Western Atlas Inc.

Unova IP Corp.

Other

Cinetic Landis Corp.

William W Pflager

Joel Metzler

Timothy W Hykes

Joel Kym Metzler

Russell E Kaiser, Jr

Ricky L Mowen

Dennis F Rice

An apparatus mounted to a machine for positioning a device near a workpiece during a machining operation, during which the workpiece is movable relative to a machining tool. The apparatus comprises an arm coupled to the machining tool and movable relative thereto to mimic movement of the workpiece relative to the machining tool. The arm includes a shoe for contacting the workpiece during the machining operation. The apparatus further comprises a linear actuator coupled to the arm for moving the arm between a retracted position and an engaged position. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus includes a coolant nozzle assembly. According to another embodiment of the invention, the apparatus includes a workpiece support shoe. According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus includes an in-process gauge assembly.

Apparatus and method for positioning a device near a workpiece during machining operations

A motorized spindle assembly for a grinding wheel is fabricated with an opening extending through the spindle casing, and stator and so as to extend in the direction of the spindle axis of rotation at least the length of the stator. The opening is of a size, depth, configuration and disposition so that when the spindle assembly is utilized to grind a workpiece and to do so is moved towards the workpiece, that portions of the workpiece are received within the opening thus permitting the spindle assembly and its grinding wheel to be moved as close as possible to the workpiece axis of rotation. The motorized spindle assembly is carried by a wheelhead for coaction with an additional spindle assembly carrying a grinding wheel with a larger radius. The larger radius grinding wheel is utilized to rough grind cam lobes and the smaller grinding wheel is utilized to finish grind the cam lobes and to grind concave cam contours for the cam lobes.

Machine tool and machine tool spindle and workpiece mounting-apparatus and grinding process

A machine tool comprising a base, with a guide surface, a workpiece holder on the base, a movable tool carriage, and a motor for advancing the carriage along the guide surfaces toward the workpiece. Hydrostatic bearings are situated in the carriage for discharging fluid, such as oil, into the narrow gap defined between the carriage and the guide surface. A pre-load rail is secured to the movable carriage, and a plurality of pockets are defined in the pre-load rail. A hydrostatic pre-load piston, with an enlarged head and a depending base, is located in each pocket. A shallow depression is formed in the face of each piston, and an annular wall surrounds the depression, so that the piston restores itself to an equilibrium condition. The pre-load pistons are located in opposition to the hydrostatic bearings. An O-ring encircles the base of the piston, and allows floating, and tilting, movement of the piston within the pocket, while serving as a seal for the pocket. The individual pre-load pistons float and tilt to accommodate diverse localized distortions, anomalies, imperfections, and machining errors in the carriage and in the guide surface.

Hydrostatic pre-load piston

An improved drive and support for a machine tool by which a part thereof can be supported and driven along a linear path for machining. The drive and support includes a linear slideway having a magnetic track along which a housing will move when a moving magnetic field is generated in an electromagnetic assembly mounted in the housing. The direction the housing moves depends upon the direction of movement of the generated magnetic field, and first hydrostatic bearing pads acting between the housing and the slideway, or between the electromagnetic assembly and the track or any combination thereof, to counteract the attractive force between the electromagnet and the track.

Drive and support for machine tools

A machine tool comprising a base, with a guide surface, a workpiece holder on the base, a movable tool carriage, and a motor for advancing the carriage along the guide surface toward the workpiece. Hydrostatic bearings are situated in the carriage for discharging fluid, such as oil, into the narrow gap defined between the carriage and the guide surface. A pre-load rail is secured to the movable carriage, and a plurality of pockets are defined in the pre-load rail. A hydrostatic pre-load piston, with an enlarged head and a depending base, is located in each pocket. A shallow depression is formed in the face of each piston, and an annular wall surrounds the depression, so that the piston restores itself to an equilibrium condition. The pre-load pistons are located in opposition to the hydrostatic bearings. An O-ring encircles the base of the piston, and allows floating, and tilting, movement of the piston within the pocket, while serving as a seal for the pocket. The individual pre-load pistons float and tilt to accommodate diverse localized distortions, anomalies, imperfections, machining errors, and the like, in the carriage, and in the guide surface.

A tapered bearing for the drive drum assembly of a belt grinding machine that employs multiple, parallel, abrasive grinding belts, and back-up shoes for pressing the belts against the surfaces on a workpiece to be ground. The drive drum assembly, in cooperation with small pulleys operatively associated with the contouring head, keeps the abrasive belts properly trained. The central shaft of the drive drum assembly, which has a plurality of large pulleys and spacers positioned therealong, is secured between a fixed bearing support and a laterally movable support bracket. A tapered bearing is fastened to one end of the central shaft, and a complementary shaped aperture is defined in a spindle retained in the movable support bracket. When the movable support bracket is shifted inwardly, by the hydraulic circuitry of the grinding machine, the tapered bearing fits snugly into the aperture so that the drive drum assembly is supported in a rigid, sag-free manner. The snug fit 'pre-loads' the drive drum assembly and bearing assembly, so that such assemblies rotate smoothly, without slippage, when the drive belt delivers power to the drive drum assembly. Seals are provided about the tapered bearing so that dust and debris cannot degrade the bearing, and the bearing does not wear excessively, even under prolonged, high speed operation.

Tapered bearing for drive drum assembly of grinding machine utilizing

A method of forming a hydrostatic nut that cooperates with a lead screw for translating a wheel head, or carriage, on a grinding machine, such as a cam grinder. A lead screw, which is externally threaded, is inserted into a cylindrical mold, which is internally threaded. The lead screw is retained therein by pressure plates that seal off opposite ends of the open bore of the mold.

Hydrostatic nut and lead screw assembly, and method of forming said nut

A grinding machine provided with a spindle rotating under the influence of a cantilever mounted rare earth permanent magnet motor. Hydrostatic fluid film bearings are provided between the ends of the spindle and a bronze bearing to support the spindle in such a manner so as to eliminate wear. A single oil reservoir is used to supply oil to the hydrostatic bearings, as well as to the cooling jacket of the motor.

Brushless spindle motor for a grinding machine including hydrostatic

A method of forming a hydrostatic nut that cooperates with a lead screw for translating a wheel head, or carriage, on a grinding machine, such as a cam grinder. A lead screw standard, or master, which is externally threaded, is inserted into a cylindrical mold, which is internally threaded. The standard is retained therein by pressure plates that seal off opposite ends of the open bore of the mold. Beads of wax, or tape, or some other rigid instrumentality, are adhered to the exterior surfaces of the helical threads on the standard, while the rest of the standard is treated with a release coating. A continuous cavity is defined between the internal threads on the nut and the external threads on the standard. An epoxy resin or other castable polymer is introduced through an inlet port in the mold into the cavity. The castable polymer is allowed to cure into a rigid mass that adheres to the internal threads on the mold except for the helical beads. The standard is removed, the mold is machined to its final configuration as a hydrostatic nut, and the wax, or tape, is removed to leave voids in the rigid cured polymer. The voids define oppositely directed helical channels that are pressurized to form a thin fluid film that prevents metal to metal contact between the complementary helical threads on the nut and lead screw. The cured polymeric mass is structurally reinforced by the threads defined on the metal nut, so that the channels defined on the exterior surface thereof maintain their dimensions.

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Waynesboro, PA, United States of America

William W Pflager