US1254044A - Work-support. - Google Patents

Description

J. R. JOHNSON.

WORK SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED sEPT.28. 1915.

1,254,204. Patented Jan.22,1918.

rentrant ernten.

JOHN' R. JOHNSON, OFBOCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 THE INGERSOLL MILLING' MACHINE COMPANY, 0F BOCKFORD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

wenn-surnoms.

To Aall whom. it may concern.'

Be it known that l, JOHN R. JOHNsON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rockford, in the county ot Winnebago and State of illinois, have invented-certain new and useful Improvements in Work-Supports, of which the following is a specification.

ln milling and other machines in which the work to be operated upon is supported or carried by a bed or frame, it is essential to accurate working of the machine that the work be held irmly and rigidly during the operation thereon. Since the under surface of each piece of work usually presents a more or less irregular surface and since the different pieces of work yary in their irregularities it is feasible to have only three xed points of support for the work upon which it may rest. lt is obvious that with a threepoint support each point will always contact with the work, but if a greater number is employed some of them will fail to con- I tact with the work unless the lower surface thereof is absolutely Hat. Three points of support, however, are insufiicient to maintain the work in the required position and support it steadily and firmly for the reason that the pressure of the operating tool will tend to rock the work on these supports.

lt is therefore necessary to employ additional supports which, after the work is positioned upon the three fixed supports, can be adjusted into Contact with the lower surface or the work at various points and locked in this adjusted position so as to form auxiliary supporting means which will preclude oscillation or vibration o l` the work under the operation ot the tool. Frior to my present invention these auxiliary supports have been independently constructed and arranged so that each one had to be individually adjusted independently of the others. The time required to adjust and lock each ort these auxiliary supports individually, particularly on `a large bed where a considerable 4number of supports are necessary, materially reduced the productiveness oi the machine and the ei'iiciency of the operator.

rlhe primary object of my present invention is to provide a plurality of work supports which will automatically adjust themselves to irregularities in the surface of the work so as to be always in firm supporting contact therewith, and, to provide means Specification of Letters Patent.

` whereby whole series of these supports mav be simultaneously locked in adjusted operat1ve position by one simple operation. By the use of this invention the time requlred to position and firmly support the work upon the bed is very materially reduced.

Another object of my invention is the provision of work-supporting means which can be economically produced and which will be positive, accurate and edective in operation.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of my invention will be readily appreciated as the same' is better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings,

Referring to the drawings- Figure i is a plan view or a machine bed equipped with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 oi Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the work supporting devices shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4i is a sinilar view taken on the line 4 4. 0f 5 Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the plunger blocks;

Figui is a perspective view of one of the n plunger base plugs; and Fig. l is a View oie a plunger formed with a rounded instead o a charnfered head.

@n the drawings reference character ydesignates generally the work-supporting bed which obviously may be ot any lrecuiired shape and dimensions, and which is equipped with three fixed work-supporting bosses 8, il and 1i which form the three permanent points oi support for the work which is to be operated upon. in Fig. 2 a conventional slab 12 is shown as representing the work, which is customarily locked in position on the bed by means of clamps i3 or other preferred fastening means disposed adjacent to the fixed points of support 8, 9 and il.

After the work has been placed in position upon the fixed supporting bosses it is essential, as previously explained, that it he additionally supported at various points to obviate tilting and vibration durinr the operation o the machine. Irl`he auxiliary supports which must, of course, be adjustable to accommodate them to irregularities in the surface to he supported may be arranged in .o Patented aan. sa, aars. Applicatiolled September 28, 1.915. Serial No. 52,993.

lill@ any desired position on the bed, but in the present instance I have shown, for purposes of illustration merely, two rows of auxiliary supports disposed longitudinally of the bed adjacent to each side thereof. Each row comprises' a series of spring-pressed plungers 14 projecting upwardly from the bed, the detailed construction of the plungers and the manner of mounting and operating the same being more clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The bed is provided at the points where the auxiliary supports are desired with vertically disposed holes 15 extending therethrough, the holes of each series being connected by a horizontally extending bore 16. These holes and bores may be formed in the bed in any suitable manner either by boring after the bed is formed or by being cast therein when the bed is made, the latter method being` preferable from the standpoint of economy in manufacture.

The bottom of each hole 15 is closed by a base plug 17 shaped to iit the hole and held in position by suitable means, such for example, as a set screw 18 threaded through the bed and extended into the vertical groove 19 formed on the periphery of the plug. The plug is provided with a transversely extending groove or channel 21 which, when the plug is positioned in the hole, is disposed in alinement with the bore 16. A block 22 proportioned to loosely and slidingly fit the channel 21 has 'its faces which are presented transversely to the bore 16v sli htly tapered downwardly as indicated y reference characters 23 and 24. This block is hollowed out to receive a coiled expansion spring 25 by which the block is normally and yieldingly supported, and the height to which the block will normally be raised by the spring may be revulated by means of a set screw 26 threaded through the bottom of the plug 17 and upon which the lower end of spring 25 is supported. The plunger 14 rests upon the upper end of the block 22 and is guided in its vertical movements by a sleeve 27 fitted into the top of the hole 15 and secured in position by a set screw 28. It will be observed from the drawings that the upper ends of certain of the plungers are chamfered olf in the manner clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4; and it will be noted, viewing Fig. 1, that only the plungers disposed in the parallel rows are chamfered. These plungers are arranged so that their chamfered portions face inwardly and are adapted to receive the sides of the work or slab 12 as shown particularly in Fig. 4.v Thus thevplungers not only provide supports or rests for the slab suitable to accommodate slight irregularities therein, but they also so engage the slab as to hold it against lateral displacement with respect to the bed 7. While I plunger thereby insuring that the plunger t will maintain its position relatively to the work resting thereon. Were some means for preventing rotation of the plunger not provided the plunger might rotate slightly beneath a high spot to a position beneath a low spot where it would not contact with the work and, consequently, its supporting function would be vitiated.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 2, it will be observed that there is positioned in the bore 16 a plurality of bars 33 disposed between the various blocks 22, the ends of the bars being cut at a slight angle as best shown in Fig'. 3 so as to abut against and conform to the inclined faces 23 and 24 of the blocks 22. The bars 33, which may be square or round or any-shape which corresponds with the shape of the bore 16, fit loosely within the bore so as to slide longitudinally thereof. For the purpose of maintaining the bars in proper position and to obviate any rotative movement thereof the ends of each bar are equipped with laterally projecting ribs or splines 34 which slidingly t within correspondingly shaped guidegrooves 35 formed in the side walls of the channel 21 of the'base plugs 17. The bars 33 when the parts are assembled are therefore maintained in alinement and in pro er position in the bore. It will be obvious t iat the bars 33 and the blocks 22 are-capable of limited movement longitudinally of the bore without withdrawing the blocks from beneath their respective plungers 14 which are prevented from partaking of this movement longitudinally of the bed by reason of their mounting in the fixed sleeves 27. When the parts are assembled as `shown in Fig. 2, and the work is placed upon the xed supporting bosses the plungers 14 will be depressed more or less as the work is placed upon them, the springs 25, however, serving to urge the plungers into contact with the overlying work. If pressure is now applied at the ends of the bores to the bars 33 the bars will be forced longitudinally against the inclined faces of the blocks 22, thereby firmly clamping the blocks and locking them against downward movement with the result that the plungers are securely locked in operative position with their upper ends in supporting contact with neeao y la 'the work. It will be here notedv that the plungers are vmoved into contact with the work. only through the pressure of the springs 25 through the intermediary of the blocks 22, and that after the blocks have been operatively positioned by the springs,

said blocks will be rigidly clamped by the.

bars 33 and thereby locked against retracting movement, the inclination of the block ends being not suiiicient to cause the blocks to be raised but are inclined enough to prevent said retractin movement.

Various means or applying pressure to the ends of the bars may be employed and in Fig. 2 l have shown set screws 34C and 35 as threaded into the tapped ends of the bore 16. By screwing either or both of these set screws into the bore against the ends of the bars 33 the bars will be' compressed longitudinally against the blocks 22, thereby locking them and the plunger supported thereby in the desired position. Upon loosening either of the screws 34 or 35 the blocks 22 and the plungers carried thereby will be released so as to be capable of vertical movement under the action of the springs 25. Normally the plungers will be projected upwardly by the spring 25 a greaterdistance than that shown -in the drawings, and when the work is positioned thereon the plungers will be depressed a limited amount, depending upon the lower surface of the work, but will be maintained in yielding Contact with the work by the springs. rlhe screw 34 or the screw 35, depending upon which is most accessible to the operator, is then tightened up to clamp the blocks and firmly lock the plungers in contact with the work so that they will steady and hold the work irmly in position during the operation thereon.

in the upper portion. of Fig. l l' have shown one of the plungers ifi as odset from a straight line with the remainder of the series for the purpose of showing how my invention may be utilized when it isnot desirable to place the plungers in straight line. in this instance the head of the plunger is rounded as shown in Fig. 7, so as to easily adapt itself to the face of the slab or work. lt will be apparent that when the work is such that varies in width it is preferable to employ plungers having rounded heads, since these are better suited for general work; but where a work supporting device is designed for a particular piece of work, viz., one stimulating a rectangular form as illustrated in the drawing, the chamt'ered form of plungers are more' desirable, since they have the additional function of retaining the worl; against lateral displacement.

ln this instance above mentioned, of the use of plungers odset from a straight line, the bore 16 has an elbow or a corner 36 and in order to transmit pressure around this corner ll have placed at this point a steel ball 3'? whichis interposed between the ends of the adjacent bars 33 so that when one of the bars is moved longitudinally the other will be correspondingly moved thereby through the instrumentality of the ball. In this instance the ends of the bore are shown as being closed by screw plugs 38 but instead of applying pressure to the bars 33 at the ends of the bore for the purpose of clamping the plungers l have .shown a .wedge 41 positioned lin an opening in the bed so as to project between the spaced ends bf two of the bars 33. A set screw 42 threaded into the opening is employed to force :the wedge inwardly between the bars 33, thereby separating the bars and effecting the desired compression and clamping ot the plungers.

This method of actuating the bars is desirable in many instances where the set screws in the ends of the bores would be in an unhandy or inaccessible position. The clamping action, however, is the same in both instances and it will be manifest that all of the plungers in a series are simultaneously locked in operative position by one simple operation. 1

lt is believed that my invention, and its mode and principle of operation should be clearly understood from the foregoing and it should be further understood that l'do not limit myself to the details of construction shown and described except as defined by the appended claims, since these may be variously changed and modified without departingtrom the spirit and scope ci the invention orsacriicing any of its material advantages.

l' claim:

i. ln a work support, the combination o' a plurality of independently movable supporting devices arranged to contact the work at spaced. points, means for yieldingly urging said devices into contact with the work, and'means whereby said-devices may be locked in operative position by a single operation.

2. ln a work support, the combination ot a plurality of plungers arranged to engage the work at spaced points, means for yieldingly urging the plungers into engagement with the work, and means lmovable transversely or the axes of the plungers for loching them in operative position,

3. ln a work support, the combination o a plurality ot' longitudinally movable plungers, spring supported blocks upon which the plungers rest and through the agency of which the plungers are yieldingly urged into contact with the work, clamping means in coperative relation to said blocks, and means to cause said clamping means to simultaneously clamp all of said blocks in operative position.

lili

4. In a work support, the combination of I a plurality of independently movable spring supported blocks tapered downward y at opposite sides, plungers disposed upon sald blocks, which together with the plungers are arranged so that the latter will contact the work at spaced points, clamping bars having inclined ends abutting against and conforn'iing to the tapered faces of said blocks, and means for moving said bars to simultaneously clamp all of the blocks and thereby prevent retracting movement of the pluners. g 5. In a work support, the combination of a bed provided with a hole, a base plu mounted in the lower lind of said hole an rojectin upwardly t erein, a spring suported by; said plug, a block carried by the spring, a plunger resting on the block, and means for varying the tension of said spring.

6. In a work support, the combination of a bed provided with an opening therethrough, a base plug mounted in the lower end of said opening and having a transversely disposed channel in its upper end, a tapered block disposed in said channel, a plunger resting on the block, a spring vfor yieldingly urging said plunger mto engagement with the work, and a plurality of clamping bars projecting into said channel into engagement with the inclined faces of said block whereby the block and plunger are locked in operative position.

7. Ina work support, the combination of a bed provided with a horizontal bore intersected by a plurality of vertically disposed holes, a base plug mounted in the lower end of each of said holes and having a channel disposed in alinement with said bore, a tapered spring-pressed block disposed in each o f said channels, a plunger resting on said blocks, clamping bars arranged in the bore and extending into said channels into engagement with the inclined faces of said `blocks, and a single means for actuating said bars to clamp the blocks between them.

8. In a work support, the combination of a bed rovided with a bore and a hole intersectmg the same, a base plug mounted in the lower end of said hole and having a channed disposed in alinement with sai bore, a tapered block positioned in said channel, and clamping bars extending into the channel into engagement with the inclined faces of said block, the side walls of said channel and the bars having a tongue and groove connection to maintain the bars in position. v

9. In a work support of the character described, the combination of a bed having three fixed triangularly spaced points of support upon which .a piece of work is adapted to rest, means for clamping the work xedly to said supports, a plurality a bed, a plurality of independent Asupporting members mounted on the bed and yieldingly engageable with the work at various points intermediate said fixed supports, and means operable in a single operation to secure said supporting members in operative position.

10. In a work support of the character described, the combination of three fixed triangularly spaced points of support, means for rigidly clamping a piece of work to said supports, and a series of supporting members yieldingly engageable with the work at spaced points intermediate said ixed supports and independently movable relatively to each other in accordance with variations inthe surface of the work, and means for securing said supporting members in operative position.

11. In a work support, the combination of of iixed spaced supports and means for rigidly clamping a piece of work thereto, a series of plungers slidably mounted on the bed and arranged to be brought into engagement with the work at spaced points intermediate said fixed supports, means for yieldingly urging each plunger into engagement with the work whereby each plunger will be automatically moved and held into engagement with the surface of the work regardless of variations therein, and additional means for securing said series of plungers in locked supporting engagement with the work.

12. In a'work support, the combination of a plurality of supporting members arranged tov engage the work at spaced points, and means to lock the supporting members in operative supporting relation to the work supports, including means for yieldingly urging each supporting member into operative position so that each will automatically accommodate itself to variations in the surface of the work engaged. v

13. In a work support,rthe combination of a. bed ha'ving three triangularly spaced rigid supporting points, means for tixedly clamping a piece of work thereto, a plurality of plungers slidably mounted on the bed and arranged to engage and support the work at points intermediate said fixed supporting points, means yieldingly urging eac plunger in a direction to engage said work so that the plungers will be independently and relatively movable into engagement with the work regardless of variations in the surface thereof, and means for securing the plungers in rigid supporting engagement with the work. e

14. In a work support, the combination of 4a bed having spaced fixed supports, means for rigidly clamping a piece of work thereto, a plurality of plungers slidably mounted on the bed intermediate said fixed supports and provided with chamfered heads, said plungers being arranged so that their chamfered faces engage lower side edges of the be engageable with the Work at spaced 10 Work so as to both support the Work and points, means yieldingly urging each memhold it against lateral displacement2 means ber into engagement with the work, and for yieldingly urging each plunger into enmeans coperable with the first named 5 gagement with the Work, and means for means to lock the same in operative position simultaneously locking the plungers in supso as to prevent retracting `of said members 15 porting engagement with the Work. from operative engagement with the work.

15. In a work support, the combination of l a plurality of members so' arranged as to JOHN R. JOHNSON.

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