GB911317A - Improvements in or relating to lathe or like tool assemblies - Google Patents

Abstract

911,317. Lathe details. VAUGHAN ASSOCIATES Ltd., and COWLISHAW, M. May 4, 1961 [Feb. 4, 1960], No. 3936/60. Class 83 (3). A lathe or like tool assembly comprises a number of tools mounted on a shank carried in a tool-holder, a fluid-pressure-operated member for indexing the tools into operative position in succession, and fluid-pressure-actuated locking- means for the shank. A shank 2 carrying tools 4, 5, is indexed in a tool-holder 1 by a fluidpressure-actuated piston 9, having a rack 8, which co-operates with a pinion 7 on shank 2, and when the required tool is brought to its operative position,. a further fluid-pressureactuated piston 17 locks the shank. Supply of fluid to either end of piston 9, and to piston 17, is controlled by a valve 11, Fig. 5, and with the valve vane 30 in the dotted line position, fluid passes from conduit 12 through conduit 15 to the bottom of piston 9, which then moves to index shank 2. As the piston reaches the end of its stroke, fluid pressure passes through a port 20 and passage 19, to move a piston valve 23 to the left against a spring 24, whereupon fluid is supplied through a port 25 to move piston 17 to clamp the tool-holder. During this movement, fluid is exhausted from the top of piston 9 through conduit 16, valve 11, and port 28. The supply and exhaust conduits are reversed when the vane is moved to its other extreme position, fluid being supplied to valve 23 through a port 21. Piston 9, and pinion 7, may be replaced by a vane 31, Fig. 8, secured to shank 2 which is rotated to index the tools when fluid pressure is supplied to either one of the ports 33, 34. In a modification, to enable either of the tools 4, 5 to make more than one cut, before indexing, a fluid distributer 39, Figs. 9-11, is supplied in the fluid supply system. The distributer comprises a number of valves 40 which can be located in the body 38, so that a recess 41 in each valve can connect ports 42, 43 or alternatively can cut them off from each other. Body 38 is rotated by a pawl, operated at each traverse of the tool slide, which cooperates with a ratchet wheel 44 on the body. In operation with a valve 40 set to connect ports 42, 43, fluid pressure passes from pipe 48, Fig. 11, through a recess 41, into a chamber 50, whereupon a piston valve 51 is moved into the position shown, thus supplying fluid through a port 54 to a port 34 to rotate vane 31, and therefore shank 2, into the position shown, whereupon piston 17 locks the shank. If the next valve 40 is set to connect parts 42, 43, vane 31 will remain stationary, but when a valve cuts off the connection, pressure to chamber 50 is cut off, and a spring 52 moves valve 51 to close port 54 and open ports 53, 55, so that pressure is supplied to port 33, to rotate the vane, and to index shank 2.