US 4,586,407 A · Lathe tool for removing axial peripheral irregularity from surface of cylindrical workpiece

Abstract

A lathe-type machine tool for removing axially irregular material from the periphery of a cylindrical or tubular workpiece having a variable peripheral contour on either side of the material to be removed utilizes a chordwise extending set of support arms for a pair of roller guides that are caused to follow eccentricities on the periphery of a workpiece and to provide axially spaced reference points for guiding the cutter element of the tool. The cutter is mounted on a similar chordwise extending support arm that is caused to traverse an imaginary reference line intersecting the aforementioned reference points so that a radially and axially extending irregularity can be removed between the reference points with a smooth transition zone between the reference points. Since the reference points are caused to continuously move around the periphery of the workpiece, the cutter removes material from the periphery of the workpiece between the reference points completely around the periphery of the workpiece. A specific system for supporting the guide elements establishing the reference points is described and a specific system for axially advancing the tool cutter while the cutter moves along the reference line includes a drive clutch arrangement for selectively reversing movement of the cutter and a lost motion connection that permits the cutter to move radially to follow the inclination of the reference line while it is axially advanced along the line by the axial feed drive mechanism.

Claims51

Dependent claims

A rotary, lathe-type machine tool, including a tool housing, for removing material from the periphery of a generally cylindrical or tubular workpiece having an axially irregular peripheral contour by causing a cutter to circumscribe the periphery of such a workpiece in a cutting plane while the cutter is advanced axially along the workpiece, comprising:

means on the tool housing for locating and fixing a cylindrical or tubular workpiece having an irregular peripheral contour with respect to the tool so that the longitudinal axis of the workpiece is substantially concentric with the rotary axis of the tool and the material thereon to be removed lies generally in the range of movement of the cutting plane of the tool;
a cutter support means mounted on the housing including a cutter holder mounted on the cutter support means, said holder arranged to support a cutter in the cutting plane of the tool;
means on the tool for causing relative rotary motion between said cutter support means and said means for locating and fixing a workpiece, whereby said cutter holder follows a path circumscribing the periphery of such workpiece in or adjacent the cutting plane of the tool;
means associated with the cutter support means for independently establishing axially spaced reference points on opposite sides of and adjacent the cutting plane of the tool adjacent the cutter holder, said reference points having a fixed geometric correlation with the radial location of the peripheral surface of a located workpiece at each of said points;
and
means associated with the cutter support means for causing said cutter holder to axially traverse a cutting path extending substantially along an imaginary line extending between said reference points while said cutter and workpiece locating and fixing means are rotated relative to each other.

3 more elements

A feed mechanism for advancing a machine tool element, for example a cutter, comprising:

a base plate;
a feed block assembly including means for slidably connecting the assembly to the base plate for reversing longitudinal movement therealong;
a rotatable feed screw having oppositely pitched threads thereon mounted on the base plate and extending longitudinally through the feed block assembly;
means for driving the feed screw in a single direction of rotation in synchronism with tool motion during tool operation;
said feed block assembly including a movable feed drive clutch means including two separate threaded sections having opposite pitch threads corresponding with the respective opposite pitch threads of the drive screw and capable of cooperation therewith;
said feed drive clutch means mounted on said feed block so as to be intersected by said feed screw, and including movable drive selector means for enabling adjustment of the position of the feed clutch means so that either of said sections of threads are engaged with said feed screw, but not both sections simultaneously.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Lathe tool for removing axial peripheral irregularity from surface of cylindrical workpiece

Life of this patent

Lathe tool for removing axial peripheral irregularity from surface of cylindrical workpiece

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims51