GB1602431A - Arrangement preferably applicable to bench vices and sluice valves - Google Patents

Description

(54) ARRANGEMENT PREFERABLY APPLICABLE TO BENCH VICES AND SLUICE VALVES (71) I, VICTOR CRAIL, a Swedish Subject, of Lilla Karralundesgatan 8, S-416 56 Goteborg, Sweden, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The present invention relates to a device for rapidly moving a pair of movable components and for firmly locking the movable components in a fixed position. The device being particularly applicable to bench vices or sluice valves for quick displacement of a jaw in relation to anotherjaw, respectively of a valve body engaged in or disengaged from a valve seat.

The device of the present invention is applicable where threaded spindles are used for the displacement of one component in relation to another. In bench vices of conventional design the displacement of the jaws is relatively time-wasting since the displace ment may have to be done along the full stroke of the spindle between different moments of working.

In the case of sluice valves, for example, the valve body is displaced by turning a threaded spindle. Since, however, the displacements of the valve body are carried out along short or long distacnes at narrow intervals and along the whole length of the spindle, this procedure is rather time-wast ing. It is important in oil pipings for instance that a pipe can be shut off rapidly in case of leakage.

We have sought to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages by the application of the present invention which is based upon positioning a spindle so that it can be moved freely longitudinal for quick displacement of movable components.

Accordingly the present invention pro vides a device for rapidly moving a pair of movable components and for firmly locking the movable components in a fixed position, the device comprising a spindle, one end of which is rotatably mounted in one of the movable components and having a threaded portion extending over substantially half of its periphery, the spindle extending through a bore having a complimentary threaded portion over substantially half of its periphery whereby in a first position in the bore the spindle threads do not engage the threads of the bore and so the spindle can move more freely in a longitudinal direction to displace the movable components and in a second position in the bore the spindle threads engage the threads of the bore, the spindle is provided with a projecting pin which in the first position abuts a stop and in the second position limit the rotation of the spindle to less than one revolution, the threads of the spindle and/or the bore have at least two thread entries, bearing rings are mounted on the spindle in the bore on either side of the threaded portion of the bore, the bearing ring holes correspond to the cross-section of the spindle, and the bearing rings are rigidly mounted in the longitudinal direction of the spindle but arranged to rotate freely in the bore, the outer diameter of the bearing rings corresponding to the diameter of the bore, whereby the axis of the spindle coincides at each angular position with the axis of the bore.

The present invention is further illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:- Figure 1 shows a bench vice, in perspective, with a device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a sketch of the bench vice; Figure 3 shows, on a larger scale, in side view and in cross section a mounting ring incorporated in the vice; Figure 4 shows, on a larger scale, a section along the line IV-IV of Fig. 2; Figure 5 shows a cross section of the spindle; Figure 6 shows two different sections of a bearing ring belonging to the spindle; and Figure 7 shows a device according to the present invention applied to a sluice valve.

Figure 1 shows a bench vice in which bedplate 1 is firmly connected to one ofjaws 2 and to a bearing housing 3 through which spindle 4 extends. The spindle 4 is provided at one of its ends with a shaft 5 which has a hole 6 for a lever (not shown). The opposite end of the spindle is carried in a rotatable manner in movable jaw 7 of the vice.

The design of the vice is shown in Figure 2.

The spindle 4 is provied with a threaded portion 8 which extends only along one half of the spindle periphery. The spindle 4 is at one end provided with a portion 9 fitting into a bearing hole 10 in the movable jaw 7. The portion 9 has a peripheral groove 11 in which, after the portion 9 is located in the bearing hole 10, a locking dowel 12 fitted into the jaw 7 engages for fixing the spindle 4 axially in relation to the jaw. The spindle is moreover equipped with a projecting pin 13 cooperating with a stop 14 on the jaw to limit the rotational movement of the spindle to less than one revolution. The bearing housing 3 is provided with a bore 15 in which a unit 16 with a threaded portion complimentary to the threaded portion of the spindle is located.

On either side of the unit 16 there are bearing rings 17, 18 arranged on the spindle 4. The vice is equipped with mounting rings 19, 20 adapted to be screwed to the bearing housing 3 for holding the slip rings 17, 18. The shape of the mounting rings 19, 20 is seen from Figure 3. Each mounting ring is provided with a hole 21 for mounting screws and with a recess 22 adapted to receive a bearing ring 17 or 18. The recess 22 is concentric with the hole 23 for the spindle.

Figure 4 shows in detail the unit 16 arranged in the bore 15 of the bearing housing. This consists of a nut half 24 and a sleeve half 25, the inner diameter of which is generally equal to or slightly bigger than the diameter of the nut half, as measured at the thread bottom. A screw 26 is arranged in the bearing housing 3 which screw extends, by means of a pin 27, down into the bore in the sleeve half 25 for fixing this in the bearing housing.

Figure 5 shows a cross section of the spindle 4, the threaded portion 8 of which is complementary to the threaded portion of the nut half 24. When the threaded portion 8 is entirely disengaged from the threaded portion of the nut, the spindle is free to move.

The bearing ring 17 shown in Figure 6 has a hole 28, the size of which corresponds with the cross section of the spindle 4. The bearing rings 17, 18 do not prevent the spindle from displacement axially but guide the spindle radially so that in case of load on the spindle axially grip of the spindle thread on the nut is maintained.

As mentioned above the spindle 4 has a "free" position which it can move freely within the nut half 24. This position is obtained when the spindle is turned anticlockwise until the projecting pin 13 rests against the stop 14. In its free position the spindle 4 can be freely displaced longitudinally, whereby the movable jaw 7 follows the movements of the spindle. The jaw can thus quickly be displaced along the whole stroke of the spindle when it is in its free position.

When clamping a workpiece, the spindle is turned to its free position and the spindle is axially displaced until the jaw 7 rests against the workpiece. This can be clamped by turning the spindle clockwise whereby the threads of the spindle are forced into gear with the threads of the nut half. The pin 13 on the spindle and the stop 14 limit the rotation movement of the spindle from the free position to less than one revolution.

Since the spindle cannot be freely turned a full revolution, it must have at least two thread entries if it has to be freely adjustable along its whole length. If, after turning the spindle from its free position until the pin rests against the stop 14, the workpiece is not sufficiently clamped, the spindle is turned back into the free position and it is moved forwards to the next thread entry, and then tightening is done.

Figure 7 shows an arrangement according to the invention applied to a sluice valve.

Spindle marked 29, like the spindle in the device of Figures 1 to 6 described above, is equipped with one threaded portion arranged only on one half of the spindle periphery. One end of the spindle is rotatably located in a slide 30 but axially fixed in relation to this.

A pipe 31 is connected to a valve housing 32 and the valve slide 30 is shown in Figure 7 elevated for the opening and closing of the passage through the pipe. The designation 33 applies to a seal for the valve slide. Between the two valve housing parts 34 and 35 is located a nut or similar 36. This is equipped with a threaded portion fitting the spindle that stretches along only half the periphery of the nut hole so that the spindle can be adjusted in a free position in which it is freely movable through the nut. Like the device of Figures 1 to 6, there are, on either side of the nut on the spindle 29, bearing rings 37, 38 having a transverse hole corresponding to the cross section of the spindle. The bearing rings are held by mounting rings 39, 40 and are arranged to rotate with the spindle when turning it. The nut and the mounting rings are mounted with the centre in line with each other whereby the spindle is always forced to have its centre in line with the nut centre. In this way, the spindle is forced to retain its thread grip with the threads of the nut when turning the spindle. The spindle is equipped with a projecting pin (not shown), which in the free position of the spindle rests against a stop (not shown) on the valve housing. The spindle 29 is operated by means of a handwheel 41.

When the valve slide 30 is to be displaced, for instance from fully closed to fully open, the spindle is turned by the hand-wheel into its free position whereupon the spindle can be freely displaced in its longitudinal direc tion to open the valve. The spindle can then, for instance, be turned a quarter of a revolution, so that the threads of the spindle are engaged with the threads of the nut and the valve slide is fixed in its elevated position.

When closing the valve, the spindle is turned by means of the hand-wheel to its free position, whereupon the spindle is displaced downwards until the valve slide 30 rests against the bottom of the seat 42. The valve slide can then be locked in closed position by tightening with the hand-wheel.

The invention is not restricted to the devices described above but a variety of applications are possible. The spindle and the nut cooperating with it do not necessarily have the threads extending along exactly half its periphery. The main requirement is that the spindle has a free position in which it can freely be displaced longitudinally through the nut.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A device for rapidly moving a pair of movable components and for firmly locking the movable components in a fixed position, the device comprising a spindle, one end of which is rotatably mounted in one of the movable components and having a threaded portion extending over substantially half of its periphery, the spindle extending through a bore having a complimentary threaded portion over substantially half of its periphery, whereby in a first position in the bore the spindle threads do not engage the threads of the bore and so the spindle can move more freely in a longitudinal direction to displace the movable components and in a second position in the bore the spindle threads engage the threads of the bore, the spindle is provided with a projecting pin which in the first position abuts a stop and in the second position limits the rotation of the spindle to less than one revolution, the threads of the spindle and/or the bore have at last two thread entries, bearing rings being mounted on the spindle in the bore on either side of the threaded portion of the bore, the bearing ring holes corresponding to the cross-section of the spindle, and the bearing rings being rigidly mounted in the longitudinal direction of the spindle but arranged to rotate freely in the bore, the outer diameter of the bearing rings corresponding to the diameter of the bore whereby the axis of the spindle coincides at each angular position with the axis of the bore.

2. A device for rapidly moving a pair of movable components and for firmly locking the movable components in a fixed position substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3. An arrangement according to Claim l or 2 characterised by the fact that bearing rings are mounted on the spindle in the boring on either side of the above-mentioned threaded part of the boring or on either side of the nut, and that the hole in the bearing rings essentially corresponds with the crosssectional area of the spindle.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. tion to open the valve. The spindle can then, for instance, be turned a quarter of a revolution, so that the threads of the spindle are engaged with the threads of the nut and the valve slide is fixed in its elevated position. When closing the valve, the spindle is turned by means of the hand-wheel to its free position, whereupon the spindle is displaced downwards until the valve slide 30 rests against the bottom of the seat 42. The valve slide can then be locked in closed position by tightening with the hand-wheel. The invention is not restricted to the devices described above but a variety of applications are possible. The spindle and the nut cooperating with it do not necessarily have the threads extending along exactly half its periphery. The main requirement is that the spindle has a free position in which it can freely be displaced longitudinally through the nut. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A device for rapidly moving a pair of movable components and for firmly locking the movable components in a fixed position, the device comprising a spindle, one end of which is rotatably mounted in one of the movable components and having a threaded portion extending over substantially half of its periphery, the spindle extending through a bore having a complimentary threaded portion over substantially half of its periphery, whereby in a first position in the bore the spindle threads do not engage the threads of the bore and so the spindle can move more freely in a longitudinal direction to displace the movable components and in a second position in the bore the spindle threads engage the threads of the bore, the spindle is provided with a projecting pin which in the first position abuts a stop and in the second position limits the rotation of the spindle to less than one revolution, the threads of the spindle and/or the bore have at last two thread entries, bearing rings being mounted on the spindle in the bore on either side of the threaded portion of the bore, the bearing ring holes corresponding to the cross-section of the spindle, and the bearing rings being rigidly mounted in the longitudinal direction of the spindle but arranged to rotate freely in the bore, the outer diameter of the bearing rings corresponding to the diameter of the bore whereby the axis of the spindle coincides at each angular position with the axis of the bore.

2. A device for rapidly moving a pair of movable components and for firmly locking the movable components in a fixed position substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3. An arrangement according to Claim l or 2 characterised by the fact that bearing rings are mounted on the spindle in the boring on either side of the above-mentioned threaded part of the boring or on either side of the nut, and that the hole in the bearing rings essentially corresponds with the crosssectional area of the spindle.