US3713349A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Preloaded incremental feed device
Assignee: Timken US LLC
•
Filing: 1970-07-30
•
Granted: 1973-01-30
•
Expires: 1990-07-30
Abstract
Abstract The device provides very small increments of linear motion, such as are required in adjusting the elements of machine tools for size control. The device utilizes two ball screws secured to a movable machine tool element, with associated ball nuts carried by the screws, the ball nuts being preloaded against each other through a gear train or like driving means. Two or three ball screws may be utilized, with one or more screws loaded in tension, and one or more loaded in compression. The device is thus completely preloaded to eliminate backlash normally attendent to reversal of direction of the linearly movable machine element. The drive means comprise a shaft having a disk mounted thereon, which is manually rotatable, or which may be moved through a predetermined arc by engaging an edge of the disk with a cylinder actuated plunger, the plunger being carried by a pivotally movable drive lever which is provided with movement from a drive cylinder at one end, and which has adjustable stops for limiting the pivotal movement of the drive shaft. The pivotal movement of the drive shaft undergoes a double reduction in the device, resulting in increments of linear movement less than ten millionth of an inch with zero backlash.
Inventors
- 👤 C Benson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 20:46
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H25/00; F16H25/18; F16H25/20; F16H25/2003; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T409/00; Y10T409/30; Y10T409/304536; Y10T409/304592; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19623; Y10T74/1987; Y10T74/19893; Y10T74/19898; Y10T74/19902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
In a feed device adapted for forward and reverse directional movement of a member, means for driving said member, means connecting said driving means to said member, means for preloading said member, said driving means and said connecting means to thereby eliminate backlash irrespective of the direction of drive of said member, said connecting means define at least two paths of force distribution between said driving means of said member, said preloading means being effective for placing elements of one of said paths in tension and for placing elements of another of said paths in compression.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a feed device adapted for forward and reverse directional movement of a member, means for driving said member, means connecting said driving means to said member, means for preloading said member, said driving means and said connecting means to thereby eliminate backlash irrespective of the direction of drive of said member, said connecting means define at least two paths of force distribution between said driving means of said member, said preloading means being effective for placing elements of one of said paths in tension and for placing elements of another of said paths in compression.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a feed device adapted for forward and reverse directional movement of a member, means for driving said member, means connecting said driving means to said member, means for preloading said member, said driving means and said connecting means to thereby eliminate backlash irrespective of the direction of drive of said member, said connecting means define at least two paths of force distribution between said driving means of said member, said preloading means being effective for placing elements of one of said paths in tension and for placing elements of another of said paths in compression.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a feed device adapted for forward and reverse directional movement of a member, means for driving said member, means connecting said driving means to said member, means for preloading said member, said driving means and said connecting means to thereby eliminate backlash irrespective of the direction of drive of said member, said connecting means define at least two paths of force distribution between said driving means of said member, said preloading means being effective for placing elements of one of said paths in tension and for placing elements of another of said paths in compression.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
An incremental feed device comprising a member adapted for forward and reverse movement, means for driving said member, at least two connection means between said driving means and said member, means oppositely preloading said connection means, said at least two connection means form a closed loop connection with said driving means and said member, and said preloading means preloads said entiRe closed loop connection.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
An incremental feed device comprising a member adapted for forward and reverse movement, means for driving said member, at least two connection means between said driving means and said member, means oppositely preloading said connection means, said at least two connection means form a closed loop connection with said driving means and said member, and said preloading means preloads said entiRe closed loop connection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said connection means includes threaded elements, each connected to said member, and each connected to the drive means, to define at least one path of force transmission between said elements across at least a portion of said drive means, wherein one of said threaded members is in compression, and another is in tension.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 2 wherein each connection means includes a screw and a ball nut of the anti-friction type.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 4 wherein the drive means are provided with portions of the drive means being in driving engagement with corresponding portions on each said ball nut.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said drive means comprise a shaft-like element mounted for rotation, and for linearly driving said member through said screws and ball nuts.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 6 wherein said portions comprise worm gearing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The device of claim 6 wherein the opposite preload of said connection means comprises at least one connection means being loaded in tension and another in compression through the drive means for eliminating backlash or play in the connection means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 8 wherein each said connection means comprises a means for effecting a double motion reduction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 8 wherein two of said screw and ball nut connection means are provided, with the shaft-like elements disposed therebetween.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 8 wherein three of said screw and ball nut connection means are provided, one of said connection means being preloaded against the other two.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 11 wherein said shaft-like drive element is disposed generally transverse to the axles of said screw and ball nuts, all of said screw and ball nuts being in a common plane.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device of claim 8 wherein means are provided on one of said screws adjacent said member for preloading said screw and for concurrently transmitting a preloading force to said other screws through said drive means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 13 wherein said latter means includes a flange carried by said one screw, having an arcuate slotted hole therein for receiving a locking fastener therein, engageable in said member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
66 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said drive means comprise a shaft-like element mounted for rotation, and wherein the opposite preload of said connection means comprises at least one connection means being loaded in tension and another in compression through the drive means for eliminating backlash or play in the connection means, said connection means providing a motion reduction between said shaft-like element and said member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 15 wherein said connection means provides a double reduction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 15 wherein means are provided carried by said shaft-like element for manually rotating said drive means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
124 words
An incremental feed device adapted for forward and reverse movement of a member in response to movement of a drive means, said device including drive means and at least two connection means, said connection means being connected to the drive means and being adapted for connection to a member, said drive means comprising a shaft-like element mounted for rotation, said connection means providing a path for their opposite preloading, one in tension and the other in compression through the drive means for eliminating backlash in the connection means, said connection means comprising a motion reducing means, and wherein means are provided for obtaining a precise predetermined forward or reverse movement of a member by rotational movement of said shaft-like element through a predetermined arc.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
124 words
An incremental feed device adapted for forward and reverse movement of a member in response to movement of a drive means, said device including drive means and at least two connection means, said connection means being connected to the drive means and being adapted for connection to a member, said drive means comprising a shaft-like element mounted for rotation, said connection means providing a path for their opposite preloading, one in tension and the other in compression through the drive means for eliminating backlash in the connection means, said connection means comprising a motion reducing means, and wherein means are provided for obtaining a precise predetermined forward or reverse movement of a member by rotational movement of said shaft-like element through a predetermined arc.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device of claim 18 wherein said latter means include a disk element fixedly carried by said shaft-like element and a plunger element positively engageable with a peripheral portion of said disk element, including means for arcuately moving said plunger element about the axis of said shaft-like element.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 19 wherein said plunger element is frictionally engageable with said disk element peripheral portion.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device of claim 19 wherein said arcuate moving means comprises a generally radial drive lever having one end disposed generally concentric with the axis of said shaft-like element, the other end being provided with motive force means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 21 wherein said plunger element is provided with motive force means and each said motive force means includes a pressure cylinder.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 22 wherein the pressure cylinder which comprises said drive lever motive force means is double acting for said forward and reverse movement.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 23 wherein valve means are provided for said pressure cylinders for selectively operating said plunger pressure cylinder during energizing of either side of said double-acting cylinder.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 21 wherein combination stop and centering means are provided for limiting the arcuate movement of said drive lever.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 25 wherein adjustment means are provided for said combination stop and centering means, for pre-setting a desired angular movement of said drive lever from an initial center position.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 25 wherein said combination stop and centering means comprise two separate stop devices, one disposed on each side of said drive lever.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
99 words
In a feed device adapted for forward and reverse directional movement of a member, means for driving said member, means connecting said driving means to said member, means for preloading said member, said driving means and said connecting means to thereby eliminate backlash irrespective of the direction of drive of said member, said connecting means define at least two spaced parallel paths of force distribution between said driving means and said member, and said preloading means being effective for placing elements of one of said paths in tension and for placing elements of another of said paths in compression.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
99 words
In a feed device adapted for forward and reverse directional movement of a member, means for driving said member, means connecting said driving means to said member, means for preloading said member, said driving means and said connecting means to thereby eliminate backlash irrespective of the direction of drive of said member, said connecting means define at least two spaced parallel paths of force distribution between said driving means and said member, and said preloading means being effective for placing elements of one of said paths in tension and for placing elements of another of said paths in compression.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
44 words
The device of claim 28 wherein said connecting means includes a pair of screws each connected to said member and at least in part defining one of said spaced parallel paths of force distribution, and each threaded element being connected to said driving means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 29 wherein each screw is coupled to said driving means by an associated nut.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-30 | 1976-07-31 | 1977-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-30 | 1980-07-31 | 1981-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-30 | 1984-07-31 | 1985-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |