Abstract: A rotary forming machine assembly including a lower base (12) and a pair of spindle housings (14) including front (16) and rear (18) walls. The housings (14) are movably mounted on the base (12) for movement toward and away from one another. A tool spindle (20) is rotatably mounted between the front (16) and rear (18) walls of each of the housings (14) for rotation about spaced axes (B) to form a workpiece therebetween. The invention includes a deflection control bar (26) extending between and interconnecting the front walls (16) of the spindle housings (14). The control bar (26) limits the distance apart the (B) axes of the tool spindles (20) may move at the front walls (16) in response to the forming of a workpiece (22) between the tool spindles. The control bar is adjustably supported on the front walls (16) for selective movement in a direction parallel to a plane intersecting the axes (B).

Abstract: Apparatus (22,22') for forming thin-wall sleeves (24) is disclosed as including a spring biaser (52) for tools (48) of the apparatus. A mandrel (36) and a tool housing (42) cooperate to mount the sleeve (24) for forming under the impetus of an actuator (54) that moves the tools (48) against the force of the spring biaser (52). Upon such tool movement, forming ends (50) of the tools form the sleeve (24) into circumferentially spaced recesses (40) of the mandrel to provide sleeve splines or teeth (56). The spring biaser (52) preferably includes a plurality of springs (92) mounted within associated spring openings (98) in the tool housing between tool slots (46) in which the tools (48) are supported for movement. In one embodiment, the forming is performed inwardly with the sleeve mounted about an internal mandrel. In another embodiment, the forming is performed outwardly with the sleeve mounted within an external mandrel.

Abstract: A loader (10) for a forming machine (12) is disclosed as including a horizontally elongated transfer beam (46) supported by a linkage (52) and moved by a dual output cam unit (62). A first output (64) of the cam unit (62) is connected to an intermediate portion (50) of the beam (46) and a second output (66) thereof is connected to the linkage (52) to cooperatively move the beam (46) vertically and horizontally in a closed path such that workpieces (30) are moved into alignment with a work station (22) of the machine (12) for forming and out of alignment therewith after the forming is completed. The cam unit (62) has first and second cams (68,72) that move associated first and second followers (200,224) to move the first and second outputs (64,66) which respectively actuate horizontal and vertical movement of the transfer beam (46).

Abstract: A hydraulic control circuit (10) for operating a loader (12) of a machine for splining an annular thin-wall sleeve of a power transmission member is disclosed as including valving (116) for communicating supply and return conduits (102,116) with load and unload cylinders (14,16) to provide loading and unloading movements. Load and unload valves (118,120) of the valving have load cycle positions where the load cylinder drives both the loading and unloading members (26,28) which clamp a thin-wall member during such movement to provide loading thereof for splining. In an unload cycle position of the valves, both the load and unload cylinders are hydraulically driven in an unloading direction opposite to the loading movement. The loading and unloading members (26,28) are moved away from each other by their associated cylinders in an index cycle of the valves to permit indexing of a load table (30) under the operation of an index valve (162) of the circuit.

Abstract: A loader (12) for a spline rolling machine wherein die and mandrel teeth (26,42) mesh with the thinwall sleeve (44) of a power transmission member (30) located therebetween to form splines therein is disclosed as including a loading member (58) with a locator (68) on a rotatable clamp (66) thereof and as including an unloading member (60) having a depression (72) that receives the locator (68) so as to permit clamping of an end wall (46) of the power transmission member (30) in an accurately located relationship while still ensuring disengagement during unloading upon movement of the loading and unloading members (58,60) away from each other at an associated load table (36).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making rotary die racks having an elongated shape including a partially circular forming face of less than 180.degree. and a flat mounting surface that faces in the opposite direction as the forming face. Cast metal blanks of the die racks are secured to a rotatable spindle in a side-by-side relationship to turn the forming faces. Forming projections, i.e. teeth that extend parallel to the axis of the forming face, are then cut in the turned face. Heat treating of the die racks is then performed before mounting thereof on a fixture to perform a finish grinding of the teeth. The spindle preferably includes a spindle member and a central shaft on which the spindle member is mounted for rotation. The fixture includes a pair of spaced end plates and a bed that extends between the end plates and has a stop and an adjustable positioner for clamping the die racks.

Abstract: A forming machine (10) is disclosed as including a rotary drive mechanism (30) that provides accurate control of the degree to which forming is performed. The drive mechanism includes a pair of drive members (34) mounted for movement with a pair of elongated dies that are preferably embodied as die racks (22, 24) mounted on lower and upper bases (12, 14) of the machine. A toothed drive gear (32) is meshed with drive teeth (52) on each of the drive members and is rotatably driven by a drive spindle to thereby move the drive members and hence the dies in order to form a workpiece mounted between the dies. The drive mechanism has particular utility in a machine for forming a thin-walled annular sleeve of a workpiece mounted on a toothed mandrel (38) between the dies. An automatic loader is preferably utilized to mount the workpiece on the mandrel such that movement of the dies engages the die and mandrel teeth with the workpiece sleeve therebetween in order to provide the forming.

Abstract: The machine disclosed includes apparatus for splining thin-walled sleeves of power transmission members that are mounted on a toothed mandrel between a pair of toothed dies by an automatic loader which also removes the members from the mandrel after the splining. Loading and unloading members of the loader are moved axially along the axis of mandrel rotation by associated actuating cylinders to move members to be splined from an indexer onto the mandrel and to move the members after splining from the mandrel back to the indexer. Clamping surfaces on the end of the mandrel and a rotatable clamp of the loading member position the sleeve of a member being splined over the mandrel teeth. The unloading member is received within a central opening of the mandrel and has an annular centering surface that properly locates the member being splined.

Abstract: A tooth forming machine disclosed provides high production output and accurately controlled tooth forming due to the provision of equal displacement hydraulic cylinders which reciprocate die racks on upper and lower base portions connected by a base connecting portion and preloaded deflection control connections. Each cylinder includes a hollow housing, a slidable piston received within the housing, a hollow connecting rod secured to the slidable piston and projecting outwardly from the housing, and a stationary piston received within the hollow rod while allowing movement of the slidable piston. An annular pull chamber and a push chamber of the same cross-sectional area are defined by the cylinder components and alternately fed pressurized hydraulic fluid from a closed loop pump system while fluid from the other chamber is returned to the pump system in order to extend or retract the cylinder and thereby move the associated die rack in one direction or the other.

Abstract: A grinding machine and dresser therefor for dressing a grinding wheel of the machine to grind a crooked configuration in a workpiece. The dresser includes a holder for a template having the cutting profile of the grinding wheel as well as a holder for a cutting tool that dresses the wheel. The tool holder is mounted for movement with a template follower in an antifriction manner so that the cutting tool dresses the grinding wheel with the cutting profile. Cutting profiles for grinding precise toothed configurations are possible with the dresser. A carriage of the machine on which the dresser is mounted is slidably movable with respect to a base of the machine by axial movement of a dual threaded drive screw having right and left-hand threaded portions spaced axially along its length.

Abstract: A grinding machine and dresser therefor for dressing a grinding wheel of the machine to grind a crooked configuration in a workpiece. The dresser includes a holder for a template having the cutting profile of the grinding wheel as well as a holder for a cutting tool that dresses the wheel. The tool holder is mounted for movement with a template follower in an antifriction manner so that the cutting tool dresses the grinding wheel with the cutting profile. Cutting profiles for grinding precise toothed configurations are possible with the dresser. A carriage of the machine on which the dresser is mounted is slidably movable with respect to a base of the machine by axial movement of a dual threaded drive screw having right and left-hand threaded portions spaced axially along its length.