US3318608A

US3318608A - Adjustable pusher devices

Info

Publication number: US3318608A
Application number: US361517A
Authority: US
Inventors: Larry F Smrekar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-04-21
Filing date: 1964-04-21
Publication date: 1967-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 1984-05-09

Description

y 1967 L. F. SMREKAR ADJUSTABLE PUSHER DEVICES Filed April Zl, 1964 INVENTOR.

LARRY E SMRE KAR BY |3A I30 FE.

ATTORN EYS United States Patent Ofifice 3,318,693 Patented May 9, 1967 3,318,608 ADJUSTABLE PUSHER DEVICES Larry F. Smrekar, 6604 Solon Blvd., Solon, Ohio 44139 Filed Apr. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 361,517 11 Claims. (Cl. 279--59) My invention relates to pushers or feeders for advancing stock in a machine tool or other apparatus, such as an automatic screw machine. The pusher or feeder of the present invention is of the general class or kind shown in my prior US. Patents No. 2,833,545 and No. 2,872,199 and embodies important improvements over the devices shown in those patents.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pusher device so constructed and arranged as to have a minimum of parts externally of the stock being fed by the device.

Another object is the provision in which the stockgripping pad members have only one tube or shell disposed externally thereof rather than two or more tubes or shells.

Another object is the provision for elimination of resilient feed lingers within the shell or outer member of a pusher, such as incorporated in the above-identified patents.

Another object is the provision in such a device for incorporating longitudinally resilient means for exerting resilient tension on the pad members, which longitudinal resilient means is disposed internally of the outer shell or tubular member of the device.

Another object is the provision for improved efliciency in the operation of such a device by an economically fabricated structure.

Another object is the provision for producing new and superior results by novel means.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a device embodying my invention and looking in the direction of the arrows 11 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view partially in section of a pusher device embodying my invention;

FIGURE 3 is an endwise view of my device looking in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 44 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 55 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of my pusher device; and

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 77 of FIGURE 6.

In the preferred form of my invention as illustrated in the drawings, my device has a shell or outer tubular member 11. Ecceutrically mounted or nested within the shell or outer tubular member 11 is an inner tubular member 13. The

tubular members

11 and 13 are threadably interengaged adjacent the rearward end, that is, its end to the right in FIGURES 1 and 2, -by the internally threaded end portion 11A interconnected with threaded portion 13H of the inner tubular member 13. Rotation of the inner tubular member 13 relative to the outer tubular member 11 causes relative axial movement of the inner tubular member 13 by reason of this threaded interengagement of portions 11A and 13H.

The rearwardmost end portion of the inner tubular member -13 is threaded as at 13F, which threaded portion 13F is threadably engaged to a support 14 partially shown in broken lines in FIGURES 1 and 2. This support 14 supports and axially moves my pusher device during its cycle of operation in feeding stock 15 to a screw machine or the like.

Within the shell or outer tubular member v11 and forwardly of the inner tubular member 13, that is, at its left-hand end as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, there are three stock-engaging pad members 12. More or less numbers of pad members may be utilized in the place of the three pad members illustrated. These pad members 12 are disposed around the axis of the device and together form a central bore through which stock 15 may pass, the inner surfaces of the pad members 12 being adapted to grippingly engage the stock 15 upon the pad members moving radially inward against the outer surfaces of the stock.

At the outer corners of the three pad members 12, the pad members are notched or cut away to form notched comers 12C as better illustrated in FIGURE 5. The tubular member 11 has three key or pad-retaining por tions 11B extending radially inward from the circumferential wall thereof. These keys or pad-retaining por tions 11B are formed by longitudinal slits formed in the wall of the tubular member 11 and the material there- 'between is pressed inwardly by a forming operation to provide these three keys 11B equidistantly located around the member 11. These keys 11B fit within the opposed notched corners 12C and prevent the pad members 12 from freely revolving within the tubular member 11 and relative thereto.

Adjacent the forward end of the tubular member 11, there is provided an internal shoulder 11D which slopes or inclines both forwardly and radially inward of the inner wall of the member 11. The forward end face of the respective pad members 12 are provided with sloping or inclined faces 12A which complement and engage the sloping internal shoulder 11D.

The opposite end faces, that is, the rearwardly directed end faces of the pad members 12 are provided with sloping or inclined rear faces 12B which extend rearwardly and radially inward from adjacent the inner Wall of the member 11. The forward end of the inner tubular member -13 is provided with a sloping end face 13] which complements and engages the sloping rearward end face 128 of the pad members 12. By reason of the disposition of the respective interengaged faces 11D and 12A and interengaged faces 12B and 13], camming means are provided whereby forward movement of the forward end face of the inner tubular member 13 relative to the internal shoulder 11D causes the pad members 12 to be moved radially inward toward the axis of the device.

While other suitable camming arrangements may be utilized, the above arrangement is a preferred method for translating axial movement of the inner member 13 into radial movement of the pad members 12. The interengaged surfaces need not necessarily complement each other in degree of slope of inclination. It is required, however, that the arrangements of the intercugaged surfaces be such that forward axial movement of the forward end of the inner member 13 toward the internal shoulder 11B of the outer member 11 causes the pad members 12 to move inwardly upon the stock 15.

The forward end of the outer member 11 is provided with a cross-notch 11E and the rearward end of the member 13 is provided with a cross-notch 13G. These crossnotches 11B and 13G accommodate tools for turning or rotating one of the

members

11 and 13 relative to the other.

For indicating the rotative position of the inner member 13 relative to the outer member 11, I provide indicia the outer circumferential surface of the member 13. A sighthole 11C is provided in the wall of the member 11 so that one may look through the sighthole 11C and by observing the particular number in line with the sighthole 11C readily determine the relative rotative position of the

members

11 and 13. I

The inner tubular member 13 is provided with means for giving it longitudinal resilient compressibility. In the preferred form of my invention, this resilient c mpressibility is provided by a plurality of cross-slots cut down transversely through the wall of the tubular member 13 beyond the halfway mark, that is, beyond a plane coinciding with the axis of the member 13. In the form illustrated, there is a first cross-slot 13A which terminates with round portions 13B. Toward the rearward end of the member 13 is a second cross-slot 13C which terminates with the rounded end portion 13D. The depth and disposition of these cross-slots is such that by compressing the member 13 in an axial direction between its forward end face 13] and its anchored or threaded portion 13H, there is a resilient yielding or giving in a longitudinal direction. Thus, upon the turning of the inner member 13 relative to the outer member 11 and imparting forward axial movement thereto so as to press the forward end face 13] against the rearward end face 12B of the pad members 12 and meeting resistance by the pad members 12, the reaction is such as to resiliently compress the inner member 13 in a longitudinal direction. Thus, forward movement of the forward end face 13] against the pad members moved the pad members radially inward and to the degree that the pad members resist radial inward movement upon engaging the stock 15, the member 13 is resiliently compressed in a longitudinal direction. This longitudinal resiliency maintains a resilient urging against the pad members so that the camming means previously described resiliently urges the pad members inwardly against the stock 15. Thus, there is not only positive urging of the .pad members radially inward, but to the degree of the resilient compression of the member v13, there is added a resilient action which maintains a radially inward force upon the pad members 12. By proper adjustment of the rotative position of the member 13 relative to the member 11, the degree of inward movement on the pad members 12 is obtained and the desired degree of resilient urging thereon is also assured.

A modified form of inner tubular member is illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7. The device of the modified form is similar to that above described for the preferred form except for the disposition and arrangement of the slots. In this modified form of FIGURE 7, the inner tubular member is denoted by the reference character 17. It is provided with six spirally disposed slots formed in the wall thereof, these being denoted by the

reference characters

17A, 17B, 17C, 17D,.17E and 17F. These slots through the wall of the tubular member 17 also provide a resilient compressibility to the tube member 17 in a longitudinal direction. Preferably both the outer tubular member .11 and the inner

tubular members

13 and 17 are made of appropriate steel. are best made of a steel which provides for the required resiliency as above described upon imparting longitudinal compression to the inner tubular members.

It is to be noted by the arrangement that longitudinally extending fingers are eliminated and the 'difliculty of manipulating the same, such as for opening the forward ends to insert and remove pad members, is obviated. Also it is to be observed that my device may have a smaller external diameter then other devices as, instead of having two tubular members external of the pad members, there is only the tubular member 11 disposed radially outward of the pad members 12. This permits the outer diameter of the device to be maintained at a minimum relative to the stock being accommodated. Other advantages and I benefits will be readily recognized by those having knowl- The inner

tubular members

13 and 17 edge of the limitations and shortcomings of the prior devices.

The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing description.

Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that thepresent disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is::

1. A pusher for advancing stock extending axially of the pusher comprising in combination an inner tube member, an outer tube member concentrically disposed around said inner tube member, said tube members having interengaged threaded portions adjacent the rearward end of said outer tube member, said inner tube member being adapted to be connected adjacent the rearward end thereof to a supporting member, a plurality of pad members disposed in said outer tube member adjacent the forward end thereof and arranged on opposite sides of the axis of the outer tube member for accommodating said stock extending intermediate the pad members, each of said pad members having at its forward end an end face inclined forwardly and radially inward, each of said pad members having at its rearward end an end face inclined rearwardly and radially inward, said outer tube member adjacent its forward end having an inner shoulder inclined forwardly and radially inward and abutting the forward end faces of said pad members, said inner tube member adjacent its forward end having an end face inclined rearwardly and radially inward and abutting the rearward end faces of said pad members, forward movement of the V inner tube member toward said pad members relative to said outer tube member pressing said pad members longitudinally thereof between said abutted forward end face of the inner tube member and said inner shoulder of the outer tube member to camming'ly urge said pad members radially inward to grip stock positioned therebetweenflhe wall of said inner tube member intermediate said forward end face and said threaded portion thereof being slotted transversely of the longitudinal extent thereof to provide resilient compressibility thereto in a longitudinal direction upon being moved longitudinally against said pad memf bers, said resilient compressibility providing for maintain-.

ing pressure on said pad members by the inner tube member moved against the pad members suificiently to resiliently compress the inner tube member in a longitudinal direction. a

2. A pusher for advancing stock extending axially of the pusher comprising the combination of an innertube member adapted to accommodate stock extending therethrough, pad members disposed forwardly of said tube member and disposed on opposite sides of the axis thereof to grip stock along said axis upon said pad members movin g radially inward against the stock, an outer tube member disposed concentrically about said inner tube member and said pad members, said outer tube member having an inner shoulder adjacent its forward end, said pad members being disposed between and in engagement with said inner shoulder and the forward end face of said inner tube member, said inner and outer tube members having threadably interengaged threaded portions adjacent the rearward end of the outer tube member for moving the inner tube member longitudinally relative to the vouter tube member by rotative movement of one to the other, said inner shoulder and the forward end face of said pad members being disposed relative to each other to provide a first camming interengagement, the said forward end face of said inner tube member and the rearward end face of said pad members being disposed relative to each other to provide a second camming interengagement, said cam ming interengagements providing that said pad members are urged radially inward toward stock axially disposed in the pusher upon the forward end face of the inner tube member being moved toward said inner shoulder, said inner tube member having its walls slotted transversely of the longitudinal extent thereof intermediate said forward end face and said threaded portion thereof to provide longitudinal resilient compressibility thereto, forward longitudinal movement of the said threaded portion of the inner tube member relative to the outer tube member by rotative movement of the said interengaged threaded portions of the tube members pressing the forward end face of the inner tube member against the rearward end faces of the pad members to resiliently longitudinally compress the inner tube member for maintaining forward longitudinal pressure on said rearward end faces of the pad members.

3. A pusher as claimed in claim 2 and in which said inner tube member is slotted by a plurality of cross-slots cut through the wall of the inner tube member at spaced locations along its length, the said slots extending transversely thereof more than halfway across the inner tube member.

4. A pusher as claimed in claim 2 and in which said inner tube member is slotted by a plurality of equidistantly spaced slots spirally disposed along said inner tube member.

5. A metal pusher device comprising the combination of an outer tubular member, an inner tubular member concentrically disposed in the outer tube member and a plurality of pad members disposed in the outer tube member around the axis thereof and adapted to grip stock extending axially through the tubular members, said outer tubular member having an internal shoulder adjacent its forward end having a rearwardly directed face spaced from the forward end face of the inner tubular member, the opposite end faces of said pad members being interengageable with said rearwardly directed face of the shoulder and with said forward end face of the inner tubular member, respectively, the said interengageable faces being disposed relative to the axis to cammingly urge said pad members radially inwardly upon said forward end face of the inner tubular member being moved toward said internal shoulder, said tubular members at a location axially spaced rearwardly of said forward end face of the inner tubular member being threadably interengaged whereby relative rotative movement therebetween moves the inner tubular member axially in the outer tubular member to move the forward end face of the inner tubular member relative to said internal shoulder, said inner tubular member having a plurality of slots formed in the wall thereof intermediate said forward end face thereof and said rearward location and angularly disposed to planes coinciding with the axis thereof to impart resilient compressibility in an axial direction to said inner tubular member, reslient compression of said inner tubular member between said pad members and said rearward location resiliently pressing the forward end face of the inner tubular member toward said internal shoulder to resiliently urge said pad members radially inward.

6. A pusher device as claimed in claim 5 and including key means carried by said outer tubular member and protruding radially inwardly to within a circle coinciding with the outer circumferential surface of said pad members for restraining the pad members against revolving relative to the outer tubular member.

7. A pusher device as claimed in claim 5 and in which said outer tubular member has a non-circular internal wall radially outward of the said pad members and said pad members complementarily interfit with said non-circular inner wall to restrain revolving of said pad members around the axis of the outer tubular member relative to said outer tubular member.

8. A pusher device for feeding stock extending axially therethrough comprising the combination of concentric inner and outer tubular members, a plurality of pad members mounted in outer tubular member forwardly of said inner tubular member, adjusting means at a location adjacent the rearward end of said outer tubular member interengaging said tubular members at an axial distance from the forward end of said inner tubular member for providing relative axial movement between the tubular members, first camming means interposed between said inner tubular member and said pad members and second camming means interposed between said outer tubular member and said pad members arranged to provide that forward axial movement of said inner tubular member relative to said outer tubular member by said adjusting means causes said first and second camming means to move said pad members radially inward, said inner tubular member being resilient in an axial direction for resiliently urging upon compression the inner tubular member at the forward end thereof forwardly against said first camming means to resiliently urge said pad members radially inward.

9. A device for gripping stock extending axially of the device comprising the combination of concentrically disposed inner and outer members, pad members within the outer member disposed around the axis thereof to accommodate stock therebetween, opposed surfaces carried by said inner and outer members, respectively, for engaging opposite ends of said pad members therebetween, adjustable engaging means interengaging said inner and outer members at a location spaced from said opposed surface of the inner member for moving said inner member toward said pad members to press said opposed surface of the inner member toward the opposed surface of the outer member and against the pad members, said inner wall member having slots through the wall thereof, and in planes each at an angle to the axis of the inner member, said slots extending circumferential distances avoiding straight longitudinally disposed portions of wall uninterrupted by slots along said inner member to provide longitudinal resilient compressibility to the inner member, said resilient compressibility imparting a resilient force urging the opposed surface of the inner member against the pad members upon the opposed surface of the inner member meeting resistance of the pad members to move ment, the said opposed surfaces of the inner and outer members and said opposite ends of the pad members including camming surfaces for causing the pad members to be urged radially inward upon said opposed surfaces engaging and pressing in an axial direction on said opposite ends of the pad members, movement of the inner member toward the said opposed surface of the outer member by adjustment of said engaging means pressing the opposed surface thereof toward the opposed surface of the outer member to press between them the said opposite ends of the pad members, the resilient compressibility of the inner member being adapted to add thereto the resilient urging of the opposed surface against the adjacent opposite end of the pad members.

10. In a pusher for feeding stock, the combination of gripping pad means, said gripping pad means having inclined surfaces, outer tubular means for accommodating therein the gripping pad means, inner tubular means within the outer tubular means in alignment with the gripping pad means, camming means carried by the outer and inner tubular means engaging said inclined surfaces and operative upon relative movement between said inner and outer tubular means for cammingly moving said gripping pad means inwardly toward gripping engagement with stock therein, said inner tubular means being resilient in an axial direction for adding resiliently yieldable force upon compression thereof to operate said camming means by said inner and outer tubular means.

11. In a pusher device for feeding stock therethrough,

' the combination of movable pad members adapted to grip stock therebetween, an outer tubular member for holdmg the pad members around the axis thereof, an inner tubular member operatively connected to the outer tubular member and aligned with said pad members, and camming means interengaging the outer tubular member, pad members and inner tubular member adjacent the opposite ends of the pad member and arranged to cause the pad members to move radially inward by relative axial movement between said inner and outer tubular members, said inner tubular member being resilient in an axial direction for adding a resilient force to said operation of said camming means to resiliently urge the pad members radially inwardly.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,978,315 10/1934 Lemay.

8 Fischer 27958 X Sheffer 27946 Hasselblad 27946 Smerkar 27947 Cox 279--47 Corlett 27955 FOREIGN PATENTS France.

ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner.

E. A. CARPENTER, H. V. STAHLHUTH,

Assistant Examiners.