Abstract: A gear cutting tool is provided with angular planar surfaces along its front face for providing first and second side rake angles on the tool. The angular planar surfaces do not rquire resharpening when the tool is resharpened.

Abstract: A gear manufacturing machine which includes an endless chain for carrying a series of stock removing tools is provided with a versatile drive train system which can be adjusted for different methods of gear manufacture. The drive train system includes coupling components which can be engaged and disengaged for connecting or disconnecting certain portions of the drive train from parts of the machine. With this arrangement, a single machine can be utilized for carrying out roll generating or hobbing operations with one or more workpieces.

Abstract: A gear cutting machine is provided with an endless chain for carrying a plurality of tools into contact with one or more workpieces to thereby form gear tooth configurations on the workpieces. The endless chain is pressed into firm contact with a first series of rollers in the zone in which its tools make contact with a workpiece to thereby prevent unwanted deflections of the endless chain and its tools relative to the workpiece. A second series of rollers prevents side-to-side deflections of the endless chain in the work zone.

Abstract: An arbor is provided with a series of expandable collets for clamping a series of workpieces or other elements. The collets are designed with a variable force requirement for effecting expansion, and this assures sequential clamping of a series of workpieces or elements.

Abstract: An endless chain for carrying stock removal tools is provided with two sets of rollers for supporting and guiding the chain around a chain housing. One set of rollers functions to guide the chain through the work zone portion of its travel while the second set of rollers functions to guide the chain through non-work zone portions of its travel.

Abstract: A gear cutting machine is provided with an endless chain for carrying a plurality of tools into contact with one or more workpieces to thereby form gear tooth configurations on the workpieces. The endless chain is provided with tightening means for stiffening articulated links of the chain as it passs through a zone in which its tools make contact with a workpiece, thereby providing a rigid series of links in the work zone.

Abstract: A clamping means is provided between a movable housing and a fixed structure of an endless chain machine for reducing deflections between cutting tools carried by the movable housing and a workpiece carried by a separate housing of the machine.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for sharpening and resharpening cutting blades provides for very accurate positioning of a plurality of cutting blades relative to a single grinding plane for a grinding wheel. The apparatus includes means for positioning the cutting blades in precise relationships to a reference axis so that the reference axis can be used for establishing critical geometric surfaces on the cutting blades.

Abstract: An improved method for resharpening cutting blades for gear cutting machines provides for accurate positioning of the cutting blades relative to a single grinding plane of a grinding wheel. The method includes steps of positioning the cutting blades in a certain relationship to a reference axis so that the reference axis can be used for establishing critical geometric relationships for the resharpened surfaces of the cutting blades.

Abstract: A cutter head assembly is described as including blade-receiving slots of a particular design and geometry to receive different types of cutting blades having cutting face portions which do not require resharpening. The cutter head assembly provides for positioning of such different types of cutting blades so that a negative hook position is avoided for any blade designed within a range of selected parameters for use in the assembly. This assembly provides for radial adjustment of blade positions so as to offer different cutter diameters for a given assembly. In addition, cutting blades having built-in side rake angles are disclosed for use with such a cutter head assembly.

Abstract: An improved limited slip differential unit includes a torque transmitting coupling which provides for two separate stages of driving action from a drive train to two axle shafts connected to the differential unit. A first stage of operation provides for normal differential action of the unit with no tendency to limit such action or to lock the two axle shafts to each other in their driving relationship with the drive train. A second stage of operation provides for a limitation of differential action under extreme or abnormal driving conditions, and this stage of operation can include a complete locking of the two axle shafts to each other in their relationship to the drive train.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing drag forces between spaced components which are moving relative to each other while immersed in a liquid bath includes the introduction of a quantity of gas, such as air, into the liquid bath with a gas injecting means.

Abstract: A brake assembly is described in which two disk elements are mounted on a common axis of rotation so that a single braking unit can control braking action on both of the disk elements. The described arrangement provides for smaller diameter braking disks with no loss in braking effectivness of a given system.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for roll forming tooth profiles on workpieces is provided with an adjusting means for adjusting the root angle of a workpiece. The adjusting means is designed to withstand the large forces generated with equipment of this type and can be used in combination with a separate means for pivotally moving a die and a workpiece relative to one another for bringing the die and the workpiece into and out of meshing engagement.

Abstract: An industrial process and system are described for forming finished parts from powder metal. Known steps of compacting the metal powder into a preliminary part having an intermediate shape, followed by heating and forming the preliminary powder into a finished part having a final shape and density are integrated into a single automated process and system by steps and equipment which provide for a rearranging of a continuous flow of preliminary parts into separate batches at a sintering station so that the separate batches of the preliminary parts can be uniformly heated to a selected sintering temperature level. After sintering, the separate batches are removed from the sintering station and rearranged back into a flow of parts which can be conveyed to a final forming station. This arrangement provides for advantages in starting up and stopping the system in a typical industrial application.

Abstract: A cutter head assembly for gear cutting machines is described as including an arrangement of blade-receiving slots set at specific angles to a longitudinal axis of the assembly so as to permit removal, resharpening, and replacement of different types of blades into such slots. The blades which are used with the cutter head assembly of this invention are of a type which can be resharpened without removing stock from their cutting faces.