US904922A - Clamping mechanism for planing-machines, boring-mills, and the like. - Google Patents

Description

G. H. BENZON, J11. GLAMPING MECHANISM FOR PLANING MACHINES, BORING MILLS, .AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1907.

904,922. Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A TTORNEYS.

G. H. BENZON, JR. GLAMPING MECHANISM FOR PLANING MACHINES, BORING MILLS, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W/ T/VESSES: //v VENTOR fwd 12:41 I g w i ATTORNEYS.

G. H. BENZON, JR. GLAMPING MECHANISM FOR. PLANING MACHINES, BORING MILLS, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1907.

Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3'.

IN VE N TOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. BENZON, JR., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM SELLERS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR- PORATION. OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

Application filed June 26, 1907. Serial No. 380,841.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. BENZON, Jr., a citi zen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Clamping Mechanism for Planing-Machines, Boring-Mills, and the Like, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide means for conveniently clamping to place the cross rails of metal planing machines and certain forms of boring mills which are arranged so that they may be adjusted in positions at various distances above the work table to suit the height of each particular piece of work. After each change, it is necessary to securely clamp the cross rail in the new position so that it, may resist all the strains to which it may be subjected by the cut, and before each movement of the cross rail it is necessary to release the clamping pressure so that the cross rail may be readily adjusted. When numerous adjustments are required, and especially in large machines where the clamps are some distance apart, considerable labor and loss of time is involved in these operations.

It is the object of my invention to conduct these clamping operations by fluid pressure. It is, however, essential that the clamping shall be maintained whether or not the fluid pressure varies or is lost, hence my invention further consists in maintaining this clamp ing independent of the fluid pressure. It is essential further, that such clamping ar- Eac clamp must be independent of the others to the extent that it must be capable of accommodating itself to any inequality in the thickness of the portion to which the rangement shall have the following features. 1

various novel constructions for carrying this into efiect, constitute my invention.

I will first describe the embodiments of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and then point out the invention in the claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front view of machine. Fig. 2 is a plan view of cross rail and clamping appurtenances. Fig. 3 is a side view of clamping mechanism partially in section. Fig. l is a partial side View showing one form of eccentric clamping arrangement. Fig. 5 is an inverted rear viewof cross rail showing another form of eccentric clamping arrangement. Fig.6 is a plan view of same partially broken away. Fig. 7 is a front view of same, one end broken away.

a is the bed of the machine, I) is the table, 0 and d are the side housings. e, the cross rail mounted so as to move vertically upon the side housings 0 and d, and is elevated and de ressed by means of the screws 7 cperated y the gears g and h, from a suitable source of power. The cross rail 6 carries one or more tool slides 2'. On the back of the cross rail 6 is the cast-ing j, which casting may be either an integral projection from the back of the cross rail 0, or preferably, for convenience in manufacture, it is a' separate piece securely bolted to the cross rail. This casting supports two shafts is, each shaft in having a portion Z eccentric with the remainder of the shaft 70. On this eccentric portion of each shaft is mounted a roller m.

n is a flange projecting from a housing 0 and d. Between each of the rollers m and the back face of the flange n I insert a hearing block or shoe 0. When the eccentric rollers are turned in one osition, through the blocks 0, the cross rail is clamped to the. housing, and the clamping is maintained until the eccentric roller is turned or moved in the opposite direction. There is an arrange: ment similar to this at each end of the cross rail, and the cross rail is clamped at each side or end above and below to its correspondin housing.

The b ocks 0 are held loosely in position by ins p which revent the blocks from falling out and at t e same time allow them freedom to slide easily. On the end of one of the shafts is, opposite to the eccentric portion Z is secured a lever g, and on the corre- 'w is a pipe entering the cylinder 8 at point an, and 3 is a pipe entering the cylinder 8 at point .2. These pipes y and 'w,-by means of the valves 1 and 2 respectively, may be connected either with the pipe 3 from pressure supply or the pipe 4: to exhaust.

If the pipe y is arranged to be connected with pressure, and the pipe w with exhaust, the piston will tend to be forced toward the bottom of the cylinder and the-cylinder toward the upper end of the piston. inder .9 consists essentially of a main casting closed at one end and provided'at the other end with a removable head 5 having a stuffing box and gland 6 or other means for carrying a suitable packing around the piston a, which piston is provided with an enlarged end 7, and packing to fit the bore of the cylinder.

When the fluid pressure is admitted to the pipe y, as before described, the eflect is to shorten the distance between the ends of the connecting rods 2 and 'v so that the outer ends of the levers Q and 1' are moved towards one another, thus rotating the eccentricsupon their axes. The parts are so correlated, that this operation puts pressure upon the flanges at through the blocks 0 so as to draw the cross rail firmly against the face of the upright. The friction of the parts will maintaln this clamping until power is applied to release the ressure, even though the fluid pressure which initially brought about this condition is removed. I

In order to release the clamping, the pipe 3 is connected to the exhaust, and the pipe w to pressure supply. This forces the plston outward and increases the distance between the ends of the connecting rods t and '0, thus movingthe levers r and g away from one another, rotating, the eccentrics Z in the opposite direction, and thus releasing the pressure on the rollers m and blocks 0 and freeing the flanges n from the clamping effeet. The travel of the cylinder in this direction is limited by the cylinder coming in contact with the arms which carry the lever g. The movement of the piston 26 in this direction, is limited by the stop 8 connected to the casting j which is struck by the lever r, the stop being placed at such position that this takes place when the eccentric Z has been rotated suficiently and the lever- 1* moves suficiently to release the pressure. This provides an arrangement whereby there is positively 'nsured the proper movement of both the cylinder and piston for unclamping and raises. The construction of the cyl- The cyleoaeaa inder s and piston is such, as may be seen, that the pressure area or surfaces upon the piston and cylinder for unclamping, are greater than that for clamping. This is necessary in order to overcome friction and is an important feature of my invention.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, instead of clampin the cross rail by the eccentric roller to a ange from the housings, the eccentric-roller m acts against the block 9, which with rods 10 form a yoke carried by the cross rail. This yoke is connected to the sleeve 12, having a tongue 11,

and resting and moving in the guide-way 13 in the housings c and d, the slot 14in said guide-way, being sufiiciently wide to allow the tongue 11 to move longitudinally but is smaller than the head of the sleeve 12. W hen the eccentrics Z are operated, as before described, the corresponding rollers m move the yokes clamping the sleeves 12 against the wall of the guide-way, and clamping the roller m against the end of the yoke, where it and the rod are'held clamped until the movement of the eccentrics Z, in the opposite direction, releases the rollers m and rods 11. The stops 15 and 16 limit the movement of the levers g and 1'- in the direction to unclamp. I

In the embodiments of my invention herein specifically shown and described, I have illustrated and described the wedging clamping device as an eccentric roller, but I do not intend to limit myself to this specific form or any particular form of wedge clamping device, except where, in the claims, the same is specifically claimed.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the cross rail, of a wedging friction self-locking clamping mechanism for clamping the cross rail and fluid pressure means for operating the wedge clamping mechanism into locked position, and means to exert fluid pressure, in the opposite direction, suflicient to unlock and release said wedge clamping mechanism.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the cross rail, of a wedging clamping member for clamping the cross rail and fluid pressure means for operating the wedge to clamp and release, the effective pressure area to release being greater than that to clamp.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a cross rail, of self-locking clamping mechanism for clamping the cross rail, fluid pressure means for operatin the clamping mechanism to clamp, and uid pressure means of greater pressure for operating the clamping mechanism to release.

7 4. In amachine of the character described, the combination with the cross rail, of self-locking clamping mechanism for clamping the cross rail and fluid pressure means for operating the clamping mechanism to clamp and release the effective pressure area to release being greater than that to clamp. A

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the cross rail and wedging clamping devices carried thereby, one adapted to clamp above, the other below, the center of said cross rail, of a pressure device comprising a movable cyllnder and piston, operative connection between the piston and one clamping device, and between the cylinder and the other clamping device, and means to admit pressure on opposite operative faces of said piston and cylinder.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the cross rail, wedging clamping devices carried thereby, one adapted to clamp at upper portion, the other at lower portion of said cross rail, of a pressure device comprising a movable cylinder and piston, operative connection between the piston and one clamping device and between the cylinder and the other clamping device and means to admit pressure on opposite operative faces of said piston and cylinder, the areas of the two faces of the piston and the two faces of the cylinder being different.

7. In a: machine of the character described, the combination with the cross rail, wedging clamping devices carried thereby, one adapted to clamp at upper portion, the other at lower portion of said cross rail, of a pressure device comprising a movable cylinder and piston, operative connection between the piston and one clamping device, and between the cylinder and the other clamping device, means to admit pressure on opposite operative faces of said piston and cylinder, and means to limit the movement in one direction of the piston and cylinder.

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, on this 21st day of June, 1907.

GEORGE H. BENZON, JR.

Witnesses:

M. M. HAMILTON, A. M. URIAN.

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