US927029A - Automatically opening and closing dies. - Google Patents

Description

F. A. BRRINGTON. AUTOMATIGALLY OPENING AND CLOSING DIES. APPLICATION TILED JUNE 14, 1905.

927,029. Patented July 6, 1909.

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UNITED STATES PAEENT OFFICE.

FRANKLIN ALFRED ERRINGTON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATICALLY OPENING AND CLOSING DIES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN ALFRED Ean'me'ron, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stapleton, borough of Richmond, city and. State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatically Opening and Closing Dies, of-which the following is a specification.

My improvements relate broadly to automatically opening and closing dies in which the screw cutting dies are adapted to have sufficient axial and lateral movement independently of the supporting body to open the dies by coaction between the dies and the threadsthey out upon the work; and the objects of my improvements are :-iirst, means to open said screw cutting dies abruptly (preferably at right angles to their axial movement) to enable the dies to cut a screw thread. close up to a shoulder on a piece of work provided. with a large flange; second, means for closing the dies again to the operative position, either by hand, or automatically by the movement of the turret or other portion of a suitable machine to which my device may be attached; third, means for quickly and accurately regulating the cutting diameter of the dies for first or roughing and then a finishing out.

In previous devices operated upon this princi le it has been considered necessary to provire a sloping step upon the opposing surface of either the die or upon the supporting part against which the die bears during operation, the sloping portion of said step acting as an axial-cam to enable the die to be pushed. back from the open. or releasing position to the closed or operative position; but the sloping surface of this axialcam operated to move the die outwardly axially While the die was opening laterally, and thereby made it impossible to cut a thread close up to a shoulder with a device so constructed. The novel construction of the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings eliminates this objectionableforward movement of the dies while opening laterally, by employing an abrupt step (preferably extending at right angles to the axis of the device), leading from the operative to the open position, and by placing the closing-cam upon a separate laterally movable piece that can readily be arranged to coop- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 14, 1905.

Patented July 6, 1909.

Serial No. 265,233.

crate with the movable parts of a suitable machine to close the dies automatically to the operative position.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drmvings, in which I Figure 1 is a view of the under side of a device embodying my invention, partly in section, showing the parts in the closed or operative position; Fig. 2, a similar view illustrating the parts in the open or releasing position; Fig. 3, a view of the underside of the device in full lines, the. parts being in the operative position illustrated in Fig. 1, and illustrates more particularly the coaction of a hinge or closing-lever upon my device with a pin or abutment suitably carried by a machine to which my device may be attached; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 3, except that the cam-cranks 28 are shown turned at right angles to the axis of body 1; Fig. 5, a cross-section on the lines A a of Figs. 1, 3 and l, giving a rear view of the parts when contracted to the maximum degree at the completion of the function accomplished automatically by the joint action of the closing-cams of my device and the aforesaid closing abutment (see Fig. 3) Fig. 6 a cross section on the line B-B of Fig. 2, affording a rear view of the parts when in the open or releasing position.

Similar numerals and letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A supporting-body l. is shown provided with a shank 3 for connection with the turret of a turret lathe or other suitable machine to which my device may be attached. Abutments 2 project from body 1 with a diechamber (1 between. them, wherein are located the cutting and adjusting members of the device. T he body 1 is preferably internally tapered on the inner surfaces D of its abutments 2, and I have preferably shown these internally tapered surfaces indented. by longitudinal grooves E, placed diametrically opposite each other and extending along and subdividing the internally tapered faces D. 1 preferably provide the body 1 with laterally adjustable internal thrust-faces by placing them on adjusting-blocks l, whose externally tapered surfaces abut against the internally-tapered surface D of abutments 2. For the purpose of adjusting the blocks 4 axially and laterally of body 1 and for holding them axially immovable in the position adj usted, l have shown the lower portion of each of the blocks 4 pierced by aT slot F extending laterally of body 1. From each of the blocks 4 extends in a direction parallel with the axis of body 1 an adjusting and holding member shown in the form of a flanged, screw-threaded rod 5 whose flange and shank correspond in section with T slot F of blocks 4. This slip-joint connection permits the adjusting screw 5 to rotate in slot F independently of block l, to adjust the block 4 axially of body 1 in unison with adjusting-screw 5, the fit of the flange of said adj Listing-screw being such as to hold said block 4 rigidly in position, axially of body 1, when adjusted, and yet permit block 4 to slide along said flange laterally of body 1, independently of adjusting-screw 5. The screws 5 are shown tapped into body 1 and secured from independent movement by jam-screws G. The externally projecting ends 1 of screws 5 are preferably flattened to mesh with a suitable wrench adapted to oper ate the screws 5. The shank 3 is preferably pierced by an axial bore in which a sto a is adjustable axially of body 1 and held rigidly in position relatively to body 1 by a setscrew 6. A longitudinal slideway is provided along abutments 2 by parallel projections H, serving to aline a die-holder 7 with the axis of body 1.

The dieholder 7 is preferably constructed with a plurality of frames 8, connected together by slides 9, 10 and screws 11 to form radial slideways for a plurality of screw-cuttin dies or cutters 12, which are referably inserted at opposite ends of the s ideway of die-holder 7, and are movable therein, radially of body 1, and are retained in their re-- spective slideways by their projections J overlapping the edges of the slides 9, 10. I have preferably constructed. the slides of the die-holder 7 in two layers or slide-members, the outer and main slide-member 9 being designed to sustain the working strain, and. the inner or adjustable slide-member 10, being a flexible plate and I provide an adjustingscrew K (tapped through plate 9) to force the flexible slide-member 1O apart from the rigid slide-member 9, when it is desired to increase the thickness of the slide 9, 10 to insure a close fit of the slide- members 9, 10 between the overlapping portions J of the dies 12. The functional effect secured by this adjustable slideway-9, 10 is that the overlapping portions J of the dies 12 can be made to fit firmly on the slide- members 9, 10, when the parts are in the operative position (see Fig. 1), and thereby insure that the dies will cut a parallel thread upon the work l"? whereas, if there was any slackness in the fitting of the overlapping portions J on the slide- members 9, 10, the dies 12 would cut a tapering thread upon the work W, the diameter of the thread increasing as soon as the dies 12 com- Inenced to open.

The opposing faces of the adjusting-blocks 4 are each preferably subdivided into inner internal thrust-faces L and outer internal thrust-faces M by an intervening space or recess N extending across each block at right angles to the axis of body 1, and the function of the corres gonding space 0 at the outer end of each block 4 is the same as that of the recess N. I preferably term the entire space 0 between the opposing faces of the adjusting-blocks 4 a die-chamber, and the sections thereof between the opposed internal thrust-faces L, M, the inner die-chamber; and the sections N, 0 thereof that extend laterally beyond the planes of the internal thrust-faces L, M, 1 term the outer diechamber. The inner and outer die-chambers are shown separated from each other by abrupt steps P, which I have preferably illustrated as extending at right angles to the axis of body 1.

The inner ends of the dies 1.2 are provided with screw-threaded cutting faces, and the outer ends of the dies 12 are provided with inner external thrust-faces B, and outer external thrust-faces S, said external. thrustfaces being separated from each other by a recess T extending across the outer end of each die 12 at right angles to the axis of body 1. The steps Q on the dies 12 have also been left abrupt to correspond with the steps P on the blocks 4- to enable the projections upon which the thrustfaces are carried to intermesh more suddenly than if steps P, Q were sloped. The functional effect of abrupt steps P, Q is to enable the dies 12 to cut the screw threads up closer to the flange or shoulder w than would be possible were the steps P, Q sloped, as heretofore explained. It being necessary, however, to have some means of readily lifting the dies 12 past the abrupt steps P from the open to the operative position, I have provided each die with a rectilineally movable cam preferably shown in the form of a cam-pin 13, movable transversely to the line of movement of its respective die 12 to move the die inwardly radially of the body 1. In the construction shown I have pierced one side of each of the frames 8 with bearings 11., extending laterally of the device from the outer surface of frame 8 into the die-chamber C, under the slideway 9, 10, and registering with the outer end of the inner projection J of the dies 12. A longitudinal bore V preferably intersects the bearing U at its inner periphery, so that when I place cam-pins 13 in their bearings U I can regulate the movement of the earn-pins 13 by inserting a stop-pin 14 in each of the longitudinal bores V, to mesh. with an indenture X provided in each cam-pin 13, said indentures X terminating at each of its ends in is stops that engage the stop-pin 14, to limit the lateral movement of the cam-pins 13 relatively to the axis of the body 1. The cam-pins 13 are preferably joined together by a slip-joint connection. with a connectingrod or tube 1.5. For this purpose I have preferably slotted each end. of the tube 15 on its under side to receive a neck provided un der the spherical head of each cam-pin 13. Before inserting the cam-pins 13 into their bearings u, I have preferably interposed spiral springs 16 around cam-pins 13 and between the connecting-rod 15 and the frames 8. I have preferably shown the engaging surfaces of both the cam-pins 13 and the dies 12 provided with cam-faces Y. Z. respectively, but it is obvious that either one of the eoacting parts could omit the cam-face, and still the cam-face of the other part could operate upon the rectangular corner of the part from which the cam was omitted; however, by providing both parts 13 and 12 with cams Y, Z, I secure a wider range of adjustment for the blocks 4 without getting the cams Y, Z out of mesh with each other.

It will be seen that the cam-pins 13 can readily be operated by hand to close the dies 12, by compressing the connecting piece 15 toward the frames 8; but to counteract the shock and side pressure incident to operating the cam-pins 13 automatically on a revolving turret of a lathe or similar machine, I belt a bridle 17 to frame 8 by means of one of the corner screws 11, the bridle 17 carrying a journal-pin 18, which forms a bearing for the other member of a hinge 1.9. The hinge 19 is shown cammed at 20 (see Fig. 3) to 006p erate with an abutment 21 projecting up from the turret slide 22 of a suitable machine. It will be seen that all the views are inverted, and that I have provided. a hinge-stop 23 to limit the outward movement of hinge 19, to avoid dropping out of engagement with con necting-piece 15.

Each'frame 8 of the dic-holder 7 is preferably composed of an integral piece out part way through to provide a bearing 24 for the die-holder 7 on abutments 2, and leave clearance for adjusting-blocks 4 and the heads of adjusting-screws 5. The crossbridge 25 that is thus left extends across the die-holder 7 under the dies 12, between the abutments 2, and joins the two ends of each frame rigidly together (.lirectly in line with the lateral strain exerted by the dies when cutting, the projections 26 of the frame 8 overlapping the sides 9, 10 to aid them in withstanding the lateral strain of the cutting operation.

The adjusting-blocks 4 are provided with means for quickly and accurately varying the distance between their opposing internal thrust-faces I1, M, without disturbing the axial adjustment eil'ected by adjustingserews 5. I have preferably accomplished.

this function by locating in each of the grooves E a cam-plate 27, and I have pierced the abutments 2 with circular bearings for cam-cranks 28, said cam-cranks 28 being preferably rectangular in section and fitting into a corresponding hole in the center of cam-plate 27 by which means I can turn the cam-plates 27 out of the grooves E an d interpose the cam-plates 27 between the internally tapered surfaces I) of the abutments 2 and the backs of the adjusting-bloc (s 4, thereby reducing the distance between the cutting faces of the dies 1.2, whenever it is desired to take a finishing out, after roughcutting the Work with the cam-plates 27 collapsed within the grooves E.

To prevent the dies 12 dropping to the open. position when the device is used in a vertical position, I have shown the dieholder 7 supported in the cutting position of the dies 12 by a yielding catch 29, preferably ad justably attached to frame 3 by a set-screw 30, the end of the spring or catch 29 being suitably rounded or beveled at its point of contact with the inner edge of body 1, to permit the dies to automatically unclasp the catch 29 from its hold on the body 1 when the dies 12 move axially of body 1 to the open position.

The operation of the device may be described as followsz-The die-holder section. 7 being detached from body section 1 and the closing-cams 13 being pulled out until the cam-stops 14 and X limit the withdrawal of the cam-pins 13, the cutters or dies 12 can be inserted in their respective slideways 9, 10. Between the dies I interpose a triangular clearance spring 31, the spring lying under the dies above the cross-bridges 25 of the frames 8, the apex of the spring 25 extending under one slide 9, 10, and the tur11ed-up ends of the spring bearing against the beveled surfaces of the dies 12 on their opposite sides. The adjusting-blocks 4 having been suitably adjusted, by means of screws 5, for the backs of the adjusting-blocks 4 to bear directly upon the internally tapered surfaces D of body 1, for the roughing-cut ol' the dies upon the work, the cam-cranks 28 are thrown back to collapse the cam-plates 27 within their grooves E. The two sections of the device (thc die-holder 7 and the body 1, with the respective parts carried by each) are now intermeshed by compressing the connectingqiiece 15 (or hinge 19, when used) and thereby causing the rectilineally movable cams Y to move inwardly transversely to the line of movement of the dies 12 to coact with the cams Z to move the dies 12 simultaneously inward along their respective slideways 9, 10, compressing the clearance spring 31. until the external thrust-faces R, S of the dies 12 pass over the abrupt steps P of the adjusting-blocks 4 and within the planes of the internal thrust-faces L, M (see Fig. 5), whereupon the dies 12 can be pushed back axially ol' the body 1 until the backs of the dies 12 engage the projecting flanges of adjusting screws 5, whereupon the pressure on connecting piece 15 is relaxed, the springs 18 remove the cam-pins 13 from the line of movement of the dies 12, and. the clearance spring 31 pushes the dies 1.2 out against the blocks 4, the catch 29 grips over the edge of body 1 and all the parts assume the operative position illustrated in Fig. 1. Upon the piece 01' work W being rotated and suitably presented against the dies 12, the dies will out screw-threads upon the work correspond ing in pitch to the threads of the dies on their cutting laces; and the work W will advance into the die-chamber C until the end of the work VV engages the rigid stop a, whereupon the dies will immediately commence to move outwardly along the end walls of the inner die-chamber, axially of the device (under the spiral action of the threads of the dies on the threads already cut by the dies on the work), until the external thrustiaces R, S 01' the dies 12 pass out of line with the internal thrust-laces L, M, and the catch 29 is thereby pulled out of engagement with the edge of body 1, whereupon the abrupt steps P, Q slip past each other, and the dies 12 open suddenly from the inner to the outer die-chamber N, O; clearing the threads of the dies from the threads of the work W, which can thereupon be withdrawn from between the dies 12 without stopping or reversing its rotation.

It being assumed that the work WV requires two euts to finish it to the size and finish desired, pressure is again brought to bear upon the closing-cams Y, Z, and the dies thereby closed to the operative position, whereupon the camcranks 28 are given a quarter turn, which brings the cam-plates 27 out of grooves F1 and interposes the camplates 27 between the tapering backs of the adj Listing-blocks 4 and the internally tapered surfaces D of abutments 2 (see Figs. 2 and 6), which will readjust the blocks 4 inwardly laterally of body 1, compressing the clearance spring 31 and contracting the distance between the dies 12 to the finishing size; whereupon the revolving work 1V is again presented to the dies 12 and the thread will be cut thereon to the finished size, the dies opening at the same point axially as before.

W'here it is desired to operate the closing cams Y, Z automatically by the hinge 19. it being assumed that the turret or suitable part of the machine carrying my device revolves at right angles to the axis of my device, the hinge 19 will be dragged over the turret slide on support 22, which will compress the hinge 19, the connecting-piece 15 and thereby operate the cam-pins Y, Z to close the dies 12, whereupon the continued 1 rotation of the said turret will enable a pin or abutment 21 (suitably carried upon said machine to coact with the axial-cam 20 formed on hinge 19, as shown in F ig. 3) to move the die-holder 7 and all its parts, including the dies 12, inwardly axially of body 1 to the closed or operative position illustrated in Fig. 1. The continued rotation of said turret will carry the hinge 19 out of engagement with the turret slide 22, and the a hinge 19 will drop to the limit allowed by the hinge-stop 23 engaging the bridle 17, thus allowing the springs 16 to clear the cams Y, Z from the line of movement of dies 12 so that the dies 12 can expand again when desired, without interference by the closing cams Y, Z.

I claim 1. The combination with a body having inner and outer die-chambers separated from each other by abrupt steps, the end walls of the inner diechamber providing internal thrust-faces to receive a plurality of dies having external thrust-laces and being movable radially of the body, a die-holder therefor provided with radial slideways to mesh with said dies, rectilineally movable cams carried by the die-holder each in engagement with and movable transversely to the line. of movement 01 its respective die to actuate said dies inwardly radially oi the body to lift said dies over said abrupt steps from the outer to the inner die-chamber, one of said sets of thrust-faces being movable axially independently of the other set thereof during the cutting operation, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a body provided with inner and outer die-chambers separated from each other by abrupt steps, the end walls of the inner die-chamber providing internal thrust-faces to receive a plurality of dies having external thrust faces and being movable radially oi' the body, a die-holder therefor provided with radial slideways to mesh with said dies, cam-pins mm'able transversely of the line of movement of their respective dies, one member of each of said last named coacting sets of parts being provided with a sloping cam-face adapted to coact with the other member of its respective set to move said dies inwardly radially of the body, a spring to remove said campins from the line of movement of their re spective dies, a stop to limit the end movement of said cam-pins, one of said sets of thrust-faces being movable axially independently of the other set thereof during the cutting operation, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a body having inner and outer die-chambers separated from each other by abrupt steps, the end walls of the inner die-chamber providing internal thrust-laces to receive a plurality of dies having external thrust-faces and being movable radially of the body, a die-holder therefor provided with radial slideways to mesh with said dies, cam-pins movable transversely of the line of movement of their respective dies, one member of each of said last named coacting sets of parts being provided with a sloping cam-face, said cam-pins being connected together to move said dies simultaneously inwardly radially of the re body, one of said sets of thrust-faces being movable axially independently of the other set thereof during the cutting operation, substantially as described.

4;. The combination. of a body having in ner and outer die-chambers separated from each other by abrupt steps, the end walls of the inner die-chamber providing internal thrust-faces to receive a plurality of dies having external thrust-faces and being movable radially of the body, a die-holder therefor provided with radial slideways to mesh with said dies, cam-pins movable transversely of the line of movement of their respective dies, one member of each of said last named coacting sets of parts being provided with a sloping cam-face, said cam-pins being flexibly connected together by a conneoting-piece to which each cam-pin is connected by a slip-joint to permit each campin to move independently when said campins are operating simultaneously to move said dies inwardly radially of the body, one of said sets of thrust-faces being movable axially independently of the other set thereof during the cutting operation, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a device constructed in two sections, one of said sections being movable axially of the other thereof during the cutting operation, the body section having inner and outer die-chambers separated from each other by abrupt steps, the end walls of the inner die-chamber providing internal thrust-faces, and the dieholder section being provided with radial slideways, dies provided with external thrust-faces and movable along said slide Ways, and rectilineally movable cam-pins carried by the die-holder and movable transversely of the line of movement of said dies, of a hinge-piece pivotally carried by one of said sections to actuate said campins, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a device con structed in two sections, one of said sections being movable axially of the other thereof during the cutting operation, the body sec tion having inner and outer die-chambers separated from each other by abrupt steps,

the end walls of the inner die-chamber providing internal thrust-faces, and the dieholder section being provided with radial slideways, dies provided with external thrust-faces and movable along said slideways, and rectilineally movable cam-pins carried by the die-holder and movable transversely of the line of movement of said dies, of a hingepieoe pivotally carried by one of said sections to actuate said cam-pins, the axially movable section of said device 7 being provided with an axially acting-cam adapted to cooperate with an externally carried stationary abutment, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a dieholder having radial slideways, one side of each slide way being constructed with adjustable slidemembers laid one upon the other axially of the die-holder, of a plurality of radially movable dies meshing with said slideways g0 and overlapping the edges of said adjustable slide-members, and means to expand said slide-members apart axially of the dieholder, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a body having internally tapered surfaces extending longitudinally of the body, externally tapered adjusting-blocks adapted to bear upon the internally tapered surfaces of the body, the inner surfaces of the adjusting-blocks being provided with internal thrust-faces, and means to adjust the adjusting-blocks axially of the body, of means to move the adjustingblocks inwardly radially of the body away from the internally tapered surfaces of the 5 body independently of said axially adj ustingmeans, and a plurality of (lies provided with external thrust-faces adapted to bear upon the internal thrust-faces of the adjustingblocks during the cutting operation, one of 0 said sets of thrust-faces being movable axially of the body during the cutting opera tion independently of the other set thereof, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a body having 1 5 internally tapered surfaces extending longitudinally of the body, and externally tapered adjusting-blocks adapted to bear upon the internally tapered surfaces of the body, one of said opposing tapered surfaces being subdivided. longitudinally by a recess, of a cam-plate located in said recess, means to turn the cam-plate out of said recess and in between the opposed tapered surfaces of the body and the adjusting-blocks, means to adjust the adjusting-blocks axially of the body, said adjusting-blocks being provided on their inner surfaces with internal thrustfaces, and a plurality of dies provided with external thrust-faces adapted to bear upon the internal thrust-faces of the adjustingblocks during the cutting operation, one of said sets of thrust-faces being movable axially of the body during the cutting operation, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a body provided with internal thrust-faces, and a dieholder, one of said parts being movable axially of the other, of a yielding-catch carried by one of said parts and. adapted to 130 catch hold of the other thereof, and a plurality of screw-cutting dies carried by said die-holder and movable radially of the body and having external thrust-faces to bear upon said internal thrust-faces of the body, said dies being adapted to coact With a piece of Work being operated upon to move said die-holder and body axially apart to 4 unclasp said catch from its hold on one of said parts, substantially as described.

New York, May 31st, 1905.

FRANKLIN ALFRED ERRINGTON.

Witnesses D. J. WILSON, F. T. GooDmoK.

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