US1313821A - Stone-channeling machine - Google Patents

Description

G. D. HUNTER.

STONE CHANNELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.25. 1915.

'1 3 1 3, 82 1 Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

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llllllllll STAES ATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE DUNN HUNTER, OF BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T0 SULLIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, OF CLAREMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

Application filed August 25, 1915. Serial No. 47,375.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE D. HUNTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bloomington, in the county of Monroe and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stone-Channeling Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The invention relates to in'iprovements in an operating mechanism for stone channeling machines of the direct acting type that is very eilicient in operation and utilizes a minimum number of parts.

Heretofore in the stone channeling art to provide an operating mechanism for the fluid pressure cylinder actuating the gang steels or cutters of a stone channeling machine when it is desired to vary the force imparted to the cutters, due to the condition of the stone or formation to be channeled, it has been customary to adjust the valve operating stem to vary the reversing position of the valve by means of a turn buckle, or other screw adjustments. These structures have proven unsatisfactory as they all require the utilizing of considerable time to make the accurate adjustments. To adjust the controlling valve after the same has been set by the prior constructions much time is lost between each adjustment and the different reversing positions of the valve are also very often set at the wrong point, this requiring the valve stem to be readjusted, or reset, a number of times before the exact adjustment is obtained in order to have the valve reverse at the proper point to give the necessary power to the cutters. The form of adjusting means heretofore employed has been such that shocks or jar of the machine very soon loosens these adjusting devices.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an operating mechanism of the character described, overcoming the chiliculties heretofore encountered and comprising generally a valve controlling mechanism of simple construction whereby the valve may be caused to reverse at different points. with means for fixedly securing the valve in its adjusted position. In this way the force imparted to the gang steels or cutters may be varied and positively held in the desired position to accord With the conditions of the material upon which the machine is working. This is accomplished by adjusting the valve stem to cause the valve to reverse at different predetermined points within the valve chest, correspondingly controlling the movement of the actuating piston for the cutters. It will, of course, be apparent that the adjustment of the valve stem controlling the reversing valve is frequently necessary, due to the fact that as the distance of the cut increases a more powerful blow of the cutter is required to enable the rapid and success ful operation of the machine, and it is essential that the adjustment be such that it can be instantly and accurately made at the will of the operator.

Structurally speaking, the invention comprises a rocking valve lever actuated by means of a suitable driving connection with the reciprocating piston which drives the gang steels or cutters, the lever carrying an adjustable eccentric pin upon which the valve stem is mounted and whereby the valve may be set to reverse at any point. If it is desired to increase the force imparted to the cutters the eccentric pin is adjusted so that the valve takes a relatively long stroke before reversing, this allowing the piston to reciprocate in such a manner that considerable force is applied to the cutters. If a very light blow of the cutters is all that is necessary, the eccentric pin is turned to such a position that the valve reverses at a predetermined point and the piston actuating the cutters reverses at a point above the center line of the cyllnder, it, of course, being understood that any desired adjustments of the valve stem can be made in keeping with the necessary force needed by the cutters for insuring the rapid channeling of the rock.

In the drawings, in Figures 1 to 4 1nclusive, I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention and in F1gs. 5 and 6, a slightly modified construction.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates in side elevation, partly broken away, a machine constructed in accordance with the invention.

' section of the stone" channeling machine forming no part of the present invention but merely shown to illustrate the applica tion of the present device to the machine. Carried by the machine 1 is the cutter op erating cylinder 2 provided with the ordinary reciprocating piston 3 and piston rod 4 secured to the reciprocating cross-head 5, to which the stone channelers or cutters 6, of any desired shape or form, are attached. The cylinder 2 is of the fluid pressure, type and is controlled by a reciprocating reversing valve 7, to be later described.

Arranged adjacent the cylinder is the steam chest or casing 8 having a port 9 leading thereto and inlet and exhaust ports 30 and 31, respectively, leading therefrom and controlled by the reversing reciprocating valve 7 mounted within the chest and actuated by the valve stem 12. The inlet ports 30 communicate with inlet passages 3-2 in the cylinder wall and leading to the opposite ends of the cylinder, while the exhaustport 31 communicates with an exhaust passage 33, also in the cylinder wall, and leading to the atmosphere. The reversing valve 7 is of the ordinary type now in use and a detail description thereof is not thought to be necessary. 'The valve stem 12 has attached thereto at its lower end a connecting mem- V leer-13 having an aperture 14 passing therethrough to permit the attachment of the link 15, which is secured at its opposite end .tothe lever 16 by means of the eccentric pin 17 carried by said lever and a usual link sleeve 15 preferably formed integral with the link 15. The valve lever 16 is provided with a yoke portion 18 near one end for the reception of the eccentric pin 17 upon which the valve stem 12 is mounted. At its outer end the valve lever 16 has an apertured collar 19 pivotally mounted in any suitable manner on a supporting bar 20 to permit this lever to have a rocking movement to reciprocate the valve when the machine is in operation. The opposite end of the lever 16 is provided with a yoke 21 connected by a suitable link to the power head 15 at its lower end, causing the reversing valve to be reciprocated when the cutters are in operation. y

In the stone channeling machine art it has been found that when the cut or channel within the stone increases in depth the force imparted to the cutter must also be inthe eccentric isrotated.

creased to provide means whereby the travel of the valve controlling the steam inlet to the cylinder may be varied to accordingly vary the reversing position of the piston within the cylinder. Frequently the material being acted upon is of a rather soft nature, and when the machine is operating on this kind of material a very light blow of the cutter is all that is necessary. By allowing the piston to be reversed at the center'line or above the center line of the cyl-inder the force imparted to the cutter will be necessarily relatively light. Then again, stone of different degrees of hardness may be encountered, and in order to secure the more effective operation of the machine it is necessary that the stroke of the piston be capable of being increased or decreased at frequent intervals to correspondingly control the power given to the cutters, this being accomplished by adjusting the stem operating the reversing valve so that the valve reverses at different points, it being essential that the adjustment be made and maintained as rapidly as possible and absolutely accurate, so that it is not necessary to reset the valve stem adjusting member, as ordinarily occurs with the older types of machines. To adjust the travel of the valve stem of the present device in keeping with the condition of the material being acted upon and to lock the adjustable parts posi tively in position, the eccentric pin 17 carried by the yoke portion 18 of the valve lever is rotatably mounted so that the travel of the valve may be lengthened or shortened at the will of the operator to properly control the force acting upon the cutters.

The eccentric pin 17 is provided with bearing portions 21 and 21 near each end thereof, journaled within the arms 22 and 22' of the yoke portion-'18 of the valve lever 16. The bearing portion 21 of the eccentric pin is provided with one or more projections or studs 23 projecting from its outer portion and entering the cutout portions 24 in the periphery of the bearing 21 Any suitable form of turning handle may be used, but the preferred construction comprises a turning pin 22 entering the socket 23 in the extended portion of the bearing by which The opposite portion 21 of the eccentric pin is reduced in diameter and has mounted thereon a coil spring 25 bearing against the side of the arm 22 and engaging a'collar 26 secured to the outer end of the bearing by means of a cotter pin orany suitable fastening and normally holding the eccentric pin in such a position that the projections or studs 23 are same is pulled out of the engaging notch.

which depresses against the tension of the coil spring 25 and rotated to the proper position, at which time the coil sprlng causes the cooperating parts to engage each other as shown in Fig. 2. In Figs. 5 and G of the drawings I have illustrated a modification of a fastening means for holding the eccentric pin in different positions of adjustment. In this construction the bearing portion 22' of the valve operating arm is provided with a plurality of apertures 27 passing therethrough, and the eccentric pin also has a series of notches arranged for engagement with a cotter pin 28 that passes through one pair of the notches of the arm 22 and engages the cut-out portions or notches within the pin, retaining this pin in its adjusted position. I

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the operation ofthe device is as follows:

WVhen it is desired to have the gang steels or cutters deliver a very hard blow, the eccentric pin 17 is turned with its high part uppermost, thus causing a late reverse of the valve and allowing the piston to make substantially a complete stroke before reversing. If, however, the cutters are being operated with a greater degree of force than necessary, the high part of the eccentric pin is swung around to a lower position, causing an early reversing of the valve, the piston also reversing at a point above the center line of the cylinder, so that the force imparted to the cutters is very slight. When a medium stroke is required the eccentric pin is shifted to the intermediate point, the eccentric pin at this point causing the valve to be reversed when the piston is substantially on the center line of the cylinder, and thus causing the piston to deliver a medium amount of force to the cutters. It will be apparent that any desired number of adjustments of the eccentric pin can be made, these adjustments corresponding in number 'to the number of retaining notches or cut-out portions arranged in the valve lever so that the stroke of the valve rod may be accurately varied from time to time to accord with the conditions of the material upon which the machine is working by the mere adjustment or turning of the eccentric pin.

In connection with the operation of my improved mechanism, it will also be noted that it is not only possible, by the adjustment of the eccentric into the position shown in Fig. 3, or into a position 180 therefrom, to adjust the travel of the valve without varying the time of action thereof, but it is also possible, by adjusting the eccentric into its intermediate positions, to adjust, not only the travel of the valve, but the time of action of the same. Thus, in the operation of the channeler, the runner may not only conveniently adjust the travel of the valve in such a manner as to vary the amount of pressure fluid supplied to the channeling motor, and thereby vary the force of the blow, but he is also able to vary the time of operation of the valve in such a manner as to tend to vary the travel of the piston within the cylinder and thus obtain a variation in the blow even when the power supplied is constant. For example, it will be noted that, should the pressure fluid supply be low, the runner is able to maintain or even increase the power of the blow obtainable by varying the time of operation of the valve in such a manner as to tend to increase the travel of the piston, since, as this increase in piston travel is prevented by engagement of the cutting tool with the rock, the result is an increase in the power of the blow. In this last instance, it will also be noted that it is unnecessary for the operator to make any other adjustment, a single simple adjustment of the eccentric into one of the intermediate positions serving both to adjust the travel of the valve and the time of actuation thereof. This is a feature of decided merit, as not only is the time of av skilled runner saved by the elimination of the necessity for any additional adjustment when it is necessary to adjust both the travel and time of operation of the valve. but the difliculties arising from inaccuracies of such plural adjustments by an unskilled runner are largely eliminated, the mechanism being so simple that even the average runner may very readily learn the effects on the cut-off valve of the several positions of the eccentric, and thus readily and quickly adjust the eecentric to the particular conditions under which the machine is operating.

While I have in this application specifically described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice. it will be noted that the form shown herein is used for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit. it being my intention to include all such modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of a cutter. a motor for driving said cutter. a valve for said motor. operating mechanism for said valve. a movable eccentric carried by said mechanism for changing the reversing positions of the valve. and means for positively locking the eccentric to the operatingmcchanism, substantially as described.

2. The combination in a stone channeling machine. of a cutter, a motor for driving said cutter, a valve for controlling said motor, valve actuating mechanism associated with said valve, a bodily movable ec-;

ciated With said valve, a bodily movable rotatable eccentric carried by said actuating mechanism for varying the reversing movement of the valve, and means for positively locking the eccentric in its adjusted position, substantially as described.

4. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of a cutter, a fluid motor for driving said cutter, a valve therefor, a valve controll ng mechanism comprising a rocking lever and a valvestem, an eccentric mounted on said rocking lever and connected with the stem, means for adjusting said eccentric to vary the reversing position of the valve, and means for positively locking the eccentric in its adjusted position to the valve lever substantially as described, 7

5. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of acutter, a fluid motor fordriving said cutter, a valve therefor, a valve; controlling mechanism comprismg a rocking valve lever, and a valve stem, an eccentric mounted on said rocking lever and con-' nected withthe stem, and -means for adjusting said eccentric to change the reversing position of the valve, and means for positively locking said eccentric in its adjusted position, substantially'as described.

6. The combination. in a'stone channeling machine, of a cutter, a fluid pressure motor for driving said cutter, a valve for said motor, an operating mechanism for said valve comprising a movable lever, an eccen trio carried bv said lever, a valve operating stem for actuating the valve connected to said eccentric, means for adjusting said eccentric to change the reversing position of the valve, and means for locking the eccentrio in its adjusted position to the movable lever, substantially as described.

7. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of a cutter, a fluid pressure motor for driving said cutter, a valve for said motor, an operating mechanismfor ,said valve comprising a-movable lever, an eccentric carried by said lever, a valve operating stem for actuating the valve connected to said eccentric, and means for adjusting said eccentric tochange the reversing position of the valve, means for positively locking the eccentric in its adjusted position, substantially as described. 7

for actuating the valve connected with the eccentric, and means for adjusting said eccentric whereby the reversing position of the valve maybe varied, and an interlocking connection between the eccentric and valve lever whereby the eccentric is positively locked in its adjusted position.

9. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of a cutter, a fluid pressure motor for said cutter, a reciprocating valve for said motor, an operating mechanism for the reciprocating valve comprising a rocking valve lever, a rotatably mounted eccentric carried by said lever, a valve operating stem for actuating the valve mounted on said eccentric, and means comprising interlocking teeth adapted to engage the rocking lever for retaining the eccentric in its adjusted position, substantially as described.

10. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of a cutter, a motor driving said cutter, a controlling mechanism for said motor, and a bodily movable'adjustable eccentric carried by said controlling mecha nism, for varying the force impartedto the cutter, and means for positively locking the eccentric in its adjusted position to thecontrolling mechanism,- substantially as described.

11. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of a cutter, a fluid pressure motor having a piston therein for driving said cutter, a valve for said motor, means for actuating said valve comprising a movable lever, a movable eccentric pin having a bearing position carried by said lever, a valve operating stemconnected, with' said eccentric pin, and means for moving said eccentric pin to change the reversing posi-, tion of the valve, substantially as described.

12. The combination in, a stone cutting machine, of a-cutter, a fluid motor for said cutter, avalve for. said motor, a valve controlling mechanism comprising a rocking lever having a yoke portion near one end thereof, an eccentric pin 'mounted in said yoke portion, a valve operating stem connected to the eccentric, and m.eans -for adjusting said eccentric to vary the stroke of the valve.- 7

13. The combination in a stone cutting machine, of a cutter, a fluid motor for said cutter, a valve for said motor, a valve controlling mechanism for said valve comprispin journaled in said yoke portion, a valve operating stem connected with said eccentric, and means comprising a pin and socket connection between said eccentric and rocking arm for positively retaining the same in its adjusted position.

14:. The combination in a stone channeling machine of a cutter, a fluid motor for driving said cutter, a valve therefor, a valve controlling mechanism comprising a rocking lever and valve stem, an eccentric having a bearing portion at each end thereof journaled in said rocking lever, and means for adjusting said eccentric to vary the reversing position of the valve, the said eccentric and valve stem adapted to be locked together to positivelyretain the eccentric in its adjusted position.

The combination ina stone cutting machine of a cutter, a fluid motor for said cutter, a valve for said motor, a valve controlling mechanism comprising a rocking lever having a yoke pOItiOIl, an eccentric pin having bearing portions at each end journaled in the yoke, a valve operating stem connected with the eccentric, and means for adjusting said stem to vary the stroke of the valve.

16. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of a cutter, a fluid motor for said cutter, a valve for said motor, a valve controlling mechanism comprising a rocking lever having a yoke portion, an eccentric pin having bearing portions at each end journaled in the yoke, a valve operating stem connected with the eccentric, means for ad justing said stem to vary the stroke of the valve, and a resilient member carried by one of the bearin portions for retaining the eccentric in a loc ed position when the same has been adjusted.

17 The combination in a stone cutting machine, of a cutter, a fluid motor for said cutter, a valve for said motor, a valve controlling mechanism comprising a rocking lever and an eccentric pin having bearing portions at each end thereof journaled on said lever, a valve operating stem connected to said eccentric, and an extension projecting from one of the bearing members of the eccentric to ermit the attachment of a handle thereto 'or adjusting the said eccentric to vary the stroke of the valve.

18.. The combination in a stone channelin machine, of a cutter, a fluid motor for said cutter, a valve for said motor, a valve controlling mechanism comprising a rocking lever, and an eccentric pin having bearing portions at each end thereof journaled on said lever, a valve operating stem connected to said eccentric, an extension projecting from one of the bearing members of the eccentric to permit the attachment of a handle thereto for adjusting the said eccentric to vary the stroke of the valve, and a resilivalve to be simultaneousl ent member on the other of said bearing portions of the eccentric for retaining the eccentric after the same has been adjusted in a locked position.

19. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of a cutter, a fluid pressure motor for said cutter, a valve for said motor, an operating mechanism for the valve comprising a rocking valve lever, an eccentric carried by said lever, a valve operating stem for actuating the valve connected to the cocentric, and an interlocking connection between the rocking lever and eccentric for retaining the eccentric in its adjusted position, substantially as described.

20. The combination in a stone channeling machine, oi a cutter, a fluid pressure motor having a iston therein for driving said cutter, a valve for the motor, means for actuating the valve comprising a movable lever, an eccentric carried by said lever, a valve stem attached to the valve and connected with said eccentric, means for moving the eccentric to change the reversing position of the valve, and meansior locking the eccentric in its adjusted position, substantially as described.

21. In combination, a tool, a driving metor therefor, a motor controlling valve, an operating member therefor, operative connections between said member and motor, an adjustable valve controlling eccentric carried by said connections, and means for holding the eccentric in its adjusted positions.

The combination in a stone channeling machine, of channeling cutters, a motor for reciprocating said cutters, a valve for said motor, mechanism operated by said motor tor automatically actuating said valve, and a single adjustable means in said mechanism for causing the automatic actuation of said valve to be varied both as to the travel and the time of operation thereof.

23. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of channeling cutters, a motor for reciprocating said cutters, a valve for said motor, mechanism operated by said motor for automatically actuating said valve, and a single adjustable means in said mechanism for causing the automatic actuation of said varied both as to the travel and the time 0t operation thereof.

24. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of channeling cutters, a motor for reciprocating said cutters, a cut-off valve for said motor, mechanism operated by said motor for automatically actuating said cut-off valve, and means in said mechanism including an adjustable eccentric for causing the automatic actuation of said valve to be varied both as to the travel and the time of operation thereof.

25. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of channeling cutters, a motor for reciprocating said cutters, a cut-off valve for said motor, actuating mechanism for said cut-off valve operated by said motor, means including an adjustable eccentric for si1nultaneously adjusting both the travel and the time of operation of said cut-01f valve, and means for holding said eccentric in each poand the time of operation of the valve.

27. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of channeling cutters, a motor for reciprocating said cutters, a valve forsaid motor, actuating mechanism for said valve operated by said motor, and a single adjustable means including a rotatable eccentric adjustable into one position to vary the travel of the valve without varying the time of operation thereof and adjustable into another position to Vary both the travel and the time of operation of the valve.

28.- In combination, a valve lever, a pin journaled therein having an eccentric p0rtion, a valve stem carried on said eccentric portion, a projection formed on said pin receivable in a notch in said lever, and resilient means between said lever and pin nor- 'mally holding said'projection seated. in said notch.

29. In combination, atool, a driving motor therefor, a motor controlling valve, and

operating mechanism for said valve comprising a movable lever, an adjustable eccentric carried by said lever, a valve stem connected to said eccentric, and means for locking said eccentric in adj usted position to said lever.

30. In combination, a tool, a driving motor therefor, a motor controlling valve, and operating mechanism for said valve comprising a movable lever, an adjustable eccentric carried by said lever, a valve stem connected to said eccentric, and means comprising interlocking teeth on said eccentric 32. In combination, a percussive tool, a

driving motortherefor, a motor controlling valve, mechanism operated by. said motor for actuating said valve, and a single adjustable means including a rotatable eccentric adjustable, into one position to vary the travel of the valve without varying the time of operation thereof and adjustable into another position to vary both the travel and the time of operation of the valve.

' 33. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of a channeling tool or gang, an actuating motor therefor comprising a fluid pressure cylinder and a piston therein," a valve for said motor,and mechanism for operating said valve from said piston including an adjustable eccentric and means for holding said eccentric in adjusted position.

34. The combination in a stone channeling machine, of a channeling toolor gang, an actuating motor therefor comprising a fluid pressure cylinder and a piston therein, a valve for said motor, and mechanism for operating said valve from, saidpiston 1 in cluding a valve stem, a rocking lever, an adjustable eccentric, and means for hold ing said eccentric in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature'in presence of two witnesses.

DUNN HUNTER. Witnesses;

J- W. OHA'RRoNs, LYMAN FULK.

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