod 6, and the first driving fluted disc 15 and the second driving fluted disc 19 are arranged on the sleeve frame 9 through a first driving wheel 16 and the belt 17, The second driving pulley 18 is moved in a synchronous rotational movement.

The working principle is as follows: when the synchronous power output device needs to work, a user assembles and connects the ejection device 1 and the support connecting device 2 to realize mutual matching connection, the drive motor connected with the rear end of the first driving wheel 16 can drive the first driving wheel 16 to rotate to realize power transmission, the transmission task of power is realized through the rotating connecting frame 21 to drive the first driving wheel 16 to rotate, when the first driving wheel 16 rotates, the belt 17 can act on the second driving wheel 18 to enable the second driving wheel 18 to synchronously rotate, so that the connected first driving fluted disc 15 and the second driving fluted disc 19 can synchronously rotate to facilitate synchronous power output work, the arrangement of the limiting upright rod 20 can be used for supporting and connecting the transmission structure 5 to realize limit connection of the side end, and the first driving fluted disc 15 can be matched with the connecting fluted disc 13 through the rotation of the first driving fluted disc 15, the rotation driving of the connecting fluted disc 13 is realized, the smooth layer is arranged on the first driving fluted disc 15, when the smooth layer is contacted, the connecting fluted disc 13 cannot be driven to rotate, when the pushing block at the upper end of the first driving fluted disc 15 is contacted with the poke rod at the front end of the connecting fluted disc 13 again, the connecting fluted disc 13 is meshed with the first driving fluted disc 15 again at the moment, the driving of the connecting fluted disc 13 is realized, due to the structure arrangement, the purpose of intermittent pushing can be realized, the subsequent ejection requirement is met, when the connecting fluted disc 13 rotates, the transmission guide rod 10 and the connecting guide rod 11 can be driven to rotate along, the action is carried out on the eccentric disc 12, due to the eccentric structure arrangement of the eccentric disc 12, the swinging motion of the eccentric disc 12 on the connecting guide rod 11 can be realized, the transmission guide rod 6 at the top end position is conducted to the position of the limiting sleeve frame 7, and the limiting sleeve frame 7 is driven to move back and forth, the limiting sleeve frame 7 is connected with the displacement push guide rod 8 and can drive the displacement push guide rod 8 to move back and forth to realize the pushing task of the displacement push guide rod 8, the front end position of the displacement push guide rod 8 is connected with the first push guide sheet 24 so as to enable the first push guide sheet 24, the second push guide sheet 25 and the stable connecting frame 27 to continue to move, the central column frame 26 at the central position is used for limiting, the first push guide sheet 24, the second push guide sheet 25 and the stable connecting frame 27 push an external aluminum alloy forging piece to push, the discharging operation is completed, the ejection device 1 is installed, the inner end of the ejection device 1 is composed of a first ejection structure 3, a second ejection structure 4 and a transmission structure 5, the first ejection structure 3 and the second ejection structure 4 are symmetrically arranged and are both connected with the transmission structure 5, the driving function is realized through the transmission structure 5, and the work of the first ejection structure 3 and the second ejection structure 4 is driven, the first ejection structure 3 and the second ejection structure 4 are connected with each other to realize in-line end synchronous ejection and facilitate three-dimensional regulation and control, intermittent adaptive ejection can be facilitated through the arrangement of the second ejection structure 4, intermittent adjustment is facilitated, the requirements of processing production are met, after processing is completed, ejection is directly performed through the inside, the purpose of mechanical production and processing is realized, the supporting and connecting device 2 is installed to help supporting work and realize limit connection with the ejection device 1, the ejection device 1 is connected with the first push guide sheet 24 and the second push guide sheet 25, the first push guide sheet 24 and the second push guide sheet 25 are pushed through the driving of the ejection device 1 to help ejection operation and push workpieces, so that the use is convenient, and through the structural arrangement of the supporting and connecting device 2, the convenient cooperation of going on with external device is connected, realizes mutual aggregate erection, conveniently carries out collaborative work, accomplishes work.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.