US3150558A

US3150558A - Combination bullet press and ammunition reloader tool

Info

Publication number: US3150558A
Application number: US302506A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur L Welch
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-08-16
Filing date: 1963-08-16
Publication date: 1964-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 1981-09-29

Description

A. L. WELCH Sept. 29, 1964 COMBINATION BULLET PRESS AND AMMUNITION RELOADER TOOL Filed Aug. 16, 1963 INVENTOR.

AR THUR L. WELCI-Y'." I

United States Patent 3,150,558 CQINATIGN BULLET PRESS AND AMMUNITEUN RELOADER TOGL Arthur L. Welsh, Box 731, Wasiila, Alaska Filed Aug. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 302,556 7 Claims. (Cl. 86-23) This invention relates to a combination small arms cartridge reloader and bullet forming press.

The invention has as its principal object a simple power application means employing a well known and readily available electric drill motor, or a common fractional horse-power electric motor as the source of power for operating the same. The power operation becomes possible because of a novel crankshaft and link arrangement which imparts reciprocating motion to a slidable diecarrying-rarn enclosed in a guide sleeve.

Other objects and advantages or the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings which form a part of the present specification.

FIGURE 1 is a view in front elevation of the combination tool of this invention, some parts in section;

FIGURE 2 is a view in side elevation of the tool of 'FIG. lysome parts broken away for clearness;

FIGURE 3 is a view in side elevation of an electric drill motor, used here With this toolas a source of power for operating the same, and attached to a sprocket;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the operating end of the clutch of this invention, and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary, side view, of an alternative power driving means.

The press frame is of Well known construction and style having an open ended, normally substantially vertically disposed guide sleeve 40 rigidly attached at approximately right angles to a base 42 adapted to be fastened to a bench or table, and having parallel support posts 43 anchored to said base 42 and guide sleeve assembly. A frame head 41 is rigidly attached, or is integrally formed with, the upper ends of said supporting posts 43. This frame head 41 is adapted to selectively and interchangeably carry a variety of well standardized and readily available cartridge case reworking and bullet forming dies 29,

shown dotted by FIGURES l and 2.

A pair of links are provided, having holes within each end portion thereof, the holes in the upper ends of the links being of a size to fit the

stationary stub shafts

37 and 38 anchored in coaxially placed holes in the stub shaft supporting lugs 16, arranged at right angles to the axis of the guide sleeve 40. The

shafts

37 and 38 are press-fit into horizontal holes drilled into the side wall of sleeve 40, allowing the ram 44 to pass vertically between the ends of the

shafts

37 and 38. The holes in the 'lower ends of the links are of a size and formed to journal with the two horizontal extending rotatable stub or power shafts 14 and 17 of a single throw crankshaft, having two depending crank arms 11 and 13 which have a single crank pin 12 extending between the end portions thereof. Said shaft 14 being a mechanically driven shaft. Said shaft 17 being adapted to receive a manual operation handle 45 for use in setting up dies, or possibly for use with only a few cartridges. The inner adjacent ends of the shafts 14 and 17 of the single crankshaft are rigidly secured to the upper ends of said crank arms 11 and 13, shown in FIG. 1.

A shell holder carrying ram 44 is slidably disposed in the guide sleeve 40 and has its lower end journalled to the crank pin 12. The links 15 are of such length that when the crank-pin is at bottom dead center of the crank-shaft, the upper end of the ram 44 is somewhere near the top end of the guide sleeve 40, that is, near the bottom of "ice its stroke, in a location convenient for the loading of cartridge components or bullet parts into the shell holder or die attached to the top end of the ram 44. When the crankpin is at top dead center, the rams upper end is somewhere near the die carrying frame head 41, or at its top stroke position; shown dotted in FIG. 1.

When the crankshaft is turned mechanically by a source of power to be described later, or by the handle 45, the crankpin imparts an axial sliding movement to the ram 44. While the ram 44 is near the center of its travel the lower ends of links 15 are substantially motionless; they are moving relatively little. The crankshaft and large sprocket are pendulous, a swinging or oscillating type means for converting rotary motion of the crankshaft to reciprocating motion of the ram 44.

It shall be observed, however, that when the crank pin has approached the point in its travel, near either top or bottom dead center, Where the links 15 start the arcuate movement toward the axis of the ram, movement of the ram 44 is considerably retarded and the leverage ratio applying axial force to the ram 44 is considerably multiplied.

This dwell period of crankshaft and toggle action is a very important feature of my invention, allowing the use of fractional horse-power motors to perform operations requiring a relatively large force to perform.

The mechanical operating mechanism consists of a relatively small driven sprocket 19 driving a relatively large sprocket 18 through a chain 20 which is adapted to transmit the power as required by the press, said small sprocket 19 having a hub portion 21. The small sprocket is journalled on the outer end of the stationary stub shaft 38 which supports the upper end of one of the links 15, and said small sprocket is formed with an extending shaft 22 provided with a free end adapted to be gripped by the three jaw clutch 46 of the small drill 47; shown by FIG- URES 1 and 3.

It is obvious to one familiar with power transmission that a fractional horse-power electric motor 47 driving the driven sprocket 19 through a V-belt and a pair of properly ratioed V-pulleys can be used ot operate the press.

The power source, drill motor or electric motor, will normally be left running between operations of the press. The driving sprocket 19 transmits its power to the press crankshaft by means of a chain 29 adapted to transmit power to a driven sprocket 13 journalled to rotate freely on an extension of the stub shaft 14 of the single throw crank-shaft. The said sprocket 18 is located on the stub shaft between two inner and

outer snap rings

48 and 4%.. respectively.

One half of a jaw-clutch 25 is drivably attached to the inner side of the driven sprocket 18. The second half of the jaw-clutch 26 is slidably keyed to the stub shaft 14 by key 24. A groove 50 extends at right angles to the axis of said jaw-clutch 26 and is formed on the inner surface thereof adjacent crank-arm 11. A head 51 is formed on the outer surface of link 15 adjacent jawclutch 26, and to one side of stub shaft 14. This bead 51 remains stationary upon link 15 and provides an inclined plane which moves the slidable jaw clutch 26 member into engagement with the power jaw-clutch 25 member attached to the driven sprocket 18.

The inclined plane arrangement of head 51 is effected by manually turning the crank shaft by actuation of handle 45 on shaft 17, until the jaw-clutch 26 engages the jawclutch 25. The link 15 adjacent the handle 45 has a hub portion 52 equipped with a bore embodying a coil spring 54 pressing a ball 55 into a semi-circular indentation 56. This ball holds the handle 45 in one position when the jaw-clutches 25 and 26 are disengaged. This prevents accidental turning of the handle, engaging the jawclutches, and operation of the press.

An alternate method of driving the press is through the use of gears, see FIG. 6. By substituting gears as and 62 for the sprockets l3 and 19 and by cutting away several teeth on the crankshaft gear 69 the press will be driven through one complete cycle by the pinion gear 62 equipped with only a few number of teeth and secured upon the free end 22 of shaft 37.

When said pinion gear 62 comes to the gap in the gear 60, the press will stop. The pinion gear 62 is continuously driven by the prime mover. A new cycle is started by rotating the crankshaft by manually operating the handle 45. It is clearly seen that the ram 44 can be positioned at any point in its cycle by travel by locating the cutaway teeth gap on the gear till. In the event an operation is performed on the downstroke, as for instance inserting a new primer in cartridges, or loading a new jacket-core combination, stopping the ram somewhere above the lower limit of travel is desirable.

While specific embodiments of the combination tool of the invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that all substantially equivalents of said embodiments are within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described having a frame comprised of a base, a guide sleeve having a vertical cylindrical bore therein and secured to said base, a pair of supporting lugs with horizontal bores therein attached to said base and depending therefrom at a distance on opposite sides of said guide sleeve, a pair of stub shafts arranged with their outer ends extending through said bores in said supporting lugs and with their inner ends secured in transverse holes arranged in the side walls of said guide sleeve, a ram slidably disposed within the vertical cylindrical bore of said guide sleeve, and means for moving said ram Within said guide sleeve comprising a pendulous supported crank-shaft embodying a crank-pin, two crank arms and two outwardly extending power shafts, and having the crank pin thereof journaled with the lower end of said ram, a pair of swinging links pivotally connected at their upper ends to said stub shafts, one of said links assembled between said guide sleeve and each of said supporting lugs at a substantial distance above and in alignment with the journal point of connection between said ram and said crank pin, said links having their lower ends pivotally connected to the said outwardly extending power shafts of said crank-shaft, said links and said crank arms being so disposed that the pivot point between the links and power shafts of the crank-shaft are substantially in alignment with the axis of the ram when the ram is at top and bottom of its stroke, said crank-arms being outwardly disposed laterally from said guide sleeve and said power shafts being disposed outwardly from the crank-pin and its point of connection with said ram when said ram is midway the top and bottom of its stroke, and a driving means secured to one of said power shafts to rotate said crankshaft supported in a pendulous manner converting rotary motion of the crank-shaft to linear reciprocating motion of the ram.

2. A device of the class escribed having a frame comprised of a base, a guide sleeve having a vertical cylindrical bore therein and secured to said base, a pair of supporting lugs with horizontal bores therein attached .to said base and depending therefrom at a distance on opposite sides of said guide sleeve, a pair of stub shafts arranged with their outer ends extending through said bores in said supporting lugs and with their inner ends secured in transverse holes arranged in the side walls of said guide sleeve, a cylindrical ram slidably disposed within the vertical cylindrical bore of said guide sleeve, and means for moving said ram within said guide sleeve comprising a pendulous supported crank-shaft embodying a crank-pin, two crank arms and two outwardly extending power shafts, and having the crank pin thereof journalled with the lower end of said ram, a pair of swinging links pivotally connected at their upper ends to said stub shafts, one of said links assembled between said guide sleeve and each of said sup porting lugs at a substantial distance above and in vertical alignment with the journal point of connection between said ram and said crank pin, said links having their lower ends pivotally connected to the said outwardly extending power shafts of said crank-shafts, said links and said crank arms being so disposed that the pivot point between the links and power shafts of the crank-shaft are substantially in alignment with the axis of the ram when the ram is at top and bottom positions of its stroke, said crank-arms being outwardly disposed laterally from said guide sleeve and said power shafts being disposed outwardly from the crank-pin and its point of connection with said rain when aid ram is midway the top and bottom position of its stroke, an electric motor connected to a driving means secured to one of said power shafts to rotate said crankshaft supported in a pendulous manner below said base of said frame.

3. A device of the class described having a frame comprised of a base, a guide sleeve secured to said base and having a vertical bore therein and a pair of transverse holes arranged in the side wall thereof at the upper end, a pair of shaft supporting lugs having horizontal circular bores therein attached to said base and depending therefrom at a distance on opposite sides of said guide sleeve, a pair of stationary stub shafts arranged with their outer ends extending through said bores in said shaft supporting lugs and with their inner ends secured in the said transverse holes arranged in the side walls of said guide sleeve, a cylindrical ram slidably disposed within the vertical bore of said guide sleeve, and means for moving said ram within said guide sleeve comprising a pendulous supported crankshaft embodying a crank-pin, two crank-arms and two outwardly extending power shafts, and having the crank-pin thereof journaled with the lower end of said ram, a pair of swinging links pivotally connected at their upper ends to said stub shafts, one of said links assembled between said guide sleeve and each of said supporting lugs at a substantial distance above and in alignment with the journal point of connection between said ram and said crankpin, said links having their lower ends pivotally connected to the said outwardly extending power shafts of said crank-shaft, said links and said crank-arms being so disposed that the pivot point between the links and powershafts of the crank-shaft are substantially in alignment with the axis of the ram when the ram is at top and bottom of its stroke, said crankrms being outwardly disposed laterally from said guide sleeve, and said powershafts being disposed outwardly from the crank-pin and its point of connection with said ram when said ram is midway the top and bottom of its stroke, and driving means for said device including a drivin chain, a drive sprocket in meshing engagement with said chain and having a hub portion thereof with a horizontal bore therein rotatably mounted u on the free end of one of said stationary stub shafts, said drive sprocket having a drive shaft rigidly secured therewith and extending outwardly therefrom in axial alignment with said stub shaft, a driven sprocket in meshing engagement with said chain and mounted directly beneath said drive sprocket and upon the outer end of one of said power shafts, said driving shaft on said dri 'e sprocket adapted for use with electric motor means.

4. The device according to claim 3 wherein said electric motor means consists of a portable electric hand drill.

5. The device according to claim 4 wherein an automatic clutch is mounted upon one of said power shafts with an element thereof rigidly secured to said driven sprocket.

6. The device according to claim 5 having a manual operable handle operating means mounted upon one of said power shafts for use when said automatic clutch is not in engagement.

7. In a portable small arms cartridge reloader and bullet forming press adapted for use with an electric hand drill, a frame comprising a base, a guide sleeve having a vertical cylindrical bore therein and secured to said base, a pair of shaft supporting lugs having horizontal circular bores therein attached to said base and depending therefrom at a distance on opposite sides of said guide sleeve, 21 pair of stub shafts arranged with their outer ends extending through said bores in said shaft supporting lugs and with their inner ends secured in transverse holes arranged in the side walls of said guide sleeve, a ram slidably disposed within the vertical cylindrical bore of said guide sleeve, and means for moving said ram within said guide sleeve comprising a pendulous supported crank-shaft embodying a crank-pin, two crank-arms and two outwardly extending power shafts, and having the crank-pin thereof journaled with the lower end of said ram, a pair of swinging links pivotally connected at their upper ends to said stub shafts, one of said links assembled between said guide sleeve and each of said supporting lugs at a substantial distance above and in alignment with the journal point of connection between said ram and said crank pin, said links having their lower ends pivotally connected to the said outwardly extending power shafts of said crank-shaft, and a driving means for operating said device with the said crank-shaft supported in a pendulous manner including a driving chain, a drive sprocket in meshing engagement with said chain and having a hub portion thereof with a horizontal bore therein rotatably mounted upon the free end of one of said stationary stub shafts, said drive sprocket having a drive shaft rigidly secured therewith and extending outwardly therefrom in axial alignment with said stub shaft, a driven sprocket in meshing engagement with said chain and mounted directly beneath said drive sprocket and upon the outer end of one of said power shafts, said driving shaft on said drive sprocket adapted for use with a portable electric hand drill, and clutch means mounted upon one of said power shafts with a part thereof rigidly secured to said driven sprocket.

No references cited.