US1943649A - Pole peeling and shaping machine - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 16-, 1934. R. H. WHITE, JR., El AL I 1,943,649

POLEPEELING AND SHAPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 4, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l attorney 4 sheets sheet 2 Gttorneg Jan. 16, 1934. R. H. WHITE, JR., ET AL POLE FEELING AND SHAPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 4, 1932 Jan. 16, 1934- R. H. WHITE, JR., ET AL 1,943,649

POLE FEELING AND SHAPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 4, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 (Ittorneg Jan. 16, 1934. R. H. WHITE, JR., ET AL 1,943,649

POLE FEELING AND SHAPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 4. 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 8;; ER. iZZon/ (Ittorneg Patented Jan. 16, 1934 POLE PEELING AND SHAPING MACHINE Robert H. White, Jr., Atlanta, and Elam R. Gillon,

East Point, Ga., assignors to Southern Wood Preserving Company, Atlanta, Ga., a corporation. of Georgia Application August 4, 1932. Serial No. 627,522

12 Claims. (01. 142-32) This invention relates to pole peeling and shaping machines and aims, among other objects, to provide a greatly improved machine for cutting and shaping telephone and telegraph poles, transmission line poles, flag poles and thelike. The idea is to remove the excess stock so as to make the poles of the uniform sizes required, thereby producing a neat appearance, reducing the shipping space required for the poles, and effecting a considerable saving in the quantity of creosote or other preservative used on them. One of the main objects is to provide a full floating, pole shaping machine which rotates about a pole being fed through it and is capable of following ordinary crooks or sweeps of the pole without removing an excess of stock. Another aim is to provide automatic adjusting means for the cutting mechanism to control the taper of the poles being shaped or cut, it being understood that ordinary telephone poles vary about one inch in diameter in ten feet. Furthermore, the invention contemplates a machine of this character which is capable of dress-.

ing poles very rapidly and doing the work accurately.

Other aims and advantages of the invention will appear in the speciflcatiom when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine sho in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the machine, a front plate being omitted;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4, drawn on a reduced scale, and parts being omitted;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view on a reduced scale, showing the casing broken away and parts in section to illustrate one form of indicating mechanism; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevation, on a reduced scale, showing in outline one mode of feeding a pole through the machine.

The present machine is especially designed to cut and shape poles to the required size as they are fed longitudinally through it. The purpose is to avoid the necessity to rotate the poles while they are being shaped and to enable the machine to cut them very rapidly to the required diameter, regardless of ordinary crooks or bends, known as sweeps, which cause a long rotating pole to whip. To enable the machine to operate on more or less crooked poles, it is necessary that it shall be capable of limited universal and floating movement in various directions. In accordance with this invention, motor driven cutters are mounted in a plural direction floating and rotatable housing which turns about a pole as it is fed through the machine.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the operating mechanism is mounted in a horizontal, cylindrical-housing or casing 10 which is rotatably supported at its ends within a pair of rings 11. To reduce friction, the drum is shown as having ball bearings 12 between it and the rings and the rings are connected at the top and bottom by brace bars 13 (Figs. 2 and 4). Thus, the bracd rings provide a skeleton frame for the housing.

This frame must be capable of full floating movement to permit the machine to ride over sweeps or crooks on the poles. For this purpose, the skeleton frame is shown as being mounted within a central pair of spaced supporting rings 14 constituting a gimbal-ring support. These support- 5 ing rings are preferably connected by bars or blocks 15 opposite the bars 13 between the rings 11 and trunnion pins 16 project from the central portions of the bars 13 into ball bearings 17 in the blocks or bars 15. This pivotal connection per mits the machine to swing on the axis of the vertical trunnions.

Referring to Fig. 1, the supporting rings 14 are also mounted for vertical and lateral move ments, as well as pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, being supported between standards 18. In this instance, the standards are mounted on a sub-frame 19 composed of structural steel beams. On diametrically opposite sidesof the rings 14 are ball bearings 20 similar to the bearings 1'7 to receive horizontal pins or shafts 21 pivotally mounted on the upper ends of a pair of floating arms 22. The upper parts of the bearings are slightly above the center of gravity of the machine to prevent it from tilting freely g about them. The arms 22 are shown as being suspended substantially midway between their ends by pivoted links 23 and said links are pivotally connected to the upper ends of U-shaped supports 24 which are conveniently made of strap metal and are adjusted vertically by a hydraulic or pneumatic piston 25 having a piston rod 26 connected to the lower ends of the U-shaped supports. However, the whole machine and its frame may be otherwise supported to permit balanced vertical movement. As will be noted in Fig. 1, the lower ends of the floating arms 22 have pins 2'7 projecting through vertical slots 28 in the U-shaped supports 24. This permits the arms 22 to move laterally as the susa passere pending arms 23 swing about their upper pivots. The side thrust on the U-shaped supports 24 is transmitted to rollers 29 mounted on the insides of the standards. I

To guide the upper ends of the U-shaped supports 24 to move vertically, pairs of arms 30 are pivotally connected to the upper ends oi the standards and project on opposite sides, being pivotally connected to lower pairs of arms 31 which carry the pivot pin 32 for the arm 23 between the ehds of the U-shaped supports 24. The pivoted arms 30 and 31 are similar to lazy tongs and constrain the upper ends of the U- shaped supports to move vertically. These arms also have ball bearings and spacer washers 33 to enable them to take care oi side thrusts irnparted to the pivot pins 32. It will now be seen that the height of the machine may be varied by raising or lowering the arms. Ordinarily, the machine will be adjusted to the approximate height for receiving the. small end of a pole oi a given size. As the machine rides over sweeps, the arms 22 and 23 permit it to move laterally, while the hydraulically operated supports 24 permil; limited vertical movement in addition to the compound pivotal movement of the casing on the trunnions l6 and pins 21.

Referring now to the illustrated power operating mechanism, the housing or casing 10 is shown as being rotated within the rings 11 by means of a motor 34. which drives gear 35 meshing with a ring gear 36 secured to the rear ring 11. The gear 35 is shown as being beltdriven. However, it is to be understood that ordinary reduction gearing may be employed. The

motor 34 is shown as being mounted on a frame or base 3'? within the housing above an inner cylindrical shell or sleeve 38. This inner sleeve or shell is supported coaxially of the machine by radial braces 39 connected to the inside of the shell or casing 10 at the outer end and by a transverse partition or plate to at the forward end (see Fig.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4', a pair of diametr cally opposed cutter heads 41 projecting through radial slots in 'the partition so are driven by motors 42 mounted on cross-heads 43 and guided to move radially of the housing by means of channel guide members 44. The channel guides are preferably secured to the inside wall of the housing 10 and to the central sleeve 38. Incidentally, the central sleeve 38 is cut away at its opposite sides to permit the motors to be projected radially inwardly a suficient distance for the cutters to operate on a small pole.

The two motor driven cutters are adapted to be adjusted so as to cut a tapered pole by means of a separate motor 45 which is also mounted within the housing (Fig. 3). In this instance, the

J motor 45 is connected to slide the crossheads 43 radially inwardly or outwardly by a shaft 46, worm gears 47 and 48 and feed screws 49. The speed of this motor can be varied by an ordinary rheostat according to the speed at which the poles are fed longitudinally through the ma.-

chine. Since the usual taper of the poles is about one inch in ten feet, the motor 45 will feed each of the crossheads 43 radially outwardly through a half inch while a pole is being fed longitudinally through a distance of ten feet. Incidentally, the speed of this motor may be varied by an operator according to the speed at which a pole is fed and it is reversible so that the cutters may be readjusted for another pole after one is finished. Moreover, the motor as may be employed to adjust the cutters and, then, stopped, when the machine is used to shape cylindrical poles or posts.

All of the motors are supplied with current through bus rings 5e around and insulated from 8 the casing 10. Wiping contacts 51 are shown as being secured to the upper brace bar 13 between the rings 11 (Fig. 3).

To enable an operator to adjust the cutters and also observe their positions of adjustment 8 or the diameter of a pole while it is being shaped, an annular gauge plate 52, conveniently made of sheet metal, is shown as projecting behind the machine and provides a pointer cooperating with an index plate 53 calibrated to indicate the diameter in inches. The gauge plate 52 is shown as being slidably supported by guide rods 54 extending through brackets 55 within the casing 10. The plate is moved inwardly and outwardly by the crossheads 13 which carry the cutter mo- 9 tors. For this purpose, a pair of operating rods 56 are pivotally connected at their inner ends to hell cranks 57 which are actuated by the crossheads (Figs. 4 and 6). Incidentally, many parts are omitted in Fig. 6, better to show the bell crank connections and other details.

The poles are fed longitudinally into the machine conveniently by ordinary endless crawlers (not shown), engaging their opposite sides and their small ends pass through an opening or ill mouth 53 in a front plate 59, ready to be gripped by supporting, centering and guiding rollers 66. The rollers 60 are shown as being mounted on angular brackets 81 secured to blocks or plates 52 guided in radial channels provided by opposed ll of angles 63 on the inside of the front plate (Fig. 4). Three such rollers are shown 120 apart and they are preferably clamped against the poles by means of a single pneumatic piston 64 in a cylinder 65. For this purpose, a piston rod at is ill connected to a pin 67 which extends through a radial slot 63 in the front plate and is secured to one of the blocks 32. To impart simultaneous movement to the other rollers, an annular plate 69 having cam slots 70 is rotatably mounted 12 around the cylindrical mouth 58. The pin 6'? imparts rotation to the cam plate and the lower cam slots 70 (Fig. 1) impart movement to pins 71, similar to the pin 67, which arelikewise secured to the blocks 62 of these rollers. Hence, 12 an attendant can control the guiding rollers by means of an air valve (not shown). As a pole passes through these rollers the sweeps or crooks will impart guiding movement through them to the machine so that the cutters will not take off 13 too much stock on the crooks.

To prevent the shavings from clogging up the mechanism in the casing 10, a pair of overlapping shutters '72 are secured to the front ends of the housings of the motors 42 behind the cutter heads 13 so that the shutters move with the motors and closely surround poles of any diameter which the machine will take. A sheet metal shield 73 is shown as being secured to the partition 40 around the projecting end of motor 34. Also, to prevent .14 shavings from accumulating in the front end of the casing, a frusto-conical sheet metal baflie '74 is secured to the partition 40 and extends to the open end of the casing. The front plate 59 terminates short of the bottom of the casing so 14 that the shavings will fall out. It is contemplated that the machine will be mounted in a pit, as shown in Fig. 7, and the shavings will be removed from the opening by an ordinary suction fan having a flexible conduit (not shown). 15

In Fig. '7, the machine is shown as being mounted in a pit and a pole is being fed, small end first through it by means of carriages '75 and 76 on tracks 77 leading to and from the ingoing and outgoing ends of the machine. After the pole is fed, say, a little more than half way through the machine by the ingoing carriage, its shaped end is suitably secured to the outgoing carriage and is pulled the rest of the way through, while the ingoing carriage is returned to get another pole. Driving means for the carriages and means for clamping the poles on them require no detailed description. As a matter of fact, this type of feeding apparatus is to be treated as illustrative only, as there are many different ways to convey the poles through the machine.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the improved machine is adapted to shape heavy poles very rapidly. It eliminates expensive and cumbersome apparatus for rotating the poles. Moreover, its full floating action makes it possible to shape crooked poles without cutting off an excess of the stock at the crooks or sweeps. In short, the machine solves a .problem which heretofore has defied a successful solution. It not only shapes crooked poles to their required dimensions, but also greatly improves their appearance. The removal of the excess stock on oversized poles which cannot be classed in the next larger class or group greatly reduces the quantity of preservative required, the weight and the shipping space. The money saved on transportation charges alone would justify an installation in any wood preserving plant which treats poles of this type.

Obviously, the present invention is not restricted to -the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly, since they may beemployed advantageously in various combination and sub-combinations.

What is claimed is:

l. A machine for shaping poles having crooks or sweeps comprising, in combination, a casing through which a pole is adapted to be fed longitudinally; a frame within which the casing is rotatably mounted; rotary cutting means within the casing; means to rotate the casing within the frame; pole clamping guides adjacent to the cut ting means adapted to ride over the sweeps of the poles; and supporting means for the frame and casing connected to permit floating movement of the cutting means.

2. A cutting machine for shaping crooked poles comprising a casing mounted for universal and floating movement to follow the sweeps of a pole fed longitudinally therethrough; a power driven rotary cutter within the casing; guiding means within the casing to engage the pole and impart floating movement to the casing; and means to rotate the casing and the cutter about the pole.

3. A pole shaping machine of the character described comprising, in combination, a substantially cylindrical casing; a frame within which the casing is rotatably mounted; supports connected to the frame and the casing permitting movement of the casing to follow substantially the sweeps of a crooked pole fed longitudinally therethrough; power driven, rotary 'cutters mounted in the casing; and power driven means also in the casing connected to rotate it with the cutters about a pole.

4. A cutting machine for shaping crooked poles comprising a casing mounted for universal and floating movement on a pole fed longitudinally therethrough; a power driven rotary cutter within the casing; guiding means within the casing to engage the pole and impart floating movement to the casing; means for constantly adjusting the position of the rotary cutter according to the required varying diameter of the pole; and means to rotate the casing and'the cutter about the pole.

5. A pole shaping machine of the character described, comprising, in combination, a substantially cylindrical casing; a frame within which the casing is rotatably mounted; supports connected to -the frame and the casing permitting universal and floating movement of the casing to follow substantially the sweeps of a crooked pole fed longitudinally therethrough; power driven, rotary cutters 'mounted in the casing; power driven means also in the casing connected to rotate it with the cutters about the pole; and means connected to feed the cutters so as to produce the required taper of a pole.

6. A pole shaping machine comprising, in combination, a substantially horizontal, cylindrical casing; a pair of opposed power driven, rotary cutters within the casing; radially adjustable supports for the cutters to enable them to shape tapered poles; supports for the casing mounted to permit universal and floating movement; guiding rollers in the casing to engage a pole fed longitudinally therethrough between said outters; power driven means in the casing connected to rotate it and said rotary cutters about a pole; a motor having gearing connected to feed the cutters radially as a tapered pole is being fed through the machine; and a separate motor connected to rotate the casing about the pole.

7. A pole shaping machine for cutting crooked, tapered poles to the required size, comprising, in combination, a horizontal, rotatable casing mounted for universal and floating movement to follow the sweeps of a pole fed longitudinally and axially therethrough; a pair of motor driven, rotary cutters slidably and adjustably mounted within the casing; a motor within the casing connected to rotate it and the cutters about a pole being fed therethrough; a plurality of centering and guiding rollers adjacent to the cutters adapted to engage a pole; motor operated gearing for feeding the cutters according to the required taper of a pole; and a gauge operatively connected to the cutters to indicate the adjusted positions of the cutters and the finished diameter of a pole as it is being cut.

8. A pole shaping machine of the character described comprising a universal and floating,

rotatable casing; a pair of radially adjustable,

rotary cutters within the casing and rotatable therewith about a pole fed longitudinally and axially through the machine; pneumatically operated guiding rollers at the entering end of the casing connected to engage a pole and impart floating movement to the casing and the cutters as the sweeps of the pole are engaged by the rollers; means connected to feed the cutters radially as a tapered pole is being fed through the machine so as to vary its diameter from one end to the other; a gauge plate projecting from the rear end of the machine and operatively connected to the .cutter adjusting mechanism to indicate the diameter of the pole being cut at any point; a supporting partition within'the casing.

be moved back and forth as the cutters are ad justed to prevent shavings from entering said opening and clogging the mechanism.

9. In a pole shaping machine for cutting crooked, tapered poles, a horizontal cylindrical casing mounted to rotate about a pole and carry ing rotary cutters; a pair of supporting rings ad- Jacent to the opposite ends of the casing; roller bearings between said rings and the casing; diametrically opposed bars connected to the rings at the top and bottom; vertical trunnions connected to the mid portions of said bars; a secand pair of rings surrounding the brace bars and having connecting bloclrs within which said trun= nions are pivoted whereby the casing may have pivotal movement about a vertical axis; diametrically opposed horizontal bearings carried by said last named rings; pivotal supporting arms having horizontal pins journaled in said bearings to permit pivotal movement of the casing about a horizontal axis; means connected to the pivoted arms to permit lateral movement of the casing; and hydraulic pistons connected to raise and lower said pivoted supporting arms to vary the height of the casing.

10.111 a machine for shaping poles having crooks or sweeps, a universal and floating cylindrical casing carrying power driven rotary cutters; means to rotate the casing about a pole fed longttudinally and axially therethrough between the cutters; pole guiding and supporting rollers adiacent to the cutters adapted to impart floating intense a pole and carrying rotary cutting means; pole guiding and gripping means at the pole-entering end of the casing, including a plurality oi rollers; radially movable brackets supporting the rollers; a pneumatic piston operatively connected to one of the brackets; and a rotatable cam plate actuated by said piston to impart corresponding movements to the other brackets.

12. In a machine for shaping tapered poles, a substantially cylindrical casing adapted to he rotated about a pole ied longitudinally therethrough; motor driven rotary cutters on opposite sides of the axis of the casing; radial guides within the casing; crossheads on the cutter driving motors slidably mounted in said guides; feed screws connected to the crossheads to adjust the cutters; and a motor connected to actuate the feed screws and adjust the cutters as a pole is fed through the machine.

ROBERT 'WHITE, J FEW I G'LLLUN.

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