US2408231A

US2408231A - Tiltable rotary power-driven workholding unity

Info

Publication number: US2408231A
Application number: US587529A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry A Skilton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-04-10
Filing date: 1945-04-10
Publication date: 1946-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 1963-09-24

Description

Sept. 24, 1946. H. A. SKILTON 2,408,231

TILTABLE ROTARY POWER-DRIVEN WORK-HOLDING UNIT Filed April 10, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet l lNVENTOR HARRY A. Smrron 1 'ATTOR/VEY-S Sept. 24, 1946. H. A. SKILTON 2,403,231

'I'IL'I'ABLE ROTARY POWER-DRIVEN WORK-HOLDING UNIT Filed April 10, 1945 Y 4 Sheets-SheetZ \INIVENTOR '-HARRYA.5K|LT0- 3,

Arrow/mars.

. p z4, 1-946. H. A. SKILTON 2,408,231

TILTABLE ROTARY POWER-DRIVEN WORK-HOLDING UNIT Filed April 10, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 24, 1946 I UNITED STATE TILTABLE ROTARY POWER-DRIVEN WORK- HOLDING UNIT 1 Harry'A Q Skilton, Watertown, Conn. Application'April 10, 1945, Serial No. 587,529

' 13 Claims. (01. 51-237 The present invention relates to work-holding units and relates more particularly to. workholding units of a type wherein a table or' other I j Fig.- is a broken horizontal sectional view work-carrying member is rotatable about a given I axis of rotation and in which the said'axis of rotation is tiltable.

Thework-holding units of the present invention are primarily designed to hold dies and to turn the same topermit the ready and convenient polishing of their cavities, protuberances, etc, though-available for other uses. 7 7

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a' superior tiltable rotary' powerdriven work-holding unit having its axis of Totation tiltable or changeable in position to thus enable work to be turned in the desired path. I

Another object of the present invention is to andarranged that the power-drive for the tiltable work-carrying member may be readily disconnected to permitmanual rotation of the said member when desired. I. a I

- Still another objector the presentinvention is to provide a'superior work-holding unit of the type referred to and in which the work-carrying member may be automatically locked against rotation by the shutting-off of the driving-power.

, With the above and other objects in 'view, as

taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fi 6 is a similar view but taken on the line 6- B of Fig. 4,, I

The' particular work-holding unit herein chosen for purposes of'making clear a, preferred I form of the present invention, includes among its main features 'a base III, a tubular standard I I, a mounting-yoke generally designated by the reference character I2, and awork-holding table I3.

The tubular standard II is arranged vertically and has its lower end-firmly anchored in the base It and'issurmounted at its upper end bythe mounting-yoke I2. The saidmounting-yoke includes a centrally-depending-stem I I which is entered into the interior of the upper end of the tubular standard II and may-be rigidly secured therein in any suitable manner; The mountingyoke I2 also includes two upwardly-extending willv appear to those skilled in the artfrom the present disclosure, this invention includes allfe'a- Y tures in the said disclosure which arenovel over v Fig. 3 is a broken vertical sectional View on an enlarged'scale and taken on the line 3 3 of Fig.2; Fig. 4 is a broken vertical sectionalviewon an enlarged scale and taken on the line"4 4 of Fig. 1;

laterally-spaced-apart arms I5 and Ilirespectively provided :at their upper ends with horizontal bearing passages l1 and I8.

Mounted respectively in the bearing-passages I1 and I8 above referred to, are the tubular trunnions I9 and 20 of a-bearing-head generally designated by the reference character 2 I.- v The said tubular'trunnions l9. and 20;are axially aligned with each other but project outwardly from the respective opposite sides bf the said bearinghead 2I.as is especially well shown in Figs. 3 and 5. I

r The said. tubular trunnions I9 and 20 are axiallyzin-line with each other and respectively project outwardly. from the opposite ends of a luglike trunnion-portion 22 of the said bearing-head 2 I.; Thesaid bearing-head also includes a tubular spindle-portion 23 formed integral with the said trunnion-portion: 22 but having its axis extending at a right angle with-respect to the axes of the tubular trunnions I9 and 20. Bearing in the spindle-portion of the bearing-head 2| with capacity for'rotation therein, is a work-carryingspindle 24 f0rmedat its upper end with an. externally-threaded stem 25 onto which the disk-like Work-holding table l3 is the .lower portion of a "cap .28 forming a clo- I sure for the other otherwise-open lower end of the hollow interior of the spindle-portion 23 of the bearing-head 2|. The said cap is formed with an integral upwardly-extending annular-flange 29 having its outer periphery snugly fitting the interior of the spindle-portion 23, as is shown in Figs. 4 and 6.

The internal diameter of the sleeve-like flange 29 of the cap 28 is sufficiently larger than the external diameter of the lower portion of spindle 24 as to be able to accommodate within it a bushing 30. In its upper edge the bushing 30 is formed with two radial clearance-notches; 3'l3|' respectively located at diametrically-opposite points in the bushing 33 and intersecting the upper edge thereof.

The clearance-notches 3|'3'| in the bushing 30 are adapted to respectively receive the opposite ends of a bar-like coupling-key 32 which extends lengthwise through a diametrical-passage 33 formed in the lower-portion of the spindle 24. The said passage 33 has a vertical extent but slightly less than double the vertical extent of the coupling-key 32 for the purpose of permitting the saidcoupling-key to be bodily moved vertically, for purposes as will hereinafter appear.

Resting upon the upper edge of the bushing 39 is the lower edge of a hub 34 formed integral with and depending from a wormwhea 35. The unit consisting of tnesaid worm-wheel 35 and its hub 34 is formed with an axial bearing-passage which fits the periphery of the spindle 24 with freedom for rotation 're1ative thereto and for purposes as will hereinafter appear; The hub 34 is formed in its lower edge with two radial and downwardly-opening coupling-notches or recesses 36 35 respectively located at diametrically-opposite points and adapted to receive the respective opposite ends of the coupling-key 32. for purposes as will hereinafter appear.

The worm-wheel 35 meshes with and is driven by a worm 31 extending horizontally in the trunmien-portion 22 of the bearing-head 2|, as is especially well shown in Figs. 3, f1 and 5. Respectively extending outwardly from the opposite ends of the worm 3? are stub-

shafts

38 and 39 both forming a rigid feature of the said worm and arranged coaxially with respect thereto. The stub-

shafts

38 and 39 respectively turn in the interiors of the tubular tfurinions l9 and 20 of the bearing-head 2|. y

The outer end of the stub-shaft 39 of the worm 37 has rigidly mounted thereona V'-belt pulley M which may have a plurality of grooves therein respectively of different diameters and which is adapted to receive a v-belt ll which serves to drive the said pu ley 40 and hence also to drive the worm 31. The lower-portion of the V-belt 4| extends around a V-belt pulley which may also have a plurality of grooves of different diameters respectively and which is mounted upon and driven by the drive-shaft 43 of an electric motor 44. The said electric motor 44 is supported on the upper surface of a motor-bracket 4'5 adjacent the outer end thereof. The said motorbracket is formed at its innerlend with a tubularportion 45 through which the lower-portion of the tubular standard extends. The said motor-bracket 45 may, if desired; be vertically adjusted on the standard to suitably regulate the tension of the V-belt 4| or its equivalent.

The tubular trunnion I9 of the bearing-head 2| projects axially beyond the arm l of the mounting-yoke l2 and is externally threaded as at 41 to threadedly receive a lock-nut 48. The

said lock-nut is provided with a rigid radiallyextending arm 49 which latter terminates at its outer end in a ball-grip 5B.

Returning now to the bar-like coupling-key 32 which extends diametrically Within the spindleportion 23 of the bearing-head 2|, it will be noted by reference to Fig. 4 in particular, that the said key has centrally threaded into it, the upper end of an operating-plunger 5| which is mounted for reciprocation lengthwise of itself axially in the lower-portion of the spindle 24. The lower-portion of the said operating-plunger extends below the lower end of the spindle 24 and is provided with a handle 52 which is accommodated partly or wholly within the space between the vertical arms I5 and I6 of the normally-stationary mounting-yoke i2, dependent upon the position to which the entire bearing-head 2| is tilted.

For the purpose of yieldingly holding the operating-plunger 5| in either one of two vertical positions, the said operating-plunger is formed in its periphery with two annular detent-grooves respectively designated by the reference characters 53 and 54.. The said detent-grooves are alternately adapted to receive a ball-'detent 55 mounted in a radial-passage 56- formed in the lower-portion of the spindle 24, as is shown in Fig, 4. The said ball-detent is urged toward the operating-plunger 5| by a helical detent-spring 51.

The bearing-head 2| is. preferably formed with a rearwardly-extending integral arm 58 projecting through the space between the comp'lemental arms |5 and I6 of the mounting-yoke l2. At its rear end the said arm 58 has the upper end of a rod 59 rigidly coupled to it. Mounted on the rod with capacity for vertical adjustment is a counterweight 6!), for purposes aswill hereinafter appear.

Encircling the upper-portion of the tubular standard H is the hub 6| forming an integral feature of a radially-extending bracket 62 upon which may be conveniently mounted a suitable motor-driven flexible-shaft unit (not shown) to be utilized for grinding or polishing such dies as may be secured to the upper face of the work holding table l3 before referred to.

Operation For purposes of description, let it be assumed that the coupling-key 32 is in its lowermost position as shown in Fig. 4 and that the electric motor 44 is energized,

Under th above described conditions the motor 44 through the intermediary of the V-belt 4|, pulley 4i! and stub-shaft 39, turn the worm 31. The worm 31 will drive the worm-wheel 35 which under these conditions will turn loosely on the work-carrying spindle .24, inasmuch as the coupling-key 32 is disengaged from the couplingnotches 3636 in the hub 34 of the said wormwheel.

Should it now be desired to drive the workholding table l3, the coupling-key 32 may be shifted upwardly into the coupling-notches 36-36 in the hub 34, by pressing upwardly upon the handle 52 of the operating-plunger 5|. As soon as the coupling-key 32 enters the said coupling-notches 3B36, it will be coupled to and driven by the worm-wheel 35 and since it extends through the diametrical passage 33- the said coupling-key will in turn drive the spindle 24 and hence also the table l3. Thus a die or other article secured to the upper surface of the table |3 may be turned while being polished, dressed or otherwise operated upon.

Should it be desired to tilt the table l3 so as to cause the same to rotate about an inclined axis, thelock-nut 48 on the tubular trunnion IQ of the bearing-head 2|, may be loosened. Following this operation the entire bearing-head 2| may be turned about the worm as a center during which operation the tubular trunnions l9 and will turn respectively in thebearing-passages l1 and [8 of the mounting-yoke I2. After the bearinghead 2| and the parts carried thereby have been tilted into the desired position, the lock-nut 48 may again be tightened by means of its arm 49 whereupon the new setting of the said bearinghead may be fixed. During the tilting of the bearing-head and the parts carried thereby,

the counterweight 60 carried-by its arm 58 and rod 59 will, when the said counterweight is properly adjusted,- render the said bearing-head and parts carried thereby sufliciently stable so that the sam will not of their own weight materially tend to shift,

Now should it he desired for anyreason to lock the table i3 against rotation while a special operation is being performed, all that is required is to stop the electric motor 44 whereupon the self-locking engagement between the'worm-wheel and the worm 31 will serve this purpose. Should it be desired to leave the work-holding table l3 free for manual rotation, all that is required to effect this result is to lower the coupling-key 32 into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 4, to thereby uncouple the spindle 24 from the worm-wheel 35. The uncoupling just referred to, may be achieved whether or not the worm-wheel 35 is at the time being driven.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodimerits are,'therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim: 4 1. A tiltable rotary power-driven work-holding unit, including in combination: a support having a bearing; a tiltable bearing-head having a tubular trunnion mounted for oscillation in thebearing'of the said support; a first gear-member carried by the said bearing-head adjacent the inner end of its said tubular trunnion; drivemeans projecting through the tubular trunnion of the said bearing-head and connected to the said first gear-member for driving the same; a workcarrying spindle mounted in the said bearinghead for rotation about an axis disposed at an angle with respect'to the axis of the tubular trunnion of the bearing-head; a second gearmember also carried by the said bearing-head and .the said tubular trunnion.

inner end of its said tubular trunnion; drivemeans projecting through the tubular trunnion of the said bearing-head and connected to the said first gear-member for driving th same; a substantially-vertical work-carrying spindle mounted in the said bearing-head for rotation about an axis disposed at substantiallya right angle with respect to the axis of the tubular trunnion of the bearing-head; a second gearmember also carried by the saidbearing-head and meshing with the said first gear-member; and releasable coupling-means operatively interposed between thesaid drive-means and the said substantially-vertical spindle to selectively connect and disconnect the same; the said bearinghead, second gear-member and work-carrying spindle being jointly tiltable about the axis of 3. A tiltable rotary power-driven work-holding unit, including in combination: 'a support having two axially-spaced-apart bearings; a tiltable bearing-head having two 'axially-spaced-apart tubular trunnions respectively mounted for cscillation in the bearings of the said support; a first gear-member carried by the said bearinghead and located intermediate the respective inner ends of the tubular trunnions thereof; drivemeans projecting through one Of the tubular trunnions of the said bearing-head and connected to the said first gear-member for driving the same; a spindle mounted in the said bearinghead for rotation about an axis disposed at an angle with respect to the axes of the tubular trunnions of the bearing-head; a second gearmember also carried by the said bearing-head and meshing with the said first gear-member; and releasable coupling-means operatively interposed between the said drive-means and the said spindle to selectively connect and disconnect the same; the said bearing-head, second gear-member and work-carrying spindle being jointly tiltableabout the axes of the two said tubular trunnions.

meshing with the said first gear-member; and releasable coupling-means operatively interposed between the said drive-means and the said spindle to selectively connect and disconnect the same; the said bearing-head, second gear-mem ber and work-carrying spindl being jointly tiltable about the axis of the said tubular trunnion.

2; A tiltable rotary power-driven work-holding unit, including in combination: a support having a substantially-hormonal bearing; a tiltable bearing-head having a tubular trunnion mounted for oscillation in the substantially horizontal bearing of the said support; a first gear-member carried bythe said bearing-head adjacent the 4. A tiltable rotary power-driven work-holding unit, including incombination: a support having two axially-spaced-apart substantially-horizontal bearings; a tiltable bearing-head having two axially-spaced-apart tubular trunnions respectively mounted for oscillation in the substantially-horizontal bearings of the said support; a first gear-member carried by the said bearinghead and located intermediate the respective inner ends of the tubular trunnions thereof; drivemeans projecting through one of the tubular trunnions of the said bearing-head and connected tothe said first gear-member for driving the same a substantially-vertical work-carryin spindle mounted in the said bearing-head for rotation about an axis disposed at substantially a right angle with respect to the axes of the said tubular trunnions; 'a' second gear-member also carried by the said bearing-head and meshing with the said first gear-member, the said second gear-member being operatively associated with the said substantially-vertical spindle for turning the'same; and releasable coupling-means op 'eratively interposed between the said drivethe axes of the two said tubular trunnions.

5; Atiltable rotary power-driven work-holding unit, includingin combination: asupport having a bearing; a tiltable bearing-head having a tubular trunnion mounted for oscillation in the bearing of the said support; a worm carried by the said bearing-head adjacent the inner end of its said tubular trunnion; drive-means projecting through the tubular trunnion of the said bearing-head and connected to the said worm for driving the same; a work-carrying spindle mounted in the said bearing-head for rotation about an axis disposed to one side of and at an angle with respect to the axis of the tubular trunnion of the bearing-head in non-intersecting relationship thereto; and a Worm-wheel also carried by the said bearing-head and meshing with the said worm, the said worm-wheel being operatively associated with the said spindle for turning the same; the said bearing-head, worm-Wheel and work-carrying spindle being jointly tiltable about the axis of the said tubular trunnion.

6. A tiltable rotary power-driven work-holding unit, including in combination: a support having a bearing; a tiltable bearing-head having a tubular trunnion mounted for oscillation in the bearing of the said support; a worm carried by the said bearing-head adjacent the inner end of its said tubular trunnion; drive-means projecting through the tubular trunnion of the said bearing-head and connected to the said worm-wheel for driving the same; a work-carrying spindle mounted in the said bearing-head for rotation about an axis disposed at an angle with respect to the axis of the tubular trunnion of the bearing-head; a worm-wheel also carried by the said bearing-head and meshing with the said worm; and releasable coupling-means operatively interposed between the said drive-means and the said spindle to selectively connect and disconnect the same; the said bearing-head, worm-wheel and work-carrying spindle being jointly tiltable about the axis of the said tubular trunnion.

7. A tiltable rotary power-driven work-holding unit, including in combination: a support having a substantially-horizontal bearing; a tiltable bearing-head having a tubular trunnion mounted for oscillation in the substantially-horizontal bearing of the said support; a worm carried by the said bearing-head adjacent the inner end of its said tubular trunnion; drive-means projecting through the tubular trunnion of the said bearinghead and connected to the said worm for driving the same; a substantially-vertical work-carrying spindle mounted in the said bearing-head for rotation about an axis disposed to one side of and at substantially a right angle with respect to the axis of the tubular trunnion of the bearing-head in non-intersecting relationship thereto; and a worm-wheel also carried by the said bearing-head and meshing with the said worm, the said wormwheel being operatively associated with the said substantially-vertical spindle for turning the same; the said bearing-head, worm-wheel and work-carrying spindle being jointly tiltable about the axis of the said tubular trunnion. I

8. A tilta'ble rotary power-driven work-holding unit, including in combination: a, support having a substantially-horizontal bearing; a tiltable bearing-head having a tubular trunnion mounted for oscillation in the substantially-horizontal bearing of the said support; a worm carried by the said bearing-head adjacent the inner end of its said tubular trunnion; drive-means projecting through the tubular trunnion of the said bearing-head and connected to the said worm for driving the same; a, substantially-vertical workcarrying spindle mounted in thesaid bearinghead for rotation about an axis disposedto one ,respect to'the axis of the tubular trunnion of the bearing-head in non-intersecting relationship thereto; a worm-wheel also carried by the said bearing-head and meshing with the said worm; and releasable coupling-means operatively interposed between the said drive-means and the said substantially-vertical spindle to selectively connect and disconnect the same; the said bearing-h ad, worm-wheel and work-carrying spindle being jointly tiltable about the axis of the said tubular trunnion.

9.- A tiltable rotary power-driven work-holding unit, including in combination: a support having two axially-spaced-apart bearings; a tiltable bearing-head having two axially-spaced-apart tubular trunnions respectively mounted for oscillation'in the bearings of the said support; a worm carried by the said bearing-head and located intermediate the respective inner ends of the tubular trunnions thereof; drive-means pro- .jectingthrough one of the tubular trunnions of the said bearing-head and connected to the said worm for driving the same; a work-carrying spindie mounted in the said bearing-head for rotation about an axis disposed to one side of and at an angle with respect to the axes of the tubular trunnions of the bearing-head in non-intersecting relationship thereto; and a worm-wheel also carried by the said bearing-head and meshingwith the said worm, the said worm-wheel being operatively associated with the said spin" die for turning the same; the said bearing-head, Worm-wheel and work-carrying spindle being jointly tiltable about the axes of the two said tubular trunnions.

10. A tiltable rotary power-driven Work-holding unit, including in combination: a support having two axially-spaced-apart bearings; a tiltable bearing-head having two axially-spacedapart tubular trunnions respectively mounted for oscillation in the bearings of the said support; a worm carried by the said bearing-head and located intermediate the respective inner ends of the tubular trunnions thereof; drive-means projecting through one of the tubular trunnions of the said bearing-head and connected to the said worm for driving the same; a spindle mounted in the said bearing-head for rotation about an axi disposed at an angle with respect to the axes of the tubular trunnions of the bearinghead; a worm-wheel also carried by the said bearing-head and meshing with the said worm; and releasable coupling-means operatively interposed between the said drive-means and the said spindle to selectively connect and disconnect the same; the said bearing-head, worm-wheel and Work-carrying spindle being jointly tiltable about the axes of the two said tubular trunnions.

11. A tiltable rotary power-driven work-holding unit, including in combination: a support having two axially-spaced-apart substantiallyhorizontal bearings; a tiltable bearing-head having two axially-spaced-apart tubular trunnions respectively mounted for oscillation in the substantially-horizontal bearings of the said support; a worm carried by the-said bearing-head and located intermediate the respective inner ends of the tubular trunnions thereof; drivemeans projecting through one of the tubular trunnions of the said bearing-head and connected to the said worm for driving the same; a substantially vertical work carrying spindle mounted in the :said bearing-head for rotation about an axis disposed to one side of and at substantially a right angle with respect to the axes of the said tubular trunnions in non-intersecting relationship thereto; and a worm-wheel also carried by the said bearing-head and meshing with the said warm, the said worm-wheel being operatively associated with the said substantiallyvertical spindle for turning the same; the said bearing-head, worIn-Wheel and work-carrying spindle being jointly tiltable about the axes of the two said tubular trunnions.

12. A tiltable rotary power-driven work-hold ing unit, including in combination: a support having two axially-spaced-apart substantiallyhorizontal bearings;-a tiltable bearing-head having two axially-spaced-apart tubular trunnions respectively mounted for oscillation in the substantially-horizontal bearings of the said sup' port; a worm carried by the said bearing-head and located intermediate the respectiveinner ends of the tubular trunnions thereof; drivemeans projecting through one of the tubular trunnions of the saidbearing-head and connected to the said worm' for'driving the same; a subsaid substantially-vertical spindle to selectively connect and disconnect the same; the said bearing-head, Worm-wheel and work-carrying spin- .dle being jointlytiltable about the axes of the two said tubular trunnions. v

13. A tiltable rotary power-driven work-holding unit, including in combination: a support having a bearing; a tiltable bearing-head having a tubular trunnion mounted for oscillation in the bearing of the said support; a first gearmember carried by the said bearing-head adjacent the inner end of its said tubular trunnion; drive-means projecting through the tubular trunnion of the said bearing-head and connected tothe said first gear-member for driving the same; a Work-carrying spindle mounted in the said bearing-head for rotation about an axis disposed at an angle with respect to the axis of the tubular trunnion of the hearing-head, the said spindle being formed with a transverse key-receiving passage; a second gear-member encircling the said spindle and meshing with the said first gear-member, the said second gear-member being formed with a key-receiving notch; and a transverse coupling-key extending transversely through the said spindle and movable in a direction paralleling the axis of the said spindle into and out of the key-receiving notch in the said second gear-member to respectively couple and uncouple the said second gear-member from the v said spindle.

HARRY A. SKILTON.