Tool Or Tool-support With Thrust-applying Machine-engaging Screw Patents (Class 408/138)
  • Patent number: 5149232
    Abstract: A mechanical pecking method and device is provided wherein a spindle adapted to hold a tool such as a drill bit is mechanically reciprocated in a workpiece. Also provided is a control system and method for controlling the mechanical reciprocation of the spindle and a sensor for remembering the last point of advancement of the spindle during each peck cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Dresser Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard E. Eckman
  • Patent number: 5100271
    Abstract: A tool driving unit for moving a tool in axial direction thereof and for rotating the tool about its axis. The tool driving unit comprises a spindle supported in the housing frame, a tool chuck mounted on the one end portion of the spindle for holding the tool, a first motor including a first hollow rotor and for rotating the spindle, a second motor including a second hollow rotor and for moving the spindle in the axial direction, means for transmitting a rotation of the first hollow rotor to the spindle, and means for converting a rotation of the second hollow rotor into axial movement of the spindle. The first rotor is rotated to rotate the spindle which corotatably engages the first rotor through the transmitting means. The second rotor is rotated, and the spindle is smoothly moved axially forwardly or rearwardly by the converting means which converts rotary motion of the second rotor to axial motion of the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumio Kameyama, Chikamasa Hattori
  • Patent number: 4948308
    Abstract: A drill tool is mounted to a robotic arm and is capable of operating in limited access space. The drill is driven by a motor shaft capable of exhibiting simultaneous linear and rotational motion. A right angle drill head is slidably mounted to a support and is driven by the motor shaft so that the drill bit moves toward a work piece while it rotates. A cylinder-driven clamp has its jaws coaxially aligned with a drill bit and is capable of clamping several pieces together, the latter constituting a work piece. One of the clamp jaws has a bushing which serves as both a drill guide and a clamp jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Assignee: Grumman Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Ottavio Giannuzzi, Christopher J. Scheuing
  • Patent number: 4932814
    Abstract: A portable line boring machine has a rotatable boring bar on which a tool bit is mountable. A first drive mechanism rotatably drives one end of the boring bar. A second drive mechanism linearly drives the first drive means and the boring bar along the longitudinal axis of the boring bar. A frame supports the first drive means, the second drive means and the boring bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Inventor: Ronald A. York
  • Patent number: 4911588
    Abstract: A tapping apparatus in accordance with this invention includes a frame, a spindle mounted on the frame for rotation and axial movement and provided with a tap coupled to one end thereof, the spindle being driven by a driven source, an external thread section formed in the outer periphery of the spindle, a guide member rotatably mounted on the frame and having an internal thread section formed in the inner periphery thereof, the internal thread section being threadably engaged with the external thread section, and a synchronous rotation mechanism for rotatably driving the guide member in synchronization with the spindle so that the axial movement of the spindle agrees with a pitch of the tap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Shigeru Ikemoto
    Inventors: Shigeru Ikemoto, Minoru Ohta
  • Patent number: 4902174
    Abstract: An apparatus for tapping live pipes includes an adaptor for affixing to a pipe, the adaptor including a valve for closing off any opening cut into the pipe. The internal drive shaft has a plurality of transverse apertures spaced apart along its length, so that it can be adjusted longitudinally to different positions with respect to the apparatus which grips the drive shaft and urges it toward the pipe during cutting. This avoids the necessity of designing a plurality of apparatuses which are adapted to cutting bits and devices of different lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Cliffside Utility Contractors Ltd.
    Inventors: Clifford F. Thompson, Lawrence F. Thompson
  • Patent number: 4890962
    Abstract: A drill spindle (62) is carried by the forward end of an elongated gear housing (12, 14). A parallel drive shaft (84) is carried by the housing (12, 14) rearwardly of the spindle (62). A parallel lead screw (92) is positioned between the spindle (62) and drive shaft (84) and is attached to a workpiece-engaging foot (20). A plurality of gears transmit rotation of the drive shaft (84) to the spindle (62) and lead screw (92). Two leader pins (182) are attached to the foot (20) and engaged by bearings (186) carried by the housing (12, 14) to slide freely relative thereto and to provide stiffness between the housing (12, 14) and the foot (20). The leader pins are spaced laterally and rearwardly from the drive shaft (84). A fluid activated pusher member (30) cooperates with the foot (20) to wedge the forward end of the drill (10) in a recessed work area. A fluid operated dog clutch (124, 132) engages rotation of the lead screw (92).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Daniel L. Nydegger
  • Patent number: 4850753
    Abstract: A gear train between an input shaft and an output shaft includes an output gear, through which the output shaft moves axially, and an intermediate gear coaxial with a control shaft carrying an idler gear meshing with a nut threaded on the output shaft. The idler gear is axially movable between a first position in which a first dog clutch connects the idler gear to the intermediate gear so that the nut rotates relative to the output shaft, thereby causing the shaft to be fed to the right, and a second position in which the first dog clutch is disengaged and a second dog clutch connects the idler gear to a fixed member, thereby causing the rotating shaft to be fed to the left. A collar on the shaft acts on a lever which moves the control shaft together with the idler gear from the first position to an intermediate position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Desoutter Limited
    Inventor: Christopher J. Dudden
  • Patent number: 4822215
    Abstract: A thrust and torque sensor is provided for an automatic drill so as to result in an efficient drilling operation for laminated materials. Sensors are placed in one instance in conjunctioln with a spindle and in another instance to a shaft in the drive train so as to sense the thrust and torque placed on the spindle. In a preferred manner, a yoke with strain gauges is connected to a bearing race on the spindle to sense thrust and strain gauges are placed on a beam connected to a shaft to sense torque. Signals from the strain gauges are then employed by a computer to control the drill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: Allen-Bradley Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert H. Alexander
  • Patent number: 4820087
    Abstract: A tap drive unit for machine tools, which is coupled to the machine-head of the machine tool such as a machining center, includes a driver detachably coupled to a main spindle of the machine tool so as to be rotated with the main spindle, a support member for rotatably supporting the driver, the support member being fixedly mounted on a stationary portion of the machine tool when the driver is coupled to the main spindle of the machine tool, a tubular guide member supported by the support member so as to be concentric with the driver, and a rotational shaft on one end of which a tap is mounted. The guide member is axially moved when a load larger than a predetermined value acts on it. An internal thread is formed in the inner periphery of the guide member. An external thread is formed in the outer periphery of the rotational shaft so as to be threadably engaged with the internal thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Shigeru Ikemoto
    Inventors: Shigeru Ikemoto, Minoru Ohta
  • Patent number: 4813822
    Abstract: A power drill system the type having a positive drive spindle incorporating an adjustable depth control means mounted on the spindle. The depth control means includes a collar having an internal bore which is provided with threads conforming to the spindle threads. Thus, the collar may be longitudinally adjusted to a desired position on the spindle by rotating the collar relative to the spindle. The collar is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced detent chambers. A detent member is secured in at least one of the detent chambers and extends into at least one of the spindle grooves in order to key the collar against rotation relative to the spindle and thus fix the collar at the desired longitudinal location. A thrust bearing assembly is secured to the collar in interposition between the collar and the stop shoulder. Upon contact of the depth sensing means with the stop shoulder, the thrust bearing assembly permits relative rotational movement between the collar and the stop shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Dresser Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul A. Biek
  • Patent number: 4652186
    Abstract: A portable boring machine for boring bearing housings in situ includes a pair of spaced apart mounting members for adjustably positioning a boring bar within a row of bearing housings. The spaced apart mounting members are removably positionable on the boring bar and permit rotation of the boring bar with respect to the housings. The mounting members include radially adjustable jaws which enable the space between the boring bar and an adjacent bearing housing to be adjusted by the user in order to adjust the position of the boring bar within the housing and to vary the inclination of the boring bar with respect to the row of housings to be reconditioned. In this way the user has complete control between the relative positions of the boring bar and the bedplate. Moreover, since the support members are removably positionable on the boring bar they may be adjusted in position with respect to the particular housing to be bored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Inventor: Anatoly Sverdlin
  • Patent number: 4628171
    Abstract: An electrical discharge machining device that is used for both rotational EDM, such as tapping, and the like, and for conventional or non-rotational EDM applications. The device includes a base support to which a carriage is slidably mounted, with a motor driven, rotating electrode assembly mounted thereon. A threaded lead screw is removably coupled to the upper end of the rotating electrode assembly and a mating threaded collar is removably mounted on the support so as to receive the lead screw and thereby advance the carriage as the lead screw is rotated. The lead screw and threaded collar are interchangeable with other lead screws and collars having different thread pitches, so as to regulate the advancement of electrodes having different thread pitches. An electrode is mountable both on the rotating electrode assembly and on the carriage itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1986
    Assignee: Port City Machine & Tool Company
    Inventors: Lloyd E. Colby, John E. Ingalls
  • Jig
    Patent number: 4521140
    Abstract: A jig is disclosed having a unique clamping assembly and tool support assembly having a novel tool support bushing allowing for accurate drilling or reaming in limited space and around obstructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1985
    Inventors: George C. Doescher, Jim W. Clark
  • Patent number: 4501519
    Abstract: A tool couple which is used with a manually-operated threading die to aid in cutting the initial threads on a pipe or bolt. The device is used to force the anterior cutting edge of the die firmly against the outer, unthreaded surface of the workpiece at the outset of a threading operation. The die is kept wedged, as the initial threads are being cut, between the workpiece and a rotatable member of the tool couple so that the die cannot slip backward toward and merely chamfer the leading edge of the workpiece. To keep the die so wedged, the rotatable member is advanced by means of a shaft in the direction of the end of the workpiece at approximately the same rate as the die is moved along the longitudinal axis of the workpiece. Usually only one revolution of the threading die, assisted by the tool couple, is required to establish the starting thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1985
    Inventor: Harry I. Leon
  • Patent number: 4453868
    Abstract: Air-operated, hydraulically controlled portable drill-countersink tool automatically clamping to workpiece. A spindle attached to drill is connected to gearing from a motor by helical splines to withdraw the spindle, to counter spindle-feeding force, responsive to encountering increased torque due to increased resistance in drilling or countersinking. In a hydraulic cylinder for collet clamping a lower air pressure is converted to higher hydraulic pressure. When drilling depth is reached, drill feeding changes to drill withdrawal and that change is triggered by blocking of an air vent by a member traveling with the spindle. A lower drill speed during countersinking is achieved by a valve reducing air supply to the motor and change in that valve is also triggered by blocking of air vent by a member traveling with the spindle. The blades of the air motor do not change in extension when loaded and the motor has constant torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1984
    Assignee: Winslow/McDowell, Inc.
    Inventor: James C. Winslow
  • Patent number: 4449868
    Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for threading tapping holes in workpieces wherein the tapping hole is surrounded by a surface having alternating recesses and arcuate projections which are to be threaded. The apparatus has a hold-down plate one side of which is movable against the exposed side of the workpiece, a carrier which is reciprocable toward and away from the workpiece by a plunger and a spring, a tool holder which has external threads meshing with the internal threads of a nut in the hold-down plate and a helical cam groove receiving a pin of the carrier, and a fluted tap which is coaxially affixed to the holder and extends into the tapping hole when the hold-down plate abuts against the workpiece whereby the externally threaded ribs of the tap which alternate with the flutes extend into the recesses in the surface surrounding the tapping hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1984
    Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Karl Steinsberger, Albert Maier, Walter Herrmann
  • Patent number: 4362444
    Abstract: A drilling machine of the woodpecker type employs a spindle carrying a drill. The spindle is mounted for rotation in a housing having an attached feed screw and those members form an assembly that can be axially moved while the spindle rotates to enable the drill to be fed toward and retracted away from the work. The feed screw is engaged by a nut whose position is controlled by a rapid traverse mecahnism which can rapidly retract the spindle away from the work and can rapidly advance the spindle toward the work. The rapid traverse mechanism holds the nut fixed in position in the interval between rapid advance and rapid retraction. A peck feed mechanism is connected to the feed screw and repetitively feeds the spindle toward the work by causing the feed screw to progressively advance into the nut in the intervals when the nut is fixed in position. A hitch feed is coupled to the feed screw and acts to prevent the drill from bottoming in the hole on rapid advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1982
    Inventor: John A. Watkins
  • Patent number: 4349931
    Abstract: A tool couple which is used with a manually-operated threading die to aid in cutting the initial threads on a pipe or bolt. The device is used to force the anterior cutting edge of the die firmly against the outer, unthreaded surface of the workpiece at the outset of a threading operation. The die is kept wedged, as the initial threads are being cut, between the workpiece and a rotatable member of the tool couple so that the die cannot slip backward toward the leading edge of the workpiece. To keep the die so wedged, the rotatable member is advanced in the direction of the end of the workpiece at approximately the same rate as the die is moved along the longitudinal axis of the workpiece. By maintaining the anterior cutting edge of the die in juxtaposition to the advancing edge of the thread, the device prevents a chamfering of the leading edge of the workpiece as the threading die is turned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1982
    Inventor: Harry I. Leon
  • Patent number: 4090805
    Abstract: A portable cutting tool is mounted on the top of a governor chest after the chest cover and valving mechanisms have been removed from the chest. The cutting tool rotates and axially advances a cutting head to cut away the weld material which welds a nozzle to a wall of the governor chest. This permits removal and replacement of the nozzle. The cutting tool is mounted on a mounting plate so as to permit selection of one of several locations as the cutting site, thus permitting use of a single cutting tool to effect the removal of all the nozzles within a governor chest. The cutting head carries two tool bits which cut in annular overlapping paths and the cutting head is recessed so it may pass over a nozzle as a weld is cut. A second cutter head is provided for refinishing the nozzle seats after the nozzles have been removed. Different interchangeable mounting plates permit the cutting tool to be utilized on governor chests of different sizes or having different spacings between nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1978
    Inventor: Ernest E. Grimsley