US5240359A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Machining apparatus
Assignee: SELF LEVELLING MACHINES PTY Ltd
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Filing: 1991-12-20
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Granted: 1993-08-31
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Expires: 2011-12-20
Abstract
Abstract Machining apparatus (150) comprises a boom (162) displaceable along spaced rails (158) and a carriage (174) displaceable along the boom (162) perpendicularly to the displacement direction of the boom. A machining station (178) is adjustably supported on the carriage (174) by three adjustment means (62) to adjust a machine head (180), such as a milling cutter, towards and away from a workpiece (151) disposed between the rails (158) beneath the machining station (178). Adjustment of the machine head (180) resutts from inaccuracies in the level of the rails (158) and/or the displacement of the carriage (174). Variations in the level of the rails (158) and/or carriage (174) are determined by a respective sensor (70) associated with each adjustment means (62) which monitors a reference defined by a planar laser beam (72). Alternatively one of the three adjustment means (62) between the machining station (178) and the carriage (174) may be replaced by a pivot (208) with the third adjustment means (224) being arranged to adjust the machine head (180) relative to the remainder of the machining station (178). In an alternative embodiment, the boom (26) is rotatable about a pivot support (18) within a cylindrical workpiece (12) with the machining station (34) mounted on the remote end of the boom (26) and optionally displaceable with a carriage (52) along the boom. The boom (26) is supported at its remote end on the workpiece by wheel units (38, 40). <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony E. Backhouse
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 03:19
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/18; G05B19/4097; G05B19/4099; B; B23; B23Q; B23Q17/00; B23Q17/22; B23Q17/2233; B23Q17/24; B23Q9/00; B23Q9/0014; B23Q9/0021; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/26; G01B11/27; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/40; G05B2219/40623; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T409/00; Y10T409/30; Y10T409/306216; Y10T409/306384; Y10T409/306664; Y10T409/306776; Y10T409/306832; Y10T409/306944; Y10T409/307224; Y10T409/30784
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
Apparatus for machining a workpiece, comprising a boom supported on a support structure, displacement means on the boom for enabling displacement of the boom relative to the support structure along a support surface or a plurality of parallel support surfaces, a machining station including a machine head, the machining station being carried by the boom on support means, and wherein the machining station support means comprises at least three adjustment means each of which is independently adjustable relative to the boom to move an associated portion of the machining station relatively towards or away from the support surface(s), the independent adjustment of each adjustment means being controlled by a respective sensor adapted to monitor movement of the associated portion of the machining station relative to a reference to counter inaccuracies in the support surface or surfaces as the boom is displaced thereamong which would produce inaccuracies in machining by the machine head.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
Apparatus for machining a workpiece, comprising a boom supported on a support structure, displacement means on the boom for enabling displacement of the boom relative to the support structure along a support surface or a plurality of parallel support surfaces, a machining station including a machine head, the machining station being carried by the boom on support means, and wherein the machining station support means comprises at least three adjustment means each of which is independently adjustable relative to the boom to move an associated portion of the machining station relatively towards or away from the support surface(s), the independent adjustment of each adjustment means being controlled by a respective sensor adapted to monitor movement of the associated portion of the machining station relative to a reference to counter inaccuracies in the support surface or surfaces as the boom is displaced thereamong which would produce inaccuracies in machining by the machine head.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support structure comprises a pivot about which the boom is rotatable, the machining station being mounted on the boom remote from the pivot and the displacement means support a remote end portion of the boom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the support surface comprises a surface of the workpiece.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the boom is supported on the pivot by means of a self-aligning bearing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the displacement means comprise wheels or rollers whose axes of rotation extend along a radius from the boom pivot.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the displacement means comprises two angularly spaced pairs of two wheels which are associated with respective sides of the boom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support structure defines the support surface(s).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the support structure comprises at least one pair of parallel rails.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support surface(s) extends substantially horizontally.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support surface(s) extends substantially vertically.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the machining station is supported for displacement along the boom.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including a device for creating a precise beam of energy which is detectable by the sensor as the reference.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said device is a laser source.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each adjustment means comprises a servo motor mechanically driving a ball screw and nut assembly for adjusting the associated portion of the machining station.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the mechanical drive is through a reduction gearbox.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein in use the machine head is axially fixed relative to the remainder of the machining station and the at least three adjustment means are associated with respective portions of the remainder of the machining station.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one of the at least three adjustment means is adapted to axially adjust the position of the machine head relative to the remainder of the machining station, the support means includes a pivot, and the others of the at least three adjustment means are adapted to adjust the machining station about the pivot.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein resilient means is provided to resist pivotal movement of the machining station about the support means pivot due to the mass of the machining station.
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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) | 1996-08-30 | 1997-03-01 | 1997-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-30 | 2001-03-01 | 2001-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-30 | 2005-03-01 | 2005-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |