AU708252B2 - Drive assembly for machines - Google Patents

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PM1717 "DRIVE ASSEMBLY FOR MACHINES" HUNTER VALLEY ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION PTY LIMITED NOEL JAMES WINTER Technical Field The present invention relates to a drive assembly which may be incorporated in a wide variety of machines such as machines suitable for line boring, facing, drilling, reaming, fly cutting, thread forming and facing, and internal and external welding.

Background of the Invention Traditionally, machines adapted to perform the above tasks have been individually designed and do not share a common drive system. Still further, these previously known machines have not been versatile in respect of their mounting arrangements.

Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein a machine drive assembly comprising: a base to be fixed to a supporting structure; a sleeve shaft supported by said base for rotation about and movement along its longitudinal axis relative to said base; clamp means mountable on said shaft and adapted to fix an attachment to said shaft; and drive means to cause rotation of said shaft about said axis and to move said shaft along said axis, and wherein said base includes: So.. a main body with bearings supporting the shaft for both rotation about and longitudinal movement of the shaft with respect to said axis; and wherein said assembly further includes: .i 25 a drive support upon which said drive means is mounted, said drive support including bearings engaging said shaft to provide for rotation of said shaft about said axis; said drive support being slidably mounted in said main body to provide for relative movement therebetween along said axis.

Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: [I:\DAYLIB\LIDLL]0779 l.doc:KEH Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation of a drive assembly which may be incorporated in a line boring, facing or drilling machine; Figure 2 is a schematic part sectioned further side elevation of the drive assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic part sectioned exploded elevation of a clamp assembly to be employed in the drive assembly of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic top plan view of a portion of the drive assembly of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a schematic part sectioned side elevation of the top of the drive assembly of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a schematic top plan view of the drive assembly of Figure 1 adapted for welding purposes; Figure 7 is a schematic side elevation of the top of the portion of the drive assembly as modified and illustrated in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of an adaptor to be employed in the drive assembly of Figure 6; Figure 9 is a schematic side elevation of a conductor tube to be employed in the drive assembly of Figure 6; Figure 10 is a schematic sectioned top plan view of the conductor tube of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of the conductor tube rotation box; Figure 12 is a schematic plan view ofa foot mounting plate; Figure 13 is a schematic side elevation of the foot mounting plate of Figure 12; Figure 14 is a schematic side elevation of an extension support; Figure 15 is a schematic part sectioned side elevation of a facing and threading attachment for use with the drive assembly described with reference to Figures 1 to 6; and Figure 16 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of a further portion of the attachment partly illustrated in Figure Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment In Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings, there is schematically depicted a drive assembly 10 to be employed in a line boring, machine facing, drilling, reaming, fly cutting or similar type machine.

[I DAYI1 B\LIB LL0779 91doc:KEII 3a The drive assembly 10 includes a base 11 to be fixed to a support structure consisting of a main body 12. The body 12 includes a pair of generally parallel coextensive side plates 13 which support bearings 14. The bearings 14 are also supported by cover plates (bearing retainers) Mounted on the main body 12 is a pair of plates 16 which are generally parallel and coextensive. The plates 16 slidably engage the plates 13 so as to be restricted to move along a linear path.

Fixed to the extremities of the plates 16 is a bearing plate 17 which supports a further bearing 18.

The bearings 14 support a sleeve shaft 19 for rotation about its longitudinal axis, as well as longitudinal movement relative to its longitudinal axis. The bearing 18 permits rotation of the shaft 19 relative to the plate 17.

Mounted so as to extend internally of the shaft 19 is a machine bar 21, which may be a boring or facing bar or similar machine bar. The bar 21 is adjustably mounted in the shaft 19 by means of clamp assemblies 22. The clamp assemblies enable adjustment of the bar 21 along its longitudinal axis relative to the shaft 19. Each *i o a.. *o [1:\DAYLIB\LILL]0779 I.doc:KEH clamp assembly 22 includes a shaft locking collar 23, which is of a generally annular configuration and has tapered annular portions 24. The shaft 19 has annular grooves with tapered portions 26 to cooperate with the associated taper portion 24 of the locking collar 23. Each extremity of the shaft 19 has threaded portions 30 which engage a locking nut 27. The locking nut 27 has a tapered portion 28 to cooperate with the associated tapered portion 24 of the lock collar 23. The lock nut 27 has a threaded portion 29 which engages an associated threaded portion 30 of the shaft 19. When the lock nut 27 engages the shaft 19, the locking collar 23 is caused to radially contract and engage the shaft 19 to fix it in position.

Attached to the shaft 19 via a lock nut 31 is a driven gear 32. The gear 32 is driven by a pinion gear 33 driven by a motor 34; the motor 34 being mounted on the plate 17.

Also mounted on the plate 17 is a gear cover 35 upon which there is mounted a feed drive assembly 36 (Figure The feed drive assembly 36 drives a feed screw 37 which engages a feed nut 38. Rotation of the screw 37 will cause longitudinal movement of the sleeve shaft 19. The feed screw 37 is driven by a "worm" gear 39.

The worm gear 39 is driven by a worm drive gear not illustrated. The worm drive gear is driven by a motor 40. The motor 40 and its associated worm drive gear is mounted on a base 41 pivotally mounted on the cover 35. This pivoting movement permits disengagement of the worm gear drive from the worm gear 39. The shaft 37 is also provided with a handle 42 which permits manual rotation of the shaft 37. The shaft 37 is supported by means of bearings 43 supported on the plate 17.

~In operation of the above described drive assembly, the shaft 19 is rotatably 2 driven while being fed in its longitudinal direction by operation of the drive assembly 25 36. To ensure that the plate 17 and the items mounted thereon do not rotate, the plates "16 engage the body 12 while sliding relative thereto. More particularly, the plates 16 slidably engage the side plates 13 by means of grooves or other suitable guide means.

Again it should be appreciated that the bar 21 is adjustable in respect of its longitudinal :1"position relative to the plates 16 by means of operation of the clamp assemblies 22.

30 In Figures 6 to 10, there is schematically depicted a welding assembly which may be used in conjunction with the drive assembly 10 previously described.

:.However, the shaft 19 is not rotated by the motor 34 as the gear 33 is removed.

Instead, the shaft 19 is rotatably driven by a drive mechanism 50. The drive mechanism 50 includes a housing 51 which is pivotably mounted on the cover Mounted on the housing 51 is a motor 52 having a worm drive gear driving a driven gear 53.

[N:\LIBTT10042:PVH The driven gear 53 is fixed to a shaft 54 upon which there is mounted a gear The gear 55 engages the gear 32. By having the housing 51 pivotably mounted, the gear 55 can be moved from meshing engagement with the gear 53.

The shaft 54 is also provided with a handle 56 permitting manual rotation.

In this embodiment, the bar 21 is removed together with the associated clamp assemblies 22.

Mounted on the shaft 18 is a connection tube 56 by means of an adaptor nut 57. The nut 57 threadably engages the extremity of the shaft 19. The adaptor nut 57 has a threaded cylindrical portion 58 with an annular recess 59 having a tapered portion 60. The tapered portion 60 cooperates with a split clamp collar 61 which in turn is engaged by a locking nut 62. The locking nut 62 has an annular recess 63 having a tapered portion 64. The lock nut 62, upon tightening, moves the locking collar 63 into clamping engagement on the tube 56 to thereby secure the tube 56 in position.

The connector tube 56 has insulation portions 65 and conductor portions 67.

A gas passage 68 is also provided.

One extremity of the tube 56 is provided with a socket 69. The socket 69 engages a conductor box 66. More particularly the conductor box has a threaded neck to threadably engage within the socket 69.

The conductor box 66 has an inner casing 70 provided with the neck 69. The inner casing 70 rotatably engages an outer casing 71. The outer casing 71 supports an insulation bushing 72 secured in position by bolts and through which passes a conductor 73. Passing centrally through the conductor 73 is a gas passage 74.

The conductor 73 extends to a pressure plate 75 biased into contact with a S carbon block 76 by means of a spring 77. The carbon block 76 completes electrical connection to the conductor casing 78 providing a flange 79 against which the spring 77 abuts. The conductor casing 78 extends to the conductor portion 80, which connects with the conductor portion 67. The outer casing 71 is rotatably supported on the inner .casing 70 by means of O-rings 81.

It should be appreciated that as the inner casing 70 can rotate relative to the outer casing 71, the power input end 82 can be fixed to a stationary supply and supply gas and electricity to the neck 69 which rotates with the tube 56. The tube 56 extends through the entire length of the shaft 19 with its other extremity being adapted to receive typical welding connector tips, shields, and the like. With these fitted, the machine 10 is then adapted for spiral welding.

In Figures 12 and 13, there is schematically depicted in plan and side elevation one of the plates [N:\LIBTT]000O42:PVH In Figure 14, there is schematically depicted an extension support 83 which can be mounted on the plate 15 remote from the feed drive assembly 36 and aid in supporting the bar 21 in instances where the bar is of considerable length.

The extension support 83 includes a mounting flange 84 which bolts to the plate 15. Extending from the flange 84 is a conical portion 85 extending to a bushing 86 which rotatably supports the bar 21.

In Figure 16 there is schematically depicted the drive end 101 of a facing and thread attachment 100 to be used with the drive assembly 10 described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. In this embodiment, the bar 21 of Figures 1 to 5 is replaced with a shaft 102 which rotates with the shaft 19 and is secured thereto by clamp assemblies 22 previously described. The shaft 102 supports and has fixed to it a bearing assembly including bearing clamp members 103 supporting a bearing 104. The bearing 104 rotatably supports a shaft 105 which extends the length of the shaft 19 and protrudes from the other end thereof.

Fixed to the bearing clamp members 103 is a support member 106 which is externally threaded and engages a "nut" 107. The nut 107 is also externally threaded and engages an internally threaded nut 108. The nut 108 is attached to the anti-rotation plates 109. The plates 109 could be fixed to the gear cover 35 described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. Alternatively the plates 109 could be merely extensions of the plates 16. Rotation of the nut 107 by gripping and moving the lever 110 will move the shaft 105 axially.

Attached to the end of the shaft 105 is an adjustment sleeve 111 which upon rotation will cause rotation of the shaft 105 relative to the shaft 102. A gauge sleeve enables a user to determine the position of the sleeve 111 angularly with respect to 25 the sleeve 112.

The shaft 105 extends to the tool assembly 113 at the opposite end of the sleeve 19. The shaft 105 is supported by a further bearing 114 held in place by a bearing support 115 mounted on the shaft 102. The bearing 114 also engages a plate 116.

30 The tool end of the shaft 105 is fixed to a cam member 117 so that rotation of the shaft 105 about its longitudinal axis 118 will also cause rotation of the cam member 117 about the longitudinal axis 118. The cam member 117 has a spiral thread 119 defining a spiral cam track 120.

Mounted on the plate 116 is a tool support 121 by means of side plates 122.

Mounted on the support 121 is a tool carrier 123 which is slidably mounted for movement along a linear path transverse of the axis 118. More particularly, the tool carrier 123 is held in position by guides 124. holding wear plates 125. The tool carrier 123 has a cam follower 126 with projections engaged within the cam track 120.

LTB 2 IN:\LIBT-r]00042:PVH 7 When the shaft 105 rotates relative to the shaft 102, the cam member 117 rotates about the axis 118 while the tool holder 123 is prevented from rotation. The cam followers then cause transverse movement of the tool holder 123.

Movement of the nut 107 about the axis 118 relative to the nut 108 causes movement of the shaft 106 axially and therefore movement of the tool holder 123 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 118.

W*

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[N:\LIBTT100042:PVH

Claims (8)

1. A machine drive assembly comprising: a base to be fixed to a supporting structure; a sleeve shaft supported by said base for rotation about and movement along its longitudinal axis relative to said base; clamp means mountable on said shaft and adapted to fix an attachment to said shaft; and drive means to cause rotation of said shaft about said axis and to move said shaft along said axis, and wherein said base includes: a main body with bearings supporting the shaft for both rotation about and longitudinal movement of the shaft with respect to said axis; and wherein said assembly further includes: a drive support upon which said drive means is mounted, said drive support including bearings engaging said shaft to provide for rotation of said shaft about said axis; said drive support being slidably mounted in said main body to provide for relative o* movement therebetween along said axis. 1

2. The machine drive assembly of claim 1, wherein said shaft has end ""extremities, and said clamp means includes a clamp assembly adjacent each extremity. il

3. The machine drive assembly of claim 2, wherein each clamp assembly 20 includes a tapered portion on said shaft and a locking collar to engage therewith.

4. The machine drive assembly of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said shaft engages a machine tool bar by means of said clamp means.

The machine drive assembly of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said drive support has at least one support plate slidably mounted in the main body for 25 movement generally parallel to said longitudinal axis, and said assembly further includes a bearing plate fixed to said support plate, a bearing supported by said bearing plate.

6. The machine drive assembly of claim 5, further including a motor mounted on said bearing plate, and a plurality of gears driven by said motor to drive said shaft about its longitudinal axis.

7. The machine drive assembly of claim 6, further including a feed drive assembly to cause longitudinal movement of said shaft. r:\DAYLIB\LIBLL]0779 Idoc:KEH

8. A drive assembly, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated 3 June, 1999 Hunter Valley Engineering Constructions Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON 4* 7A [I:\DAYLIB\LIBLI 107791 .doc:KFH