Precision heavy duty indexer

An indexer comprising a housing having a bore therethrough;

• an indexing member having a spindle portion with bearings thereon and a surrounding sleeve which is axially slidable in said bore for axial movement and rotary indexing movement of said indexing member about the axis of said bore;
• said housing and indexing member having annular rows of axially interfitting tapered teeth which when interengaged rigidly retain the indexing member in any of its indexed positions coaxially of said bore and against circumferential and radial play;
• actuating means in said housing for axially moving said indexing member in one direction to disengage said teeth thus to release said indexing member for rotary indexing movement, and in the opposite direction to engage said teeth to lock said indexing member as aforesaid;
• drive means in said housing for imparting rotary indexing movement to said indexing member when said teeth are disengaged;
• said drive means including a rotary drive member coaxially around said bore;
• said drive member and said spindle portion having other axially interfitting tapered teeth which are interengaged when said indexing member is moved in such one direction and which yet interfit with clearance when said indexing member is moved in such opposite direction whereby, when said indexing member is in locked indexed position, torque and radial loads on said indexing member are not imposed on said drive means and said bearings.

An indexer comprising a housing having a main housing part and a tubular inner housing part secured together with said inner part piloted in a central bore in main part;

• said main part having an annular groove coaxially around said bore which in conjunction with a radial flange of said inner part forms an annular cylinder;
• a ring secured to said main part coaxially around said groove having an annular row of axially extending teeth;
• an indexing member comprising a platelike portion having a ring secured thereto with an annular row of teeth adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from the teeth of the ring on said main part upon axial movement of said indexing member, and a spindle portion journaled in a sleeve which is axially slidable in a central bore in said inner part;
• a piston reciprocable in said cylinder having an annular portion surrounding said flange and operatively connected to said platelike portion to impart axial movement to said indexing member to engage and disengage the teeth of said ring;
• drive means rotatable on said inner part engaged with said spindle portion to impart rotary indexing movement to said indexing member when said teeth are disengaged;
• said drive means and spindle portion having other axially interfitting teeth which are interengaged when said indexing member is moved to disengage the teeth of said rings and which axially interfit with clearance when said indexing member is moved to engage the teeth of said rings whereby in the lastmentioned position of said indexing member torque load on said indexing member is not imposed on said drive means.