US1576669A - Screen-button-cutting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

March 16 1926.

J. H. M EVOY SCREEN BUTTON CUTTING APPARATUS Filed August 4., 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 16 1926.

1,576,659 J. H. MGEVQY SCREEN BUTTON CUTTING APPARATUS Filed August 4, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I J. H. M EVOY SCREEN BUTTON CUTTING APPARATUS Mar'ch 16 1926.

Filed August 4, 1923 3 Slggets-Sheet 8 Patented Mar. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

JO$EPH H. MGEVOY, QF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

SCREEN-BUTTON GUTTING APPARATUS.

Application filed August 4, 1923.

buttons to be used in well screens, and for other similar operations.

In the forming of screens to be used in wells, it is customary to provide a button or plug, to be fitted in an opening bored to receive it in a well casing or pipe. The button is provided with transverse slots therein of any desired width to allow the entrance of liquid and to screen out the sand and sediment therefrom. In the forming of these buttons withthe desired slots therein, it is necessary that "a machine be provided for holding the buttons or plugs and moving them against a series of rotating saws.

It is an object of my invention to provide an apparatus having a slidable holding device thereon to receive and hold a button or plug, and means to present the button thus held against the cutting portion of the saw so that the slots may be cut therein.

It is another object to provide a holder of the type described which may be raised -or lowered in bringing the button against the saws, and which may be also moved horizontally in gripping or releasing the button.

It is another object to provide an apparatus of the type cescribed which will be practically self-contained and strong and compact in construction.

It is another object of the invention to provide a saw to be employed in connection with the forming of slots in the screen button, which will saw a series of slots with one cut, and to so mount the saw that it will be held rigidly without danger of breaking.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the more detailed description which follows:

Referring to the drawing herewith, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my invention; Fig. 2 a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a cletail, partly in central vertical section, of the shaft upon which. the saws are mounted and Serial No. 655,588.

showing the saws in operative position thereon; Fig. 4 is an end view of said shaft with the saws in position; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a slightly different embodiment of my inventionyFig. 6 is a side elevation thereof, certain parts being broken away for clearness; Fig. 7 is a detail of the shaft upon which the saws are mounted showing the saws in vertical section; Fig. 8 is a central longitudinal sect-ion of the buttonholding device; Fig. 9 is an end view thereof; Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a guide and plug used with the holding apparatus;

Figs. 11 and 12 are .side and front elevations respectively of the end of the guide showing a slightly different embodiment thereof than is disclosed in Fig. 10; Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the holding portion; Figs. 14, 15 and 16 are end elevation and central vertical sections respectively of the type of button employed in the screens and upon which the apparatus is intended to operate. Like numerals of reference are applied to like parts throughout the different views.

In Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, I have shown the ordinary form of device employed in the sawingof the slots in the buttons. There is a base member 1 upon which a standard or support 2 is mounted, there being a base plate adapted to be bolted to the support 1. The standard 2 comprises two upright side pieces arched at the top and acting as a housing for the saws 1 which are adapted to rotate therein, as will be later described. At the rearward side of the said housing is formed an opening 5 of circular form and of a diameter sutlicient to receive the button and holder 21 inserted therethrough.

Adjacent the upright 2 is a second supporting member 6 which comprises an up right plate having a rearwardly projecting bracket 7 thereon which forms a sliding support for the button-holding device. There is approximately centrally of the bracket, a longitudinal slot indicated in dotted lines at 8, this slot being of sufficient width to receive a. bolt orpin 9 secured at its outer side to a lever arm 10 and projecting'through said slot, and secured at its 013- posite end to a clamping block 11. The pin 9 asses throu h a slidi'n 'uide member 12 which fits within a lateral recess in the side of the bracket 7 toward theholding means.

1 I v 'lhe brapket as shpwn in Fig. l, is some what thicker toward the central portion at Cit 13, to thereby permit the forming of a lateral slideway therein to receive the slide 12. At the upper and lower sides of said slideway are attached plates 1d and respectively, which are bolted to the bracket, and extend slightly beyond the edge of the slideway so as to overlap the slideway and prevent the removal of the slide 12. An upstanding pin 16 toward the rear of the slide limits the forward movement thereof by contacting with the shoulder 17 at the rear of the slideway in which the slide moves. The forward end of the guide 12 is formed with a sen'ii-circular recess 19 therein to fit against the shaft 20 upon which the saws are mounted.

The clamping member 11 comprises an approximately cubical block of metal having an enlarged opening therethrough parallel with the bracket 7, of suffieient size to receive the holding device 21. Said block is split on its outer side at- 22 and is adapted to be clamped about the holding member 21 by means of a cross bolt and nut 23.

Formed on the rearward end of the bracket 7 is a laterally extending arm 25 which has an opening formed therein adja cent the outer end to receive the rearward end 26 of an expanding rod 27. The end 26 of the rod is threaded and has thereon at each side of the supporting arm 25, lock nuts 28, adapted to hold the expanding rod rigidly in adjusted position.

\Vith reference particularly to Fig. 8, the construction of the button-holding device will be understood. The expanding arm 27 has formed at its forward end a cross pin 29, which extends laterally through slots 30 in a guide sleeve 31. On the outer face of the guide sleeve 31 is a collar 32, secured on the cross pin 29 and slidable on the said sleeve. The said sleeve 31 is formed with a central bore 33 therein to receive the expanding rod 27, and its forward end is of reduced diameter and cylindrical in shape to furnish a. slidable support for the collar The slot 30 in the supporting guide sleeve 31 extends to a point adjacent the forward end, which is closed by means of a head 34: thereon, against which the button is adapted to rest.

Outside of the guide sleeve 31 is a holder 85. This holder comprises a tubularmember, threaded at its rearward end and slotted inwardly for a short distance, as shown at 86. A nut 37, threaded on the rearward split end of the holding sleeve is adapted to clamp the same against the inner guide sleeve 31. The holder is cylindrical in general shape, but is tapered at 39 toward the forward end, both interiorly and exteriorly, and the said. tapered portion is slit longitudinally at 40 so that the end may be expanded and con tracted to seize and retain the button, and thus hold it in position to be acted upon by the saws. To receive the button, the forward end is recessed somewhat at for a distance about equal to the thickness of the button. The forward end is also provided with a vertical notch or groove 42, as shown in Fig. 13, said notch being of sufficient width to receive the number of saws which are employed in cutting the button. This slot is arranged vertically so that when the saw is presented against the button, the slots in the button will be vertical.

The lever arm 10 is made up of two flat straps of metal, which are pivotally attached at their rearward ends to the forward end of a lever arm 44., which is fulcrumed upon a bolt or pin L5, secured in the rear end of the bracket and spaced therefrom by means o'l' a washer 46. The rearward end of the lever arm is provided with a handle 4?, by means of which the clamping block ll and the holder therein may be moved longitudinally relative to the bracket.

The saws 4 are circular saws, toothed on their outer periphery, and of the thickness desired to cut the proper width of slot in the button. These saws may therefore be of varying thickness, depending upon the gauge of the slot to be cut in the particular button operated upon, some being comparativcly wide, and others verythin. These saws are mounted upon the shaft '20, and have spacing washers 48, between them, said washers being of a diameter only slightly less than that of the saws themselves. These washers and the saws between them are clamped together by nuts 49 and 50 on ea side thereon, the nut 50 being support on one side by a shoulder 51 upon the sha t, and the nut 49 is clamped in position, together with the rest of the saw assembly by means of a nut 52 secured upon the threaded end of the shaft 20. The said nut 52 is flattened, as shown at 53, for manipulation.

The shaft 20 is mounted in a central opening in the supporting plate 6, and has a bearing within a longitudinal sleeve cured upon the supporting plate The end of the shaft opposite the one to which the saws are attached, projects beyond the hearing member, and has secured thereon a tight pulley, and a loose pulley said phi leys being adapted for connection by means of a belt, or otherwise, to a source of power, It is understood, of course,

that this shaft may be coniurcted directly with the mot-or. or driven by any desirable means, r\-'""houl departing from the spirit of my invention.

In 2 I have shown upon the upper forward side of the support 2, a pipe 5 which is connected with an opening in the said supporter housing, so as to discharge a cooling fluid directly upon the saws -lwhile they are operatir and thus assist in cooling them. This is understood to be an the saws.

expedient, not forming a necessary part of my invention. I

In Fig. 16 is shown a type of button which may be held in position for operation by It has on its rearward face a series of V-shaped grooves 58, which are formed therein when the button is stamped. In sawing the button it is desired that the slots 60 out by the saws shall perforate the button at the troughs of each of these grooves, and in order to hold the button in registered position so that the saws will cut through the end of the button in the manner desired, theforward head 34 of the member 31 may be formed with vertically projecting ridges 59 thereon, adapted to fit in the grooves 58, thereby holding the button in proper position.

In the operation of this device, a button such as is disclosed in Figs. 1a or 15 is placed within the forward end of the holding sleeve 21. To accomplish this, the lever 4l7 is raised so as to draw the clamping block 11 and the holder therein rearwardly. This brings the collar 32 within the tapered forward seat 60 in the holding sleeve, and thereby tends to force the divided end outwardly so as to enlarge the recess 41 sufficiently to place the buttontherein. The lever arm is then depressed so as to throw the holding sleeve 21 forwardly away from the expanding collar 32, thus allowing the holding end 41 to contract slightly and hold the button in rigid position. The further forward movement of the holding sleeve moves the forward end of the button through the opening 5 in the housing against the rotating saws 4, which will act to slot the button. It will be noted that while the button is being acted upon by the saws, the

forward holding end of the sleeve 21 will be.

supported within the opening 5 so as'to prevent any tendency of the button to vibrate and injure the saws. As it is necessary to make the saw blades, in many cases, as thin as ordinary paper, it will be apparent that they cannot be allowed to vibrate to any appreciableextent during operation. When the button is properly slotted by means of the saws, the lever arm is raised, thus throwing the holding sleeve rearwardly. When the button comes in contact with the forward head 34 of the member 31 the collar 32 will act to expand the holder slightly, and the head 31 will knock the button from the holder so that a new button may be placed in position and advanced upon the saws in the manner previously described.

The lug or pin 16 is placed in such position upon the slide 12 as to stop the holder, and the button, when it has been advanced sufficiently to saw through the cap portion of the button. It will therefore be possible for the operator to force the lever downwardly until the lug 16 contacts with the shoulder 17 and the button will beslotted without especial care upon the part of the operator.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the main portions of the construction are similar to the one just described. The housing 2 is similar to the housing 2 except that the opening 5 therein is extended longitudinally in the housing to form a slot allowing vertical movement of the holding member in bringing the button into contact with the saws4.

To provide for the vertical movement of the holder in this operation, the bracket 7 is formed separately from the supporting member, and is formed with a morticed slot 61 therein to receive an upright dovetailed supporting member 62 which is mounted in an upright position upon a base plate 63, attached to the frame of the support. This type of mounting allows the bracket '7 to be raised or lowered relative to thesaw and still be held against vibration or move ment laterally.

In order to move the bracketwith the holder and lever mounted thereon, as previously described, I have formed upon the lower side of the bracket 7 an attaching lug 64- having an opening therein through which a pivot pin 65 is extended, said pin forming an attachment for the end of a connecting rod 66 attached at its lower end at 67 to a foot lever 68. Said lever 68 is pivoted at one end 69 and has a pedal 70 formed on the other end thereof. A spring 71 attached at its upper end to the base plate 1 and at its lower end to the arm 68 tends to hold the lever arm and the operating mechanism in elevated position.

The operating lever 47 is of slightly different construction than that disclosed in the first modification. The forward end of said lever arm is secured at 72 non-rotatably to a shaft 73 secured in the rear end of the bracket 7. On the opposite end of the shaft 73 is a crank arm 7 secured pivotally to a link 75 at the pivotal point 76. The other end of the link 75 is connectedto the inner side of the clamping block 11, and thus enables the operator to advance or withdraw the holding sleeve 21, asin the previous modification. I

The saws 4 may be mounted upon the shaft 20 in a slightly different manner than is disclosed in Fig. 3.- K at Fig. 7. The shaft 20 has a holding sleeve or bushing 77 thereon, and the saws are fitted on said sleeve with the spacing washers 4e8'between them, and the saws are held in position on said sleeve by means of a clamping nut 78. This bushing, with the saws mounted thereon, is fitted upon the shaft 20 and held in position against the shoulder 51 by clamping nut 52, as in the other device. The advantage of this type of Such a mountin is shown mounting tor the saws is that the saws may be mounted in assembled position, ready to be fitted upon the shaft while still in the shop, without the necessity of any operation thereon by the operator handling the saws.

In the operation oi'the device disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6, the button will be fitted within the holder, and advanced forwardly into the position for action upon by the saws. It will be held in this position while the lever 68 is depressed by the pedal 70. This depression of the lever will bring the bracket 7 with the holding device thereon downwardly into the opening 5, and bring the button into contact with the saw blades as it is moved downwardly across the same. 3y this operation the slots cut in the button will be of substantially the same depth throughout. In the ease of the first modification, it will be noted that the slots will be of greatest depth along the horizontal central line, and of slightly less depth at the upper and lower edges. One or the other of these two machines may be en'iployed as is neces sary to cut the slots in the button in the desired manner.

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that this device can not easily get out of order, and may be operated with great rapidity by a skilled worker. A button may be titted in the end of the holding sleeve and advanced against the saw and the holder withdrawn automatically, discharging the button, so that a second button may be quickly inser'ted,-and again advanced into cutting position. There are no parts which can easily get out of order, and as the buttons are held rigidly against vibration during the sawing operation, little danger of breaking the saws will be experienced. Other objects and advantages will be apparent without further description.

lVhile I have described the device as adapted to operate on screen buttons, it is obvious that the apparatus will be capable of modification to suit it to other similar uses without departing from the spirit of my invention.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

'1. Ina device of the character described, a support, a bracket thereon, a slide on said bracket, a. clampingblock on said slide, means to reciprocate said slide and block, an expanding rod on said bracket, a holding sleeve on said arm, an expanding holder on the forward end of said sleeve, means to support the forward end of said sleeve when it is in advanced position, and saws adapted to operate on the work in said holder.

2. In a device of the character described, a support, a shaft rotatable therein, a laterally extendingbracket on said support, a slide on said bracket, a button holding sleeve on said slide, means to reciprocate said slide,

of slots in said button.

a stationary expanding rod on said bracket, and projecting into said sleeve, a series of rotating saws on said shaft, and means to support said sleeve when it is advanced to bring the button held therein into contact. with said saws.

3. In a device of the character described, a support, a bracket thereon, a slide on said bracket, means to reciprocate said slide, an arm on said bracket, an expanding rod iounted on said arm parallel with said slide, a button holding sleeve slidable on said rod and supported on said slide, and rotatable cutters mounted in the path of movement of said button holding sleeve.

4. In a device of the character described, a support, a bracket thereon, an expanding rod rigidly mounted on said bracket in parallel relation thereto, a holding sleeve on said arm, a sleeve reciprocating lever sccured thereto, a tapered holding end on said sleeve divided longitudinally, means on said rod to expand said holding end when said sleeve is moved rearwardly and cutters adapted to operate on the work when said sleeve is advanced.

5. In a device of the character described, a support, a bracket thereon, an expanding rod mounted parallel therewith, a holding sleeve mounted on said rod and slidably supported on said bracket, means to reciprocate said sleeve, means on said rod to expand the forward end of said sleeve to receive the work when said sleeve is moved rearwardly, and cutters adapted to operate on said work when the sleeve is advanced.

6. In a device of thecharacter described, a support, a bracket thereon, a clamp slidable on said bracket, a button holding sleeve on said clamp, means to expand said sleeve to insert the button, means to advance said sleeve and button and means to saw a series 7. Ina device of the character described, a support, a button holder slidable relative to said support, means to reciprocate said holder, a rotating tool in said support, supported in the path of movement of said holder and a stationary means in said holder to discharge said button when said holder is withdrawn from said tool.

8. In a device of the character described, a support, a bracket thereon, a sleeve slidable onsaid bracket, an expanding buttonholder on the forward end of said sleeve, said holder being norn'ially closed, a. station- 'ary guide rod upon which said sleeve is movable, a collar thereon acting to expanr said holder when said holder is withdrawn, and means to advance and withdraw said holder on said guide.

9. In a device of the character described a saw, a support,a reciprocable work holder, a stationary expanding rod therein, means to advance said work holder to said lit) saw, and means on said rod to expand said panding rod on said bracket adapted to exholder when said holder is Withdrawn. pand saidosleeve when said sleeve is moved 10. In a device of the character described rearvvardly. 10 a rotating saw, a support, a bracket slid- In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix 5 able vertically thereon, a Work holding my signature, this the 31st day of July, A.

sleeve on said bracket, means to reciprocate D. 1923. said sleeve to and from said saw and an ex- JOSEPH H. MoEVOY.

Images