Patent GB-1023459-A (GB)
Title: A multi-purpose machine for operating on a workpiece
IPC: B27F5/06
Filed: 1962-09-10
Abstract: 1,023,459. Milling, turning, abrading, machine tool detents. C. RUSHTON. Dec. 9, 1963 [Sept. 10, 1962], No. 34473/62. Headings B3B, B3C, B3D, B3K and B3T. [Also in Division B5] A multi-purpose machine tool comprises a tubular body formed with a plurality of axial slots, a turret head slidable along the tubular body, a main drive associated with the tubular body, a plurality of subsidiary drives carried by the turret head and extending radially of the tubular body out of the axial slots, each for operating a tool, and clutch or gear means between the main drive and subsidiary drives and engageable to actuate one or more of the subsidiary drives at any one time. The machine is for operating on wood, metal or the like and is usable as a mortising and dovetailing machine, as a lathe, as a milling machine, as a circular saw or as a band saw. The basic component of the machine consists of a tube 69, Fig. 14, which has a plurality of slots 66 and slidably receives a collar 71. A plurality of tubes 76, 77, 78, 79, Fig. 20, extend radially from the collar and each receives a shaft 80, 81, 82, 83 which may be connected by a clutch to a bevel gear 84, 85, 86, 87 at its inner end. The bevel gears co-operate with a bevel gear 88 on a shaft 72 disposed within the tube 69 and driven directly or indirectly by a belt drive 121, Fig. 14, or flexible drive from a motor. The shaft 72 is slidably received within the gear and is formed of several parts connected together by universal joints to render the shaft flexible. The bevel gear 88 is rotatably mounted on a plate having radial arms 65, 66, 67, 68 extending through the slots in the tube 69 and adjustably connected by screws 176 to the collar 71 whereby the position of the gear can be adjusted laterally to engage with any one or all of the bevel gears 84, 85, 86, 87 to transmit rotation from the shaft 72 to any one of all of the shafts 80, 81, 82, 83 while permitting sliding movement of the collar on the tube, the movement of the collar being effected by a handle 90. In an alternative arrangement, the shaft 72 is replaced by a shaft 210, Fig. 34, which is disposed eccentrically of the tube and has worms 215 engaging wormgears on the radially-extending shafts 234, 235 extending through the collar. A chisel and auger attachment may be fitted on to one of the radially-extending drives and comprises a housing 561, Fig. 21, which can be fitted into one of the radial tubes, the housing having a pair of shafts 558, 559 interconnected by bevel gears 556, 557. Shaft 558 carries part of a coupling 562 for connection to the radial shaft, and shaft 559 carries an auger 566 which extends through a hollow square chisel 564, the auger being connected to the shaft by a coupling or chuck 567. In the machine shown in Fig. 24, a circular saw 179 is carried at the end of one of the radial tubes 76 and driven by a shaft connected by bevel gearing to the shaft 72 disposed within the vertical tube 69. The shaft 72 is driven by a belt 184 and motor P located within the base of the machine, a pulley 188 being provided to tension the belt. The tube 69 is movable along guideways 181, 190A on the base by a screw and nut arrangement 194 operated by a handle 196. The saw may operate on work on one of three supports A, B, or C. Support A comprises a plate 180A which is adjustably mounted in a support 180B and co-operates with a rear centralizing plate 180 adjustably mounted by a half-ring clamping device as described in Specification 951,050. The support B has a table 182 mounted on a full ring clamping device also as described in Specification 951,050, and support C comprises a table 183 vertically adjustable on the tube 69 and securable in position by a hand wheel 183C. In another arrangement, the slotted tube is disposed in a horizontal position and a workhead 271, Fig. 47, is secured to the tube, the workhead carrying pulleys for a drive to a shaft 340 on which is mounted a circular saw 331. The saw extends through a slot 343 in a table 332 adjustably supported by a slotted plate 336 and slide 337 on a device 351 clamped to the tube 339, the device being provided with means 338 to adjust the height of the table. The table carries an adjustable fence 333, a work clamp 335, and an adjustable extension 334. The spindle 340 is provided with threads 350A to receive various attachments. In a further arrangement, the slotted tube 339, Figs. 51 and 53, acts as a support for a band saw attachment having a saw 385 guided over wheels 377, 378 and a wheel 360 secured to a shaft 362 connected to the beltdriven shaft 340 on the head 271. The tension of the belt is adjusted by a screw-device 374 acting on the wheel 378 and a device 370 which is operated by a screw 369 and has an oppositelyhanded threaded member 370 engaging members 371, 372 connected to the wheels 377 378 which are thereby moved towards or away from each other to adjust the band. The upper wheel is mounted on a stub axle which can be adjusted about a ball joint by a pair of screws to control the tracking of the band. The band saw attachment co-operates with a supporting table 332B which can be removed so that the attachment can be swung to a horizontal position 394. The machine may be arranged as a mortising machine by attaching a support 402, Fig. 56, such as described in Specification 951,050 to one of the radial tubes, the support having a chain 402 of the driving or cutting type engaging a lower sprocket 403 adapted to carry a cutter 407 of dovetail shape. A slotted bearing plate 408, Fig. 61, may be secured to the sprocket and cutter. Alternatively, the dovetail cutter 412, Fig. 63, may be mounted on a shaft which is rotatably supported in a cylindrical member adapted to fit one of the radial tubes 76, Fig. 14, and has a coupling 415 for connection to the shaft in the tube. A plurality of dovetails may be cut simultaneously by a number of dovetail cutters 474 . . . 478, Fig. 72 carried by shafts which are rotatably mounted in brackets 482 and have bevel gears 469 engaging bevel gears 466 rotatably mounted in the brackets and splined to a shaft 464, the central bevel gear being driven by a bevel gear on a shaft 457 which is rotatable in a cylindrical member adapted to be mounted on one of the radial tubes and has a coupling for connection to the driven shaft in that tube. The brackets 482 are connected together by a lazy tong mechanism which is adjustable to vary the spacing between the cutters. A notched plate may be used to secure the cutters in their adjusted positions. If the distance apart of the cutters is not required to be adjustable, they may be mounted on shafts interconnected by spur gears. A single cutter 541, Fig. 79, may be mounted on a shaft which is transversely movable along a slot in a housing by a handle 550 and carries a bevel gear meshing with a further gear which is mounted in a bracket 539 movable with the cutter and is non- rotatably but axially movable along a shaft 537 driven by chain 545 and worm-gearing 547 from a shaft 546 connectable to the shaft in the radially extending tube 76, Fig. 14. As shown in Fig. 69, the dovetail cutter arrangement 440 is mounted on the radially extending tube 443 of the collar 71 which is disposed on the slotted tube. A clamp 521, such as described in Specification 951,050, is secured to the slotted tube and adjustably carries a table 522 having a fence 523 to each of which is secured a workpiece 524, 528 to be machined together by the cutter arrangement 440, the handle 441 being operable to move the cutter arrangement towards the workpieces. The machine may be used as a lathe by arranging the slotted tube 258, Fig. 38, on supports 260, 261 and mounting a headstock 270 on one end, the headstock having a pulley driven shaft 269 for a chuck or face plate 273 and a grinding wheel 266. A clamping device as described in Specification 951,050, is secured to the tube and incorporates means for adjusting the vertical height of a tool rest 276 which is adjustable transversely of the tube along a slideway 278. The collar 283 is slidable along the slotted tube by a handle 285 and carries attachments which may or may not be driven from the shaft 282A located within the tube. As shown, the collar carries an adjustable centre 286 Other attachments may be fitted in the radial tubes of the collar 283 and be brought into operation by rotating the slotted tube 258 and collar relative to the head 270. A domeshaped cover 293 may be fitted to the open end of the slotted tube when change gears are not fitted. In an arrangement incorporating a milling attachment, the slotted tube 69, Fig. 45, is mounted in a housing 299 also supporting a U-bracket for a pulley driven shaft 328, the housing being mounted on a slide adjustable along guideways in a vertical plate 294A. A clamping plate carried at the lower end of rods 315 for co-operation with a fixed plate 309 when tools carried and driven by the slotted tube are used, may be fixed against vertical movement so that when a hand wheel 311, which usually causes movement of the plate, is rotated, a lug 314 is vertically moved, the lug being connected to an arm 316 which acts as an outer support for a milling cutter spindle 316B and is carried by a vertically movable slide 317. A table support table 321 is adjustably secured to the plate 294A and carries a work-table 324 which is movable by a rack-and-pinion mechanism 323 operated by a hand wheel 326.