TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention is related to a coupling comprising a female and a male member having co-operating wedge surfaces, which are movable into and out of contact with each other by generally axial relativo movement of the members, said coupling comprising means to urge the wedge surfaces into intimate contact with each other upon tightening of the coupling.

Such a coupling is advantageous for erecting guides for boring machines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Such a coupling is- disclosed in the Swedish patent 157 300 and comprises a pre-tensioned spring, which only has the purpose to maintain the connection should the tightening me ns formed by an eccentric be undeliberately released. When the locking by the eccentric is ^* correct, the spring has no function. The tension of the spring is reduced on tightening of the coupling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to improve this coupling so that the spring always will have a certain influence on the maintaining of the tightened state of the coupling. This object is obtained in that the spring is adapted, upon tightening, of the coupling, to accumulate spring force urging tho wedge surfaces of the members towards each other. Thus, the tensioning means and the spring will act in "series" so that the tightening will give rise to the spring force. According to the Swedish patent, the tighte¬ ning means and the spring function in parallel.

Other preferable features of the invention are defined in the appendant claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the appended drawings, a specific dis¬ closure of a preferred embodiment will follow hereinafter.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective, partly simplified view of the boring assembly according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section through a feed member of the assembly, a column and a boring machine member being illustrated partly cut;

Fig. 3 is a section through a coupling between two members, which together form the column of the boring assembly; and Fig. 4 is a section IV-IV in Fig. 3. BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The boring assembly illustrated in Fig. 1 includes a bottom plate 1, a column 2, a boring tool 5, a boring machine member 4 _> which drives the tool, and a feed member 5 _» on which the boring machine member 4 is mounted. The bottom plate 1 may in practice be constructed from alu¬ minium alloy and may, at its lower side, have a conventional endless scaling ring, which confines a space from which tho air may be evacuated so as to obtain a vacuum by means of which the plate is adhered to and rigidly anchored relative to the ground, e.g. a floor.

The column 2 is connected to bottom plate 1 through a connec¬ tion 6 of conical type, which allows rotation of- column 2 rela¬ tive to the bottom plate as indicated by the dashed lines in the figure. More specifically, the connection 6 comprises two halves 7 and 8, the firπt-montioned half 7 being rigidly connected to bottom plato 1 through α cockr.t 9 nnd comprising a conical female recess (not visible) in which a male projection, which in a cor¬ responding manner is conical, on the half 8 is introduced, the half 8 being in turn rigidly connected to a, hollow shaft portion 10 projecting sidewardly and attached to the lower portion 11 of the column. Λ tightening bolt 12 extends through the center of the shaft 10 and is threadedly connected to the female connection half 7. By tightening bolt 12, the conical surfaces of halveπ 7, 8 are moved into contact while obtaining a frictionαl connection between the column and bottom plate. By releasing bolt 12, column

2 will be free to pivot into any inclined position relative to the bottom plate and thereafter, the column may be fixed in said position by tightening bolt 12.

The column 2 may, as mentioned, be assembled by several elements, two of which are illustrated in Fig. 1, namely ele¬ ments 13» 1-1. These elements are identically designed except that their length differs. Thus, each clement is prepared from a rectangular tube having comparatively large wall thickness, e.g. in the order of 3 - 4 ran. A rack 15 (see element 13) is provided along one wall of the tube, said rack extending all along the element and forming, together with a corresponding rack of the adjacent element (see rack 15' on element 14), continuous cogway all along the column in its assembled state. More specifically, the cogway 15» 15* ic generally centrally arranged along the tube wall so that planar runways 16, 17 are formed on opposite sides of the cogway for rotary members in feed member 5«

The tube elements 13, 14 are interconnected through a coup¬ ling illustrated in detail in Figs. 3 and *\ said coupling in- eluding a female member at the lower end of each column tube ele¬ ment and a male element at the upper end of each tube element.

Reference is now made to Figs 3 and 4 illustrating the coupling according to the invention. In the drawing, the male member in the coupling is denoted 18 while the female member is denoted 19 _* The male member 18 has a wedge surface formed by an external conical surface 20, while the female member 1 has an internal conical surface 21 with generally the same conicity as surface 20. Female member 1 is formed by a tubular body which is welded or otherwise rigidly connected to the lower part of the column element, e.g. the tube 1 . The male member 18 compri¬ ses two elements movable relative to each other along axis 22, namely a first element 2 comprising theconical surface 20, said element being welded or otherwise anchored to the upper end of the column element 13, and a second element formed by a head, a

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pull rod 25 having a thread 2β projecting downwardly from the lower side of the head-. A nut 27 is engaged with the thread and between the nut and a downwardly directed abutment surface 28 of element 23 there is a strong disc spring 29 urging to maintain the head 24 against an upwardly directed annular abutment sur¬ face 30 of element 23.

The female member 19 and movable head 24 of the male mem¬ ber have holes extending along the transverse axis 5 • More spe¬ cifically, the female member 1 has two diametrically opposed holes 32, 33 _> which are located on opposite sides of the female recess of theiaember and the first-mentioned of which has a larger diameter than the last-mentioned. In the head 24, there is a hole 34 having an oblong cross section. The holes 32, 33 are in this embodiment defined by bushings 35, 36. Λ eccentric 37 is introduced into the holes 3 , 33 _. 34 _» said eccentric having two cylindrical- and concentrical end portions 38,39 located along the axis 3 and having different diameters to fit into corresponding holes in the female member and a cylindrical portion 40 located between the two end portions and having a center axis being eccen- trie relative to axis 31 common to the end portion.

In the larger end portion 38 of the eccentric, a recess.41 , e.g. rectangular, is provided for a suitable operating handle or key.

The coupling described operates in the following way. Prior to assembly of the tube elements 15, 14 provided with the male and female members, the eccentric i3 separated from other coup¬ ling parts. V/hen coupling is to be carried out, the male and fe¬ male members are provisionally moved together so that the two transverse holes 32, 33 of the female member are generally aligned with transverse hole 34 in the head 24 of the male member. In this position, the eccentric 37 is introduced into the holes so that the forward pinlike end portion 39 is engaged with hole 33 _* A rather small clearance between end portions 38, 39 and corres¬ ponding holes 32, 33 is at hand, while the clearance between in—

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termediate portion 40 and corresponding hole 34 in head 24 m y be rather large. The eccentric is now rotated about 0 , e.g. through operating handle 42 illustrated in Fig. 1. This means that the conical surfaces 20, 21 of the male and female members are pressed together into intimate contact with each other at the same time as the spring 29 is tensioned by transmission of power through the head 24, pull rod 25 and nut 27; which in turn means that eccentric 37 s safely maintained in the assumed position of rotation. The non-conical lower half of the first element 23 of the male member protrudes somewhat above the upper end edge of the tube element 15 and the lower edge of female member 1 is loca¬ ted somewhat above the lower edge of the upper tube element 14. The exterior of element 23 is rectangular with the same cross section as the two tube elements 13 _» 14 _» which means that the two tube elements are prevented from rotation relative to each other when the rectangular section 23' of element 3 protrudes into the corresponding rectangular lower part of tube element 14.

The coupling is released in the following manner. The eccen- trie 37 is rotated at least 180 so that the eccentric interme¬ diate portion 40 will actagainst the lower planar surface of the hole 34 in head 24 _» which means that head 24 urges the element 23 of male member 18 downwardly GO that tho frictional engagement between conical surfacoπ 20, 21 ceases, ubr-oquontly, the cccon— trie 37 is removed from the holes and the male and femalo memborπ may be separated.

It is to be observed that the eccentric may be operated from the side of tube element 14 in that the eccentric and the holes in which it may be introduced extend transversely relative to the length of the tube elements.

With the coupling illustrated in Figs, 3 and 4 it is possible to erect boring frame column, from several elements in extremoly limited time.

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Referring to Fig. 1, not only the tube elements 13 and 14 are interconnected through a coupling of the kind described, as indicated by eccentric 37 _. hut also the lower part 11 of the column and tho tube element 3 are interconnected by such a coupling as indicated at 37' i Fig, 1

Λs appears from Fig, 1 , the boring machine part 4 previously described is assembled from several components, namely a motor 43 indicated with dashed lines, a gearbox 44 and a frame portion 45 _» to which the gearbox is attached. As mentioned, the boring machine part 4 according to tho invention ic connected to the feed member 5 _» which is movable along the column, through a quick locking means. The features of this quick locking means appear specifically from Fig. 2, to which reference is made.

In Fig. 2, the boring machine part or more specifically, the frame portion 45 thereof, is only indicated to the left in the figure. At its end facing feed member 5» the frame portion 45 is at the bottom provided with a rim 46 of wear resistant material. The rim may be attached to frame portion by screws 47 indicated with dashed lines in the figure. Rim 46 co-operates with a si i- lar rim 48 screwed onto feed member 5. This co-operation is achieved via two inclined wedge—like surfaces, namely a first wedge surface -19 on rim 6 extending obliquely outwardly and downwardly o frame member 45 and a second wedge surface on rim 48 extending obliquely upwardly and outwardly from feed mem— ber 5.

At tho top, frame portion 45 has a part inclined relative to the ground plane, a planar and inclined rim 51 of wear resistant material being provided on said part. This rim 5 co-operates with a tightening means formed by an eccentric 2 on feed member 5 _* I practice, the eccentric 52 may be formed by a body, which is cylindrical although partly planar at 53 and which at its op¬ posite ends is eccentrically supported in those flanges or walls which pertain to feed member and are denoted 54, 55 n Fig. 1.

Body 52 in rotatable by handle 42 via a projection 56 having a recess.

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The boring machine part 4 is mounted on feed member 5 in the following manner: The eccentric 52 is rotated into the posi¬ tion indicated with dashed lines in Fig. 2, in which the planar surface 53 n facing downwardly. In thi3 state, frame portion 45 is provisionally hooked onto feed member 5 engaging the rims 46, 48. Thereafter, the frame portion is pivoted upwardly in a clockwise direction about the pivot center established at rims 46, 48 so that frame portion 45 assumes the position of Fig. 2, in which the front face 57 of the frame portion abuts against corresponding vertical surface of the feed member. This action may occur without interference from eccentric 2 in that rim 51 freely passes under the downwardly directed planar surface 53 _* The frαmo portion in finally tightened by rotating eccentric 180° to tho position illustrated in full lines in Fig, 2, in which the eccentric actuates the frame portion 45 with a force directed obliquely downwardly. The horizontal component of this force urges the frame portion inwardly towards feed member 5 and the vertical component is, at wedge surfaces 49, 50, divided in such a manner that also there a horizontal force component is ob— tained which urges the lower part ofthe frame portion towards feed member 5. Thus, the two wedge surfaces 49 _» 50 have the dual func¬ tion to serve as a provisional attachment for the frame portion during mounting and to steadily wedge or the frame portion against the feed member. From Fig. 2 it also appears, that feed member 5 is guided along column 2 via a number of rotary elements formed by wheels or rollers. More specifically, the feed member has four pairs 58, 59, 60 and 61 of wheels. Each wheel pair includes two wheels separated along the wheel axis. The two first-mentioned pairs of wheels 58, 59 which are arranged on one side of coluπin 2 have the wheels in each pair located on opposite sides of cogway 1 , the wheels being adapted to roll along the runways 16, 17 in Fig. 1, These two pairs of wheels 58, 59 are stationarϋyr;upportcd rela¬ tive to eed member 5, i.e. the wheels arc rotatable relative

to their axis of rotation but the axis i3 immovable relative to the side flanges 54» 55 of the feed member.

The two other wheel pairs 60, 61 located on the opposite side of the column are supported on a common carrier formed by a bar 62 which in turn is pivotably supported relative to frame member 5 via axis 63. Thus, the axes of wheel pairs 60, 61 are not directly connected to feed member 5» Since wheel pairs 60, 61 in thi3 way are supported on a common carrier pivotable re¬ lative to feed member 5 _> it is ensured that both wheel pairs always abut the runway on the rear side of the column indepen¬ dently of any tendency of feed member to pivot about wheel pair 58 as a consequence of the torque imparted on the feed member from the counter-force from the boring tool 3 during boring. This means that any tendency to jamming of the feed member is elimina— ted; which in turn meanα that the force required from the opera¬ tor to obtain a certain feed velocity of the boring tool is minimal.

The axis 63, about which carrier 62 is pivotable, may pre¬ ferably be adjustable and securable relative to the feed member as indicated with the dashed line in Fig. 2. This adjustability may be realized by designing the axis as part of an eccentric. Tho a us ability enables tightening of the wheel pairs 60, 61 towards wheel pairs 58, 59 no as to ensure contact of all wheel pairs againπt the runways without play. It is to be observed that the distance between wheel pair 61 and axis 63 is smaller than the distance between wheel pair 60 and the same axis. This means that the force which is exerted on wheel pair 61 via axis 63 as a consequence of the torque acting upwardly on the feed member is greater than the corresponding force on the wheel pair 60 and that axis 63 is comparatively close to the wheel pair 1 which firut engages the runway, when the feed member ic threaded on¬ to column 2. At said threading the wheel pair 61 is free to pivot relative to axis 63 which is not tho case when the upper wheel pair contacts the upper edge of the column. In order not to cause

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undue resistance during threading of the two upper wheel pairs 58, 60 it is, as illustrated in Fig. 2, preferable to have a _. lever as long as posr-.iblc between axis 63 and wheel pair 60,

To feed the feed member along the column, a gear arrange- ment is provided, which comprises two meshing gears 64 _> 6 , the first-mentioned gear engaging the cogway 15 while the latter ha3 a transversal projection 66 (see Fig. 1 ) to which handle 42 may be connected.

The tube elements to form the column 2 may be at hand in varying lengthsjso as to enable erection of a column having a length corresponding to -varying floor heights in buildings etc,

Tho invention in of ccrurπe not limited only to the embodi¬ ment described and illustrated. Thus, the coupling described relative to Figs, 3 a d 4 may be used in other connections than in a boring assembly. E.g. the coupling may be used with column- like or tubular components of the kind used in erecting scaffolds or tubular components for obtaining frames, e.g. buliding frames. Instead of an eccentric of the kind described, other means, e.g. wedges, which are introduced into and out of transversal holes in the members, may be used in all applications for tightening the male and female members.

The feature described with tho aid of Fig. 2, i.e. to arrange the separated wheel pairs 60, 61 on a common pivotable carrier, may bo applied not only on feed members for boring assemblies, but on any machine element movable along a longitudinal guide and at the same time subjected to torque. Arbitrary rotary mem¬ bers may be used instead of wheels arranged in pairs, e.g. simple rollers, balls etc. In the embodiment described, two separated first rotary members 58, 59 are shown on one side of the column 2 and two separated second members supported on the common pivo¬ table carrier according to the invention. In the widest application of tho invention, the number of first rotary members may be arbitrary, from one upwardly, while the number of second

rotary elements may vary from two upwardly. Furthermore, it is possible to arrange the first and second sets of rotary members internally within a guide in the form of a groove having runways ' facing towards each other, against which the rotary members are pressed outwardly, instead of providing the rotary members on opposite sides of a central guide formed by column 2. Two or more carriers 62, each comprising at least two separated rotary members, may be pivotably connected to a main carrier common to two or more such carriers. Also other modifications of the invention are conceivable within the scope of the appended claims.

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