Abstract: A propeller with pivoting blades is provided as a cleaning tool (1) for the work area of metal cutting machines, where the angle of adjustment for the pivoting blades is such that an air jet is generated supporting the propeller blades (15) in folding open. The propeller blade (15) is arranged in a tool changer stacker instead of a common tool or on a tool spindle and serves to automatically clean the work area by a blowing process.

Abstract: A shield assembly 98 is disclosed which has one or more shield elements 102, 104, 106 which block, during machining of a seal member 70 for a rotary machine 10, seal particles from entering a vane cluster 58. Various construction details are developed which increase the effectiveness of the shield assembly. In one embodiment, the shield assembly has an upper shield element 102 having a U-shaped cross sectional shape which fits over a stator assembly 28 that includes the seal member.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a protective cover for the sliding guides of a mobile machine tool part and comprises a set of rigid panels which overlap and are guided in such a way that they slide parallel with the machine tool guides, and panel pulling means, designed so that, when a first, driven panel is moved, they allow the subsequent panels in the set to be pulled. The pulling means comprise a pulling element, attached to the first panel, parallel with a direction transversal to the set of planes upon which the subsequent panels in the set lie; and contact faces, on the subsequent panels, opposite the pulling element. The contact faces are positioned in the path of the pulling element at different positions, longitudinal to the guides, so that each is intercepted by the pulling element at a different time as the element moves, thus allowing all of the subsequent panels in the set to be pulled.

Abstract: A bottom guard for a machine having a plate with a hinged side pivotably attached to a first frame member of a machine and a catch side opposite the hinged side releasably held near a second frame member by a latching device. The plate holds debris from the operation of the machine and serves as a safety guard. The latching device has a first portion attached to the second frame member and a second portion attached to the catch side of the plate. The two portions of the latching device mechanically interlock and a solenoid actuated mechanism releases them upon a remote signal to the solenoid which allows the catch side of the plate to move by gravity, thereby opening the guard and discharging accumulated debris to a side of the machine. At least one shock absorbing device, such as an elastomeric shock cord, a pneumatic cylinder, or a hydraulic cylinder limits the amount that the plate will swing open when the catch is released and cushions the plate as it falls open.

Abstract: A machine tool way cover to provide protection to a moveable machine tool which is provided with an interlocking feature to prevent misalignment or skewing of the actual way cover. The present invention provides a dramatic improvement over prior art machine tool coverings and way covers in that it eliminates the need for individual segments of the machine tool way cover to be manufactured to extremely tight physical tolerances by providing interlocking channels at the base of each way cover segment. The channels provide grooves within which the channels of smaller segments actually move as the machine tool and machine tool way cover move in and out. By providing such an interlocking mechanism, the machine tool way cover avoids becoming misaligned and inoperative even when objects or personnel impart substantial loads to the way cover.

Abstract: A method of for performing a machining operation and recovering a liquid used in the machining operation. The method includes the steps of providing a machine tool to perform a machining operation, directing a liquid against at least one of a) a part of the machine tool and b) a workpiece on which the machining operation is being performed by the machine tool in such a manner that discrete particles become entrained in the liquid, directing at least a part of the liquid with the discrete particles entrained therein to a first location, and at the first location separating the liquid from the discrete particles.

Abstract: A curtain apparatus having a hood with a top plate in which one or more slots and/or openings are positioned, such as approximately parallel to each other. A fixed woven mesh metal curtain is mounted within one slot or opening so that the fixed woven mesh metal curtain remains in a fixed position with respect to the top plate, during operation of a descaler. A moveable woven mesh metal curtain can be mounted within the same or another slot or opening so that during operation of the descaler, the moveable woven mesh metal curtain translates along a longitudinal axis of the slot or the opening.

Abstract: A machine tool includes a cover member covering an upper open portion of a movable carriage and at least one chain member to connect the cover member to the carriage. The cover member hangs down the front surface of the carriage and forms a U-shape with the at least one chain member at the lower side of the carriage. Chips that are trapped on the inside of the cover member are discharged through an open portion when the at least one chain member is located at the lowest point of the U-shape through the movement of a column of the machine tool.

Abstract: A disk drive that is the product of modifying a standard computer disk drive to read and write data in parallel with all of its transducer heads at once, rather than serially with only one head at a time. A method and apparatus are disclosed for protecting the disk drive's platters from damage and contamination while working on the interior of the disk drive case. The apparatus includes a hinged cover that replaces a conventional disk drive cover while work is being performed on circuitry within the disk drive case. The hinged cover seals off the platters and the inside of the disk drive case except for the circuitry being worked on.

Abstract: Apparatus capable of performing wet and dry machining processes such as a hobbing machine for producing spur and helical gears, shafts, splines, and the like, by wet and dry hobbing methods. The apparatus comprises means to remove metal chips resulting from the wet and dry machining processes from the apparatus via respective independent wet and dry chip outlets. The chip removal means comprises a transfer means located in the machine base with the transfer means being reversible in direction in order to convey metal chips, emanating from the machining process, to the respective wet or dry chip outlet. The chip removal means enables metal chips from wet machining processes to be conveyed to and discharged from an outlet in one side surface and metal chips from dry machining processes to be conveyed to and discharged from an outlet in another side surface.

Abstract: A curtain apparatus having a hood with a top plate in which a plurality of slots are positioned approximately parallel to each other. A fixed woven mesh metal curtain is mounted within one slot so that the fixed woven mesh metal curtain remains in a fixed position with respect to the top plate, during operation of a descaler. A moveable woven mesh metal curtain is mounted within another slot so that during operation of the descaler, the moveable woven mesh metal curtain can translate along a longitudinal axis of the slot. The moveable woven mesh metal curtain is detachably engaged with a curtain bracket that is secured to a moveable guide arm.

Abstract: A curtain apparatus having a hood with a top plate in which a plurality of slots are positioned approximately parallel to each other. A fixed woven mesh metal curtain is mounted within one slot so that the fixed woven mesh metal curtain remains in a fixed position with respect to the top plate, during operation of a descaler. A moveable woven mesh metal curtain is mounted within another slot so that during operation of the descaler, the moveable woven mesh metal curtain can translate along a longitudinal axis of the slot. The moveable woven mesh metal curtain is detachably engaged with a curtain bracket that is secured to a moveable guide arm.

Abstract: A CNC (computer numerical control) lathe includes a tailstock feed mechanism consisting of a feed hopper and an air cylinder for feeding a short workpiece, and a secondary tool turret having a feed chuck and a set of rear end cutting tools for processing the end of a bar stock material which has been processed by a main tool turret and a radial processing mechanism for processing a short workpiece delivered through the tailstock feed mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the hydraulic removal and collection of cuttings from machine tool systems. The present invention provides a cutting removal and collection system comprising a housing at least partially enclosing a machine tool and a plurality of trays at the bottom of the housing for collecting the cuttings as they fall from the machine tool. Jets of fluid, such as a liquid coolant, are used to direct the cuttings along the trays and into a rotating drum. The drum has a hollow annular structure with fins disposed in an axial direction along its interior. The drum also has a perforated surface for allowing drainage of the fluid off of said cuttings and back into a tank positioned below the rotating drum. As the drum rotates, the fins carry the cuttings in the circumferential direction of rotation. Once the cuttings are carried to a certain height, gravity causes the cuttings to fall onto a drop tray positioned along a horizontal chord of the rotating drum.

Abstract: A shield device for attachment to a machine tool is disclosed. Provision for a slotted member that receives a sheet of shield material is made. Bracket arm means mount the shield for adjustable pivotable movement, and clamping means or magnetic means allow attachment of the shield device to a machine tool.

Abstract: A machine tool comprises a work table arranged for being displaced in at least one coordinate direction relative to a spindle stock. Longitudinal drive means arranged beneath the work table are covered on both sides of the work table by means of a cover composed of telescoping elements. One of the said elements is provided in stationary arrangement adjacent one side wall of a trough enclosing the cover.In order to prevent the chips from forming into balls in front of the overlapping elements, when the extreme end position of the work table is reached, at least one opening giving access to the trough is provided on the upside of the one element, at the edge facing the side wall.

Abstract: A safety glove bag system for the removal of hazardous materials from elongated pipes or the like without danger or exposure of the operator to the hazardous material. The system utilizes a series of disposal pouches connected to a manifold which surrounds the pipe, and each of the disposal pouches may be removed from the assembly without disrupting the removal process.

Abstract: Chip remover for machines which perform a machining operation, especially on metallic workpieces, such as strip edging machines, turning machines, etc. The chip remover has a stretched spiral rotating about its longitudinal axis with successive turns spaced apart from one another. The free upper end of the spiral extends into the chip discharge area of the machining tool. This spiral carries the chips away from the area about the tool to assure unhampered machining. The spiral is in the form of a hollow helix and is surrounded, on the outside, with only minimal clearance, by a non-rotating guide tube having an open-topped slot running lengthwise of the tube. The upper end of the helix extends freely out of the tube.

Abstract: By providing a removable and repositionable panel member cooperatively mountable to a support panel in a plurality of alternate positions, which support panel is mountable to a machine tool, a unique, universally applicable safety shield is achieved. Preferably, the safety shield also incorporates a front panel pivotally mounted to the support panel, and constructed of cooperative mounted engagement of the removable and repositionable panel in a plurality of alternate positions therewith. If desired, a plurality of removable and repositionable panel members are employed to further enhance the alternate configurations obtainable using the safety shield of this invention.

Abstract: An adjustable T-slot cover for covering T-slots in such as a table of a machine tool and consisting of two intermeshing elongated section members. Each section member has in the crosssection a vertically extending web extending along the side wall of T-slots and which web has on the upper end a projection for engaging with chamfered upper edge of the side wall and on the lower portion a guide for resiliently abutting with the side wall. One section member has sidewisely extending first and second arms, and the other section member has a third arm extending between the first and second arms. Intermeshing indentations are formed between the second and third arms.