Machine tools abstract
A tool holder for machine tools which provides for both angular
and radial alignment of the tool with respect to the working axis
of the machine. A tool chuck is part of a ball and socket unit,
with the ball being pivotable within the socket for angular alignment
of the tool chuck and tool carried therein. The base of the socket
member is movably carried within a cup-shaped housing of a base
member which allows for adjustment in the vertical plane and radial
alignment.
Machine tools claims
What is claimed is:
1. A tool holder for use in a machine tool which can be adjusted
to compensate for angular and radial misalignment of the axis of
the tool with respect to the operating axis of the machine tool,
comprising:
a base member comprising a cup-shaped housing having a rearwardly
extending shank;
means, movably secured to said base member, for angular alignment
of a tool carried within said tool holder and movably seated within
said cup shaped housing and comprising a ball and socket unit,
means for radial alignment of said angular alignment means with
respect to said base member;
said ball and socket unit includes a socket member comprising a
socket plate with a central, concave recess and a rearwardly extending
socket base, a clamp plate comprising a disk having an enlarged
central aperture, an alignment ball having a tool chuck extending
therefrom and movably positioned between said socket member and
said clamp plate, and means for securing said clamp plate to said
socket member.
2. The adjustable tool holder as recited in claim 1 wherein said
socket base extends to within said cup-shaped housing of said base
member and is radially positionable therein.
3. The adjustable tool holder as recited in claim 2 wherein said
radial alignment means comprises a plurality of radial alignment
bolts extending radially through and to within said cup-shaped housing
and in contact with said socket base.
4. A tool holder for use in a machine tool which can be adjusted
to compensate for angular and radial misalignment of the axis of
the tool with respect to the operating axis of the machine tool,
comprising:
a base member comprising a cup-shaped housing with an elongate
shank extending rearwardly therefrom;
a ball and socket unit comprising a ball assembly including an
alignment ball having a tool chuck extending therefrom, a socket
member including a socket plate with a central, concave recess and
a rearwardly extending socket base, and a clamp plate having a contoured
central aperture, said alignment ball movably contained between
said socket member and said clamp plate;
said socket base movably seated within said cup-shaped housing
of said base member and having means for radially adjusting said
socket base within said cup-shaped housing; and
means for securing said clamp plate to said socket plate, and means
for securing said socket member to said base member.
5. The adjustable tool holder as recited in claim 4 wherein said
rear face of said clamp plate has a circumferential shoulder.
6. The adjustable tool holder as recited in claim 4 wherein said
base member further comprises a coolant inlet port.
Machine tools description
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to metal working lathes and other machine
tools, and more particularly to a tool holder which can be adjusted
to compensate for angular and radial misalignment of the axis of
the tool with respect to the working axis of the machine.
BACKGROUND ART
In the operation of machine tools, precision work requires highly
accurate alignment of the tool and the workpiece upon which the
tool is working. For example, if a precise bore is to be drilled
along the central axis of a workpiece rotated in a lathe, the axis
of the drill bit must be in both angular and radial alignment with
the axis of the workpiece. Slight misalignment in either aspect
will result in an improper bore being drilled and often produce
a broken drill bit. Since machine tools are subject to wear and
settling with a resulting movement or shifting of components, a
means for alignment of the axis of the tool holder and tool with
respect to the axis of the machine is necessary.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention discloses a tool holder for machine tools
which provides for both angular and radial alignment of the tool
with respect to the working axis of the machine. A tool chuck is
part of a ball and socket unit, with the ball being pivotable within
the socket for angular alignment of the tool chuck and tool carried
therein. The base of the socket member is movably carried within
a cup-shaped housing of a base member which allows for adjustment
in the vertical plane and radial alignment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other attributes of the invention will become more clear
upon a thorough study of the following description of the best mode
for carrying out the invention, particularly when reviewed in conjunction
with the drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a machine tool utilizing the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention with the collet nut
and collet removed;
FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the invention; and
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals
designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several
views, the invention is designated at 10 in FIG. 1 where it is shown
secured within a tailstock 12 of a metal working lathe 14. The invention
is equally useful in Computerized Numerical Control lathes where
it is installed in the turret. In this particular instance, which
is for illustration only, the invention 10 is carrying a hardened
drill bit 16 for boring a hole in a workpiece to be turned by the
lathe 14. With modern hardened drill bits, angular and radial alignment
of the drill bit with the workpiece is critical not only for precision
work, but also to prevent breaking of these very expensive bits.
To that end, as depicted in FIG. 1 a dial indicator 18 may be mounted
on the lathe 14 such that it may be turned about the drill bit 16
to assess angular and radial misalignment of the bit 16 with respect
to the axis of the lathe 14. Any noted misalignment may then be
corrected quickly and easily using the invention 10 as will be described
below.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 3 and 4 the invention 10 is seen to
comprise a ball and socket unit which includes a ball assembly 20
a clamp plate 40 and a socket member 60. The rearwardly extending
socket base 62 of the socket member 60 is loosely received within
the cup-shaped housing 82 of a base member 80 to allow for radial
movement therein. Base member 80 further includes a shank 84 for
securement within the tailstock 12 or turret of a CNC lathe.
The ball assembly 20 includes an alignment ball 22 with an integral
tool chuck 24 having a collet chamber 26 for receipt of a collet
28 and a threaded collet nut 30 for securement of a drill bit 16.
As seen in FIG. 3 the ball 22 has a central bore 32 extending from
the collet chamber 26 to the rear of the ball 22 which serves to
allow the flow of coolant to the collet 28 and bit 16. The central
aperture 34 of the collet nut 30 utilizes a seal ring 36 to prevent
leakage of the coolant and direct it through passageways in the
drill bit 16.
The alignment ball 22 is movably seated in the concave recess 64
of the socket member 60 and is held therein by a clamp plate 40.
The clamp plate 40 has a contoured central aperture 42 for receipt
of the forward surface of alignment ball 22 allowing the tool chuck
24 to extend forward from the clamp plate 40. The clamp plate 40
is secured to the socket member 60 by means of six clamp plate bolts
46 which extend through six bores 48 in the clamp plate 40 into
six threaded seats 50 in the socket plate 72. The rear face of the
clamp plate 40 is provided with a circumferential shoulder 52 (FIG.
3) to provide a small gap between the clamp plate 40 and the socket
plate 72.
The clamp plate 40 is further provided with six locking bolt access
bores 66 within which pass six locking bolts 68. The six locking
bolts 68 loosely extend through six oversized bores 70 in the socket
plate 72 and are received within six threaded seats 86 in the face
of the cup-shaped housing 82 of the base member 80.
The cup-shaped housing 82 of the base member 80 is provided with
four radial alignment bolts 88 extending through four threaded seats
90 spaced at 90 degree intervals around the exterior of the housing
82. The housing 82 is further provided with a coolant inlet 92 and
fitting 94.
In operation, the invention 10 is assembled and secured within
the tailstock 12 of the lathe 14 with a tool, in this case a drill
bit 16 firmly seated within the tool chuck 24. Angular alignment
of the drill bit 16 is accomplished by loosening the clamp plate
bolts 46 enough to permit rotation of the alignment ball 22 between
the clamp plate 40 and socket member 60. When the drill bit 16 is
in angular alignment with the working axis of the lathe 14 the
clamp plate bolts 46 are tightened to prevent further movement of
the alignment ball 22. Radial alignment of the axis of the drill
bit 16 with the axis of the lathe is next accomplished by selective
adjustment of the radial alignment bolts 88 which are in contact
with the socket base 62 of the socket member 60 which loosely extends
within the cup-shaped housing 82 of the base member 80. The socket
member 60 has freedom of movement in the vertical plane because
of the oversized bores 70 through which extend the locking bolts
68. After radial alignment is achieved, the locking bolts 68 are
tightened in seats 86 to prevent further movement of the socket
base 62 within the housing 82.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications
and variations of the present invention are possible in light of
the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within
the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced
otherwise than as specifically described. |