US3065776A - Work holder and router carriage - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 27, 1962 E. A. BOOKHART WORK HOLDER AND ROUTER CARRIAGE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 51, 1960 Edward A. Bookharf IN VEN TOR.

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Nov. 27, 1962 WORK HOLDER AND ROUTER CARRIAGE Filed Aug. 31, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I04 Ila Edward A. Boakharr IN VENTOR.

E. A. BOOKHART 3,065,776

1962 E. A. BOOKHART WORK HOLDER AND ROUTER CARRIAGE 4 Sheets-Sheep 4 Filed Aug. 31, 1960 Fig. 9

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United States Patent fiiee 3,%5,776 Patented Nov. 2?, 1962 3,065,776 WGRK HQLDER AND RGUTER CARlRl'z-kGE Edward A. Bookhart, 2314 5. Alice, Sioux Qity, liowa Filed Aug. 31, I960, Ser. No. 53,277 7 Claims. (ill. M l-1136) The present invention generally relates to a carriage for a router and includes means for holding a panel in position while the router forms grooves therein for purposes of simulating a brick or tile Wall or a similar type of block wall construction.

In many instances, it is desirable to have the appearance of a brick, tile or other block wall without actually employing bricks, tiles or building blocks. In situations of this nature, panelling is employed which has been ornamented to simulate the desired Wall surface and is placed in position thus forming a wall surface which simulates an actual brick wall, tile wall or building block wall. Therefore, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an assembly which retains the panels in position and also provides means for carrying the router in relation to the panel for forming grooves at regular desired intervals on the panel for simulating the mortar joints between bricks, tiles, building blocks or the like thereby rendering the construction of simulated panels of this nature quite economical and efficient.

The present invention has for a major object thereof, the provision of intermittent grooves in the work panel to actually simulate the mortar joints between adjacent building blocks which are normally in staggered relation.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a router carriage which has intermittent working cycles during continuous movement of the router in relation to the panel due to the particular construction of the router carriage.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a router carriage which may be locked securely in position during operation thereof and which may be manually adjusted for orientating the grooves in the panels at the desired intervals.

Still another feature of the present invention is the provision of a router carriage which is simple in construction, rugged and long lasting, quite effective for its particular purposes and generally inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the router carriage and Work holder of the present invention with portions thereof broken away;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the work holder and router carriage;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal, sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the structural details of the work holder and carriage;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse, sectional View taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 44 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the structural details of the mechanism for moving the routercarriage transversely of the work;

' FIGURE 5 is a top plan View of the router construction illustrating its relationship to the driving mechanism therefor;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of the router carriage;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of the router carriage taken from the driving side thereof;

FIGURE 8 is an end elevational view of the router carriage illustrating the guides for the carriage in section;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective View of one side of the work holder and guide mechanism for the router carriage;

FIGURE 10 is a detailed view illustrating the manner of mounting the stationary chain to the guide rails;

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of the guide rails and the guide mechanism forthe carriage; and

FIGURE 12 is a plan view illustrating the grooves formed in a work panel by employing the present invention.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral Iii generally designates the work holder and router carriage of the present invention which includes a framework generally designated by the numeral 12 including depending corner legs 14 rigidly supporting transverse rails 16 and a plurality of longitudinal rails 18. A work retaining member 20 is provided for holding a work panel 22 in place against one corner of the device with the work panel 22 being smooth and having grooves formed therein. The completed work panel 22 is illustrated in FIGURE 12 and includes longitudinal continuous grooves 24 and transverse intermittent and staggered grooves 26 simulating the mortar joints in a brick wall or the like.

The longitudinal side rails 18 each includes a pair of inwardly facing channel shaped members as illustrated in FIGURE 11 and designed by numeral 19. The channel shaped members 19 are spaced to form a slot 21. The members 19 are rigidly interconnected by box frame 23 which forms a backing for stationary chain 23. The ends of chain 28 are inturned and anchored to the guide rail 18 by a fastening bolt 34 or the like. Thus, the two chains 28 form a positive means for moving the carriage for the router longitudinally of the framework in a positive and direct manner in which the chains 28 are completely stationary.

Movably mounted on the framework is a transversely extending carriage assembly generally designated by the numeral 32 which includes a plurality of transversely extending angle iron members 34, 36 and 38 which rigidly interconnect side members 40. The side members 4d are in the nature of built-up I-beams and are slidably received on the side guides or guide rails 18. Journaled on and extending between the side members 40 is an elongated shaft 42 carried by bearing blocks 44 or the like and each end of the shaft 42 is provided with a sprocket gear 46 engaged with and meshing with the chain 2%. Thus, by rotation of the shaft 42, the entire carriage 32 may be moved longitudinally of the side guide rails 18. One end of the shaft 42 is provided with an elongated T-handle 43 for purposes of rotating the shaft 4-2 about its longitudinal axis.

The transverse members 36 and 38 form a guide for a transversely movable carriage generally designated by the numeral 5% which moves laterally of the frame. The ends of the transverse member 38 are provided with channel shaped supporting brackets 52 each carrying a longitudinal shaft 54 on hearing blocks 56. The shaft 54 is rotatably received in the bearing blocks 56 and one of the shafts 54 has a handle 58 attached thereto for rotation thereof. Each of the shafts 54 is provided with a sprocket gear 60 thereon with the sprocket gears 6t being in alignment with each other and generally overlying the horizontal flange of the guide rail 38. An endless sprocket chain 62 encircles the sprocket gear 60 and, by rotation of the handle 53, the sprocket chain 62 may be moved in a conventional manner of a sprocket chain. If desired, the bearing blocks 56 may be adjustable for varying the tension on the chain 62 and also, the handle 58 may be detachable and attached to either of the shafts 54 for operation from either side and this is also true of the T-handle 48 which may be attached to either end of shaft 42.

The carriage 50 is specifically illustrated in FIGURES -8 and includes a sled or bottom plate 64 slidably received on the horizontal flanges of the transverse members 38 and 36. The bottom plate 64 includes a depending guide plate 66 received between the edges of the horizontal flanges of members 36 and 38 for further guiding the movement of the router carriage and also providing a depth control for the router tool.

The plate 64 is provided with a carrier plate 63 hingedly attached to one end thereof by hinge means 70. Mounted on the plate 63 is a router motor 72 including a depending router tool 74 for operation in the usual manner. The router motor 72 may be of the normally portable type having a handle 76 and a control switch 78 associated therewith. The router motor 72 is retained on the plate 68 by a peripheral flange 80 and screw threaded fasteners 82.

Attached to the plate 64 remote from the hinge 70 is a pair of upstanding spaced mounting plates 84 forming the legs of the U-shaped member 85 for journaling a shaft 86 therein. The plates 84 are interconnected by a bearing sleeve 88 and one end of the shaft 86 is provided with a circular plate 90 having a pair of diametrically opposed holes 92 thereon for connection with a bracket 94 having a connecting rod or link 96 adjustably connected thereto by virtue of a screw threaded nut 98. The other end of the rod 96 is engaged with a bracket 100 attached to the plate 68 as by welding 102 or the like. Thus, by rotating the shaft 86, the plate 68 will be caused to oscillate about the hinge 70 thus raising and lowering the router 72 for rendering the router effective when in engagement with the work panel 22 and ineffective when out of e11- gagement with the panel 22 thus forming the intermittent grooves 26.

The shaft 86 is driven by a sprocket gear 104 rigidly afiixed thereto which has the bottom edge thereof engaging with and meshing with the top run of the endless chain 62. Mounted on the surface of the plate 84 adjacent the sprocket gear 104 is a shelf or ledge member 106 secured in place by bolts 108 which prevents sagging of the chain away from the sprocket gear 104 thus assuring rotation of the sprocket gear 104 and rotation of the shaft 86, the plate 90 and oscillation of the plate 68 thus assuring alternating elevation and lowering of the router 72 when handle 58 is rotated.

The lower run of the endless chain 62 is attached to the plate 64 by a bracket 110 or the like thus assuring movement of the plate 64 and the carriage 50 in response to linear movement of the chain 62. As the lower run of the chain 62 moves in one direction thus carrying the carriage 50 in that direction, the upper run of the chain 62 will be moving in the other direction thus causing rotation of the sprocket gear 104 and shaft 86 for rotation of the plate 90 having the eccentrically connected connecting rod 596 attached thereto.

Means is provided for locking the movable carriage 32 in position including spring loaded plungers 112 mounted on the side members 40 with the plungers having handles 114 connected therewith and being slidably received in cylindrical housings 116. The plungers 112 are provided with pistons 118 integral therewith and a spring 120 urges the plungers downwardly into engagement with openings provided in the guide rail for locking the carriage 32 in longitudinally adjusted relation to the framework thus enabling adjustment of and locking of the carriage 32 in longitudinally adjusted positions while the intermittently effective carriage 50 is moved transversely of the work panel.

When it is desired to form continuous grooves such as the longitudinal grooves 24, the panel may be orientated so that the grooves 24 extend transversely and by disconnecting the connecting rod 96, the router will form a continuous groove.

The carriage 32 may be completely removed from the end of the guide rails 18 is desired for replacement with other types of carriages such as a continuous type of carriage which may be relatively simple in construction since it need only have a supporting plate guided by the members 36 and 38 and an endless chain attached to the continuous type of carriage. Any suitable mechanism may be employed for supplying electrical energy to the router such as an electrical cord suspended from an overhead support or otherwise provided to enable lateral movement thereof.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to th exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A router carriage for forming grooves on panel type workpieces comprising a supporting framework including parallel guide rails disposed at the sides of the framework, a transversely extending carriage movably mounted on the framework and supported by the guide rails, means interconnecting the transverse carriage and the guide rails for moving and guiding the transverse carriage longitudinally of the guide rails, a transversely movable carriage mounted on the transverse carriage, a router mounted on the transversely movable carriage, and means mounted on the transversely extending carriage and engaged with the transversely movable carriage for moving the transversely movable carriage transversely of the framework and the workpiece mounted thereon for forming grooves in the workpiece, said means interconnecting the transversely extending carriage and the guide rails including an elongated chain disposed on each guide rail, means anchoring the ends of the chains to the guide rails to prevent longitudinal movement thereof, an elongated transversely extending shaft rotatably mounted on the transverse carriage, a pair of sprocket gears on said shaft in meshing engagement with the top surface of the chains, and means on one end of the shaft for rotating the shaft thus moving the transversely extending carriage longitudinally of the guide rails.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means interconnecting the transversely extending carriage and the transversely movable carriage includes an endless chain mounted on the transversely extending carriage, means for driving said endless chain, and means connecting the endless chain to the transversely movable carriage.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said transversely extending carriage includes spring loaded plungers for locking the carriage to the longitudinal guide rails.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said transversely movable carriage includes a bottom plate, guide means on the transversely extending carriage slidably receiving the bottom plate, a carrier plate pivotally attached to one end of said bottom plate for oscillatory movement about an axis disposed longitudinally of the frame rails, said router being mounted on the pivotal carrier plate, and means interconnecting the bottom plate and the pivoted carrier plate for elevating and lowering the pivoted carrier plate, said means being drivingly connected with said endless chain.

5. The structure as defined in claim 4 wherein said means interconnecting the bottom plate and the pivoted carrier plate includes an upstanding plate on the bottom plate, a shaft journaled thereon, a circular plate mounted on one end of the shaft, and a connecting rod pivotally interconnecting the carrier plate and the circular plate and being eccentrically attached to the circular plate for raising and lowering the carrier plate upon rotation of the shaft, and a sprocket gear on the other end of the shaft in meshing engagement with the endless chain for causing rotation of the shaft during relative movement between the chain and the gear.

6. The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said endless chain has the lower run thereof attached to the bottom plate for moving the bottom plate, the upper run thereof being in meshed relation with the gear on the shaft thereby rotating the gear at the same time as the endless chain moves the bottom plate thus providing intermittent cutting engagement of the router tool with the work piece.

7. The structure as defined in claim 6 wherein said gear on the end of the shaft engages the top surface of the top run of the endless chain, and a ledge member underlying the top run of the chain for retaining the chain against the gear.

References Iitcd in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,958,203 Pfau May 8, 1934 2,159,282 Marino May 23, 1939 2,617,321 Faussner Nov. 11, 1952 2,663,337 Borel Dec. 22, 1953 2,789,598 Berger Apr. 23, 1957 2,856,973 Horton Oct. 21, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 563,572 Germany Apr. 8, 1933 1,020,097 France Nov. 12, 1952

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