US2542101A

US2542101A - Lens block

Info

Publication number: US2542101A
Application number: US775583A
Authority: US
Inventors: Suben Morten
Original assignee: LENS BLOCK CORP
Current assignee: LENS BLOCK CORP; LENS-BLOCK Corp
Priority date: 1947-09-23
Filing date: 1947-09-23
Publication date: 1951-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 1968-02-20

Description

Feb. 20, 1951 M. SUBEN LENS BLOCK Filed Sept. 25, 1947 wwx INVENTOR MORTEN SUBEN ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LENS BLOCK Morten Suben, New York, N. Y., assignor to Lens- Block Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York 3 Claims.

This invention relates to what are generally termed lens blocks for supporting lenses in the operation of grinding and polishing the same. More particularly, the invention deals with a novel type of suction cup and compression ring for devices of this kind to insure a positive attachment and seal of the block upon the lens.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed, and in which the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded sectional view Showing the several parts of the block preparatory to assemblage with the suction cup of the block attached to a lens.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing the block secured to the lens; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the suction cup and pressure ring in the position of normal assemblage thereof and showing the center plug in elevation.

Block devices of the kind under consideration are used to support and hold a lens during the operation of grinding or polishing the same, as clearly set forth diagrammatically in my prior application Serial Number 716,352, filed December 14, 1946, now abandoned. My present invention deals primarily with the structure of the suction cup and compression ring of the block device, as more fully hereinafter described.

The block comprises a suction cup part I0, a stud II, a compression ring I2, a cone I3 and a nut i all shown in position for assemblage in Fig. 1, the stud II having its reduced threaded portion 55 coupled with the embedded threaded sleeve it of the cap. The outer surface of the sleeve is roughened, as indicated at I! to securely anchor the sleeve in the upwardly extending neck portion I8 of the cup.

The cup i6 is normally of a contour and shape indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawing, and comprises a conical wall I9, terminating at its periphery in a downwardly extending annular flange portion 231, preferably of thinner wall construction than that of the conical wall I9, the flange 20 having an inwardly bevelled outer wall 2| and a rounded lower surface 22. The cup ID has a bottom wall 23 forming in combination with the wall it and flange 2|], a suction chamber 24. The wall 23 has centrally thereof a center marker 25 which acts as a gage in centralizing a lens or other workpiece, as at 26, in Figs. 1 and 2, on the block.

The stud II has a hardened pointer center 27 in the form of a plug having a tapered fit in the stud II so that the same may be removed for replacement in the event of wear. The plug 21, together with the stud I I have alined

tapered bores

28 and 29 respectively, which serve to guide a pin to the center of the plug 21 in operating the plug with the lens thereon over a grinding or polishing wheel, as is known in the art.

The ring I2 is normally of the general crosssectional contour shown in Fig. 3, and like the suction cup I 0, is also composed of rubber or other compressable material. The ring has a lower bevelled surface 30 adapted to engage the wall I9 of the cup in pressing the same upon the lens, or other workpiece, as later described. The ring I2 has an outwardly flared annular wall portion 3| joining an inwardly contracted an- I .nular wall portion 32. The upper portion of the ring has an inwardly extending annular flange 33 adapted to fit freely over the collar I8 of the suction cup, the flange 33 being directed downwardly and inwardly to a slight extent, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

The cone I3 comprises a conical metal body having an inwardly extended annular flange 34 at its upper end, adapted to be engaged by the nut I l, and the lower end of the cone terminates in an outwardly, upwardly and inwardly curled annular rim 35. The bevel of the inwardly contracted surface 32 of the ring I2 is adapted to conform and fit snugly in the cone I3 so as to distribute the pressure of the cone equally on the ring in assemblage of the device as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

The nut I4 has a knurled or other roughened outer surface 36 facilitating a firm grip thereon and the bore of the nut has at its upper end, an outwardly bevelled or conical portion 31 facilitating the guide of the operating pin into the plug 27, as above stated.

In the use of the device, the suction cup with the stud attached thereto, as shown in Fig. l, is first pressed onto the lens or other workpiece 26 and then centralized thereon. In this operation, attachment of the cup is established primarily through the flange 20 and to a slight extent by the wall I9. After the suction cup has been properly centered on the workpiece, the ring I2 is then placed in position, after which the cone I3 is placed upon the ring I2 and then the nut I4 is attached to the stud II, the nut being tightened to force the cone downwardly to press the ring I2 upon the wall I9 of the cup I0, whereas the center portion of the suction cup is drawn upwardly to materially increase the suction in the chamber 24 and in the above opperation, two definite annular lines or bands of contact are established between the cup Ill and the lens or workpiece 26. First the annular line or band, approximately as at 38,'where the flange 20 engages the lens, and then a band substantially as at 39, where the wall IQ of the cup engages the lens. The latter band constitutes the primary seal of the cup on the lens and is maintained in this position by the pressure ring, exerting the downward pressure on the wall [9 substantially where the band engagement prevails at 39. The flange 20, on the other hand, also establishes a firm engagement with the lens. However, the latter is intended primarily to effeet a seal to prevent moisture, grinding compound or other material from extending onto the surface of the lens engaged by the block and thus forms what might be termed a guard or seal band. The pressure engagement of the flange 38 with the lens will be apparent from the outward flex'ure of the flange '20, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. In other words, as pressure is applied to the cup, the flange 29 is flexed outwardly and when so flexed, has within its own structure, the tendency to move inwardly, thus establishing the said firm engagement and avoiding the necessity of applying pressure to the flanged portion of the cup. In other words, the ring I2 is of considerably less diameter than the outside diameter of the cup so as to locate the applied pressure of the ring substantially mid-way between the bottom wall 23 or the collar 18 and the flange 26.

When the block is attached in the manner shown in Fig. 2, or as stated above, the block becomes substantially immovable from the lens or workpiece 26, regardless of the stresses or strains to which the same are subjected. To remove the block, the nut 14 is loosened, the cone and ring removed, after which the cone can be easily removed from the lens. In referring to removal, above, loosening of the parts is all that is actually necessary. However, in use of the device, it is desirable to detach the parts for cleaning preparatory for another use thereof, the latter being true particularly from the standpoint of removing grinding compound which may collect on outer surfaces of the block.

It will be understood that my improved block is adapted for use upon lenses or other workpieces having surfaces of irregular curvatures or irregular contour, at least within the limits adapting mounting of the suction cup thereon. With the irregular curvature or irregular contour, the yieldable ring flexes itself as well as the cup establishing engagement with the contour of the lens or workpiece. It will be understood in this connection that the pressure of the cone on the ring converges the yieldable material of the ring and cup in establishing the complete annular or circumferential engagement with the surfaces in question in establishing a through seal.

Having fully described my invention, what I 4 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for supporting workpieces in the operation of grinding and polishing the same, said device comprising a yieldable suction cup, a pressure ring of yieldable material, a rigid pressure cone, means detachably coupling a stud with the upper central portion of the cup, a nut in threaded engagement with the stud for applying downward pressure on the cone while pulling upwardly on the stud and center portion of the cup, the periphery of the cup having a downwardly extending flange, said flange being adapted to be flexed outwardly in engagement with the surface of a workpiece, said pressure ring being arranged between the cup and cone and of less diameter than the cup to apply pressure to the cup inwardly of said flange to establish a primary annular band of contact with the workpiece inwardly of and. in spaced relation to the flange engagement with said workpiece, said ring having bevelled upper and lower surfaces joined by an intermediate, outwardly flared surface, the lower bevelled surface being engaged by the cup, the upper bevelled surface being engaged by the cone, the cup having around said stud an annular collar, and said ring having an inwardly extending flange fltting freely around the collar of said cup.

2. In devices of the class described, a yieldable conical suction cup, an annular pressure ring of yieldable material, means adjustable on the cup for applying pressure to the ring and that part of the cup engaged by said ring, said pressure ring comprising upper and lower bevelled annular surfaces, the bevel of one surface being greater than the other, said bevelled surfaces being joined by an outwardly bevelled annular surface, the greatest outside diameter of the ring being less than the greatest outside diameter of said cup, and the bore of said ring having an inwardly extending annular flange.

3. In suction cup devices of the character described, a pressure ring of yieldable material, said ring having a lower inwardly bevelled surface, an upper bevelled surface of an angularity different from the angularity of the lower bevelled surface, and the upper portion of the ring having an inwardly extending annular flange.

MORTEN SUBEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 998,718 Schultze July 25, 1911 1,147,102 Knabe July 20, 1915 1,448,690 Hetzer et a1 Mar. 13, 1923 1,871,113 Compton et a1 Aug. 9, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 544,037 Germany Feb. 12, 1932