Abstract
A toolrest for adjustable mounting within a receiving portion of a lathe tool carriage includes a vertical post portion rotatably mounted about a vertical axis, a first substantially horizontal member extending at an angle relative to the vertical post portion and a second substantially horizontal member extending at an angle relative to the first substantially horizontal member. In use, the first and/or second substantially horizontal members are positioned so that a plurality of toolrest positions and angles are provided relative to a workpiece.
Claims
1. A toolrest for adjustable mounting within a receiving portion of a lathe tool carriage relative to a workpiece comprising: a vertical post portion adapted for vertical and rotational movement within the receiving portion; a first substantially horizontal member extending at a first angle of about 90 degrees relative to the vertical post portion; and a second substantially horizontal member extending at a second angle of about 90 degrees relative to the first substantially horizontal member; whereby, upon adjustable mounting of the toolrest within the receiving portion, the first and second substantially horizontal members define a plurality of toolrest positions relative to the workpiece.
2. The toolrest according to claim 1 wherein the vertical post portion includes a collar for engaging the receiving portion to define the extent of travel of the vertical post portion within the receiving portion.
3. The toolrest according to claim 1 wherein the vertical post portion includes a first end and a second end, the first end adapted for receipt within the receiving portion.
4. The toolrest according to claim 3 wherein the first substantially horizontal member includes a first end and a second end, the first end being in communication with the second end of the vertical post portion.
5. The toolrest according to claim 4 wherein the second substantially horizontal member includes a first end and a second end, the first end being in communication with the second end of the first substantially horizontal member.
6. The toolrest according to claim 1 wherein the first substantially horizontal member can be positioned at a plurality of angles relative to the workpiece.
7. The toolrest according to claim 1 wherein the second substantially horizontal member can be positioned at a plurality of angles relative to the workpiece.
8. A one-piece toolrest for adjustable mounting within a receiving portion of a lathe tool carriage relative to a workpiece comprising: a vertical post portion having a first end and a second end, the first end being adapted for vertical and rotational slidable movement within the receiving portion; a first substantially horizontal member having a first end and a second end, the first end associated with the second end of the vertical post portion, the first substantially horizontal member extending at a first angle of about 90 degrees relative to the vertical post portion; and a second substantially horizontal member having a first end and a second end, the first end associated with the second end of the first substantially horizontal member, the second substantially horizontal member extending at a second angle of about 90 degrees relative to the first substantially horizontal member; whereby, upon adjustable mounting of the toolrest within the receiving portion, the first and second substantially horizontal members define a plurality of toolrest positions relative to the workpiece.
9. The toolrest according to claim 8 wherein the vertical post portion includes a collar for engaging the receiving portion to define the extent of travel of the vertical post portion within the receiving portion.
10. The toolrest according to claim 8 wherein the first and second substantially horizontal members can be positioned at a plurality of angles relative to the workpiece.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1 is an oblique elevational perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the toolrest of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the toolrest;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the toolrest;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the toolrest;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a front view of the adjustable collar and locking lever; and
[0021] FIG. 6 is a front view of the toolrest.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Referring to FIG. 1, a toolrest 10 includes a vertical post portion 12 that can be adjustably and slidably mounted about a vertical axis 14 within a bore 16 defined in a receiving portion 18 of a lathe tool carriage 20. The vertical post portion 12 includes a first end 22 and a second end 24. The first end of the vertical post portion 22 is received within the bore 16 of the receiving portion 18. A first substantially horizontal member 26 includes of a first end 28 and a second end 30. The first end of the first substantially horizontal member 28 extends at a first angle of about 90 degrees relative to the second end of the vertical post portion 24. A second substantially horizontal member 32 includes a first end 34 and a second end 36. The first end 34 of the second substantially horizontal member 32 extends at a second angle of about 90 degrees relative to the second end 30 of the first substantially horizontal member 26. The lengths of the first substantially horizontal member 26 and the second substantially horizontal member 32 can vary depending on the shape and configuration of a workpiece 38. (See FIG. 2). The lathe tool carriage 20 is slidably mounted on rails 40 of a lathe 42 and locked in position by a lever arm 44. (See FIG. 2).
[0023] The vertical post portion 12 can include an adjustable set-screw collar 46 (see FIG. 5) for engaging the receiving portion 18 and limiting the extent of travel of the vertical post portion 12 within the receiving portion 18. A threaded portion of a locking lever 48 extends through a corresponding threaded channel 50 defined in the receiving portion 18 to engage the vertical post portion 12 and firmly position the toolrest 10 in various adjusted positions. The toolrest 10 may be adjusted at various heights and angles relative to the workpiece through engagement of the locking lever 48. The set-screw collar 46 acts as a stop member to allow the first substantially horizontal member 26 and the second substantially horizontal member 32 of the toolrest 10 to pivot about the vertical axis 14 while maintaining the height of the toolrest relative to the receiving portion 18 of the lathe tool carriage 20 and the workpiece 38. (See FIG. 2).
[0024] The toolrest 10 is preferably used as follows. The operator mounts the workpiece 38 (which can comprise a solid block of wood or a segmented workpiece, as shown) on the lathe 42 in a conventional manner. (See FIG. 2). The workpiece 38 is releasably mounted by a chuck 52 of the lathe 42. (See FIG. 3). A motor 54 transfers power to the lathe 42 causing the chuck 52 to rotate at a high rate of speed. (See FIGS. 2 and 3). The chuck 52 turns the workpiece 38 about a central horizontal axis 56 of the lathe 42. (See FIGS. 2 and 3). A central horizontal axis 58 of the workpiece 38 and the central horizontal axis 54 of the lathe 42 are identical to the central horizontal axis 58 of the chuck 52. (See FIGS. 2, 3 and 4).
[0025] The toolrest 10 can be adjustably mounted within the receiving portion and through engagement of the locking lever 48, whereby rotation of the locking lever 48 securely holds the toolrest 10 in place. By selective adjustment of the locking lever 48 and the set-screw collar 46, the operator can position the toolrest 10 to various positions and angles. A cutting tool 60 can be positioned relative to either the first substantially horizontal member 26 or the second substantially horizontal member 32 of the toolrest 10. (See FIG. 1). The upper portion of the first substantially horizontal member 26 and the upper portion of the second substantially horizontal member 32 can include flat surfaces (not shown) so the operator can better support a cutting tool 60 in a stable position on the toolrest 10. (See FIG. 1). Symmetrical cuts are made to the workpiece 38 when an operator applies the cutting tool 60 to the inner surface 62, outer surface 64 and/or bottom surfaces 66 of workpiece 38 as the workpiece 38 turns around a central horizontal axis 58 thereby shaping the workpiece 38. (See FIGS. 1 and 4). The first substantially horizontal member 26 and the second substantially horizontal member 32 may be positioned about the vertical axis 14 to keep the cutting tool 60 consistently close to the workpiece 38 and to reduce cutting tool 60 vibration. (See FIG. 1).
[0026] FIGS. 2 and 3 disclose the toolrest 10 positioned so that an operator can rest the cutting tool 60 (see FIG. 1) against the first substantially horizontal member 26 and/or the second substantially horizontal member 32 to engage the outer surface 64 and/or bottom surfaces 66 of the workpiece 38. (See FIGS. 4 and 6). The first substantially horizontal member 26 and second substantially horizontal member 32 are positioned adjacent to the workpiece 38. The first substantially horizontal member 26 is parallel to the outer surface 64 of the workpiece 38, thus allowing the operator to use the cutting tool 60 (see FIGS. 1, 4 and 6) to engage and thereby form the workpiece 38. The operator can further shape the bottom surface 66 of the workpiece 38 by placing the tool 60 (see FIGS. 1, 4 and 6) on the second substantially horizontal member 32. The 90-degree angle turns of the one-piece metal construction (preferably alloy steel) and the rotational movement of the toolrest 10 around the vertical axis 14 allow the operator to safely and accurately employ a cutting tool 60 (see FIG. 1) to engage the workpiece 38 in a multiple of positions and angles. As a result, the operator can safely employ the cutting tool 60 to engage both the inner surface 62 and the outer surface 64 of the workpiece 38. (See FIGS. 1, 4 and 6).
[0027] FIGS. 4 and 6 further demonstrate the versatility of the invention. The locking lever 48 associated with the receiving portion 18 can be positioned to allow rotation of the toolrest 10 within the bore 16 of the receiving portion 18. Rotation of the toolrest 10 about the vertical axis 14 provides the operator with multiple angles whereby to engage the workpiece 38 with the cutting tool 60 (see FIG. 1) as the workpiece 38 rotates about a central horizontal axis 58. The locking lever 48 attached to the receiving portion 18 may be adjusted to allow horizontal rotation of the toolrest 10 about the vertical axis 14 to allow the operator to engrave the workpiece 38 along a horizontal plane. The locking lever 48 associated with the receiving portion 18 may be used to position the toolrest 10 in the desired position relative to the workpiece 38 to reduce vibration of the cutting tool 60 (see FIG. 1) placed upon the toolrest 10. In FIG. 4, the second substantially horizontal member 32 is positioned substantially parallel to the central horizontal axis 56 of the lathe 42 and the first substantially horizontal member 26 is substantially perpendicular to the central horizontal axis 56 of the lathe 42.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 5, an enlarged view of the set-screw collar 46 and locking lever 48 relative to the toolrest 10 and receiving portion 18 of the lathe tool carriage is shown. The set-screw collar 46 includes a threaded set screw 68 positioned within and extending through a corresponding threaded passage (not shown) of the set-screw collar 46 for maintaining the height of the toolrest 10 relative to the receiving portion 18 and thus the workpiece 38.
[0029] In FIG. 6, the first substantially horizontal member 26 is positioned substantially parallel to the central horizontal axis 56 of the lathe 42 and the second substantially horizontal member 32 is positioned substantially perpendicular to the central horizontal axis 56 of the lathe 42, thus providing additional angles and positions for engaging the workpiece 38 with the cutting tool 60. (See FIG. 1). In view of the increased range of positions and angles of the toolrest 10 relative to conventional toolrests, the operator is able, for example, to engage the inner surface 62 of the workpiece 38 and the bottom surface 66 of the workpiece 38.
[0030] Although the embodiments described herein primarily apply to woodturning lathes, it will readily be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be applied to other types of lathes including those used for metal working. Thus, the foregoing description should not be construed as limiting the invention to the embodiments described or to lathes suitable only for woodturning.
