Improvements in Devices for Transmitting Rotary Motion and for Adjusting Tool or Work Holders or the like applicable to Lathes, Drilling, Engraving, and other Machines or Apparatus.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application. 14th 'pr., 1891-Accepted, 6th June, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Transmitting Rotary Motion and for
Adjusting Tool or Work Holders or the like applicable to
Lathes, Drilling, Engraving, and other Machines or Apparatus.
1. ANDREW JOHNSON, of 149 Oak Street, Chicago, County of Cook, and State
of Illinois, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The purpose of this invention is to provide novel means for communicating
rotary motion eccentrically with respect to the axis whereabout it originates. In
general it consists of a base which may be described with respect to an axis, and
having transverse to such axis a guideway for a reciprocating part which may be
generically called a traveller, and which, in the specific form illustrated, I name a
trammel, such reciprocating part having also a guideway whose direction is trans-
verse to that of the base, and a second traveller-hereinafter called the trammel
block, which is adapted to reciprocate along such second guideway, such second
traveller being in certain uses provided with a bearing which may be eccentric with
the axis of the base, and which, when the base is revolved about its said axis, will
receive thereby rotary motion about its own axis, which may be shifted at will
without interrupting such motion. Such device may be used as a tool-holder or
work-holder and is adapted to a variety of irregular work with tools as well as a
means of communicating motion generally.
In the drawings,
Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the axis of the revolving head of a drill press
in which a tool-holder embodying my invention is represented as secured.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, section being made at the line 2-2 on Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a section at the line 3-4 on Fig. 1, looking downward.
Fig. 4 is a section at the same plane looking upward.
Fig. is a perspective of an important element in my invention, hereinafter
called the trammel."
It may
Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the trammel at the line 6-6 on Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is an axial section through a device embodying my invention, and adapted
for communicating rotary motion from one of the spindles or shafts shown therein
to the other spindle or shaft without regard to said shafts being in line.
be used as a tool-holder or for any other purpose, and differs from the con-
struction shown in the preceding figures in that it contains two trammels instead
of one, this difference, however, having no relation to the fact that it is not limited
to the use of the tool-holder.
Fig. 8 is a section at the plane indicated by the line 8-8 on Fig. 7.
Fig.
is a diagramic view, of the nature of a plan, of a multiple drill press:
that is to say, a drill press in which several spindles having different speeds derive
motion from the same power wheel, my invention being applied in connection with
the said spindles for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.
Fig. 10 is an enlarged vertical section at the line 10-10 on Fig. 9.
Fig. 11 is a section at the line 11-11 on Fig. 10, looking upward.
Fig. 12 is a plan of a work-holder embodying my invention, adapted to be used
as a horizontal bed or vertical chuck.
Fig. 13 is a vertical section at the line 13-13 on Fig. 12.
Fig. 14 is a section at the line 14-14 on Fig. 13, being virtually a plan or
elevation of the interior mechanism, section cutting only the stem or spindle of the
disc or plate which has the work-holding jaws.
I will first describe the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, since a'l

page_text: the essential elements of the invention are presented in those figures together with
many details of construction which are preferably, though not fundamentally,
essential.
66
A is the base plate, which is designed to be rigid at its centre with the shaft,
and, when the device is the tool-holder illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, this
base plate has the spindle A' projecting from its centre, adapting it to be secured
in the usual manner in a revolving shaft having a central tapering socket. Such
shaft is represented at G, being the revolving shaft of a drill press, a portion
of whose upright frame is represented at G. This base comprises, preferably
as rigid with it, cheeks 13 B, whose proximate edges are parallel, so that there
is formed between them an opening or channel B', in the hase of which said
cheeks form a part. The centre of this channel corresponds to the axis of the
shaft or spindle A' of the base. D is a trammel," as I name it, as illustrated
in Figs. 1, 3, 5, and 6, it is an oblong block or frame having formed through it
a channel or opening having two opposite sides parallel. This trammel in length
corresponding to the width of the channel B' in the base, and it is placed in
the said channel with its length extending across said channel, and is adapted to
slide in the channel longitudinally with respect to the latter, but sidewise with
respect to the trammel itself, being guided by its ends following the parallel sides
of the channel. The essential characteristic of this trammel is that it has the
two opposite parallel sides, whose direction is transverse to the opposite parallel
sides of the channel or opening in the base. For some purposes, these two opposite
parallel sides may be connected as in the structure shown in Figs. 5 and 6 by the
bottom D, and for other purposes, said sides may be connected by the ends D
which appear in similar trammels shown in Fig. 8.
When the device is applied in
such manner that there is an end thrust experienced by the shaft to which motion
is communicated through this mechanism, I prefer to adopt the former construction,
-that is, giving the trammel a bottom to connect its parallel sides, because, by that
means, I am able to use the anti-friction roller in the trammel block which will now
be described.
E is such trammel block. It is a solid block of metal having two opposite sides
parallel and coinciding with the parallel sides of the channel or opening in the
trammel D, in which said block fits and is adapted to slide in the channel. This
trammel-block rotates the shaft E', said shaft being the one to which the motion
is communicated, and for most purposes to which this device may be applied, said
shaft is made rigid with the block E and is so represented in the construction
shown in Figs. I to 6. Obviously, however, the shaft might slide through a poly-
gonal or feathered opening in the block, so as to be rotated by it. The parts thus
far described comprise what is essential to the transmission of the rotary motion
from one shaft to another parallel but eccentric to the first, the appliance needing,
in addition, only a suitable face plate to prevent the accidental escape of the
trammel-block from the trammel or of the trammel from the base. In the simp'est
form, but with two trammels instead of one--it is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8,
I being the face plate to retain the trammel block and trammel in place. When a
second trammel is employed, it is located transversely with respect to the first
trammel, and the base is provided with an additional pair of cheeks B, whose
parallel faces are in a direction transverse to that of the faces of the first pair :-
that is, the two trammels lie crossing each other, and are each guided in transverse
directions by similar pairs of cheeks which form part of the base either by being
integral or being rigid therewith, and the trammel block is made long enough
that it extends through both the trammels and is parallelogramic in cross section.-
that is, it has a pair of opposite sides corresponding to the parallel sides of each of
the trammels, so that it receives guidance from both of thein. It will be observed
that in this construction the guidance which either of the trammels gives to the
trammel block corresponds perfectly to the guidance which the other trammel
block receives from the base, so that the additional trammel is merely a further
safeguard against inaccurate operation, the trammel block having thus two means
301

page_text: of guidance in each direction,-to wit, the guidance of one of its parallel_sides_in
one of the trammels, and the guidance of the other trammel in the base. In order
to prevent the trammel block from escaping from the base in the simple form of
construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8, which does not include an adjustable bearing
for the shaft E, I employ the face plate H, which is a ring secured to the cheeks B
and thereby to the base A, which overlaps the cavity in the base far enough to
engage under or in front of the ends of the trammel, or, when there are two
trammels, in front of the ends of the outermost or lower of them; and when there
are two traiamels, the trammel block is prevented from escaping by being provided
with flanges d' d', which engage over or behind the edges of the outermost or lower
trammel, said trammel being itself retained by the face plate ring H, and retaming
the trammel block by engaging with its said flanges d'. There are other obvious
means of preventing the escape of the parts, and I show these merely as illustrations.
The parts assembled in the manner described will transmit rotary motion from the
shaft A' to the shaft E' eccentric thereto,-cach of said shafts being retained in a
suitable bearing so as to have a fixed axis of revolution,-because, as the shaft A'
revolves and carries with it bolily the trammel or trammels, swinging them about
its axis, said trammels will tend to carry also the trammel block; but said trammel
block having its axis fixed by the bearings of the shaft E, cannot be carried
bodily, so that the trammels, in order to continue their rotation with the base,
must slide in the latter in one direction while they slide on the trammel block in a
transverse direction; but such sliding does not prevent the trammels from turning
around as the base rotates them about its own centre, and so turning they will of
necessity rotate the trammel block, which can rotate only about its own axis.
In Fig. 1, and the other figures which illustrate the same construction, I
have shown, as a part of the same appliance, an adjustable bearing for the shaft E' of
the trammel block and means for adjusting it while the shaft A and all the parts
carried by it are rotated without interrupting such rotation. These I will now
describe.
I and J are respectively corresponding parts of a spider or frame, which com-
prises the collar 1.1, half of which is on the part J and half on the part 1, said
parts being secured together by the bolts i through the lugs j. From this collar,
there are extended the diverging arms upon the part I, and J upon the part J,
the ends of said diverging arms extending beyond the circumference of the base A.
K is a cup or upwardly open case corresponding in diameter to the base A. At its
upper margin, it has the lugs K', K', K', corresponding in position to the over-
hanging ends of the arms 12 J, and adapting the said cup or case K to be
secured rigidly to said spider IJ. The collar fits loosely upon the spindle
or shaft A above the base A. so that said shaft or spindle can revolve and carry
the base A and all the parts which are actuated by it and without rotating the cup
or case K or its supporting spider J. The bottom of the cup or case K has a
circular opening K, as large as the possible range of the shaft with respect to
the axis of the shaft A! I provide the case K with a laterally projecting arm K³
which extends to any fixed obstruction which may serve as a stop to prevent the
rotation of the case K by mere friction with the rotating base A. When the
device is used as a tool holder in a drill press, as is intended to be illustrated in
Fig. 1, the stop in question consists of the upright standard or frame of the press (.
In the case K, I provide two trammels L, L, guided by suitable checks and
extending transversely to each other, substantially as in the construction illustrated
in Figs. 7 and 8, and a traumel block M, extending through said trammels at their
intersection in the same manner as above described with respect to Figs. 7 and 8,
but instead of the flanges d', d, I provide this trammel block with a circular
flauge m, which overhangs the upper trammel and may extend,-and, as illustrated,
does extend,-
-over the guide cheeks for said upper trammel, these flanges serving
the same purpose as the flanges d in the other construction,-riz.: upholding the
trammel block, but, in addition, it may serve the further purpose of supporting the
trammel block E, if the latter is not rigid with the shaft E', and also supporting

page_text: the trammel D, if, instead of being formed with a bottom, such trammel is made
open so that it is not upheld by the trammel block. This trammel block is provided
with a central circular opening, through which the shaft E' protrudes, and in which
it is adapted to revolve.
Through the lateral wall of the case K are screwed two screw shafts N N. which
engage respectively at their inner ends with the trammels 1 L, being connected
to said trammels in any convenient manner which will permit the shafts to revolve
at such engagement but be longitudinally inseparable from the trammels, so that
as they revolve and are thereby longitudinally actuated through the wall of the
case K, they will cause the trammels to which they are connected respectively to
slide in their respective guides in the case K. As illustrated, this connection is
made by means of an annular groove in the shafts near the end where they enter
the trammels, and a pin set through the trammels respectively and passing
through said annular groove, making a feather which is engaged in the groove.
It will be understood from inspection of this construction that by rotating the
shafts N by means of the handles attached thereto, the trammels L L may be
shifted, each independently of the other, whereby the center of the trammel block M
may be shifted to any position within the range of the adjustability of either
trammel. These traminels correspond in their range of adjustment to the actuating
trammel D in one direction and to the range of movement of the trammel block E
in the trammel D in the other direction, so that by means of said screws N, the
trammel block M, and thereby the shaft E, which is journaled in it, may be held
at any point within the range within which the said shaft E can be rotated by
means of the mechanism comprising and contained in the rotating case A, above
described. Since the shaft E will revolve with substantially equal facility wherever
it stands within the range of action of the device as above described, it may be
shifted while in action, and a tool carried by it may thereby be made to trace any
course upon the work placed beneath it, so that a milling tool, for example, secured
to the downwardly protruding ends of the shaft E' by any familiar means may be
shifted while it continues to revolve and made to dress off any irregular edge or
made to cut an irregular passage in a plane surface, and a rotary engraving tool
similarly held may be made to trace any pattern on a surface exposed to its
action.
I do not limit myself to this specific means of adjusting the bearing of the shaft E',
but consider it the most convenient that can be devised for the ordinary uses to
which such a tool-operating mechanism can be applied, because the whole con-
trivance is thereby rendered compact and adapted to be attached to any rotating
shaft which is designed to hold a tool, and may be made to operate upon work held|
in any fixed bed vertically or horizontally opposite such shaft.
When this device is employed in a drill press or in any way in which there is an
end thrust or resistance tending to produce pressure longitudinally with respect to
the shaft E toward the shaft A. it is desirable to reduce the friction of the trammel
and trammel block to the minimum, since their sliding motion in their guideways
respectively, in case of a rapid rotation of a tool, is quite rapid, and if it were also
under heavy pressure by reason of such end thrust or pressure, would not only
rapidly deteriorate the device but would also cause it to require an unnecessary
amount of power.
For this purpose, I prefer, as above stated, to make the trammel
with a bottom for top or bark, according to the position in which the device is
operated) D-that is, with a web connecting its opposite sides extending in a plane
across the axis of the shaft which will receive the end thrust referred to, and,
in that case, provide the anti-friction roller O, suitably journaled in the end of
the trammel block E, the axis of said roller being transverse to the channel in
which said block moves in the trammel, so that the friction of the block in the
trammel under end thrust of the shaft Et is diminished by being largely reduced to
rolling friction. For a similar purpose, I provide recesses in the upper side of the
trammel, in which are lodgel the anti-friction rollers PP, which, being interposed
in the same manner between said trammel and the base toward which it is forced

page_text: by the end thrust, will diminish the friction which will be caused between said
parts in the movement of the trammel. When two trammels are used, as in Figs. 7
and 8, it is evident that in case of end thrust requiring the anti-friction rollers
described, the lower or onter trammel will not require any such device, because it
will not receive the end thrust but will be simply and solely a lateral guide,
because such trammel is necessarily made open through from top to bottom to
permit the trammel block to pass through and become properly engaged with the
other trammel.
This device is well adapted to be used as a means of holding work in a bed or
in a fixed head or in a revolving head or lathe, or in any position where it is
desirable to be able, without detaching work from its fastenings, to adjust it to
receive the action of a tool at a different point, or, to revolve about a different
centre. The construction adapted for this purpose is substantially that which con-
stitutes the lower part of the device shown in Fig. 1, and seen in sectional plan in
Fig. 3, contained in the case K, but I have further illustrated it to show its specific
adaptation to the modified purpose in Figs. 12, 13 and 14, wherein there is illustrated
a base and two trammels, both being open trammels like the lower trammel in
Figs. 7 and 8, and a trammel block extending through said trammels and having at
its upper end either rigid with it, or at least so that it cannot rotate with respect
to it, a plate or bed R, provided with jaws K of familiar construction for grasping
work which may be thus secured in position to receive the action of a tool. In
this construction, the screw shafts N N preferably are without exterior handles,
but are adapted to be operated by a wrench, but such handles may be used. The
base of this device may be adapted in any suitable manner to be secured to the bed
of a drill press or to the fixed or revolving head of a lathe. The mode and use of
this device and the details of the structure which adapt it to such use will be obvious
to mechanics without further description.
Another general class of uses to which this invention may be put is illustrated
in Figs. 9 and 10,-to-wit, communicating motion to several driven wheels in
such manner that said driven wheels may be thrown into and out of connection
with the driving wheel very readily, and without shifting the centre of the
communicated motion. In these figures, S is the standard or frame of a multiple-
spindle drill-press, through which the power-communicating shaft Y extends
vertically, receiving motion from any convenient point below the standard and
through the bottom of it. Yis the main horizontal power wheel journaled at
the upper end of the standard and receiving motion in any convenient way.
As illustrated, this power wheel is a friction wheel having a V-shaped groove
in its periphery, the design being to communicate motion to the driven wheels W
W W by friction in such groove with the V-shaped periphery of the said
driven wheels. These several wheels each comprise in their construction devices
involving my invention above described, together with other details adapting
them to this specific purpose. The metallic body or frame-work corresponds
to the base A in the construction hereinabove described, but it is modified in
form specifically to adapt it to receive the leather peripheral portion r', which
makes frictional contact with the drive wheel. For this purpose it is composed
of a central square portion w", having the flange, and having bolted onto it
at the side opposite said flange an annular disc 2, which, when thus bolted in
place, constitutes a flange corresponding to wo, and between said flanges is
embraced the leather portion, which is suitably clamped between said Hanges
by the clamp bolts, which pass through them both and through the leather.
The central square cavity in said body te contains the trammel within which is the
trammel block operating as already described. The trammel block is pinned to
the shaft instead of being rigid with it because this is the most convenient
construction for assembling the parts; and the trammel block is provided with
a flange at its lower edge to retain the trammel in place, or, more accurately
peaking, to afford support for the entire wheel as it is adjusted horizontally
toward and from the drive wheel, as hereinafter explained. S³ S represent the

page_text: bearing frame of these driven wheels W, W2, W.-S' being the lower frame
bar and being connected to the standard under the wheel Y, and S being the
upper frame bar secured to the lower frame bar. S is a suitable steel bearing
in the lower frame bar for the shaft E', said shaft having a shoulder " below
said bearing to receive the upward thrust in operation. The spindle A' of the
wheel corresponds to the part similarly lettered in the other figures and is
journaled in the block T. which is adapted to slide toward and from the wheel S
in the open guideway S, provided in the upper bar S of the frame. This
bearing block is adapted to be actuated in said guideway by the screw U,
suitably journaled and stopped against longitudinal movement in the bar S,
and extending toward the wheel S³, having its inner end threaded and engaging
in the said bearing block so that the rotation of the screw actuates the block
toward and from the wheel. Several wheels constructed as above described may
be journaled in the frame S3 S*, with their axes in a straight line, so that the
wheels must be of different sizes to reach the periphery of the driving wheel S,
whereby said wheels acquire different speeds from the same motion of the
wheel S. They are preferably so located with respect to said wheel that when
they are respectively in contact therewith at their peripheries and driven thereby,
the axes of the shafts A' and E' coincide, so that no sliding friction occurs
within the device while work is being performed, except such as may result
from slight inequality of the friction wheels or slight variation in size which
will result from wear of the contacting peripheries; and the especial value of
this invention thus applied in addition to the fact that it affords very simple
means of disconnecting the wheels from the driving power instantly, that is,
by very slight movement of the screw U,-is that it also affords means which
insure the full and uniform effect of the frictional contact in the power com-
municated to the driven spindles, notwithstanding slight variations which are
inevitable in such wheels, whereby, ordinarily, there is liable to occur at some
points in the revolution, a momentary loss of power, and, in case the inequality
is on the driven wheel, sometimes the entire interruption of the motion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is:
1. In combination with the base adapted to be revolved about an axis and
having transverse to such axis of rotation a guideway for a reciprocating
traveller, a traveller having a guideway transverse to that of the base for a second
traveller, a second traveller and a journal bearing for the second traveller, the
bearings of the base and second traveller being relatively adjustable at will:
substantially as set forth.
2. In combination with the base having an opening or channel which has two
parallel opposite sides, a trammel located in such opening or channel and
extending between such opposite parallel sides and guided thereby in said
channel or opening; such trammel having an opening or channel with two
parallel sides whose direction is transverse to that of the parallel sides of the
opening or channel in the base; and a trammel block in sliding said opening or
channel in the trammel and guided by its parallel sides: substantially as set
forth.
3. In combination with the base having an opening or channel which has
two opposite parallel sides, a trammel located in such opening or channel and
extending between such parallel sides and guided thereby in such channel or
opening such trammel having an opening or channel with two parallel sides
whose direction is transverse to that of the parallel sides of the opening or
channel in the base; and a trammel block sliding in said opening or channel in
the trammel and guided by its parallel sides, and provided with means for
holding rigid with it tool or work: substantially as set forth.
4. In combination with the base adapted to be secured at its centre in a

page_text: bearing or to a revolving shaft, and having an opening or channel with two
opposite parallel sides; a trammel located in such opening or channel and
extending between such parallel sides and guided thereby when sliding in such
opening or channel, such trammel having an opening or channel with two opposite
parallel sides whose direction is transverse to that of the parallel sides of the
opening or channel in the base; and a trammel block sliding in said opening or
channel in the trammel and guided by the parallel sides thereof and protruding
from the trammel and base, and adapted at such protruding part to be journaled
and rotated in a bearing; and a bearing for the same adjustable and adapted
to be fixed at will with respect to the bearing of the base substantially as
set forth.
4. The base adapted to be secured at its centre in a bearing or to a revolving
shaft and having an opening or channel with two opposite parallel sides; a
traminel located in such opening or channel and extending between such parallel
. sides and guided thereby when sliding in such opening or channel; such trammel
having an opening or channel with two opposite parallel sides whose direction
is transverse to that of the parallel sides of the opening or channel in the
base; and a trammel block sliding in said opening or channel in the trammel
and guided by the parallel sides thereof and protruding from the trammel and
base and adapted at such protruding part to be journaled and rotated in a
bearing; combined with the case K, fixed with respect to the bearing of the
base, and the two trammels L L, located and guided therein transversely to
each other; and a second traminel block extending through and adapted to slide
in and be controlled by the trammels L L; and having a bearing for the
protruding end of the first trammel block; and the screws which control the
position of said trammels L L in the case: substantially as set forth.
5. The base adapted to be secured at its centre in a bearing or to a revolving
shaft, and having an opening or channel with two opposite parallel sides; a
trammel located in such opening or channel and extending between such parallel
sides and guided thereby when sliding in such opening or channel; such trammel
having an opening or channel with two opposite parallel sides whose direction
is transverse to that of the parallel sides of the opening or channel in the
base; and a trammel block sliding in suid opening or channel in the trammel
and guided by the parallel sides thereof, and protruding from the trammel and
base and adapted at such protruding part to be journaled and rotated in a
bearing combined with the case K, and the spider or frame I J, journaled on
the spindle of the base and extended outside its periphery and secured to and
supporting the case; the trammels L L, and a second trammel block controlled.
thereby and the screws which control the trummels: all, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
6. In combination with the base having an opening or channel which has two
opposite parallel sides, a trammel located in such opening or channel and
extending between such parallel sides and guided thereby in said channel or
opening such trammel having an opening or channel with two parallel sides whose
direction is transverse to that of the parallel sides of the opening or channel in the
base; and a trammel block sliding in said opening or channel in the trammel and
guided by its parallel sides; and anti-friction rollers interposed between the
base and the trammel and between the trammel and the trammel block: sub-
stantially as set forth.
7. In combination with a revolving power wheel and the standard in which
it is journaled, a wheel adapted to be rotated by the engagement with said
revolving wheel; a bearing for the driven wheel adjustable toward and from the
driving wheel, said driven wheel consisting of a base adapted to be supported
at its centre in said adjustable bearing and having an opening or channel with
two opposite parallel sides on the face opposite said bearing; a trammel located
and sliding in such opening or channel and guided by its parallel sides, and
having an opening or channel with two parallel sides in a direction transverse

page_text: to that of the parallel sides of the opening or channel in the base; the trammel
block located and sliding in said opening or channel in the trammel guided by
the parallel sides of the same and protruding from the trammel on the opposite
side from the bearing of said wheel, and a bearing in which such protruding
part of the trammel block is journaled: substantially as set forth.
8. In combination with the revolving power wheel and the standard in which
it is journaled, a wheel adapted to be rotated by the engagement with said
revolving wheel a bearing for the driven wheel adjustable toward and from
the driving wheel; said driven wheel consisting of a base adapted to be supported
at its centre in said adjustable bearing and having a cavity with two opposite
parallel sides on the face opposite such bearing; a traminel located and sliding
in such cavity and guided by its said parallel sides, and having an opening
with two parallel sides in a direction transverse to that of the parallel sides of
the cavity in the base the trammel block located and sliding in said opening
in the trammel guided by the parallel sides of said opening and protruding
from the trammel on the opposite side from the bearing of said wheel, and a
bearing in which such protruding part of the trammel block is journaled, the
axis of said bearing being coincident with the axis of the bearing of the driven
wheel when said wheel is in contact with the driving wheel: substantially as
set forth.
1100
ANDREW JOHNSON.
By Herbert & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.