US2995805A - Attachment for turret lathe - Google Patents

Description

L. D. KLlNG ET AL ATTACHMENT FOR TURRET LATI-1E 9 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS BYM//LL/nn Marr/N64 fr www gw Aug. 15, 1961 Filed May 3, 1956 Aug. 15, 1961 L. D. KLING ETAL ATTACHMENT FOR TURRET LATHE 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1956 INVENTOR. Loro D. IVA/NG BYW/L/AM .5, MATT/Nair Aug. 15, 1961 L. D. KLING ETAL 2,995,805

ATTACHMENT FOR TURRET LATHE Filed May 5, 1956 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 3 8 79 1N VEN TORS Low D. KUNG BY W/L mM J. MA rr/Nm fr @Www/Mfg@ Aug. 15, 1961 L. D. KLING ET AL ATTACHMENT FOR TURRET LATHE 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 5, 1956 INVENTORJ Loro D. KUNG BY h//u mM .5T M4N/NGL EY Aug. l5, 1961 D. KUNG ETAL ATTACHMENT FOR TURRET LATI-1E 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 3, 1956 INVENTORJ' m2 NS O QJ L. D. KLING ET AL ATTACHMENT FOR TURRET LATI-IE Aug. 15, 1961 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed May 5, 1956 l Lg' l Z INVENTOR:

L L o ya D. Aim/6 ByW/L L4M Narr/Nair Aug. l5, 1961 L. D. KLING ETAL ATTACHMENT FOR TURRET LATHE 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed May 3, 1956 Nu RN "nm NNN n EN NNN INVENTUM Loro D, Kun/6 By WML/AM J. MA rr//vczfy i 2,995,805 Ice Patented Aug. 175, 1961 2,995,805 ATTACHMENT FOR TURRET LATHE Lloyd D. Kling, Los Angeles, Calif., and William Stanley Mattingley, Springfield, Ill., assignors to A. W. Cash Co., Decatur, Ill., a corporation of Illinois n Filed May 3, 1956, Ser. No. 582,514

3 Claims. (Cl. 29-42) This invention relates to an attachment for turret lathe, and, more particularly, to apparatus for converting a ram-type manually-operated turret lathe to semiautomatic operation.

In the past, many attempts have been made to convert ram-type turret lathes into semi-automatic lathes with only limited success. Generally speaking, in these prior art devices, the actuation of the turret ram has been accomplished by use of a hydraulic cylinder with suitable valving and power source. However, no apparatus of this kind has been entirely satisfactory, since they have failed to provide adequately for diiferent and adjustable feed rates at different stations of the turret, among other things. Also, the machines of this type constructed in the past have been complicated, expensive, dangerous, and have required extensive maintenance. These and other deficiencies of the previously-known devices have been obviated in a novel manner by the present invention.

It is, therefore, an outstanding object of the invention to provide an attachment for turret lathe, which attachment will complete automatically the entire cycle of the turret.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a turret lathe attachment which will provide a different, adjustable feed rate for each station of the turret.

It is a still further object of the instant invention to provide an attachment for converting a ram-type turret lathe to semi-automatic operation, which attachment is rugged and dependable, is inexpensive to manufacture, can be constructed from readily-obtainable materials, and can be adapted to a lathe by an ordinary mechanic.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a turret lathe attachment which renders the lathe capable of increasing production by increasing tool life, which reduces the cycling time by synchronizing cross slide work with an automatic turret, produces machine inishes which are the equivalent of ground finishes because of innite hydraulic feed selections, maintains tolerances of a thousandth of an inch, in which the operator can still use a hand feed if he desires, in which the rate of feed at any station of the turret can be pre-selected, and which can be adapted to any ram-type turret without disturbing the present equipment, which provides a continuous and uninterrupted cycle rapid traverse and dwell on all stations of the turret, with which the operator can stand by during the entire cycle and be checking the last workpiece, and which does not add appreciably to the length of the lathe.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an attachment for turret lathe by the use of which successive Workpieces are nished in exactly the same way with the same divisions and tolerances, because the removal of differences due to the human element.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an attachment for rendering a turret lathe capable of semi-automatic operation without rendering the lathe incapable of the usual manual operation and without disturbing the usual star wheel.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides nin the combination of parts set forth in the specification .and covered by the claims appended hereto.

The character of the invention, however, may be best again.

understood by reference to certain of its structural forms, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l is an elevational view of an attachment constructed according to the teachings of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the attachment,

FIG. 3 is a side view of a reel forming part of the attachment,

FIG. 4 is an end view of the reel,

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional View of a feed valve forming a part of the attachment,

FIG. 6 is an end View of the feed valve,

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the feed valve taken on the line VII- VII of FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a reel housing forming a part of the attachment,

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the latching assembly,

FIG. 10 is an end View of the latching assembly as viewed from the left in FIG. 9,

FIG. 1l is an end view of the latching assembly as viewed from the right in FIG. 9,

FIG. 12 is a view of a portion of the latching attachment taken on the line X11-XII of FIG. 8,

FIG. 13 is a sectional View through a master control valve forming a part of the attachment,

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a dwell cylinder forming a part of the attachment, and

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of a hand control valve forming a part of the invention.

For the purposes of this specification, the term longitudinal will be used to indicate a direction parallel to the ways of the lathe and to the axis of rotation of the head stock, while the expression transverse will be used to denote a direction at a right angle to the ways. Also, the Words ri t and left will be used to indicate the directions as the attachment appears to an operator facing the machine as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring rst to FIGS. l and 2, wherein is best shown the general features of the invention, the attachment, designated Igenerally by the reference numeral 10, is shown in use with a turret lathe 1.1 of the well-known type having a turret 12 and a ram 13 slidably mounted on a base 14. A post 15 extends laterally from the ram and has mounted at its outer end a hand wheel, not shown. When such a turret lathe 4is operated manually, the operator turns the Ihand Wheel to traverse the ram and the turret to the right; at the end of the traverse the turrent automatically indexes to the next station. Accepted practice is to use a six-station turret, so that the turret indexes 60 to bring the next tool into alignment with the axis of the head stock on which the workpiece is mounted for driven rotation. At the right of the ram 13 is fastened a stop plate 16 which indexes 60 about a longitudinal axis when-the turret indexes', six threaded holes are grouped about the axis and pass completely through the plate. Ordinarily six threaded rods would be mounted in these holes to determine the depth of cut into the workpiece for each station of the turret. When the attachment is used, however, these rods are removed and the threaded holes are used to mount a part of the attachment, as will be explained hereinafter. The operator turns the hand wheel to the left to advance the turret and its tool toward the work; jus before the tool makes contact with the work, the operator throws a feed lever, not shown, and the machine feeds the tool into the work until one of the threaded rods associated with the stop plate 16 strikes a dog and terminates the feed. The operator then rotatesthe hand Wheel to the right, so that the ram and turret traverse to the right and the :turret is indexed to the next station toy beginvthe cycle The turret lathe to which the attachment is connected is in condition to operate in the manner described above, except that the threaded stop rods are removed, as has been stated. In a general way, the attachment 10 consists of a reel '17, a feed valve 18, a latching assembly 19, an hydraulic linear actuator such as a power cylinder 21, a master control valve 22, a hand control valve 23, a dwell cylinder 24, an oil reservoir 25, and a motordiiven pump 26. v

The reel 17 is mounted, as has been stated, on the stop plate 16 at the right end of the ram 13. The reel lies within the latching assemblyV 19 which is mounted on a table 27 bolted at one end to a vertical surface of the base. 'Ihe tabler underlies the ram 13 in its retracted position and extends to the right in cantilever fashion. The right end of the table rests on a vertical adjusting screw 28 extending upwardly from a support 29 bolted to the base .14 of the lathe. The table 27 is suticiently flexible to permit leveling by means of the screw 28. The feed valve 18 is mounted at the righthand end of the latching assembly 19 for engagement by the reel 17. The power cylinder `21 is bolted to the base of the lathe laterally of the ram and has a piston rod 31 which is bolted to a transversely-extending connecting arm 32, the 'other end of which is bolted to the ram 13. The master control` valve 22 is mounted on the operators side of the latching assembly. The hand control valve 23 is mounted by means of an .L-shaped bracket 33 to the base of the lathe adjacent the wheel post 15. The dwell cylinder is. mounted on a supporting tube 34 extending -horizontally and longitudinally from the master control base 14 of the lathe, preferably underlying the support 29, although this placement is not critical.

' The various components of the attachment are connected hydraulically by a system of conduits. A llexible conduit 35 connects the outlet port 36 of the pump 26 to an inlet port 37 of the master control valve 22, while a similar flexible conduit 38 connects an outlet port 39 of the valve 22 to the oil reservoir 25. A semi-rigid conduit 411 connects a port 42 of the valve 22 to a port 43 of the hand control valve 23 and a similar conduit 44 connects a port 45 of the valve 22 to a port 46 yof the manual control valve 23. A semi-rigid conduit 47 connects a port 48 of the manual control valve 23 tto a port 49 atone side of the piston of the power cylinder 21, while a similar conduit 51 connects a port 52 of the valve 23 to a port 53 at the other side of the power cylinder. In addition, a semi-rigid conduit 54 connects a port 55 on the master control valve 22 with a port 56 on the dwell cylinder 24. A semi-rigid conduit 57 joints a port 58 on the masterV control valve 22 to a port 59 on the feed valve '18, while another port 61` on the valve 18 is joined to a port 62 by a semi-rigid conduit 63. Further-more, a conduit 64 joins a pont 65 of the master control valve 22 to a port 66 of the dwell cylinder 24.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the reel 17 consists of an attaching plate 67 which is adapted to be fastened to the stop plate. 16 of the lathe by means of bolts such as bolt 68. Adjacent the attaching plate is an end block 69 joined by a center tube 71 to another end block 72. The end blocks are joined by longitudinal rods 73 which lie in bores in the Vend blocks and are held therein by set screws; there are three of these rods equally spaced around the center tube. Between each pair of rods isV located a rod 74 which extends beyond the end block 69 and is threaded into the attaching plate 67. In this'way Vthere are six rods spaced 60 apart around the center tube. An end plate 75 is bolted over the end block 72 and a hexagon aperture 76 extends therethrough in general alignment with the centerline of the center Each rod has slidably mounted thereon a feed block 77 which can beV xed in a selected position by a set screw contacting the rod. In addition, each. rod

4 is provided with a reverse block 78 slidably mounted on the rod and held in a selected position on the rod by a set screw; each reverse block has a finger 79 extending radially of ,the reel, each finger having a threaded longitudinal bore in which is threadedly fastened a cap screw 81 having a conical heady and a locking nut.

Referring next to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, thefeed'valve 18 comprises a housing 82 of generally cylindrical external configuration which is fastened to the right hand end of the latching assemblyV 19.' Thisy means that the valve housing 82 is connected to the base of the lathe and does not move. The valve housing is provided with` an axial bore 83 opening at one end only of the housing in which is xedly mounted an insert 84. The inlet port 59 extends through the wall into the bore and the outlet port 61 extends in a similar manner-at a position axially spaced from the inlet port. The insert 84 is carried on a shaft 85 which extends axially through the bore 83 and is rotatably mounted in a small axial bore 86 in the closed end of the valve housing. Externally ofthe housing the shaft is provided with an elongated hexagonal portion 87 adapted to it closely in the hexagonal aperture 76 in the end plate 75 of the reelV 17. The shaft 85 is formed with a circular ange 88 which rests against the bottom of the bore 83. Pinned toV the ange for longitudinal but non-rotative movement relative thereto is a distributor disk 89 having a single longitudinal aperture 91 extending therethrough at a substantial distance from the common axis of the insert and the shaft. One end face of the insert 84 contacts the distributor disk and has six small bores 92 extending axially therein; these bores are arranged on a pitch circle concentric with the shaft axishaving a radius equal to the distance from the shaft axis tothe centerline of the. bore91. The bores 92 are spaced equally every 60 on their pitch circle and veach terminates inwardly in a small cylindricalv chamber 93 of larger diameter than the bore. A passage 94' extends radially outwardly from each chamber and all the passages terminate in an annular relief groove 95. The outlet port 61 also opens into the groove 95. Into each chamber 93 extends a metering screw 96 which is mounted coaxially with its chamber 93 and its bore 92 by threaded engagement with a threaded bore 97 in the insert 84'. The metering screw is provided with a conical head which resides in the chamber 93 and partly in the bore 92;v the other end of the screw is provided with a slot for engagement by a screwdriver for adjustment purposes. A locking ring 98 retains the insert in the bore 83 and prevents rotation and an O-ring is situated on each side of the groove 95. Suitable O-rings are provided throughout the valve to prevent leakage and by-passing of hydraulic liuid. Leaf springs 99 contact the portions of the metering screws which extend out of the end of insert to lock them in a preselected adjustment. As is evident in FIG. 7, coil springs 101 reside in suitable recesses in the distributor disk 89 and by pressing against the flange 88, assure tight sliding contact of theV disk with the face of. the insert 84.

FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 1l and l2 show the details of construction of the latching assembly `19which is, as has been explained, fastened to the table 27V and supported through the adjusting screw 28 by the support 29. It is thus, iixed to the base of the lathe. The assembly comprises an upwardly-opening housing formed by ya bottom wall 102, a front wall 103, and a rear wall v104;.the upper edges of the front and rear walls are provided with a small inwardly-directed horizontal ange. A rapid traverse stop 105 is fastened to the outer surface ofthe front wall 103 at the right side. AV support bracket 106 of generally L-shaped configuration has a horizontal leg 107 bolted to the upper edges of the front and rear walls transversely thereof at the extreme `right handA end of `the housing, while the other leg 108 extends vertically in a position somewhat forwardly of thetfront Wall. The legk 108 is provided with a longitudinal boi-e109 'and -a slot 111 whereby it may be clamped to the supporting tube 34 which extends longitudinally from the master control valve 22. A supporting block 1=12 is bolted -to the front wall I103 at the extreme right end of the housing in a position overlying the stop 105. The block 112 is provided with a wide vertical slot `1-13 in lwhich resides a lever 114 centrally pivoted on a transverse horizontal pin 115. A roller 116 is mounted :for rotation about a transverse horizontal axis at Vthe left hand end of the lever. A leaf spring 117 is fastened to the lower surface of the supporting block at the right hand end, and this spring presses upwardly on the lower surface of the lever 114 -so that it is resiliently biased to occupy a horizontal position entirely within the slot 113. A reverse rod 1118 extends through the leg 107 of the support bracket 106 land extends parallel and adjacent to the upper edge of the front wall 103; its right hand end is threaded and is provided with a stop collar 119 fixed in place on the rod by a set screw and a jam nut 121. A bushing 122 surrounds the rod and provides for llongitudinal sliding within the leg 107; the bushing extends a considerable distance away from the leg and on it is pivotally mounted a cycle stop latch 123. The latch is elongated in form and is pivoted on :the rod and bushing at a position intermediate of its ends. It resides in a generally horizontal aspect land has a roller 124 mounted on a horizontal longitudinal pin 125 at its rearward end. The roller is provided with a generous bevel at its left side and is located midway between the front and rear Walls of the housing, as is evident in FIG. 8. The forward end of the latch 123 is provided with a vertical contact pin =126 which is threaded into the latch for vertical adjustment and is provided with a lock nut. The latch is normally maintained in a horizontal position by a coil spring 127 which extends between the latch and the supporting block 112. 'I'he contact pin 126 overlies the lever 114 at a position slightly to the right of the pivot pin 115 but is normally maintained `out of contact with the lever by the action of the spring 127.

A feed rod 128 also passes through the leg 107 of the support bracket l106 and extends parallel and adjacent to the upper edge of the rear Wall 104 of the housing. An elongated push bar 129 lies generally horizontally across the housing somewhat to the left of the roller 116. Its rearward end has the rod 128 passing through it and the bar and rod are fastened together by a set screw. A coil spring 131 surrounds the rod 128 and kextends between the bar 129 and the leg 107 of the bracket 106. The rod 118 passes through the bar 129 and a sleeve 132 surrounds this rod and lies between it yand the surface of the bore in the bar through which |the rod passes. A coil spring 133 surrounds the sleeve and rod and extends between the bar 129 and the latch 123. The forward end of the push bar 129 lies some distance forward of the front Wall of the housing and is provided with a rigidly-attached, downwardly-extending arm 134 having a transverse horizontal pin 135 at its lower end.

A spring bracket 136 is bolted to the upper edge of the front wall of the housing and is formed with a linger 137 which extends rearwardly and through which the sleeve 132 and the rod 118 pass. A spring stop 1138 is adjustably mounted on the reverse rod 118 and is fixed in a selected position thereon by a set screw. A coil spring 139 surrounds the sleeve and rod and extends between the spring stop 138 and the spring bracket 136. Fastened to the reverse rod 118 to the left of the spring stop 138 by set screw means is a reverse latch clamp 141 which extends upwardly and has a reverse latch 142 pivotally connected to its intermediate portion. The latch 142 is elongated and extends longitudinally over the Irod. A leaf spring 143 overlies the latch, is fastened at one end to the latch, and is pivotallyattached at the otherend to the upper end of the wclamp 141. A feed latch clamp 144 is xed tothe intermediate portion of the feed rod 128 and extends vertically upwardly therefrom. To the intermediate portion of the clamp is hingedly attached `an elongated feed latch 145 that overlies the rod 128. A leaf `spring '146 is fastened to the intermediate portion of the latch and is loosely attached to the upper end of the clamp I144. A block 147 is bolted to the upper edge of the rear Wall of the housing and is provided with -a bore 148 in which the left hand end of the feed rod 128 is slidably supported. The upper surface of the block is provided with a longitudinal groove 149 in which the latch 145 may reside on occasion. The latch 145 is providedl on its under surface with `a shoulder which engages the right hand surface of the block when the latch lies in the groove 149; this effectively prevents movement of the latch and the rod to the left under the inuence of the coil spring 131 when the shoulder so engages the block.

A frame 151 has a horizontal leg 152 which is bolted to the upper edges of the front and rear Walls of the housing at the extreme left thereof and is formed with a bore 153 to slidably support Athe left hand end of the reverse rod 118. Extending from the forward end of the leg 152 is a :longitudinal bridge section 154 having a vertical left leg 155, 'a vertical right leg 156 and a connecting section 157. The right leg is bolted at its lower end to the upper edge of the front Wall of lthe housing; extending rearwardly from thel right leg is a latch stop 158. The lower surface of the reverse latch 142 is formed with a vertical shoulder 159 which e11- gages the stop 158 when the latch 142 rests on the upper surface of the stop; this effectively prevents the latch 142 and the reverse rod 118 from -moving to the left under the inuence of the coil spring 139. A window 161 is defined by the legs and connecting sections of the bridge vsection of the frame and through this window `extends a reset bar 162. The bar 162 extends horizontally and transversely `and the reverse rod 118 extends through its rearward end and is xed thereto by a set screw. The forward end of the bar is situated well forward of the front wall of the housing and is formed with a horizontal slot 163. From the upper surface of the connecting portion 154 of the bridge section of the frame extends a vertical stop pin 164.

A latch fulcrum 165 is pivotally attached to the intermediate portion of the left leg 155. The fulcrum is provided with a vertical portion 166 which is connected to the rearward surface of the leg by a horizontal cap screw 167 in `order to permit the pivotal movement. The vertical portion is provided with `a horizontal, rearwardlydirected linger 168 which yunderlies the reverse latch 142. The fulcrum is provided with a horizontal forwardly-directed flange 169 which normally rests on the upper surface of the bridge section of the frame; when the flange so rests, the finger 168 permits the latch 142 to rest on the upper surface of lthe latch stop 158. The ange 169 is formed with a longitudinally-elongated slot |171 through which the pin 164 extends. A verticallyextending lever 172 is pivotally connected at its lower end to the front wall of the housing by means of a horizontal transverse cap screw 173. 'I'he lever extends through a longitudinally-elongated slot 174 formed in the ange 169 of the fulcrum 165 yand lis provided at its upper end with a spherical knob 175.

Extending transversely between the right leg 156 of the frame and the block 147 and mounted at its ends therein is a rocker arm Vshaft 176. Rotatably mounted at one end to the shaft adjacent the block 147 is a feed rocker arrn 177. Mounted in the other end of the rocker arm is a pin 178 which underlies the feed latch 145. Also, fastened to the rocker arm 177 is a contact arm 179 which extends downwardly when the pin 178 underlies the .latch 145 .without lifting it from the groove 149.A A reverse rocker arm 181 is rotatably mounted at one end to the shaft 176 and has `a horizontal transverse pin 182- mounted 7 .therein with a dependent integral contact arm 180.'v When -the contact arm 180 is vertical, the pin underlies the reverselatch 142 without lifting it from the latch stop 158. Y Referring to FIG. 13, the master control valve 22 is .shown as having a body 183 in which are formed an upwardly-opening inlet port 37, a downwardly-opening outlet port 39, as well as forwardly-opening ports 55, 45, 42, v65,58 and 62. These ports all open into horizontal bores inV which are located valving pungers. The inlet port 37 opens into the center of a bore 184 in which resides a hand control plunger 185 having a shaft 186. The shaft 186 is mounted in a guide 187 at one end of the bore and aguide 188 at the other end. The left hand end of the shaft is provided with a coupling 189, while the other end has tixed to it a plug 191 slidable within the supporting tube 34. A coil spring 192 surrounds the shaft and extends between the guide 188 and the plug 191, thus maintaining the plunger in a position to the right. Within the bore 184 and xed to the shaft 186 is a spool 193 which normally resides to the right of the port 37. Below the bore 184 is a bore 194 and the two bores are connected by a passage 195 located a distance to the left of the port 37. A pilot valve plunger 196 resides in the bore 194; the left end of the plunger is provided with a button 197. The plunger is formed with a reduced portion 198 and a reduced portion 199 with an enlarged portion 201 therebetween. Another reduced portion 202 is separated from the reduced portion 199 Iby an enlarged portion 203. A bore 204 underlies the bore 194 and is joined to it by a passage 205 at the left end, a passage 206 in the middle and a passage 207 at the right end. The enlarged portions 201 and 203 are located so that when the passage 205 lies within the reduced portion 198, the passage 207 lies within the reduced portion 199; the passage 206 lies within the reduced portion 199 at all times. Within the bore 204 resides a dwell control plunger 208 having an enlarged portion 209, a reduced portion 210, an enlarged portion 211, a reduced portion 2112 and an enlarged portion 213. The left hand end of -the bore 204 is closed by a plug 214, while adjacent Athereto an annular recess 215 is formed in the bore and has the passage 205 opening onto it. A bore 216 underlies the bore 204 and passages 217, 218, 219 and 221 extend therebetween. The passage 217 opens into the annular recess 215, so that it communicates with the passage '205 at all times irrespective of the position of the plunger 208. When the plunger 208 is in the left position, the port 45 communicates with the passage 218 through the reduced portion 210 and the passage 206 communicates `with the port 42; at the same time the port 65 4is in com* munication with the passages 207V `and 221. When the plunger is in the right hand position, the passage 218 is blocked on" by the enlarged portion 209, `the port 45 is in 4communication with the passage 206, the port 42 is in communication with the passage 219 and passages 207 and 221 are closed by the enlarged portion 213. Pivotally connected to the right hand end of the enlarged portion 213 is a rod 222 which extends outwardly of the valve through a guide 223. Located in the bore 216 is a rapid traverse plunger 224 which extends outwardly of the valve on the right hand side. Y The left hand side of the'bore is closed by a plug 225 and the passage 217 enters the bore adjacent this plug. The plunger 224 con- Vsists of a spool 226 connected by a rod 227 .-to a reduced portion 228 and an enlarged portion 229. Whenthe plunger 224 is in the left hand position, as shown in FIG. 13, the passage 218 is in communication with the port 58, the passage 219 is operatively connected by the reduced portion 228 to the port 62 and the outlet port 39, while the passage 221 is closed by the enlarged portion 229. V Communication between the passages 219 and ports 39 and 62, on the one hand, with the port 58, on the other hand, is prevented by the contact of a conical end face 231 with aV sleeve 232 fixed in the bore 216. When the plunger is in the right hand' position, however,

`8 ,the passage 218 isclosed by the spoolV 226, and the port 58, the passage 219, the port 62, the port 39 and the passage 221 are vincommunication with one another. An external passage 220 joins the bore 184 with the drainport 39'when the plunger 185 isin the left hand position.

FIG. l5 shows the details of construction of the hand control valve 23. The valve is provided with a body 233 having vertical bores 234, 235 and 236 containing, respectively, plungers 237, 238 and 239. The port 46 opens into the intermediate portion of the bore 235, the port 52 communicates with upper end of the bore 236, as do'the ports 48 and 43. A passage 241 joins the upper portions of the bores 234 and 235 and a passage 242 join them in their intermediate portions. The lower end of the bore 234 is closed Iby a plug 243 and a coil spring 244 extends between the plug and the lower end of the plunger 237. The plunger is provided with a cage portion 245. A metering screw 246 yis threaded into the body 233 of the valve and has a conical head which extends across the bore through the cage portion of the plunger into the passage 242. The bore 234 is formed with a shoulder 247 which is engaged by a conical portion 248 of the plunger. An enlarged portion 249 is joined to the conical portion by a rod 251. The plunger 237 extends upwardly from the valve for a short distance. When the plunger is in its normal uppermost position, the passage opens into the port of the bore surrounding the rod 251; as the plunger is moved downwardly, the conical portion 248 moves away from the shoulder 247 and communication is afforded from the passage 241 to the passage 242, the effective entrance to which is determined by the setting of the metering screw 246. The bore 235 is provided with an upper sleeve 252 and a lower sleeve 253which are xed in place within the bore; the plunger 238 is slidably and rotatably mounted Within these sleeves. The lower end of the plunger is threaded into the lower sleeve 253 and the upper end extends out of the valve body a considerable distance. The plunger 238 is formed with a reduced portion 254 and the passage 241 and the port 52 both open into the space around the reduced portion 254. At the lower end of the reduced portion the plunger is formed with a 'conical portion 255 which is adapted to engage the lower end of the upper sleeve 252. The port 46 opens into the space between the sleeve 252 and 253. When the plunger is rotated it moves downwardly, thus carrying the conical portion 255 away from the lower end of the sleeve andV permitting communication between the passage 233 and the port 52 on the one hand and the port 46 on the other hand. Fixedly attached tothe upper end of the plunger 238 is a block 256 to which is pivotally attached one end of a handle 257; a coil spring 258 extends between the block and handle and causes the handle to be normally biased outwardly to retain an adjustable contact head 259 away from the upper end of the plunger 237. The handle 257 is, therefore, capable of either moving the plunger 237 downwardly against the force of the spring 244 by use of the contact head 259 or rotating the plunger 238. The plunger 239 is threadedly mounted in a guide 261 and its downwardlyextending end has a bypass handle 262 fixed thereto to rotate it and move a conical portion 2-63 rtoward or away from a restricted passage 264 leading from the upper end of the bore 236 to the port 52 and a passage 265 leading from the port 52 to the space around the reduced portion 254 of the plunger 238. Such communication with the upper part of the bore 236 gives similar access to the ports 43 and 48.

Referring next to FIG. 14, wherein is best shown the speciiic constructional details of the dwell cylinder 24, the cylinder consists of a tube 266 having an upper head 267 anda lower head 268. The port 56 consists of a vertical bore which enters the top of the head 267v and has communication; with the upper end of the tube 266 through a small passage 269;' the upper end of the pasescasos sage. 269 is normally closed by a check ball 271 which is capable of moving vertically within the port 56. A bore 272 enters the top of the head 267 and has communication with the upper part of the tube 266 through a restricted coaxial passage 273. A horizontal passage 274 joins the lower parts of the port 56 and the bore 272. A metering needle 275 is threadedly mounted in the bore 272 with a conical point extending into the passage 273 to regulate the size of its entrance. A locking screw 276 extends laterally into the bore 272 and makes contact With the metering needle. A piston 277 is slidably mounted in the tube 266 and is provided with a piston rod 278. The piston rod extends downwardly through the lower head 268 and extends outwardly thereof at the lower end. The lower head is provided with a slot 279 and a pin 281 extends through the rod within the slot. The outlet port 66 communicates with the lower end of the tube 266. The lower head 268 is attached to the supporting tube 34, which extends from the main control valve 22, `by use of a ring clamp 283, shown in FIG. 1.

A description of some of the connections and relationships of the parts of the invention Will now be readily understood, referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2. A lever 284 is pivotally `attached at one end to the base of the lathe and the intermediate part of the lever is connected by a rod 285 through a pivoted clevis 286 to the coupling I189 at the left end of the hand control plunger 185 of the master control valve. The head 197 at the left end of the pilot valve plunger 196 lies to the left of the slot 163 of the reset bar 162, so that the plunger moves longitudinally with the bar. The pin 222 of the dwell control plunger 208 is in position to be engaged by the roller 116 of the lever 114. The right hand end of the rapid traverse plunger 224 is provided with a transverse bore 287 in which lies the pin 135 of the push bar 1'29. The pin 281 at the bottom of the piston rod 278 of the dwell cylinder 24 overlies the lever `114 at the left of the pivot pin l126. 'Ihe contact pin 126 of the cycle stop latch `=123 -overlies the lever 114 at the right of the pivot pin 126.

'Ihe operation of the invention will be readily understood in view of the above description. For an automatic cycle of operations with the turret the work is mounted in the headstock and the lathe is set in motion. Assuming that the ram and turret are at the extreme right of the base of the lathe and that the pump 36 is operating', the operator starts the cycle by moving the handle 257 from the closed position shown in FIG. 1 to the open position shown in dotted line. 'Ihis moves the plunger 238 downwardly, thus moving the conical portion 255 away from the sleeve 252. This opens a path from the port 46 to the port 52; the port 43 and the port 48 are, of course, always in communication. Oil under pressure leaves the discharge port 36 of the pump and travels through the conduit to the inlet port 37 of the master control valve 22. The hand control plunger185, the pilot valve plunger 196, and the dwell control plunger 222 are in the condition shown in FIG. 13, so the oil passes from the port 37 through the passage 195 and the passage 206 to the port 42. From there it passes through the conduit 41 to the port 43 of the hand control valve 23. From the port 43 the oil passes out through the port 48 and along the conduit 47 to the port 49 of the power cylinder 21 at the right side of the power piston. 'Ihis moves the piston rod 31 and the turret ram toward the headstock of the lathe. The oil residing in the left side of the power piston is forced out through the port 53 through the conduit 51 to the port 52 of the hand control valve 23. The oil flows from the pOrt 52 to the port 46 and through the conduit 44 to the port 45vof the master control valve 22. The rapid traverse plunger 224 is held in the right hand position by the push bar acting through the pin 135; this means that the conical portion Y231 isrremoved from the sleeve 232.

Therefore, the oil flows. from the port 45 through theI passage 218 around the reduced portion 228 of the plunger 224 to the port 39. From the port 39, the oil ows through the conduit 38 to the reservoir 25. The result is that the ram and turret are moving toward the work on rapid traverse. The rate of motion is relatively rapid because there is no substantial restriction to the flow of oil in the circuit just described.

As the turret bearing its tool approaches the Work, the reel 17, which travels longitudinally with the turret ram and which has been passing through the latching assembly 19, reaches a position where the uppermost feed block 77 strikes the contact arm 179 and raises it. 'I'his rotates the rocker arm 177 on the shaft 176 so that it moves upwardly carrying its pin 178 with it. The pin 178 lifts the feed latch upwardly against the resistance of the leaf spring 146, thus releasing the shoulder on its lower surface from the edge of the block 147. The feed rod 128 is permitted to move to the left under the inuence of the coil spring 131 carrying the push arm 129 and the pin 135 with it. The net effect, then, is that the rapid traverse plunger 224 is moved to the left until the conical portion 231 strikes the sleeve 232. When this has been accomplished, the oil flow is similar to that described above for the rapid traverse travel of the turret toward the work, with the exception that the oil can no longer ow directly from the port 45 of the master control valve 22 to the outlet port 39. Another path of ow is available, however, and that is from the port 45 through the passage 218 to the port 58 and from the port 58 through the conduit 57 to the port 59 of the feed valve `18. Within the valve 18, the oil ows from the port 59 through the space surrounding the flange 88, through the passage 91, through ,the passage 92 which is aligned at that time with the passage 91, through the pre-selected restriction formed by the passage 91 and the metering screw 96, and through the passage 94 into the annular groove 95 which drains into the port 61. From the port 61 the oil flows through the conduit 63 to the port 62 of the main control valve 22. When the oil flows from the port 62 the oil flows easily to the port 39 and then to the reservoir. The restriction Aintroduced into the circuit by the metering screw 96 of the feed valve 18 causes the power cylinder 21 to move the turret and tool slowly into the Work; this slow motion is necessary for proper cutting. The rate of feed at any station is, of course, adjustable by advancing or retracting the metering screw 96. The turret continues to advance to the left, carrying the reel 17 with it. Eventually, the nger 81 of the feed block 79 on the uppermost rod 73 strikes the contact arm 180 and carries it'upward. The rest of the rocker arm 181 moves upwardly also with its pin 182; eventually, the pin strikes the latch 142 and lifts against the resistance of the leaf spring y143. When the, latch is lifted, the shoulder 159 is released from the stop 158, so that the reverse rod 118 moves to the left under the influence of the coil spring 139. The rod carries the reset bar 162 to the left, so that the pilot valve plunger moves to the left also. The movement of the plunger to the left permits flow of oil from the inlet port 37, through the passage and into the passage 205. From there, the oil ows into the relief groove 204 and to the left of the dwell control plunger 222. Now, during the metered feed portion of the cycle, described above, oil has been flowing under the piston 277 of the dwell cylinder 24 from the inlet port 37 of the master control valve by Way of the passage 195, the passage 207, the port 65, the conduit 64, and the port 66 of the dwell cylinder. Any oil above the piston was forced back to the reservoir by way of the passage 269, the check ball 271, the port 56, the conduit 54, the port 55 of the master control valve, and the relief groove 204. The upward movement of the piston 277 and its piston rod 278 causes its pin 281 to permit the left end of the lever 114 to move upwardly, so that the roller 116 aligns itself With the dwell control plunger 222. The plunger is forced to the right underthe influence ofthe oil pressure that has appeared at its left'due to the movement to the left of the pilot valve plunger 196. With the plunger 222 at its neutral position, against the roller, no oil ows to or from the power cylinder 21, since the ports 45 and 42 of the master control valve have no access either to input oil or to drain. Oil is permitted, however, to tlow to the top of the piston 277 of the dwell cylinder 24 from the inlet port 37 of the master control valver by way of the passage 195, the passage 205, the relief -groove 204, the port 55, the conduit 54, the port 56 of the dwell cylinder, the passage 269, and the restriction formed by the metering screw 272 and the passage 273. The downward movement of the piston 277 is dependent on the size of the said restriction, which is adjustable to permit a desired length of dwell. 'I'he dwell is used, for example, to permit a drill to polish the hole it has just made in the work. Eventually, the piston rod 278 carries the pin 281 downwardly so that it forces the left end of the lever 114 downwardly so that the roller 116 resides well below the dwell control plunger 222. In its unrestricted condition, the plunger moves further to its extreme right position; this brings about the reversal of ow to the power cylinder. Now the oil passes from the inlet port 37 of the master control valve to the port 45 for transmittal to the left side of the power piston by way of the passage 195 and the passage 206. Oil is returned to the reservoir from the right side of the power piston to the port 42 of the master control valve, and from there to the reservoir by Way of the passage 219 and the port 39. Since there is no substantial restriction to the flow of oil toward or away from the power cylinder, the reverse traverse movement will be at a high rate of speed.

As theram and the turret approach the extreme right position, the internal mechanism of the lathe indexes the turret 60 so that the next tool is ready for its operation. This indexing action causes the stop plate 16 to rotate 60 also, carrying the reel 17l with it. A new feed rod 73 is presented` to the uppermost central position in the reel and a new feed block 77 and reverse block 79 are also presented for control purposes. As the reel rotates through 60 the finger 81 of the reverse block 79 contacts the roller 124 at the rearward end of the cycle stop latch 123. The forward end of the latch moves downwardly, carrying the contact pin 126. The pin strikes the lever 114 and rotates it back into'a level position again, so that the roller 116 strikes the end of the dwell control plunger 222 and this, combined with the appearance of oil pressure at the right hand end thereof, forces the plunger back to its extremefleft position again, as shown in FIG.V 13.

Oil pressure behind theleft end of the rapid traverse plunger 224 forces it to the right carrying the push bar 129 with it.Y This carriesthe feedY rod 128 and the reverse rod 118 to the right with it against the resistance oftheir springs Vand permits the left springs 146 and 143 to press their respective latches`145`and 192 into latching position on the block 147 and the stop 158, respectively. The movement of the rod 118 carries the reset barv 162 with it, thus moving the pilot Valve plunger 196 to its Vright hand position; The plungers of the master control valve are now inthe condition described at the beginning of-the'cycle. The cycle is repeated with each ofthe stations of the-turret, until six oper-ations have been performed on theV workpiece. AttheY end of the sixth cycle,V with thev ram and turret to the right, the operator moves the control handle 257 to the closed positionfand the attachment stops operating. The operatorimay perform some cross-slide workfand then replace the workpiece with one that is tofbe machined. If,4 during one of the operations With the turret, the operator desires to producea slow turret movement for a Yshort time, particularly 'in kthe reverse direction, he may dofso byl proper manipulation of the handle '257. This might be necessary, for instance, for retracting the feed' during the cut of a tap, since the rapidj traverse reverse speed would not be suitable. The handle 257 is returned to the closed position, which stops the feed. Then, he presses downwardly on the handle so that the contact head 257 strikes the plunger 237 and moves the conical portion 248 away from the shoulder 247. Fluid then ilows to the left side of the cylinder for reverse feed, but goes from the port 46 to the port 52 by way of the restriction afforded by the metering screw 246, which produces a pre-selected slow speed.

The lower handle 262 may be used to bypass the power ycylinder by providing communication directly between the port 52 and the port 43. This changes the rate of fluid flow to the power cylinder as may be necessary during certain operations and gives control of traverse and feed rate at any time.

Actuation of the lever 284 causes movement of the hand control plunger to the left, thus stopping the machine and causing a bypass through the passage. By moving the lever 172 to the left, the fulcrum will be rotated and the reverse latch released, so that the attachment immediately puts the ram and turret into rapid reverse traverse.

While certain novel features of the invention have been shownV and described, and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention having been thus described, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent |1. An attachment Vfor the semi-automatic operation of a ram-type turret lathe having an indexing mechanism, comprising a hydraulic linear actuator, a pump serving as a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure, a reservoir serving as a source of lluid storage, a hydraulic circuit joining the pump, actuator and reservoir in operative relationship, a reel carried by the ram of the lathe and connected to the indexing mechanism for rotative movement therewith, a feed valve having a plurality of adjustable orifices adapted to be placed one at a time in the hydraulic circuit for regulation of the flow of hydraulic fluid, a housing adapted to be mounted on the lathe and having a latching mechanism Yoperative with movement of the ram to regulate the flow of hydraulic uid', a master control valve inserted in the hydraulic circuit having means for reversing the flow of uid to the actuator, for producing a high rate of ow on occasion and for producing a stoppage of flow on occasion, and a dwell cylinder inserted in the hydraulic circuit and acting after a predetermined length of time to terminate a period when. no uid flows to the actuator.

2. An attachment for a turret lathe having a ram and an indexing turret for operation through a cycle of movement of the turret including a rapid forward traverse, a feed, a dwell and a rapid reverse traverse, comprising a hydraulic linear actuator, a pump serving Vas a source of hydraulic uid under pressure, a reservoir serving as a source of uid storage, a hydraulic circuit joining the pump, actuator and reservoir in operative relationship, a reel carried by the ram of the lathe and connected to the turret for indexing movement therewith, a feed valve connected to the reel having a plurality of adjustable orices adapted to be placed one at a time in the hydraulic circuit by the reel for regulation of the ilow of hydraulic Vfluid during the feed portion of the cycle, a latching mechanism operative with movement of the ram to start the feed and the reverse portions of the cycle, a master control valve inserted in the hydraulic circuit having means producing the reverseV rapid traverse or dwell portions of the cycle, and a dwell cylinder connected to the master control valve inserted in the hydraulic circuit and actingafter a predetermined length of time to determine the length of the dwell period.

3. An attachment for a turret lathe having a ram and an indexing turret with a plurality of stations for operation through a cycle of longitudinal movement of the ram and turret including a period of rapid forward traverse, a period of feed, a period of dwell and a period of rapid reverse traverse, comprising: a hydraulic linear actuator connected to drive the ram, a pump serving as a source of hydraulic uid under pressure, a reservoir, means connecting the actuator, the pump and the reservoir in a series circuit, a reel having the same number of stations as the turret connected for rotational indexing movement in response to the said indexing of the turret and for longitudinal movement with the ram, a latching mechanism operated by a reel station during the said longitudinal movement of the reel to terminate the period of rapid forward traverse, to begin and end the period of feed and to begin the period of dwell, a feed valve having adjustable orifices corresponding in number to the turret stations adapted to be placed in the said series circuit one at a time in response to the said rotational movement of the reel for the regulation of the flow of fluid to the actuator during the said period of feed, a master control valve inserted in the hydraulic circuit having means for reversing the ow of uid to the actuator, and a dwell cylinder inserted in the hydraulic circuit and acting after a predetermined length of time to terminate a period when no uid flows to the actuator.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,899,027 Foster Feb. 28, 1933 1,909,165 Burrell May 16, 1933 2,682,749 Pinsenschaum July 6, 1954 2,696,082 Fouron Dec. 7', 1954

Images