Abstract: A machine (10) incorporates slide assemblies (12) for adjusting the spacing between toothed forming racks (14) supported by the slide assemblies to roll form splines in a workpiece (16). Each slide assembly (12) includes a main slide (78) supported for movement on an associated base portion (30) and also includes a secondary slide (80) adjustable mounted on the main slide (78) under the control of an adjuster (76). A leading end (82) of each slide assembly (12) includes a pivotal connection (84) and a trailing end (86) thereof supports the adjuster (76) that operates in association with a fixed thrust plate (92), a movable thrust plate (94) moved by an actuator (98), and a thrust connector (96) that extends between the fixed and movable thrust plates and upon operation of the actuator pivots the secondary slide (80) about the main slide (78) in order to provide the rack spacing adjustment.

Abstract: A tool retention apparatus for retaining a cutting tool in a tool holder which has a wedged shaped securing arrangement to hold the cutting tool against a pair of precision ground supports. The securing member provides both a vertical securing force and a radial location of the cutting tool to facilitate installation and removal of the cutting tool from a machine.

Abstract: A power transmission member (20) is provided by a spline rolling method and apparatus (36) that includes a pair of racks (38) for providing splines (24) with ends (34) opposing each other in a precisely spaced relationship at an annular groove (30) that is utilized to provide snap ring or other fastener positioning for axially locating the member during use.

Abstract: A power transmission member (20) is provided by a spline rolling method and apparatus (36) that includes a pair of racks (38) for providing splines (24) with ends (34) opposing each other in a precisely spaced relationship at an annular groove (30) that is utilized to provide snap ring or other fastener positioning for axially locating the member during use.

Abstract: A machine (20) for rolling power transmission formations in a workpiece includes a base (22) having spaced base portions (30) and a rear connecting base portion (32) extending between the spaced base portions which project forwardly therefrom to define a workspace (34). A headstock spindle support (48) is mounted on the rear connecting base portion (32) along a rotational axis A of the machine and is moved therealong by a headstock electric servomotor (152). A tailstock spindle support (52) is mounted on the spaced base portions (30) adjacent front ends (36) thereof to cooperate with the headstock spindle support (48) in rotatably mounting the workpiece and is also movable along the rotational axis by a tailstock electric servomotor (180). A pair of movable slides (66) respectively support a pair of forming racks (68) and are respectively supported by the pair of spaced base portions (30) within the workspace (34).

Abstract: A machine (20) for rolling power transmission formations in a workpiece includes a base (20) having a pair of spaced base portions (30), headstock and tailstock spindle supports (48,52) that cooperate to mount the workpiece for rotation about a rotational axis of the machine and a pair of antifriction linear bearings (58) respectively associated with the pair of spaced base portions. Each bearing (58) includes a stationary carriage (60) and an elongated movable guideway (62). The stationary carriages (60) are respectively mounted on the pair of spaced base portions (30) with the rotational axis (A) of the machine (20) therebetween, and each stationary carriage (60) includes rolling elements that support the associated movable guideway (62) for movement along its length on the adjacent side of the supported workpiece.

Abstract: A machine (20) for rolling power transmission formations in a workpiece includes a base (20) having a lower end (24) for providing support thereof in an upwardly standing orientation. The base (22) includes a pair of spaced base portions (30) and a rear connecting base portion (32). The spaced base portions (30) project forwardly from the rear connecting base portion (32) to define a vertically extending workspace (34) and are secured to each other and to the rear connecting base portion by tie rod assemblies (38, 40, 42). Headstock and tailstock spindle supports (48,52) cooperate to rotatably mount the workpiece about a rotational axis (A) of the machine.

Abstract: A mechanical drive linkage for a blind spline broaching machine wherein a rotary motion provided by a servo driven helical ball or roller screw is converted to a linear reciprocal motion of a ram through the use of a kite link and a pivot link that as a part of their motion communicate with guide tracks in order to prevent side loads from being applied to the ball screw, its carriage, or the ram of the blind spline broaching machine.

Abstract: A tool retention apparatus for retaining a cutting tool in a tool holder which has a wedged shaped securing arrangement to hold the cutting tool against a pair of precision ground supports. The securing member provides both a vertical securing force and a radial location of the cutting tool to facilitate installation and removal of the cutting tool from a machine.

Abstract: A rotary index table assembly including an annular positioning mechanism (22) that cooperates with a lift mechanism (140) to accurately position a rotary index table (14) on a base (12). The annular positioning mechanism (22) includes a base mounted crown gear (24), a table mounted crown gear (26) and a movable crown gear (28) that is moved out of engagement with the base and table mounted crown gears to permit the indexing rotation and that is thereafter moved into engagement with the base and table mounted crown gears to locate the table with respect to the base while the lift mechanism (140) supports the table on the base by the movement of the movable crown gear (28) to permit the accurate positioning.

Abstract: Method and system are provided for controllably driving a rotary drive of a rotary index table assembly utilizing a PLC which receives various sensor signals including a feedback signal from a resolver to generate a reference central signal which, in turn, is used by a positioning drive including an electric servomotor to drive the rotary drive. The positioning drive includes a servoamplifier and a microprocessor for generating commands for controlling the servoamplifier in response to the reference central signal. The PLC also controls a hydraulic control unit which controls the axial position of the index table relative to a base of the assembly.

Abstract: A rotary index table assembly including an annular positioning mechanism (22) that cooperates with an air bearing (30) to accurately position a rotary index table (14) on a base (12). The annular positioning mechanism (22) includes a base mounted crown gear (24), a table mounted crown gear (26) and a movable crown gear (28) that is moved out of engagement with the base and table mounted crown gears to permit the indexing rotation and that is thereafter moved into engagement with the base and table mounted crown gears to locate the table with respect to the base while the air bearing supports the table on the base to permit the accurate positioning. A rotary drive (18) of the table assembly is preferably constructed to include a double enveloping worm gear set (32) and a polygonal drive coupling (34) that are capable of transmitting relatively large torque to the table while still having a compact construction.

Abstract: A mechanical loading device capable of generating a substantially rectilinear output motion for the purpose of transporting workpieces between work stations. The mechanical loading device is capable of producing the rectilinear output motion such that a workpiece is lifted, transferred horizontally, and then lowered into position with a significant degree of precision. The rectilinear output motion is generated primarily by a carrier on which a yoke is supported with an eccentric shaft extending from a driven member mounted to the carrier. The eccentric relationship between the driven member and the yoke, in conjunction with the controlled rotation of the carrier, generates the rectilinear output motion at an output member supported by the yoke. The mechanical loading device is structurally strong and compact, is constructed so as to be readily maintainable, and enables the efficient conversion of a rotational input motion to the desired rectilinear output motion.

Abstract: A rotary index table assembly including an annular positioning mechanism (22) that cooperates with an air bearing (30) to accurately position a rotary index table (14) on a base (12). The annular positioning mechanism (22) includes a base mounted crown gear (24), a table mounted crown gear (26) and a movable crown gear (28) that is moved out of engagement with the base and table mounted crown gears to permit the indexing rotation and that is thereafter moved into engagement with the base and table mounted crown gears to locate the table with respect to the base while the air bearing supports the table on the base to permit the accurate positioning. A rotary drive (18) of the table assembly is preferably constructed to include a double enveloping worm gear set (32) and a polygonal drive coupling (34) that are capable of transmitting relatively large torque to the table while still having a compact construction.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a method and apparatus for a single stroke kinematic system, having a required mid stroke dwell, which permits positioning of the mid stroke dwell with respect to both space and time. A four bar linkage mechanism is disclosed having a bottom stroke and a top stroke toggle thereby kinematically providing the acceleration ramps into and out of the bottom stroke and top stroke dwells. A cycloidal drive mechanism is provided to drive the four bar linkage and providing time/phase shifting of the cycloidal drive's mid cycle dwell.

Abstract: A shell-type internal broach assembly including a number of annular insert mounting shells interleaved with a number of annular spacers, and mounted on an arbor. The annular insert mounting shells are sufficiently short so as to permit the use of travelling-wire EDM manufacturing methods. As a result, inserts can be precisely and accurately located and secured to the annular insert mounting shells, thereby presenting a highly repeatable broaching configuration to a workpiece. The precision by which the annular insert mounting shells are formed also promotes concentricity of the annular insert mounting shells, which further promotes the accurate and precise placement of the inserts relative to the longitudinal axis of the arbor.

Abstract: The present invention teaches method and apparatus for a single stroke kinematic system, having a required mid stroke dwell, which permits positioning of the mid stroke dwell with respect to both space and time. A four bar linkage mechanism is disclosed having a bottom stroke and a top stroke toggle thereby kinematically providing the acceleration ramps into and out of the bottom stroke and top stroke dwells. A cycloidal drive mechanism is provided to drive the four bar linkage and providing time/phase shifting of the cycloidal drive's mid cycle dwell.

Abstract: A blind spline broaching machine for machining splines as well as sprockets, keyways, gears, cams and contours on workpieces, such as shafts. The blind spline broaching machine of the preferred embodiment has dual rams reciprocable relative to a rotary dial. The rams hold a corresponding pair of workpieces, while the rotary dial supports one or more broaching tools. The rotary dial is rotatable to index the workpieces to and from the rams. The blind spline broaching machine also incorporates a part moving unit on its periphery, which enables the use of a single loading/unloading station at which workpieces are alternately loaded onto and unloaded from the rotary table. Because the workpieces are loaded and unloaded from the same location on the periphery of the blind spline broaching machine, the side of the blind spline broaching machine opposite the loading/unloading station remains open to permit ready access to the tooling and the interior structure of the blind spline broaching machine.

Abstract: A pot type broach assembly having a plurality of tool holders serially connected to each other. Each tool holder has a plurality of sub-holder slots and a plurality of pilot slots equally spaced about an inner surface. The sub-holder slots and pilot slots are longitudinally aligned. A sub-holder member is attached in each longitudinally aligned sub-holder slot and a pilot member is attached in each longitudinally aligned pilot slot. Each sub-holder member has a pair of longitudinal side mounting faces and at least one broach member is attached to each side mounting face. The pilot member engages the broach members on either side thereof and prohibits lateral displacement of the sub-holders and the attached broach member. The pilot members also guide the part support member to which the part to be machined is attached as it is displaced through the broach assembly.

Abstract: A mechanical clamping device adapted to engage and secure the upper tooling of a welding knee. The clamping device is motor driven such that several clamping devices can be simultaneously and synchronously operated to engage, align and secure the upper tooling from a remote location. The clamping device includes a clamping lever actuated by a cam mechanism. The clamping lever has an upper end provided with a cam follower, a lower engagement end for engaging the tooling, and a journalling region. The engagement end is adapted to closely engage a corresponding feature on the tooling. The journalling region of the clamping lever is slidably journalled in a bushing which includes a biasing member for biasing the cam follower against the cam mechanism. The clamping lever is pivotably attached by the bushing to the cam mechanism which serves to both rotate the clamping lever and bushing together and stroke the clamping lever within the bushing to secure the upper tooling to the welding knee.