Patent GB-454473-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in feed mechanism for the slides of machine tools
IPC: B23C9/00
Filed: 1935-12-16
Abstract: 454,473. Feed mechanism for machine slides. DECKEL, F., 7, Waakirchnerstrasse, Munich, Germany. Dec. 16, 1935, Nos. 34888 and 34889. Convention dates, Dec. 24, 1934 and Aug. 28, 1935. [Class 83 (iii)] A control mechanism for a machine-tool slide comprises a single lever which is pivoted at spaced points along its length to bearings which serve as alternative pivots, and are movable transversely of each other to actuate clutches which control two feed movements in perpendicular directions, while a third feed movement is controllable by axial movement of the lever. As applied to a knee type milling machine, the frame 1 carries a knee 2 provided with a saddle 3 and table 4. The three mutually perpendicular feed movements for these parts are derived from a motor 5 geared to a splined shaft 7 connected by gears 9, 10 with oppositely driven loose wheels 12, 13 on the feed screw shaft 11 of the knee. The gears 12, 13 are selectively clutched to the feed shaft by a clutch 14. To determine the direction of knee adjustment bevel gears 20 connect the shaft 7 to a shaft 21 which is geared to oppositely driven loose wheels 25, 26 on the shaft of the feed screw 24 actuating the saddle movement, the gears 25, 26 being selectively engaged by a clutch 27. The shaft 21 is further connected by gearing 30 and bevel gear 32 to oppositely driven wheels 34, 35, mounted loosely on the table feed screw 33, and selectively clutched thereto by a clutch 36. The clutches 14, 27 and 36 controlling the knee saddle and table respectively are all operated from a lever 40 mounted in a bearing 41 constrained to move only vertically and in a bearing 42 constrained to move only horizontally in the direction of the table feed. Thus when the handle 39 is moved up or down the bearing 41 is moved vertically to actuate through a link 43, the clutch 14 to impart up or down movement respectively to the knee. When the handle 39 is moved in the direction of table movement the bearing 42 is correspondingly moved so as to rotate a shaft 44 geared to a crank disc 48 acting through a link 50 to shift the clutch 36 and impart movement to the table in the same direction as the handle movement. The lever 40 is also movable axially in the direction of the saddle movement such axial movement acting through annular disc 52 and link 53 to move the clutch 27 and impart corresponding movement to the saddle 3. The lever may be returned to its end or neutral position by stops and more than one movement may be effected at the same time. In a modification, the lever has a ball connection 54 with a member 55 moving in the direction of the lever axis. The lever is also slidable axially in a ball 57 mounted in a plate 58 fitted with four pins 59-62 engaging slots in clutch operating levers 63, 64. Thus when the lever is moved upwards or downwards only the arm 63 is moved by the plate and when the lever is moved laterally only the arm 64 is moved, the positions being determined by a plunger 66 engaging depressions in the plate 58. In another modification, Figs. 7 and 8, a machine table 67 is movable horizontally in a vertically movable slide 68 carrying the control lever 70 having ball connections 76, 73 with operating members 75, 79 respectively. When the lever is moved in the plane of the paper, Fig. 8, it rocks about the lower ball connection to rock the lever 75 thus acting through a rod 85 and other lever mechanism to shift a clutch member 92 controlling reversing bevel gearing 95 so as to impart movement to the slide 67 in the same direction as the lever movement. If the lever is moved in the plane of the paper, Fig. 7, it rocks about the ball 76 and operates a crank 79 connected through a shaft 81 with the control lever 84 actuating the reversing gearing of the mechanism for raising and owering the slide 68. The lever handle has an upward component of movement from O to H when the slide is to be moved up and vice versa. Lever movements in both planes may be used to operate the slide and table simultaneously.