LATHES

TOURS

English Abstract

The present invention provides in one aspect a lathe having a bed mounted to be rotatable in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis.
The present invention also provides in another aspect a lathe having a head stock comprising a lathe spindle passing through a hollow
column and within the hollow column means adapted to connect a vacuum to the interior of the lathe spindle.

French Abstract

Cette invention concerne, dans une première réalisation, un tour pourvu d'une table montée de façon à tourner autour d'un axe vertical dans un plan horizontal. Cette invention concerne également, dans une autre réalisation, un tour dont la poupée comporte une broche de tour passant à travers une colonne creuse et à l'intérieur d'un élément de colonne creuse conçu pour relier une dépression à l'intérieur de la broche de tour.

Claims

- 11 -
THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:-
1. A lathe having a bed mounted to be rotatable in a
horizontal plane about a vertical axis.
2. A lathe having a head stock comprising a lathe spindle
passing through a hollow column and within the hollow
column means adapted to connect a vacuum to the
interior of the lathe spindle.
3. A lathe comprising
a first column,
a head stock mounted to the first column,
a second column,
a bed mounted to the second column,
a tail stock mounted to the bed,
means connecting the first and second columns,
and wherein the bed is mounted to the second column to
be rotatable in a horizontal plane about a vertical
axis.
4. A lathe as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the bed is
adapted to be rotated as aforesaid over at least 90°,
more preferably over at least 180°, still more
preferably over at least 270° and most preferably over
at least 360°.
5. A lathe as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the bed is
mounted to move translationally in said horizontal
plane towards and away from the first column.

- 12 -
6. A lathe as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the first
column is provided with locating means adapted to
locate the bed in a particular relation to the first
column.
7. A lathe as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the bed is
mounted to the second column by bed mounting means
adapted to rotate about a vertical axis.
8. A lathe as claimed in Claim 3, wherein releasable
means is provided to hold the bed mounting means in a
selected rotated position about the vertical axis.
9. A lathe as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the bed
mounting means comprises guides for guiding the bed in
such translational movement.
10. A lathe as claimed in Claim 3, wherein releasable
means is provided to hold the bed against such
translational movement.
11. A lathe as claimed in Claim 3, wherein an auxiliary
bed is provided which can be mounted to the first
mentioned bed.
12. A lathe as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the auxiliary
bed can be mounted to extend at about right angles to
the length of the first mentioned bed.
13. A lathe as claimed in Claim 3, wherein an auxiliary
bed is provided which can be mounted to the first
column.
14. A lathe as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the auxiliary
bed can be mounted to extend at about right angles to
a plane including the head stock.

-13-
15. A lathe as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the first
column is demountable from the means connecting the
first column and the second column.
16. A lathe as claimed in Claim 3, wherein a stand is
provided to which the means connecting the first
column and the second column is demountably attached.
17. A lathe as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the lathe
spindle has means for controlling the vacuum
therewithin.
18. A lathe substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.
19. The steps, features, compositions and compounds
referred to or indicated in the specification and/or
claims of this application, individually or
collectively, and any and all combinations or any two
or more of said steps or features.

Description

CA 02213~29 1997-08-21
W O 96/26051 PCT/AU96/nO090
-- 1 --
TITLE: LATHES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
S
This invention relates to lathes.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
There is a need to provide a lathe having multiple
adaptability for various uses but in particular for use in
wood turnlng although the lathe of the present invention
may be used in respect of other operations with respect to
other materials such as metals and composite materials.

CA 02213~29 1997-08-21
WO96/260~1 PCT/AU9~00090
-- 2 --
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present inventlon provides in one aspect:-
a lathe havlng a bed mounted to be rotatable ln ahorlzontal plane about a vertlcal axls.
~he present lnvention also provldes ln another aspect
a lathe havlng a head stock comprlslng a lathe splndle
passlng through a hollow column and wlthln the hollow
column means adapted to connect a vacuum to the interior of
the lathe spindle.
PREFERRED A~ OF THE INVENTION
Preferably there ls provided a lathe comprising
a first column,
a head stock mounted to the first column,
a second column,
a bed mounted to the second column,
a tail stock mounted to the bed,
means connecting the first and second columns,
and wherein the bed is mounted to the second column to be
rotatable in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis.
Preferably the bed is adapted to be rotated as aforesaid
over at least 90~, more preferably over at least 180~, still
more preferably over at least 270~ and most preferably over

CA 02213~29 1997-08-21
WO96/26051 PCT/AU9~C~o~o
-- 3 --
at least 360~.
Preferably the bed is mounted to move translatlon~lly in
said horizontal plane preferably in line with the ~pindle
longitudinal axis.
Preferably the bed is mounted to move translat~on~lly ln
said horizontal plane towards and away from the first
column.
Preferably the first column is provided with locating means
adapted to locate the bed in a particular relation to the
first column.
Preferably the bed is mounted to the second column by
mounting means adapted to rotate about a vertical axis.
Preferably releasable means is provided to hold the bed
mounting means in a selected rotated position about the
vertical axis.
Preferably the bed mounting means comprises guides for
guiding the bed in such translational movement.
Preferably releasable means is provided to hold the bed
against such translational movement.
Preferably an auxiliary bed is provided which can be
mounted to the first mentioned bed.
Preferably the auxiliary bed can be mounted to extend at
about right angles to the length of the first mentioned
bed.
Preferably an auxiliary bed is provided which can be
mounted to the first column.

CA 02213~29 1997-08-21
W O 96/26051 PCT/AU96/00090
-- 4 --
Preferably the auxiliary bed can be mounted to extend at
about right angles to a plane includlng the head stock.
Preferably the flrst column is demountable from the means
connecting the flrst column and the ~eco~d column.
Preferably a stand ls provided to which the means
connecting the flrst column and the c~cond column i~
demountably attached.
Preferably the lathe spindle has means for controlling the
vacuum therewithin.
Specific embodiments of lathes in accordance with this
invention will now be described by way of non-limiting
example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a lathe ln one condition,
Flgure 2 ls an lsometric view of the lathe in another
condition,
Figure 3 is an isometrlc view of the lathe ln another
condltlon,
Figure 4 is an isometric vlew of the lathe in another
condition,
Figure 5 ls a cross-sectional view of part of the lathe,
Figure 6 is an isometric view of part of the lathe, and
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of part of the lathe.

CA 02213~29 1997-08-21
W O96/26051 PCT/AU96100090
-- S --
LIST
1. Lathe
2. Base member
3. First column
4. ~eco~ column
6. Braclng member
7. Electric motor
8. Head stock
9. Auxiliary bed
21. Rotatable turntable
22. Lathe bed
23. Tail stock
24. Auxiliary bed
26. Tool rest
26a. Ban~o
26b. Band
27. Eccentric clamp shaft
27a. Location dowel
27b. Clamp block
31. Bed
36. Rotating table
37. Guideways
39. Taper pin
41. Clamp bolt
42. Pivot bush
43. Eccentric yoke
44. Eccentric shaft
45. Base plane
51. Lathe spindle
52. Slip rings
53. Vacuum block
54. Ball race
SS. Retainer
S6. Internal thread for restrictor orifice
S7. Connector to vacuum source

CA 02213~29 1997-08-21
WO96/2605l PCT/AU96/00090
-- 6 --
DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH R~C, TO T~E DRAWINGS
In various of the drawlngs is shown a lathe 1 whlch
comprises a base member 2. The base member 2 serves to
connect together a flrst column 3 and a seconA column 4
together wlth a braclng member 6.
The flrst column 3 is demountable with respect to the base
member and carries an electric motor 7 and a lathe head
stock 8.
The first column also carries a demountable auxiliary bed
9 which extends outwardly from it.
On the second column is a rotatable turntable 21 which will
be described in greater detail hereafter. That rotatable
turntable 21 carries a lathe bed 22 on which is mounted a
tail stock 23.
The turntable 21 enables the lathe bed 22 to be rotated in
various positions and to be translated such as is shown ln
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.
An auxiliary bed 24 is also demountably detached to the bed
22 as is shown in Figure 3 and may carry a tool rest 26.
The lathe bed 22 may be opened up as is shown in Figure 2
or may be closed to be adJacent to the first column as ls
shown ln Figure 1.
Figure 1 shows a locating dowel 27 on the first column
which will assist in locating the bed when it is closed up
to the first column.
The rotary turntable ls best seen ln Figures 5 and 6 and ls
described in greater detail with respect thereto.

CA 02213~29 1997-08-21
W O 96/26051 PCT/AUg~ n
-- 7 --
To the second column 4 i8 mounted a rotatlng table 36 whlch
has lts centre line coincident with the spindle sPcond
centre lines. That rotating table 36 can be held ln
posltlon by means of a taper pin 39 and thls ls further
asslsted by the locatlon dowel 27a.
The table 6 has gulde ways 37 whlch wlll gulde the llnear
movement of the bed 31.
The table 36 can be clamplngly held by means of a clamp
bolt 41 which co-operated with a clamp and pivot bush 42
via an eccentric yoke 43 and an eccentric shaft 44.
At the upper end of the second column 4 is a base plane 45
which ls horlzontal and parallel to the splndle centre
lines ln all planes.
Operatlon of the eccentric shaft 44 can be used to loosen
or tighten the rotating table 36.
The head stock shown in the drawings can be used, lf
deslred, to carry a vacuum plate but because of dangers
associated with applying vacuum lines, the vacuum llnes are
located within the first column 3.
Thus, a lathe spindle 51 is hollow and has a vacuum block
53 mounted on it.
Bores within the lathe spindle allow vacuum to be connected
to the inside of the lathe spindle 51. To ensure against
loss of vacuum, slip rings 52 are provided as also is a
sealed ball race 54.
A cover plate or retainer 55 is provided.
One end of the lathe spindle is provided with an internal
thread for a restrictor oriflce which can control the

CA 02213~29 1997-08-21
W 096/260SI PCT/AU96/00090
-- 8 --
magnltude of the vacuum and the other end of the splndle
would be fitted with a conventional vacuum plate which
might be requlred by a user when necessary.
Other aspects of the present invention which may be of
interest or relevance are set out below.
The present design of the lathe provides for a rlgid column
for the head stock and a sliding swivelling bed supported
on a rigid pedestal ad~acent to the head stock.
The head stock and support pedestal are connected together
on a common base plate and also by a beam mid way up the
pedestal.
In one form the lathe utilises a sub-bed which is attached
to the head stock and/or the sliding bed (2 sub-beds
required).
The sliding bed is attached to the head stock face at right
angles in both vertical and horizontal planes by a lever
and cam device which pulls the squared off end of the
sliding bed hard against the machined face of the head
stock column.
This cam lock is easily removed to allow the sliding bed to
either slide to the right of the machine, thus extending
the centre distance or, alternatively, allow the bed to be
swung anywhere through 360~ in the horizontal plane whilst
resting on the flat top surface of the pedestal.
The bed may be solidly locked in any position by clamp bolt
or cam lock.
This improvement to the normally available wood turning
lathe enables bowls or discs of large diameter to be easily
and safely machined on both inside and outslde surfaces

CA 02213~29 1997-08-21
W 096126051 PCT/AU96/nO090
_ 9 _
without removing them from the machine chuck or face plate
thus permlttlng truly concentrlc work to be obtalned wlth
only one set up operatlon.
This improvement to the normally available wood turnlng
lathe also makes it fully universal in that it can be used
for both large disc or bowl turning safely and also for
conventional spindle turnlng between centres without
makeshift and unsafe adaptatlons.
The rotating and fully ad~ustable bed sections locatlons
allows the tool rest to be ad~usted and firmly located on
a rigid base throughout 180~ of large diameter, deep or
shallow section work which is not safely achievable on any
avallable wood turning lathe capable of both large bowl and
disc turning and conventional spindle turning between
centres.
The machine is malnly manufactured from readily available
rolled steel sections and may be of cast iron, aluminium,
composite plastic or combination of materials.
The reverse cam locking tool rest 26b for bowl turning has
the locking handle at the opposite end to the normal
currently available tool rest and therefore allows location
of the tool rest support bar close to large diameter or
face boring work.
This improves versatility and safety by providing a rigid
support and guide to a cutting chisel allowing more
intricate and accurate work detail and finish to be
obtained by the user.
As a comparison, this invention has superior rigidity,
safety and ease of operation combined with versatility when
compared with other wood turning lathes currently
available.

CA 02213S29 1997-08-21
W O 96/26051 PCT/A U96M0090
-- 10 --
The claims, illustratlons, photographs and drawings, if
any, form part of the disclosure of this speclficatlon as
does the descrlptlon, clalms, illustrations, photographs
and drawings of any ~sso~ated provlsional or parent
S speclfication or of any priority document, if any, all of
which are imported herelnto as part of the record hereof.
Flnally it ls to be understood that various alterations,
modlflcations and/or addltions may be incorporated into the
various constructions and arrangements or parts without
departlng from the spirit and ambit of the invention.

Representative Drawing