Adjustable precision live center for use with a lathe

Abstract: An adjustable precision live centre (11) is provided for use with lathes (15) having a spindle (43) housing slidably interlocking with a shank block (39) by operation of a dovetail tenon (50) mated to a dovetail mortise of said shank block. A spindle (43) is rotatably coupled to the spindle housing (41), extending rearward through the dovetail tenon (50) of the spindle housing (41). Precision adjustment of the spindle housing (41) relative to the shank bock (39) is made possible by an adjustment bolt.

Description: This invention relates generally to attachments for use with metal working lathes, and more particularly to an adjustable precision live centre for use with metal working lathes. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION : Lathes are widely used to cut and remove tapers from shafts, tubes and pipes, hereinafter collectively referred to as "workpieces". In a typical lathe, a workpiece is coupled between the chuck and the tailstock of the lathe. As the lathe rotates the workpiece, a tool post is advanced towards the chuck, removing material from the workpiece. If, however, the chuck and the tailstock are not perfectly aligned, the tool post will cut a taper in the circumference of the workpiece. More specifically, if the tailstock of the lathe is positioned closer to the tool post than the chuck of the lathe, then the end of the workpiece that is coupled to the tailstock will be cut to a smaller diameter than the end of the workpiece coupled to the chuck end of the lathe. Conversely, if the tailstock is positioned farther from the tool post than the chuck end of the lathe, the end of the workpiece coupled to the tailstock will be cut to a diameter larger than the end of the workpiece coupled to the chuck of the lathe. Thus, in one instance the diameter of the workpiece gradually increases along the length of the workpiece from tailstock to chuck, and in the other instance the diameter of the workpiece decreases along the length of the workpiece from tailstock to chuck. Often, the object of lathe work upon shafts, tubes, and pipes is to remove all tapers to provide a perfectly uniform shaft, tube, or pipe, so a tapered workpiece is unacceptable. Such defects may be corrected through adjustment of the lathe tailstock relative to the lathe chuck. To remove an unwanted taper, the tailstock must be physically adjusted before another pass can be made with the tool post. Often, actuation of the means for adjusting the position of the tailstock relative to the chuck will introduce as much, if not greater, error than that sought to be corrected by the adjustment. More specifically, the various levers, adjustment wheels, and threaded screws do not allow for precision adjustment, and often introduce additional unwanted taper into the workpiece. Thus, the manufacture of a workpiece often requires several passes of the lathe, many of which are required due to the crudeness of the adjustment features present in most lathes. This process is time consuming, often requiring half an hour to forty-five minutes of lathe work to fully remove the taper from a workpiece. This process can only be characterized as an inefficient and sloppy convergence. Moreover, the repeated adjustment of the tailstock may result in damage to the adjustment means. For example, adjustment screws may become stripped through repeated use. When such damage occurs, the lathe is completely useless, and a time-consuming and expensive repair job must be undertaken to restore the lathe to operation. A variety of prior art live and dead centre lathe tools exist for coupling between the tailstock of the lathe and the workpiece which allow for the lateral adjustment of the workpiece relative to the lathe. However, these prior art lathe tools generally are unsuitable for high speed precision work, and often lack sufficient stability. U. S. Patent No. 1,319,585 for Lathe Tool granted October 21, 1919 to L. E. Hunt discloses a "dead centre" lathe tool that allows for the lateral adjustment of the tailstock assembly. Since it is a "dead centre" having no bearings it is not rotatable at high speeds. Moreover, the lateral adjustment mechanism is spring-biased, so this device is not a precision instrument. U. S. Patent No. 1,358,164 for Lathe Centre granted November 9, 1920 to V. A. Cottinger discloses a lathe centre that allows for the lateral adjustment of the workpiece without adjustment of the tailstock. The overall length of this lathe centre renders it unstable, and thus unsuitable for precision work. U. S. Patent No. 3,593,602 for Taper Attachment for A Turning Lathe granted July 20, 1971, to S. J. Westrom discloses a taper attachment that allows for the lateral adjustment of the lathe centre relative to the tailstock through operation of a sliding plate assembly, which renders the apparatus unsuitable for high speed precision work. U. S. Patent No. 3,630,112 for Machine Tool Centre granted December 28, 1971 to K. J. Sudholt discloses a machine tool centre that allows for the lateral adjustment of the lathe centre relative to the tailstock by operation of a worm gear arrangement, which renders the apparatus unsuitable for precision work. French Patent No 1053642 describes a live centre for a lathe in which a spindle housing has the spindle for engaging the workpiece axially journalled in a central axial bore in the housing. The spindle housing carries a rearward facing female dovetail member which engages with a forward facing male dovetail member carried by a shank block which has a rearwardly extending shaft which is driven by the lathe. The relative position of the spindle housing and the shank block can be adjusted by releasing a radially acting locking screw and wedge mechanism and moving the female dovetail upon the male dovetail by means of a screw mechanism. However, the spindle is mounted in the spindle housing by means of bearings located forward of the female dovetail member so that the rearward portion of the spindle housing carrying the dovetail member is not supported as it rotates. Furthermore, the live centre extends for a considerable distance radially in the unsupported length of the spindle housing to provide the requisite strength in the female dovetail member to withstand the stresses imposed by the radially acting locking mechanism. As a result, such a live centre cannot be operated at high speeds of rotation. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a compact, highly stable adjustable precision live centre for high speed operation on lathes. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable precision live centre having as long a spindle as possible for enhanced rotation stability while simultaneously being as overall compact as possible for providing the desired rigidity for precision work. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a live centre that is adjustable in precision increments, greatly reducing the time required to cut and remove tapers from workpieces. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides a live centre attachment for use in coupling a workpiece onto a lathe, which live centre comprises a plurality of interlocking pieces including: a spindle housing with forward and rearward ends and having a first locking member disposed at or adjacent the rearward end, and a substantially central axial cavity formed therein and extending rearwardly from the said forward end; a spindle for engaging a workpiece, which spindle is rotatably journalled in the axial cavity of the said spindle housing to provide a spindle point projecting forward of the spindle housing; a shank block with forward and rearward ends and having a second locking member disposed at or adjacent the forward end of the shank block and adapted in configuration to be slidably interlocked with the said first locking member of the spindle housing, the shank block having at or adjacent the rearward end thereof a shank adapted to be coupled to the lathe; and means for adjusting the position of the spindle housing relative to the shank block to enable a workpiece engaged by the spindle point to be repositioned relative to the lathe, characterised in that: a. said axial cavity extends through the spindle housing from the forward end to the rearward end and said first locking member, b. the said spindle extends rearwardly to substantially the full length of the cavity, and c. the said axial cavity is provided with a concentric-ally disposed bearing assembly located axially within said first locking member for rotatably coupling said spindle to said first locking member to enhance rotational stability thereof. Preferably, the first and second locking members are radially adjustable relative to one another by means of a screw or other adjustment means whereby the axis of rotation of the spindle can be displaced radially from the axial axis of the shank. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to aid understanding of the invention, it will now be described by way of illustration with respect to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the adjustable precision live centre of the present invention coupled between the tailstock of the lathe and a workpiece; Figure 2 is a cross-section view of the spindle and spindle housing of the present invention; and Figure 3 is a partially exploded view of the adjustable precision live centre of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference now to the drawings and in particular with reference to Figure 1, there is depicted an adjustable precision live centre 11 coupled between tailstock 13 of lathe 15 and workpiece 17. The opposite end of workpiece 17 is coupled to lathe 15 at chuck 19. The tailstock of lathe 15 comprises an upper block 21 mounted above lower block 23. Lower bock 23 is slidably carried by rail 25. Rail locking lever 29 serves to lock tailstock 13 in place on rail 25, while adjustment wheel 31 serves to adjust the position of tailstock 13 along rail 25. Adjustment screw 27 in upper block 21 serves to adjust the side-to-side position of upper block 21 relative to lower block 23. Ordinarily, by this means the tailstock 13 of lathe 15 is aligned substantially co-axially with chuck 19. Prior to making adjustments with adjustment screw 27, rail locking lever 29 must be released. Often, the unlocking of rail locking lever 29 is sufficient to slightly shift the position of tailstock 13 along rail 25 - introducing an element of error into the adjustment process. Further, adjustment screw 27 is easily stripped at its threads, through repeated adjustments, diminishing the overall accuracy of adjustment screw 27, and preventing the operator from making precision adjustments. As discussed above in the description of the background art, the removal of unwanted tapers from workpiece 17 requires a considerable expenditure of time when adjustment screw 27 is utilized. For example, assume that the end of workpiece 17 carried by tailstock 13 is positioned closer to tool post 47 than the end of workpiece 17 carried by, chuck 19. After one pass of tool post 47, workpiece 17 will have a taper, namely a gradual increase in diameter from the tailstock end to the chuck end. The operator can directly measure this increase in diameter to determine that an undesired taper is present in workpiece 17. To compensate for this unwanted taper, the operator must adjust the upper block 21 away from tool post 47, and make a second pass with tool post 47. Note that each manipulation of tailstock 13 introduces a margin of error into what should be precision work. Thus, the tailstock end of workpiece 17 may now be positioned farther away from tool post 47 than the chuck end of workpiece 17. If such over-compensation has occurred, during the second pass workpiece 17 is tapered with the tailstock end of workpiece 17 having a larger diameter than the chuck end of workpiece 17. This process is repeated until the operator converges upon a desired tolerance. This process is time consuming, often requiring in excess of one half hour to remove the taper from a single workpiece. Alternately, a taper may be desired, and the adjustment process is repeated with the converse objective of producing a specified taper rather than eliminating a taper from workpiece 17. The live centre 11 of the present invention allows one to make precision adjustments in the position of workpiece 17 independently of the position of tailstock 13. The live centre 11 of the present invention consists of an axial shank 37 releasably coupled in quill 33 of tailstock 13 by quill locking lever 35. In the preferred embodiment, shank 37 is integrally formed with shank block 39 which is slidably and adjustably coupled with spindle housing 41 within which spindle 43 is rotatably carried in spindle housing 41. Point 59 of spindle 43 is disposed in a drilled hole in workpiece 17 (obscured in Figure 1). The position of workpiece 17 relative to lathe 15 may be adjusted through operation of live centre adjusting means 45 which serves to adjust the position of spindle housing 41 relative to shank block 39. Figure 2 is a cross-section view of spindle housing 41, and spindle 43. Spindle housing 41 has a forward end 53 and a rearward end 55 with a first lock piece 49 integrally formed with said spindle housing 41 at said rearward end 55. In one preferred embodiment, first lock piece 49 comprises a male dovetail way, or dovetail tenon 50 forming a substantially planar mating surface 57 at rearward end 55 and defining a traverse axis. Axial central cavity 51 is formed in spindle housing 41, extending from forward end 53 to rearward end 55 substantially through dovetail tenon 50, and substantially normal to the traverse axis defined by substantially planar mating surface 57. Spindle 43 is concentrically disposed in axial central cavity 51 forming a spindle point 59 forward of spindle housing 41, extending rearward in axial central cavity 51 substantially through dovetail tenon 50, and terminating in dovetail tenon 50. Spindle 43 flares radially outward at spindle skirt 61. Spindle skirt 61 is adapted in configuration to substantially occlude axial central cavity 51 at forward end 53, and is substantially flush with forward end 53 when spindle 43 is disposed in axial central cavity 51. Annular radial groove 63 is provided in the outer periphery of spindle skirt 61 for receiving O-ring 65. O-ring 65 serves to seal axial central cavity 51 at the interface of spindle skirt 61 and spindle housing 41. In one preferred embodiment, spindle 43 is rotatably carried within axial central cavity 51 at two locations. First, radial thrust bearing 77 rotatably carries spindle 43 just rearward of spindle skirt 61. Inner race 71 of radial thrust bearing 77 is concentrically disposed about spindle 43 abutting spindle 43 at spindle shoulder 67 for transferring axial thrust of spindle 43 to radial thrust bearing 77. Outer race 73 is interference fit with spindle housing 41 at housing shoulder 69. Bearings 75 are concentrically disposed between inner race 71 and outer race 73, translating axial thrust from spindle 43 to spindle housing 41 at bearing pocket 76 which is a slightly extended, pocket-shaped ball bearing groove, as is known in the art. In the preferred embodiment, radial thrust bearing 77 comprises a Fafnir Textron C312AABCE7 precision radial thrust bearing. Radial thrust bearing 77 serves to rotatably carry spindle 43 within spindle housing 41. Moreover, radial thrust bearing 77 serves to accommodate the slight compression inward of spindle 43 relative to spindle housing 41. Second, radial bearing 83 is disposed in dovetail tenon 50 and serves to rotatably couple spindle 43 to spindle housing 41. In the preferred embodiment, spindle 41 is narrowed to form spindle stem 79 in dovetail tenon 50. Radial bearing 43 serves to concentrically carry spindle stem 79 in dovetail tenon 50. Radial bearing 83 comprises an inner race 85, an outer race 87, and bearings 89. Radial bearing 83 is held in place in dovetail tenon 50 by snap ring 80. Internally threaded bore 81 is provided in spindle stem 79 for accepting taper head screw 91, which secures spindle 43 within axial central cavity 51. Freeze plug 93 substantially occludes axial central cavity 51 at rearward end 55, preventing the entry of unwanted particles into axial central cavity 51. Figure 3 is a partially exploded view of live centre 11 illustrating the interrelationship of spindle housing 41 and shank block 39. Shank block 39 has forward end 121 and rearward end 123 with an integrally formed second lock piece 95 at said forward end 121, having a substantially planar mating surface 97 defining a traverse axis for mating with dovetail tenon 50. An axially extending shank 37 is disposed at said rearward end 123 of shank block 39. Semicircular trough 99 is disposed in shank block 39, providing an opening in substantially planar mating surface 97, and having a first end 101 and a second end 103. Internally threaded bore 105 in shank block 39 is disposed at first end 101 of semicircular trough 99. Second end 103 of semicircular trough 99 opens at the outer periphery of shank block 39. Semicircular trough 99 is adapted to receive bolt 107 which has externally threaded rod 109 adapted to mate with internally threaded bore 105 at first end 101, and a pair of circular flanges 111, 113 at second end 103. Circular drive flange 111 is provided inward along bolt 107 from circular graduated flange 113. The outer surface of circular graduated flange 113 is provided with hexagonal adjustment port 115 adapted to receive a hexagonal allen wrench and a plurality of precision graduations. A pair of circular grooves 117, 119 are provided in substantially planar mating surface 57 of dovetail tenon 50. Inner semicircular groove 117 is adapted to receive a portion of circular drive flange 111, while outer semicircular groove 119 is adapted to receive circular graduated flange 113 when substantially planar mating surface 57 interfaces with substantially planar mating surface 97. Slot 125 is cut in shank block 39 parallel to dovetail mortise 96 for defining mortise wing 129. Set screw 127 (obscured in Figure 3) is provided to urge mortise wing 129 inward to lock the position of spindle housing 41 relative to shank block 39. In operation, spindle housing 41 is adjustable relative to shank block 39 by operation of bolt 107. More specifically, flanges 111, 113 serve to bear upon semicircular grooves 117, 119 of spindle housing 41, moving said spindle housing 41 transversely relative to shank block 39 as threaded rod 109 of bolt 107 is advanced or retracted in internally threaded bore 105 from torque applied to adjustment port 115. Circular graduated flange 113 is calibrated to relate rotational movement of circular flanges 111, 113 to the traverse position of threaded rod 109, and thus to the traverse position of spindle housing 41 relative to shank block 39. Through precision threading of threaded rod 109, and precision calibration of circular graduated flange 113, the lateral position of spindle point 59 may be adjusted in increments of one-thousands of an inch or less. As workpiece 17 is rotated by lathe 15, spindle 43 rotates relative to spindle housing 41 through operation of radial thrust bearing 77 and radial bearing 83. Through this configuration, spindle 43 may be rotated at very high rotational speeds while retaining stability. Such stability is attributable in part to the overall length of spindle 43. More specifically, since spindle stem 79 extends into dovetail tenon 50, rotational stability is enhanced. Moreover, radial bearing 83 which rotatably couples spindle stem 79 in dovetail tenon 50 serves to enhance rotational stability. The overall compactness of live centre 11 serves to maximize the lathe tool's stability. More specifically, longer lathe tools are less reliable due to a loss in rigidity directly attributable to tool length. The present invention minimizes the live centre length, increasing such rigidity, and allowing for precision work. Thus, the present invention serves two distinct functions: enhancing rotational stability of spindle 43, while preserving the overall rigidity of live centre 11. The objective of enhanced rotational stability can be achieved by both providing as long a spindle 43 as possible, and by providing for adequate rotational coupling to spindle housing 41. The objective of maximum rigidity can be accomplished by maintaining the tool as compact as possible. Thus, the objectives are to some extent conflicting, since an elongated spindle 43 generally requires a longer live centre 11, enhancing rotational stability while diminishing overall rigidity. The present invention maximizes both objectives by providing a spindle 43 that is as long as possible, while maintaining overall compactness of live centre 11. This objective is achieved in-part through use of first and second lock pieces 49, 95 with spindle 43 extending substantially through first lock piece 49, and rotatably coupled therein. As discussed above, the present invention presents a variety of advantages over existing prior art systems. Rotational stability, and tool rigidity are maximized in the present invention. Additionally, the position of workpiece 17 may be adjusted relative to lathe 15 without requiring any adjustment of tailstock 13. As discussed, sources of error inherent in the adjustment process of tailstock 13 are eliminated. Further, the time required to remove tapers from workpieces is minimized to a fraction of the time required under existing technology. Live centre 11 also serves to eliminated or reduce the wear and tear on lathe 15, resulting in fewer lathe overhauls and resulting loss of productive lathe time. Workpiece 17 may be positioned relative to lathe 15 in precision increments through the operation of live centre adjustment means 45. The present invention has an additional advantage over prior art systems in that the live centre adjustment means 45 is protected from damage since it is entirely enclosed within live centre 11. Thus, threaded rod 109, flanges 111, 113, semicircular grooves 117, 119, and internally threaded bore 105 are fully protected from impact or contamination by metal shavings or other foreign particles. Further, semicircular trough 99 may be lubricated with grease or oils to diminish thread wear. Additional advantages include an axial central cavity 51 sealed at forward end by spindle skirt 61 and rearward end by freeze plug 93. Thus, axial central cavity 51 may be filled with grease or light oil to enhance the operation of live centre 11. While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the live centre of the present invention could be configured to adjust a workpiece upward and downward relative to the lathe instead of side-to-side.

Claims: A live centre attachment for use in coupling a workpiece onto a lathe, which live centre comprises a plurality of interlocking pieces including: a spindle housing (41) with forward and rearward ends (53, 55), and having a first locking member (49) disposed at or adjacent the rearward end (55), and a substantially central axial cavity (51) formed therein and extending rearwardly from the said forward end (53); a spindle (43) for engaging a workpiece (17), which spindle (43) is rotatably journalled in the axial cavity (51) of the said spindle housing (41) to provide a spindle point (59) projecting forward of the spindle housing (41); a shank block (39) with forward and rearward ends (121 and 123) and having a second locking member (95) disposed at or adjacent the forward end (121) of the shank block (39) and adapted in configuration to be slidably interlocked with the said first locking member (49) of the spindle housing (41), the shank block (39) having at or adjacent the rearward end (123) thereof a shank (37) adapted to be coupled to the lathe (15); and means (107, 111, 113, 117 and 119) for adjusting the position of the spindle housing (41) relative to the shank block (39) to enable a workpiece (17) engaged by the spindle point (59) to be repositioned relative to the lathe (15), characterised in that: a. said axial cavity (51) extends through the spindle housing (41) from the forward end (53) to the rearward end (55) and said first locking member (49), b. the said spindle (43) extends rearwardly to substantially the full length of the cavity (51), and c. the said axial cavity (51) is provided with a concentrically disposed bearing assembly (83) located axially within said first locking member (49) for rotatably coupling said spindle (43) to said first locking member (49) to enhance rotational stability thereof. A live centre according to claim 1, characterised in that the said first locking member (49) extends rearwardly from said spindle housing (41) and said second locking member (95) is adapted in configuration to receive said first locking member (49). A live centre according to either of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that said first locking member (49) is in the form of a transverse dovetail member (50) which engages with a corresponding dovetail member (97) in said second locking member (95) in a slidable interlock for allowing transverse adjustment in the position of said spindle housing (41) with respect to said shank block (39). A live centre as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first locking member (49) comprises a male dovetail member (50) disposed transversely of the spindle (43) at said rearward end (55) of the spindle housing (41) and having the axial cavity (51) formed substantially therethrough, the spindle (43) journalled in the cavity (51) extending rearwardly substantially through said male dovetail member (50); and in that the second locking member (39) comprises a female dovetail member (97) disposed transversely at said forward end (121) of the said shank block (39) for engaging with said male dovetail member (50) of said spindle housing (41). A live centre according to claim 4, characterised in that said means (83) for rotatably coupling the said spindle (43) to the first locking member (40) comprises at least in part a bearing assembly (83) concentrically disposed in said axial central cavity (51) in said male dovetail member (50) for rotatably carrying said spindle (43). A live centre according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said means (77, 83) for rotatably coupling the said spindle (43) in the said spindle housing (41) comprises a first bearing assembly (77) concentrically disposed in said spindle housing (41) for rotatably carrying said spindle (43); and a second bearing assembly (83) concentrically disposed in said first locking member rearwardly of said first bearing assembly (77). A live centre according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the said means for adjusting the position of the spindle housing (41) relative to the shank block (39) comprises a screw member (107) carried by one of the housing (41) or the block (39) which engages a co-operating member (117, 119) carried by the other of the housing (41) or the block (39), whereby rotation of the screw member (107) moves the spindle housing (41) with respect to the shank block (39). A live centre as claimed in claims 1, characterised in that it: the spindle housing (41) has an integrally formed dovetail tenon (50) at said rearward end (55) with a substantially planar mating surface (57) defining a traverse axis, an axial central cavity (51) formed therethrough substantially normal to said traverse axis and extending from said forward end (53) to said rearward end (55) substantially through said dovetail tenon (50), said dovetail tenon (50) having at least one semicircular groove (117 or 119) disposed on said substantially planar mating surface (57) substantially normal to said traverse axis; the spindle (43) extends rearwardly in said axial central cavity 51 substantially through said dovetail tenon (50), and terminates in said dovetail tenon (50); the shank block (39) has an integrally formed dovetail mortise (95, 97) disposed at said forward end (121) having a substantially planar mating surface (97) defining a traverse axis for engaging with said dovetail tenon (50) at said traverse axis, said dovetail mortise (95, 97) having a semi-circular trough (99) disposed in said substantially planar surface (97) and aligned with said traverse axis, said semi-circular trough (99) having first and second ends (101 and 103) with an outer opening at said second end (103) and an internally threaded bore (105) in said shank block (39) aligned to said traverse axis at said first end (101); a bolt (107) with first and second ends having a threaded rod (109) at said first end for coupling with said internally threaded bore (105) of said shank block (39) and having at least one circular flange (111 or 113) disposed at or adjacent said second end of said bolt (107), each disposed in part in one of said at least one semi-circular grooves (117 or 119) in said substantially planar surface (57) of said dovetail tenon (50) whereby advancement or retraction of said threaded rod (109) of said bolt (107) causes said at least one circular flange (111 or 113) to bear upon said at least one semi-circular groove (117 or 119) of said spindle housing (41) so as to move said spindle housing (41) relative to said shank block (39). A live centre according to claim 8, characterised in that said (109) threaded rod of said bolt (107) and said internally threaded bore (105) of said shank block (37) are precision threaded, and wherein the outermost circular flange (113) is graduated to correlate radial motion of said bolt (105) with the traverse movement of said spindle housing (41) relative to said shank block (39).

Inventors: ALEXANDER BILLY RAY, ALEXANDER, BILLY RAY
Applicants: ALEXANDER BILLY RAY, ALEXANDER, BILLY RAY
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B23B23
IPC codes: B23B23