US3789695A

US3789695A - Left and right trip dogs for carrier tracks

Info

Publication number: US3789695A
Application number: US00268715A
Authority: US
Inventors: C Anderson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-07-03
Filing date: 1972-07-03
Publication date: 1974-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 1991-02-05

Abstract

A universal trip dog in the sense that it may be mounted to either the right or left side of a carrier track and still position a lever contact face for engaging a trip lever during relative movement between the carrier and the trip lever. The dog is preferably in the configuration of a truncated pyramid in which the angular sides correspond to two trip contact faces, one of the sides having locking keys which flank a mounting passageway through the body of the trip dog. The locking keys have top and bottom rectilinear sides so that such keys can be inserted into a track or groove which is either on the right or left side of a carrier. The same side of the trip dog is abutted against the carrier, but said trip dog is simply rotated 180* so that one contact face is always correctly oriented for actuating a trip lever during relative movement.

Description

Anderson Feb. 5, 1974 LEFT AND RIGHT TRIP DOGS FOR CARRIER TRACKS [76] Inventor: Clarence Anderson, 7813 W.

Carmen Ave., Chicago, 111. 60656 [22] Filed: July 3, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 268,715

[52] U.S. Cl 74/568 R [51] Int. Cl. F16h 53/00 [58] 'Field of Search 74/568 R, 568 M, 568 T, 568 FS [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,842,946 7/1958 Butler 74/568 R X 3,173,308 3/1965 Wollenhaupt et al 74/568 R 3,633,949 1/1972 Pfluger 74/568 R X Primary ExamirierCharles J. Myhre Assistant E taminerF. D. Shoemaker Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jack E. Dominik et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A universal trip dog in the sense that it may be mounted to either the right or left side of a carrier track and still position a lever contact face for engaging a trip lever during relative movement between the carrier and the trip lever. The dog is preferably in the configuration of a truncated pyramid in which the angular sides correspond to two trip contact faces, one of the sides having locking keys which flank a mounting passageway through the body of the trip dog. The locking keys have top and bottom rectilinear sides so that such keys can be inserted into a track or groove which is either on the right or left side of a carrier. The same side of the trip dog is abutted against the carrier, but said trip dog is simply rotated 180 so that one contact face is always correctly oriented for actuating a trip lever during relative movement.

9 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures Patented Feb. 5, 1974 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Feb. 5, 1974 3,789,695

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LEFT AND RIGHT TRIP DOGS FOR CARRIER TRACKS This invention relates to a trip dog to be used in conjunction with a carrier having a track on each of two opposite sides so that said trip dog can be selectively mounted on either side in correctly oriented position. The invention further relates to a trip dog of versatile construction so that the same side of the same trip dog can be used for mounting to either (side) of a carrier, and said trip dog is correctly positionable simply by rotating the trip dog 180.

Removeable and mountable trip dogs are commonly positioned by engaging tracks of a carrier, such as a circular carrier having curvilinear tracks or grooves on each of two opposite sides. Such circular carriers are used, for example, on Brown & Sharpe automatic screw machines, available under the trade designation Ultamatic, No. 2 and No. 3. Carriers with rectilinear tracks are used in other machines such as hydraulic milling machines with right and left side operations, as well as hydraulic surface grinders set up for right and left side grinding. Such trip dogs are mounted and positioned so that an angular contact face may actuate a trip lever during relative movement between the carrier and the trip lever. Conventionally, the carrier is moveable as, for example, by rotation of circular carriers in automatic screw machines. The trip levers are conventionally actuated to engage clutches or the like in th operation of the machine.

The prior art trip dogs used in such embodiments have a single angular contact face which permits particular orientation either on the right or on the left side of the carrier. Such trip dogs have a mounting passageway with locking keys positioned on each side of the passageway. The keys are in the form of lugs or bosses which extend beyond a face of the trip dog so that such keys can be inserted into the track or groove of the car rier. A fastener such as a screw is then passed through the passageway in the trip dog and through another passageway in the carrier, or in the alternative, the fastener may have its enlarged head locked in the horizontal portion of a generally T-shaped track. For circular carriers and tracks, the opposite sides of the locking keys are formed on a slight radius so. that such key may be accommodated within the annular track.

Such trip dogs are further conventionally provided with a greater area above the locking keys then below the locking keys. The greater area corresponds to the part of the trip dog which has the lever contact face. These conventional trip dogs tend to become loosened during operation so that workers are often required to greatly tighten the fastener holding the trip dogs to the carrier. Such a tightening procedure has the unfortunate result of leading to carrier break'out, in which portions of the carrier defining the track are broken away. The displacement of the trip dog in mounted position to the carrier is due in large part to limited surface area contact of the trip dog lever with the side of the carrier. It will be evident, even from the foregoing discussion, that conventional trip dogs have limited applicability in that they must be mounted either on the left or right hand side. Such limitation in use arises from providing a contact face which is oriented correctly only in relationship to one of the right or left hand sides. Further, such limited application is necessitated by forming locking keys with radii for circular carriers, which allow said keys to be inserted in carrier tracks having corresponding radial curvatures.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide new and improved trip dogs to be used on either the right or the left side of a carrier.

Another important object of the present invention is a trip dog which can be mounted to either the right or the left side of a carrier having either rectilinear or curvilinear tracks, such trip dog having locking keys only on one side dimensioned for engaging the tracks on either side of said particular carrier.

Still yet another important object of the invention is to provide trip dogs which do not require keys formed on a radius for such dogs designed to be used with circular carriers.

Yet still another important object of the invention is to provide a trip dog which provides greater surface area for clamping engagement to the side of a carrier when fastened, thereby eliminating the need for excessive tightening forces which could lead to carrier break-out.

Yet another important object of the invention is a trip dog having the improved features above identified, which additionally is provided with means for up and down adjustability relative to a track and a carrier, to thus provide more convenient means for correctly positioning the trip dog relative to the trip lever to be actuated.

The objects just stated are attained together with other non-stated objects which, however, will become apparent from considering the invention in the following disclosure, including drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective portional view of a trip assembly provided in a machine such as an automatic screw machine;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the improved trip dog shown mounted on a circular carrier of the type indicated on a reduced scale in the view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the trip dogs and circular carrier shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the trip dogs taken along lines 4 4 of FIG. 3 with parts removed for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment provided with features of up and down adjustability, said trip dog shown somewhat schematically mounted to a track of a carrier;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7 7 of 7 FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an inside side elevational view of one part of the embodiment shown in foregoing FIGS. 6 and 7;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a second part of the alternative embodiment shown in the foregoing views of FIGS. 6 and 7; and

FIG. 10 is a,somewhat schematic perspective view of the improved trip dogs shown engaging rectilinear tracks in a carrier.

The use of the same numerals in the various views of the drawing will indicate a reference to the same constructions, parts or elements, as the case may be.

The view of FIG. 1 is intended to show a portion of an automatic screw machine, such as the Brown &

Sharpe Ultramatic No. 2 and No. 3. A control drum shown generally as 12 is provided with settings for programing various machine functions. Such a drum comprises a plurality of circular carriers such as 14 on which dogs 16 are mounted for actuating electrical trip levers 18 which may control means such as work deflection, acceleration, operation of various attachments, or the like. A circular carrier 14a is shown positioned by itself with its dog 16a mounted for actuation of mechanical trip lever 20. The circular carriers are conventionally provided with graduations 22 on their perimeters to measure the rotation in terms of hundredths of a revolution.

Looking now at the views of FIG. 2 and 3, the circular carrier 14 is mounted to rotating shaft 24 by a key 26. This circular carrier has a right side 28 and an opposite left side 30, and each side is provided with an annular track or groove 32 which is shown as having a generally T-shaped configuration. A fastener or bolt 34 with an enlarged flat head 36 is locked in the T-shaped groove by moving the head and the fastener through T-shaped entries 38 in the perimeter of the circular carrler.

A trip dog shown generally as 40 is shown mounted on the left side 28 of the circular carrier, and a like trip dog shown generally as 42 is shown mounted on the opposite or right side 30 of the circular carrier. A contact face 44 of the trip dog is correctly oriented to trip or actuate trip lever 46 which is indicated as being mounted in a fixed position. The trip dog 42 on the left side is also shown correctly oriented so that its contact face may trip or actuate a trip lever 46 shown in phantom in the view of FIG. 3.

The trip dog will be described in greater detail now, and reference should also be made to following FIGS. 4 and in considering such a description. The trip lever dog is shown as having a unitary body 48 having the configuration of a truncated pyramid. The body member has a rear face 50 which corresponds to the base of the truncated pyramid configuration, and such body has contact faces 52 and 54 which correspond to the angled sides of the truncated pyramid configuration. A truncated portion 56, together with contact faces 52 and 54, comprise collectively the lever engaging face 44.

The body member has a thickness defined by

opposite sides

58 and 60. A mounting passageway 62 extends through the body and opens at the opposte sides 58, 60.

Only one of the sides 60 will abut the side of the right or the left side of the carrier. The abutting side 60 is provided with locking keys 64, one of said locking keys immediately adjoining rear face 50 and the other locking key immediately adjoining truncated face 56. The keys are formed with inner radii 66 to follow the circular mounting passageway 62. The opposite outer ends 68 are straight to follow, respectively, the rear face and the truncated face.

It will be evident that the illustrated trip dog is bilaterally symmetrical along an axis through mounting passageway 62 which intersects the front and rear faces. Such an axis may be referred to as a lateral, bilateral or a diametrical axis. It will also be seen that sides 70 and 72 of the locking keys are parallel to such a diametrical axis, thereby being substantially rectilinear sides. It is seen that the distance between the rectilinear sides is substantially the same as the diameter of the mounting or diameter which is greater than the distance between the

rectilinear sides

70, 72 of the locking keys. Forming such a counterbore removes any feathers, spurs or the like at the inner end 66 of the keys. Forming the counterbore and removing such feathers or spurs eliminates the problem of the keys binding within the tracks after the tightened fastener is loosened and the trip dog is removed.

The distance between the rectilinear sides of the keys are reduced sufficiently so that such keys can be inserted in a circular track suitably dimensioned for the locking key on the particular trip dog used. After insertion of the locking keys, the top rectilinear side 70 will contact the top of the circular track generally at a junction with the outer ends 68, and the lower rectilinear side 72 contact the bottom of the circular track generally at a junction with the radiused inner ends 66. The contact may be only along the lower rectilinear side 72, with neither or only one of the top rectilinear sides in point contact. The same keys with the rectilinear top and bottom sides can be inserted in the particular grooves on either the right or left side of the carrier. It will be seen that the area and configuartion of the clamping or abutting side 60 above the locking keys is the same as that below the locking keys. This provides increased clamping area so that the trip dog may be securely fastened without unduly tightening the fastener, thereby eliminating likelihood of carrier break-out.

The embodiment shown in following FIGS. 7 9 is a two-part trip dog with features of up or down adjustability relative to the carrier track. Such an embodiment provides quick and convenient means for adjusting the trip dog relative to the trip lever for desired tripping contact. One part is a larger body member 74 shown also in the shape of a truncated pyramid. This body part 74 is of relatively narrow width and has prebent contact faces 76 and 78 which lie in planes normal to

opposite sides

80 and 82. The rear edge 84 corresponds to the base of a truncated pyramid and truncated face 86 corresponds to the truncated portion of such a pyramid. Side 80 of the large body part may be viewed as the inside or the side beyond which the prevent contact faces 76, 78 extend. An elongated slot opening 88 extends to 80, 82, and a series of serrations 90 are shown on each side of such a slot. A second smaller body part 92 has a general triangular configuration. The second body part has angular faces 94 and 96 which are complementary to the undersides of contact faces 76, 78 so that up and down movement of the second body part is stopped by the undersides of the contact faces 76, 78. The rear face 98 of the second body part is aligned generally with the rear edge 84 of the large body part. The second body part 92 has a thickness which is equal to the width of the contact faces 76, 78 of the larger body part 74. The width of the second body part is defined by opposite sides, one of which 100 abuts carrier 102, and the other side 104 which abuts side 80 of the larger body part. Side 104 has a series of serrations 106 on opposite sides of a circular mounting passageway 108. Such serrations are placed to contact serrations 90 on side 80 of the larger body part to increase frictional engagement for a more secure clamping of the two body parts.

Side 100 of the second body part has spaced locking keys with rectilinear top side 110 and rectilinear bottom side 112, such locking keys being similar to those previously shown and described. Such locking keys are inserted in the generally T-shaped track or groove 114 of the carrier 102. Side 104 of the second body part is provided with projecting sliding lugs l 15 and 1 16. Such lugs have rectilinear sides adjoining the serrations 106 so that such sides can engage the corresponding sides of the elongated slot in up and down sliding movement. The large body part 74 is moved up or down to desirably position a contact face next to a trip lever. The nut and bolt fastener assembly 1 18 is then tightened against washer 120.

The view of FIG. shows an embodiment wherein trip dogs 128 and 130 are mounted in

rectilinear tracks

132 and 134 of carrier 136. It will be seen that whether the track be circular or curvilinear, the same trip dog may be mounted on either the right or the left side by the simple expedient of rotating the dog 180 so that a contact face which was in position to actuate a trip lever on one side is at the bottom on the other side in non-actuating position.

The claims of the invention are now presented, and their terms may be'further understood by considering the views of the drawings in the language of the specification.

What is claimed is:

1. A trip dog for a carrier having tracks on opposite sides, said trip dog being mountable in either of said tracks as a left or right trip dog for actuating a trip lever in relative movement, including a body having opposite sides,

a trip lever engaging face in planes which are normal to said opposite sides, and

a mounting passageway extending to the opposite sides of the body,

the trip lever engaging face having an inclined contact face to one side of the passageway, and another inclined contact face to the other side of the passageway, said contact faces being positioned in like manner relative to a transverse axis which bisects the engaging face, one locking key adjacent the engaging face to one side of the mounting passageway and another locking key adjacent the engaging face to the other side of the mounting passageway, said keys having rectilinear sides and said keys having a distance between such rectilinear sides which allow said keys to move in either carrier track so that the trip dog may be properly mounted to said carrier by a fastener passing through said mounting passageway, said properly positioned trip dog having one contact face oriented to actuate said trip lever during relative movement.

2. A trip dog which includes the features of claim 1 above, wherein said trip dog is formed by a unitary body having said trip lever engaging face and a rear face extending between said body sides, said mounting passageway being circular and extending to the opposite body sides, said transverse axis being coincidental with a diametrical axis of the circular passageway which bisects the front and rear face, the locking keys being integrally formed only on one body side, one key being adjacent to said trip lever engaging face and said other locking key being adjacent to said rear face of the body, and said rectilinear sides being substantially parallel.

3. A trip dog which includes the features of claim 2 above wherein said body is bilaterally symmetrical along said diametrical axis.

4. A trip dog which includes the features of claim 3 above wherein said body has the configuration of a truncated pyramid with the angular sides being said contact faces.

5. A trip dog which includes the features of claim 2 above, wherein said keys have opposite rectilinear sides, and which further includes a counterbore on said body side with locking keys, said counterbore having a diameter greater than the distance between said rectilinear sides to thereby effectively prevent binding of the locking keys when mounted in the carrier groove following tightening of the fasteners.

6. A trip dog which includes the features of claim 5 above, wherein said trip dog is a unitary body member having the configuration of a truncated pyramid, said lever contact faces corresponding to the angular sides of the pyramid, said contact faces extending between opposite sides of the body, the base of the pyramid corresponding to a rear face of said body member, said passageway being circular and having a diameter no greater than the distance between the rectilinear sides of the locking keys, one of said locking keys being immediately adjacent to said rear face, and the other of said locking keys being immediately adjacent to a truncated portion of the lever engaging face, said body member having a shape and area along one of the rectilinear sides equal to the shape and area along the opposite rectilinear side.

7. A trip dog which includes the features of claim 1 above wherein said mounting passageway is an elongated slot in said body, the long axis whereof intersects the contact faces, and wherein said contact faces are prebent portions of the body lying in planes which are normal to the side of said body, and further including a reduced size second body member with opposite sides, said second body member having a second mounting passageway and said locking keys being integrally formed only on one of said opposite sides of said second body member, and the other opposite side of said second body member having an integrally formed sliding lug which is positionable and moveable in said elongated slot, whereby said body may be adjusted up and down relative to said carrier track prior to tightening of fastener which mounts said trip dog to said carrier.

8. A trip dog lever which includes the features of claim 7 above wherein said body member is in the shape of a truncated pyramid, having a truncated portion substantially shorter than said contact faces, and a rear edge which corresponds to the base of said pyramid, and said second body member having a substantially triangular configuration, the base portion whereof is dimensioned to be aligned substantially with the rear edge of the body member, the angular sides of said second body member triangular configuration dimensioned to lie flush against the undersides of said body member contact faces when said second body member is moved to its extreme positions in the up and down directions, said second body member having a width between the opposite body sides which is substantially equivalent to the width of the contact faces of said body member, the locking keys being on said second body member and extending beyond the contact faces to engage the groove of a carrier.

9. A trip dog which includes the features of claim 7 above wherein a second body member side opposite the locking key side is slidable against the body member on which said contact faces are prebent, and relatively slidable faces of the body member and the second body member having a plurality of serrations along body contacting portions to increase frictional engagement.

Claims

1. A trip dog for a carrier having tracks on opposite sides, said trip dog being mountable in either of said tracks as a left or right trip dog for actuating a trip lever in relative movement, including a body having opposite sides, a trip lever engaging face in planes which are normal to said opposite sides, and a mounting passageway extending to the opposite sides of the body, the trip lever engaging face having an inclined contact face to one side of the passageway, and another inclined contact face to the other side of the passageway, said contact faces being positioned in like manner relative to a transverse axis which bisects the engaging face, one locking key adjacent the engaging face to one side of the mounting passageway and another locking key adjacent the engaging face to the other side of the mounting passageway, said keys having rectilinear sides and said keys having a distance between such rectilinear sides which allow said keys to move in either carrier track so that the trip dog may be properly mounted to said carrier by a fastener passing through said mounting passageway, said properly positioned trip dog having one contact face oriented to actuate said trip lever during relative movement.