Pneumatically operated spindle wrench

A pneumatically powered spindle wrench is disposed and engaged atop the upper terminus of the powered vertical spindle of the vertical milling machine. The powered spindle wrench has a socket shaped and sized to engage the drawbar of the upper spindle terminus on signal. The tool holder is secured in and engaged in the spindle tapered aperture at the lower spindle terminus. On pneumatically powering and rotating the upper drawbar terminus of the spindle, the drawbar is unlocked and the tool holder can be removed from the spindle lower terminus. An electrically powered D.C. motor, and a hydraulically powered motor can also be equivalently substituted for the pneumatic motor drive.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The pneumatically operated spindle wrench of this invention is classified 
in Class 90 Subclass 11D. 
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,128,043 issued Dec. 5, 1978, R. Grassl discloses a quick 
release tool holder suitable for use with a vertical milling machine. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,059,066 discloses an additional improvement in quick 
release tool holders for a vertical milling machine. 
Existing toolholder changing devices require new toolholders provided with 
extensions. These systems do not work on rotary mounting or release, but 
on a vertical retraction system. When changing toolholders in the 
conventional manner, one needs a wrench and hammer. The hammer is used to 
hit the drawbar on the top, loosening the toolholder mounted within the 
tapered spindle. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A simple and inexpensive pneumatically operated spindle wrench is disposed 
and engaged atop the upper terminus of the powered vertical spindle of a 
vertical milling machine. The powered spindle wrench has a socket member 
adaptively sized to engage the upper powered spindle drawbar terminus on 
signal. The tool holder, secured in the spindle tapered aperture at the 
lower spindle terminus, is released on pneumatically powering and rotating 
the upper spindle terminus, unlocking the drawbar. 
A platform linear member has a first and second end terminus and a linear 
axis of symmetry in between. A first vane member and a second vane member 
are each pivotally secured normal and centrally to the first platform 
member and terminus, the vanes contacting each other on rotation. A lever 
arm is secured normal in and to the second vane member, providing manual 
pivoting torque to the second vane member. A rod securing means is 
pivotally adapted and secured in a slotted aperture disposed at the second 
end terminus of the platform member, the rod securing means pivoting 
normal to the platform linear axis of symmetry. 
A rod means preferably formed in a right angle shape, is adaptively secured 
in the rod securing means providing means of securing the spindle wrench 
operatively adjacent the milling machine drawbar first terminus adjacent 
the automatic transmission top plate, or the like. A socket wrench is 
sized and adapted to operatively secure to the drawbar first terminus on 
signal from the lever arm. The socket wrench is operated by a pneumatic 
motor adapted, sized and secured adjacently through the platform linear 
member first end terminus. The pneumatic motor is operated by compressed 
gas on signal by the vane member pivotally operated by the lever arm. 
The invented system permits the use of existing toolholders for mounting or 
releasing from an unmodified (original) tapered spindle. The toolholder is 
mounted on the vertical spindle. The device is handy, easy to mount and 
inexpensive. The time required for mounting device on the top plate or the 
step head is about twenty minutes. The change of toolholders requires only 
a few seconds. 
Equivalently, an electrical powered reduction geared DC motor can be 
reversibly driven and secured on the platform linear member, in 
substitution for the pneumatic motor. A reduction geared hydraulic motor 
can also be equivalently substituted for the pneumatic powered motor. 
Included in the objects of this invention are: 
To provide a simple, convenient tool for loading and unloading a tool 
holder on a vertical milling machine. 
To provide an ingenious tool for loading and unloading a tool holder on a 
vertical milling machine, without the machine operator mounting a ladder 
to operate the upper drawbar terminus. 
To provide a simple and inexpensive tool for a vertical milling machine, 
which can operate to speed up the loading and unloading of a tool holder 
on the machine power spindle. 
Other objects and advantages of this invention are taught in the following 
description and claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 there is shown collectively a pneumatic 
operated spindle wrench 10, having a platform linear member 11, with a 
first end terminus 12, a second end terminus 13, and a linear axis of 
symmetry 14. A first vane member 15 is pivotally secured by hinges 16, 16 
to a pneumatic motor 17. The first vane member 15 is pivotally mounted to 
impinge on the two switches 18 (OFF), 19 (ON), which activate the 
compressed gas which drives the motor 17. The first vane member 15 is in 
turn activated ON or OFF by the pivoted second vane member 20 pivotally 
secured on the platform linear member 11 at the first terminus 12, by the 
pivot bolt 21. The second pivot member 20 pivotally moves the first pivot 
member 15, as the lever arm 22 is moved left 23 or right 24, as in FIG. 2. 
The nozzle means 25 introduces and conducts compressed gas into the 
pneumatic motor 17. The socket wrench 26 is adaptedly sized and 
permanently secured to the power shaft of motor 17, which in turn projects 
downwardly in a pressure fit aperture 27 in the platform 11, secured by a 
screw in the platform (not shown). 
A pivot rod securing means 28 is disposed and secured in a slot 29 by a 
pivot bolt 30, providing pivoting of the linear member 11 normal to the 
axis 14. An aperture 31, secured by a bolt 32, can hold an angular 
mounting rod 33. The rod 33 can be adjustably mounted and secured on the 
automatic transmission top plate of a vertical milling machine, or in a 
similar position on a step head vertical milling machine which has no top 
plate. The spindle wrench is pivoted into engagement with the drawbar of 
the spindle. The spindle wrench is positioned to place the socket wrench 
26 directly over the drawbar of the power spindle of the vertical milling 
machine, so the drawbar can be locked or unlocked as required by the 
milling machine operator. This invention thus eliminates the necessity for 
the operator to mount a ladder, chair or the like, in order to lock or 
unlock the drawbar mechanism, with the resultant improvement in operator 
safety, and operator time in changing machine tooling, during milling 
machine use. 
At least one ball bearing 34 and a supporting compression spring 35 are 
disposed in platform base 11 under the vane 20, providing pivotal support 
for the second vane member 20. At least one second rod securing means 36 
is disposed on rod means 33, providing means for securing rod means 33. 
The spring loaded adjustment screw 37 adjusts the base 11 angle. 
As illustrated in FIG. 3, equivalently the pneumatic motor 17 can be 
replaced by a reduction geared D.C. reversible motor which can be rotated 
in the required rotational direction by vane 15 activating the required 
equivalent electrical switches 18 and 19. Also, equivalently the pneumatic 
motor 17 can be replaced by a reduction geared hydraulic powered motor 
which can be operated by the equivalent switches 18 and 19. It should be 
noted that the use of a pneumatic motor is preferable, because the latter 
provides the rotary power as well as the impact required to release the 
tool-holder, this being actually equivalent to the time consuming 
conventional use of wrench and hammer as mentioned herein. 
Many modifications in the milling machine spindle wrench can be made in the 
light of my teachings. It is understood that within the scope of the 
claims, the invention can be practiced otherwise than as described.