US3158257A

US3158257A - Devices for collecting and discharging cuttings from machine tools

Info

Publication number: US3158257A
Application number: US72230A
Authority: US
Inventors: Peras Lucien
Original assignee: Renault SAS
Current assignee: Renault SAS; Regie Nationale des Usines Renault
Priority date: 1959-11-27
Filing date: 1960-11-28
Publication date: 1964-11-24
Anticipated expiration: 1981-11-24
Also published as: FR1250018A; OA01304A; BE597168A; GB968150A

Description

Nov. 24, 1964 L. PERAS 3,

DEVICES FOR COLLECTING AND DISCHARGING CUTTINGS FROM MACHINE TOOLS Filed Nov. 28, 1960 -Z' hPP)770y 1 CIE pay United States Patent 3,158,257 DEVICES FOR COLLECTMG AND DESCHARGENG CUTTINGS FROM MACHEJE TGOLS Lucien Pras, Billancourt, France, assignor to Regie Nationalc des Usines Renault, Billancourt, France Filed Nov. 28, 1960, Ser. No. 72,230 Claims priority, application France, Nov. 27, 1959, 811,490, Patent 1,250,018 1 Claim. (Cl. 198-221) This invention relates in general to devices for collecting and discharging cuttings (chips, turnings, borings, etc.) from machine tools, and more particularly to improvements in devices of this character which comprise means whereby the conveyor chain (to which, as known, a reciprocating movement is imparted) can pass from a horizontal position to an inclined position with a view to facilitate the discharge of the cuttings to the outside.

It is known from the art, as, for example, French Patent No. 890,408, to use a conveyor device of this character which consists of a tube carrying depending V-shaped driving stems or like members and vertical upper spurs or like members, this tube being reciprocated in the collector channel or chute and straddling a drawn-steel section by which it is guided.

The improvements constituting the subject-matter of this invention consist essentially in dividing the tube constituting the cuttings driving member into separate sections hingedly interconnected by links pivotally attached thereto. The guide tube disposed inside the tubular driving sections may be curved to the desired radius to pass from a horizontal position to an inclined position and the driving tube sections may thus pivot to accommodate the curvature of the guide member. This arrangement is used preferably in those portions of the conveyor where a bend is contemplated.

In order to afiord a clearer understanding of the present invention and of the manner in which the same may be carried out in practice, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing illustrating diagrammatically by way of example a typical embodiment thereof. In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a section taken across the longitudinal axis of a collector channel for discharging cuttings, which shows the arrangement of the conveyor chain of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view showing the relative arrangement of the channel, guide section and conveyor tube, and

FIGURE 3 is a part-sectional view showing the assembly of a tubular driving member with the linkinterconmeeting the successive tubular sections.

Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that the channel or chute 1 along which the cuttings (not shown) are to be conveyed has a suitable cross-sectional contour. Mounted in and rigid with this channel is a guide section 2 supported by md welded on a vertical flat iron 3. To this end, this flat iron 3 has its lower edge welded edgewise on a relatively wide strip 4 secured in the bottom of the discharge channel 1. Straddling the guide section 2 are a plurality of split tubular sections 5 clearly shown in FIG. 2, these sections having the edges of their lower slot 6 disposed on either side of the vertical flat iron 3. The tubular sections 5 are hingedly interconnected in a vertical plane by means of links 7 pivotally mounted on lugs 8 welded on the ends of these sections 5, as shown.

The relative arrangement of the links 7 and tubular sections 5 is clearly visible in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawing. The links 7 are formed at their ends with forkjoints 9 receiving each a lug 8 between their prongs. Pivot pin 10 formed with a head extends through the fork joint 9 and lug 8, and is held in position by a spring clip 11 fitting on the end of the pivot pin shank. From the figures and more particularly from FIG. 1, it will be seen from FIG. 2 that each tubular section 5 is provided with a depending V-shaped stem or bow 12 and with an upper spur 13, according to the known arrangement for carrying along the cuttings. Thus, when there is imparted to the assembly of the tubular sections 5 and links 7 an alternative movement on the guide system 2-3, such that the runs of the means for carrying along the cuttings partially overlap each other, the V-shaped stems or bows 12 serve principally to carry along, in the direction of the opening of the V, the cuttings or like waste materials having a small length and such that generally fall to the bottom of channel 1, whereas the spurs 13 principally serve to carry along in the same direction, that is, to the right of FIG. 1, the cuttings of greater length which are apt to remain above the mobile assembly in the collecting channel. By so forming the conveyor chain with hingedly interconnected sections this chain can accommodate the curvature of a curved guide section 2. Thus, this guide section 2 may be given any desired contour to pass from a horizontal channel to an inclined channel in order to facilitate the discharge of the cuttings to the outside. Of course, this arrangement, comprising hingedly interconnected chain sections, can only be used in a bent portion of the chain.

The length of the tubular sections 5 and the play left between the guide 2 and sections 5 depend on the radius of curvature of the collection channel.

What is claimed is:

Conveyor means for cuttings and similar waste materials comprising a collecting channel having a curved portion including a horizontal portion which has a radius of curvature bent into an inclined portion, a guide section secured to said collecting channel over substantially the full length of said horizontal and inclined portions, said section consisting of a vertical flat plate having its lower edge secured to said channel and a circular bar member having its bottom secured to the upper edge of said plate, said bar member and plate having a radius of curvature corresponding to the curved portion of said channel, and curved hollow elongated split tubular members slidably disposed over said member so the split portion of the hollow members straddles said vertical plate with its split edges spaced from opposite side of said plate, said hollow tubular members having a diameter substantially larger than said bar member to provide a substantial space between the inner surface of said hollow members and the outer circumference of said bar member around the bottom and opposite side portions thereof to allow free play therebetween to enable said tubular members to slide over the curved portion of the guide bar member adjacent the curved portion of said channel, and link members connecting said hollow members together, and material pusher members carried by said hollow members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,161,373 Milburn June 6, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 890,408 France Feb. 8, 1944