US3689166A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Machine tool spindle and control therefor
Assignee: Warner and Swasey Co
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Filing: 1969-09-29
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Granted: 1972-09-05
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Expires: 1989-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A machine tool having a rotatable machine tool spindle for performing drilling and tapping operations. The spindle has limited axial movement relative to the spindle carrier. Fluid pressure means may be operated to displace the spindle in opposite directions for a predetermined position in the spindle carrier and to apply a force yieldably opposing return of the spindle to the predetermined position. The position of the spindle in its carrier is sensed by control means and the spindle carrier is translatable toward or away from the workpiece in response to the direction of displacement of the spindle from its predetermined position. The spindle is displaced forwardly to effect translation of the spindle carrier and spindle to engage a tool with a workpiece and the return of the spindle to the predetermined position upon the engagement of the tool with the workpiece is utilized to initiate control means for automatically controlling the depth of drilling or tapping as measured from the surface of the workpiece and the return of the spindle to an automatic repeat position or to a home position. The spindle is allowed to float while a tapping tool is in engagement with the workpiece and the feed and return of the spindle carrier is controlled during this period by sensing the position of the spindle in the carrier. During drilling the spindle is locked against axial movement relative to the carrier while the tool is in engagement with the workpiece. The locking means is engageable over the range of axial movement of the spindle relative to the carrier to locate the spindle in a predetermined position relative to the carrier.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry J Jacob Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 20:40
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/18; G05B19/19; G05B19/27; B; B23; B23Q; B23Q1/00; B23Q1/72; B23Q11/00; B23Q11/04; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/49; G05B2219/49237; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T408/00; Y10T408/16; Y10T408/17; Y10T408/172
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
In a machine tool having a spindle carrier, a machine tool spindle supported in the carrier for rotation and for limited axial movement from a predetermined position relative to the carrier forwardly toward a workpiece, displacing means selectively actuatable to displace said spindle forwardly of said position relative to said spindle carrier and for providing a yieldable force transmitting means between said carrier and said spindle which yieldably resists movement of said spindle relative to said carrier in a direction away from said workpiece, first control means for selectively actuating said displacing means, and second control means responsive to the displacement of said spindle forwardly of said position to effect relative movement between said spindle carrier and workpiece in a direction to engage a tool in the spindle with the workpiece, said force transmitting means yielding when the tool engages the workpiece to allow the return of said spindle to said predetermined position in response to the resistance of the workpiece to continued relative movement between said spindle and workpiece.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
In a machine tool having a spindle carrier, a machine tool spindle supported in the carrier for rotation and for limited axial movement from a predetermined position relative to the carrier forwardly toward a workpiece, displacing means selectively actuatable to displace said spindle forwardly of said position relative to said spindle carrier and for providing a yieldable force transmitting means between said carrier and said spindle which yieldably resists movement of said spindle relative to said carrier in a direction away from said workpiece, first control means for selectively actuating said displacing means, and second control means responsive to the displacement of said spindle forwardly of said position to effect relative movement between said spindle carrier and workpiece in a direction to engage a tool in the spindle with the workpiece, said force transmitting means yielding when the tool engages the workpiece to allow the return of said spindle to said predetermined position in response to the resistance of the workpiece to continued relative movement between said spindle and workpiece.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
In a machine tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said displacing means comprises fluid pressure means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
In a machine tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said machine tool further includes circuit means responsive to the return of said spindle to said predetermined position for providing a control signal for effecting a control operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
201 words
In a machine tool having a spindle carrier, a machine tool spindle supported in the carrier for rotation and for limited axial movement from a predetermined position relative to the carrier forwardly toward a workpiece, fluid pressure displacing means selectively actuatable to displace said spindle forwardly of said position relative to said spindle carrier and for providing a yieldable force transmitting means between said carrier and said spindle which yieldably resists movement of said spindle relative to said carrier in a direction away from said workpiece, and control means responsive to the displacement of said spindle forwardly of said position to effect relative movement between said spindle carrier and workpiece in a direction to engage a tool in the spindle with the workpiece, said force transmitting means yielding when the tool engages the workpiece to allow the return of said spindle to said predetermined position in response to the resistance of the workpiece to continued relative movement between said spindle and workpiece, said displacing means comprising means on said carrier and said spindle defining a fluid actuator, said means on said spindle comprising a piston surface extending transversely of the spindle axis and constrained against axial movement relative to the spindle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
201 words
In a machine tool having a spindle carrier, a machine tool spindle supported in the carrier for rotation and for limited axial movement from a predetermined position relative to the carrier forwardly toward a workpiece, fluid pressure displacing means selectively actuatable to displace said spindle forwardly of said position relative to said spindle carrier and for providing a yieldable force transmitting means between said carrier and said spindle which yieldably resists movement of said spindle relative to said carrier in a direction away from said workpiece, and control means responsive to the displacement of said spindle forwardly of said position to effect relative movement between said spindle carrier and workpiece in a direction to engage a tool in the spindle with the workpiece, said force transmitting means yielding when the tool engages the workpiece to allow the return of said spindle to said predetermined position in response to the resistance of the workpiece to continued relative movement between said spindle and workpiece, said displacing means comprising means on said carrier and said spindle defining a fluid actuator, said means on said spindle comprising a piston surface extending transversely of the spindle axis and constrained against axial movement relative to the spindle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
205 words
In a machine tool having a spindle carrier, a machine tool spindle supported in the carrier for rotation and for limited axial movement from a predetermined position relative to the carrier forwardly toward a workpiece, displacing means selectively actuatable to displace said spindle forwardly of said position relative to said spindle carrier and for providing a yieldable force transmitting means between said carrier and said spindle which yieldably resists movement of said spindle relative to said carrier in a direction away from said workpiece, control means responsive to the displacement of said spindle forwardly of said position to effect relative movement between said spindle carrier and workpiece in a direction to engage a tool in the spindle with the workpiece, said force transmitting means yielding when the tool engages the workpiece to allow the return of said spindle to said predetermined position in response to the resistance of the workpiece to continued relative movement between said spindle and workpiece, and means for displacing and yieldably urging said spindle from said predetermined position rearwardly in a direction away from said workpiece and said control means is to displacement rearwardly of said predetermined position to effect relative movement of said spindle and workpiece away from each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
205 words
In a machine tool having a spindle carrier, a machine tool spindle supported in the carrier for rotation and for limited axial movement from a predetermined position relative to the carrier forwardly toward a workpiece, displacing means selectively actuatable to displace said spindle forwardly of said position relative to said spindle carrier and for providing a yieldable force transmitting means between said carrier and said spindle which yieldably resists movement of said spindle relative to said carrier in a direction away from said workpiece, control means responsive to the displacement of said spindle forwardly of said position to effect relative movement between said spindle carrier and workpiece in a direction to engage a tool in the spindle with the workpiece, said force transmitting means yielding when the tool engages the workpiece to allow the return of said spindle to said predetermined position in response to the resistance of the workpiece to continued relative movement between said spindle and workpiece, and means for displacing and yieldably urging said spindle from said predetermined position rearwardly in a direction away from said workpiece and said control means is to displacement rearwardly of said predetermined position to effect relative movement of said spindle and workpiece away from each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
198 words
In a machine tool having a spindle carrier, a spindle supported for rotation in and for limited axial movement with respect to said spindle carrier, force applying means for applying a force yieldably resisting axial movement of the spindle in a direction away from the workpiece relative to the spindle carrier or in a direction toward the workpiece, and means for effecting relative movement between the spindle and the workpiece axially of the spindle to relatively move the spindle and workpiece to engage a tool in the spindle with a workpiece and to retract the spindle from the workpiece, said force applying means including fluid pressure means for shifting and yieldably urging said spindle in an axial direction relative to said carrier comprising cooperating surfaces on said carrier and on a part axially movable with said spindle which define a fluid pressure actuator, and a spindle support member rotatably supporting said spindle in said carrier and axially movable therewith, said carrier having an annular member at one end of said spindle support member providing one of said surfaces and said support member having an annular axially facing shoulder providing another of said surfaces and constituting a piston surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
198 words
In a machine tool having a spindle carrier, a spindle supported for rotation in and for limited axial movement with respect to said spindle carrier, force applying means for applying a force yieldably resisting axial movement of the spindle in a direction away from the workpiece relative to the spindle carrier or in a direction toward the workpiece, and means for effecting relative movement between the spindle and the workpiece axially of the spindle to relatively move the spindle and workpiece to engage a tool in the spindle with a workpiece and to retract the spindle from the workpiece, said force applying means including fluid pressure means for shifting and yieldably urging said spindle in an axial direction relative to said carrier comprising cooperating surfaces on said carrier and on a part axially movable with said spindle which define a fluid pressure actuator, and a spindle support member rotatably supporting said spindle in said carrier and axially movable therewith, said carrier having an annular member at one end of said spindle support member providing one of said surfaces and said support member having an annular axially facing shoulder providing another of said surfaces and constituting a piston surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
In a machine tool as defined in claim 6 wherein said fluid pressure means is operable to shift and urge said spindle in either axial direction selectively.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a machine tool as defined in claim 1 wherein a spindle support member is mounted in said carrier for limited axial movement and said spindle is rotatably supported in said carrier and is axially movable therewith, and locking means is provided for locking said spindle in said position against axial movement comprising cooperating camming elements on said carrier and on said support member, said elements being actuatable from a non-locking position clear of each other into camming engagement with each other to move said spindle to said position, the axial movement of said spindle being limited to the camming range of said elements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
82 words
In a machine tool a spindle carrier, a rotatable machine tool spindle supported in said carrier for limited axial movement relative thereto and locking means for locking said spindle in a predetermined position relative to said carrier including camming elements on said carrier and cooperating camming elements on said spindle engageable over substantially the range of movement of said spindle relative to said carrier to move said spindle to a predetermined position relative to said carrier when the latter is displaced therefrom.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
82 words
In a machine tool a spindle carrier, a rotatable machine tool spindle supported in said carrier for limited axial movement relative thereto and locking means for locking said spindle in a predetermined position relative to said carrier including camming elements on said carrier and cooperating camming elements on said spindle engageable over substantially the range of movement of said spindle relative to said carrier to move said spindle to a predetermined position relative to said carrier when the latter is displaced therefrom.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
In a machine tool as defined in claim 9 wherein said machine tool includes fluid pressure means for shifting and yieldably urging said spindle in an axial direction relative to said carrier.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
In a machine tool as defined in claim 10 wherein said fluid pressure means comprises cooperating surfaces on said carrier and on a part axially movable with said spindle which define a fluid pressure actuator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
66 words
In a machine tool as defined in claim 11 wherein a spindle support member rotatably supports said spindle in said carrier and is axially movable therewith and said carrier has an annular member at one end of said spindle support member providing one of said surfaces and said support member has an annular axially facing shoulder providing another of said surfaces and constituting a piston surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
151 words
In a machine having a spindle carrier and a rotatable spindle supported in said carrier for limited axial movement relative thereto, said spindle being maintained in a predetermined position relative to said carrier when performing an operation on a workpiece, means for applying a force to said spindle for urging said spindle to move in a direction away from said workpiece to a displaced position, displaced from said predetermined position in a direction away from said workpiece, and means for effecting application of said force to said spindle after said spindle has effected an operation on a workpiece to effect a shifting of said spindle relative to said carrier when the tool in the spindle clears the workpiece, said machine having control means responsive to the position of said spindle to relatively move said carrier and workpiece away from each other when said force shifts said spindle to said displaced position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
151 words
In a machine having a spindle carrier and a rotatable spindle supported in said carrier for limited axial movement relative thereto, said spindle being maintained in a predetermined position relative to said carrier when performing an operation on a workpiece, means for applying a force to said spindle for urging said spindle to move in a direction away from said workpiece to a displaced position, displaced from said predetermined position in a direction away from said workpiece, and means for effecting application of said force to said spindle after said spindle has effected an operation on a workpiece to effect a shifting of said spindle relative to said carrier when the tool in the spindle clears the workpiece, said machine having control means responsive to the position of said spindle to relatively move said carrier and workpiece away from each other when said force shifts said spindle to said displaced position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
In a machine tool as defined in claim 3 wherein said machine tool includes means responsive to said signal for momentarily increasing the yieldable force acting on said spindle to effect the starting of a tool into said workpiece.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
In a machine tool as defined in claim 14 wherein said displacing means comprises fluid pressure means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-05 | 1976-03-06 | 1976-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-05 | 1980-03-06 | 1980-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-05 | 1984-03-06 | 1984-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |