US2308546A - Milling machine and the like - Google Patents

Description

1943-v SfSAVA-GE 2,308,546

I MILLING MACHINE AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 23, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR f 6 m (M. Y M m 5 BY d W v ATTORNEY Jan. 19, 1943. s. SAVAGE MILLING MACHINE AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 2s,' 1942 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR firm us) J4me:

m ATTQRNEYS Jan. 19, 1943. s. SAVAGE MILLINGMACHINE AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 23, 1942 H An 4 & fim r ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 19, 1943 I UNlTED STATES rear 'FFEE MILLING MACHINE AND THE LIKE -Stanley Savage, Seattle, Wash.

Application February 23, 194.2, Serial No. 431,995

6 Claims.

This invention relates to milling machines, and the like, and has reference more particularly to novel improvements in thread milling machines, whereby they are adapted to simultaneously perform thread cutting operations upon a plurality of pieces of material, as a means of increasing the production capacity of the machine.

Explanatory to the present invention, it will here be stated that, to my knowledge, thread milling machines now in general use, are designed to perform a work operation on but one piece of material at a time. For example, assume that a large number of shafts or tubes of like dimensions are to be similarly threaded, one only will be secured in position to be worked on in the head and tail stocks of the machine. The milling cutter will then be brought properly to working position by adjustment of the cutter spindle carriage, and is advanced along the shaft in proper timing with its rate of rotation to form a a thread of the desired pitch. When the designated work on that shaft, or piece of material has been finished, the piece is removed, and another is put in its place. Thus, it is apparent that when a large number of pieces are to be worked on, and the pieces can only be worked on one at a time, the job will consume considerable time regardless of the fact that all pieces are alike.

In view of the foregoing, it has been the prin- I cipal object of this invention to increase production capacity of the ordinary types of thread milling machines, or other machines to which the present invention is applicable, and it contemplates the accomplishment of this increased production capacity either by the adaptation of auxiliary parts to certain well known types of milling machines that are already in general use, or by the construction of-new machines that in their original form, are equipped with the present means for the multiple production of like pieces of work.

More specifically stated, the objects of the present invention reside in the provision of a thread milling machine, in general of the same design as now employed, wherein a succession of working heads are arranged at spaced intervals along the bed of the machine, and each of said heads is equipped with a plurality of work holding spindles. plates that all work holding spindles be rotated in unison through the mediacy of a line shaft extended between the succession of working heads, and a driving and indexing connection for all heads be provided by a connection be-= The invention further contem- 1 tween the gearing of the first working head of the series and the head stock spindle which, in turn, has a clutch connection with the main drive shaft of the machine.

Furthermore, associated with each of said working heads as employed in this invention, is a carriage, movable in ways provided on the machine bed, under control of a lead screw, common to all carriages, and each carriage mounts milling cutter equipped spindles, corresponding to the number of work carrying spindles, and an electric motor on each carriage drives the cutter spindles.

Still further objects of the present invention reside in certain details of construction of parts designed to provide for efiecting the compensating adjustment that is required due to the changing or use of different milling cutters.

In accomplishing the above stated, as well as other objects of the invention, later apparent, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is a side View of a milling machine, equipped with means adapting it to the threading of pieces in multiples in accordance with the objects of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section, on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2, illustrating the geared driving connection between the work holding spindles of one of the working heads, for causing them to turn in unison.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view, on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2, illustrating the disposition of the milling cutters and provision for their simultanecus lateral adjustment from and against the pieces of work.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, sectional detail, taken longitudinally of the adjusting shaft for the milling cutter mounting brackets associated with'one of the movable carriages.

Fig. 6 is a side view of one of the cutter mounting brackets.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional detail of one of the work holding spindles.

'Fig. 8 is a detail showing the internal threading operation.

Before going into a detailed description of the drawings, it will be here explained that only those parts of the machine thought essential to a full disclosure of the present invention willbe illustrated or described in detail. Parts not essential to a full disclosure and proper understanding of the invention, are omitted to avoid confusion.

Referring more in detail to the drawings- I designates, in this entirety, the main frame structure of a milling machine typical of the type to which the present invention is applicable. This structure comprises the horizontal bed 2, equipped with the central and opposite end supports 3 in the nature of legs, and the catch basin, or pan 4, which underlies the bed.

The bed, here shown to be of substantial length, is formed in its top surface with the longitudinal ways 5 and 5', as observed in Figs. 3 and 4, and at the left-hand end of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1, there is a gear housing 6 mounted upon the bed, which contains therein the driving, speed changing and reversing gearing, and through which the work holding spindles of the machine, the feed screw and other parts, are operated and controlled. The starting and stopping of this mechanism, insofar as it concerns the work holding spindles, is under control of a hand lever 1, fixed on a horizontal shaft 8 that extends into the housing 6, and there has operative connection with clutch control devices, not herein shown, but which are generally understood, whereby the working heads are thrown in or out of ear.

Also mounted in the gear head stock spindle l0, driven through clutch mechanism and suitable gearing, not herein shown. This spindle is equipped at its outer end with the work driving dog through which connection is made, as presently described, with the several working heads.

Extending longitudinally of the machine, as observed in Fig. 2, in a revolubly mounted lead screw I4, also operated through gearing not here shown, in the housing 6. This feed screw is supported in suitable bearings for rotation and against longitudinal travel, and its rate of rotation is in accordance with a predetermined rate of operation of the head stock spindle Iii.

It will here be stated that in the event a machine of a single spindle type already in use is to be remodeled and equipped with the parts comprised by the present multiple spindle invention, those parts ordinarily arranged on the bed, such as the tail stock and the carriage which mounts housing 6 is the the milling cutters, their spindles and gear hous- 4 ings, or corresponding parts, may be removed, and in their stead, a succession of working heads and carriages for the cutter spindles are installed in spaced relationship upon and along the bed.

In the present instance, as noted best in Fig. 1, I have illustrated two of these working heads; one being designated by reference numeral 20, located transversely of the bed quite close to the gear housing 6, and the other, designated by numeral 25], being spaced somewhat therefrom toward the tail end of the machine. It will be understood, however, that the number of these working heads that may be used, and their spacing relative to each other, would be dependent upon the length of the bed and the desired or required maximum distance of travel of the cutter mounting carriages in the longitudinal direction of the machine.

In the present instance, the two heads 20 and 2c are each equipped with two identical work mounting spindles 2 |-2 I in horizontal and parallel relationship. These spindles, as noted in Fig. 2, are revolubly contained in gear housings, and extend in the longitudinal direction of the working head 20.

machine, with end portions projecting from the gear housing which is embodied in the work head.

By reference to Fig. 7, it will be observed that the spindle shafts 2|-2| are tubular and each is designed to be rotatably driven by a gear 22 xed thereon and contained within the gear housing. The gears 22 of the two spindles in each working head are alike in diameter and both operate in mesh with a somewhat larger idler gear wheel 23 contained in the gear housing below the gears 22.

As will be best understood by reference to Fig.

.2, the arrangement of Work holding spindles 2|-2i' in each work head and 20 is alike, and the two idler gears 23 of the two work heads are both supported by and fixed on a line shaft 25 that extends between the heads 20 and 20' to insure driving the spindles in unison. Thus, all spindles will rotate in unison, and those in the same work head will rotate in the same direction.

To drive the work holding spindles, a driving connection is made between the head stock spindle I8 and the spindle shaft 2| of the adjacent For this purpose, the spindle shaft 2| is mounted in axial alinement with the spindle it. This driving connection is made through the mediacy of the driving dog II and may be accomplished in various ways. As here shown, the driven spindle I0 is equipped at its end with a disk 28 and this registers flatly against a similar disk 29 that is fixed to the end portion of the spindle 2| that is alined with spindle l0. Bolts 33 extend through holes provided in the disks to hold them together, and it is provided that through this connection, an indexing adjustment may be effected for multiple thread cutting.

Each of the tubular spindle shafts 2|-2|' is equipped at one end with a work holding chuck. In this showing, it comprises a longitudinally split and exteriorly threaded end portion 2|:r of the spindle. The threaded portion is tapered and a nut 35 is adapted to be tightened thereon to efiect the retraction of the chuck against the work piece that may be inserted in the spindle bore.

Corresponding to each of the working heads 20 and 20, is a cutter mounting carriage 48. Since each of these is like the other, only one will here be described in detail, with the understanding that the description applies equally to both.

The carriage is mounted flatly upon and is adapted for travel along the bed 2 in the longitudinal direction of the machine, and is held secure, and is guided in its travel by gibs 4|, fixed to the base of the carriage for travel in the guideways 5 and 5 of the bed, as shown in Fig. 5. Movement of the carriage along the bed is under control of the lead screw H which has threaded connection with a bushing or bearing 42 held in place by the block 4|. Thus, in accordance with the rate and direction of rotation of the lead screw, the carriage will be moved toward or from the working head 29.

Mounted on the carriage 40, in alinement transversely of the machine bed, are upstanding brackets 43 and-44 having inwardly directed, horizontal base portions 45 and 4-5. Each of these base portions is provided with a keyway 41, see Fig. 6, to receive and be secured by a dovetail key or rib 48 on the top face of the carriage. This key 68 is directed at a right angle to or transversely of the longitudinal ways of the bed and therefore the two brackets may be adjusted has an integral mounting flange through the J mediacy of which an adjustable mounting connection is made with the corresponding supporting bracket. As observed in Figs. 5 and 6, the flange 5! is circular and has a flat outer face,

and is disposed flatly against the fiat inside face of the corresponding bracket. The associated parts are held functionally together by a center pivot pin 52, and by two clamp bolts 53; these latter being extended through arcuate slots 54 in the bracket and threaded into the disk. The arrangement is such that by loosening the bolts 53, the housing may be rotatably adjusted about the pivot pin 52 as an axis. Tightening of the bolts secures the adjustment.

It is also to be observed by reference to Fig. 6 that the gear housings 59--50', each mounts therein a spindle 60 which, at one end, outside the housing, mounts a milling cutter 6| thereon. In each housing, the spindle 66 is driven (see Fig. 5) through a suitable spiral gear connection, as at 62, by a drive shaft 63 which is mounted in the housing and extends laterally outward therefrom. At their outer ends, these shafts are equipped with belt pulleys 64. As noted in Fig. 2, the pulleys 64 are rearwardly, and outwardly ofiset from their corresponding supporting brackets, and due to this, there will be no interference of parts due to any adjustments of the gear housings 5ii-50 that might be required.

Attention is now directed to the showing of parts in Figs. 2 and 6, wherein it is noted that the point of contact of the milling cutter 6| with the piece being worked on, is in the axial line of the pivot 52 about which rotary adjustment of the gear housing 5%! is made. Thus, any angular adjustment that may be required of the spindle mounting housing for the purpose of accomodating the milling cutter to the pitch of the thread to be cut, will not throw the cutter out of position relative to the piece being worked on.

Associated with each of the movable carriages 4B is a motor mounting table 65. This table is attached to and moves with the carriage under control of the lead screw and rides on the machine bed. It operates, in effect, as a part of the carriage. Mounted on this table 65 is an electric motor 65 with its drive shaft 61 extended beyond the motor to opposite sides of the machine bed. This shaft is equipped at its ends with belt pulleys 68-58 about which belts 6969 operate to drive the belt pulleys 64, thus to drive the two milling cutters that are associated with that particular carriage. It will be understood that since the table 65 is attached to the carriage 48, they will move together along the bed and the driving belt connection between the motor and spindles of the milling cutters will not be interfered with or thrown out of adjustment.

Where the machine is equipped with two work heads, and each head has two work holding spindles, it is possible to mount four pieces of work where, in the ordinary types of machines, only one piece would be mounted. Then, with these pieces of work mounted in the spindles and the milling cutters adjusted to position, one operator can easily take care of the machine, to produce four times as much as before.

It is to be understood that the work holding spindles would have to be made to accommodate the particular type of pieces being worked upon,

and it is most practical that all pieces be finished alike. In the present instance, the invention has been illustrated in connection with the threading of shafts. Fig. 8 shows an internal threading operation.

When the pieces of material, such as the short lengths of tubing designated by reference character S are applied to the four work holding spindles, as shown in Fig. 1, they extend horizontally in parallel relationship. The milling cutters corresponding thereto, as will be noted, are so disposed that they may be adjusted into contact with these work pieces at the outside thereof. The two milling cutters 6|, as shown in Fig. 5, rotate in the same direction, and this is required due to the fact that the shafts S on which they are to operate are rotated in the same direction by their spindles.

In order that the two milling cutters, as arranged in Fig. 5, may be simultaneously adjusted outwardly or inwardly from and against the work pieces S, I have provided the adjusting shaft HI. This is a horizontal shaft, that is directed transversely of the bed 2 and is carried with the carriage as illustrated best in Fig. 5. At one end, this shaft has a fixed but rotatable connection with a bracket 72 which, in turn, is fixed solidly to a side edge portion of the carriage 40. At its opposite end, the shaft has a turning handle I4. At sections intermediate its ends, and corresponding to the locations of the transversely aligned brackets 43 and M. the shaft H1 is provided with threaded portions 15 and 16; the portion 75 having a right-hand thread providing holding connection with the base portion Q5 of bracket 43 and the portion 15 having a left-hand thread connected, as presently described, with bracket 4A. Thus, upon rotation of the shaft 10 by means of handle M, both brackets 43 and at will be simultaneously, and to equal extent, adjusted from or toward the pieces S being worked on. To determine the proper extent of adjustment, cooperating graduated indexing disks, as at 8!! and 8!, may be fixed respectively to the shaft and carriage just within the turning handle.

In order that a compensating adjustment may be made in the relative setting of the two brackets that might be necessary upon the changing of cutters and due to very slight variations in dimensions of the cutters, I have provided that the connection between the threaded portion 15 of the adiustin shaft 71! and b acket M be throu h the mediacy of a sleeve 9!! that is threaded onto that portion of the shaft and which sleeve has an annular shoulder 91 at one end adapted to be held secure against a shoulder 92 in th bracket. and the inner end of a lock nut 93 that is threaded into he carriage in opposed re ation to the shoulder. Upon retracting the lock nut 93. the sleeve may then be rotatably adjusted. This will effect a compensating adjustment of the bracket 44 along he shaft it. Then this adjustment can be re tained by again tightening the lock nut. To facilitate rotation of the sleeve 90, it is equipped at its outer end with a turning head 96.

Assuming that a change in cutters has been made that makes necessary a re-setting of the brackets. it is the usual practice, first to rotate the shaft it so as to bring the cutter carried by bracket 43 just into cont-act with the shaft S on which it is to operate. Then, by rotative adjustment of sleeve 99, while holding shaft 70, the bracket 44 is moved so as to bring the milling cutter 60 carried thereby just into contact with its shaft S on which it is to operate. Then the sleeve 90 is locked against-turning.

In Fig. 8, I have shown, in plan view, a working head as equipped with work holding chucks for an internal threading operation. On each spindle ll-2| is a chuck 35a: mounting a piece of work W. SEX designates milling cutters for the internal threading operation, and these are on shafts Bib which may be extensions of the driven spindles 60.

With the present machine equipped with the working heads 20 and 20' as described and illustrated, and the spindles thereof connected by the gearing disclosed, it is quite apparent that all four work holding spindles will rotate in unison and that the two carriages which mount the milling cutters will move longitudinally of the bed 2 at the same rate. Thus, in this particular arrangement, four pieces of work may be worked on at'the same time, all under one main driving connection with the head stock spindle.

It is to be understood that such machines might be equipped with one, two or'more of the working heads, and that each head might be equipped with two or more spindles for mounting the pieces on which work is to be done. Thus, the capacity of such machines can be greatly increased without the requirement for additional labor insofar as control of the machine is concerned.

Improvements in accordance with this invention may be provided by the remodeling of old machines, or by building machines which have the present features as original equipment.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a machine of the character described having a bed section, a driven head spindle and a driven feed screw, of a plurality of working heads arranged upon the bed section in spaced relationship therealong, a plurality of spindles mounted in each of said working heads each for holding a piece of work, gearing connecting the spindles of all heads to cause them to rotate in unison, several spindles from the driven head spindle, carriages corresponding to each working head, mounted on the bed section for travel therealong, under control of the feed screw, and driven milling cutters mounted on the carriages for operat tion on work pieces held in the spindles of the corresponding working heads.

2. The combination with a machine of the character described having a bed section, a driven head spindle and a driven feed screw extending along the bed section, of a plurality of working heads fixed transversely upon the bed section at spaced intervals therealcng; a plurality of spindles mounted in each of said working heads, each for mounting a piece of material to be worked upon, gearing connecting the spindles of each head to cause them to rotate in unison, a line shaft extending between the several heads and having geared connection with the spindle gearing of each head to cause all spindles to rotate in unison, means efiecting a driving connection means for driving the between the said driven head spindle and the spindle driving gearing of the working head nearest thereto, carriages corresponding to each working head, movable along the bed section under control of the feed screw, gear housings adjustably mounted on the carriages, driven spindles mounted in the said housings, milling cutters on said spindles adjustable by their housings into position for operation on the work pieces held in the corresponding driven spindles, and movable along said work pieces with travel of the carriages.

3. A device as in claim 2 wherein brackets are mounted on the carriages for lateral adjustment, and said gear housings are adjustably mounted on said brackets, and means is provided for effecting simultaneous lateral adjustment of the brackets, to move the milling heads from or against the pieces of work, and means is provided for adjusting the working position of the millingcutters.

4. In a machine of the character described, a bed section, a driven head spindle, a driven feed screw, a plurality of working heads arranged upon the bed section at intervals therealong, a plurality of spindles mounted in each working head, each equipped for the holding of a piece of work, means for efiecting the driving of all spindles from the head spindle, carriages corresponding to each working head mounted on the bed section for travel therealong under control of the feed screw and milling cutters mounted on the carriages for operation on work pieces held in the spindles of corresponding working heads.

5. In a machine of the character described, a bed section, a driven head spindle, a driven feed screw, a plurality of working heads mounted on the bed section at intervals therealong, a pair of spindles mounted in each of the working heads; each equipped for the mounting of 'anobject to be worked on, gearing connecting the spindles of the several heads with the driven head spindle, a carriage corresponding to each working head, movable along the bed section under control of the feed screw, a pair of brackets mounted on each carriage for lateral adjustment, driven milling cutters mounted on the brackets for work on objects held by spindles of corresponding work heads, and a transverse adjusting shaft for each pair of brackets having threaded connection therewith for effecting their simultaneous lateral adjustment to correspondingly move the milling cutters carried thereby toward or from the objects being worked on, and means for rotating said-shaft.

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