IMPROVEMENTS IN LATHES SUITABLE FOR TURNING SHAFTS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Allan of Sunderland Engine Works, South
Dock Sunderland for an Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN LATHES SUITABLE
FOR TURNING SHAFTS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Allan at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th March 1883.
WILLIAM ALLAN of Sunderland Engine Works South Dock Sunderland
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LATHES SUITABLE FOR TURNING SHAFTS
»
This invention has for its object improvements in lathes suitable for turning
shafts.
For this purpose I mount upon the bed of a lathe two headstocks which can be
moved to and fro along the bed and locked to it in any desired positions.
On the same bed and between these headstocks I place the driving mechanism by
which the shaft to be turned is to be revolved. This mechanism consists of a short
hollow spindle or cylinder supported in bearings and having around it a driving
wheel by which it can be revolved. The hollow spindle or cylinder and its driving
wheel are both divided equally into halves-the halves are locked together by
connecting bolts. The hollow spindle or cylinder is mounted in bearings upon a
slide which can be moved to and fro along the bed to bring it into any desired
position.
When a shaft is to be mounted in the lathe the caps of the bearings of the
driving cylinder are removed the bolts which hold together the two halves of the
driving cylinder are taken out and one half of the cylinder with one half of
its driving wheel are taken away-the shaft can then be readily placed in to the
centres of the two headstocks and if it is made with large end couplings these do
not in any way interfere with its being placed into the lathe. Afterwards the
half cylinder and driving wheel are replaced and bolted up and the caps of the
bearings are also replaced. The shaft can then be driven, by the usual driver,
from the end flanges of the driving cylinder,

page_text: A driving shaft which is driven at one end is carried along at one side of the
bed from one end of it to the other preferably at the level of the dead centres of
the headstocks. Loose on it is a pinion to gear with the toothed wheel of the
hollow spindle or driving cylinder. The pinion can be driven at different speeds
from toothed wheels which turn with the spindle through intermediate wheels on a
short spindle carried by the same slide which carries the driving cylinder.
Two or more tool slides are mounted upon the bed so that both ends of the shaft
or the two couplings of a shaft for marine engines can be operated upon
simultaneously. The usual self-acting feed arrangements of these tool slides are
taken from spindles driven from the driving shaft.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Allan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th September 1883.
WILLIAM ALLAN of Sunderland Engine Works South Dock Sunderland
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LATHES SUITABLE FOR TURNING SHAFTS
31
This Invention has for its object improvements in lathes suitable for turning
shafts.
For this purpose I mount upon the bed of a lathe two headstocks which can be
moved to and fro along the bed and locked to it in any desired positions. On the
same bed and between these headstocks I place the driving mechanism by which
the shaft to be turned is to be revolved. This mechanism consists of a short
hollow spindle, or cylinder supported in bearings and having around it a driving
wheel by which it can be revolved. The hollow spindle or cylinder and its driving
wheel are both divided equally into halves-the halves are locked together by
connecting bolts. The hollow spindle or cylinder is mounted in bearings upon a
slide which can be moved to and fro along the bed to bring it into any desired
position.
When a shaft is to be mounted in the lathe the caps of the bearings of the
driving cylinder are removed the bolts which hold together the two halves of the
driving cylinder are taken out and one half of the cylinder with one half of
its driving wheel are taken away the shaft can then be readily placed in to the
centres of the two headstocks and if it is made with large end couplings these do
not in any way interfere with its being placed into the lathe. Afterwards the
half cylinder and driving wheel are replaced and bolted up and the caps of the
bearings are also replaced. The shaft can then be driven by the usual driver,
from the end flanges of the driving cylinder.
A driving shaft which is driven at one end is carried. along at one side of the
bed from one end of it to the other preferably at the level of the dead centres of
the headstocks. Loose on it is a pinion to gear with the toothed wheel of the
hollow spindle or driving cylinder. The pinion can be driven at different speeds
from toothed wheels which turn with the spindle through intermediate wheels
on a short spindle carried by the same slide which carries the driving cylinder.
Two or more tool slides are mounted upon the bed so that both ends of the
shaft or the two couplings of a shaft for marine engines can be operated upon
simultaneously. The usual self acting feed arrangements of these tool slides are
taken from spindles driven from the driving shaft.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a front elevation, and Figure 2 is a plan of a portion of a shaft
turning lathe constructed according to my Invention.
These Figures comprise a part of the lathe bed, one of the headstocks the driving
shaft and gear, one of the tool slides or saddles, and the slide carrying the hollow
spindle or cylinder and the driving mechanism by which the shaft to be turned, is
rotated in the lathe. At the other or left end of the lathe but not appearing in
the Figures there is another head stock and another tool slide or saddle. These
parts differ only from the corresponding parts which are shown in being left
handed instead of right that is to say if the Figures be looked at through the

page_text: paper on which they are drawn they will then accurately represent the head stock
and tool slide or saddle which are wanting to complete the lathe.
Figure 3 is an end elevation of the lathe.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of the lathe and shows more especially the
mechanism for rotating the shaft to be turned.
Figure 5 is also a transverse section and shows more especially one of the tool
alides or saddles.
Figare 6 is a rear elevation partly in section of the mechanism represented in
Figure 4. The change speed gearing which is carried upon the driving slide is here
more especially shown.
Figure 7 shows a portion of the gear upon the tool slide or saddle.
A is the bed of the machine.
B is one of the back headstocks (one only of which is shown) they are of
similar construction one right hand and the other left, and are mounted on the
bed A, and can be moved along the bed to any position by means of the hand
wheel 1 which is keyed on to spindle 2. A pinion 3 keyed on to this spindle
gears into a wheel 4 which is fast with a pinion 5 and turns on the stud 6.
A rack 7, is secured onto the underside of the front of the bed A and into this the
pinion 5 gears. The headstocks can then be clamped to the bed by the bolts 8. 8.
and clamps 9. 9. They can also be adjusted in position across the bed.
The driving mechanism by which the shaft to be turned is rotated consists of a
short spindle or cylinder D supported in bearings E. E. On this cylinder which is
made in halves is a driving wheel F also in halves, these are cast together with or
are firmly secured to the halves of the cylinder. The parts of the cylinder and
wheel are jointed together longitudinally and the halves are secured together by
the bolts d. d. The bearings E E'. are mounted on a slide or may be cast in one
piece with the slide C, which in the same way as the tool slide or saddle is carried
upon the bed of the lathe.
When a shaft is to be placed in or removed from the lathe the caps e. c. of the
bearings E. E. are removed and the joint of the hollow spindle or cylinder D being
placed horizontally the bolts d. d. are removed and the top half of the cylinder
with its half wheel is lifted off. The shaft which has to be operated upon can
then readily be placed in the centres of the back headstocks B. B, and when
finished can be removed in the same way, afterwards the half spindle or cylinder D
and driving wheel are replaced and bolted together and the caps c, el. are also
replaced.
The shaft is driven by the usual driver or carrier from the end flanges of the
driving cylinder D in which recesses for this purpose are shown.
The slide C, with the driving mechanism can be moved along and clamped to
the bed of the machine in a similar way to that in which the back head stocks are
moved.
A driving shaft G extending the whole length of the lathe is driven at one end
by the cone strap pulleys H. The shaft G revolves in bearings g. g. attached to the
lathe bed and bearings g. g. attached to the slide C.
Loose and capable of sliding endwise on a feather on the shaft G is a pinion I
having on one side a disc or flange in which is a recess to receive a locking bolt i.
The bolt i. is capable of sliding in a radial slot in the wheel I' and when in its
recess serves to secure the pinion I firmly to the wheel I¹. The wheel I¹ is keyed
on to the boss of the pinion K which always is in gear with the wheel F on the
hollow spindle or cylinder D. When the wheel I2 is thus secured to the shaft G
the lathe is set for the fast driving motion.
A second motion shaft L on a lower level than the shaft G carries three toothed
wheels J. J. J. these all may be slidden on their shaft endwise on feathers but can
be retained in position by set screws j. j. j.
Another speed may be obtained by arranging the gear as shown in the Drawing.
Figure 6 in which the pinion I is released from the wheel I and geared into the
wheel J which has been shifted along the shaft L.-The pinion J' is also shifted

page_text: along the shaft L, to gear into the wheel I' which is fast with the pinion K gearing
into the wheel F on the hollow spindle or cylinder D.
A third speed may be obtained by releasing pinion I from I¹ shifting J´ out of
gear with I keeping J' in gear with I¹ and shifting Ja along the shaft into gear
with I which slides with a feather on the shaft G and is always running with it...
Two slide rests are arranged one at each end of the bed, one right hand and.
the other left. These consist of a saddle M supporting a cross slide N and a
top slide O, capable of being swivelled round and carrying the tool clamp or
holder P. P.
For screw cutting motion is given to the right hand saddle by means of the
leading screw driven by change wheels.
The driving shaft G has on it a pinion gearing into a wheel q¹ on the short
intermediate shaft q.. The end of the shaft q receives a change wheel and so does
the end of the screw Q and another wheel or wheels one or more on the adjustable
studs q*. q*. complete the train.
This screw is clasped by the divided nut R on the saddle. The halves of the
nut are closed together or opened by the handle r, turning the spindle r¹. on the
end of which are cut right and left hand screws, each screw working in a nut fixed,
to one part of the divided nut embracing the leading screw.
Feed motion is given to both saddles by means of the shaft S driven by the
intermediate wheel q' from the shaft G. Each saddle carries two worms of the
same hand and pitch T. T¹. one sliding on the shaft S and driven by a feather and
the other fast on the short spindle t. this spindle is driven by a pinion u gearing
with another pinion u'. on the shaft S and sliding on a feather, consequently the
worm T¹ runs in a direction opposite to that of the worm T.
The worm wheel 10 by means of the screw 11 and the long nut 11* can be
slidden along on the spindle 12 into and out of gear with the worms T. T¹.
When the lathe is feeding the worm wheel 10 is in gear with either T or T¹
Underneath the saddle in a recess is a pinion 13 which may be set fast to the
spindle 12 by clamping it between a cone collar and a cone bush 14 slidden on
the spindle by the nut 15. The pinion 13 gears with a wheel 16 carried by a .
short spindle 17 on to which is keyed a pinion 18 gearing into an internal
wheel 19 cast together or fast with a pinion 20. The internal wheel and
pinion 19. 20 run loose on a stud and 20 gears into the rack on the underside of
the bed.
The direction of the feed depends on which worm T or T¹ is in gear with the
worm wheel 10.
The saddles may be traversed by hand in a similar way to that in which the
head stocks are traversed.
To obtain a cross or surfacing feed the hollow screw 21 gives a cross motion to
the rest or the saddle. The back end of this screw carries a long pinion 22 always
in gear with the worm wheel 10 and this pinion can be set fast with the screw 21
by being clamped tightly between cones one of which is keyed on to the end of
the screw while the other slides upon it. This clamping is effected by means of the
spindle 23 having on it a screw which draws the cones tightly together.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I would have it understood that I claim.-
First. In shaft turning lathes providing two head stocks to carry between them
the shaft to be turned and a hollow spindle or cylinder to receive the shaft through
it and to rotate the shaft, the said hollow spindle or cylinder being itself driven by
gearing substantially, as described.
Second. In shaft turning lathes, forming the hollow driving spindle or cylinder
with its gear wheel in parts which can be separated to admit the work, substantially
as described.
Third. In shaft turning lathes mounting the hollow driving spindle or cylinder
upon a slide or saddle capable of being traversed along the bed of the lathe, so that

page_text: every portion of the shaft to be turned may be accessible without removing it from
between the headstocks, substantially as described.
Fourth. In shaft turning lathes, mounting the hollow driving spindle or cylinder
upon a slide which also carries change gear wheels so arranged that movement at
various speed and suited to the work may be transmitted, from a longitudinal
axis parallel to the bed, to the hollow driving cylinder or spindle substantially as
described.
Fifth. My improved shaft turning lathe, substantially as described and repre-
sented by the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof I the said William Allan have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Seventeenth day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
bundred and eighty three.