Abstract: A circular grinding machine wherein a reciprocable carriage supports a first rotary tool spindle for a relatively large grinding wheel and the housing including the bearing for the first spindle mounts a carrier which is pivotable about the axis of the first spindle by a fluid-operated motor and supports a second tool spindle for a relatively small grinding wheel. The carriage can be advanced to a first position to move the relatively large grinding wheel into coarse material removing contact with a rotary workpiece (such as a camshaft), and the carriage is thereupon retracted to a second position in which the carrier can be pivoted about the axis of the first spindle to move the relatively small grinding wheel into precision-finishing engagement with the pretreated workpiece.

Abstract: Two or more angularly offset cams on a camshaft are ground simultaneously by discrete abrasive belts or grinding wheels while the camshaft rotates about its longitudinal axis. The camshaft is rotated in accordance with a pattern denoting different speeds during different stages of each revolution of the camshaft, and such pattern is selected in dependency on angular positions of the cams. Each belt or grinding wheel is movable radially of the axis of the rotating camshaft independently of the other belt(s) or wheel(s). The RPM of the camshaft is lower when one or more belts or wheels are in the process of grinding the flanks of the respective cam or cams, and the RPM is higher when one or more belts or wheels are in the process of grinding the apex or apices and/or the rounded portion or portions of the respective cam or cams.

Abstract: A grinding wheel which is mounted on the tool spindle of a grinding machine is detached from the tool spindle and is transferred onto a second spindle while the two spindles rotate. Reattachment of the grinding wheel to the tool spindle also takes place while the two spindles rotate. This saves time and reduces the wear upon the bearings and upon the brakes for the tool spindle. If a grinding wheel on the tool spindle is to be replaced with a different or fresh grinding wheel, the machine uses two additional spindles one of which serves to accept a grinding wheel from the tool spindle and the other of which delivers a different or fresh grinding wheel to the tool spindle.

Abstract: A grinding wheel with a working surface having a complex profile is subjected to a path-controlled dressing operation by an apparatus which moves in the direction of the Z-axis of the machine while the grinding wheel moves in the direction of the X-axis. When necessary in view of configuration of the momentarily dressed portion of the working surface, the grinding wheel is turned about the B-axis of the machine, and such axis is remote from the point of contact between the dressing tool and the working surface and is normal to the Z- and X-axes. The controls of the grinding machine cause the dressing tool and the grinding wheel to perform additional movements in the direction of the Z- and X-axes so as to compensate for those deviations from the preselected movement which are due to turning of the grinding wheel about the B-axis.

Abstract: The cylindrical peripheral surface of a rotating workpiece is ground by a first section of a rotating grinding wheel while a second section of the grinding wheel is used to simultaneously grind a thread into the peripheral surface so that the reduction of the diameter of the peripheral surface and the forming of a thread therein take place in one and the same operation. The two sections can constitute integral parts of a one-piece grinding wheel or two discrete spaced-apart components of a composite grinding wheel. The diameters of the freshly ground portions of the peripheral surface are monitored by a measuring head which transmits appropriate signals to a computer for regulation of the controls of the grinding machine so as to change the position of the grinding wheel relative to the rotating workpiece if the diameter of the ground portion of the peripheral surface deviates from a preselected value. The same measuring head can be used to ascertain radial deviations of the rotating workpiece.

Abstract: A circular grinding machine wherein the upper side of the base for the reciprocable tool supporting unit slopes upwardly from the front side toward the rear side of the base. The headstock and a reciprocable tailstock are mounted at the front side of the base so as to support workpieces at a level above a collecting vessel for spent liquid coolant which is sprayed or otherwise guided against the workpiece during removal of material. The ways for the carriage of the tool supporting unit and the ways for the tailstock are covered by shrouds so that their temperature cannot be influenced by the coolant, and the workpiece which is held between the centers of the headstock and tailstock is located in front of the base so that the major percentage of liquid coolant which descends from the material removing station into the collecting vessel bypasses the base.

Abstract: A wheelhead for use in grinding and like machines has a spindle which is rotatably mounted in a bearing and supports at least two grinding wheels one of which is attached to the spindle for treatment of two or more successive workpieces, particularly for finish grinding camshafts, cylinders, rolls and like objects. Another grinding wheel is separably coupled to the spindle so that it can be detached upon completed preliminary treatment of each of a series of successive workpieces. The separable grinding wheel is outwardly adjacent the one grinding wheel and is coupled to the spindle by manually operable means or by means which facilitates automatic mounting of such wheel on and automatic detachment of such wheel from the spindle by a wheel changer. The wheelhead can be used with advantage in universal or special external cylindrical grinding machines.

Abstract: A grinding wheel with a working surface having a complex profile is subjected to a path-controlled dressing operation by an apparatus which moves in the direction of the Z-axis of the machine while the grinding wheel moves in the direction of the X-axis. When necessary in view of configuration of the momentarily dressed portion of the working surface, the grinding wheel is turned about the B-axis of the machine, and such axis is remote from the point of contact between the dressing tool and the working surface and is normal to the Z- and X-axes. The controls of the grinding machine cause the dressing tool and the grinding wheel to perform additional movements in the direction of the Z- and X-axes so as to compensate for those deviations from the preselected movement which are due to turning of the grinding wheel about the B-axis.

Abstract: The internal thread of a rotary workpiece, especially a ball thread, is ground with a CBN grinding wheel whose axis makes with the axis of the workpiece a grinding angle smaller than the lead angle of the thread to be ground. The profile of the grinding wheel is thereupon corrected by a diamond profiling roll whose axis makes with the axes of the grinding wheel an angle larger than the lead angle.

Abstract: The grinding of successive workpieces in a surface grinding machine with automatic transport of workpieces to and from the grinding station is interrupted at preselected intervals to replace the workpiece at the grinding station with a pattern which is contacted by the sensors of a measuring device serving as a means for monitoring the diameters of workpieces in the course of the grinding operation. The thus obtained signals are indicative of the wear upon the sensors and are used as reference signals for the treatment of the next series of workpieces. The work transporting device is used to convey the pattern between the grinding station and a depository wherein the pattern is cooled during storage by the medium which is used to cool workpieces during treatment at the grinding station.

Abstract: A surface grinding machine wherein the spindle for grinding wheels is mounted on a slide which is reciprocable to and from a tool changing station. A transfer unit at the changing station has a head which is indexible on a base and has two aligned or crossing arms with discrete tool clamping mechanisms. Each clamping mechanism can accept a tool from the spindle in such orientation that the axis of the tool is horizontal, and the head is then indexed to change the orientation of the axis of the tool from horizontal to vertical before the tool is deposited in a selected carrier of a depository for tools. The depository is movable relative to the tool changing station to place a selected carrier into proper position for reception of a tool or for removal of a tool therefrom and/or to move the depository to and from a magazine for tools.

Abstract: A profiling and dressing tool for grinding wheels which are used for the cutting of external threads has a diamond roll with a first circumferentially extending rib at one axial end and a second circumferentially extending rib at the other axial end. One of the ribs is used for preliminary profiling of the grinding wheel, and the other rib is used for final profiling and dressing. The tool can be used for the profiling and dressing of a wide range of grinding wheels having different diameters and grooves of different depths. One of the ribs is idle when the other rib is in use, and vice versa. If the grinding wheel is to be formed with a series of grooves alternating with ribs, each of the selected ribs of the diamond roll is moved radially of and toward the periphery of the grinding wheel, is thereupon extracted, moved axially of the grinding wheel, caused to plunge again into the material of the grinding wheel, and so forth until the profiling is completed.

Abstract: The surface of a rotating cylindrical workpiece is monitored by an optical testing unit while the workpiece rotates and is treated by the grinding wheel in a circular grinding machine. The optical testing unit is mounted in part on one sensor of a second testing unit which monitors the diameter of the surface of the workpiece. A transducer and a light source of the optical testing unit are remote from the one sensor and are connected by fiber optic conductors with a head which is recessed into the one sensor and focuses light upon the surface of the rotating workpiece and intercepts light which is reflected by the workpiece. Lubricant which coats the surface of the workpiece in the course of the grinding operation is blown away from such surface in the region where the light beam is focused upon the workpiece.

Abstract: A surface grinding machine wherein the turret for two grinding tools is indexible with reference to a support by disengaging the surfaces of its two coaxial sections from opposite sides of an annular component of the support. This is effected by cylinder and piston units which move one of the sections axially of any away from the other section before moving the other section away from the annular component. The one section carries one portion of a first bearing which engages the other portion of such bearing on the support when the one section is disengaged from the annular component. The other section carries one portion of a second bearing which engages another portion of the second bearing on the support in response to disengagement of the other section from the annular component. The turret is then indexible to a different position before the cylinder and piston units effect of allow a return movement of the two sections of the turret into frictional engagement with the annular component.

Abstract: A plain grinding machine wherein a grinding unit with a spindle for grinding wheels is reciprocable along the bed and is indexible about a vertical axis to transfer work holders between one or more indexible turrets or a magazine and a socket which is reciprocably mounted on the bed. The spindle of the grinding unit can further carry and rotate a clamping device for a workpiece to be treated by the internal grinding wheel of a holder which is separably secured to the socket. The clamping device can be stored in a second magazine which further serves for storage of one or more tool holders or tools. The grinding unit, the socket and each holder has clamping elements which can separably secure a holder to the socket, to the magazine or to the grinding unit. The control unit of the grinding machine transmits signals for actuation of the grinding unit when the latter is used as a manipulator to transfer holders between the socket and a turret or between the second magazine and the spindle.

Abstract: A cam grinding machine wherein the slide which supports the grinding wheel need not support the motor which rotates the grinding wheel so that the inertia of the slide is low and the slide can be reciprocated toward and away from the rotating workpiece at a high frequency, without risking the development of sympathetic vibrations, in order to account for changes in the angular position of the workpiece and, if necessary, also for wear upon and for dressing of the grinding wheel. The motor for the grinding wheel is mounted on a carriage which supports the slide or is mounted on the bed of the grinding machine next to the slide for reciprocatory movement toward and away from the workpiece.

Abstract: The grinding of successive workpieces in a surface grinding machine with automatic transport of workpieces to and from the grinding station is interrupted at preselected intervals to replace the workpiece at the grinding station with a pattern which is contacted by the sensors of a measuring device serving as a means for monitoring the diameters of workpieces in the course of the grinding operation. The thus obtained signals are indicative of the wear upon the sensors and are used as reference signals for the treatment of the next series of workpieces. The work transporting device is used to convey the pattern between the grinding station and a depository wherein the pattern is cooled during storage by the medium which is used to cool workpieces during treatment at the grinding station.

Abstract: The tailstock of a universal grinding machine has a lower part which is affixed to the frame at a level below the indexible head for a set of grinding spindles, and an upper part which supports one or more dead centers and is indexible relative to the lower part about a horizontal axis extending at right angles to the axis or axes of the center or centers. The upper part of the tailstock has several facets and the number of such facets exceeds the number of dead centers by at least one. Each center is mounted on a discrete facet and the unoccupied facet is indexed to a position below the material removing station of the grinding machine when the head is to be indexed whereby the center or centers on the upper part of the tailstock cannot interfere with movements of the selected grinding wheel to and from the material removing station.

Abstract: The periphery of a selected crankpin is ground while the crankshaft rotates about an axis which is parallel to the axis of the crankpin. The decreasing diameter of the crankpin is monitored by one or more sensors which are connected with a detector serving to transmit signals to the controls of the grinding machine. Retention of the sensors in continuous contact with the circulating crankpin is ensured by an elongated guide which supports the sensors and the detector and is mounted on the piston rod of a cylinder. The latter is pivotable in a holder which is reciprocably or fixedly secured to the table or to the understructure of the frame of the grinding machine. A coil spring in the cylinder biases the piston and the piston rod in a direction to maintain the forward end of the guide in continuous contact with the periphery of the circulating crankpin.

Abstract: Poppets of lift valves are ground in a grinding machine wherein the chuck clamps the stem midway between the head and the foot of the poppet and is indexible through 180.degree. so as to place the foot into the range of a first portion of the working surface of a grinding wheel in one of its positions and to place the head into the range of another portion of the working surface of the same grinding wheel in the other of its positions. The entire working surface of the grinding wheel is dressed during grinding of the head, and the carriage for the spindle of the grinding wheel is moved in response to signals which denote the final position of the grinding wheel upon completed grinding of the foot. The chuck is indexible in a rotary work holder whose axis coincides with the axis of the clamped poppet and is normal to the axis about which the chuck is indexed by a rack-and-pinion drive.