Adjustable tension and/or compression tap holder
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the prior art as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,091,473, a length compensating device for quick change chucks is adapted for mounting taps but wherein adjustment as to length was accomplished by the use of variable length spacers which had to be separately introduced and assembled for regulating the longitudinal setting of an adapter carrying member relative to said shank. In that disclosure, a corresponding socket on the shank received a carrier which was adapted to removably receive an adapter to accommodate a tap or other tool. A single compression spring was employed to yieldably resist relative inward or outward movements of the adapter carrier in operation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved adjustable tension and/or compression tap holder which provides a means for length compensation and adjustment tension merely by the application of a screw driver to either end of the shank and carrier assembly. 
     It is a further object to provide in an adjustable tension and/or compression tap holder which mounts within the shank a longitudinally adjustable nut for regulating the corresponding tension and compression with respect to a screw which yieldably anchors a carrier receiving a tap holding bushing. The present improved tap holder includes tension as well as compression means assembled in connection with the carrier mounting whereby the degree of tension and/or compression can be easily regulated as well as the projection length of the tap holding bushing carrier with respect to the tap holder shank. 
     These and other objects will be seen from the following specification and claims in conjunction with the appended drawing. 
    
    
     THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of the present adjustable compression tap holder as mounted within a power rotated spindle, fragmentarily shown. 
     FIG. 2 is an end view thereof; 
     FIG. 3 is a section taken in the direction of arrows 3--3 of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawing, the present adjustable compression tap holder 11 includes an elongated shank 13 which mounts a key 15 nesting within a keyway 17 within the bore of tapping spindle 19, fragmentarily shown. Said spindle is adapted for rotative drive and longitudinal feed in a conventional manner. Set screw 21 extends radially into said spindle and retainingly engages shank 13. The conventional nut 23 is threaded upon said shank for limiting inward projection of the shank within said spindle. 
     Shank 13 terminates at one end in the enlarged drive socket 25 which includes a series of spaced longitudinally extending slots 27 receiving the drive balls 33. Cylindrical shell 35 to retain said balls is removably anchored upon said socket by the locking rings 37 at its opposite ends. 
     Cylindrically shaped carrier 29 is adjustably nested within said socket and has a corresponding series of longitudinally extending exterior slots 31 adapted to receive the drive balls 33 to, thereby, interconnect the carrier with the socket and spindle for rotative motion therewith and for permitting longitudinal adjustment of said carrier relative to said socket. 
     Said carrier has a longitudinal bore therethrough and which includes the enlarged counterbore 39 at its outer end which terminates in the annular but tapered surface 41 for supportably receiving and securing the conventional bushing 43. Said bushing in a conventional manner mounts a series of balls 47 which register with the tapered interior surfaces 41 and are adapted to retainingly engage the tap T, fragmentarily shown. Compression spring 49 rests upon the shoulder 50 within said carrier and at its other end bears against said bushing normally biasing the same outwardly so that the balls 47 in a conventional manner retainingly engage the tap T. 
     The bore through the carrier also includes inwardly of bore 39 and shoulder 50, the bore 51 which is square in cross section and is adapted to drivingly receive the square inner end of the tap which in assembled relation registers against shoulder 53. Said shoulder defines the axial bore 55 which terminates in the counterbore 57 at the other end of said carrier. 
     The headed carrier retainer screw 59 bears against shoulder 54 with a suitable friction washer 61 interposed, and is loosely anchored with respect to said carrier by the exterior snap ring 63. 
     The tension and compression adjusting nut 65 is adjustably threaded within the threaded bore 89 forming a portion of bore 45 of spindle 13. 
     A tension and compression bushing includes elongated shank 69 within said bore terminating at one end in the external flange 67 which bears against one end of the tension and compression adjusting nut 65. A radial pin 71 is internally secured to nut 65 and loosely projects within an elongated slot 73 formed in said bushing whereby rotation of said bushing will effect a corresponding rotation of said nut and corresponding longitudinal adjustments thereof in two directions. 
     An elongated tension and compression adjusting screw 75 extends within the bore 45 of said spindle and axially through said bushing with its head 77 retainingly engaging an internal flange or shoulder 78 upon said bushing as shown in FIG. 1. The inner end of said screw is threaded as at 79 within the internal threaded bore of the carrier retainer screw 59 and secured thereto. 
     Since said carrier retainer screw has an enlarged head and a transverse slot, it appears that the tension and compression adjusting screw may be regulated and adjusted from either end thereof, without disassembly of the shank and carrier. 
     Said screw has a flat side portion 91 which operatively registers with a corresponding flat side wall portion 93 upon the interior of the bushing adjacent shoulder 78 whereby manual adjustment rotation of the screw 75 effects the corresponding rotation of the bushing 67, 69 and a simultaneously adjustment rotation of the nut 65. 
     A pair of concentric compression springs 81 and 83 loosely surround the adjusting screw and at their one ends, bear against said bushing and at their other ends, bear against the carrier retaining screw 59 for biasing the carrier outwardly with respect to the shank socket 29. 
     A corresponding adjustable tension spring 85 loosely surrounds the bushing, at one end bears against the adjusting nut 65 with its other end anchored by the snap ring 87 mounted upon an inner end portion of said bushing. 
     Tension spring 85 is adapted for biasing the adjusting screw and connected carrier 29 inwardly of the shank and socket. The compression springs 81 and 83 tend to bias the carrier outwardly of said housing. 
     In operation by manipulation of the adjusting screw 75 from either end, there will be effected a corresponding longitudinal adjustment in either direction of the tension and compression adjusting nut 65. Such adjustment will modify the degree of tension and compression and will, at the same time, effect a longitudinal adjustment of the carrier 29 with respect to the shank mounted socket 25. 
     In the illustrative embodiment, there is a connecting means between the screw 75 and the tension and compression nut 65. Such connecting means includes the flat surfaces 91 and 93 upon said screw and bushing as well as the pin and slot connection 71, 73 between said nut and bushing whereby, rotation of the screw effects corresponding rotation of the nut. 
     Having described my invention, reference should now be had to the following claims.