US3895559A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Milling machine
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-03-21
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Granted: 1975-07-22
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Expires: 1993-03-21
Abstract
Abstract An improved multi-purpose milling machine for milling a work piece along a desired line of action. The machine includes an electronic control network for controlling the position of the cutting tool relative to the work piece along a plurality of axes responsive to commands of the operator. The electronic control network is adapted for controlling the rate and direction of rotational motion of the cutting tool relative to the work piece and the linear motion and direction of the work piece relative to the cutting tool.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E Hoffman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:23
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23C; B23C1/00; B23C1/06; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T408/00; Y10T408/65; Y10T408/675; Y10T409/00; Y10T409/30; Y10T409/306664; Y10T409/306776; Y10T409/306832; Y10T409/306944
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
790 words
A milling machine comprising in combination: a base structure for supporting a work piece to be milled and a cutting tool to mill said work piece; a pair of brackets extending vertically from said base structure and laterally spaced from one another, a first threaded lead screw engaged about one terminal end to one of said brackets and about the other terminal end to said other bracket, said first lead screw being supported in a horizontal plane and rotatable about its axis of rotation; a horizontal travel carriage having an aperture coaxial with said first lead screw, the interior walls about said aperture being threaded with the threads of said first lead screw coupled with the threads about said aperture of said horizontal carriage, horizontal guide means on opposite lateral sides of and parallel with said lead screw and engaged to said horizontal travel carriage to support the horizontal travel carriage relative to said horizontal plane, said horizontal carriage being adapted to receive and secure a work piece thereto whereby said work piece may be positioned within a horizontal plane responsive to rotation of said first lead screw; a first position drive means including a first variable speed, bidirectional motor coupled to said first lead screw about one of said terminal ends for driving said first lead screw in either rotational direction about its axis of rotation and to in turn drive the horizontal travel carriage in said horizontal plane along said guide means; a pair of vertically extending support columns astraddle said first lead screw, at least one lateral support guide extending laterally intermediate of and engaged to said pair of support columns at an elevated position relative to said first lead screw, a second threaded lead screw engaged about one terminal end to one of said columns and about the other terminal end to said other column, said second lead screw being supported within a lateral plane and rotatable about its axis of rotation; a lateral travel carriage having an aperture coaxial with said second lead screw, the interior walls about said aperture being threaded with the threads of said second lead screw coupled with the threads about said aperture of said lateral carriage, said lateral carriage being adapted to support a support base in an elevated vertical plane, and said lateral travel carriage being engaged to said lateral support guide to support the lateral travel carriage relative to said vertical plane; a second position drive means to said second lead screw for driving said second lead screw in either rotational direction about its axis of rotation to position said lateral carriage in a desired lateral position within said vertical plane; a pair of spaced-apart support brackets extending from said lateral travel carriage and vertically spaced relative to one another, a third threaded lead screw engaged about one terminal end to one of said spaced-apart brackets and about the other terminal end to said other spaced-apart bracket, said third lead screw being supported in a vertical plane and rotatable about its axis of rotation; a vertical travel carriage having a releasable split-nut assembly, said split-nut assembly including a pair of U-shaped internally Threaded members positioned face-to-face about said third lead screw and a release control means for coupling each of said members about said third lead screw or releasing said members about said third lead screw member responsive to actuation of said release control means, vertical guide means on opposite lateral sides of and parallel with said third lead screw and engaged to said vertical travel carriage to support the vertical travel carriage relative to the vertical plane, said vertical carriage being adapted to receive and secure a cutting tool drive means thereto whereby a cutting tool may be positioned within the vertical plane responsive to rotation of said third lead screw; a third position drive means coupled to said third lead screw for driving said third lead screw in either rotational direction about its axis of rotation to position said vertical carriage in a desired vertical position; a cutting tool drive means including a second variable speed, bidirectional motor with a chuck for engaging a cutting tool and supporting said cutting tool in a vertical plane; and an electronic control network having a power input terminal means for receiving electrical power, the network including a first control circuit extending intermediate said input terminal means and said first motor to control the electrical excitation to said first motor and a second control circuit extending intermediate said input terminal means and said second motor to control the electrical excitation to said second motor, said control network including manual control means positioned in a control console to permit said first and second motors to be controlled responsive to manual commands.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
790 words
A milling machine comprising in combination: a base structure for supporting a work piece to be milled and a cutting tool to mill said work piece; a pair of brackets extending vertically from said base structure and laterally spaced from one another, a first threaded lead screw engaged about one terminal end to one of said brackets and about the other terminal end to said other bracket, said first lead screw being supported in a horizontal plane and rotatable about its axis of rotation; a horizontal travel carriage having an aperture coaxial with said first lead screw, the interior walls about said aperture being threaded with the threads of said first lead screw coupled with the threads about said aperture of said horizontal carriage, horizontal guide means on opposite lateral sides of and parallel with said lead screw and engaged to said horizontal travel carriage to support the horizontal travel carriage relative to said horizontal plane, said horizontal carriage being adapted to receive and secure a work piece thereto whereby said work piece may be positioned within a horizontal plane responsive to rotation of said first lead screw; a first position drive means including a first variable speed, bidirectional motor coupled to said first lead screw about one of said terminal ends for driving said first lead screw in either rotational direction about its axis of rotation and to in turn drive the horizontal travel carriage in said horizontal plane along said guide means; a pair of vertically extending support columns astraddle said first lead screw, at least one lateral support guide extending laterally intermediate of and engaged to said pair of support columns at an elevated position relative to said first lead screw, a second threaded lead screw engaged about one terminal end to one of said columns and about the other terminal end to said other column, said second lead screw being supported within a lateral plane and rotatable about its axis of rotation; a lateral travel carriage having an aperture coaxial with said second lead screw, the interior walls about said aperture being threaded with the threads of said second lead screw coupled with the threads about said aperture of said lateral carriage, said lateral carriage being adapted to support a support base in an elevated vertical plane, and said lateral travel carriage being engaged to said lateral support guide to support the lateral travel carriage relative to said vertical plane; a second position drive means to said second lead screw for driving said second lead screw in either rotational direction about its axis of rotation to position said lateral carriage in a desired lateral position within said vertical plane; a pair of spaced-apart support brackets extending from said lateral travel carriage and vertically spaced relative to one another, a third threaded lead screw engaged about one terminal end to one of said spaced-apart brackets and about the other terminal end to said other spaced-apart bracket, said third lead screw being supported in a vertical plane and rotatable about its axis of rotation; a vertical travel carriage having a releasable split-nut assembly, said split-nut assembly including a pair of U-shaped internally Threaded members positioned face-to-face about said third lead screw and a release control means for coupling each of said members about said third lead screw or releasing said members about said third lead screw member responsive to actuation of said release control means, vertical guide means on opposite lateral sides of and parallel with said third lead screw and engaged to said vertical travel carriage to support the vertical travel carriage relative to the vertical plane, said vertical carriage being adapted to receive and secure a cutting tool drive means thereto whereby a cutting tool may be positioned within the vertical plane responsive to rotation of said third lead screw; a third position drive means coupled to said third lead screw for driving said third lead screw in either rotational direction about its axis of rotation to position said vertical carriage in a desired vertical position; a cutting tool drive means including a second variable speed, bidirectional motor with a chuck for engaging a cutting tool and supporting said cutting tool in a vertical plane; and an electronic control network having a power input terminal means for receiving electrical power, the network including a first control circuit extending intermediate said input terminal means and said first motor to control the electrical excitation to said first motor and a second control circuit extending intermediate said input terminal means and said second motor to control the electrical excitation to said second motor, said control network including manual control means positioned in a control console to permit said first and second motors to be controlled responsive to manual commands.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
92 words
The milling machine of claim 1 wherein said second position drive means includes a third bidirectional motor engaged to said lateral lead screw; said third position drive means includes a fourth bidirectional motor engaged to said vertical lead screw; and the electronic control network includes a third control circuit extending intermediate said input terminal means and said third motor to control the electrical excitation to said third motor, and a fourth control circuit extending intermediate said input terminal means and said fourth motor to control the electrical excitation to said fourth motor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
642 words
A multi-purpose milling machine comprising, in combination: a base structure for supporting a work piece to be milled and a cutting tool to mill said work piece; work piece support means engaged to said base structure including a first carriage for supporting the work piece within a first horizontal plane, said first carriage being movable within said first plane along a defined path, a first lead screw supported by the base structure along a first axis defining said path and coupled to said first carriage for advancing said first carriage within said first horizontal plane along said path responsive to rotation of the first lead screw; a first position drive means including a first variable speed, bidirectional motor engaged to said first lead screw for driving said first lead screw in either rotational direction about said first axis to control the position of said work piece carriage along said path within said first plane; a cutting tool drive motor means for engaging and driving a cutting tool, said cutting tool drive motor means being engaged to a second carriage supported by the base structure in an elevated position relative to said first carriage and movable within a second plane orthogonal to and intersecting said first plane, the cutting tool drive motor means including a second variable speed, bidirectional motor for engaging the cutting tool and rotationally driving the cutting tool about the axis of the cutting tool; a second position drive means coupled to said second carriage for controlling the elevational position of said cutting tool drive means within said second plane including a second lead screw supported by said base structure along a Second axis and coupled to said second carriage for advancing said second carriage within said second plane responsive to rotation of said second lead screw, a releasable means for interengaging and disengaging said second carriage to said second lead screw and a release control for controlling the releasable means and the interengagement and disengagement of said second carriage and said second leas screw, whereby when said releasable means are disengaged said second carriage and the cutting tool device motor are free to float within said second plane and when said releasable means are interengaged said carriage moves responsive to said second lead screw; a third position drive means engaged to said second carriage for controlling the position of said second carriage within a third plane orthogonal to and intersecting said first and second planes; and an electronic control network encompassed at least in part within a control console positioned adjacent to the base structure, the electronic control network being electrically engaged to said first and second motors and having a power input terminal means for receiving electrical power for said first and second motors, said electronic control network being adapted to control the rate of rotation and direction of rotation of said first and second motors, a first manually operable electro-mechanical control means positioned about the console and coupled to said electronic control network to permit control of the direction of rotation of said first motor, a second manually operable electro-mechanical control means positioned about the console and coupled to said electronic control network to permit variable control of the rate of rotation of said first motor, a third manually operable electro-mechanical control means positioned about the console and coupled to said electronic control network to permit control of the direction of rotation of said second motor, a fourth manually operable electro-mechanical control means positioned about the console and coupled to said electronic control network to permit variable control of the rate of rotation of said second motor, whereby control of the direction and rate of rotation of said first and second motors may be controlled at the control console by an individual manually manipulating the first, second, third and fourth electro-mechanical control means at the control console.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
642 words
A multi-purpose milling machine comprising, in combination: a base structure for supporting a work piece to be milled and a cutting tool to mill said work piece; work piece support means engaged to said base structure including a first carriage for supporting the work piece within a first horizontal plane, said first carriage being movable within said first plane along a defined path, a first lead screw supported by the base structure along a first axis defining said path and coupled to said first carriage for advancing said first carriage within said first horizontal plane along said path responsive to rotation of the first lead screw; a first position drive means including a first variable speed, bidirectional motor engaged to said first lead screw for driving said first lead screw in either rotational direction about said first axis to control the position of said work piece carriage along said path within said first plane; a cutting tool drive motor means for engaging and driving a cutting tool, said cutting tool drive motor means being engaged to a second carriage supported by the base structure in an elevated position relative to said first carriage and movable within a second plane orthogonal to and intersecting said first plane, the cutting tool drive motor means including a second variable speed, bidirectional motor for engaging the cutting tool and rotationally driving the cutting tool about the axis of the cutting tool; a second position drive means coupled to said second carriage for controlling the elevational position of said cutting tool drive means within said second plane including a second lead screw supported by said base structure along a Second axis and coupled to said second carriage for advancing said second carriage within said second plane responsive to rotation of said second lead screw, a releasable means for interengaging and disengaging said second carriage to said second lead screw and a release control for controlling the releasable means and the interengagement and disengagement of said second carriage and said second leas screw, whereby when said releasable means are disengaged said second carriage and the cutting tool device motor are free to float within said second plane and when said releasable means are interengaged said carriage moves responsive to said second lead screw; a third position drive means engaged to said second carriage for controlling the position of said second carriage within a third plane orthogonal to and intersecting said first and second planes; and an electronic control network encompassed at least in part within a control console positioned adjacent to the base structure, the electronic control network being electrically engaged to said first and second motors and having a power input terminal means for receiving electrical power for said first and second motors, said electronic control network being adapted to control the rate of rotation and direction of rotation of said first and second motors, a first manually operable electro-mechanical control means positioned about the console and coupled to said electronic control network to permit control of the direction of rotation of said first motor, a second manually operable electro-mechanical control means positioned about the console and coupled to said electronic control network to permit variable control of the rate of rotation of said first motor, a third manually operable electro-mechanical control means positioned about the console and coupled to said electronic control network to permit control of the direction of rotation of said second motor, a fourth manually operable electro-mechanical control means positioned about the console and coupled to said electronic control network to permit variable control of the rate of rotation of said second motor, whereby control of the direction and rate of rotation of said first and second motors may be controlled at the control console by an individual manually manipulating the first, second, third and fourth electro-mechanical control means at the control console.
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) | 1978-07-21 | 1979-01-20 | 1979-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-21 | 1983-01-20 | 1983-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-21 | 1987-01-20 | 1987-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |