Machine tool drive

Claim 1

An apparatus comprising first and second assemblies adapted to be driven in a predetermined relationship with each other, a drive train for operatively connecting said first and second aSsemblies to a source of power, clutch means in said drive train for driving one of said assemblies, said clutch means having an engaged condition in which said first and second assemblies are driven in a predetermined relationship relative to each other and a disengaged condition in which said first and second assemblies are movable out of the predetermined relationship with each other, said clutch means having drive-transmitting means operable from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition in response to an overload condition encountered by one of said assemblies and operable from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition only when said assemblies are in said predetermined relationship relative to each other.

Claim 2

An apparatus comprising first and second assemblies adapted to be driven in a predetermined relationship with each other, a drive train for operatively connecting said first and second aSsemblies to a source of power, clutch means in said drive train for driving one of said assemblies, said clutch means having an engaged condition in which said first and second assemblies are driven in a predetermined relationship relative to each other and a disengaged condition in which said first and second assemblies are movable out of the predetermined relationship with each other, said clutch means having drive-transmitting means operable from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition in response to an overload condition encountered by one of said assemblies and operable from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition only when said assemblies are in said predetermined relationship relative to each other.

Claim 6

An apparatus comprising first and second assemblies adapted to be driven in a predetermined relationship with each other, a drive train for operatively connecting said first and second assemblies to a source of power, clutch means in said drive train for driving one of said assemblies, said clutch means having an engaged condition in which said first and second assemblies are driven in a predetermined relationship relative to each other and a disengaged condition in which said first and second assemblies are movable out of the predetermined relationship with each other, said clutch means having drive-transmitting means operable from the engaged condition in response to an overload condition encountered by one of said assemblies and operable from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition only when said assemblies are in said predetermined relationship relative to each other, said clutch means including driving and driven members, said drive-transmitting means including at least one arm mounted on one of said members and having a drive-transmitting member thereon engaging the other member when the clutch means is in the engaged condition, said arm being movable to move said drive-transmitting member out of driving engagement with said other member upon operation of said clutch means to the disengaged condition, and coupling means for providing relative movement between said members to prevent said arm from drivingly engaging said other member when said assemblies are in a relationship other than the predetermined relationship.

Claim 7

An apparatus comprising first and second assemblies adapted to be driven in a predetermined relationship with each other, a drive train for operatively connecting said first and second assemblies to a source of power, clutch means in said drive train for driving one of said assemblies, said clutch means having an engaged condition in which said first and second assemblies are driven in a predetermined relationship relative to each other and a disengaged condition in which said first and second assemblies are movable out of the predetermined relationship with each other, said clutch means having drive-transmitting means operable from the engaged condition in response to an overload condition encountered by one of said assemblies and operable from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition only when said assemblies are in said predetermined relationship relative to each other, said clutch means including driving and driven members, said drive-transmitting means including at least one arm mounted on one of said members and having a drive-transmitting member thereon engaging the other member when the clutch means is in the engaged condition, said arm being movable to move said drive-transmitting member out of driving engagement with said other member upon operation of said clutch means to the disengaged condition, and coupling means for providing relative movement between said members to prevent said arm from drivingly engaging said other member when said assemblies are in a relationship other than the predetermined relationship.

Claim 10

An apparatus for drivingly connecting an assembly with a source of power, said apparatus comprisinG rotatable driving and driven members, drive-transmitting means operable between an engaged condition in which said driving and driven members are drivingly connected in an initial angular relationship and a disengaged condition in which said driving and driven members are rotatable relative to each other, means for biasing said drive-transmitting means toward the engaged condition, said drive-transmitting means being operable to the disengaged condition upon encountering of an overload condition by said driven member, and means for enabling said drive-transmitting means to be operated from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition under the influence of said biasing means only when there is zero relative angular displacement of said members from their initial angular relationship.

Claim 11

An apparatus for drivingly connecting an assembly with a source of power, said apparatus comprisinG rotatable driving and driven members, drive-transmitting means operable between an engaged condition in which said driving and driven members are drivingly connected in an initial angular relationship and a disengaged condition in which said driving and driven members are rotatable relative to each other, means for biasing said drive-transmitting means toward the engaged condition, said drive-transmitting means being operable to the disengaged condition upon encountering of an overload condition by said driven member, and means for enabling said drive-transmitting means to be operated from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition under the influence of said biasing means only when there is zero relative angular displacement of said members from their initial angular relationship.

Claim 13

An apparatus for drivingly connecting a driven assembly with a source of power, said apparatus comprising a rotatable driving member adapted to be driven by the source of power, a rotatable driven member adapted to be drivingly connected with the driving member, connector means operable between a disengaged condition and an engaged condition in which said driving member is drivingly connected to said driven member, said driving and driven members being retained against relative rotation from an initial relationship by said connector means when said connector means is in the engaged condition, said driving and driven members being rotatable relative to each other when said connector means is in the disengaged condition, said connector means being operable to the disengaged condition against the influence of a biasing means by the application of a load in excess of a normal operating load to said driven member, and means for preventing operation of said connector means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition when there has been any effective relative rotation between said members from their initial relationship.

Claim 14

An apparatus for drivingly connecting a driven assembly with a source of power, said apparatus comprising a rotatable driving member adapted to be driven by the source of power, a rotatable driven member adapted to be drivingly connected with the driving member, connector means operable between a disengaged condition and an engaged condition in which said driving member is drivingly connected to said driven member, said driving and driven members being retained against relative rotation from an initial relationship by said connector means when said connector means is in the engaged condition, said driving and driven members being rotatable relative to each other when said connector means is in the disengaged condition, said connector means being operable to the disengaged condition against the influence of a biasing means by the application of a load in excess of a normal operating load to said driven member, and means for preventing operation of said connector means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition when there has been any effective relative rotation between said members from their initial relationship.

Claim 15

An apparatus for drivingly connecting a driven assembly with a source of power, said apparatus comprising a rotatable driving member adapted to be driven by the source of power, a rotatable driven member adapted to be drivingly connected with the driving member, connector means operable between a disengaged condition and an engaged condition in which said driving member is drivingly connected to said driven member, said driving and driven members being retained against relative rotation from an initial relationship by said connector means when said connector means is in the engaged condition, said driving and driven members being rotatable relative to each other when said connector means is in the disengaged condition, said connector means being operable to the disengaged condition against the influence of said biasing means by the application of a load in excess of a normal operating load to said driven member, means for preventing operation of said connector means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition when there has been any effective relative rotation between said members from their initial relationship, and a coupling member for connecting said driven member with the driven assembly, said coupling and driven members being axially movable relative to each other between a first condition in which said driven member is connected to the coupling member and a second condition in which said driven member is disconnected from the coupling member to thereby enable said initial relationship between said driving and driven members to be adjusted.

Claim 16

An apparatus for drivingly connecting a driven assembly with a source of power, said apparatus comprising a rotatable driving member adapted to be driven by the source of power, a rotatable driven member adapted to be drivingly connected with the driving member, connector means operable between a disengaged condition and an engaged condition in which said driving member is drivingly connected to said driven member, said driving and driven members being retained against relative rotation from an initial relationship by said connector means when said connector means is in the engaged condition, said driving and driven members being rotatable relative to each other when said connector means is in the disengaged condition, said connector means being operable to the disengaged condition against the influence of said biasing means by the application of a load in excess of a normal operating load to said driven member, means for preventing operation of said connector means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition when there has been any effective relative rotation between said members from their initial relationship, and a coupling member for connecting said driven member with the driven assembly, said coupling and driven members being axially movable relative to each other between a first condition in which said driven member is connected to the coupling member and a second condition in which said driven member is disconnected from the coupling member to thereby enable said initial relationship between said driving and driven members to be adjusted.

Claim 19

An apparatus comprising a first assembly adapted to support a tool for operating on a workpiece, a second assembly for use in association with said first assembly while an operation is being performed on the workpiece, a drive train for operatively connecting said first and second assemblies to a source of power and for driving said first and second assemblies in a predetermined relationship with each other, clutch means mounted in said drive train and operable from an engaged condition in which said assemblies are driven in the predetermined relationship with each other to a disengaged condition in which said assemblies are movable out of the predetermined relationship with each other in response to an overloading of one of said assemblies, said clutch means including rotatable driving and driven members, connector means mounted one on one of said members and movable between a first position in which said members are drivingly interconnected in an initial angular relationship with each other and corresponding to the engaged condition of said clutch means and a second position in which said members are rotatable relative to each other and corresponding to the disengaged condition of said clutch means, and means for enabling movement of said connector means from the second position to the first position only when said members are in their initial angular relationship and there has been zero effective relative rotation between said members from their initial angular relationship to thereby prevent operation of said clutch means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition when said assemblies are in a relationship other than the predetermined relationship, and means adapted to be operated by said clutch means when said clutch means is in the disengaged condition for stopping the transmission of power from the source of power to the drive train.

Claim 20

An apparatus comprising a first assembly adapted to support a tool for operating on a workpiece, a second assembly for use in association with said first assembly while an operation is being performed on the workpiece, a drive train for operatively connecting said first and second assemblies to a source of power and for driving said first and second assemblies in a predetermined relationship with each other, clutch means mounted in said drive train and operable from an engaged condition in which said assemblies are driven in the predetermined relationship with each other to a disengaged condition in which said assemblies are movable out of the predetermined relationship with each other in response to an overloading of one of said assemblies, said clutch means including rotatable driving and driven members, connector means mounted one on one of said members and movable between a first position in which said members are drivingly interconnected in an initial angular relationship with each other and corresponding to the engaged condition of said clutch means and a second position in which said members are rotatable relative to each other and corresponding to the disengaged condition of said clutch means, and means for enabling movement of said connector means from the second position to the first position only when said members are in their initial angular relationship and there has been zero effective relative rotation between said members from their initial angular relationship to thereby prevent operation of said clutch means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition when said assemblies are in a relationship other than the predetermined relationship, and means adapted to be operated by said clutch means when said clutch means is in the disengaged condition for stopping the transmission of power from the source of power to the drive train.

Claim 23

An apparatus for drivingly connecting an assembly with a source of power, said apparatus comprising rotatable driving and driven members, drive-transmitting means operable between an engaged condition in which said driving and driven members are drivingly connected in an initial angular relationship and a disengaged condition in which said driving and driven members are rotatable relative to each other, means for biasing said drive-transmitting means toward the engaged condition and being operable to the disengaged condition upon encountering of an overload condition by said driven member, said drive-transmitting means comprising an arm member pivotally connected to one of said members and extending transverse to the axis of rotation thereof, and a pair of roller members supported on said arM member and located on opposite axial sides thereof and engageable in a driving recess in the other of said members, and means for enabling said drive-transmitting means to be operated from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition under the influence of said biasing means only when there is zero relative angular displacement of said members from their initial angular relationship, and including coupling means for effecting linear relative movement between said members in response to relative angular displacement of said members from their initial angular relationship.

Claim 24

An apparatus for drivingly connecting an assembly with a source of power, said apparatus comprising rotatable driving and driven members, drive-transmitting means operable between an engaged condition in which said driving and driven members are drivingly connected in an initial angular relationship and a disengaged condition in which said driving and driven members are rotatable relative to each other, means for biasing said drive-transmitting means toward the engaged condition and being operable to the disengaged condition upon encountering of an overload condition by said driven member, said drive-transmitting means comprising an arm member pivotally connected to one of said members and extending transverse to the axis of rotation thereof, and a pair of roller members supported on said arM member and located on opposite axial sides thereof and engageable in a driving recess in the other of said members, and means for enabling said drive-transmitting means to be operated from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition under the influence of said biasing means only when there is zero relative angular displacement of said members from their initial angular relationship, and including coupling means for effecting linear relative movement between said members in response to relative angular displacement of said members from their initial angular relationship.

Claim 26

An apparatus comprising first and second assemblies adapted to be driven in a predetermined relationship with each other, said first and second assemblies being adapted to support tools for performing machining operations on the same workpiece when said assemblies are in the predetermined relationship relative to each other, a drive train for operatively connecting said first and second assemblies to a source of power, clutch means in said drive train for driving one of said assemblies, said clutch means having an engaged condition in which said first and second assemblies are driven in a predetermined relationship relative to each other and a disengaged condition in which said first and second assemblies are movable out of the predetermined relationship with each other, said clutch means having drive-transmitting means operable from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition in response to an overload condition encountered by one of said assemblies and operable from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition only when said assemblies are in said predetermined relationship relative to each other, said clutch means including driving and driven members drivingly connected by said drive-transmitting means, one of said members being rotatable relative to the other member from an operating position corresponding to the predetermined relationship between said assemblies upon disengagement of said drive-transmitting means, said drive-transmitting means being reengageable only when there is zero effective relative rotation between said members to thereby provide for operation of said clutch means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition only when said assemblies are in the predetermined relationship relative to each other, said clutch means further including coupling means for effecting axial movement of one of said driving and driven members relative to the other of said driving and driven members upon relative rotation between said members to thereby position said members relative to each other to block operation of said drive-transmitting means from said disengaged condition to said engaged condition.

Claim 27

An apparatus comprising first and second assemblies adapted to be driven in a predetermined relationship with each other, said first and second assemblies being adapted to support tools for performing machining operations on the same workpiece when said assemblies are in the predetermined relationship relative to each other, a drive train for operatively connecting said first and second assemblies to a source of power, clutch means in said drive train for driving one of said assemblies, said clutch means having an engaged condition in which said first and second assemblies are driven in a predetermined relationship relative to each other and a disengaged condition in which said first and second assemblies are movable out of the predetermined relationship with each other, said clutch means having drive-transmitting means operable from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition in response to an overload condition encountered by one of said assemblies and operable from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition only when said assemblies are in said predetermined relationship relative to each other, said clutch means including driving and driven members drivingly connected by said drive-transmitting means, one of said members being rotatable relative to the other member from an operating position corresponding to the predetermined relationship between said assemblies upon disengagement of said drive-transmitting means, said drive-transmitting means being reengageable only when there is zero effective relative rotation between said members to thereby provide for operation of said clutch means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition only when said assemblies are in the predetermined relationship relative to each other, said clutch means further including coupling means for effecting axial movement of one of said driving and driven members relative to the other of said driving and driven members upon relative rotation between said members to thereby position said members relative to each other to block operation of said drive-transmitting means from said disengaged condition to said engaged condition.

Claim 28

An apparatus comprising first and second assemblies adapted to be driven in a predetermined relationship with each other, a drive train for operatively connecting said first and second assemblies to a source of power, clutch means in said drive train for driving one of said assemblies, said clutch means having an engaged condition in which said first and second assemblies are driven in a predetermined relationship relative to each other and a disengaged condition in which said first and second assemblies are movable out of the predetermined relationship with each other, said clutch means having drive-transmitting means operable from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition in response to an overload condition encountered by one of said assemblies and operable from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition only when said assemblies are in said predetermined relationship relative to each other, and means for operatively disconnecting said clutch means from one of said assemblies by interrupting said drive train in response to the transmission of power from a Power source to said clutch means when said clutch means is in the disengaged condition.

Claim 29

An apparatus comprising first and second assemblies adapted to be driven in a predetermined relationship with each other, a drive train for operatively connecting said first and second assemblies to a source of power, clutch means in said drive train for driving one of said assemblies, said clutch means having an engaged condition in which said first and second assemblies are driven in a predetermined relationship relative to each other and a disengaged condition in which said first and second assemblies are movable out of the predetermined relationship with each other, said clutch means having drive-transmitting means operable from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition in response to an overload condition encountered by one of said assemblies and operable from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition only when said assemblies are in said predetermined relationship relative to each other, and means for operatively disconnecting said clutch means from one of said assemblies by interrupting said drive train in response to the transmission of power from a Power source to said clutch means when said clutch means is in the disengaged condition.

Claim 30

An apparatus for drivingly connecting an assembly with a source of power, said apparatus comprising rotatable driving and driven members, drive-transmitting means operable between an engaged condition in which said driving and driven members are drivingly connected in an initial angular relationship and a disengaged condition in which said driving and driven members are rotatable relative to each other, means for biasing said drive-transmitting means toward the engaged condition, said drive-transmitting means being operable to the disengaged condition upon encountering of an overload condition by said driven member, and means for enabling said drive-transmitting means to be operated from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition under the influence of said biasing means only when there is zero relative angular displacement of said members from their initial angular relationship, said means for enabling said drive-transmitting means to be operated only when there has been zero relative angular displacement of said members from their initial angular relationship includes coupling means having a threaded connection between said driving and driven members for effecting linear movement between said members in response to relative angular displacement of said members from their initial angular relationship.

Claim 31

An apparatus for drivingly connecting an assembly with a source of power, said apparatus comprising rotatable driving and driven members, drive-transmitting means operable between an engaged condition in which said driving and driven members are drivingly connected in an initial angular relationship and a disengaged condition in which said driving and driven members are rotatable relative to each other, means for biasing said drive-transmitting means toward the engaged condition, said drive-transmitting means being operable to the disengaged condition upon encountering of an overload condition by said driven member, and means for enabling said drive-transmitting means to be operated from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition under the influence of said biasing means only when there is zero relative angular displacement of said members from their initial angular relationship, said means for enabling said drive-transmitting means to be operated only when there has been zero relative angular displacement of said members from their initial angular relationship includes coupling means having a threaded connection between said driving and driven members for effecting linear movement between said members in response to relative angular displacement of said members from their initial angular relationship.

Claim 34

An apparatus comprising first and second assemblies adapted to be driven in a predetermined relationship with each other, a drive train for operatively connecting said first and second assemblies to a source of power, clutch means having driving and driven members in said drive train for driving one of said assemblies, said clutch means having an engaged condition in which said driving and driven members are retained against rotation relative to each other and said first and second assemblies are driven in a predetermined relationship relative to each other and a disengaged condition in which said driving and driven members are rotatable relative to each other and said first and second assemblies are movable out of the predetermined relationship with each other upon relative rotation between said members, and means for enabling said clutch means to be operated from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition only when there has been zero effective relative rotation between said members during disengagement of said clutch means to prevent said clutch means from being operated to the engaged condition when said assemblies are in a relationship with each other which is different from said predetermined relationship.

Claim 35

An apparatus comprising first and second assemblies adapted to be driven in a predetermined relationship with each other, a drive train for operatively connecting said first and second assemblies to a source of power, clutch means having driving and driven members in said drive train for driving one of said assemblies, said clutch means having an engaged condition in which said driving and driven members are retained against rotation relative to each other and said first and second assemblies are driven in a predetermined relationship relative to each other and a disengaged condition in which said driving and driven members are rotatable relative to each other and said first and second assemblies are movable out of the predetermined relationship with each other upon relative rotation between said members, and means for enabling said clutch means to be operated from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition only when there has been zero effective relative rotation between said members during disengagement of said clutch means to prevent said clutch means from being operated to the engaged condition when said assemblies are in a relationship with each other which is different from said predetermined relationship.