Patents by Inventor Allan J. Heffron

Allan J. Heffron 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: 7387008
    Abstract: There is provided a new and improved apparatus and method for rolling workpieces such as crankshafts. The apparatus has first and second rolling heads mounted at spaced positions along a common rolling arm to receive a crankshaft bearing therebetween which can then be shifted relative to one another along the common rolling arm to close the heads or rolling tools for clamping onto the workpiece. The in-line clamping action and force provided by the tools on the rolling arm are created by actuation of a tall, thin cylinder assembly including a number of aligned individual cylinders sized to keep the width of the cylinder assembly to a minimum so that all of the rolling arms can likewise be of a thin construction pivotally mounted on one side of the crankshaft and axially spaced according to the crankshaft bearing spacing for rolling all of the bearings in a single rolling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Ingersoll CM Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Allan J. Heffron, Earl O. Brechtelsbauer, Marc D. St. Pierre
  • Patent number: 6895793
    Abstract: There is provided a new and improved apparatus and method for rolling workpieces such as crankshafts. The apparatus has first and second rolling heads mounted at spaced positions along a common rolling arm to receive a crankshaft bearing therebetween which can then be shifted relative to one another along the common rolling arm to close the heads or rolling tools for clamping onto the workpiece. The in-line clamping action and force provided by the tools on the rolling arm are created by actuation of a tall, thin cylinder assembly including a number of aligned individual cylinders sized to keep the width of the cylinder assembly to a minimum so that all of the rolling arms can likewise be of a thin construction pivotally mounted on one side of the crankshaft and axially spaced according to the crankshaft bearing spacing for rolling all of the bearings in a single rolling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Ingersoll CM Systems LLC
    Inventors: Allan J. Heffron, Earl O. Brechtelsbauer, Marc D. St. Pierre
  • Publication number: 20020083751
    Abstract: There is provided a new and improved apparatus and method for rolling workpieces such as crankshafts. The apparatus has first and second rolling heads mounted at spaced positions along a common rolling arm to receive a crankshaft bearing therebetween which can then be shifted relative to one another along the common rolling arm to close the heads or rolling tools for clamping onto the workpiece. The in-line clamping action and force provided by the tools on the rolling arm are created by actuation of a tall, thin cylinder assembly including a number of aligned individual cylinders sized to keep the width of the cylinder assembly to a minimum so that all of the rolling arms can likewise be of a thin construction pivotally mounted on one side of the crankshaft and axially spaced according to the crankshaft bearing spacing for rolling all of the bearings in a single rolling operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Applicant: Ingersoll Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Allan J. Heffron, Earl O. Brechtelsbauer, Marc D. St. Pierre
  • Patent number: 5037248
    Abstract: An improved cutter disk for machining rotating workpieces, and in particular an improvement in such cutters useful in monotonic-type cutters in which the tool inserts carried on the disk are mounted in such a manner as to present the inserts to the workpiece at a radical lead angle, optimally on the order of 60 degrees. The tool inserts are preferably carried on both sides of a V-shaped edge on the cutter disk. Chip gullets are formed in the disk parallel to the tool inserts and are angled with respect to the plane of the disk. This optimizes the space for chip gullets and allows either a doubling of the feed rate for a given chip thickness and insert density, or a reduction in chip thickness by 50% for a given feed rate. The invention also results in the optimal use of space for the chosen insert density, especially on narrow cutters, and permits an improvement in the pocket strength and insert strength, as well as improving tool life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: Ingersoll CM Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Allan J. Heffron
  • Patent number: 4790698
    Abstract: An apparatus for machining a workpiece such as a crankshaft provides a superior combination of low initial and rebuilding costs, high flexibility in tool changeover and alteration of configuration, yet minimizes floor space and noise level while allowing the combining of several machine operations in a single step. The apparatus also permits the use of optimum cutting speeds, cutting tool feeds, cutting tool composition and cutting tool dimensional tolerances. The apparatus includes a lathe bed to which the crankshaft is mounted and rotated at a variable rate of speed, as well as an arbor disposed parallel to the axis of rotation of the workpiece, rotatable in the same direction at a variable speed. At least one cutter disk is fixedly mounted to the arbor. The disk has a plurality of cutting tools disposed about part but not all of its circumfery, the tools being located at a generally increasing distance from the center of the disk in a stepwise fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: CM Systems, Incorporated
    Inventor: Allan J. Heffron
  • Patent number: 4080852
    Abstract: The invention pertains to the method and apparatus for machining crankshaft bearing and cheek surfaces wherein the cheek surfaces are turned by tungsten carbide tools in a dry-cutting operation and the bearing surface is turned by high-speed steel tools. The cheek and bearing machining is sequentially performed, the rate of crankshaft rotation and rate of tool movement during cheeking being considerably higher than during bearing machining, and the carbide and high speed tools are mounted upon a common tool carrier shiftable between two operative positions to permit the sequential turning operations to be rapidly sequentially performed during a single translation of the slide upon which the tools are mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1978
    Assignees: CM Systems, Inc., Crankshaft Machine Co.
    Inventors: Allan J. Heffron, Henry J. Garnaat, Laverne H. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 4044638
    Abstract: Headstock and tailstock chucking apparatus for crankshaft machine tools, such as lathes and grinders, utilizing a centering hole defined in the crankshaft workpiece end for axially locating the workpiece relative to the machine, and the machining tools. The stock spindle chucks utilize a center engaging a previously located and dimensioned workpiece center to axially position the workpiece, which is biased into firm engagement with the center prior to chucking. The chuck center and workpiece is axially located and spindle motors reciprocate chuck actuating mechanism sequentially producing axial locking and radial chucking of the workpiece. Further, automatic limit switch positioning apparatus is employed to automatically position machine limit switch controls in accordance with workpiece dimensions and quill location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1977
    Assignees: Crankshaft Machine Company, C. M. Systems, Incorporated
    Inventors: Allan J. Heffron, Leverne H. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 3966058
    Abstract: Apparatus for transferring internal combustion engine crankshafts from a conveyor system to crankshaft machining apparatus capable of automatic functioning. The apparatus includes an overhead track having a translatable carriage mounted thereon and a crankshaft holder depends below the carriage having a pivoted jaw for gripping a crankshaft. A power driven drive shaft mounted on the carriage raises and lowers the holder through an eccentric connection therewith, and the eccentric pin includes a radially movable slide to which a jaw actuator mounted in the holder is connected. The slide includes a cam follower engaging a grooved cam track wherein rotation of the drive shaft produces relative displacement between the jaw actuator and the crankshaft holder during vertical displacement of the holder moving the jaw between holding and release positions during rotation of the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1976
    Assignees: C. M. Systems, Incorporated, Crankshaft Machine
    Inventors: Allan J. Heffron, Arthur L. Estry, William F. Chalmers