Patents by Inventor Walter Wirz

Walter Wirz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10279409
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for dressing a single- or multi-thread grinding worm (34) in which a main rolling movement between the grinding worm and a gear-like dressing tool (90) is brought about. In order to create flank modifications on the grinding worm, an additional relative movement is superimposed on the main rolling movement. In addition, an auxiliary drive specifically designed for such a method, a correspondingly designed machine tool and a dressing tool for carrying out the method are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: REISHAUER AG
    Inventor: Walter Wirz
  • Publication number: 20170136563
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for dressing a single- or multi-thread grinding worm (34) in which a main rolling movement between the grinding worm and a gear-like dressing tool (90) is brought about. In order to create flank modifications on the grinding worm, an additional relative movement is superimposed on the main rolling movement. In addition, an auxiliary drive specifically designed for such a method, a correspondingly designed machine tool and a dressing tool for carrying out the method are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: REISHAUER AG
    Inventor: Walter WIRZ
  • Patent number: 7712219
    Abstract: In a process for the aligning of the tooth spaces of a workpiece with precut teeth, which is set up on the work spindle of a gear finishing machine, the workpiece (1) is brought into no-backlash double flank mesh with a pilot gear (6). The workpiece (1) is rotated, and during this rotation both the angular position of the tooth space centre lines of the pilot gear (6) and the centre distance between the pilot gear (6) and the workpiece (1) are measured. This allows the workpiece (1) to be tested with respect to radial run-out, flank material allowance, helix angle, and any possible irregularities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Reishauer AG
    Inventor: Walter Wirz
  • Patent number: 7682223
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for the automatic loading of workpieces into a gear manufacturing machine, in particular a hard state finishing machine, by means of a swivel device arranged on the machine, where simultaneous with the machining process of a work piece blank (2) clamped on the work spindle (1) a finish machined work piece (2) on the transfer platform (8) located opposite the work spindle is de-oiled in a work piece loading lock, removed, and a fresh work piece blank fed in. The transfer platform (8) is designed as a centrifuge station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Reishauer AG
    Inventors: Walter Wirz, Erich Ronneberger, Helmut Jager
  • Publication number: 20070060022
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for the automatic loading of workpieces into a gear manufacturing machine, in particular a hard state finishing machine, by means of a swivel device arranged on the machine, where simultaneous with the machining process of a work piece blank (2) clamped on the work spindle (1) a finish machined work piece (2) on the transfer platform (8) located opposite the work spindle is de-oiled in a work piece loading lock, removed, and a fresh work piece blank fed in. The transfer platform (8) is designed as a centrifuge station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Applicant: Reishauer AG
    Inventors: Walter Wirz, Erich Ronneberger, Helmut Jager
  • Patent number: 7018278
    Abstract: A detachable fixture of a rotary machining tool (3) on the tool spindle (2) of a machine tool and in particular of a grinding wheel flange (4) on the spindle nose (1) of a grinding spindle (2) is provided with two clamping rings. By means of the Cardanic located clamping rings (10, 13), the clamping force F generated by turning a clamping screw (7) is distributed uniformly on the spindle flange (6). The tool fixture according to the invention permits even large and heavy driven tools with high demands on stiffness and repeatability with respect to radial and axial runout and quality of balance to be changed with little time expenditure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Reishauer AG
    Inventor: Walter Wirz
  • Patent number: 7013744
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for the non-contact measurement of the position of the teeth (13) of a workpiece (14) with precut teeth on a gear finishing machine. The measuring probe, retractable from the measuring position into a position of rest protected against soiling, is arranged in a holder (5) for radial and axial adjustment relative to the workpiece, the said holder (5) being a kinematic member of a parallelogram linkage (A) and by means of a hydraulic, pneumatic or electromechanical swivel drive (11) is swivellable from stop to stop between measuring position and position of rest in a plane containing the workpiece axis, such that in the advancement action from the lower end position to the top end position motions of the measuring probe (1) tangential to the workpiece circumference are completely avoided. The parallelogram kinematics moreover afford adequate protection against swarf and grinding dust, and lends the device a high stiffness and reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Reishauer AG
    Inventor: Walter Wirz
  • Publication number: 20050208886
    Abstract: A detachable fixture of a rotary machining tool (3) on the tool spindle (2) of a machine tool and in particular of a grinding wheel flange (4) on the spindle nose (1) of a grinding spindle (2) is provided with two clamping rings. By means of the Cardanic located clamping rings (10, 13), the clamping force F generated by turning a clamping screw (7) is distributed uniformly on the spindle flange (6). The tool fixture according to the invention permits even large and heavy driven tools with high demands on stiffness and repeatability with respect to radial and axial runout and quality of balance to be changed with little time expenditure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: Reishauer AG
    Inventor: Walter Wirz
  • Publication number: 20050186886
    Abstract: In a process and a device for the aligning of the tooth spaces of a workpiece with precut teeth, which is set up on the work spindle of a gear finishing machine, the workpiece (1) is brought into no-backlash double flank mesh with a pilot gear (6). The workpiece (1) is rotated, and during this rotation both the angular position of the tooth space centre lines of the pilot gear (6) and the centre distance between the pilot gear (6) and the workpiece (1) are measured. This allows the workpiece (1) to be tested with respect to radial run-out, flank material allowance, helix angle, and any possible irregularities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Applicant: Reishauer AG
    Inventor: Walter Wirz
  • Patent number: 6805617
    Abstract: The process describes how transmission gears (6) can be manufactured in a highly economical and highly precise manner. In one single mounting, the complete hard fine-machining on all of the most important functional surfaces of the workpiece is conducted simultaneously. This multi-process is made possible through the combined use of a continuous generating grinding process for the machining of gearing, a known method for the machining of the boring and possibly of a frontal surface, and the fixing of workpieces (6) on form elements such as chamfers or plane surfaces by means of centering elements (9, 10) which are designed in such a way that they do not block the free access of the individual tools (5, 11, 28) to the surfaces (7, 8, 27) to be machined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Reishauer AG
    Inventor: Walter Wirz
  • Publication number: 20040099056
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for the non-contact measurement of the position of the teeth (13) of a workpiece (14) with precut teeth on a gear finishing machine. The measuring probe, retractable from the measuring position into a position of rest protected against soiling, is arranged in a holder (5) for radial and axial adjustment relative to the workpiece, the said holder (5) being a kinematic member of a parallelogram linkage (A) and by means of a hydraulic, pneumatic or electromechanical swivel drive (11) is swivellable from stop to stop between measuring position and position of rest in a plane containing the workpiece axis, such that in the advancement action from the lower end position (15) to the upper end position (12) motions of the measuring probe (1) tangential to the workpiece circumference are completely avoided. The parallelogram kinematics moreover afford adequate protection against swarf and grinding dust, and lends the device a high stiffness and reliability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: REISHAUER AG
    Inventor: Walter Wirz
  • Patent number: 6739943
    Abstract: On account of the constructional form of the tool head (17) according to the invention, the opposite sides (18, 19) of a tool (13) attached to the tool spindle (14) of a numerically controlled continuously generating gear grinding or hobbing machine are capable of machining the upper and lower sets of teeth (2, 3) of a double-sided face-gear (1) in one and the same set-up and without disturbing the synchronization between the rotations of the grinding worm and workpiece maintained during the grinding of the first set of teeth, without risk of collision. This eliminates the need to reset the workpiece (1) between the machining of the two sets of teeth (2, 3), thereby shortening the overall machining time substantially, and allowing the avoidance of accuracy losses due to the resetting of the workpiece (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Reishauer AG
    Inventor: Walter Wirz
  • Patent number: 6575812
    Abstract: Determining of the starting and end positions of the machining programme of a gear making machine with respect to the axial position of the workpiece (11, 18) by means of a laser light line (14) projected at right angles to the workpiece axis, the position of which light line relative to the reference point of the tool (5, 17) is known. By mutual displacement parallel to the workpiece axis, the light line (14) and one or both of the workpiece end faces (16) are brought to coincide. The axial positions thus obtained are transmitted to the machine control system. The determining of the axial tool position takes place analogously by the projection of a laser light line onto the circumference surface of the tool (5, 17) at right angles to the tool axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Reishauer AG
    Inventor: Walter Wirz
  • Publication number: 20020094761
    Abstract: The process describes how transmission gears (6) can be manufactured in a highly economical and highly precise manner. In one single mounting, the complete hard fine-machining on all of the most important functional surfaces of the workpiece is conducted simultaneously. This multi-process is made possible through the combined use of a continuous generating grinding process for the machining of gearing, a known method for the machining of the boring and possibly of a frontal surface, and the fixing of workpieces (6) on form elements such as chamfers or plane surfaces by means of centering elements (9, 10) which are designed in such a way that they do not block the free access of the individual tools (5, 11, 28) to the surfaces (7, 8, 27) to be machined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Applicant: REISHAUER AG
    Inventor: Walter Wirz
  • Publication number: 20020077030
    Abstract: On account of the constructional form of the tool head (17) according to the invention, the opposite sides (18, 19) of a tool (13) attached to the tool spindle (14) of a numerically controlled continuously generating gear grinding or hobbing machine are capable of machining the upper and lower sets of teeth (2, 3) of a double-sided face-gear (1) in one and the same set-up and without disturbing the synchronization between the rotations of the grinding worm and workpiece maintained during the grinding of the first set of teeth, without risk of collision. This eliminates the need to reset the workpiece (1) between the machining of the two sets of teeth (2, 3), thereby shortening the overall machining time substantially, and allowing the avoidance of accuracy losses due to the resetting of the workpiece (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Applicant: Reishauer AG
    Inventor: Walter Wirz
  • Patent number: 6386953
    Abstract: A profiling tool (4) is used for profiling or dressing the grinding worm thread, wherein said tool has a simple basic geometric shape, for example in the shape of a rod. The profiling tool (4) has on its active, abrasive surface (6, 7, 8) a transformed topology as needed for the grinding worm (1). The tool passes the grinding worm profile (2) during the profiling process in such a manner that points on the active profiling tool surface are matched in advance and brought into contact with corresponding points on the grinding worm flanks. Thereby topologically modified grinding worms may be essentially profiled faster than in traditional methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Reishauer AG
    Inventor: Walter Wirz
  • Patent number: 6368512
    Abstract: In a housing (1), a hollow shaft (3) is located for rotation, driven by a motor (5). Rigidly attached to the shaft (3) is a pressure vessel (6). Fitted to the shaft (3) inside the vessel (6) is a filter comprising a number of tube-shaped filter elements (9). The liquid to be filtered is fed into an upper chamber (19) of the shaft (3) via an inlet ring (18), and flows through transverse holes (20) into the vessel (6). After passing through the filter (9), the purified liquid is discharged via holes (10) in the hollow shaft (3) through an outlet ring (12). To clean the filter the residual liquid in the vessel (6) is pressed out through the filter with compressed air. Subsequently the deposit adhering to the filter tubes (9) is flung off by rotating the shaft (3) and propelled to the bottom of the vessel by feeding compressed air or clean oil to cleaning nozzles (38). An outlet ring (7) is raised slightly and the deposit at the vessel wall is dried by centrifuging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Reishauer AG
    Inventors: Walter Wirz, Erwin Sennhauser
  • Patent number: 6350181
    Abstract: The process describes how transmission gears (6) can be manufactured in a highly economical and highly precise manner. In one single mounting, the complete hard fine-machining on all of the most important functional surfaces of the workpiece is conducted simultaneously. This multi-process is made possible through the combined use of a continuous generating grinding process for the machining of gearing, a known method for the machining of the boring and possibly of a frontal surface, and the fixing of workpieces (6) on form elements such as chamfers or plane surfaces by means of centering elements (9, 10) which are designed in such a way that they do not block the free access of the individual tools (5, 11, 28) to the surfaces (7, 8, 27) to be machined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Reishauer AG
    Inventor: Walter Wirz
  • Patent number: 6344009
    Abstract: The gear consists of a housing (12) to which a drive motor (10) is flanged. Its shaft (1) carries a sun wheel (2) on which multiple planets (3) roll off. The planets (3) are positioned on a planetary carrier (6) which is rigidly connected to the output shaft (9). The shaft (9) is supported in the housing (12) coaxial to the shaft (1). Mounted to the housing (12) is a flange (17) of a cup-shaped annular wheel (8). Its lower rim (16) has a running surface (7) inside, on which the planets (3) roll off. The diameter of the running surface (7) is smaller than the sum of the diameter of the sun wheel (2) and twice the diameter of the planets (3), so that the rim (16) is elastically deformed. The planets (3) are supported rigidly in the circumferential direction and flexibly in the radial direction on the planetary carrier (6). Through this implementation, a backlash-free, rotationally very rigid gear is obtained with which high torques can be transferred in smooth operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Reishauer AG
    Inventor: Walter Wirz
  • Patent number: 6302764
    Abstract: In a first step, the grinding worm profile is dressed according to the requirements of the workpiece that is to be machined. In a second step, the thereby shaped grinding worm, which has been slightly deformed by the effects of the centrifugal force, is measured at operating speed. In a third step, the measured values are converted into control data for a correcting, redressing process of the grinding worm flanks. Finally in a fourth step, the grinding worm flanks are redressed in such a manner that form errors, which are caused by various influences during grinding, are used as correction factors in the machining of the worm profile. The measuring of the grinding worm flanks may be performed directly without contact by means of a distance sensor or indirectly, whereby a sample toothed wheel is ground and this wheel is then measured by means of a tooth-flank measuring machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Reishauer AG
    Inventor: Walter Wirz