GB1605143A - Machine tool - Google Patents

Description

(54) MACHINE TOOL (71) We, ALFRED HERBERT UNITED, a British Company of P.O. Box 45, Stoney Station Road, Coventry, CV6 5GT, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to machine tools and particularly to the supply of operating media, such as fluid and/or electric current to a multistation member mounted for movement on a support. One example of such a member is a rotatable tool turret.

According to the invention, a machine tool comprises a multi-station member mounted for movement on a support, a plurality of media input devices through which operational media may be supplied to the member, one input device being adapted to supply one of the media to an interface between the member and support so as to be available at the stations simultaneously or selectively for the performance of a first function and another of the input devices being adapted to supply one of the media to said interface so as to be available at the stations simultaneously or selectively for the performance of a second function.

Said one of the media may be a fluid such as air, oil or liquid coolant, the corresponding input device being a running joint or a selector, and said other medium may be electric current and the corresponding input device then being a slip ring device or commutator.

It is possible, by means of the arrangement of the invention, to use at each turret station a motor integral with a turret attachment to permit machining operations on components to be performed independently. Any suitable type of electric motor may be used, examples being stepping motors, A.C. or D.C. motors, and various kinds of hydraulic motors may also be employed. With either fluid-operated or electrically operated arrangements, it is possible to have a single power supply supplying the medium simultaneously to all the stations of a multistation member, such as a turret, and to control motors or other devices at the individual stations through the control means distributing electrical or fluid pressure signals to operate controlling valves or relays.

As an additional facility in a machine tool of the invention, the control means may be used to monitor the function of devices such as motors on multi-station rotatable members such tool turrets, the control of operation of such devices then being performed as a function of the monitored performance of the device.

The invention will now be described, by way of example,with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an end view of a machine tool turret embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a part-sectional elevation of the turret shown in Figure 1, and Figures 3 and 4, Figures 5 and 6 and Figures 7 and 8 are respectively views similar to those in Figures 1 and 2 and relating to alternative embodiments of the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, these show a machine tool turret 1 of hexagonal form, having a plurality of working stations formed respectively on at least some of its peripheral faces 2, two such stations being represented at 3 and 4.

The turret is mounted for rotation on a shaft 5 in conventional manner. Operating media in the form of oil and electric power are supplied to the turret respectively by a running joint indicated generally at 6 and by a slip ring device indicated generally at 7.

The running joint 6 is in the form of a ring 8 having a pair of internal annular grooves 9 and 10: The groove 9 is an oil input groove and communicates with the turret stations via radially directed ports 1 la and by means of a series of channels 11 connected respectively to the stations. A common return line 12 from the stations communicates with the groove 10 which is an oil output groove connected to a tank or reservoir.

Electric current is supplied to the turret stations via an input ring 13 of the slip ring device 7 and a common return line is connected to an output ring 14 of the device 7, this arrangement ensuring that current supply is available to all the turret stations at all times.

By modifying the current at source, for example by coding the current using selective current signals, it is possible to control the oil supply in a desired manner to a particular station or stations in operative position.

In the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4, the electrical connections are the same as in Figures 1 and 2, but oil is supplied by means of a distributor 15 to only one station at a time. The distributor has a single inlet 16 and this communicates with the passages 11 one at a time via axially directed ports 1 la so as to provide an oil supply to only one of the turret stations as selected by the distributor. A common return line for the oil is provided at 17. Electric current is available at all the faces but operates only at the selected face.

In Figures 5 and 6, oil is supplied to only one station and drained therefrom with an arrangement similar in principle to the distnu- tor 15 of Figures 3 and 4, but acting with radially directed ports 1 la in place of the axially directed ports of Figures 3 and 4. Electricity is fed to only one selected station at a time by means of a commutator 18 and brushes 19. In this embodiment the distributor and commutator operate selectively at one face and co-act to give two possibilities for providing power and control.

Figures 7 and 8 show an arrangement using a commutator 18, as in Figures 5 and 6, but also provides a running joint 6 supplying oil to all the stations, the running joint, in this case, operating through axially directed ports 1 la and an outlet 17. With this arrangement, electric current is applied selectively to one of the turret stations to effect control by modifying the action of the oil.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A machine tool comprising a multistation member mounted for movement on a support, a plurality of media input devices through which operational media may be sup plied to the member, one input device being adapted to supply one of the media to an interface between the member and support so as to be available at the stations simultaneously or selectively for the performance of a first function, and another of the input devices being adapted to supply one of the media to said interface so as to be available at the stations simultaneously or selectively for the performance of a second function.

2. A machine tool according to Claim 1, wherein one of the media is a fluid supplied via a running joint simultaneously to passages connected respectively to the stations and another of the media is electric current supplied via a slip ring device to all of the stations simultaneously.

3. A machine tool according to Claim 1 wherein one of the media is fluid supplied via a distributor to one station or only some of said stations at a time and another of the media is electric current supplied via a slip ring device to all the stations simultaneously.

4. A machine tool according to Claim 1, wherein one of the media is fluid supplied via a running joint simultaneously to passages connected respectively to the stations and another of the media is electric current supplied via a commutator to one station or only some stations at a time.

5. A machine tool according to Claim 1, wherein one of the media is fluid supplied via a distributor to one station or only some of said stations at a time and another of the media is electric current supplied via a commutator to one station or only some stations at a time.

6. A machine tool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, Figures 3 and 4, Figures 5 and 6 or Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. In the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4, the electrical connections are the same as in Figures 1 and 2, but oil is supplied by means of a distributor 15 to only one station at a time. The distributor has a single inlet 16 and this communicates with the passages 11 one at a time via axially directed ports 1 la so as to provide an oil supply to only one of the turret stations as selected by the distributor. A common return line for the oil is provided at 17. Electric current is available at all the faces but operates only at the selected face. In Figures 5 and 6, oil is supplied to only one station and drained therefrom with an arrangement similar in principle to the distnu- tor 15 of Figures 3 and 4, but acting with radially directed ports 1 la in place of the axially directed ports of Figures 3 and 4. Electricity is fed to only one selected station at a time by means of a commutator 18 and brushes 19. In this embodiment the distributor and commutator operate selectively at one face and co-act to give two possibilities for providing power and control. Figures 7 and 8 show an arrangement using a commutator 18, as in Figures 5 and 6, but also provides a running joint 6 supplying oil to all the stations, the running joint, in this case, operating through axially directed ports 1 la and an outlet 17. With this arrangement, electric current is applied selectively to one of the turret stations to effect control by modifying the action of the oil. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A machine tool comprising a multistation member mounted for movement on a support, a plurality of media input devices through which operational media may be sup plied to the member, one input device being adapted to supply one of the media to an interface between the member and support so as to be available at the stations simultaneously or selectively for the performance of a first function, and another of the input devices being adapted to supply one of the media to said interface so as to be available at the stations simultaneously or selectively for the performance of a second function.

2. A machine tool according to Claim 1, wherein one of the media is a fluid supplied via a running joint simultaneously to passages connected respectively to the stations and another of the media is electric current supplied via a slip ring device to all of the stations simultaneously.

3. A machine tool according to Claim 1 wherein one of the media is fluid supplied via a distributor to one station or only some of said stations at a time and another of the media is electric current supplied via a slip ring device to all the stations simultaneously.

4. A machine tool according to Claim 1, wherein one of the media is fluid supplied via a running joint simultaneously to passages connected respectively to the stations and another of the media is electric current supplied via a commutator to one station or only some stations at a time.

5. A machine tool according to Claim 1, wherein one of the media is fluid supplied via a distributor to one station or only some of said stations at a time and another of the media is electric current supplied via a commutator to one station or only some stations at a time.

6. A machine tool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, Figures 3 and 4, Figures 5 and 6 or Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.