Not applicable to this application.
Not applicable to this application.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to stock stops and more specifically it relates to an air release stock stop for detecting the end of a bar stock during a machining process on a turning machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
Stock stops have been in use for years. Typically, stock stops utilize a mechanism that activates a switch device after an engaging member on the mechanism comes in contact with the bar stock being machined. The mechanism can electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically control the stopping action of the turning machine by halting the bar stock feeding function of the machine. Unfortunately, stock stops currently used today are operated with mechanisms utilizing many parts that cannot withstand the repetitive operations performed and are difficult to repair when failure does occur.
While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for detecting the end of a bar stock during a machining process on a turning machine. Current stock stops are not able to withstand the repetitive machining operations performed by the lathes or turning machines.
In these respects, the air release stock stop according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of detecting the end of a bar stock during a machining process on a turning machine.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of stock stops now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new air release stock stop construction wherein the same can be utilized for detecting the end of a bar stock during a machining process on a turning machine.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new air release stock stop that has many of the advantages of the stock stops mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new air release stock stop which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art stock stops, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a pivot member hingedly connected to a base member by a shaft, an activation member adjustably connected through the pivot member and a valve unit activated by the pivot member within the base member. The base member fastens to the body of a turning machine such that the connected pivot member and activation member align with the spindle(s) on the turning machine. Preferably a bar stock end fixed within the spindle(s) comes in contact with the activation member as the bar stock is fed out to be machined. The force applied by the bar stock as it contacts the activation member causes the pivot member to rotate about the shaft, activating the valve unit to indicate proper feed for the machining process.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide an air release stock stop that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.
A second object is to provide an air release stock stop for detecting the end of a bar stock during a machining process on a turning machine.
Another object is to provide an air release stock stop that is durable.
An additional object is to provide an air release stock stop that utilizes a ball valve for actuation.
A further object is to provide an air release stock stop that uses few moving parts.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.
Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
a is a side view of the present invention with spindle and bar stock approaching the contact member.
b is a side view of the present invention with the bar stock striking the contact member.
a is a cross sectional side view of the present invention.
b is a cross sectional side view of the present invention when activated.
a is a cross sectional front view of the present invention.
b is a cross sectional front view of the present invention when activated.
A. Overview
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views,
B. Base Member
The base member 20 is preferably made of a rigid material that will not distort when machined or fasteners are used to affix it to a machine. The base member 20 is preferably made of a material which will withstand contact with machining chemicals or solutions and exposure to moisture and humidity such that it will not rust or corrode. The base member 20 may additionally be coated with a finishing material which must withstand contact with machining chemicals or solutions and exposure to moisture and humidity. The base member 20 is preferably machined and hardened from a metal (e.g. 4140 steel) however, it can be appreciated that other methods of manufacturing (e.g. cast) and/or steel compositions or metals (e.g. titanium) could be utilized.
As shown in
As illustrated in
Located within each extension 24, 26 is a first pivot aperture 22. As best shown in
As best shown in
Further located in the base member 20 is an inlet aperture 25. As best shown in
C. Pivot Member
The pivot member 30 is preferably made of a rigid material that will not distort when machined or fasteners are used to affix components within. The pivot member 30 is preferably made of a material which will withstand contact with machining chemicals or solutions and exposure to moisture and humidity such that it will not rust or corrode. The pivot member 30 may additionally be coated with a finishing material which must withstand contact with machining chemicals or solutions and exposure to moisture and humidity. The pivot member 30 is preferably machined and hardened from a metal (e.g. 4140 steel) however, it can be appreciated that other methods of manufacturing (e.g. cast) and/or steel compositions or metals (e.g. titanium) could be utilized.
As most clearly shown in
A first aperture 32 is preferably concentrically located with the semi-circular upper surface of the pivot member 30 and extends through the pivot member 30 from a front surface 38 to a rear surface 39 as shown in
As best shown in
D. Valve Unit
As shown in
As depicted in
E. Activation Member
The activation member 50 is preferably made of a rigid material that will not distort when machined or axial force is applied. The activation member 50 is preferably made of a material which will withstand contact with machining chemicals or solutions and exposure to moisture and humidity such that it will not rust or corrode. The activation member 50 may additionally be coated with a finishing material which must withstand contact with machining chemicals or solutions and exposure to moisture and humidity. The activation member 50 is preferably machined from a metal (e.g. 4140 steel) however, it can be appreciated that other steel compositions or metals (e.g. titanium) could be utilized.
As shown in
As shown in
F. Operation of the Invention
In use, the air release stock stop 10 is preferably utilized for indicating the proper feed of bar stock 18 during a turning machine operation. The air release stock stop 10 can be utilized on a turning machine having a single spindle 19 or multiple spindles 19. The air release stock stop 10 is preferably adjustable to allow for varying mounting configurations on different sized turning machines.
Initially for use, a capable mounting location for the air release stock stop 10 must be located on the turning machine. As best shown in
With the activation member 50 and air release stock stop 10 properly aligned with bar stock 18, the fore and aft positioning of the activation member 50 can be adjusted to permit the desired amount of bar stock 18 to run-out past the spindle 19. As shown in
As shown in
As machining progresses on the bar stock 18, as shown in
What has been described and illustrated herein is a preferred embodiment of the invention along with some of its variations. The terms, descriptions and figures used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, which is intended to be defined by the following claims (and their equivalents) in which all terms are meant in their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.
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