Patent GB-163625-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in apparatus for cutting metals by the oxy-acetylene process or the like
IPC: B23K7/00
Filed: 1920-02-11
Abstract: 163,625. Godfrey, A. Feb. 11, 1920. Perforating or dividing by fusion..-In an oxyacetylene or like apparatus for cutting metals of the type in which the blowpipe is mounted on a jointed frame so as to be universally movable in a plane, such as is described in Specinoation 130,450, the feed-shafts are connected by flexibletransmission means to a variable-speed drive. The blowpipe 5 is mounted in a swinging frame and provided with a stem 47 having a pin which engages in a socket. 127, Fig. 1, on a head capable of rotation in a compound slide 9, 8 suspended from and angularly adjustable in the bracket 4. The slide is similar to, that described in Specification 130,450 except that the carriages are mounted on ball-bearing rollers 6. The drive is communicated to the head and slides bv detachable flexible shafts 45, 46 or by telescopic shafts and universal joints. In the. form shown in Fig. 1, a variable speed friction drive is used to traverse the slides &c., the friction gear in the box 10 being varied according to the size of the work, and the gear in the box 11 according to the thickness and nature of the metal. The friction disc 13, which is driven by gearing from the shaft 16, Fig. 5, engages a disc 19 carried in ball bearings on a slid. ably-mounted pivoted arm 20, which is pressed into contact with the disc. 13 by a spring plunger 23. The plunger normally engages the cam end 100 of a handle 22 carried by the arm, but may be released by rotating the handle so as to release the spring and allow the arm to be with. drawn so as to change the speed. The arm carries a, pointer 24 moving over a, graduated plate 25, and adjustable stops 26 may be secured to the plate to facilitate, setting to the desired speed. The 'disc 19 may be compound, consisting of a leather disc 29, Fig. 8, clamped by screw pressure between metal stiffening discs 27, 28. The disc 19 is connected by a flexible shaft 31, Fig. 1, to a similarly mounted disc 33. engaging a disc 34 on a shaft which is mounted in ball bearings and car. ries a bevel pinion 40 engaging either of the bevel wheels 41, 42 carried by movable pivoted link members. In the form shown in Fig. 3, the drive is communicated through two sets of toothed gear cones 146, 157, connected by a flexible shaft 150. The telescopic driving shaft 140 passes through an arm 144 which is slidable along a guide rod 145. This arm carries a pair of toothed wheels 142, 143, which may be swung out of contact with the wheels 146, when changing gears, and are replaced in set position by a, pin on the arm engaging one of a set of marked holes 148 in the gear casing. The pinion 151 may be similarly put in engage. ment with any of the gears 157, or, as shown, it may be carried by a, lever 152 pivoted at one end and carrying at the other end a handle 154, which is shaped to engage on steps 155 on the gear casing and also has a pin to engage one of the set of marked holes 192. The toothed gear cones may be replaced by plain or stepped friction cones. The shaft 158 carrying the toothed gear cone 157 is connected by spur gear 175. 176 to a shaft 177, which at its upper end is connected by bevel gear 159, 160 to' a shaft 161 having worm gear for rotating the head from which the compound slide is suspended. A work table 183 may also be rotated by worm gear from a flexible shaft 180 rotated from the shaft 177 by bevel gear. The shaft 158 may be connected by flexible shaft 174 to the compound slide and through bevel gear 165, 166 and flexible shaft 167 and worm 168 to a worm wheel 169 mounted by ball bearings on the end of the stem 47 of the blowpipe so as to tra. verse the stem round the pattern 178 by means of a roller 172. The flexible shaft 167 is supported on a bracket 199 extending from the controlling mechanism of the blowpipe. In the form shown in Fig. 1, the rotary head 129 carried by the slide 9 is mounted on the shaft 130, Fig. 10, which is driven by worm gear 120, 119 and spur gear 12;'<. 124 from the flexible shaft 46. In order to avoid disconnecting the shaft 46 when not using the rotary head, the worm shaft 115 is carried on a support 116 pivoted at 117, and is pressed down by a hand-operated cam 121 so as to put the gear in operation and is put out of gear on turning the cam 121 by a spring-pressed plunge} 118. The socket 127 is carried by an adjustable graduated arm 128 reading with a marking-off face on the head 129 to adjust the radius of the circle to be cut. The arm is clamped in position by a set screw and V-groove. The head may also be rotated by the hand-wheel 48. In order that the travel of the slides may be stopped automatically, adjustable stops 52, 53 are carried by slid. able rods 50 mounted on the supports for the slides 8, 9 and respectively engage bosses 56 car. ried by the slides. In the form shown in Figs. 11 and 13, the flexible shaft is connected by a bayonet joint to a gear wheel 62, which is mounted on a pivoted arm 61 having a pin 64 passing through a curved slot 65 in a member 66 secured to the stop rod 50. When the rod is moved by the engagement of either of the stops 52, 53 with the boss 56, the wheel 62 is swung out of engage. ment with the gear 63 on the feed shaft so as to stop the feed. In a modification, Fig. 16, the lever 70 engages an inclined slot in the member' 66 and carries a gear 73 in mesh with a gear 72 also engaging a wheel 71, either of the wheels 71, 72 being put into gear with the wheel 63 accord. ing to the direction of traverse. The rod 50 may be moved by a hand lever 95 pivoted at 96 and engaging a collar 67 on the rod, and may be held in engaged position by a spring plunger. At the end of the traverse the automatic operation of the rod 50 causes the cam end 113 of the lever 95 to move so as to liberate a spring tongue 110 carrying a knob 111 which vibrates against an alarm bell 108. An electrically operated alarm may be used. In the form shown in Fig. 1, the stop rods are insulated from the frame and are respectively connected bv wires 93, 94 through batteries 92, 91 to the bells and through the wires 83, 82 to insulated terminals 84, 85. A pin 88 carried by the means for putting either of the gears 41, 42 intooperation, earths .either of the circuits, and when the stops 52 or 53 in that circuit engage the boss 56 the corresponding bell is rung. In the form shown in Fig. 18, a single circuit is used, the bosses 56, 57 being connected to one end of the battery and through the bell 138 to the contact pin 135 and the stop rods 50, 51 being respecttively connected to the terminals 84, 85 by wires 136, 137. When cutting segments of large radius the swing frame 185, Fig. 21, is connected at 210 to the blowpipe, holder, the burner nozzle portion of which is connected to a link 186 slidably mounted according to the radius desired on a graduated bar 184 pivoted on the column carrying the swing frame. Feeding is effected by the slide 9 which is connected to the bar 184 by a forked member 187. In order to use the automatic feed to control the blowpipe by a template, the template 189 is secured by a distance piece to the frame 7 supporting the slide 8 with its face parallel to the slide 8, and the guide pin 195 on the blowpipe passes through a slotted plate 194 secured to the slide 9, and is pressed by a spring against the template. The spring is secured to either end of the slotted plate according to the side of the template being utilized. A screen 190 with coloured glasses is mounted on the blowpipe frame so as to avoid the necessity for the operator wearing glasses. According to the Provisional Specification, when cutting large circles an adjustable supporting roller may be mounted on the frame under the portion of the work that overhangs the table so as to prevent distortion. Also in cutting large segments by apparatus as shown in Fig. 21, a friction roller driven by a flexible shaft may be carried by the foot of the torch and run on the plate. It is also stated that the stop mechanism for the slides may be a clutch mechanism of the dog or electromagnetic type. In the latter case separate clutches are used for stopping and starting. When making circular cuts the feed may be stopped by mounting on the compound slide two contacting discs with flanges connected respectively through a central hole in the suspending pin to the circuits of these clutches, the disc being brought into contact with a contact member mounted freely between them. It is also stated that when the feed is stopped electromagnetic means may be simultaneously used to raise the blowpipe and cut off the gas supply, and also that the operation of lifting the torch to cut off the gases may be arranged to disengage the feed clutch.