US452431A

US452431A - Feed mechanism

Info

Publication number: US452431A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1891-05-19
Anticipated expiration: 1908-05-19

Description

(No Model.)

F. H. RICHARDS.

FEED MEGHANISM.

No. 452,431. Patented May 19,1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

FRANCIS H.`RICHARDS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO ECKLEY B. COKE, OF DRIFTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

FEED IVIECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 452,431, dated May 19, 18911 Application filed January 3, 1891. Serial No. 376,672. (No model.)

To all whom it may oonoerm of the mechanism herein shown and de- Be it knoWn that I, FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, scribed, is the shaft or machine element, for a citizen of the United States, residing at the actuating of Which the feed mechanism Hartford, in the countyof Hartford andState is provided. For driving the feed-shaft S5 55 5 of Connecticut, have invented certain new said shaft carries a driving-pulley 99, which and useful Improvements in Feed Mechanis fitted to freely revolve on the shaft conism, of which the following is a specification. tiguous to the fixed collar 100. Fixed to the This invention relates to feed mechanism shaft immediately outside of the hub 101 of for actuating by poWer the feed-shafts of the pulley 99 there is a friction-ring-sup- 6o Io heavy machines, such as large machine-tools porting disk 135, held in place on the shaft and the like, wherein the movement of the by a key, as 134, and engaging on its outer shafts should be controlled by the hand of the periphery Within the sliding friction-ring 131, operator. The invention is in part in the the engagement of said disk and friction-ring nature of an improvement on the feed mechbeing effected by means of

keys

136 and 137, 65 I5 anism described in Letters Patent of the fitted into one of said parts and sliding in United States No. 404,365, granted to me May keyways in the other of said parts. The fric- 28, 1889. tion-ring 131 corresponds to and engages with The application of my present improvea similar friction-ring 129,' which is secured to ments to the feeding of the movable drillthe Web 102 of the Wheel 90' by means of 7o zo carrying beam of a large multiple drillingscrews 130, or in some other suitable manner. machine is shown and described in my ap- The sliding friction-ring 131 is actuated for plication, Serial No. 330,989, filed February engaging and disengaging the ring 12) by 10, 1890. means of the friction-ring disk 132, to the In the drawings accompanying and formouter edge of which disk said ring is secured 75 25 ing a part of this specication, Figure 1 is a by screws 133; plan view of a feed .mechanism embodying The disengagment of the friction-ring 131 my present improvements. Fig. 2 isa plan from the ring 129 is effected by means of View of the principal portions of the/feed springs 139 and plugs 138, which are carried mechanism, showing the parts .in a different in the hub of the disk 135'and bear against 8o 3o relative position. Fig. 3 is a view similar to the hub or central portion of the friction-ring Fig. 2 of a portion of the mechanism, illuscarrier 132, as will be understood from the trating a further change in the relative posisectional portion of Fig. 1. The engagement tion of the operative details. Fig. a is a secof said friction-rings is effected by the shiption in line ct a, Fig; 1. Fig. 5 is a section in per-rod 127, which is carried Within the hollow 85 35 line Z9 h, Fig. 1. Figs. G and 7 are sectional feed-shaft S5, and has at the left-hand end views in line o o, Fig. 1, illustrative of the opthereof the adj usting-

nuts

140 and 141, said eration of certain details, hereinafter more rod being actuated by clutch-rod, actuating fully set forth. devices for imparting suitable longitudinal Similar characters designate like parts in movements thereto Within said hollow feed- 9o 4o all the figures. shaft. y

The frame-Work of my improved mechan- For actuating the shipper-rod to engage the ism will in practice generally be some part described friction-rings or friction-clutch two of the frame-Work of the machine in connecapparatuses are employed, one for effecting tion With which the mechanism may be emthe firm or permanentengagement thereof, 95 45 ployed; but the several operative details may and the other for controlling said engagement .be assembled upon a bed-plate A, provided by hand. The first of said apparatuses is with suitable bearings and supports for said shown in sectional View at the right hand of operative parts. The feed-shaft S5 is car- Figs. 1, 2, and 3. For the purposes of this ried in suitable bearings, as 13 and let, and rod-shifting apparatus the collar 152 may be loo 5o carries aworm 7, meshing With the Wormconsidered as fixed on the shaft 35, being Wheel 1.7 on the shaft B, which, in the' form splined thereto by the key or spline 153 and prevented by suitable means from longitudinal movement. The sliding sleeve 158, carried on the shaft 85, is connected with the rod 127 by mea-ns of a key 12S, working in the slot 160, formed in said shaft S5. A spring 160, carried in the bore of said shaft at the righthand of the rod 127 and reacting against the plug or screw 103, serves to throw the said rod toward the left hand. Between the normally-fixed collar 152 and the sliding sleeve 158 there is lirmly mounted on the shaft S5 a carrier 155, in which is pivoted at the points 157 the pair of clutch-dogs or levers 156 150, whose shorter arms engage the left-hand end of the sleeve 15S, and whose longer arms eX- tend toward the right hand over said sleeve 15S. The conical sleeve or wedge 159 is tted to slide freely on the sleeve 15S, and has a circumferential groove 165 for reeeivin g the blocks, as 104, of a suitable wedge-actuating lever 105, which lever is pivoted at some suitable point, as 100,011 the frame-work, and has a handle for operating the same. In Fig. 1 said wedge is shown in its idle position on the right-hand end of the sleeve 15S,the friction-

rings

129 and 131 being disengaged. In Fig. S the wedge is shown driven toward the left hand between the longer arms of the dogs or levers 156, the sleeve 15S being forced toward the right hand by the shorter arms of said dogs, as will be understood by comparison of Figs. 1 and 3. This, acting through the key 12S and the rod 127, draws the carrier 132, together with the ring 131 thereon, toward the right hand and brings said ring 131 into engagement with the driving frictionring 129.

As shown in Fig. 1, the friction-rings stand apart, the wedge 150 is at the right hand, and the clutch dogs or levers 15G stand with their long arms bearing against the outside of the sleeve 15S, while the short arms of said levers bear, as is shown, against the end of said sleeve. If now said collar 152, instead of being fixed on the shaft S5, should by any means be forced toward the right hand, it is obvious Said colla-r would then act, through the earrier 155, the levers 156, the sleeve 15S, and key 12S, to draw the rod 127 toward the right hand, and thus bring the frietionrings into engagement, as in Fig. 2. It will also be evident thatif said sliding movement of the collar 152 be suitably effected by hand power, the clutch will thereby come under hand control and will be actuated independently of the above-described elutchactuating apparatus. For actuating the sliding collar as aforesaid, and thus operating the clutch, I employ devices wherein the connection between the hand-wheel and said collar is made through a part whose motion is a resultant of two motions, one being communicated from the hand-wheel and the other from the driven mechanism. Said devices, in their preferred form shown in the drawings, consist of the sleeve 145, having thereon the gear 181, which meshes with the pinion 32, fixed on a hand- Vresponding sockets, as 10S', Fig. 1.

wheel. shaft $323, that is carried by the bearing 254, and is provided with the wheel for operating said sleeve by hand. rlhe sleeve 145 reacts against the collar 142, and in practice a series of anti-friction rollers or balls, as 146, may be placed in suitably-formed grooves, substantially as indicated in Fig. 1, for lessening the frietional resistance at that point. The collar 142 is or may be clamped to the shaft S5 by the clamp-screw 143, by which means and by the aid of a pin or leverengaging suitable holes at 107 in the periphery of the collar said collar may be turned on the shaft and set thereon in any required position in a well-known manner. The collar 142 should entera short distance, as indicated in Fig. 1, within the sleeve 145, thus furnishing a bearing for said sleeve, which at its righthand end is carried by the revoluble collar 147. rlhe torsion-spring 149, carried (preferably as shown) within the sleeve 145, engages at one end the collar 142 and at the other end the collar 147, the torsional tension of said spring being` regulated by adjusting the eollar 142 on the shaft S5.

A limited rotary movement of the sleeve 145 (including of course the gear 181 and the collar 147) on the shaft 85 is provided for by making a notch or keyway 151 in the collar 147, that is fixed to said sleeve and gear by suitable means-as, for instance, the pins 14S--or may be formed integral therewith, the movement being limited by a key 150 fixed in the feed-shaft. (See Figs 6 and 7.) In the face orrighthand end of the collar 147 are sockets, as 108, and intlie face or left-hand end of the aforesaid sliding collar 152 are co1'- Thrustrods or braces 154 154 are set between said

collars

147 and 152, being seated at opposite ends in said sockets, respectively. The construction aud organization of the apparatus are such that when the collar 147 stands relatively to the key 150, as shown in Fig. 0', the

thrust-rods 154 stand considerably oblique to the feed-shaft, as indicated in Fig. l; but the movement on the feed-shaft of said collar 147 is such that on turning forward the collar by hand (the shaft 85 not being revolving) said thrust-rods 15-1- are carried to the position shown in Fig. 2, nearly parallel with the feedshaft, thereby forcing the collar 152 toward the right hand, and through the connections hereinbefore described engaging the frictionring 1231 with the friction-ring 120 on the driving-pulley. The collar 147 is normally held in engagement against the key 150, as shown in Fig. (5, by the springl-Q, said spring being under suitable tension therefor. On turning forward the collar 147 to the position indicated in Fig. 7, the adjustment of the parts is such that the friction-rings become firmly engaged before or as soon as the key 150 comes to the opposite side ot' the aforesaid keyway 151. If now the collar 147 be actuated by hand, as here set forth, while the pulley 09 is revolving in the direction of the arrow in IOO Fig. 2, it is evident that on the first engagement with the friction-rings 131 129 the shaft S5 will be revolved in the same direction as that in which said collar 147 was turned; the result of this will be to carry forward the right-hand end of the thrust-rods 1 54 toward their positions in Figs. 1 and 3, thus immediately releasing said friction-ring engagement. If, however, during such movement of the shaft the movement of the collar be followed up or maintained by hand, as set forth, it is obvious that the engagement of the frictionrings will be maintained, notwithstanding the movement of the shaft S5. Thus the extent of movement of the shaft 85 is limited to and follows the movement of the collar 147, since any movement of said collar in advance of the shaft movement engages the clutch for turning forward the shaft, and since, vice versa, any movement of the shaftin advance of the movement of said ccllardisengages the clutches and retards the movement of the shaft. By this means a perfect hand control ofthe feed-shaft is obtained, while the movement of the shaft is effected by power.

When the sleeve and the revoluble collar 147 stand in the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 6, said collar bearing firmly against the stop-key 150, the collar 152 is, as above stated, normally fixed on the shaft 85, since this collar is splined to the shaft and rests against the thrust-rods 154, which are seated in said collar 147. Said parts therefore f urnish,when in the position stated, a proper abutment against which to operate the first-described clutch-rod-actuatin g apparatus. One feature of my present improvements relates to the construction and organization of the drivin g-pulley and its clutches,whereby proper action of the clutch-rings is obtained, notwithstanding slight imperfections of construction. For this purpose the friction-ring 129 is seated on the web 102 of the drivingpulley in a peculiar manner, being centered or held in proper 'position diametrically of the wheel by the shoulder 109, and being supported opposite to the friction-rings on a narrow seat 110. This construction and mode of supporting said ring 129 makes available the elasticity of the ring for securing perfect engagement thereof with the ring 131. The form adopted for the carrier 135 permits the use of 'a long hub for the pulley 90, and at the same time permits the friction-rings to loe both supported within the rim of said pulley, thereby securing a more compact organization. The ring 131 being fitted to slide inlike engagement with the periphery of the carrier 135, the pressure on the splines or keys 136 137 is reduced to the least practicable quantity, since the radius of the keysurfaces is then the greatest practicable. The carrier132,beingformeddish-shaped,substantially as described, outside of the carrier 135, is adapted to be slightly sprung by the tension of the rod 127, so as to bring the ring 131, throughout thelength thereof, iirmly into contact with the corresponding ring 129, notwithstanding the natural planes of revolution of said rings may for some reason-as, for instance, imperfect construction-be slightly divergent.

For the purposes of the hand-controlled clutch-rod-actuating apparatus the sliding collar 152 may be considered as ixedly connected to said clutch-rod, since by the action of said hand-controlled apparatus the movement of said collar 152 is always coincident with that of the clutch-rod itself, the parts herein shown intermediate to said collar and clutch-rod heilig for a distinct purpose and not constituting a part of said hand-controlled apparatus.

It will be understood that the collar 147 is a principal element of the hand-actuated devices for sliding the collar 152 on the feedshaft, and that the sleeve 145 is a subordinate element, which, together with certain minor features operating in connection therewith, is in the nature of an additional improvement upon the principal and more essential features ofthe invention. Thecollar142,forinstance,is made adjustable, as set forth, on the feed-shaft for the purpose of readily tightening the torsion-spring 149; but said spring may be constructed of suitable size and tension, so as to require no adjustment, in which case said collar may be dispensed with. So, also,the collar 147 and the sleeve 145 may be constructed integral, the preferred construction of said parts, herein shown and described, being adopted for the purpose of facilitating construction and to permit the use of different materials for the different portions thereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a feed mechanism, the combination, with the feed-shaft and the driving-clutch therefor, of the clutch-rod, a slidable collar carried on the shaft and connected to said rod, a hand-actuated revoluble collar on said shaft, and one or more rods set obliquely between said collars, substantially as described.

2. In a feed mechanism, the combination, with the feed-shaft furnished with a drivingclutch, and a slidable collar connected to actuate said clutch, of the revoluble collar, means for turning said collar on the shaft by hand, means limiting the rotary movement of said revoluble collar relatively to the shaft, and thrust-rods intermediate to said collars and set obliquely to the shaft, all substantially as described.

3. In a feed mechanism of the class specia fied, the combination, with the feed-shaft carrying the clutch and having a slidable collar connected to actuate the clutch, of the revo-l luble collar, the thrust-rods intermediate the revoluble collar and said slidable collar, means, substantially as described, for turning the revoluble collar by hand, and means limiting the turning movement of said revoluble collar on the shaft, the spring, and the springadjusting collar, substantially as described.

IOO

ITO

' 4. ln a feed mechanism, the combination, with the feed-shaft, and with a clutch connected for actuating said shaft, of the slidable collar 152, hand-controlled means, substantially as described, for sliding said collar by hand, and clutch-actuating apparatus, substantially as described, intermediate the clutch-rod and said slidable collar, whereby the clutch may be actuated by either said clutch-actuating apparatus through the same clutch-rod, substantially as described.

5. In a feed mechanism, the combination, with the feed-shaft and its clutch and clutchrod, of the slidable collar 152, connected to the clutch-rod, the revoluble collar 147, have ing the keyway 151, the key 150 for limiting the revoluble movement of the collar 1417, one or more thru strods,substantially as described, intermediate to said revoluble and slidablc collars, the t0rsionspring, means, substantially as described, for adjusting the tension of said spring, and means, substantially as described, for actuating the revolublc collar by hand, substantially as described.

G. ln a feed mechanism, the combination, with the feed-shaft and a clutch connected for actuating saidA shaft, of a slidable collar connected, substantially as described, for actuating the clutch, and two clutch-actuating mechanisms, arranged one on each side of said slidable collar, substantially as shown, one said mechanism being l1and-control1ed and when not in use serving as an abutment for taking the thrust of the other clutclractuating apparatus, substantially as set forth.

FRANCIS 1I. RICHARDS.

\\"'itnesses:

HENRY L. Recien-n), Il. MALLNER.