U.S. patent number 3,591,303 [Application Number 04/812,704] was granted by the patent office on 1971-07-06 for apparatus for positioning piano hammers for drilling.
Invention is credited to Fred T. Conway.
United States Patent |
3,591,303 |
Conway |
July 6, 1971 |
APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING PIANO HAMMERS FOR DRILLING
Abstract
A viselike clamp is adapted to grip the head of a piano hammer
and is provided with supporting means so that the hammerhead may be
arranged at any desired angle with respect to a stationary
drill-supporting means so that the head may be drilled to provide
an opening to receive the end of the stem which supports the piano
hammer.
Inventors: |
Conway; Fred T. (Pacific Grove,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
25210386 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/812,704 |
Filed: |
April 2, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
408/108; 269/71;
269/262; 269/60; 269/87.3; 408/115R; 144/93.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B23B
47/28 (20130101); B25H 1/0042 (20130101); Y10T
408/5635 (20150115); Y10T 408/567 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
B25H
1/00 (20060101); B23B 47/28 (20060101); B23B
47/00 (20060101); B23b 047/28 () |
Field of
Search: |
;77/63,62,55G
;269/60,71,72,73,81,87.3,262,276,315 ;144/93 ;145/129 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Husar; Francis S.
Claims
I claim:
1. Apparatus for use in drilling articles such as piano hammers,
comprising a normally stationary vertical drill guide, means for
clamping the article to be drilled beneath said guide, means for
supporting said clamping means for adjusting the pitch of the
article in order to drill an angular opening in the article, and
second means mounted against said clamping means for supporting the
bottom of the article and for adjusting the roll of the article in
order to drill an angular opening in the article which is not
parallel with any of the three dimensional planes of the
article.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said clamping means
comprises a pair of jaws relatively movable toward and away from
each other and said second means includes a fastener and a
faceplate secured by said fastener against the inner face of each
said jaw, each faceplate having a horizontal ledge formed by a
reduced top portion to support the article to be drilled while the
pitch of the article is adjusted by appropriate rotation of each
said faceplate on each said jaw about the axis of each said
fastener.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2 including horizontally slidable
means, a vertical shaft, a plurality of collars vertically slidable
and rotatable about the longitudinal axis of said shaft, and rods
slidable mounted within said collars transverse with said vertical
shaft, said vertical shaft and said means for supporting said
clamping means secured to the top of said slidable means allowing
said rods to make physical contact with the surface of the article
at a plurality of locations to facilitate the positioning of the
roll and pitch of another article to be identically drilled
regardless of any sliding of said clamping means relative to said
drill guide.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known that piano hammers are supported by stems or
shanks for movement into engagement with the strings, and the
angles of the stems relative to the head vary throughout the length
of the piano. It is therefore necessary to drill holes through the
wooden hammerheads at various angles to receive the supporting
stems. This is necessary in building the piano and occasionally, in
use, the stems break and the end left in the hammer must be drilled
out to receive the end of a new stem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A viselike gripping device forms part of a support and includes a
jaw movable with respect to a stationary jaw to grip a piano
hammerhead for the drilling operation. The support is pivoted
adjacent the clamp on a transverse horizontal axis so that the
support and a hammer therein may be tilted at any angle desired
according to the angle of the opening to be drilled in the
hammerhead to receive the stem. A vertical support carries an arm
provided with an opening through which the drill stem is adapted to
project to drill the necessary opening. The support for the clamp
is adapted to be moved longitudinally as well as tilted to assist
in properly positioning it for the drilling operation, and means is
provided for adjusting the vise transversely to further provide a
high degree of accuracy in adjusting the hammerhead for the
drilling operation. Means is also provided engageable against a
clamped hammerhead to positively prevent it from rocking in the
clamp during the drilling operation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same;
FIG. 3 is an end elevation looking from the right in FIGS. 1 and
2;
FIG. 4 is a vertical section on line 4-4 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 5-5 of FIG.
2;
FIG. 6 is a plan view of a magnetic device serving as a modified
means for steadying and bracing a hammerhead to be drilled;
FIG. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a plan view of a modified form of holding magnet; and
FIG. 9 is a section on line 9-9 of FIG. 8.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive, the numeral 10 designates the
horizontal base of the device as a whole on the top of which is
mounted a plate 12 coextensive therewith and provided adjacent one
end with a vertical socket 14 welded or otherwise secured thereto
and adapted to receive the lower end of a vertical supporting post
16 attached to the plate 12 by a screw or other fastening element
18. The post 16 may be positively fixed against rocking movement on
its axis by a setscrew 18 threaded through the socket 14.
At a point spaced above the base 10, a collar 20 surrounds the post
16 and is provided with a vertical key 22, which may be separate
from or integral with the collar 20, and is slidable in a vertical
keyway 24 formed in the post 16. The collar 20 is fixed in adjusted
vertical positions by a wingnut 26. The collar 20 carries a
laterally extending arm 28 provided with a drill stem guide 30
arranged in an opening 32 in the free end of the arm 28. The guide
30 carries a flange 34 seating on the top of the arm 28, and the
guide 30 is fixed to the arm 28 by a screw 36.
A movable plate 38 is slidable on the plate 12 and is guided for
longitudinal movement therealong by a longitudinal key 40 (FIGS. 4
and 5) slidable in a keyway 42 formed in the plate 12.
A support indicated as a whole by the numeral 44 is arranged above
the plate 38 and is provided with a transverse bolt 46 extending
therethrough and provided at its ends with nuts 48 threaded
thereon. This bold 46 extends through the vertical arms 50 of
L-shaped brackets 52 to be further described below.
It will be apparent that the support 44 is pivoted on the
transverse axis of the bolt 46. The support 44 carries a clamping
device comprising a jaw 54, integral with the support 44, and a
separate jaw 56 movable toward and away from the jaw 54. Each of
these jaws is provided with a faceplate 58 secured in position by
screws 60 and each is shouldered toward its upper end at its inner
face as at 62 to support and clamp between the jaw members the
hammer 64 of a piano. This hammer includes the usual wooden head
and felt butt as will be apparent, and it is through the wooden
head that openings are to be drilled at predetermined angles to
receive the supporting stems for the heads. Each faceplate 58 has
its bottom edge cut away as at 53 to provide depending leg portions
55 (FIG. 4), both of which terminate above the adjacent flat
surface 57 of the body 44.
The support 44 is elongated horizontally, extending a substantial
distance to the right (FIGS. 1 and 2) from the jaw members as at
65. At a point spaced longitudinally from the jaw member 56 the
support is provided with a preferably integral boss 66 in which is
threaded a rod 68 provided at its left-hand end in FIG. 5 with a
reduced shank 70 having a round head 72, thus fixing the threaded
rod 68 against axial movement relative to the clamping head 56. The
outer end of the rod 68 is provided with a head 74 having a headed
rod 76 slidable therethrough and adapted to provide leverage for
rotating the threaded rod 68 to move the clamping head 56 toward
and away from the clamping head 54.
The movable clamping head 56 is a part of a crosshead indicated as
a whole by the numeral 78 (FIG. 5) having a depending relatively
wide rib 80 operating between spaced sidewalls 82 of the support
44. These sidewalls are undercut as at 86 to form guideways. These
guideways are engaged by a longitudinally extending plate 88
attached by screws 90 to the depending rib 80. Thus the clamping
head 56 is guided for movement toward and away from the stationary
head 54.
The support 44 is pivoted on the axis of the bolt 46, as previously
stated, and is arranged above and in contact with a longitudinal
plate 92 notched longitudinally as at 94 to provide space for the
heads of the screws 90. The plate 92 rests upon the plate 38.
At opposite sides of the support 44 are arranged elongated
triangular plates 96 pivoted by a screw 98 to the plate 92 and
provided in a plane above such screw with a slot 100 in which are
slidable screws 102 threaded in the respective sides of the
elongated portion of the support 44. It will become apparent that
the support 44 may have its right-hand end swung upwardly for
counterclockwise turning movement about the bolt 46 upon the
loosening of the screws 102, and when tilted to the proper
position, these screws may be tightened to fix the body 44 in an
adjusted position. The tilting of the support 44 predetermines the
boring angle relative to the vertical as viewed in FIG. 1. The
positioning of the head of the piano hammer longitudinally of the
apparatus is determined by loosening the head 103 of a screw 104,
having an operating bar 110, and slidable in a slot 105 in the
plate 38. The movement longitudinally takes place through movement
of the plate 38 which is provided for by the arrangement of the key
40 (FIG. 5) in the keyway 42. Along the edge of the plate 38 (FIG.
2) is arranged a scale 112 through which the degree of longitudinal
movement of the plate 38 may be determined.
Such movement of the plate 38 preferably takes place through
operation of a screw 114 threaded through a lug 116 (FIG. 2)
carried by the plate 38. The screw 114 is journaled in a bearing
118 carried by the plate 12 and the screw is rotatable by turning a
knurled head 118 carried thereby.
Means are provided for facilitating the accurate placing of
successive piano hammers which are to be identically drilled. To
this end, a post 122 is fixed at its lower end to the plate 38 and
is provided at a point spaced above such plate with two collars 124
fixed to the post in adjusted positions by wingnuts 126. Each of
these collars carries a slidable rod 128 fixed to the associated
collar by a wingnut 130. When a piano hammer is in the clamping
device, the wingnuts 126 will be loosened so that the rods 128 can
be swung around in a position to be slid into engagement with the
piano hammer, whereupon the wingnuts 130 will be tightened.
The angle brackets 50 are also mounted to be moved transversely of
the plate 38 to adjust the position of the piano key in the same
direction relative to the drill bit mounted in the guide 30. Each
bracket 50 is provided with a lower horizontal portion 132 seating
upon a plate 134 fixed by screws 136 to the plate 38. The plate 134
is provided with a slot 138 through which extends a screw 140
carrying a bottom head 142 slidable in a groove 144 formed in the
plate 134. The screw 140 is threaded in an upper head 146 having a
transversely slidable leverage rod or handle 148 to facilitate the
tightening of the head 146, acting as a nut for the screw 140. When
it is desired to adjust the clamping devices transversely of the
apparatus, the heads 146 will be turned to loosen them with respect
to the screws 140, whereupon the brackets 50 will be moved
transversely of the apparatus to the desired extent, followed by
the tightening of the heads 146 by the rods 148. Only one bracket
50 and associated elements are necessary when working on small
objects such as piano hammers, but both such assemblies may be
helpful in working on larger heavier objects.
Magnetic devices for the same purpose as the rod 128 may be
employed, and two forms of such device are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7,
and 8 and 9. Referring to FIG. 6, the numeral 150 indicates a
horseshoe magnet carrying a central stem 152. This stem may be
engaged against the piano hammer and the magnet 150 may be
magnetically engaged with any suitable portion of the apparatus to
hold it in position so that the stem 152 will engage the piano
hammer.
In FIGS. 8 and 9 a U-shaped type of magnet 154 is shown, the ends
of which may directly engage the piano hammer while the magnet is a
whole will be engaged with a metallic portion of the structure to
hold it in position. This type of magnet may be provided with a
central opening 156 for the positioning therein of a stem similar
to the stem 152 and for the same purpose.
OPERATION
The head of a piano hammer to be drilled is arranged between the
clamping jaws 54 and 56, resting on the shoulders 62. The clamping
device is closed by rotating the rod 76 to move the clamping jaw 56
into tight engagement with the hammer. Depending upon the angle at
which an opening is to be drilled, the device is adjusted with
respect to the drill guide 30. The drill projects through such
guide, which is always vertical, and the clamping device and
associated elements are adjusted relative to the drill. These
openings are drilled vertically, or downwardly at an angle toward
the left in FIG. 1. Assuming that the drilling is to be done
angularly, the screw 102 will be loosened and the body 44 swung
upwardly at its right-hand end so that the hammerhead assumes the
proper angle to the vertical as viewed in FIG. 1. During this
drilling operation, the screw 102 slides relatively toward the
right in FIG. 1, and when the proper angle is reached, the screw
102 is tightened. When properly so adjusted, the theoretical axis
of the opening to be drilled will lie in the plane of the axis of
the drill transversely of the apparatus. The theoretical axis may
not be in such plane when the tilting operation referred to takes
place. Under such conditions, the knurled head 118 will be rotated
to move the plate 38 to the left or right in FIGS. 1 and 5 to bring
the vertical plane of the theoretical axis of the opening to be
drilled in the corresponding plane of the axis of the drill bit. If
lateral adjustment is necessary, the rods 148 (FIGS. 1 and 2) will
be moved to turn the heads 146 on the screws 140 to relieve
pressure of the heads 146 on the horizontal legs 132 of the angle
brackets 50. The entire clamping structure then may be moved
laterally of the apparatus, whereupon the hammerhead will be
properly positioned for the drilling operation. The heads 146 will
then be tightened.
The rod 128 will now be brought into operation. The screws 126 will
now be loosened to permit the collars 124 to turn on the vertical
post 122. The screws 130 will then be loosened to free the rods 128
for sliding movement. These rods are then moved into engagement
with the portion of the hammer projecting to the right of the
clamping device as viewed in FIG. 3, whereupon the screws 126 and
130 are tightened. The drill bit is then moved downwardly to drill
the necessary opening in the head of the hammer. Upon completion of
the drilling operation, the rods 128 will be left in position in
engagement with the head of the hammer, if one or more hammers are
to be identically drilled, whereupon the movable jaw 56 will be
disengaged from the hammerhead and the latter removed. Instead of
using the rod 128, one of the forms of the magnet shown in FIGS. 6
to 9, inclusive, may be used to engage the hammer for the same
purpose.
Where the angle of the drilling so requires, the jaw plates 58 may
be moved, it being desirable that the straight section of the
hammerhead rest squarely on the shoulders 62. Under such
conditions, one of the screws 60 of each faceplate 58 may be
removed and the other setscrew loosened, whereupon the end of each
plate 58 from which the screw has been removed will drop to its
limit of movement, thus inclining the shoulders 62 of the plates
58.
Any desired type of drilling mechanism may be employed, such as a
hand drill. Guides 30 of different diameters may be employed, and a
guide may be replaced with one of a different size merely by
removing the screw 36, lifting the guide from position and
replacing it with another guide.
The drill-supporting arm 28 is fixed against rotation by engagement
of the key 22 in the keyway 24. However, the collar 20 obviously
may be vertically adjusted, as desired, by loosening the wingnut
26, moving the collar vertically to the desired position, and then
tightening the wingnut 26.
It will be apparent that the present apparatus provides means for
supporting and accurately positioning a hammerhead to drill an
opening at any desired angle for the reception of the stem to which
it is to be connected. The angles of the openings drilled will vary
throughout the length of a piano, and the present apparatus will
properly position a hammerhead for the necessary drilling at any
angle.
While the apparatus has been described specifically for the purpose
of drilling the heads of piano hammers, it will be apparent that it
is capable of general application to any type of element which may
be clamped as described for the drilling of openings at desired
angles.
From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein
provided an improved apparatus for positioning piano hammers for
drilling which accomplishes all of the objects of this invention
and others, including many advantages of great practical utility
and commercial importance.
As various embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and
as many modifications may be made in the embodiments hereinbefore
shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein
is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting
sense.
* * * * *