Patents by Inventor Frank H. Kays

Frank H. Kays 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).

  • De-burring apparatus for a hobbing machine
    Patent number: 7310863
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hobbing machine. The hobbing machine includes a clamp fixture adapted to retain a gear blank. A motor is operatively connected to the clamp fixture and is configured to rotate the clamp fixture and the gear blank together at a predetermined speed. A rotatable cutter is translatable into engagement with the gear blank and is configured to cut the gear blank and thereby produce a plurality of gear teeth. A de-burring tool is translatable into engagement with the gear blank and is configured to remove burrs from the gear blank as the gear teeth are being cut. A motorized spindle is operatively connected to the de-burring tool, and is configured to power and rotate the de-burring tool at a predefined speed to optimize the removal of the burrs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Lee, Frank H. Kays, Travis M. Thompson, Stephen D. Doubler
  • DE-BURRING APPARATUS FOR A HOBBING MACHINE
    Publication number: 20070186398
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hobbing machine. The hobbing machine includes a clamp fixture adapted to retain a gear blank. A motor is operatively connected to the clamp fixture and is configured to rotate the clamp fixture and the gear blank together at a predetermined speed. A rotatable cutter is translatable into engagement with the gear blank and is configured to cut the gear blank and thereby produce a plurality of gear teeth. A de-burring tool is translatable into engagement with the gear blank and is configured to remove burrs from the gear blank as the gear teeth are being cut. A motorized spindle is operatively connected to the de-burring tool, and is configured to power and rotate the de-burring tool at a predefined speed to optimize the removal of the burrs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Lee, Frank H. Kays, Travis M. Thompson, Stephen D. Doubler