Carriage for a machine tool
AssigneeKearney & Trecker Corporation
InventorRobert J. Warner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A carriage for a machine tool includes ways (16) and (18), a base (14) supporting the ways and a saddle (20) supported by bearings (22) and (24) for movement along the ways to carry a column (26) along the X-axis of the machine tool. The load bearing surface (16a) of way (16) is located at a higher level above machine tool support surface (16a) than the load bearing surface (18a) of way (18). Thrust directed against column (26) in the course of a machining operation is transmitted to saddle (20) through Z-axis ways 40 and way bearings (42), and is transmitted from saddle (20) to thrust bearing surface (16c) of way (16).
Claims13
In a machine tool, apparatus for movably supporting a work performing member, said apparatus comprising:
- discrete first and second ways, each having a planar load bearing surface and said first way being located forward of said second way;
- a base means for supporting the ways in spaced-apart parallel relationship with a first axis, and for maintaining the load bearing surfaces of the first and second ways in horizontal orientations at first and second levels, respectively, above a generally horizontal surface supporting the apparatus and work performing member, the first level being greater than the second level;
- a saddle carrying the work performing member positioned for movement along the ways and connected to receive thrust forces directed against the member in the course of machining operations;
- load bearing means joined to the saddle for transmitting a substantial portion of the combined weight of the saddle and work performing member to the load bearing surfaces of both the first and second ways;
- and
- means joined to the saddle for transmitting substantially more of said thrust forces received by the saddle to the first way than to the second way.
In a machine too, apparatus for movably supporting a work performing member, said apparatus comprising:
- first and second ways, each having a planar load bearing surface;
- a base means for supporting the ways in spaced-apart parallel relationship with a first axis, and for maintaining the load bearing surfaces of the first and second ways in a horizontal orientation at first and second levels, respectively, above a generally horizontal surface supporting the apparatus and work performing member, the first level being greater than the second level;
- a saddle carrying the work performing member positioned for movement along the ways to bring a workpiece and cutting tool into contact with each other to selectively machine the workpiece, a thrust force being directed against the member through the point of contact between the workpiece and cutting tool and the saddle being connected to receive said thrust force;
- the base means further comprises means for supporting the ways to locate the first and second ways at forward and rearward positions, respectively, relative to said point of contact;
- load bearing means joined to the saddle for transmitting a substantial portion of the combined weight of the saddle and work performing member to the load bearing surfaces of both the first and second ways;
- and
- means joined to the saddle for selectively transmitting said thrust force received by the saddle to the ways.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.