Abstract: Desired crown width and offset can be obtained on the workpiece in a simple manner and with geometrically simple tools, by adjustment of tool lead modification, the axial spacing between tool and workpiece, or the angle of rotation. Tooth flanks modified to be broad-crowned can be produced with virtually any offsets in the one-flank or two-flank process. Theoretically exact results are obtained even after shifting of the tool, and the active tool length required for machining a workpiece may be freely selected over a wide range.

Abstract: A fine-machining tool, a honing wheel in particular, characterized by an axial laminar structure with a center layer and two exterior layers bonded to each other, the center layer consisting of a plastic material in which cutting grains are embedded, and the outer layers engaged with the two edge areas of the workpiece consisting of ceramically bonded cutting grains.

Abstract: A process and a machine for fine machining of the tooth flanks of geared workpieces with a driven tool in the form of a gear wheel or worm gear which is in meshing contact with a workpiece, the axes of tool and workpiece intersecting. During machining of the workpiece the tool is driven in a direction of rotation which remains the same and adjustable torque values are applied to the workpiece in one direction and subsequently in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A method of machining at least one tooth flank of a gear with a finishing tool. The method comprises rotating the finishing tool, such as a grinding tool, and bringing the tool and the tooth flank into contact. Relative movement between the tool and the gear is provided to traverse the tool across the tooth flank along a path whereby the path produces a tooth flank geometry of a form which, when brought into mesh with a mating tooth flank to form a tooth pair under no load or light load, provides a motion graph curve that intersects, at least two times, a motion graph curve of at least one of an immediately preceding tooth pair and an immediately following tooth pair. The motion graph curve of the tooth pair describes contact between respective tooth flanks of said tooth pair from an initial entrance into mesh to a final exit from mesh as being over a gear rotation amount of greater than 1.0 pitch and preferably, about 1.5 pitch to about 3.0 pitch.

Abstract: Cutting blade and system that allows all the freedoms of the three-side-ground cutting blade while using a two-side-ground cutting blade. A new cutting edge can be defined on the two-side-ground cutting blade that will duplicate the tooth surface cut by the three-side-ground cutting blade with different hook and side rake angles. The new cutting edge of the two-side-ground cutting blade is determined by a plurality of points, each point corresponding to a point on the three-side-ground cutting blade, such that when cutting, each point along the cutting edge of a two-side ground cutting blade will lie on the same epicycloid generated by the corresponding points on a three-side-ground cutting blade with different hook and side rake angles.

Abstract: A drug delivery conformal film system according to the present invention is adapted to be compounded and applied, by medical personnel at the point of use, to a medical device such as a cardiovascular and urology stent, pacemaker, vascular graft, suture ring of mechanical heart valve, implantable infusion port, implantable drug delivery pump, orthopedic hardware and appliance, and, neurological stimulating device. The drug delivery conformal film consists of one of three in vivo biocompatible; biodegradable, bio-erodable or bioabsorbable embodiments: (1) cross-linked sodium alginate, (2) UV photo-active polymer, or, (3) hydrogels. An implantable medical device such as the stent or suture ring of a mechanical artificial heart valve is coated with an in vivo biocompatible; biodegradable or bioerodable or bioabsorbable solution comprising a polymer and containing a drug, the solution is cross-linked or cured to form a film on the device immediately prior to placement in the body.

Abstract: A medical ultrasound coupling media and lubricant, in gel or liquid form, comprised of polyethylene oxide (PEO), and aqueous solvent solutions. The inventive coupling media provides long term biocompatibility (bio-inert, bio-erodable or biodegraded and excreted) in vivo with human tissue and body fluids. The ultrasound coupling and lubricating media is formulated and manufactured in such manner and form that renders the acoustic media sterile, non-cross-linked, pseudoplastic, and containing acceptably low levels of pyrogens.

Abstract: Chip enclosure (150) wherein the interior portion comprises a primary suction port (152) and a secondary suction port (154). Both primary suction port and secondary suction port are connected via a short neck portion (155) to outlet (156) that is in communication with a source of vacuum. The bulk of chips formed as a result of machining are captured by the primary suction port (152) while any remaining chips fall to the lowest location of the chip enclosure (150) where they are drawn in to the secondary suction port (154).

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a workpiece in a predetermined position in a machine tool. The apparatus has an axis of rotation and comprises an outer body having an outer surface, an inner bore, a first end and a second end with the second end being insertable into a tapered opening of a spindle of the machine tool. The outer body includes means projecting radially from the outer surface for abutment against a face of the spindle for stopping inward movement of the apparatus upon achieving a predetermined final position in the spindle. A portion of the outer surface adjacent the stop means and extending toward the second end is inwardly tapered by an amount whereby the taper of the outer surface is generally equal to the taper of the spindle opening. The workholding apparatus includes a connector attached to the second end of the outer body, the connector having a first end insertable into the second end of the outer body and a second end comprising a plurality of spaced-apart lugs extending radially outward.

Abstract: A machine (20) for lapping or testing gears comprising a single machine column (22) having a first side (24) oriented perpendicular to a second side (26) with the first side having a first workpiece spindle (28) rotatable about a first axis and the second side having a second workpiece spindle (38) rotatable about a second axis. The first workpiece spindle is movably secured to the first side and the second workpiece spindle is movably secured to the second side. The first and second workpiece spindles are movable with respect to one another along one or more of mutually perpendicular directions G, H and V. At least one, and preferably both, of the spindles are direct drive spindles. At any relative position of the spindles and their associated gear members (36, 48) along the G, H and V directions, the crossing points of their respective axes remains the same.

Abstract: A method of dressing a threaded grinding wheel such that twisting of workpiece tooth flanks does not occur during grinding. The grinding wheel is preferably dressed with a circular arc hollow-crowned generating front with the generating front being described by a radius, Rb, and dressed into an axial plane of the grinding wheel. The workpiece is then relatively shifted across the grinding wheel along a feed shift vector which is oriented perpendicular to the axis of the workpiece. With this method, the effects of flank twist can be eliminated, or, a controlled amount of flank twist can be introduced not only in helical gears, but also in spur gears. The grinding wheel may also be dressed with a circular arc barrel-shaped generating front. The principles of the present invention may also be applied to hobbing tools.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing chips from the machining chamber of a machine tool comprising primary and secondary chip removal ports with the primary chip port being positioned in the stream of chips emanating from the workpiece being cut and the secondary chip port being located in a trough at or near the bottom of the machining chamber for collecting chips not entering the primary chip port. A source of vacuum is applied to both ports either simultaneously or, preferably, in an alternating manner and chips are conveyed through respective conduits to a chip collection container.

Abstract: A method for the precision machining of flanks of gear-wheel-shaped workpieces, in particular those with convex teeth, using an internally toothed tool with crossed axes, in which simultaneous relative movements take place not only in three mutually perpendicular axes but also around an axis perpendicular to the cross-axes angle such that not only the tooth flanks of the tool and the workpiece have tangential contact with one another but also the base body of the tool and of the workpiece touch one another at a point of contact IV of which the position changes continuously, and a straight line g orthogonally penetrating the base body of the tool and the base body of the workpiece at the point of contact not only intersects the axis C1 of the workpiece or of its base body and the axis C2 of the tool or its base body (points III, II), but also passes through the center I of an ideal sphere K1 which adapts itself to the base body of the workpiece at the point of contact IV.

Abstract: A clamping screw comprising a main body portion generally cylindrical in shape and having a length extending between a first end and a second end and an axis of rotation extending in the direction of the length. The main body portion comprises an outer surface having threads arranged along at least a portion of the length and an inner bore defining an opening at the second end of the main body portion. The clamping screw includes a head portion comprising a contacting surface, with the head portion being positioned adjacent the second end of the main body portion and being axially movable relative to the main body portion. A spring is provided to urge the head portion away from the main body portion in an axial direction. In a preferred embodiment, the inner bore extends along the entire length of the main body portion defining a first opening and a second opening at the respective ends of the main body portion.

Abstract: An assembly positionable on the spindle of a machine tool for securing a workholding apparatus in position on the machine tool. The assembly comprises first and second end portions and an inner piston axially movable within an inner chamber formed by the first and second end portions when assembled together. The piston, first end portion and second end all comprise central openings which permit the draw bar of a workholding apparatus to pass therethrough and into engagement with a draw rod of a machine tool. The piston includes springs, to urge it in a retracting direction, and spaced apart lugs to engage similar lugs on the workholding apparatus for securing the workholding apparatus to the assembly and thus to the spindle. Retraction of the draw rod results in the springs urging the piston, and hence the lugs of the workholding apparatus, in the retracting direction to secure the workholding apparatus to the assembly.

Abstract: A cutting tool comprising a cutter body member having a generally circular shape, a front surface, a back surface and an axis of rotation, the cutter body member includes an outer portion comprising a plurality of individual projections arranged spaced from one another about the cutter body with the space between successive projections defining receiving slots for cutting blades. The individual projections each further comprise an outer surface with at least one of the outer surfaces including a protrusion. Each of the blade receiving slots comprises opposing first and second side surfaces and an inner end portion with the inner end portion having a pair of angled mounting surfaces, one of the mounting surfaces extends from the first side surface and the other mounting surface extends from the second side surface with the angled mounting surfaces extending toward one another. Each of the angled mounting surfaces is oriented at an angle of less than 90 degrees with respect to its respective side surface.

Abstract: A machine for lapping or testing gears comprising a single machine column having a first side oriented perpendicular to a second side with the first side having a first workpiece spindle rotatable about a first axis and the second spindle having a second workpiece spindle rotatable about a second axis. The first workpiece spindle is movably secured to the first side and the second workpiece spindle is movably secured to the second side. The first and second workpiece spindles are movable with respect to one another along one or more of mutually perpendicular directions G, H and V. At least one, and preferably both, of the spindles are direct drive spindles. At any relative position of the spindles and their associated gear members along the G, H and V directions, the crossing points of their respective axes remains the same. For lapping, the machine further includes means to introduce lapping compound at the toe end of one of the members rotating in mesh at a location before the point of mesh.

Abstract: Apparatus for chamfering and deburring the tooth end edges of straight and skew-teeth gears, comprising at least one deburring wheel arranged endways with respect to the work and meshing with it in finishing the tooth edges, comprising a toothed guide gear arranged axially beside the deburring wheel, joined to it nonrotatably and meshing with the work, comprising at least one secondary burr disk arranged rotatably endways with respect to the work on the same side as the deburring wheel and finishing the tooth edges, and comprising a machine frame featuring a work clamping fixture and a bed for a slide supporting the tool consisting of deburring wheel and guide gear, and supporting the secondary burr disk, said slide allowing infeed transverse to the axis of rotation of the work.

Abstract: A homogeneous, solid, elastic, biocompatible sheath which is conformal and performs as if integral to the diagnostic and/or therapeutic medical ultrasound transducer, and comprised of 20 to 95% biocompatible liquid, preferably about 70% to about 95% biocompatible liquid, that render properties to the sheath resulting in the desirable level of acoustic coupling, with acceptable low levels of acoustic artifacts, distortion and attenuation and provides a microbial barrier between the transducer and a surgical field or skin. Such sheaths are fabricated from a group of hydrophilic block co-polymers whose chemistry and physical properties provide ability to form products by dipping, casting, molding or extrusion.

Abstract: A method of controlling the positioning and/or speed of axes on a machine tool as well as an apparatus for carrying out the method. The inventive method controls the positioning and/or speed of fast-rotating, high-accuracy orbital axes (i.e. rotational axes) of a gear-manufacturing machine, wherein a standard NC is used. The inventive method and apparatus are realized by the inclusion of a second control system which is provided in addition to the standard NC and is structured such that the known aliasing effects generated by underscanning and the limitation of the dynamics by the cycle times are avoided or considerably reduced. By application of the inventive method, higher accuracy can be attained while maintaining the full functional scope of the standard NC.