US3686986A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple spindle machine tool with hydrodynamic bearings for work spindles
Assignee: DMG Mori AG
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Filing: 1970-01-22
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Granted: 1972-08-29
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Expires: 1990-01-22
Abstract
Abstract A multiple spindle automatic tool wherein an indexible carrier for the work spindles accommodates pairs of sliding type bearings for the spindles and adjustable springs which bias the inner races of the bearings against the respective spindles. The bias of the springs can be counteracted by a hydraulic control system which can reduce the pressure between selected inner races and the respective spindles.
Inventors
- 👤 Alfred Ledergerber
- 👤 Hans Jacoby
- 👤 Gerd Fengler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 02:19
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23Q; B23Q1/00; B23Q1/25; B23Q1/26; B23Q1/262; B23Q1/265; B23Q1/0009; B23Q1/0018; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T82/00; Y10T82/25; Y10T82/2552; Y10T82/2562
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
In a multiple spindle machine tool, a combination comprising frame means; a spindle carrier indexible in said frame means; a plurality of work spindles rotatably mounted in said carrier; and hydrodynamic bearing means of high static and dynamic rigidity for said spindles, said bearing means comprising bearings installed in said carrier and surrounding said spindles, biasing means for urging said bearing against the respective spindles, and hydraulically operated control means for adjusting the pressure between at least some of said bearings and the respective spindles, said control means comprising distributor means including a cylinder coaxially secured to said carrier and a fixed distributor member in said cylinder, said carrier having a cylinder chamber for each of said spindles and said control means further comprising pistons located in said cylinder chambers and movable in response to admission of pressurized hydraulic fluid into the respective chambers to thereby relieve the pressure between the corresponding spindles and the respective bearings, said distributor member having discrete fluid admitting and fluid evacuating passages and said cylinder having bores communicating with said chambers and with selected passages of said distributor member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
In a multiple spindle machine tool, a combination comprising frame means; a spindle carrier indexible in said frame means; a plurality of work spindles rotatably mounted in said carrier; and hydrodynamic bearing means of high static and dynamic rigidity for said spindles, said bearing means comprising bearings installed in said carrier and surrounding said spindles, biasing means for urging said bearing against the respective spindles, and hydraulically operated control means for adjusting the pressure between at least some of said bearings and the respective spindles, said control means comprising distributor means including a cylinder coaxially secured to said carrier and a fixed distributor member in said cylinder, said carrier having a cylinder chamber for each of said spindles and said control means further comprising pistons located in said cylinder chambers and movable in response to admission of pressurized hydraulic fluid into the respective chambers to thereby relieve the pressure between the corresponding spindles and the respective bearings, said distributor member having discrete fluid admitting and fluid evacuating passages and said cylinder having bores communicating with said chambers and with selected passages of said distributor member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said control means further comprises a supply conduit for pressurized fluid, a return conduit for spent fluid, and valve means for connecting selected conduits with selected passages of said distributor member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
A combination as defIned in claim 1, wherein said distributor member comprises first channel means communicating with said fluid admitting passage and second channel means communicating with said fluid evacuating passage, said first and second channel means being located in first and second planes spaced from each other in axial direction of said cylinder and said bores including first and second bores respectively communicating with said first and second channel means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said first and second bores are respectively located in said first and second planes, there being one first and one second bore for each of said spindles and each first bore being located in a common plane with a second bore and with the axis of said cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein each of said first and second channel means comprises a portion provided in the periphery and extending circumferentially of said distributor member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
123 words
In a multiple spindle machine tool, a combination comprising frame means; a spindle carrier indexible in said frame means; a plurality of work spindles rotatably mounted in said carrier; hydrodynamic bearing means of high static and dynamic rigidity for said spindles, said bearing means comprising bearings installed in said carrier and surrounding said spindles, biasing means for urging said bearings against the respective spindles, and hydraulically operated control means for adjusting the pressure between at least some of said bearings and the respective spindles, said control means comprising distributor means including a cylinder coaxially secured to said carrier and a fixed distributor member in said cylinder; an indexing member secured to said carrier; and holder means securing said cylinder to said indexing member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
123 words
In a multiple spindle machine tool, a combination comprising frame means; a spindle carrier indexible in said frame means; a plurality of work spindles rotatably mounted in said carrier; hydrodynamic bearing means of high static and dynamic rigidity for said spindles, said bearing means comprising bearings installed in said carrier and surrounding said spindles, biasing means for urging said bearings against the respective spindles, and hydraulically operated control means for adjusting the pressure between at least some of said bearings and the respective spindles, said control means comprising distributor means including a cylinder coaxially secured to said carrier and a fixed distributor member in said cylinder; an indexing member secured to said carrier; and holder means securing said cylinder to said indexing member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
130 words
In a multiple spindle machine tool, a combination comprising frame means; a spindle carrier indexible in said frame means; a plurality of work spindles rotatably mounted in said carrier; hydrodynamic bearing means of high static and dynamic rigidity for said spindles, said bearing means comprising bearings installed in said carrier and surrounding said spindles, biasing means for urging said bearings against the respective spindles, and hydraulically operated control means for adjusting the pressure between at least some of said bearings and the respective spindles, said control means comprising distributor means including a cylinder coaxially secured to said carrier and a fixed distributor member in said cylinder; and a supporting member for said distributor member, said supporting member being movable in said frame means about the axis of said distributor member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
130 words
In a multiple spindle machine tool, a combination comprising frame means; a spindle carrier indexible in said frame means; a plurality of work spindles rotatably mounted in said carrier; hydrodynamic bearing means of high static and dynamic rigidity for said spindles, said bearing means comprising bearings installed in said carrier and surrounding said spindles, biasing means for urging said bearings against the respective spindles, and hydraulically operated control means for adjusting the pressure between at least some of said bearings and the respective spindles, said control means comprising distributor means including a cylinder coaxially secured to said carrier and a fixed distributor member in said cylinder; and a supporting member for said distributor member, said supporting member being movable in said frame means about the axis of said distributor member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
122 words
In a multiple spindle machine tool, a combination comprising frame means; a spindle carrier indexible in said frame means; a plurality of work spindles rotatably mounted in said carrier; hydrodynamic bearing means of high static and dynamic rigidity for said spindles, said bearing means comprising bearings installed in said carrier and surrounding said spindles, biasing means for urging said bearings against the respective spindles, and hydraulically operated control means for adjusting the pressure between at least some of said bearings and the respective spindles, said bearings including races movable axially of said spindles and said biasing means comprising springs arranged to urge said races in the axial direction of the respective spindles; and adjusting means for regulating the bias of said springs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
122 words
In a multiple spindle machine tool, a combination comprising frame means; a spindle carrier indexible in said frame means; a plurality of work spindles rotatably mounted in said carrier; hydrodynamic bearing means of high static and dynamic rigidity for said spindles, said bearing means comprising bearings installed in said carrier and surrounding said spindles, biasing means for urging said bearings against the respective spindles, and hydraulically operated control means for adjusting the pressure between at least some of said bearings and the respective spindles, said bearings including races movable axially of said spindles and said biasing means comprising springs arranged to urge said races in the axial direction of the respective spindles; and adjusting means for regulating the bias of said springs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
67 words
A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said springs are prestressed dished springs surrounding the respective spindles and said adjusting means comprises first threaded rings mounted in said carrier and each surrounding one of said spindles and second threaded rings each meshing with one of said first rings and rotatable about the axis of the respective spindle to thereby change the bias of the respective spring.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A combination as defined in claim 9, wherein said carrier is provided with slots affording accesS to said second rings and further comprising cover means separably secured to said carrier to normally conceal said slots.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A combination as defined in claim 10, wherein said second rings have bores and said cover means comprises projections extending into said bores to hold said second rings against rotation with reference to said first rings.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
138 words
In a multiple spindle machine tool, a combination comprising frame means; a spindle carrier indexible in said frame, said carrier having an external surface, a plurality of compartments and bores extending from said surface to said compartments; at least one stationary bearing sleeve having an internal surface adjacent to said external surface, one of said surfaces having a circumferential groove communicating with said bores; means for feeding a lubricant into said groove; a plurality of work spindles rotatably mounted in said carrier; and hydrodynamic bearing means of high static and dynamic rigidity for said spindles, said bearing means comprising bearings installed in said compartments and surrounding said spindles, biasing means for urging said bearings against the respective spindles, and hydraulically operated control means for adjusting the pressure between at least some of said bearings and the respective spindles.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
138 words
In a multiple spindle machine tool, a combination comprising frame means; a spindle carrier indexible in said frame, said carrier having an external surface, a plurality of compartments and bores extending from said surface to said compartments; at least one stationary bearing sleeve having an internal surface adjacent to said external surface, one of said surfaces having a circumferential groove communicating with said bores; means for feeding a lubricant into said groove; a plurality of work spindles rotatably mounted in said carrier; and hydrodynamic bearing means of high static and dynamic rigidity for said spindles, said bearing means comprising bearings installed in said compartments and surrounding said spindles, biasing means for urging said bearings against the respective spindles, and hydraulically operated control means for adjusting the pressure between at least some of said bearings and the respective spindles.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A combination as defined in claim 12, wherein said means for feeding lubricant comprises supply pipe means and flow restrictor means in said pipe means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A combination as defined in claim 12, further comprising return pipe means receiving lubricant from said compartments and flow restrictor means in said return pipe means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
A combination as defined in claim 12, further comprising flow divider means provided in said groove, said flow divider means being located at the general level of the axis of said carrier.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-29 | 1976-02-28 | 1976-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-29 | 1980-02-28 | 1980-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-29 | 1984-02-28 | 1984-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |