JPS61284399A - Device and method for cutting hole - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to cutting tools, and in particular to hole cutting tools, and more particularly to hole cutting tools for cutting circular holes or irregular holes by starting cutting at the center of the hole. Regarding tools.

Description of the Prior Art Modern materials have led to the development of various tools for cutting this material. Such tools include cutting torches or arcs, lasers, and water jet cutting devices. All of these devices are distinguished by the fact that they cut at a single point and are moved during operation to cut lines or contours.

It is often desirable to cut large diameter holes or cutouts in a sheet of material.

If the hole is larger than the diameter of the cut made by the tool, the tool must be moved to contour the hole. Three basic methods are currently used to perform this exercise. First, the tool can be moved manually to follow contour lines on the workpiece. This method has the advantage of simplicity, but has the disadvantage of not being able to replicate high tolerances. The second method is to move the tool around the template. This method has the advantage of greater remanufacturability at the expense of added complexity and template fabrication costs. A third method is to provide a motor drive in the X and Y directions and connect a computer or robot to this drive.

This method provides superior remanufacturability and flexibility at significantly increased cost.

In the cutting tools described above, it is desirable to start cutting from the center of the hole. The initial start-up of this tool can be performed by laser or -
In the case of torches, this can lead to an increase in the cut size at the starting point. The starting torch, along with the water jet cutting through the laminated material, can cause delamination points. ``If the tool is started from the edge of the hole to be made,
The pores are either irregular or contain delaminated areas. For the reasons mentioned above, it is desirable to start cutting from the center of the hole or from the discarded portion of the hole.

Of the methods mentioned above, only the first and last methods allow cutting to start from the center of the hole.

This method can be programmed into a computer or robot at additional cost, or it can be performed by hand. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a simple method for making large sized or irregularly shaped holes by using a cutting tool that starts cutting from the center.

HO:)', fl The present invention has a starting point at the center of a circular or irregular closed pattern and provides a simple mechanical device for moving a tool within this pattern. This tool can make irregular or circular cutouts of variable dimensions. The invention can accept pre-shaped patterns or create curves by internal adjustment. Optionally, a device may be provided to center the tool when the cut is complete. The invention can be used with torches, lasers, water jets, or similar cutting tools. The functions described above are achieved with a minimum number of moving parts.

The invention includes a rotatable ring having pivot points around its circumference. The ring may be housed within a housing, and the housing allows rotation of the ring relative to the housing.

Optionally, a device for braking the rotation of the ring may be provided. The link is attached to the pivot point in such a way that it can pivot about the pivot point. The cutting tool is attached to the link at a point offset from the pivot point. The tool may be attached to the link in a manner that allows rotation of the tool with respect to the link. Finally, a device is provided for applying a torque to the link in such a way that the attachment of the tool rotates the link on an axis between the point and the pivot point.

The tool is started for operation and begins cutting from the center of the desired hole. Torque is then applied to the link. The torque pivots the link around the pivot point and pulls the tool around the hole. Since the pivot movement of the link is limited,
Further application of torque causes rotation of the ring. The link and tool rotate with the ring to cut the contour of the hole; when the hole is completed, the torque may be reversed to center the tool or a spring may center the tool.

In one illustrated embodiment, the stop of movement of the link is adjustable to create circles of different sizes. Second
The embodiment used easily interchangeable dies to limit tool movement to create irregular holes or circular holes of various sizes. The two methods can be combined in one device to allow internal formation of holes or the use of a die.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention. Although the invention is shown as being used on a water jet cutter, it will be understood that other cutters such as lasers, cutting torches, or routers could be substituted.

The cutting nozzle 1 is connected to an on-off valve 3 by a supply pipe 2. On-off valve 3 is coupled to a source of high pressure fluid (not shown). The supply pipe 2 is connected to the upper link 4 by a bearing 6.
and the lower link 5 in a rotatable manner. Bearing 6
The bearings may be either sleeve roller bearings or equivalent bearings, depending on the duty cycle and temperature of operation. Supply pipe 2
The ends of links 4 and 5 which are not connected to are pivotally connected to ring 9 by means of pivot pins 8. Pivot pin 8 and supply pipe 2
A device 7 for applying a torque is attached to the upper link 4 in a position intermediate between . Device 7 may be a flexible shaft coupled to a motor (not shown). The ring 9 is rotatably mounted on the housing 12. A journal bearing 11 is positioned between ring 9 and housing 12. Ring 9 with respect to housing 12
An adjusting screw 13 is attached to the housing 12 which presses against the bearing 11 and the ring 9 in order to vary the force required to turn the ring. Further, a stopper 14 is attached to the ring 9. A second adjusting screw 16 is attached to a projection on the ring 9 at a level equal to that of the upper link 4. Finally, a bearing is mounted around the lower portion of the housing 12.

The bearing 17 is preferably a ring made of fluorocarbon polymer.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment c4 of FIG. 1.

It can be seen that the housing 12 is circular and has a bearing 11 mounted on its inner surface, so that the bearing 11 rotatably mounts the ring 9. Further, a stopper 14 and a friction adjustment screw 13 are attached to the housing 12. The friction adjustment screw 13 is such that the force required to rotate the ring 9 with respect to the housing 12 is greater than the force required to pivot the link 7 on the pivot 8 attached to the ring 9. , adjusted. Link 4
The tool 2 is installed at the point where the torque 7 is applied to. Determine the size of the hole to be cut.

The position of the adjusting screw 16 is shown more clearly.

Finally, bearing 17 is shown as the surface closest to tool 2. Although the bearing 17 is shown as circular in this figure, it will be appreciated that it may have other shapes for cutting differently shaped holes.

3 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1; FIG.

Link 4 is the uppermost link of two links 4.5, which connect to one pivot pin 8.
The ring 9 is rotatably attached to the housing 12 by a bearing 11. Torque application point 7 is connected only to link 4; links 4 and 5 are otherwise equal.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the motion of the tool produced by the invention. In order to clarify the operation, FIG. 4 will be explained in combination with FIG. 2. To start, the cutting tool 2 is in place in the center of the device. The tool is started and a small hole is cut at point 26. Torque is applied clockwise to point 7. Since the direction of easiest movement is around the pivot axis 8, the tool 2
swings along an arc 27. This oscillation causes the arc 27 to be cut. When the outer edge of the link 4 comes into contact with the adjusting screw 16, movement in this direction is stopped. The closer the end of the screw 16 is to the link 4, the smaller the hole to be cut. Since there can be no further pivoting movement about pivot 8, further application of torque about point 7 causes rotation of ring 9 with respect to housing 12. This movement moves the tool 2 in the circular path 28 until the torque ceases. In the case shown, after 1% rotation, the torque is reversed and applied in a counterclockwise direction. This counterclockwise applied torque causes the link 4 to swing about the pivot 8, forcing the tool 2 into an arc 2
9 to return to the center. Alternatively, the tool 2 may be spring loaded to center it when the torque is stopped.

Finally, if the adjusting screw 16 is removed, the tool 2
follows the contour of the bearing 17, so that the bearing 17 can be contoured to form a hole with a non-circular contour.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention. Although the invention is shown using a water jet cutting device as the tool, it will be understood that laser or flame cutting devices could be substituted.

As in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the embodiment of FIG.
A cutting nozzle connected to a supply pipe 32 controlled by a shut-off valve 33 is used. The device is housed in a housing 36 and closed by a top plate 38 and a lower protective plate 39. A motor 34 is mounted to the top plate 38 to provide a source of torque. Extension 3 of housing 36
7 provides a cover for the binion attached to the motor 34. Motor 34 may be an electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic motor in various environments.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

Although the illustrated tool is a water jet cutter, the invention is equally adaptable to other cutters.

The cutter is controlled by an actuator 33 attached to a supply pipe 32, the end of which is a nozzle 31. A mounting body 41 and a tightening ring 40 are attached to the supply pipe 32.

Supply pipe 32 is rotatably attached to upper link 46 and lower link 42 by bearings 44 and 43, respectively. The mounting body 41 and the tightening ring 40 are slidably attached to the top plate 38 of the housing and the housing 36,
This prevents chips and other debris from entering the mechanism. Top plate 38 is attached to housing 36 by a plurality of screws 45 to provide an internal seal. A drive motor 34 is mounted to the top plate 38. The shaft 53 of the motor 34 has a pinion 52 attached in this embodiment by a set screw. It will be appreciated that other equivalent attachment means, such as keys, could be used. Binion 52 is housed within extension 37 of housing 36. A drive ring 51 meshes with a pinion 52. Drive ring 51 is supported by a top bearing attached to top plate 38 and main bearing 49 is attached to housing 36 . Therefore, the drive ring 51
It rotates freely in response to the torque transmitted from 2. Pin 54 couples drive ring 51 to a slot in top link 46. Top link 46 has a bearing 44 that allows rotation with respect to supply tube 37 . The bearing pin is the first
Similar to the illustrated embodiment, a top link 46 is coupled to a drive wheel 48 and a bottom link 42. The drive wheel 48 is rotatably supported by a main bearing 49.

The lower or bottom link 42 is similar to the top link 46 in that it has a bearing 43 to allow rotation with respect to the supply tube 37. The shield 39 prevents personnel from coming into contact with the cutting equipment and provides a mounting for the guide bearing 55. The guide bearing determines the size and shape of the hole to be cut.

FIG. 7 is a plan cross-sectional view of embodiment B of FIG. 6, in which teeth of the pinion and some of the teeth of the drive ring are shown for clarity.

The main difference from the embodiment of FIG. 1 is the manner in which the link 37 is torqued. When motor shaft 53 rotates, pinion 52 coupled to shaft 53 is also rotated. The engagement of pinion 52 causes drive ring 51 to rotate in the opposite direction. Pin 54 connects drive ring 51 and slot 56 in ring 46 and transmits this motion and loads torque on link 46, resulting in supply tube 37
and the cutting nozzle. Housing 36 provides support and protection for the device.

8 is a top sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 6 below the drive ring in the starting position; FIG. drive wheel 48
is seen resting in a top link 46 and main bearing 49 which are pivotally connected to a drive wheel 48 by a pivot pin 47. The amount of force required to pivot links 46 and 42 with respect to drive wheel 48 is less than the force required to rotate drive wheel 48 with respect to housing 36. In this position, the cutting tool is started and the pin 54 is then torqued as described above.

This torque is transmitted to link 46 through slot 56, causing link 46 to pivot on pivot 47 to the position shown in FIG. When the nozzle 31 hits the guide 55, this pivoting movement is stopped. Further application of torque causes drive wheel 48 to rotate relative to the housing. This motion causes the tool to move in the pattern shown in FIG.

To center the tool, either the direction of the torque can be reversed or a spring can be used.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view of one embodiment Bta of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrow. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along 3-3m in FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrow. FIG. 4 is a diagram of a pattern made according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional top view of the embodiment of FIG. 5; FIG. 8 is a plan sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 in the starting position with the ring gear removed. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 with the ring gear removed in the peripheral cutting position. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12... Housing, 9... Ring, 4... Upper link, 5... Lower link, 7... Torque load device, 8... Pivotal pin. Art d-ni)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A housing; a ring rotatably mounted within the housing; a link pivotally connected to the ring at one end and rotatably mounted to a cutting tool at the other end; a device for applying a torque to; and a device for cutting a hole including; 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said device for applying torque is a flexible drive attached to said link. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cutting tool is a high speed water jet. 4. The device for applying torque includes: a second ring rotatably mounted within the housing; a pin coupled to the second ring for transmitting torque to the link; and rotating the second ring. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: 5. The device of claim 4, wherein the device for rotating the link is a pneumatic motor. 6. The device of claim 4, wherein the second ring is provided with teeth for engaging mating teeth on the device for rotation of the link. 7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a guiding device attached to the tool for following the tool around the hole. 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the guide device is a member having an inner surface in the shape of the hole to be cut. 9. Drilling a hole of relatively small diameter into the material at the center of the desired hole; cutting said hole outward to the desired radius of the hole to be cut; along the perimeter of the hole to be cut; further cutting from a radius; a method for cutting holes in a sheet of material comprising; 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of returning the cutting tool to the center of the desired hole. 11. The method according to claim 9, wherein all steps are performed with the same tool. 12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the holes are not circular.