US1184551A - Machine for straightening auger-bits. - Google Patents

Description

E. T. McPHERSON.

MACHINE FOR STRAIGHTENING AUGER BITS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20. ms.

Patented May 23,1916.

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THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0., WASHINGTON. D. c.

E. T. McPHERSON.

MACHINE EOR STRAIGHTENING AUGER BITS.

- APPLICATlON FILED MAY 20, 1915. 1,184,551. r Patented May 23,1918.

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,Ebner TWP/18mm E. T. McPHERSON.

MACHINE FOR STRAIGHTENING AUGER ans.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZO, 1915.

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Patented May 23, 1916.

E Qm m a ma S m m V w ELIVIER r. McPHERSON,

0F WILMINGTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE. IRWIN AUG-ER BIT COMPANY, or WILMINGTON, OHIO.

MACHINE FOR STRAIGHTENING AUG-ER-BITS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, mm.

Application filed May 20, 1915. Serial No. 29,285.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER T. MGPHER- soN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wilmington, in the county of Clinton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Straightening Auger-Bits and the like, of Which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a machine for straightening auger bits and the like. Auger bits are usually forged to shape by a series of operations on power hammers, each hammer having dies to impart the desired shape to that portion of the bit upon which it operates. At the end of these several operations the bit is seldom true and it is necessary that it should be straightened before it can be used. The bit is usually straightened before it goes to the finishing operations. It has been customary heretofore to straighten the bits by hand, the Work being done by the use of an anvil and hammer, the operator depending upon his eye to determine when the bit was true. The straightening operation when performed in this manner is' a tedious and difiicult one and is not only expensive, because of the time it requires, but is unsatisfactory in its results. After an operator has worked for several hours at straightening bits his eyes become very weary and he can no longer determine accurately whether or not a bit is true. As a result it not infrequently happens that imperfect bits are passed on to the finishing operations and must be eventually discarded.

The object of the present invention is to provide a machine for straightening the bits which will not depend upon the eye of the operator to determine when the bit is straight.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a machine which will be very simple in its construction and operation; and which will be of such a character that it will not require special skill on the part of the operator.

It is also an object of the invention to provide such a machine which can be adjusted to accommodate bits of different sizes; and which will straighten the bits much more rapidly than they can be straightened by hand.

- ing devices.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 1s a top plan view of a machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse, sectional view taken on the line at as of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows, parts being omitted for clearness; Fig. 3 1s a plan view, partly in section, of the bit supporting chucks and straightening de vices, showing the latter positioned to impart the preliminary bend to the bit; Fig. 4 s a front elevation of one of the straightenlng devices; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of one of the cliuclnsupporting shafts; and Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the machine showing the clutch mechanism on the line 66 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

In carrying out my invention I provide two bit-supportin devices adapted to rotate about coincident fixed axes. These bit-supporting devices are of such a character that they will receive the respective ends of the bit and cause these ends of the bit to rotate about the axes of the respective bitsupport It will be obvious that in so rotating the bits any parts of the bits which are out of true will travel ina path eccentric to the axis of the rotation of the ends of the bit. To eliminate these irregularities from the bit I provide one or more bit straightening devices which are arranged to act on the bit between its ends while it is being rotated and thus straighten the same. I prefer to actuate the straightening device or devices to impart to the bit a preliminary bend and then to gradually eliminate this bend, as in this way a most efficient straightening actions is had. These operations may be carried out in various ways and by devices of different kinds and I have, in the present instance, shown one form of mechanism for performing the straightening operation, this particular mechanism being one that has proven very satisfactory in operation.

In the particular embodiment of the invention hear illustrated I have shown the machine as comprisinga frame 1 which may be of any suitable kind and is here shown of a character somewhat similar to the ordi nary lathe frame. Mounted on this frame for rotation about fixed axes are two shafts, 2 and 3. The shaft 9, is mounted in fixed bearings 4i and 5, while the shaft 3 is mounted in similar fixed bearings (i and 7. These bearings are arranged in alinement so that the shafts rotate about a common axis. Each shaft is provided on its inner end with a bit-supporting device or chuck, each adapted to receive one end of a bit and hold the same against rotation relatively to its shaft. Rotation may be impartedto the shafts in any suitable manner and, in the present instance, the shaft 2 has loosely mounted thereon a belt pulley 8 adapted to be connected to and disconnected from the shaft by means of a clutch 9 having a grooved collar 10 to receive the yoke of a shifting lever 11. I prefer to positively rotate both shafts, as in this way not only are the shafts caused to rotate at a uniform speed but all tortional twist or strain on the bit is eliminated. I have, therefore, mounted on the shaft 2 a gear 12 which meshes with a second gear 13 on a countershaft 1a: mounted in suitable bearings 15 at the rear of the machine. This countershaft has at its opposite end a gear 16 which meshes with a gear 17 on the shaft 3, thus forming a direct and positive connection between the two shafts, and the gears being of a one to one ratio it is obvious that the two shafts will rotate at exactly the same speed.

The two chucks are adapted, respectively, to receive the shank and the point or cutting end of the bit. That chuck on the shaft 2 is here shown as adapted to receive the shank of the bit and, to this end, it comprises a part 18 having a socket adapted to receive the extreme end portion of theshank of the bit, this socket being arranged in the axis of rotation of the shaft. Mounted about this socket and secured thereto for rotation therewith is a sleeve or head 19 which extends some distance in front of the socket and is provided with a recess 20 to receive a plate 21, this plate hi ving an aperture to receive the larger portion of the tapered shank. The head 19 is secured to the socket member for sliding movement and, to this end, it is provided with longitudinal slots 23 through which extend screws 241 by means of which it is connected vith the socket member. A spring 25 is interposed between the head and the socket member and tends to hold the parts in their most widely separated positions. It will be noted that this chuck grips the shank at two separated points. The head 19 is loosely mounted on the socket so that it is capable of a slight lateral movement. The side of the head 19 bears against a guide roller 26 which is arranged a distance from the axis of the socket equal to the radius of the head 19. If the shank of the bit is out of true the head will be displaced laterally to receive the same and when the bit is rotated, both ends being held in a common axis, that side of the head which has been moved away from the axis of the chuck will be engaged by the guide roller 26 and forced back to its true position, thus straightening the shank. It will be noted that the guide roller 26 is mounted in an adjustable supporting bracket 27. The chuck for the shaft 3, which is shown at 28, is provided with a socket 29 to receive the screw-threaded tip of the bit and the outer portion of the chuck is tapered, as shown at 30, to fit snugly within the longitudinally projecting lips of the bit. Preferably, this tapered portion of the chuck is serrated or roughened to give the same a firm gripping action on the bit. This arrangement is such that the socket 29 will tend to straighten the tip of the bit should the latter be out of true. This chuck 28 is capable of longitudinal movement to permit of the insertion and removal of the bit and is yieldingly held in engagement with the bit. This may be accomplished in different ways but, in the present instance, the shaft 3 is shown as hollow and has mounted therein an inner shaft or spindle 415 provided on its outer end with a collar 17 to form a stop to cooperate with the shifting yoke d8 of a lever 19, which lever is pivotally mounted at one end on a bracket and is provided at its other end with a handle 51. This inner spindle projects some distance beyond the inner end of the shaft 3 and is provided with a tapered socket 532 to receive the tapered end of the chuck 28. A spring 53 is coiled about the spindle 45 between a flange on the inner end of the spindle and a similar flange 55 on the end of the. Thus the manipulation of hollow shaft 3. the lever 19 will withdraw the chuck against the tension of the spring 52 and when the lever is released the chuck will auto-math cally engage the end of the bit which has been placed in position and will hold the same firmly in position. The yielding character of this chuck not only permits of the insertion and removal of the bits but it also permits the chuck to accommodate itself to the different positions assumedby the end of the bit during the straightening operation and thus hold the bit firmly in the chuck. Vi hile the change in the position of the end of the bit due to the bending and straightening of the bit is not very great it is such that the grip of the chucks would be loosened if the latter were mounted in fixed positions.

The strai htening devices which are arranged to act upon the bit between the two chucks may be of any suitable character and the number of straightening devices em ployed and their exact arrangement may be varied according to the size of the bit or other conditions entering into the straight: ening operation. The straightening devices, which are hereshown at 31 and 32, each comprises, in the present instance, a pair of rollers 33 mounted on parallel axes and spaced slightly apart. In the present arrangement the axes of the rollers of each pair are arranged in the same vertical plane. The rollers 33 are preferably convex, thatis, their circumferential portions taper on a curved line from a center toward the ends. Consequently, the two rollers have between them a recess, the width of which gradually increases toward its end. Each pair of rollers is mounted on a slide block orframe 34: slidably mounted for movement toward and away from the axis of rotation of the bit and, in the present instance, slidably mounted on a guide frame 35 which is adjustable lengthwise of the bit by means of locking devices 36 traveling in grooves 37 formed in the frame or bed of the machine. This longitudinal adjustment is for the purpose of placing the straightening devices in proper positions relatively to the work. The transverse sliding movement is to permit the straightening devices to be actuated to cause the bit to be straightened. This transverse movement may be imparted to the straightening devices in any suitable manner but inasmuch as the two devices are located on opposite sides of the bit it is desirable that the straightening devices should be moved simultaneously in opposite directions. In the present instance I have provided the slide block of each straightening device with a rod 38 having at one end an eccentric strap 39 extending about an eccentric 40 on a countershaft ll mounted in bearings 42 carried by brackets i3 mounted on the side of the frame. These eccentrics are so adjusted that the movements of the straightening devices will be properly timed and in proper direction. Preferably, the rods 38 are made extensible by the use of turn buckles 44c.

The countershaft 4.1 may be rocked in any suitable manner to impart movement to the straightening devices. As here shown it is provided with a handle 56, by means of which the straightening devices may be actuated, and is also provided with a counterweight 57 to return it to its normal position. The handle 56 is also utilized to operate the clutch 9 and the chuck 28 so that the one handle completely controls the operation of the machine. To this end the rockshaft is provided at one end with an arm 58 ar- 'anged to slidably engage a rod 59 mounted in two pins 60 carried by one arm 61 of a bell crank lever which is mounted on a horizontal rearwardly extending pivot on the frame at 62' The lever 11 constitutes the remaining arm of the bell crank lever and extends vertically upwardly and rearwardly from the pivot 62. When the end of the arm 61 moves downwardly or upwardly, the end of the lever 11 in engagement with the clutch will move laterally sufficiently to operate the clutch. While this particular construction has been chosen because of certain advantages it will be obvious that the connection between the rockshaft and the clutch shifting lever may be made in various ways. The opposite end of the shaft 41 is also provided with an arm (33, arranged to engage an arm 64: pivotally mounted on the frame at 65 and having rigidly secured thereto an arm or bracket (36 wh'ch is connected by means of a rod 67 with the lever 49 which controls the chuck '28, the connection being preferably formed by universal joints to permit of the relative movement of the parts. It will be apparent that the move ment of the handle 56 not only imparts movement to the straightening devices but also operates the clutch and the chuck.

The operation of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that in operating the machine the operator first actuates the lever to move the straightening de vices or rollers 31 and 32 away from the bit, to actuate the clutch to disconnect the shaft 2 from the power and to actuate the chuck 28 to release the bit. This bit is removed and another one inserted. Preferably the operator carries the bit which is to be operated upon in his hand as he reaches for the finished bit and thus removes one bit and inserts the other at practically one operation. In inserting the bit the shank thereof is inserted in the chuck in the shaft 2, the handle 56 actuated to cause the chuck 28 to be moved into engagement with the tip of the bit and to cause the driving pulley 8 to be clutched to the shaft 2, thus causing the bit to be rotated. A further movement of the handle 56 in the same direction causes the bit st 'aightening devices to engage the bit, on opposite sides thereof. Preferably, the straightening devices are forced against the bit in such a manner as to bend the same about the curved surfaces of the rollers. This bending operation is carried beyond the point to which the metal of the bit will spring and the bit is bent in opposite directions, it being remembered that the bit is rotated rapidly during this bending operation. In this manner all irregularities are eliminated from the bit except the two large bends. The straightening devices are then gradually withdrawn and the bit is straightened, it being apparent that when the operative faces of the straightening rollers are spaced away from the axis of the bit a distance equal to the radius of the bit the bit will necessarily conform to a straight line so that the complete circumference of those portions of the bit adjacent to the rollers will come in contact with the rotation of the bit. At the end of the straightening operation the handle is re turned or allowed to return under the action the rollers during,

of the counterweight to its normal or idle position, thus again disconnecting the clutch and actuating th chuck 28 to release the bit. As the clutch 28 is withdrawn the head 19 of the chuck 18, which has been forced back against the tension of the spring by the chuck 28, will move forward under the action oi the spring, thus releasing the bit from the chuck and enabling the same to be readily removed. It will be noted. that the yieldingoi' the chuck 28 is such that the device will without other adjustment of the parts accommodat bits 01' different lengths, but where the variation in the length of the bits is too great to be taken care of by the yield-ability of the chuck, then the top plate or bracket which carries the bearings for he shaft 3 may be adjusted axially of the shaft to properly position the chuck o receive such other bits.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention it will be understood that this has been chosen for the purposes of illustration only and that I do not desire to be limited to the details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with spaced means to support a bit at each end and rotate the same, of means arranged between said spaced means and the ends of the bit, said last-mentioned means being adjustable -whereby it can be adjusted to bear on an intermediate portion of the said bit as the latter is being rotated and then adjusted away from said bit, by which operations the bit is straightened.

2. The combination, with means to support a bit and rotate the same about a longitudinal axis, of an adjustable straightening device arranged to fixedly engage said bit between its ends while it is being rotated, and means to move said device first into a position to bend said bit and then into a position to eliminate said bend.

3. The combination, with means to support a bit at each end and means to rotate the same about a longitudinal axis, or" a plurality of straightening devices to engage said bit between its ends while it is being rotated, a part of said devices being arranged on one side of said bit, and a part of said devices being arranged on the other side of said bit, said devices being spaced apart longitudinally of said bit.

4. The combination, with means to support a bit and rotate the same about a longitudinal axis, of a plurality of straightening devices to engage said bit between its ends while it is being rota-ted, a part of said devices being arranged on one side of said bit and a part of said devices being arranged on the other side of said bit, said devices being spaced apart longitudinally of said bit, and

bit and a part of said devices being arranged on the other side of said bit, said devices being spaced apart longitudinally of said bit,

and means for moving said devices simultaneously in opposite directions.

6. The combination, with two devices spaced apart toreceive and support the respective ends of a bit and to rotate said bit, of a straightenmg device arranged to act on said bit between its ends while it is being rotated, one of said supporting devices being yieldably mounted to vary the distance between the two supporting devices as said bit is being straightened. r V

7. The combination, with two devices spaced apart to receive and support the respective ends of a bit,and means to positively drive both of said devices, of a straightening device arranged to act on said bit between its'ends while it is being rotated.

8. The combination, with two devices spaced apart to receiveand support the respective ends of a bit, and to rotate said bit, of a straightening device arranged to act on said bit between its ends while it is being rotated, one of said supporting devices comprising a chuck having parts acting on the end portion of said bit to straighten the same while said straightening device is acting on the intermediate portion of'said bit.

9. The combination, with two devices spaced apart to receive and support the respective ends of a. bit, and to rotate said bit, of a straightening device arranged to act on said bit between its ends while it is being rotated, one ofsaid supporting devices being adapted to receive the shank of said bit and having a part rotatable about a fixed axis, and adapted to receive the extreme end portion of said shank and having another part arranged to engage said shank at a point remote from said end thereof, said last-mentioned part of said device being capable of a limited movement transversely toits axis of rotation.

10. The combination, with two devices spaced apart to receive and support the respective ends of a bit, and to rotate said bit, ofa straightening device arranged to act on said bit between its ends while it is.

7 port a bit being rotated, one of said supporting devices being adapted to receive the shank of said bit and having a part rotatable about a fixed axis and adapted to receive the extreme end portion of said shank and having another part arranged to engage said shank at a point remote from said end thereof, said last-mentioned part of said device being capable of a limited movement transversely to its axis of rotation, and a guide cooperating with the lastunentioned part of said supporting device to straighten the said shank while the bit is being rotated.

11. The combination, .vith means to support a bit and rotate the same about a longitudinal axis, of a straightening device ar ranged to engage said bit between its ends while it is being rotated, said straightening device comprising a convex surface arranged adjacent to and facing said bit and also arranged to curve said bit lengthwise there of when brought into engagement therewith, and means for adjusting said straightening device toward and away from said bit.

12. The combination, with means to supand rotate the same about a longitudinal axis, of a straightening device arranged to engage said bit between its ends while it is being rotated, said straightening device comprising a convex surface arranged adjacent to and facing said bit and also arranged to impart to said bit a curve when brought into engagement therewith, said convex surface having means to retain said bit in engagement therewith and prevent undue friction, and means to adjust said straightening device toward and away from said bit.

13. The combination, with means to support a bit and rotate the same about a 1ongitudinal axis, of a straightening device arranged to engage said bit between its ends while it is being rotated, said straightening device comprising convex surfaces arranged adjacent to and facing said bit and also arranged to impart a curve to said bit when brought into engagement therewith, a convex surface being located on each side of said bit, and means for adjusting said convex surfaces toward and away from said bit, whereby a substantially reverse curve is imparted thereto and then eliminated.

let. The combination, with means to support a bit, and rotate the same about a longitudinal axis, of a pair of convex rollers mounted on each side of the said bit and between the ends thereof, said rollers being mounted on axes parallel to the said longitudinal axis and tapered toward their ends, and means to adjust said rollers toward and away from said bit.

15. The combination, with means to support a bit and rotate the same about a longitudinal axis, of a straightening device arranged to engage said bit between its ends, said straightening device comprising a convex surface provided with means to retain the bit in proper relation thereto and reduce friction mounted on each side of said bit and arranged in different planes longitudinally thereof, and means to adjust said convex surfaces toward and away from said bit. 1

16. The combination, with means to support a bit and rotate the same about a longitudinal axis, of a straightening device mounted between the ends of said bit and adjustable toward and away from said bit, said straightening device comprising a pair of rollers ,mounted on axes parallel with said longitudinal axis, said rollers being tapered toward their ends and convex, said rollers being arranged with reference to said rotating bit, whereby when the same are brought into engagement with the bit the bit will be located in the space between the rollers.

17. The combination, with means to support a bit and rotate the same about a longitudinal axis, of straightening device arranged to engage said bit between its ends while it is being rotated, said straightening device comprising two rollers mounted on parallel axes, tapered toward their ends and arranged to form between them a space to receive said bit.

18. The combination, with a main frame, two shafts rotatably mounted in alinement on said frame and provided at their adjacent ends with chucks to receive the respective ends of a bit, power mechanism, a. clutch to connect said power mechanism with one of said shafts, and one of said chucks being capable of axial movement, of straightening devices arranged to engage opposite sides of said bit between said chucks, said straightening devices being movable toward and away from said bit, and a. single device for actuating said clutch, said chuck and said straightening devices.

19. The combination, with a frame, two shafts rotatably mounted on said frame having their axes coincident, means for rotating said shafts, a chuck secured to one of said shafts, the other of said shafts being hollow, a spindle mounted for axial movement in said hollow shaft, a chuck carried by said spindle, and a spring tending to move said last-mentioned chuck toward the first-mentioned chuck, of straightening devices arranged to act on the bit, which is held by said chucks between its ends.

20. The combination, with a frame, two shafts rotatably mounted on said frame in longitudinal alinement, and having their adjacent ends spaced apart and provided with chucks adapted to receive the respective ends of a bit, of a straightening device arranged to act on said bit between the ends thereof for simultaneously moving said straightening devices toward said bit.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 7

92. The combination, with a' f'arne, .two shafts rotatably mounted on said frame in longitudinal alinement having their adjacent ends spaced apart and provided with chucks adapted to receive the respective ends of a bit, of straightening devices arranged on different sides of said bit, each compris- ELMER T. MOPHERSON.

Washington, I). 0.

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