US2930114A - Apparatus for assembling open retaining rings on grooved shafts, pins or the like - Google Patents

Description

2 Shets-Sheet 1 March 29, 1960 H. ERDMANN V APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING OPEN RETAINING RINGS ON GROOVED SHAFTS, PINS OR THE LIKE Flled March 1, 1957 INVE'NTOR HANS ERDMANN ATTORNEY H. APPARATUS FOR ASSEM March 29, 1960 ERDMANN 2,930,114

BLING OPEN RETAINING RINGS ON GROOVED SHAFTS. PINS OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 1, 1957 R m N m .M V A m M D R E s M Y Q H r w/// //////////////v mw mm \N .9 S 5 .2

ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING RETAIN- ING RINGS N GROOVED SHAFTS, PINS OR THE LIKE {Hans Erdmann, Maplewood, NJ.. assignor to Waldes Kohinoor, Inc., Long Island, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application March 1, 1957, Serial No. 643,383

6 Claims. (Cl. 29-229) plicator) employed in the prior ring dispensing and ap-' plying tools usually comprised a blade-like member terminating at its free or workingjend in a pair of resiliently connected spreadable arcuate jaws'which together define a substantially semi-circular cut-out for receiving the endmost ring of the ring stack and gripping it with sub-' stantial force about its outer periphery. While such a resilient jaw-type applicator operates very satisfactorily with the small and mediurn'sized rings, his not well suited to the larger rings because the force required to effectively grip the latter along their peripheral edges and to press same against the bottom of their grooves is too great for easy control of these large rings.

Accordingly, a main object of the invention is the provision of a novel retaining ring applicator blade for use in a combination ring dispensing and applying tool of the stated character, Whose construction andarrangement is such that it is. particularly effective for use with V the larger-size rings while at the same time his also use ful in connection with either or both the smaller and medium sized rings. t V

More particularly, the invention contemplates and, aims to provide an applicator blade 'as aforesaid having rigid rather than resilient-jaw construction, and which at the same time is "so constructed, and arranged that itswor-k- 'ing end is adapted when actuated radially toward the shaft or pin on which ring assembly is to be effected to ice movement toward and away from the workpiece, and by simple yet efiective means for actuating catorsin unison. v

The above and other. objects and advantages of 3 an improved combination retaining ring dispensing and 'ap' plying tool and an improved applicator blade therefor according to the present invention will appear from the following detailed description, in which reference is bad to the accompanying illustrative drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the improved dispenser-applicator of the invention, with the applicator blades intheir retracted or inactive position; Fig. 2 is a similar view but illustrating the applicator blades in the position which they occupy when they have just completed simultaneous assembly of apair of retaining rings in the spaced grooves of shaft, pin or the like; and V Fig. 3 is a broken-away perspective view showing the constructional details of the free or w orking end of an improved rigid applicator bladeas herein proposed. ,7 Referring to the drawings, the invention will be deaworkpiece such as a scribed inconnection with a plural applicator-blade type of combination ring dispensing and applying tool, wherein two applicator blades are disposed generally parallel to one another and'symmetrically to the sides of a vertical center line and with their working ends directed downwardly, and which further incorporates manually-actuabie means for reciprocatingsaid applicator blade in 'un'ison toward and away from a workpiece. Such a tool is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 wherein reference numeral 10 designates a relatively elongated fiatbase member mountn its entra p r upright standard. -.1 s best seen in Fig. 2, an operating lever 12 is pivotally connected at its one end as by a horizontal pivot pin 13 to anupper point on the standard whereby it may swing Fina. vertical plane disposed forwardly of said standard.

Qonnectedto said operating lever at a point thereof. close "to its pivotal end connection with the standard is 'a gen- "angular motion results in positive raising and lowering of the cross head 15.

At its outer ends, the base 10 mounts a pair of pivot blocks 17, 18 serving as fulcrums for the outer ends of straddle thesame as withthe prior resilient-jaw'appli- I tenor; and that is is moreover capable ofacicommodating vide an improved applicator of a fypeflending itself. for

use in a combination retaining ring dispensing and. apply-.

ing tool designed to .mount a pair of such applicators, and which is so constructed and arranged as to make ,pos-

'sible the simultaneous assembly of two retaining rings in' spaced grooves of a shaft, pin or similar workpiece.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an improved combination ring dispensing and applyingitool employing two applicator blades as aforesaid,

characterized in that the applicators are mounted for a pair of swing'bars 20, 21 which incline upwardly and inwardly towards one another. At their corresponding inner ends, the aforesaid swing bars are connected to fthe'outer ends of the cross head 15 as by pin and slot connections 22a, 22b, and accordingly the swing bars can move towards and away from one another in unison upon" lowering and raising movement being applied to the cross head. Secured flush to the opposite vertical faces of said swing bars 20, '21 as by welding is a pair of plate brackets '23, 24 which illustratively have roughly right triangular formation and are arranged with their respective bases disposed :in adjacency and in spaced parallel relation with respect to one another, and syrnmetrically to the sides of the vertical centerline of the tool which extends through the upright standard 11;. A

pair. of applicator blades 25,. 26,. hereinafter to be described in detail, are secured to base-line flanges provided directed downwardly.

As seen in Fig. l, the applicator. blades 25, 2 6'are normally maintained in their raised or inactive position (as by spring means not shown) above a workpiece supportingfixture which, as shown, comprisesamoun irg block 28 and a vise 29 supported on the, top entree Piaten'ted Mar. 29, 199

the two applia V, 3 thereof, said vise being adapted to secure a workpiece such as a shaft or pin S having similar groove g at the ends thereof, in a fixed horizontal position in which the grooves are disposed below the respective working ends of the applicators and in the path of their downward movement. Hence, it will be seen that actuation of the operating lever 12 in downward direction via the connecting rod 14, cross head 15, and swing bars 20, 21 causes the aforesaid applicator mounting brackets 23, 24 to swing towards one another in vertically descending arcs, as in turn effects lowering movement of the applicator blades on to the workpiece S.

Secured to lower-edge U-flanges provided on each of the brackets 23, 24 is a pair of stack rods 32 serving to .maintain a supply of the retaining rings R to be assembled in stack formation, said stack rods thus extending substantially horizontally and outwardly from the applicator blades 25, 26. Preferably, each stack rod 32 comprises a spring strip or rail of width corresponding to the inner- 'edge diameter of said retaining rings which, as illustrated in Fig. 3, are of the open type usually provided with a middle and two end lugs or protrusions. Such rings may accordingly be threaded onto a stack rod 32 for movement therealong but are normally restrained against separation from the stack rod by the hold-on engagement which the inner edges of the end lugs exercize on said stack rod as illustrated. It will also be seen that the end portion of each stack rod 32 adjacent its applicator blade is free of any connection either with the edge of its carrying bracket (which latter is relieved or cut away as shown) or with the applicator blade. Thus, by properly predetermining the length of the stack rod, its free end may fiex in upward direction to its 'Fig. 2 position as will be later explained.

To insure a positive feed of the rings R disposed on the stack rods to their associated applicator blades, each stack rod is provided with a slide block 34 which is biased to move in ring-feeding direction by spring means contained in a wind-up reel 35 for a length of tape 36 connected to the slide block. Both the aforesaid stack rod mounting and ring feed means are similar to that employed in a form of combination ring dispensing and applying means disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 538,041, filed October 3, 1955, now abandoned.

Now considering the novel applicator blade construction of the present invention, reference is had to Fig. 3 illustrating the working end thereof on a greatly enlarged scale. It will be seen therefrom that, as distinguished from the prior resilient-jaw type of applicator blade conventionally used heretofore, the working end of the present applicator blade is of rigid construction throughout. More particularly, its working end is provided in its end edge with a simple cut-out 40 having a semi-circular closed end of width substantially equal to that of the diameter of the shaft or pin on which ring assembly is to be effected. Said working end is also formed with a deep recess 41 countersunk into its relatively upper face and which extends about said cut-out 40, and with a communicating shallow recess 42, of which the deep recess like the cut-out 40 opens through the end edge of the blade, and the shallow recess is set back from the deep recess, being separated therefrom by a semi-circular step or shoulder 43, of height corresponding to the axial thickness of a single ring R. Since the applicator blade is of rigid construction, the width of both recesses41, 42 is made slightly larger than that of the outer-edge-diameter of the rings R and it accordingly follows'that the diameter of the semi-circular are on which the step 43 extends corresponds substantially to the diameter of said rings R.

Thus, when seated in the deep recess 41 and with its open end or gap facing in the same direction as the applicator cut-out 40, the outer edge of said ring fits more or less closely against the step 43 throughout an arc of approxima y a 2,9so,114

.4 In the normal raised or retracted position of the applicator blades, the cut-out 40 and the deep recess 41 of each are aligned with the free end of the associated stack rod. Accordingly, the endmost ring R of the ring stack maintained on the corresponding stack rod 32 disposes itself in recess 41 in assembly-ready position therein, being held against the floor of said recess by the force of the spring acting on the slide block 34. At this point it is explained that the length of each stack rod is such that its free end is spaced from the bottom of the aligning recess 41 a distance which is slightly greater than the axial thickness of a single ring, and hence slightly greater also than the height of the step 43. This means that the endmost ring of the stack rod may flex rearwardly to its Fig. 2 position without carrying said endmost ring with it and also without interference either by the step 43 between the recesses 41, 42 or the floor of the shallow recess 42. Finally, it will be understood that a degree of flexing of the stack rod enabling its free end to move into alignment with the shallow recess 42 is intended and provided for: in the design of the tool.

It will be observed from Fig. 3 that the sides of the applicator blades which define the common side walls 45, 46 of the aforesaid ring recesses 41, 42 extend straightway from substantially the rearward end of the recess structure to points adjacent the front end edge of the applicator blade. These side walls serve the important function of maintaining the next endmost and immediately adjacent rings of the stack thereof mounted on the stack rod in proper alignment as the stack rod flexes rearwardly and thence forwardly with each movement of the applicator against and away from a grooved shaft on which ring assembly is being effected. Ring alignment as aforesaid is most advisable since it insures that said next endmost ring of the stack always moves with certainty into the forward, shallow recess 41 asthe stack rod returns to its normal position following each ring transfer or assembly operation, thus to condition the device for the next ring assembly operation.

From said aforesaid forward points, said recess sidewalls 45, 46 curve inwardly so asto provide inward projections or lips 47, 48 which reach towards one another yet are spaced at least the width of the cut-out 40, thus to enable the working end of said blade to straddle the shaft in the assembly operations as aforesaid. However, rather than extending all the way to the floor of said deep recess 41, the inward projections or lips 47, 48 are undercut with slots 47a, 48a which together provide a channel through the lips of depth corresponding to the axial thickness of one ring and which is aligned with the ring cavity of said recess 41. Thus, the endmost ring of the stack contained in the recess 41 and seating against the floor thereof may move through the channel just as if the aforesaid projecting lips 47, 48 were not present. However, should the next adjacent ring somehow free itself from the stack rod, for example, consequent to the effective shortening of the stack rod as it flexes rearwardly, and become stuck by friction or otherwise to said endmost ring, said lips 47, 48 come into play and positively prevent the stuck-on ring from moving out of the recess 41 with the endmost ring and perhaps jamming in the shaft groove. This feature is of particular advantage in insuring against accidental disarrangement of one or more of the endmost rings in the recess structure, and also in insuring that an applicator blade can be freely backed off the shaft following completion of the assembly of the endmost ring of the stack in its groove.

While the operation of a combination ring dispensing and applying tool employing two rigid applicator blades as aforesaid will doubtless be clear from the above description, its operation is briefly stated to be as follows: Normally, the applicator blades 25, 26 are maintained in their raised or retracted position shown in Fig. 1.

In such position, the two endmost retaining rings R of 5 the stacks thereof on the stack rods 32 are held .in' their assembly-readiness positions, vbeing; pressedmore or less tightly by spring pressure against thefloors of the cor responding applicator recesses 41. Assuming that a workpiece S has been properly mounted in and secured by the vise 2 9, downward pressure on the handle end of the operating lever 12, acting through connecting rod 14, cross head 15, swing bars 20, 21 and brackets 23, 24, effects downwardmoyement of said applicator blades in unison to-their Fig. 2 position. Consequent. to such movement, the blades, by pressure applied to said. end: most rings in their respective planes through the steps -43, simultaneously press said rings into'the two spaced workpiece grooves g. ,During the course of the 'afore-.

said blade lowering movement, the rings of the stack next adjacent said, endmost rings retract into the shallow recesses 42 of the applicator blades as..perrnitted by the flexibility of the end portion of the stack rods, wherein they are supported on thevfloor of said recess, and thus the next higher rings of the stack in no wise interfere with applicator-blade lowering movement. Following seating of the endmost rings in the grooves as completes their assembly with the workpiece, the applicator blades and associated parts return to their Fig. 1 position under the urge of retracting springs (not shown). Since the ring channels provided by the slots 47a, 48a' of each blade protect against more than one ring being acted on by a blade during any one assembly operation, the applicator blades are enabled to freely back off from the workpiece without any possibility of this retracting movement being impeded as. by a second ring secured by friction or jamming to' the assembled ring. As the parts retract to their normal positions as aforesaid, the rings which have moved on to thefloor of the shallower recesses 42 of the applicator blades consequent to flexing of the stack rods move back into alignment with the deep recesses 41 thereon-whereupon the next endmost ring of the stacks moves into said recesses under the bias of the spring means effective on the slide blocks 34 and assume assembly-readiness position therein, the tool thus automatically conditioning itself for the next assembly operation. g

The above described tool and applicator blade constructions have been found to satisfythe objectives of the invention as explained in the foregoing in able and effective manner. However, as many changes could be be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim: t

1. In a combined retaining ring dispensing and applying tool for assembling open retaining rings on grooved shafts, pins and the like, the combination of a mounting member, a stack rod for holding a plurality of the rings to be assembled in stack formation comprising an elongated spring rail immovably secured at its one end to said mounting member and being free of securement at its other end whereby said free and may flex a limited amount from and to its normal position, an applicator blade immovably affixed to said mounting member and being disposed adjacent to and substantially at a right angle to the free'end of said stack rod and having a working end of rigid construction throughout, said working end being provided with a shaft accommodating cut-out which opens through its free end edge and has width slightly greater than the diameter of said shaft thereby enabling said working end to fork a shaft on which ring assembly is to be effected, said working end having in its face disposed towards said stack rod first-and second ring recesses, of which said second recess is set back from said first recess and the latter is deeper than said second recess and is separated therefrom by a step of height substantially equal to the axial thickness of'a single retaining ring and which serves as a ring:push-shoulder,lsaid first recess extending along the closed end of the cut-out and similarly opening through the free endedge. of said workingend, the free end of said stack rod terminating short of the floor of said first recess a distance substantially equal to the height'of the step, said working end of the applicator :blade also including ring-aligning'means for maintaining alignment of the rings of the stack next adjacent the endmost ring when the free end of the stack rodis flexed rearwardly with movement of the applicator blade against theshaft, means urging the rings of the stack towards the applicator blade thereby normally topress the endmost ring of the stack to an assemblyereadiness position against I the floor of said first recess and similarly to press the next endmost ring against the floor of the second recess when said latter ring is shifted thereinto with rearward flexing of the free end of the stack rod as aforesaid, and means for actuating said mounting member and thereby the applicator blade bodily toward and away from said shaft,.the construction and arrangement being such that in moving toward said shaft the applicator blade, operating through said step, pushes the endmost ring in the assembly-readiness position in the first recess into the shaft groove and simultaneously effects a shift of the next endmost and the immediately adjacent rings on the stack rod into the second recess while maintaining proper alignment of said next endmost ring with the first recess as insures said next endmostring moving into said assembly-readiness position in the first recess when the applicator blade isretracted from said shaft.

2. The structure substantially as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the working end of the applicator blade terminates forwardly in inwardly directed lips which are spaced from one another a distance less than the diameterof the retaining rings being assembled and are further spaced above the floor of said firstrecess a distance slightly greater than the axial thickness of one of said rings thereby to provide a ring-opening in the lips through a which but a single ring may move from said first recess during the course of each ring, assembly operation.

3. The structure substantially as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ring aligning means comprises rearwardly extending, parallel, upright side walls disposed along the side edges of the working end of said applicator blade and defining the side walls of said recesses, said sidewalls being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to'the diameter of the retaining rings received in and moving through said recesses.

4. For use in assembling spring retaining rings in the grooves of shafts and the like, an applicator comprising a blade-like member having a rigid working end provided with a shaft-receiving cut-out in its end edge of width slightly larger than the diameter of the shaft on which ring assembly is to be effected, said working end being provided in one face thereof with two communicating ring-receiving recesses of width slightly greater than the diameter of the rings to be assembled and along its side edges with parallel upright walls defining the sidewalls of the recesses and serving to maintain alignment of therings moving between said recesses, the forward one of said recesses opening through said end edge and extending about the cut-out and being deeper than the rearward, recess by an amount substantially equaling the thickness of one of said rings, said recesses'being separated by a step forming a ring push-shoulder adapted '7 grooves of shafts and the like, an applicator comprising a blade-like member having a rigid working end provided with a shaft-receiving cut-out in its end edge of width slightly larger than the diameter of the shaft on which ring assembly is to be effected, said working end being provided in one face thereof with two communicating recesses of width slightly greater than the diameter of the rings to be assembled, the forward one of said recesses opening through said end edge and extending about the cut-out and being deeper than the rearward recess by an amount substantially equaling the thickness of one of said rings, said recesses being separated by a step forming a ring push-shoulder adapted to push a ring seated in the deeper forward recess into its shaft groove upon the applicator being pushed against the shaft, the side walls of the recesses terminating at their forward ends in inwardly directed lips which are spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of the ring being assembled, said lips being also spaced relatively above the floor of the deeper recess a distance slightly greater than the axial thickness of one of said rings thereby to provide a ring opening through the'lips whichis ali na with said deeper recess, said lips insuring that but a single ring may move from said deeper 'recess 'in the course of each ring assembly operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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