Patent GB-190421111-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Multiple Spindle Automatic Lathes.
Inventor: HARRISON EDWARD UNDERHILL
Filed: 1904-10-01
Granted: 1905-09-28
Abstract: 21,111. Harrison, E. U. Oct. 1. Lathes. - F u llautomatic multiplespindle lathes such as are used for cutting screws from bar stock are driven throughout from a single continuously-rotating constant-speed pulley. The headstock, bed, standards, and oil tray are cast in one piece, and a saddle 3, Fig. 1, bolted to the bed carries the driving-pulley and cam-shaft change-speed gear. The driving-pulley is mounted on a short shaft which carries a pinion driving the main shaft 5 through a long pinion 14, and a helical wheel meshing with the wheel 17, Fig. 4, keyed, together with a pinion 36 and clutch member 37, to a sleeve loose on a hollow crossshaft 20 driving the cam shaft 9 through worm gearing 23. A wheel 41 keyed to another clutch member 40 is also loose on the shaft and is driven by back-gearing from the pinion 36. A clutch 38 is operated by a rod provided with a spring detent and throw-over device 60 to drive the cam shaft at a fast or a reduced speed. For hand setting, a bolt 70 meshing with teeth on the boss of a handle 69 of a hand-wheel engages a groove in a collar 71 and holds the clutch in its central inoperative position. The handle is turned down when not in use and liberates the collar. The clutch-rod is operated by a cam-diec 45, Fig. 1, having dogs which give a positive motion in alternate directions to fingers on a rocking lever oscillating the arm 57, Fig. 4, through a telescopic spring-controlled member. The wheel 42 of the back-gearing is held on its shaft between two leather washers by a sleeve pressed into position by a milled nut and allowing slip in case of obstruction to the tools. On raising the spring-bolt shown, the handwheel may be withdrawn and the wheel 41 removed ; a milled nut on the back-shaft permits the removal of the intermeshing pinion, thus providing for a change of speed. The end tools are carried in a turret 6, Figs. 1 and 12, and comprise in the present instance a screwing-head or tap, a rotary box-tool or drill, and a stationary box-tool or drill. The spindles for the rotary tools are driven by gearing from the shaft 5, that for screwing having wheels 147, 148, 149 driven by an idler, carried by arms 144 pivoted on an intermediate shaft 143, from a sliding pinion enclosed by the arms. Connection is made between the sleeve 150 and the tool-holder proper 138 by a pair of dogs which become disengaged at the close of the operation, a ratchet-wheel 157 at the same time engaging a detent to hold the spindle while the work is unscrewed from the tap or die. The turret slide is reciprocated on the bed by a link 34, Fig. 1. pivoted to a lever fulcrummed to a sleeve on the cam shaft and adjustably linked at 31 to a slide 27 reciprocated by straps on a cam-drum. The work spindles 77, Fig. 16, are mounted in a cylinder 76 rotated at intervals by a toothed ring 80 meshing with a wheel 81, Fig. 20, on the cam shaft. An indexing-bolt engages notches in the cylinder and comprises two plungers 109, 112, connected by a spring 113 and pin-and-slot 115, and is shot by a cam 119 and withdrawn by a cam 118 connected directly to the bolt proper by a lever 114. In shooting the bolt, the plunger 112 first raises the plunger 109 through the medium of the spring and then, the end of the slot contacting with the pin, raises it directly. A lever 116 interlocks the bolt and the rotating mechanism by sliding a key 121 connected to a collar carrying pins 123 engaging recesses in the boss of the wheel 81. A cam-drum 82, Fig. 16, surrounding the cylinder 76 is driven by teeth 83 from the wheel 126 on the cam shaft. Rocking levers mounted two on each side of the headstock each carry bowls 129, 130, Fig. 1, in a cam-path for giving a positive feed and return to each of four radial tool-slides 131 through linkage 133 and pins 135. The position of the pins 135 in slots in the tool-slides is controlled by screws to allow of independent adjustment. Channels 137 formed in the bed under the slides provide for the escape of cuttings. The work spindles comprise three hollow members, the inner member feeding and the middle member locking the bar, while the outer effects the drive. Cams 97, 98 operating sleeves 102, 103 control the bar feed. The spring end 104, Fig. 16, of the inner member is drawn back over the bar by the sleeve 102, the sleeve 103 moves to the right, and the levers 107 allow the middle member to recede, freeing the split end 105 from the coned cap 106 on the outer member and releasing the bar. Forward motion of the sleeve 102 now feeds a fresh length and the sleeve 103 is returned to clamp the bar as before. The spindles bear in externally-coned bushes 84, Figs. 18 and 19, secured in the cylinder 76 by nuts 85. The bushes are slotted to allow contraction, to take up wear as controlled by the nuts, and pins 86 engage in grooves 87 in the bushes to prevent rotation. The spindles are clutched to the driving- pinions by sliding members 88 retained in place by a ring 89 interrupted, at the point in the cycle where screwing occurs, by a spring bolt 90 which enters a recess in the edge of the cylinder 76, and withdraws the member 88 from the driving-pinion and engages it with a member 92 secured to the cylinder 76. During screwing, the spindle is held stationary, and at the close of the operation is rotated again to unscrew the work while the die or tap is held as previously described. To cut left-hand screws, the pinion 14 is removed and the pinion on the short primary shaft is slid along to engage directly the pinion on the main shaft 5. After the screwing operation is completed, and on further rotation of the cylinder 76, a cam-projection on the edge of the drum 82 returns the bolt 90, an auxiliary bolt 95 being provided to facilitate the operation.