In-line multiple spindle boring apparatus

An apparatus for rotatably operating a tool bit comprising:

• an eccentric drive link;
• a primary drive mechanism coupled to said drive link in an eccentric off-set manner from a drive axis of said primary drive mechanism causing circular motion of said drive link, relative said drive axis, of a predetermined radius;
• a frame member;
• a spindle unit rotatably mounted to said frame member for rotation about a spindle axis thereof, said spindle unit having a tool bit mounted to one end and a crank member mounted at the other end thereof;
• an off-set coupling rotatably coupling said drive link to said crank member to drive said spindle about said spindle axis, said coupling being eccentrically off-set from said spindle axis by a radial distance substantially equivalent to said predetermined radius, and the eccentric off-set of said coupling being in-phase with the eccentric off-set of said drive link wherein,
• said primary drive mechanism includes a drive shaft rotating about said drive axis, and having one end rotatably mounted to said frame member, and an opposite end coupled to a motor assembly;
• said primary drive mechanism includes a drive pulley mounted to said drive shaft, and a belt coupling said motor assembly to said drive pulley;
• and
• a counter-balance device mounted to said drive shaft for rotation about said drive axis, said counter-balance device cooperating with said drive link, and being weighted and positioned, relative said drive shaft, in a manner balancing the cumulative eccentric mass associated with said drive link about said drive shaft.

An apparatus for rotatably operating a tool bit comprising:

• an eccentric drive link;
• a primary drive mechanism coupled to said drive link in an eccentric off-set manner from a drive axis of said primary drive mechanism causing circular motion of said drive link, relative said drive axis, of a predetermined radius;
• a frame member;
• a spindle unit rotatably mounted to said frame member for rotation about a spindle axis thereof, said spindle unit having a tool bit mounted to one end and a crank member mounted at the other end thereof;
• an off-set coupling rotatably coupling said drive link to said crank member to drive said spindle about said spindle axis, said coupling being eccentrically off-set from said spindle axis by a radial distance substantially equivalent to said predetermined radius, and the eccentric off-set of said coupling being in-phase with the eccentric off-set of said drive link wherein, said primary drive mechanism includes a drive shaft rotating about said drive axis, and having one end rotatably mounted to said frame member, and an opposite end coupled to a motor assembly;
• a secondary drive mechanism mounted to said frame member and including a secondary shaft, spaced-apart from said drive shaft, rotatably coupled to said drive link in an eccentric off-set manner from a secondary axis of said secondary shaft, the eccentric off-set thereof being substantially similar to the eccentric off-set between said drive link and said drive shaft, to stabilize said eccentric circular motion of said drive link about said predetermined radius;
• and
• an eccentric off-set link coupled between said drive shaft and said secondary shaft in an eccentric off-set manner from the respective drive axis and said secondary axis causing circular motion of said off-set link.

A boring apparatus for drilling a plurality of aligned, equally spaced holes in a surface of a workpiece comprising:

• an elongated eccentric drive link;
• a primary drive mechanism including a main eccentric coupled to said drive link and mounted to a drive shaft thereof for rotation about a drive axis, said main eccentric further having an eccentric stroke causing circular motion of said drive link, relative said drive axis, of a predetermined radius;
• a secondary drive mechanism including a secondary eccentric coupled to said drive link and mounted to a secondary shaft, spaced-apart from said drive shaft, thereof for rotation about a secondary axis, said secondary eccentric further having an eccentric stroke substantially similar to the eccentric stroke of said main eccentric stabilizing said circular motion of said drive link, relative said secondary axis, at said predetermined radius;
• an elongated frame member positioned proximate said drive link;
• a plurality of equally spaced-apart spindle units aligned in a row, and each rotatably mounted to said frame member for rotation about a respective spindle axis, each said spindle unit having a drill bit mounted to one end and a crank member mounted at the other end thereof;
• a plurality of respective off-set couplings each rotatably mounted between said drive link and a corresponding crank member to drive each spindle unit about a respective spindle axis, each said coupling being eccentrically off-set from the corresponding spindle axis by a radial distance substantially equivalent to said predetermined radius, and the eccentric off-set of each said coupling being in-phase with the eccentric off-set of said drive link;
• and
• an eccentric off-set link including a link member, a first off-set eccentric mounted to said drive shaft for rotation about said drive axis, and a second off-set eccentric mounted to said secondary shaft for rotation about said secondary axis, each said first off-set eccentric and said second off-set eccentric being coupled to said link member and each having a substantially similar eccentric stroke causing eccentric circular motion of said link member during rotation of said first off-set eccentric about said drive axis and said second off-set eccentric about said secondary axis, respectively, the eccentric stroke of the first and second off-set eccentric being out-of-phase with the eccentric stroke of the main and secondary eccentric, relative the drive axis and the secondary axis, respectively.