CA2213529A1

CA2213529A1 - Lathes

Info

Publication number: CA2213529A1
Application number: CA 2213529
Authority: CA
Inventors: Robert John Caddaye; Marilyn Jeanette Caddaye
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-02-22
Filing date: 1996-02-22
Publication date: 1996-08-29
Also published as: EP0810916A4; WO1996026051A1; EP0810916A1

Abstract

The present invention provides in one aspect a lathe having a bed mounted to be rotatable in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis.
The present invention also provides in another aspect a lathe having a head stock comprising a lathe spindle passing through a hollow column and within the hollow column means adapted to connect a vacuum to the interior of the lathe spindle.

Description

CA 02213~29 1997-08-21 W O 96/26051 PCT/AU96/nO090 TITLE: LATHES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
S

This invention relates to lathes.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

There is a need to provide a lathe having multiple adaptability for various uses but in particular for use in wood turnlng although the lathe of the present invention may be used in respect of other operations with respect to other materials such as metals and composite materials.

CA 02213~29 1997-08-21 WO96/260~1 PCT/AU9~00090 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present inventlon provides in one aspect:-a lathe havlng a bed mounted to be rotatable ln ahorlzontal plane about a vertlcal axls.

~he present lnvention also provldes ln another aspect a lathe havlng a head stock comprlslng a lathe splndle passlng through a hollow column and wlthln the hollow column means adapted to connect a vacuum to the interior of the lathe spindle.

PREFERRED A~ OF THE INVENTION

Preferably there ls provided a lathe comprising a first column, a head stock mounted to the first column, a second column, a bed mounted to the second column, a tail stock mounted to the bed, means connecting the first and second columns, and wherein the bed is mounted to the second column to be rotatable in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis.

Preferably the bed is adapted to be rotated as aforesaid over at least 90~, more preferably over at least 180~, still more preferably over at least 270~ and most preferably over CA 02213~29 1997-08-21 WO96/26051 PCT/AU9~C~o~o at least 360~.

Preferably the bed is mounted to move translatlon~lly in said horizontal plane preferably in line with the ~pindle longitudinal axis.

Preferably the bed is mounted to move translat~on~lly ln said horizontal plane towards and away from the first column.
Preferably the first column is provided with locating means adapted to locate the bed in a particular relation to the first column.

Preferably the bed is mounted to the second column by mounting means adapted to rotate about a vertical axis.

Preferably releasable means is provided to hold the bed mounting means in a selected rotated position about the vertical axis.

Preferably the bed mounting means comprises guides for guiding the bed in such translational movement.

Preferably releasable means is provided to hold the bed against such translational movement.

Preferably an auxiliary bed is provided which can be mounted to the first mentioned bed.
Preferably the auxiliary bed can be mounted to extend at about right angles to the length of the first mentioned bed.

Preferably an auxiliary bed is provided which can be mounted to the first column.

CA 02213~29 1997-08-21 Preferably the auxiliary bed can be mounted to extend at about right angles to a plane includlng the head stock.

Preferably the flrst column is demountable from the means connecting the flrst column and the ~eco~d column.

Preferably a stand ls provided to which the means connecting the flrst column and the c~cond column i~
demountably attached.
Preferably the lathe spindle has means for controlling the vacuum therewithin.

Specific embodiments of lathes in accordance with this invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a lathe ln one condition, Flgure 2 ls an lsometric view of the lathe in another condition, Figure 3 is an isometrlc view of the lathe ln another condltlon, Figure 4 is an isometric vlew of the lathe in another condition, Figure 5 ls a cross-sectional view of part of the lathe, Figure 6 is an isometric view of part of the lathe, and Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of part of the lathe.

CA 02213~29 1997-08-21 -- S --LIST

1. Lathe 2. Base member 3. First column 4. ~eco~ column 6. Braclng member 7. Electric motor 8. Head stock 9. Auxiliary bed 21. Rotatable turntable 22. Lathe bed 23. Tail stock 24. Auxiliary bed 26. Tool rest 26a. Ban~o 26b. Band 27. Eccentric clamp shaft 27a. Location dowel 27b. Clamp block 31. Bed 36. Rotating table 37. Guideways 39. Taper pin 41. Clamp bolt 42. Pivot bush 43. Eccentric yoke 44. Eccentric shaft 45. Base plane 51. Lathe spindle 52. Slip rings 53. Vacuum block 54. Ball race SS. Retainer S6. Internal thread for restrictor orifice S7. Connector to vacuum source CA 02213~29 1997-08-21 WO96/2605l PCT/AU96/00090 DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH R~C, TO T~E DRAWINGS

In various of the drawlngs is shown a lathe 1 whlch comprises a base member 2. The base member 2 serves to connect together a flrst column 3 and a seconA column 4 together wlth a braclng member 6.

The flrst column 3 is demountable with respect to the base member and carries an electric motor 7 and a lathe head stock 8.

The first column also carries a demountable auxiliary bed 9 which extends outwardly from it.

On the second column is a rotatable turntable 21 which will be described in greater detail hereafter. That rotatable turntable 21 carries a lathe bed 22 on which is mounted a tail stock 23.

The turntable 21 enables the lathe bed 22 to be rotated in various positions and to be translated such as is shown ln Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.

An auxiliary bed 24 is also demountably detached to the bed 22 as is shown in Figure 3 and may carry a tool rest 26.

The lathe bed 22 may be opened up as is shown in Figure 2 or may be closed to be adJacent to the first column as ls shown ln Figure 1.
Figure 1 shows a locating dowel 27 on the first column which will assist in locating the bed when it is closed up to the first column.

The rotary turntable ls best seen ln Figures 5 and 6 and ls described in greater detail with respect thereto.

CA 02213~29 1997-08-21 W O 96/26051 PCT/AUg~ n To the second column 4 i8 mounted a rotatlng table 36 whlch has lts centre line coincident with the spindle sPcond centre lines. That rotating table 36 can be held ln posltlon by means of a taper pin 39 and thls ls further asslsted by the locatlon dowel 27a.

The table 6 has gulde ways 37 whlch wlll gulde the llnear movement of the bed 31.

The table 36 can be clamplngly held by means of a clamp bolt 41 which co-operated with a clamp and pivot bush 42 via an eccentric yoke 43 and an eccentric shaft 44.

At the upper end of the second column 4 is a base plane 45 which ls horlzontal and parallel to the splndle centre lines ln all planes.

Operatlon of the eccentric shaft 44 can be used to loosen or tighten the rotating table 36.
The head stock shown in the drawings can be used, lf deslred, to carry a vacuum plate but because of dangers associated with applying vacuum lines, the vacuum llnes are located within the first column 3.
Thus, a lathe spindle 51 is hollow and has a vacuum block 53 mounted on it.

Bores within the lathe spindle allow vacuum to be connected to the inside of the lathe spindle 51. To ensure against loss of vacuum, slip rings 52 are provided as also is a sealed ball race 54.

A cover plate or retainer 55 is provided.
One end of the lathe spindle is provided with an internal thread for a restrictor oriflce which can control the CA 02213~29 1997-08-21 magnltude of the vacuum and the other end of the splndle would be fitted with a conventional vacuum plate which might be requlred by a user when necessary.

Other aspects of the present invention which may be of interest or relevance are set out below.

The present design of the lathe provides for a rlgid column for the head stock and a sliding swivelling bed supported on a rigid pedestal ad~acent to the head stock.

The head stock and support pedestal are connected together on a common base plate and also by a beam mid way up the pedestal.
In one form the lathe utilises a sub-bed which is attached to the head stock and/or the sliding bed (2 sub-beds required).

The sliding bed is attached to the head stock face at right angles in both vertical and horizontal planes by a lever and cam device which pulls the squared off end of the sliding bed hard against the machined face of the head stock column.
This cam lock is easily removed to allow the sliding bed to either slide to the right of the machine, thus extending the centre distance or, alternatively, allow the bed to be swung anywhere through 360~ in the horizontal plane whilst resting on the flat top surface of the pedestal.

The bed may be solidly locked in any position by clamp bolt or cam lock.

This improvement to the normally available wood turning lathe enables bowls or discs of large diameter to be easily and safely machined on both inside and outslde surfaces CA 02213~29 1997-08-21 W 096126051 PCT/AU96/nO090 _ 9 _ without removing them from the machine chuck or face plate thus permlttlng truly concentrlc work to be obtalned wlth only one set up operatlon.

This improvement to the normally available wood turnlng lathe also makes it fully universal in that it can be used for both large disc or bowl turning safely and also for conventional spindle turnlng between centres without makeshift and unsafe adaptatlons.
The rotating and fully ad~ustable bed sections locatlons allows the tool rest to be ad~usted and firmly located on a rigid base throughout 180~ of large diameter, deep or shallow section work which is not safely achievable on any avallable wood turning lathe capable of both large bowl and disc turning and conventional spindle turning between centres.

The machine is malnly manufactured from readily available rolled steel sections and may be of cast iron, aluminium, composite plastic or combination of materials.

The reverse cam locking tool rest 26b for bowl turning has the locking handle at the opposite end to the normal currently available tool rest and therefore allows location of the tool rest support bar close to large diameter or face boring work.

This improves versatility and safety by providing a rigid support and guide to a cutting chisel allowing more intricate and accurate work detail and finish to be obtained by the user.

As a comparison, this invention has superior rigidity, safety and ease of operation combined with versatility when compared with other wood turning lathes currently available.

The claims, illustratlons, photographs and drawings, if any, form part of the disclosure of this speclficatlon as does the descrlptlon, clalms, illustrations, photographs and drawings of any ~sso~ated provlsional or parent S speclfication or of any priority document, if any, all of which are imported herelnto as part of the record hereof.

Flnally it ls to be understood that various alterations, modlflcations and/or addltions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements or parts without departlng from the spirit and ambit of the invention.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:-

1. A lathe having a bed mounted to be rotatable in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis.

2. A lathe having a head stock comprising a lathe spindle passing through a hollow column and within the hollow column means adapted to connect a vacuum to the interior of the lathe spindle.

3. A lathe comprising a first column, a head stock mounted to the first column, a second column, a bed mounted to the second column, a tail stock mounted to the bed, means connecting the first and second columns, and wherein the bed is mounted to the second column to be rotatable in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis.

4. A lathe as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the bed is adapted to be rotated as aforesaid over at least 90°, more preferably over at least 180°, still more preferably over at least 270° and most preferably over at least 360°.

5. A lathe as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the bed is mounted to move translationally in said horizontal plane towards and away from the first column.

6. A lathe as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the first column is provided with locating means adapted to locate the bed in a particular relation to the first column.

7. A lathe as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the bed is mounted to the second column by bed mounting means adapted to rotate about a vertical axis.

8. A lathe as claimed in Claim 3, wherein releasable means is provided to hold the bed mounting means in a selected rotated position about the vertical axis.

9. A lathe as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the bed mounting means comprises guides for guiding the bed in such translational movement.

10. A lathe as claimed in Claim 3, wherein releasable means is provided to hold the bed against such translational movement.

11. A lathe as claimed in Claim 3, wherein an auxiliary bed is provided which can be mounted to the first mentioned bed.

12. A lathe as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the auxiliary bed can be mounted to extend at about right angles to the length of the first mentioned bed.

13. A lathe as claimed in Claim 3, wherein an auxiliary bed is provided which can be mounted to the first column.

14. A lathe as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the auxiliary bed can be mounted to extend at about right angles to a plane including the head stock.

15. A lathe as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the first column is demountable from the means connecting the first column and the second column.

16. A lathe as claimed in Claim 3, wherein a stand is provided to which the means connecting the first column and the second column is demountably attached.

17. A lathe as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the lathe spindle has means for controlling the vacuum therewithin.

18. A lathe substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

19. The steps, features, compositions and compounds referred to or indicated in the specification and/or claims of this application, individually or collectively, and any and all combinations or any two or more of said steps or features.