Turret tool post and handle assembly

Claim 1

In an apparatus of the class described, a. a support for an indexable multiple tool holder of the turret type comprising a cylindrical column with an outwardly extending annular base at the bottom and external threads at the top thereof, b. a turret body surrounding said column above said base, with interengaging means on said base and the bottom of said turret body for locking said body against rotary movement, c. spring means within said turret body and cooperating with said base, normally biased to move said turret body from said base to free said interengaging means and to permit manual rotary movement of said turret body relative to said column, d. a manually operated clamping head having a handle lever extending laterally therefrom and provided with internal threads engaging said external threads to effect both rotary movement as well as a translating movement of said head along the axis of said column; e. a clutch assEmbly between said clamping head and turret body comprising f. an annular coupling member on said clamping head provided with a plurality of radially displaced camming lugs projecting from the bottom face of said coupling member, g. a second annular coupling member mounted on said cylindrical column at the top of said turret body and provided with a plurality of radially displaced bearing segments on the upper surface thereof, with indentations formed therebetween for the accommodation of said camming lugs, h. said camming lugs disposed in superposed relation to said bearing segments in the locked position of the turret body on said base, and adapted to be rotated by said clamping head in one direction in overlying relation to said indentations, to effect a seating of the camming lugs within the latter by the effect of said spring means and a consequent lifting of said turret body from said interengaging means, to permit a manual rotation of said turret body to a newly indexed position, i. said camming lugs each provided with a substantially vertical face at its leading edge upon rotation in said one direction with a gradually sloping face at its trailing edge, and said indentations each having a gradually sloping face at one end thereof to permit a rotation of said clamping head in the reverse direction and the relative movement of said camming lugs in superposed relation to said bearing segments, thereby to force said turret body downwardly into interengaging relation with said base in said newly indexed position, and j. one of said bearing segments of said second annular coupling member having an arcuate milled groove therein with a continuation thereof in the next adjacent indentation which first receives said vertical face of the overlying camming lug, a fixed plunger extending downwardly through said lastmentioned camming lug with the bottom end thereof rounded in conformity with the cross-sectional contour of said arcuate milled groove, said groove in said one bearing segment terminating short of the edge thereof remote from said continuation to prevent overtravel of said first annular coupling member in said reverse direction.