Power tool turret assembly

Claim 2

In a power operated machine tool, the combination of a. a rotatable and axially movable turret having a plurality of sockets for supporting individual tools, b. a drive coupled to said turret for rotating the turret in either direction, c. a resolver means for automatically determining when said turret has been angularly displaced to a pre-selected position, d. a tUrret position-fixing means comprising a first ring gear secured to said turret and a second ring gear attached to another part of the machine tool and meshably engageable with the first ring gear, e. means for selectively moving said turret in an axial direction to engage said first and second ring gears, f. said turret moving means including a force exerting means and an elongated bendable pusher bar for transmitting forces between said force exerting means and said turret, said elongated bendable bar being flexed by forces in excess of that required to securely engage said first and second ring gears to dissipate said excessive forces, g. means for selectively moving said turret in an axial direction to disengage said first and second ring gears, and h. sensing means for determining when said turret has been axially displaced a sufficient distance so that said ring gears are out of engagement and said turret may be rotatably displaced to a different position.

Claim 3

In a power operated machine tool, the combination of a. a rotatable turret having a plurality of sockets for supporting individual tools, b. a drive coupled to said turret for rotating the turret in either direction to any one of a plurality of angularly displaced positions, c. a turret position-fixing means comprising a substantially plane crown tooth ear having axial teeth thereon and fixedly attached to the turret, and a second ring meshably engageable with the first ring, said second ring being fixedly attached to another part of the machine tool, d. said drive having a lost motion drive mechanism comprising a worm gear and a worm, said worm engaging said worm gear and being slidable within fixed limits upon a shaft, opposed springs normally holding said worm intermediate of said limits but permitting translation of said worm to said limits to allow said turret head to be fixed in one of said angularly displaced positions even though the turret may be rotated an amount less than the engagement tolerance of the turret position fixing means when the turret position fixing means is engaged, e. resolver means for automatically determining when the turret has been angularly displaced to a position less than the engagement tolerance of the turret position fixing means away from a true mesh position of said turret position fixing means, f. means for rotating the turret and parts fixedly attached thereto in that direction providing the most expeditious route from said one position to said other position, and g. a sensing means to determine when the turret and parts fixedly attached thereto have been linearly displaced an amount sufficient to allow free rotational displacement of the turret to some other position.

Claim 4

In a power operated machine tool, the combination of a. a rotatable turret having a plurality of sockets for supporting individual tools, b. a drive coupled to said turret for rotating the turret in either direction to any one of a plurality of angularly displaced positions, c. a turret position-fixing means comprising a substantially plane crown tooth ear having axial teeth thereon and fixedly attached to the turret, and a second ring meshably engageable with the first ring, said second ring being fixedly attached to another part of the machine tool, d. said drive having a lost motion drive mechanism comprising a worm gear and a worm, said worm engaging said worm gear and being slidable within fixed limits upon a shaft, opposed springs normally holding said worm intermediate of said limits but permitting translation of said worm to said limits to allow said turret head to be fixed in one of said angularly displaced positions even though the turret may be rotated an amount less than the engagement tolerance of the turret position fixing means when the turret position fixing means is engaged, e. resolver means for automatically determining when the turret has been angularly displaced to a position less than the engagement tolerance of the turret position fixing means away from a true mesh position of said turret position fixing means, f. means for rotating the turret and parts fixedly attached thereto in that direction providing the most expeditious route from said one position to said other position, and g. a sensing means to determine when the turret and parts fixedly attached thereto have been linearly displaced an amount sufficient to allow free rotational displacement of the turret to some other position.

Claim 5

A device according to claim 2, in which the said opposed springs are of the circular variety and are found upon the shaft which carries the worm.

Claim 6

In a power operated machine tool, the combination of a. a rotatable turret having a plurality of sockets for supporting individual tools, b. a stem upon which the turret is journalled, c. a mechanism which prevents angular motion of the turret with respect to the stem, d. means for urging the turret axially along the stem into fixed engagement with said angular motion-preventing mechanism, said means having at least a cylinder fixed in position with respect to the stem and capable of having a fluid introduced thereinto, a piston member slidable within the cylinder, a wedge member attached to the piston member, at least one toggle member capable of being straightened by the motion of the wedge member, one portion of said toggle member engaging a member fixed to the stem, and another portion engaging a pusher, the pusher being movable with respect to the stem, and the pusher also urging the turret axially along the stem into engagement with the said turret position-fixing means.

Claim 7

In a power operated machine tool, the combination of a. a rotatable turret having a plurality of sockets for supporting individual tools, b. a stem upon which the turret is journalled, c. a mechanism which prevents angular motion of the turret with respect to the stem, d. means for urging the turret axially along the stem into fixed engagement with said angular motion-preventing mechanism, said means having at least a cylinder fixed in position with respect to the stem and capable of having a fluid introduced thereinto, a piston member slidable within the cylinder, a wedge member attached to the piston member, at least one toggle member capable of being straightened by the motion of the wedge member, one portion of said toggle member engaging a member fixed to the stem, and another portion engaging a pusher, the pusher being movable with respect to the stem, and the pusher also urging the turret axially along the stem into engagement with the said turret position-fixing means.

Claim 8

A mechanism according to claim 4, in which the wedge membEr is formed so that when the toggle is fully straightened, that portion of the toggle which contacts the wedge member rests upon a wedge member surface which is substantially planar and which, surface is substantially parallel to the line of direction in which the wedge member is capable of being moved.

Claim 9

A device according to claim 5 in which the wedge member is partially free with respect to the piston, the direction in which the piston moves thus allowing an impact force to be imparted to the wedge member to assist in dislodging the said wedge members'' engagement with the toggle when the piston begins to move.

Claim 10

A device according to claim 4 in which the toggle member and pusher member are carried substantially inside the volume of space enclosed by the outline of the stem.

Claim 11

A device according to claim 4 in which the pusher member is at least slightly deformed when engaged simultaneously by the toggle and by the turret.

Claim 12

In a power operated machine tool, the combination of a. a rotatable machine tool member, b. mechanical positioning means having one portion mounted for rotation with said member and a second non-rotatable portion for locating and retaining said member in any of a plurality of angularly displaced positions, c. indexing means coupled to said member for selectably rotating said member to any one of said positions, d. actuatable means for selectively providing a clamping force to engage said first and second portions of said mechanical positioning means to clamp said member in any one of said positions, e. said actuatable means including a force exerting means and an elongated pusher bar for transmitting forces between said force exerting means and one of said mechanical positioning portions, said force exerting means engaging said bar at at least one point along the length thereof and said one mechanical positioning portion engaging said bar at a different point along the length of said bar so that forces in excess of that required to securely engage said first and second portions cause a deflection of said bar and are thereby dissipated.

Claim 13

In a power operated machine tool, the combination of a. a rotatable machine tool member, b. mechanical positioning means having one portion mounted for rotation with said member and a second non-rotatable portion for locating and retaining said member in any of a plurality of angularly displaced positions, c. indexing means coupled to said member for selectably rotating said member to any one of said positions, d. actuatable means for selectively providing a clamping force to engage said first and second portions of said mechanical positioning means to clamp said member in any one of said positions, e. said actuatable means including a force exerting means and an elongated pusher bar for transmitting forces between said force exerting means and one of said mechanical positioning portions, said force exerting means engaging said bar at at least one point along the length thereof and said one mechanical positioning portion engaging said bar at a different point along the length of said bar so that forces in excess of that required to securely engage said first and second portions cause a deflection of said bar and are thereby dissipated.

Claim 14

In a power operated machine tool, the combination of a linearly movable wedge member, at least one complementary pair of toggle linkage members so positioned as to be straightened by the motion of the wedge member, and tool holding means rotatable upon an axis and capable of linear motion when the toggle member is straightened.

Claim 15

In a power operated machine tool, the combination of a linearly movable wedge member, at least one complementary pair of toggle linkage members so positioned as to be straightened by the motion of the wedge member, and tool holding means rotatable upon an axis and capable of linear motion when the toggle member is straightened.

Claim 16

A combination according to claim 10 including at least one roller member, the roller member being so positioned as to rollingly engage the wedge members and also engage at least one pair of toggle link members.

Claim 17

A combination according to claim 10 wherein a pusher member is engaged by at least one toggle of the said toggle members, the pusher member causing linear axial motion in the rotatable tool holding member when said toggle undergoes straightening motion.

Claim 18

A combination according to claim 12 wherein the pusher member is deformed a minimum amount when engaged by the toggle member, and wherein more than minimal forces of engagement produce more than minimal deformation of the said pusher member without altering the relative position of any other member.

Claim 19

A combination according to claim 10 wherein the linear motion of the wedge member is caused by the combination of a piston member and a fluid cylinder member.

Claim 20

A combination according to claim 14 wherein the wedge member is connected to the piston member by a pin member.

Claim 21

A combination according to claim 15 wherein the wedge member is capable of limited motion upon the pin member.