Adjustable center apparatus

Claim 2

An adjustable center assembly for use with spindle apparatus of the type including a stationary shank and a sleeve mounted to said shank, said sleeve including a centrally disposed threaded aperture: said adjustable center assembly comprising; flange means including an externally threaded, axially extending end segment engageable with the threaded aperture of a spindle sleeve, and an axially facing socket disposed oppositely of said threaded end segment; a center arrangement mounted in said socket for movement relative to the axis of said flange means; and adjustable means carried by said flange means for engagement with said center arrangement to define the position thereof relative to said axis of said flange means; said center arrangement including an annular sleeve member having a centrally disposed threaded aperture and a nose member connected to said sleeve member and engageable with a workpiece, said nose member including an externally threaded end portion engaged with said threaded aperture of said sleeve and of similar dimension to the threaded end segment of the flange means such that said nose member may be employed as pArt of said center assembly or removed and engaged with the aperture of a spindle sleeve to provide a non-adjustable center.

Claim 3

An adjustable center assembly according to claim 1 wherein said adjustable means carried by said flange means includes a plurality of radially disposed setscrews having shank portions engaged against said center arrangement.

Claim 4

Adjustable center apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said nose member includes a conical portion adapted to be disposed in a corresponding aperture formed in a workpiece, and rib elements formed on said conical nose portion imbedable in said workpiece to provide secure engagement.

Claim 5

An adjustable center assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said adjustable means includes first and second pairs of diametrically opposed setscrews, the respective pairs being disposed at right angles of each other, with each said setscrew having a shank portion for engagement with said center arrangement, and a plurality of recesses formed in said center arrangement and adapted to receive said setscrews therein, each said recess being larger than the external dimension of said setscrew thereby permitting relative movement of said center arrangement with respect thereto.

Claim 6

In combination, spindle apparatus of the type including a stationary shank and a sleeve mounted to said shank, said sleeve including a centrally disposed threaded aperture, and an adjustable center assembly connected to said sleeve, said center assembly comprising: flange means including an externally threaded, axially extending end segment engageable with the threaded aperture of a spindle sleeve, and an axially facing socket disposed oppositely of said threaded end segment; a center arrangement mounted in said socket for movement relative to the axis of said flange means; and adjustable means carried by said flange means for engagement with said center arrangement to define the position thereof relative to said axis of said flange means; said center arrangement including an annular sleeve member having a centrally disposed threaded aperture and a nose member connected to said sleeve member and engageable with a workpiece, said nose member including an externally threaded end portion engaged with said threaded aperture of said sleeve and of similar dimension to the threaded end segment of the flange means such that said nose member may be employed with said center assembly or engaged with the aperture of a spindle sleeve to provide a non-adjustable center.

Claim 7

In combination, spindle apparatus of the type including a stationary shank and a sleeve mounted to said shank, said sleeve including a centrally disposed threaded aperture, and an adjustable center assembly connected to said sleeve, said center assembly comprising: flange means including an externally threaded, axially extending end segment engageable with the threaded aperture of a spindle sleeve, and an axially facing socket disposed oppositely of said threaded end segment; a center arrangement mounted in said socket for movement relative to the axis of said flange means; and adjustable means carried by said flange means for engagement with said center arrangement to define the position thereof relative to said axis of said flange means; said center arrangement including an annular sleeve member having a centrally disposed threaded aperture and a nose member connected to said sleeve member and engageable with a workpiece, said nose member including an externally threaded end portion engaged with said threaded aperture of said sleeve and of similar dimension to the threaded end segment of the flange means such that said nose member may be employed with said center assembly or engaged with the aperture of a spindle sleeve to provide a non-adjustable center.

Claim 8

An adjustable center assembly according to claim 5 wherein said adjustable means carried by said flange means includes a plurality of radially disposed setscrews having shank portions engaged against said center arrangement.

Claim 9

An adjustable center assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said annular sleeve member includes a radially disposed collar portion, and a retainer ring member engageable with said collar portion and joined to said flange means, to retain said center arrangement in said socket.

Claim 10

Adjustable center apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said nose member includes a conical portion adapted to be disposed in a corresponding aperture formed in a workpiece, and rib elements formed on said conical nose portion imbedable in said workpiece to provide secure engagement.

Claim 11

Adjustable center appratus for use with a lathe, or the like, and comprising; flange means having an axially opening socket, with a coaxially extending rod means disposed in said socket; a center arrangement disposed in said socket for movement relative to the axis of said flange means and including a nose portion for engagement with a workpiece; and retaining means for maintaining said center arrangement in said socket; said center arrangement including a coaxial blind cavity disposed oppositely of said nose portion within which said rod element is received, the relative dimensions of said cavity and said rod element defining the limits of movement of said center arrangement relative to the axis of said flaNge means; and selectively operable adjustable means carried by said center arrangement and engaged with the rod element to define the position of said center arrangement with respect to said rod element and thereby with respect to the axis of said flange means.

Claim 12

Adjustable center appratus for use with a lathe, or the like, and comprising; flange means having an axially opening socket, with a coaxially extending rod means disposed in said socket; a center arrangement disposed in said socket for movement relative to the axis of said flange means and including a nose portion for engagement with a workpiece; and retaining means for maintaining said center arrangement in said socket; said center arrangement including a coaxial blind cavity disposed oppositely of said nose portion within which said rod element is received, the relative dimensions of said cavity and said rod element defining the limits of movement of said center arrangement relative to the axis of said flaNge means; and selectively operable adjustable means carried by said center arrangement and engaged with the rod element to define the position of said center arrangement with respect to said rod element and thereby with respect to the axis of said flange means.

Claim 13

Adjustable center apparatus for use with a lathe, or the like, and comprising; flange means including an axially opening socket, a center arrangement disposed in said socket and including a nose portion for engagement with a workpiece, retaining means mounting said center arrangement in said socket for movement transversely of the longitudinal axis of said flange means, and selectively operable adjustment means engaged with said flange means and said center arrangement for defining the relative position of said center arrangement with respect to said longitudinal axis, said nose portion including a conical section having rib elements formed thereon and adapted for disposition in a corresponding aperture formed in a workpiece, with said rib elements embedding in said workpiece to maintain the relative position of said workpiece with respect to said nose portion.

Claim 14

Adjustable center apparatus for use with a lathe, or the like, and comprising; flange means including an axially opening socket, a center arrangement disposed in said socket and including a nose portion for engagement with a workpiece, retaining means mounting said center arrangement in said socket for movement transversely of the longitudinal axis of said flange means, and selectively operable adjustment means engaged with said flange means and said center arrangement for defining the relative position of said center arrangement with respect to said longitudinal axis, said nose portion including a conical section having rib elements formed thereon and adapted for disposition in a corresponding aperture formed in a workpiece, with said rib elements embedding in said workpiece to maintain the relative position of said workpiece with respect to said nose portion.

Claim 15

Adjustable center appratus as defined in claim 10 wherein said flange means includes an axially extending rod element 65, said center arrangement including a centrally disposed blind cavity within which said rod element is received to define an adjustment space, and said adjustment means including elements carried by said center arrangement and engaged with the rod element to define the relative position of said center arrangement with respect to said rod element.

Claim 16

An adjustable center apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said flange means includes a socket defined by an axially extending annular flange member, said center arrangement being disposed in said socket with said annular flange in overlapping relation thereto, and said adjustable means including means carried by said annular flange member and engaged with said center arrangement to define the relative position of said center arrangement wth respect to the longitudinal axis of said flange means.