Patent GB-438940-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in flame cutting machines
IPC: B23K7/00
Filed: 1935-05-07
Abstract: 438,940. Dividing by fusion. GLOVER, J. P., 33, Ferndene Grove, Heaton, Newcastleon-Tyne, and BRITTAIN, A., 23, Belmont Avenue, Monkseaton, Northumberland. May 7, 1935, No. 13453. [Class 83 (iv)] In a flame cutting - machine for making straight, curved, circular, or template guided cuts in metal, the blowpipe is mounted on a horizontal arm sliding in a housing pivoted either on a stationary support or on a saddle traversed on a beam, the feed of the arm, saddle and housing being effected mechanically and means being provided for disconnecting the feed mechanism of the arm and connecting it to mechanism for feeding the tracer. A beam 1 vertically adjustable on columns 2 by a pair of intergeared hand operated screws 4, slidably supports a saddle 9 from which depend aprons 9<a>, 9<b> to the lower edges of which is bolted a plate 10. From the plate, suspended by a hollow bolt 11, is a circular housing 12 which carries a worm wheel 15 so that it may be rotated by a worm 16 carried by a bracket pivotally mounted on an extension from the apron 9<b> on a bush through which a vertical shaft 20 passes. The bracket is moved to bring the worm into or out of mesh by a pivoted screwed rod 25, Fig. 3, engaging a hand rotated nut 26 mounted in a swivel block 27. The casing may be prevented from rotating by a hand-operated screw 29 engaging a groove 12<a> and in order to prevent engagement of the gear in such case a shoulder 25b on the rod engages a shoulder 29<a> on the rod 29. The worm is driven from the shaft 20 by bevel gear 21, 22. The casing carries a circular scale 31 co-operating with a pointer 32 on the plate 10. Two side plates 33, 34 connected at their lower edges by bridge plates 35, 36, 37 are bolted to the housing and are provided with pairs of adjustable rollers 39 to guide a lattice arm 38 which telescopes therein. At one or both ends of the arm is arranged a face plate 38<b> having a cone 41 on which a plate 42 carrying the blowpipe 51 is angularly adjusted and secured in position by nuts 44, 45. The blowpipe is mounted on a carrier 49 adjustable by a rack 48 and pinions 46 in the plate 42. The blowpipe carrier has a bracket 52 for supporting a tracer 53 for cooperating with a template 60. The template is carried by a bolt adjustable in a longitudinal slot in an arm 54, which may be adjusted about a vertical pivot secured in a bracket on one of the aprons 9<a>, 9<b>. From one to four or more of such arms may be secured to brackets on the aprons. A number of separate blowpipe carriers may be adjustably mounted on the lower member of the arm 38 so as to effect parallel cuts simultaneously, and the centre bridge piece 36 may carry another blowpipe or a centre 169 and adjustable trammel 170 for setting out a job. The saddle 9 carries the driving motor 63, Fig. 9, change speed gear and clutches for connecting the various motions. The motor is connected by worm gear to a shaft 66 having pinions 67 of equal diameter connected to pinions 69 of different diameters on a shaft 68 by a jockey pinion 70 carried by a slidable lever 71. The lever has shoulders 71<a>, 71<b> for engaging steps 74 in a notched casing. The shaft 68 is connected by gear 69, 76 to a shaft 75 provided with loose gears 77, 78, 79 which are connected to their shaft by handoperated clutches 80, 81, 82, and are in mesh with gears 83, 84, 85 on the main shaft 86. The main shaft has three reversible bevel pinion drives 88, 88<a>, 87, 87<a> and 89, 89<a>, connected thereto by dog clutches 94, 93, 95. The pinion 91 of the drive 88, 88<a> is mounted on a horizontal shaft 134 carrying a pinion 135 meshing with a rack 136 on the beam 1 so as to traverse the saddle. The pinion 90 of the drive 87, 87<a> is carried by the vertical shaft 20 so as to rotate the housing 12 in making circular or curved cuts. The pinion 92 of the drive 89, 89<a> is mounted on a vertical shaft 137, which through bevel gear 138-142 rotates a shaft 143 having a bevel gear 144 engaging a bevel gear 145 on a sleeve 146 loosely mounted on a shaft 147. In order to traverse the arm 38 in the housing the shaft 147 has keyed thereon a dog-clutch 148 carrying a pinion 149 engaging a rack 150 on the arm 38. In order to effect a cut according to template the sleeve 146 carries a pinion 151 engaging a pinion 152 which may be connected by a dog - clutch to a bevel pinion geared to a pinion on a slidable shaft 160, from which by enclosed worm gear 161 and bevel gear the drive to the tracer roller 162 is communicated. The operating levers of these two clutches are connected together and actuated by a hand lever so that when one is in engagement the other is disengaged. The dog - clutches 94, 93, 95 are provided with levers connected to rocking shafts 103, 100, 105, which carry forked levers 109, 108, 110 passing over rods provided with adjustable stops 114 so that the drives may be engaged or disengaged automatically when the saddle is traversed and the direction of cut changed without stopping the feed. The rocking shafts 103, 100, 105 may be operated by hand through chain gears 125, 124, 126 and handles 116, 115, 117. The clutches 80, 81 comprise a common driving member so that when one is engaged the other is disengaged. These clutches are operated by a chain gear from a handle 132. The clutch 82 is similarly operated by a handle 133. The main shaft 86 may also be operated by a hand wheel 165 through chain gear to effect a hand feed or adjustment. The scale 31 may be provided with movable stops to co-operate with mechanical or electrical means to disengage the clutch 93 at the end of a predetermined segmental cut and if desired to connect one or other of the clutches 94, 95. Similar stops may be arranged on the side plates 33, 34 to co-operate with the arm 38 for disengaging the clutch 95 and, if desired, engaging either of the clutches 94, 93. Specification 408,345 is referred to.