Patent GB-299764-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to fluid-operated metal-cutting and like machine tools
IPC: B23B23/00
Filed: 1928-08-09
Abstract: 299,764. Potter, W. W., (Assignee of Curtis, M. S.). Oct. 31, 1927, [Convention date]. Lathes; lathe centres.-In a hydraulicallyoperated machine-tool such as a vertical singlespindle turning-lathe, the moving parts are actuated by hydraulic cylinders which are supplied by a single pump with high pressure fluid for the working operations and low pressure fluid for the idle movements, the fluid delivery being controlled by an automatic valve, whose movements are determined by electrical contact devices actuated by the moving parts. The base 10 and column 38 are preferably separate castings so that certain parts may be interchangeable to build machines of different types. Thus in some cases a column equipped with a turret and cross slides could be substituted for a column having a platen for carrying the tools. The base and column are tied together by rods R, and the base carries a vertical spindle 11 journaled in upper and lower roller bearings 12 and driven through worm gearing 13, 14 connected to the, main driving electric motor 193 by the gear train shown in Fig. 7. This train includes hand changegears 16 and a shaft 17 which may be driven from a driving-shaft 20 either through a gear pair 19 19<1> or through a gear 22 engaging a ratchet clutch gear 21. A combined friction clutch and brake 194 is operated from a hand lever 197 through rod 196 and thimble 195, and serves either to clutch the shaft 20 to the driving mechanism or to apply a brake thereto. The pinion 19 is clutched to the shaft 20 by means of. a clutch 23 whose yoke 24 is actuated by a. rod 26 connected to the piston of a hydraulic cylinder 28. The supply of this cylinder is controlled by a valve 32, Fig. 17, having a quick throw-over device 42, 43, and actuated to change the speed of the spindle by the engagement of a dog 39 on one of the vertical slides 37 with a stop pin 41 on the valve. Two oppositely disposed vertical slides 37 are provided, each being fitted with a cross slide 44. which is swivelled so that it may be fed at any required angle for facing-operations. The traversing carriage 37 is actuated by means of a hydraulic cylinder 47, 'which is fed from the hydraulic circuit indicated in Fig. 19. An electric motor 55 drives a duplex pump of the intermeshing gear type, comprising a high pressure unit 53 of low capacity and a low pressure idle-motion unit 54 of high capacity. The rotor shafts of the pumps may be connected by gears 189, Fig. 7, and driven from the motor 193 through part of the gearing 192. The pumps are fed from a reservoir 58, and the delivery passes an automatic shut-off valve 59 which is closed by a spring and normally held open by a solenoid 61. A switch 193a is connected to the valve 59, so that when this valve is closed the motor circuit is broken. A metering valve 120 is provided in the high pressure line to regulate the feed. This valve comprises a body having a slotted liner 122, Fig. 34, communicating) with the high pressure line 51. The rotary portion 125 has a helix adjacent the slot 123 to determine the flow through the valve, and the rotation of the valve is effected through lever mechanism from a cam on the carriage 37. The pipe 51 and the low pressure pipe 52 then pass to a main ccntrol valve 50. In one construction this valve includes a casing 65, Fig. 21, with a high pressure port 66, Fig. 25, low pressure port 67, ports 68, 69 connected to the carriage cylinder 47 for forward and reverse movements respectively, ports 70, 71 connected to the cross slide cylinder for forward and reverse, movements respectivedy, and an exhaust port 72 connected to tank 58. The valve body carries a rotary valve 73 closed at the ends and having grooves 77, which on rotation of the body changes the port connections to give the required cycle of movements. The various valve positions are obtainable by hand or automatically through electrical switch devices. From the body 65 pipes 480, 490 are connected to three-cylinder units 79 which operate the cross slides. These pipes telescope in a bracket 81 to permit the carriage movement, and communicate with grooves ir a central stud 86, the grooves being connected by further channels cut in the swivelling base of the cross slide to the cylinders 79. A former bracket 95 may carry a former 96 and a guide 97 may be held against this former by oil pressure in the cylinders 79 for profile work. The spindle of the valve 73 carries a gear 98 driven from a gear 99 on the rotor of a, motor 100. The gear 98 carries detents 102 moving on different orbital paths coacting each with one of a series of switches 101 in circuits 103, including push switches 104, which are normally open, but which may be closed by dogs 105 on the carriage 37. The circuit of the motor 100 includes a contactor 107, so that when a switch 104 is closed by its dog, the motor is started and continues running to rotate the valve until a detent 102 engages the appropriate switch 101 and breaks the circuit. When this occurs the motor is braked by a spring-shoe 109, which is held up by a solenoid when the motor is running and is released as soon as the circuit, is broken. In some cases a delay action device is employed so that a tool may clean up its cut before reversal of its slide. This comprises a stationary contact 113, Fig. 35, and a movable contact 114 carried by a plunger under dash pot control, so that when a contact 105 actuates a lever 119 to depress the cylinder 117 a time interval elapses before the contacts 114, 113 come into engagement to close the motor circuit. The various positions of the valve which give the connections required for rapid approach, slow feed, and quick withdrawal of the traversing and facing slides respectively are described in the Specification. Other feed cycles may be obtained by suitable modification of the valve. A safety device 134 is provided in the high pressure line, so that if a predetermined pressure is exceeded a switch 135 in the main motor circuit is opened to stop the motor. A hand switch 136 is also provided in this, circuit. Hand .switches 137 are provided in the circuits 103, and when one of these switches is operated to close its circuit through the appropriate detent-operated switch 101 it will break the circuit including an automatically operated switch 104. The cross slide also carries dogs 105<a> operating switches 104<a> which are included in the above-described circuits, Fig. 20. The buttons of the switches 105, 105<a> on the moving members are arranged diagonally so that each coacts with its proper switch. In some cases a rack 140 on the cross slide engages a pinion 141 which is geared to a rack on the dog carrying slide 40. By this construction the slide 40 combines the movements of both the longitudinal slide and the cross slide, and may be used to control the motions of both units. The hand switches are adapted for remote control, and two sets shown as unit 1 and unit 2 with a master unit M.S. are provided. Actuation of a master switch 245 first breaks the circuit of the automatic switches and then closes the circuit of the corresponding switch in both units. Other arrangements of master switching are described. The tailstock 149 is secured to the base by a clamp 151 and is adjustable by a screw 154. The centre 157 is mounted in roller bearings in a sleeve 156, which is moved by a hydraulic cylinder 159 and is secured by a clamp 160 operated from a cylinder 162. The pistons 158, 161 are operated hydraulically from the main system through a valve 166 operated by a handle H. When the advancing centre touches the work the rise of pressure in the pipe 172 opens a valve 174, whereupon liquid is allowed to flow through a port 175 to the clamping cylinder 162. On completion of the work the handle H is again operated to allow liquid to pass to the clamping cylinder to release the clamp. When the piston 161 reaches the end of its stroke the pressure increase causes a valve 187 to lift to admit fluid to the lower end of the cylinder 159 to withdraw the centre. In a modification, the pump 200 may feed an accumulator 199 which delivers to the control valves 500 of units 211, 212. The pump delivery is automatically regulated to the machine requirements by means of a finger 205 on the accumulator engaging a rod 206 connected to the switch 204 of the motor 203. Both high and low pressure accumulators may be employed. Various alternative forms of control valve are described. In one form Fig. 40, the valve body 224 contains ported liners 230, 231 containing plungers which are reciprocated by means of a cam 239 driven by a gear 980 to give the required valve positions for various cycles of operation Specifications 324,042, 325,010 and 325,011 are referred to. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 (3) (a) describes also a modification wherein each cylinder is provided with its own metering valve located between the control valve and the cylinder. This enables the feed of individual cylinders to be adjusted. This subjectmatter does not appear in the Specification as accepted. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specifications 7810/01, 7674/03, 28696/13, 11201/14, and 275,167.