Patent US4222291A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4222291A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conical roller chain indexing device
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1978-06-12
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Granted: 1980-09-16
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Expires: 1998-06-12
Abstract
Abstract A fixture for indexing a work piece, a machine spindle, or the like permits indexing a single rotation of the work piece or other mechanism in any integral number of equal divisions. Stops for the divisions are made to suit the job by assembling a standard roller chain with as many pins and pin spaces as there are to be divisions and mounting the chain about a tapered body, preferably a cone. Fixtures hold the chain at the plane in which the periphery of the cone is the right diameter to receive the chain and other parts adjust the indexing stop to overlie the roller chain at that plane. Adjustments are provided to adjust the indexing stop peripherally of the cone a short distance in order to bring the indexing stop to the required rotational position. This adjustment may also be used to adjust the rotatable part a fraction of an indexing stop.
Inventors
- 👤 Patrick J. Murphy, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 01:14
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23Q; B23Q16/00; B23Q16/02; B23Q16/028; B23Q16/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/14; Y10T74/1412; Y10T74/1418; Y10T74/1424; Y10T74/1453; Y10T74/1459; Y10T74/1465; Y10T74/1494; Y10T74/15; Y10T74/1526; Y10T74/1529
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
In a machine indexing device having a rotatable shaft connected to a part to be indexed, the novelty comprising: An axially tapered body of rotation fixed to the rotatable shaft for rotation therewith, means for supporting a circle of connected discrete stop elements comprising a selected number of said stop elements on said tapered body of rotation in a plane at right angles to the axis of the shaft and at an axial location on the tapered body of rotation such that the circle of stop elements is taut around the body of rotation, a plurality of said discrete connected stop elements on said support means about said body of rotation, and non-rotatable stop mechanism including stop means engageable with any selected discrete stop element whereby to fix said rotatable shaft against rotation in any one of as many stop positions as there are discrete stop elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a machine indexing device having a rotatable shaft connected to a part to be indexed, the novelty comprising: An axially tapered body of rotation fixed to the rotatable shaft for rotation therewith, means for supporting a circle of connected discrete stop elements comprising a selected number of said stop elements on said tapered body of rotation in a plane at right angles to the axis of the shaft and at an axial location on the tapered body of rotation such that the circle of stop elements is taut around the body of rotation, a plurality of said discrete connected stop elements on said support means about said body of rotation, and non-rotatable stop mechanism including stop means engageable with any selected discrete stop element whereby to fix said rotatable shaft against rotation in any one of as many stop positions as there are discrete stop elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said circle of discrete stop elements comprises an endless roller chain made of pins and linking side plates assembled to form a circle of the selected number of pins and spaces, and said stop means includes a part shaped to enter a space between the pins and side plates of said chain.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising a brake mechanism attached to a fixed part and releasably applicable to the body of rotation after the stop means engages a stop element, to lock the shaft against vibration which would cause error in the stop position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 1 in which the stop mechanism includes adjusting means to move it very small distances in a direction peripheral to the body of rotation for fine adjustment of the stop position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
95 words
The device of claim 2 in which the stop mechanism comprises a bar extending in an axial direction parallel to the tapered surface of the tapered body of rotation and the stop means comprises a stop pin moveable along said bar to align with a space between the rollers of said chain in any plane in which the roller chain is mounted on the tapered body of rotation, said stop pin being movable generally radially with respect to the tapered body of rotation to engage in a space between said rollers of said roller chain.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
The device of claim 5 in which said bar is secured at one end to a pivot for removal from the vicinity of the tapered body of rotation and in which the pivot is supported on a part movable at right angles to the axis of the shaft for fine adjustment of the stop position, whereby to provide said radial movement of said stop pin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
97 words
The device of claim 1 in which a hand wheel is fixed to said shaft for rotation of the shaft for indexing and in which the hand wheel is provided with a surface adapted to receive a layout of the required work positions, an optical system having a visible alignment mark in a fixed radial position respecting said shaft so that when said shaft is rotated, the layout of the work positions attached to the hand wheel successively align with the alignment mark of the optical system to provide a visual indication of the desired work position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
91 words
The device of claim 1 in which the means for supporting a circle of connected discrete stop elements on said tapered body of rotation comprises at least one tapered member having a taper complementary to the shape of the tapered body of rotation inserted between the circle of connected discrete stop elements and the tapered body of rotation to provide a portion of a cylindrical surface of rotation beneath the circle of stop elements, said tapered member further having a vertical surface abutting the side of the circle of stop elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The device of claim 8 in which a fixed bracket is mounted on the tapered body of rotation and in which a screw extends between said fixed bracket and said tapered member for adjusting the position of the tapered member and securing it.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
82 words
The device of claim 3 in which at least one fixed bracket is secured to the tapered body of rotation and at least one hook is axially adjustably fixed to each said bracket, each said hook being engaged with a side link of said roller chain, said hook being axially adjustable in a direction to move said chain toward a portion of the tapered body of rotation having a larger circumference to tighten the roller chain about the tapered body of rotation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device of claim 1 in which the tapered body of rotation is a truncated cone having a cylindrical portion at one end, and a brake band extending from a fixed part around said cylindrical portion.
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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) | 1983-09-16 | 1984-03-17 | 1984-09-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-09-16 | 1988-03-17 | 1988-09-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-09-16 | 1992-03-17 | 1992-09-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |