US2662566A - Folding workbench for power tools - Google Patents

Description

Dec- 15, 1953 L. F. Ku'RscHNER FOLDING WORKBENCH FOR POWER TOOLS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 14, 1949 D 1 L. F. KURSCHNER FOLDING WORKBENCH FOR POWER TOOLS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 14, 1949 Dec. 15, 1 53 L. F. KURSCHNER 6 FOLDING WORKBENCH FOR POWER TOOLS Filed May 14, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Zia/@2050?" ii I I Patented Dec. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING WORKBENCH FOR POWER TOOLS Lloyd F. Kurschner, Minneapolis, Application May 14, 1949, Serial No. 93,251

4 Claims. (01. 144-286) This invention relates to a bench or supporting structure which is particularly adapted for use as a means for conveniently and compactly supporting a number of power tools.

It is an object of the invention to provide a compact bench construction having two leg units which are shiftable from expanded to collapsed positions and so arranged that the entire unit is in an operative tool supporting position, whether collapsed or expanded. In its collapsed position the device can be readily pushed into a small space for temporary storage or it can be expanded so that it will provide a supporting structure which covers a greater floor area and thereby is more steady than when the leg units are drawn closely together. In either case, however, the device can be used and power tools thereon can be used without danger of the bench tipping.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bench for power tools including advantageous means for supporting belt driven tools in such a way that the belt drive can be readily tightened or released.

Another object of the invention is to provide a power tool bench with means for supporting a pulley driven shaft and wherein means is provided for conveniently and efiiciently varying the speed of a variable speed pulley carried by the pulley shaft support.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bench structure including means for quickly and easily varying the vertical position of a tool post support such as might be used in connection with a small drill press attachment or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a caster arrangement in connection with the bench supporting leg units which will cause the casters to remain relatively steady when the leg units are expanded to their more usual operative position.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the bench can be readily transported by means of Wheels larger than ordinary furniture casters when moving of the structure for a considerable distance or over a rough floor space is desired. The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the views, and, in which;

Fig. l is a side elevational view of an embodi- 2 ment of the invention with the pulley speed adjusting means in full and dotted lines in alternate positions thereof.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view showing the leg units in full and dotted lines in their expanded and collapsed positions respectively.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional detail taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail taken approximately on the line 4 l. of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail taken approximately on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

The bench includes a pair of leg units Ill and H. The leg unit It] includes legs i2 having a lower cross-member l3 and an upper cross-member 14. There is also an intermediate cross-member I5.

The leg unit II is constructed similarly to the leg unit [0 and has a pair of legs It, a lower cross-member I! and an upper cross-member 18. The leg units l0 and H are connected at their upper ends by means of hinges Hi, there being a hinge for each of the adjacent leg elements I2 and I6, so that the leg units l0 and II can be swung toward and. away from each other.

Pivotally connected to the leg unit [6, shown in Fig. 2, is a brace 20 mounted on a pivot pin 2|. The brace 20 is provided with a slot 22 having an angular end 23. A stud 24 on the leg l2 shown in Fig. 2 .slidably fits the slot 22. In the full line position of Fig. 2 the stud 24 is at the right hand end ofthe slot 22 and the leg units l0 and II are expanded. When the leg units are positioned together to approximately the dotted line positions shown in Fig. 2 and the stud 24 is seated in the angular ofiset 23 of the slot 22, said leg units willQbe held in their contracted position as indicated by the dotted lines.

The legs l2 and I6 are provided with casters 25. As shown in Fig. 6, the caster includes a spindle 26 and an offset roller 21. When the leg units are collapsed the caster spindles are fairly close to upright, but when the legs are expanded the spindles 26 lie at a decided angle to the vertical. As a result the rollers 21 will tend to assume and maintain the position shown in Fig. 6, thereby rendering the'bench less readily shiftable over the floor when work is being done with power tools supported by the bench.

The leg unit It! has an additional pair of wheels thereon. The wheels 28 are considerably larger than the caster rollers 21. Each wheel 28 is mounted on a member 29 which is pivotally connected at 30 to each of the legs 12. The members 29 have a cross-member 3| extendin therebetween. It is longer than the distance between the legs I2, as shown in Fig. 1. Adjacent each end of the cross member 3|, and on each leg I2, is a rotatable latch member 32 which can be swung upwardly or downwardly to hold the cross-member 3| in a raised or lowered position, and consequently to change the vertical positions of the wheels I8, so that they can be in an inoperative position as shown in Fig, 2 full lines or in a bench transporting position as indicated in dotted lines in that figure.

In conjunction with the wheels 2| 1 have pro vided a pair of handles 33 which are connected to the legs l2 by means of hinges 34. When the handles 33 are swung out so that they extend from the bench, as shown in Fig. 2, and the v wheels 28 are lowered, the structure can be more 'or less balanced on the two wheels 28 and trundled in the manner-ofa. wheelbarrow.

Extending across the upper ends of the legs I2 is a bench top element 35 which preferably is rigidly connected to the leg unit. It is adapted to support bearing brackets 36 which carry a' horizontally disposed pulley shaft. 31.

Extending across the upper ends of the legs l6 and secured to the leg cross-member 13 by means of a suitable hinge or hinges 38 is a bench top section 39. This bench top section is connected to a lever 4t which is pivotally supported at M to the leg [6 shown in Fig. 2'. The lever 40 extends to the right through the leg unit II and terminates in a handle portionv 40a. The other end of the lever 40, extends beyond the pivot 4i and is connected by astrap 42 to the hinged bench top section 39. This bench top section may support a lathe bed 43 or other suitable power tool. In Fig. 1 the right hand end of the bench top is shown carrying a pair of bearing brackets 44 and 45. A lathe head plate 46 is shownononeend of a, shaft 41, which is, carried by the brackets 44 and 45., The shaft 41 has a set of pulleys 48- thereon which are of different sizes to "givedilferent gear ratios and the pulley set '48 is disposedoppositely thereto a set of pulleys 43 on the shaft '31, which is located on the relatively stationary bench top section 35. As shown in Fig. '4 a belt 50 connects the pulley unit!!! with the, pulley; unit 49. Inorder to properly tensi n the belt 50 the lever 40 is pulled upwardly at its long end to tilt the hinged bench top section 39 and it's pulleys 48 away 'fro'rhfthe pulleys 49. IIrFig. 1 the lever 35 shown extending through the open leg unit l andjust above the intermediate. cross-member I which extends between the legs I2. A wedge 52 i 'slidably supported on the cross-member to hold the lever in any one of a number of angular positions. A bolt 53 is connected to the wedge 52 and extends through a slotted block 54 the intermediate crossinember 15 so that the wedge canbe adjustably held in different positions. Y V g It will be noted in Fig. 1 that the shaft '41 which carries the lathe headstock it may have a cicular saw 55 on its apposite end and 'a suitable work rest 56 may be positioned adjacent the saw 55 and on a bracket 51 which is mounted on the extreme end of the bench top section 39.

A pair of relatively short vertical members 58 and 59 extend downwardly from the stationary bench top section 35 to, the intermediate horizontal cross-member l5. Extending from the members 58 and 59 arefplvoted pulley shaft carriers 60 and GI and their outer ends support a short pulley shaft 62 having pulleys 63 and 64 thereon. The pulley 63 is connected by a belt 65 to a pulley 66 on the horizontal pulley shaft 31 on the bench top section 35. The pulley 54 is of the variable speed expansible flange type which is well-known in the pulley art and iii mechanical arts generally.

Pivotally connected to the lower cross-member l3; which extends between legs II, is a lever 61, which terminates at its upper end in a handle portion 68. Beneath the handle portion and, as viewed in Fig. 1, the lever 61 is provided with a cut-out portion 63 which slopes upwardly as indicated in Fig. 1. The pulley shaft support 60 rests upon the lower edge of the cut-out 69. When the lever 51 is shifted to the left hand dotted position shown in Fig. 1 the pulley shaft support 60 will drop, the complementary pulley shaft support Bl also dropping. When the lever 61 is moved to the right it will raise the pulley shaft 60 by reason of the camming or wedged action of the upwardly sloping surface of the bottom of the cut-out 69 in said lever 61. The position of the lever 61 can be adjustably fixed by means of a wing nut 70 on a bolt H which passes through an arcuate slot 72 extending generally across the upper portion of the lever 61 below the handle 68.

When the pulley shaft is raised by movement of the lever 61 it will place added tension on a belt 13 which connects the variable speed pulley 64 with a pulley 14 on the shaft 75a of a motor 15. This added tension will expand the pulley B4 axially and the belt 13 will work on a smaller circle of the pulley 64 thereby increasing the speed of rotation of shafts 62 and 31, so that, any tools connected to the shaft 37 will have their speed increased. As is generally known in connection with variable speed pulleys, when the lever 57 is shifted to the left the spring loaded movable side or flange of the pulley 64 will move toward the other flange and cause the belt 73 to work out to a larger working circle and the speed of rotation of the shifting will be reduced.

Referring back to the motor 15, it will be seen that it is carried on the upper end of a diagonal support 15b, which in turn is supported only. at its lower end by a frame member 15c, providing a slightly resilient mounting for the motor and properly balancing it on the frame.

Extending upwardly between the lower leg unit cross-member l3 and the stationary bench top section 35 is a pair of members 15 having adjacent upper portions cut away to provide a slot H. In this slot is located a lever 18 mounted on a pivotpin 19 which extends between the 'uprights 16. The lever 18 has its inner end lying beneath a tool post guide opening formed, in the stationary bench top section 35. A toolpost. 8| is shown extending through the opening 81! and, of course, is slidable thereon. The bottom of the post 8] rests upon the inner end of the lever l8 so that vertical manipulation of the lever will raise or lowersaid tool post. i

The lever I8 is provided with a series of teeth 82 which extend across the upper medial portion thereof and these teeth are selectively engaged by a lockingmember 83 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 88' carried by the upper ends of the vertical members 16.

The tool post 8| carries a pair of pulleys 85 which is shown in connection with a drill press unit as, having a pulley a1 thereon. A belt, as

extends from the pulley 81 around the pulley 8-5 which is actually a double pulley unit as shown in Fig. 2. A belt then extends downwardly around a pulley 89 on the main pulley shaft 3''! which is driven as described above.

When the lever 18 is pressed downwardly at its outer or handle end it will push the tool post 8| upwardly and tighten the belt 88. The catch member 83 can be dropped into engagement with one of the teeth 82 on the lever 58 to hold the belt 88 in a tight driving condition. Of course, when the catch 83 is released and the tool post BI is dropped, the belt 88 will be freed from the driving pulley 89 and the tool on the post 8| will be rendered inoperative.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a bench for power tools which is capable of operatively supporting a number of different types of power tools so that a rather complete workshop can be contained in a very small space. The main pulley shaft 37 can be driven with variable speeds through the medium of the adjustment lever 61' and devices driven from the pulley unit 49 on the shaft 31 can be given additional speed variation by means of the different diameters of the pulleys on the unit 49. Means is provided for tilting the movable bench top section 39 about its hinge 38 to serve as a pulley drive tightening means and means for accomplishing the same purpose has been described just above in connection with the vertical movability of the tool post 81.

The device is one which can be moved on its supporting casters in its collapsed or its expanded position although in the expanded position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 the casters will not swing freely about their spindles 29 shown better in Fig. 6, by reason of the divided angle to which the caster spindles are tilted when the frame is expanded. As a result the bench will remain rather firmly in position on the floor under such conditions. When it is collapsed the caster spindles are more nearly vertical and the bench can be readily shifted in any direction over the floor.

For transportation or movement of the structure over considerable distances or on rough floors, I have provided the wheels 28 and the handles 33 so that the device can be shifted much in the manner of a wheelbarrow or a two-wheeled cart.

While my apparatus is adaptable for use in commercial machine shops, it is of particular advantage to home workshop owners, since a large number and variety of machine tools can be mounted on a structure which takes up little space. When the leg units are collapsed toward each other the entire structure can be conveniently placed in a small corner or moved into a closet when not in use, and it takes up no greater amount of space when the legs are expanded to give the unit more stability.

The various controls and the like are all mounted on one side of the structure so that the operator can readily change different parts of the operating mechanism with facility.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, ar-

rangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a bench of the class described, a pair of downwardly diverging legs at each end of the bench, means hingedly connecting the legs of each pair for inwardly folding movement, longitudinal tie members connecting the legs on each side of the bench at their upper ends, a top structure comprising two separate and independent longitudinal top members each overlying the legs on one side of the bench, one of the top members being rigidly secured to the respective legs, hinges attaching the other top member to the respective tie member for outward and downward tilting movement, a lever extending transversely of the bench and intermediately pivoted to one of the legs that the tilting top member overlies, a strap connecting the lever at one end to the outer portion of the tiltable top member, and means holding the lever from moving pivotally.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the hinges are outwardly of the longitudinal center line of the tilting top member whereby the respective top member is under strain to move out of a tilted position.

3. In a bench of the class described, a pair of downwardly diverging legs at each end of the bench hingedly connected for inward folding movement, a pair of top members, one of which connects the legs on one side of the bench being rigidly secured thereto, the other top member connecting the legs on the other side of the bench and being hingedly attached thereto for outward and downward tilting movement, and means for tilting the last-noted top member.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 in which the hinged attachment of the last-noted top member is outward of the longitudinal center line of said member.

LLOYD F. KURSCI-DIER.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 257,214 Cultum May 2, 1882 257,964 Medart May 16, 1882 528,608 Richter Nov. 6, 1894 932,683 Darrow Aug. 31, 1909 1,005,063 Nordstrom Oct. 3, 1911 1,135,767 Cheshire Apr. 13, 1915 1,191,687 Gillett July 18, 1916 1,261,184 Taylor Apr. 2, 1918 1,284,512 Werner Nov. 12, 1918 1,630,279 Stroop et al. May 31, 1927 1,828,248 Hallowell et a1 Oct. 20, 1931 1,862,911 Snyder June 14, 1932 2,139,470 Schmeiser Dec. 6, 1938 2,162,294 Baldwin June 13, 1939 2,278,216 Rich Mar. 31, 1942 2,349,197 Rehfeld May 16 1944

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