US1659714A - Crank-pin lock nut and guard - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 21, 1928. 1,659,714

w. F. ZIMMERMANN CRANK P IN LOCK NUT AND GUARD Filed Jan, 12. 1925 I92 17 Z7 24 11l- IjIIIIII/' 1 g :0 k j .zz i //V 2,1; l: I in V- 14 I .21 a t Z g now Patented Feb. 21 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. ZIMMERMANN, 0F MAPLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNO R TO GOULD 82;"

EBEREARDT, 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATIDN OF NEW JERSEY.

CRANK-PIN LOCK NUT ANDGUARD'.

Application filed January This invention relates to shapers and it deals more particularly with means for re ulating the stroke of the cutting tool.

Shapers, as commonly constructed, include a box-type column, a tool-carrying ram translatably mounted in guideways at the top of the column and means to reciprocate the ram. One preferred means for reciprocating the ram comprises a lever of the third class, fulorumed at one end in the lower part of the column and having its upper end pivotally connected with the ram. Power to oscillate the lever, thereby to cause reciprocation'of the ram, is provided by a crank-pin carried by a bull gear and operati-ng in a slot formed lengthwise in the lever. The bull gear is provided with a long hub journaled in the column and is adapted to be rotated continuously during the operation of the machine tool. To provide means for regulating the extent of oscillation of the lever and consequently the stroke of the ram, the crank pin is usually carried by :a slide adjustably mounted in guide-ways provided :by the bull gear and means is provided for adjusting the slide in its guideWay thereby to change the eccentricity of the crank pin with respect to the axis-of the gear.

Inasmuch as the stroke of the ram must be changed frequently to give to the tool its required cutting stroke, the length of which is determined by the Work, it is essential that the means for varying the throw of the lever (that is the means for shifting the crankpin slide) be readily accessible .to the operator and convenient of manipulation. It is also essential that means be provided to lock the slide against accidental movement after the desired setting has been effected.

This invention therefore has for its pri mary object to combine with the means for regulating the stroke of the ram an improvedlocking device for holding the parts in their adjusted positions.

A further object is to provide a locking device which may be actuated with greater facility than prior devices, which is more positive its action, and which maybe manipulated -;without pain or injury to the hands of theoperator.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a locking device as above described, which includes :a clamp nut of such shape and proportions that it readily'may 12, 1925. Serial N0. 11,'9 45.

be grasped by the entire hand of the operator, and rotated without his hand coming into contact with the edges thereof.

Still another object of the invention is so to construct the clamp nut that it may be utilized as a guard for the'continuously rotated squared end of the lock-actuating shaft.

Another object is so to form the clamp .nut that a portion thereof will serve as a disclosure and, in such drawings, like char- I actors of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a shaper embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section on the line mm of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged central section of the combined lock-nut and guard and its associated parts.

Referring more particularly tothe drawings, the invention is disclosed as embodied in a shaper comprising a box-type column 1 within the upper end of which is slidably mounted the usual ram 2, carrying at its forward end a suitable tool, not shown. The cam isreciprocated by a lever 3, fulcrumed at .4, to a link 5, pivoted upon a pin 6 in the lower part of the column. Intermediate its ends, the lever is formed with a slot 7 within which is fitted aslide-block 8 carried by a crank-pin 9 adjustably mounted eccentric to the axis of a bull gear 10. Thus rotation of the. bull gear, by any suitable driving mechanism, will, through the pin and slot connection 9-7 cause oscillation of the lever 3 and thereby reciprocation of the ram.

To provide means for regulating the extent of oscillation of the lever 3 and consequently the reciprocation of the ram, the

ment with respect to the axis of the gear. To this end the crank-pin is carried by a slide 11 adjustably mounted in ways 12 carried by the gear. A screw 13, journaled at one end in a bearing lt provided by the gear 10, has a threaded connection with the slide 11 and acts, upon rotation of the screw, to shift the crank pin either toward or from the axis of the gear, dependent upon the direction of rotation of the screw. A pinion 15 fixed to the feed screw 13 and a bevel gear 16 secured upon a manually rotatable shaft 17, afford means to rotate the screw. The shaft 17 is journaled coaxial with the bull gear 10 in bearings 18 and 19 provided by a bearing sleeve 20. This sleeve is formed integral with the bull gear 10 and serves to journal the bull gear in a bearing boss 21 projecting horizontally ,fromthe side of the column 1. Outward movement of the bull gear and sleeve 20 is prevented by contact of the gear with the inner end 21 of the boss 21 and a flange or plate 22, secured to the sleeve 20 by screws 23, serves to prevent inward movement thereof. The shaft 17 projects from the side of the column and is squared at 2 1 to receivea crank 25. This crank affords means by which the operator may rotate the shaft and, through the bevel gears 15 and 16 andv feed-screw 13, adjust the slide 11 in the ways 12, to vary the eccentricity'of the crank-pin 9 with respect to the axis of the bull gear, thereby to effect a predetermined stroke of the ram.

The desired setting having been effected the parts are locked in their adjusted positions to-prevent accidental movement thereof. This invention provides new and improved means for effecting this locking of the parts and includes a multi-purpose member 26 threaded upon the portion 27 of the shaft 17. One of the purposes of the member 26 is to serve as a clamp-nut and therefore its end 26 is arranged to bear against the plate 22. lit will readily be perceived that inasmuch as the member 26 is held against inward movement by the plate 22, which acts as a thrust bearing, rotation of the member in one direction will cause the shaft 17 to be pulled endwise, thus drawing the gear 16 firmly against a thrust bearing 27 provided by the bull gear, thereby clamping the gear 16 against rotation. The gear being held against rotation serves to lock the pinion 15 and screw 13 and there-' fore the slide 11 is maintained in its ade justed positions. Reverse rotation of the member 26 releases the parts and permits the shaft 17 to be manually rotated to effect any desired adjustment of the slide.

The specific construction and arrangement of the member 26 is one of the important features of this invention. This member is preferably of cylindrical form and of a length sufficient to enable it to be grasped by the entire hand of the-operator.

The outer face is preferably knurled or otherwise roughened to provide a better.

gripping surface for the operators hand. Thls construction of the clamping nut perloosen it with comparatively little effort and without injury or pain to his hand. I

Certain types of locking devices heretofore provided have included relatively narrow mits the operator to grasp it tightly with his whole handand either to tighten or locking nuts adapted to be grasped between the thumb and one or two fingers. In grasping these prior devices the operators fingers project over the edges'of the nut. Inasmuch as the gripping surface is relatively small great pressure must be applied by the fingers to tighten the nut and this pressure causes- The member 26 also serves a second purpose. That is to act as a guard for the projecting square end of the shaft 17 which, during the operation of the machine-tool, is rotated continuously and is a constant source of danger to the operator. This is accomplished by having the member extend out wardly from the column as far'as or further than the square endof the shaft, thus pro tecting both the operator and the shaft against injury. The outer end of the member 26 is counterbored at 28, thusproviding clearance for the socketed end'29 of the crank 25.

A third purpose serve as a stop to limit the inward movement of the crank 25. To this end the counterbore 28 terminates in a shoulder 80 against which the inner end 29 of the socketed end of the crank abuts thus preventing the crank from becomlng ammed on the rounded portion 1'7 of theshaft at the inner end of the flats 24* forming the squared end 24:; V j

' From the foregoing it will be perceived that applicant has in a very lngenious man ner and by very simple construction, provided an improved locking device for the stroke ad usting means, a guard for the stroke ad ustlng shaft, and a device to prevent jamming of the stroke adjusting crank. Without further analysis, the foregoing of the member 26 is to will so fully reveal the gist of this-inven-' tion that others can, byapplying'current knowledge, readily adapt it for various utilizations by retaining one or moreof the features that, from the standpoint .of the r art, fairly constitute essent al char-; acteristics of either the-generic OISPBClfiQ prior aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should'be, and are intended to be,.comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

Having thus revealed this invention, I claim 'as new and desire to secure the following combinations and elements, or equivalents thereof, by Letters Patent of the United States v 1. In a shaper, a ram; means to reciprocate the rain; means to. regulate the stroke of the ram including a manually adjustable shaft; means to lock said shaft in its a-djusted positions, said last named means including an elongated hand grasped clampin member threaded upon said v shaft, sai member being of a length substantially the width of the hand of an operator.

2. In combination with a shaper-ram stroke-regulating mechanism including an adjusting shaft having an end projecting from the side of the shaper; a hand grasped member of a length substantially the width of the hand of an operator threaded upon said shaft, said member having a portion adapted upon rotation of the member to engage a non-shiftable part of the shaper .to clamp the shaft against rotation; and a portion surrounding the free end of said shaft,

to prevent accidental contact with said shaft. 3. In combination with a shaper-ram stroke-regulating mechanism including an adjusting shaft; a member fixed to said shaft; a thrust-bearing adjacent said memher and cooperating therewith to prevent endwise movement of the shaft in one direct1on;a second thrust bearlng; an elongated hand grasped clamplng element threaded upon said shaft and adapted to en-, gage said second thrust-bearing to move said shaft endwise thereby to draw said member into engagement with said first named thrust-bearing to lock said shaft against rotation, said clamping element being of a length substantially twice its diameter and having a roughened exterior surface.

4. In a shaper, a ram; means to reciprocate the ram; means to regulate the stroke of the ram including an actuating shaft having a threaded portion projecting outwardly from the frame gf the shaper and a polygonal end projecting beyond said threaded portion and adapted to receive a crank; a cylindrical clamping nut threaded upon the threaded portion of the shaft; and a thrust bearing cooperating with said nut and adapted upon rotation of the nut to effect length substantially that of the width of an operators hand by means of which the nut maybe manually rotated.

5. In combination with a shaper-ram stroke-regulating means lncludlng a stroke adjusting shaft having a free end projecting outwardly from the column of the shaper and adapted to receive an actuating crank; a guard entirely surrounding said free end of the shaft, said guard being formed with a bore adapted to admit of the insertion of a portion of the crank to engage the shaft, and an internal abutment provided by said guard to limit the inward movement'of the crank.

6. In combination with a sha Jer-ram stroke-regulating mechanism inclu ing an adjusting shaft having a free end adapted to receive an actuating crank, a hand grasped element threaded upon said shaft and having a sleeve-like portion adapted to guard said free end of the shaft; an abutment provided by said element to limit the inward movement of the crank; a nut provided by said element to lock said shaft in adjusted positions, said parts being so constructed and arranged that the outer surface of the nut and sleeve-like portion together form a continuous hand-grasp of a length substantially that of the width of an operato-rs hand by means of which the nut may be rotated.

7. In a shaper, a ram; means to reciprocate the ram; means to vary the extent of reciprocation of the ram, said last named means including a manuallyadjustable shaft having one end projecting outwardly from the column of the shaper and squared to receive'a crank; a combined shaft-clamping and shaft-guard sleeve threaded upon said shaftand extending to the free end thereof and having a bore within which the crank may be inserted and fitted upon said shaft; and an internal shoulder adapted to limit the inward movement of the crank on the squared end of id shaft.

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