US1764026A - Fixture for holding ring gears - Google Patents

Description

June 17, 1930. J. E. LOVELY FIXTURE FOR HOLDING RING GEARS 4 Sheets-Sheet iywfizw ,ZTZ? away mm A a .7 I, i I M N\ nmw L L ml l w l sm LL.F Q A N y ,A s. .u. Q 1 EL? Q A E 5 m lmwf k w w y/ w x I w June 17, 1930. J. E. LOVELY 1,764,026

FIXTURE FOR HOLDING RING GEARS Filed March 1, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 i571 ZawZy Me 5 W June 17, 1930. J; E. LOVELY FIXTURE FOR HOLDING RING GEARS I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 1, 1924 June 17, 1930. LOVELY 1,764,026

FIXTURE FOR HOLDING RING GEARS Fil'e Mar h 1924 4 Sheets-sheet 4 m I Q g k x J W,

1 ll l1 Q I 'I W m Imp/W; LEMZ lfwag/ Patented June 17, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN E. LOVELY, OF SPRINGFIELD, VERMONT, ASSIGNOR TO JONES & LAMSON MA- CHINE COMPANY, OI SPRINGFIELD, VERMONT, A. CORPORATION OF VERMONT FIXTURE FOB nonnfiie RING GEARS Application filed March 1, 1924. Serial No. 696,882.

In manufacturing ring gears such as are used for automobiles, it is important that accuracy shall be maintained within close limits, and one object of the present invention is to produce a fixture wherein this is readily attainable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fixture of the power-operated type in which power is not only used to hold the work in place, but also for pushing it off.

For a more complete understanding of this invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an elevation of the fixture showing air-actuated mechanism therefor in section.

Figure 2 is an end elevation showing the relative positions of the tools and carriers relative to the fixture in a lathe of the well known Fay type.

Figure 3 is a face view of a ring gear blank.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the fixture showing a gear blank in position thereon and the tools in operative relation thereto, the section being taken along the line 44 of Figure 9.

Figures 5 and 6 are end and side elevations, respectively, of a retaining nut.

Figure 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a section similar to a portion of Figure 4, but along line 8-8 of Figure 2.

Figure 9 is an end elevation of the locating plate against which the gear blank is clamped.

Figure 10 is a perspective of the mating clamping member.

Figure 11 is a perspective of a centering sleeve or spider.

Referring to these figures, 1 indicates a sleeved spindle which carries the fixture and which is adapted to be rotated in a lathe by any suitable means. For this purpose a gear 2 fixed to this spindle is illustrated in Figure 1. Within the spindle is positioned a tapered adjusting sleeve 3 within which is slidable a sleeve 4 having an outwardly extending flange 5 at one end thereof which bears against the larger end of the tapered sleeve 3. At the corresponding end of the spindle is .a ring 6 having externally threaded end portions 7 with which engages internal threads in'a collar 8 which has an inwardly extending flange 9 at its inner end engaging the rear face of an annular rib 10 projecting outwardly at the outer end of the spindle. By this construction the ring 6 may be clamped firmly against the end of the spindle to rotate therewith. The outer'end of the ring 6 is provided with an inwardly extendmg flange 12 provided with threaded perforations 13 for the reception of adjusting screws 14, each screw having a rounded end 15 engageable with the flange 5 by which the sleeves 3 and 4 may be adjusted axially within the spindle.

Within the sleeve 4 is slidable a plunger 20 having a portion 21 of somewhat reduced diameter formlng an annular shoulder 22. On this portion 21 is keyed a sleeve 23 so that this sleeve must rotate with the plunger. At the inner end of this sleeve is positioned a spider comprising a flange portion 24 (see Figure 11) having radial extensions 25 thereon. The outer portion of these extensions s cut away on an are as at 26 to form centering means to engage freely within the central opening of a ring gear or other annular work to support it vertically and present it to the locating plate properly centered with relation to the axis of rotation as will be described. The inner portions of these extensions are 'formed as outwardlyextending lugs 27 which at certain times may bear against the inner face of the work to remove it from clamped position as will later be described.

Surrounding the flange portion 24 and fixed to the end of the ring 6 is the locating or supporting plate 30. This plate or member, as shown best in Figure 9, is provided with a central circular aperture 31 and radially extending slots 32 positioned to receive the extensions 25 of the member 23 so that these members may be moved axially of each other. Between the slots 32 the 10- eating plate 30 is formed with the counterbored holes 33 for the reception of screws 34 (see Figure 8) by which the plate 30 may be fixed to the outer face of the ring 6. There are also perforations 3.5 through this plate 30 for the reception of pins 36 (see Figure 8) so spaced as to register with perforations in'the work as indicated in Figure 34at 37. The locating plate is also provided with segmental extensions 38 which enter the central opening of the work presented thereto by the spider portions 25 and 26 to hold the work properly centered. At 40 is indicated. a clamping member comprising a sleeve slidable and rotatable on the sleeve 23 and at the inner end of this sleeve is a. disk portion 41 of a diameter sufiicient to overlap the inner portion of the work as indicated in Figures 4 and 8. This disk portion 41 will therefore serve as a clamping element which may be forced against the outer face of the work to hold it firmly against the outer face of the locating plate.

In order to hold it in proper position on the sleeve 23 and yet permit it to be readily removed to permit the work to be disengaged from the spindle, the plunger is provided with a reduced threaded extremity 45 on i which is threaded a nut 46. This nut 46, as

shown best in Figures 5 to 7, has a circular peripheral portion which is substantially the diameter of the sleeve 23 and extending outwardly from this portion are a pair of lugs 47 extending 'beyond the periphery of the sleeve 23 when fixed in position. The sleeve 40 has a central bore 48 of circular cross section slidable over the sleeve 23 and also has extending from this bore slots 49 soshaped as to permit the lugs 47 of the nut 46 to slide readily therethrough. The nut being then in position on the threaded extremity 45, the sleeve 40 may be placed in position on the sleeve 23 by so turning this sleeve 40 that the slots 49 register with the lugs 47 whereupon the sleeve may be moved into position on the sleeve 23. By then turning the sleeve 40 relative to the nut 46, the lugs 47 may be brought out of axial registry with the slots 49, thus preventing the sleeve 40 from being withdrawn. The nut 46 may also be employed to fix the sleeve 23 in position. For this purpose a washer 50 of any desired thickness may be positioned between the outer end of th sleeve 23 and the nut 46 so that when the nut 46 is screwed on as far as desired the sleeve 23 is held between this washer and the shoulder 22. The nut 46 may be fixed in adjusted position on the threaded extension by means of a set screw 51 (shown in Figure 4).

' The parts are so proportioned that the disk 41 of the clamp is spaced from the lug 27 of the spider or centering member 24 a greater distance than the thickness of the work so that when the plunger is forced axially in a direction to remove the work from the locating plate 30, it is loosely held. The sleeve 40 and the disk 41 may then be turned by hand readily to bring the slots 49 in axial registry with the lugs 47 of the lug 46 in such position that the clamping member may be removed from the plunger and the work vtaken out. If desired the plunger may be provided with oil grooves so that lubrication may be readily effected between it and the sleeve 4 through whichit slides. For this purpose it is shown as provided with a central bore 60 communicating with radial oi]. grooves 61 leading to the inner face of the bearing sleeve 4.

In order to expedite the handling of the work this invention provides power means not only for clamping the work against the plate 30 for the machining operations, but also for removing the work out of contact with this plate. It is for the latter purpose that the lugs 27 have been provided, these lugs being positioned on the same side of the work as the locating plate 30 when the work is in position, as shown in Figure 4. It is therefore evident that by pushing the plunger inwardly the work is clamped against the locating plate and that by pushing the plunger outwardly these lugs contact I pose of moving the plunger in this manner the following mechanism may be employed. In Figure 1 a fluid pressure mechanism for this purpose has been illustrated. This fluid ressure mechanism comprises a power cyllnder carried at the rear end of a sleeve 71 which is mounted to rotate with the spindle 1. The rear end of the plunger 20 has fixed thereto the forward end of-a rod 72 and this rod extends rearwardly through a stuffing box 73 in a cylinder head 74 and is fixed at its end to a piston 75 slidable within the cylinder 70. The rear end of the cylinder is closed off by a head 76 through which extends a pipe 77. Outwardly of this pipe are ports 78 leading through a sleeve 79 surrounding the pipe and communicating with ports 80 in the cylinder head 76 which lead to ports 81 in the cylinder head 74. The sleeve 79 passes valve 92. Also leading to this control valve.

is a pressure supply pipe93 through which air under pressure may be supplied. A valve 92 may be of the four way type so that air may be admitted from the pipe 93 to either of the pipes or 91 and the other be opened to the atmosphere out of communication with the pipe 93. When air is admitted tothe pipe 90 it passes through'the ports 78, 80 and 81 to the forward face-of the piston which is thereupon driven rearwardly to bring the clamping member of the fixture toward the locating plate, to clamp the work there'- against. After the machining operations have been e'fiected, the valve 92 is turned to exhaust the air from the pipe 90 and admit air to the pipe 91. This causes air to flow through the pipe 77 to act on the rear face of the piston which is thereupon driven forward and the plunger carrying the work is moved away from the locating plate, the lugs 27 carrying the work therefrom as before described. v

For the purpose of illustration only this fixture is shown as applied to a lathe of the well known Fay type having two bars 95 and 96 (see Figure 2) carrying tool holders 97 and 98 which are adapted to carry the several tools necessary or desirable to properly shape the exposed portions of the work as it is held in position on the locating plate. As here illustrated the work is represented by a ring gear blank 100 for which this machine has been particularly designed, though it should be evident that many other annular shaped pieces might be machined while being held in this fixture in a similar manner.

Having thus described an embodiment of this invention it should be evident to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made thereinwithout departing from its spirit or scope as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described, comprising an annular locating plate, and means movable in the direction of the length of the axis of'the opening in the plate to clamp annular work against said plate and to unclamp the work, said means including a member movable through the opening in the plate and adapted to contact with and remove the work from said plate during the unclamping movement.

2. A device of the class described comprising an annular locating plate, means for rotatin saidplate about its axis, a member movable axially of said plate and on which annular work may be carried and pressed against the face of said plate, means engageable with said member on the opposite side of the work from said plate to clamp the work against said plate on movement of said member in one direction, and means on said member engageable with the work on the same side with said plate and acting to remove the work therefrom on movement of said member in the opposite direction.

3. A device of the class described comprising a spindle, an annular locating plate fixed to one end of said spindle and against which 'face of the work to remove the same from the locating plate by movement of said plunger in the opposite direction, and means for moving said plunger.

4. A device of the class described comprising a sleeved spindle, a plunger axially movable through said spindle, a locating plate fixed to one end of said spindle, andthrough anopening in which said plunger extends, a

sleeve keyed to said plunger for receiving annular work and having a radial extension engageable with the. work on the same side as said locating plate, a sleeveslidable on said keyed sleeve and having a radially extending member engageable with the opposite face of the work to urge the work into clamping engagement with said locating plate,

means for retaining said slidable sleeve on said keyed sleeve, and fluid pressure actuated mechanism operable to move said sleeves in a direction to clamp the work against said plate and in the opposite direction to remove the work from said plate. a

5. A device of the class describedvcomprising a sleeved spindle, a plunger axially movable through said spindle, a locating plate fixed to one end of said spindle and through an opening in which said plunger extends, asupporting member carried by said plunger for receiving and vertically supporting annular work, a clamping member for the work having a bore engageable over said supporting member and having slots extending from said bore, and a member carried by said plunger outwardly of said clamping member and slidable in said bore and having lugs slidable in said slots whereby said clamping member may be held on said supporting mem- .ber by turning to bring said slots out of plate, a clamping member for the work hav-' ing a bore engageable over said supporting member and having slots extending. from said bore, a member carried by said plunger outwardly of said clamping member and slidable in said bore and having lugs slidable in said slots whereby said clamping member may be held on said supporting member by turning to bring said slots out of registry with said lugs, and means for moving said plunger to clamp work against said locating plate and to remove work therefrom.

7. A. device of the class described comprisin a sleeved spindle, a plunger axially movab e through said spindle, a locating plate fixed to one end of said spindle and through an opening in which said plunger extends, a supporting member attached to said plunger for receiving and vertically supporting annular work, a clamping member for the work having an opening through which said plunger extends and having slots extending from said opening, a member carried by said plunger outwardly of said clamping member and having lugs slidable in said slots, whereby said clamping member may be held in said supporting member by turning to bring said slots out of registry with said lugs, and means for securing said member immovably to the plunger.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

JOHN E. LOVELY.

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