A new and improved portable miniature lathe system adapted to cut an external slip ring of a Leece-Neville type alternator in order to trim and true its circumference comprising, in combination:
- an alternator of the Leece-Nevelle type having a housing with an arcuate peripheral edge and a cylindrical external slip ring extending therefrom adapted to be rotated about its axis for being cut after the brushes have been removed from the slip ring;
- an axially forward plate in a circular configuration with a central aperture there through and a peripheral edge and with three radially interior apertures located equally spaced at 120 degrees there around and three radial exterior apertures located equally spaced at 120 degrees there around;
- an axial rearward plate in a circular configuration spaced in parallel relation with the forward plate, the rearward plate having three radially interior apertures located equally spaced at 120 degrees there around and three radially exterior apertures located equally space 120 degrees there around, the plates having a common axis coextensive with the axis of the slip ring and with the interior apertures of the plates being in axial alignment and the exterior apertures of the plates being in axial alignment, the rearward plate also having a peripheral edge;
- three fixed cylindrical spacers with first ends and second ends, each end having a threaded recess with threaded fasteners fixedly coupling the first ends to the exterior apertures of the forward plate and fixedly coupling the second ends to the exterior apertures of the rearward plate to maintain the plates at a fixed distance with respect to each other and in parallel alignment;
- three threaded cylindrical spindles with first ends rotatably supported in the internal apertures of the forward plate and with second ends rotatably supported adjacent to the interior apertures of the rearward plate, each spindle having an outboard end on the side of the rearward plate remote from the forward plate with a planetary gear having teeth secured by splines with respect to each outboard end;
- a rotatable advancement assembly formed of the rearward plate forwardly and a spaced rotatable plate rearwardly thereof and parallel therewith, the rotatable plate including a forwardly facing cylindrical periphery formed with a tracking ring having radial interiorly facing teeth in meshing contact with the teeth of the planetary gears whereby rotation of the rotatable plate with respect to the rearward plate will rotate the tracking ring to rotate the planetary gears and the threaded spindles, the exterior face of the rotatable plate having an annular groove with an elastomeric ring therein to facilitate gripping;
- a carriage having two parallel threaded bores in meshing relationship with the threads of two of the threaded spindles for axial movement of the carriage between the forward plate and the rearward plate in response to the rotation of the rotatable plate, the carriage having a hollow support tube coupled thereto between the bores with an axis at about 45 degrees with respect to the bores;
- a cutting tool adjustably coupled to the support tube of the carriage at an angle of about 45 degrees from the axis of the slip ring, the cutting tool having an operator controlled screw in association therewith to be rotated and thereby effect linear axial movement of the cutting tool with respect the tube and carriage for movement toward and away from an axis of a rotating slip ring, the cutting tool being in axial alignment with an enlargement of the central aperture of the forward plate to allow the cutting tool to contact and cut the slip ring on the side of the inner plate remote from the outer plate;
- an elastomeric washer secured to the forward face of the forward plate in contact with the housing of the alternator to abate vibrations;
- and
- a pair of arcuate clamps each with a U-shaped configuration formed with parallel faces and a base therebetween, one face of each clamp having two spaced threaded apertures with wing nuts received there within, the clamps and wing nuts contacting and securing together the periphery of the forward plate and the periphery of the alternator housing with the slip ring extending through the central aperture of the forward plate whereby energization and rotation of the slip ring of the alternator with the cutting tool in contact therewith will effect trimming of the slip ring along its length as the rotatable plate rotates the tracking ring to move the carriage along the length of the axis of the slip ring.