Patents by Inventor Robert Wuerfel

Robert Wuerfel 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: 11980957
    Abstract: The present invention shows an apparatus for a chamfer machining of a toothed workpiece comprising a workpiece spindle having a workpiece holder rotatably supported about an axis of rotation for holding the workpiece, a tool spindle having a tool holder rotatably supported about an axis of rotation for holding a finger mill, wherein the tool spindle is travelable relative to the workpiece holder via at least one linear axis of the apparatus, and a control having a machining function that rotates the workpiece held in the workpiece holder by controlling the workpiece spindle for the chamfer machining of a toothed workpiece while a finger mill held in the tool holder engages at the edge to be machined. It is characterized in that the machining function varies the rotational speed of the workpiece during the chamfer machining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: LIEBHERR-VERZAHNTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Johannes Weixler, Robert Würfel, Alexander Hunt, Johannes van Hauth
  • Patent number: 11253937
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to generating a modified gear flank geometry on an active surface of the workpiece by generation grinding or honing. In at least one example, the modified gear flank geometry of the workpiece may be generated on the active surface of the workpiece by variation of an engagement depth of a tool into the workpiece in dependence on an angle of rotation of the tool. Additionally, the workpiece may comprise a cylindrical spur gear, a helical gear, a spherical gear, or a conical gear. Further, in one or more examples, the modified gear flank geometry of the workpiece includes at least one of a profile waviness or a defined periodic flank waviness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Hansjoerg Geiser, Robert Wuerfel
  • Patent number: 11059116
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for gear skiving a workpiece, wherein: in a first step, the geometry of a tool, in particular of a skiving wheel, is measured for the machining of the workpiece in a state clamped in an apparatus for gear skiving machining; and in a subsequent further step, machining kinematics are determined for the gear skiving in dependence on the measured geometry of the tool characterized in that the absolute location of a cutting edge of the tool in the apparatus is determined in the first step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: LIEBHERR-VERZAHNTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventor: Robert Würfel
  • Patent number: 10773356
    Abstract: A method of producing a workpiece having a modified gearing geometry by a generating method includes generating machining the workpiece in at least one machining stroke with a tool having a modified gearing geometry and a topological modification. Provision is made that the contact path with the workpiece is not shifted on the tool during the machining stroke. In one example, a cylindrical workpiece is machined by an axial generating method. In another example, a conical workpiece is machined by a diagonal generating method, and the diagonal ratio is selected such that the contact path does not shift on the tool during the machining stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: LIEBHERR-VERZAHNTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Robert Wuerfel, Hansjoerg Geiser
  • Patent number: 10603730
    Abstract: A method of producing a workpiece having a desired gear geometry by means of a suitably dressed tool may include specifying a desired gear geometry of the workpiece and selecting a combination of a dresser and a tool, such that the desired gear geometry of the workpiece can be produced by the selected combination at least within one permitted tolerance. The method may further include dressing the tool with the dresser in line contact for producing a suitable gear geometry of the tool and machining the workpiece with the dressed tool for producing the desired gear geometry of the workpiece at least within a permitted tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Wuerfel
  • Patent number: 10583508
    Abstract: In a method of producing a toothed workpiece having a modified surface geometry by a diagonal generating method by means of a modified tool, a tool may be used whose surface geometry comprises a modification which can be described at least approximately in the generating pattern at least locally in a first direction of the tool by a linear and/or quadratic function, with the specific modification of the tool producing a corresponding modification on the surface of the workpiece by the diagonal generating method, with the modification of the workpiece produced by the specific modification of the tool having a profile modification and/or a modification caused by a change of the machine kinematics during the machining process of the workpiece superposed on it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Wuerfel
  • Patent number: 10569349
    Abstract: The present invention shows a process for gear manufacturing machining a workpiece by a tool on a gear manufacturing machine, wherein the workpiece is machined by a generating machining process in which the tool for gear manufacturing machining rolls off on the workpiece at a predefined center distance and axial cross angle, wherein the gear manufacturing machining preferably takes place on two flanks, with a desired tooth trace shape and/or tooth thickness of the gearing being generated by the generating machining process. The process is characterized in that an additional condition is predefinable and in that the center distance and the axial cross angle are determined in dependence on the desired tooth trace shape and/or tooth thickness of the gearing and on the additional condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Wuerfel
  • Patent number: 10500657
    Abstract: One or more workpieces having a desired gear geometry may be produced by means of a suitably dressed tool which is respectively dressed by a dresser after the carrying out of one or more machining steps before further machining steps are carried out at the same workpiece or at further workpieces. A relative position between the dresser and the tool may be changed by a corresponding additional adjustment of the axes of movement of the dressing machine in a later dressing process with respect to an earlier dressing process in addition to the smaller center distance resulting from the smaller tool diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Wuerfel
  • Patent number: 10500659
    Abstract: A toothed workpiece having a modified surface geometry may be produced by a diagonal machining method by means of a modified tool. The modification of the tool can be described at least approximately at least locally in the generating pattern in a first direction of the tool by a linear and/or quadratic function; the coefficients of this linear and/or quadratic function are formed in a second direction of the tool which extends perpendicular to the first direction. A pitch and/or crowning of the modification varies in dependence on the angle of rotation of the tool and/or on the tool width position, and a tooth thickness of the modified tool varies in a non-linear manner in dependence on the angle of rotation of the tool and/or on the tool width position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Wuerfel
  • Patent number: 10493546
    Abstract: A toothed workpiece having a modified surface geometry may be produced by a diagonal generating method by means of a modified tool whose surface geometry comprises a modification. The modification may be described by a linear and/or quadratic function, with the coefficients of this linear and/or quadratic function. Pitch and/or crowning of the modification may vary in dependence on the angle of rotation of the tool and/or on the tool width position. The specific modification of the tool produces a corresponding modification on the surface of the workpiece by the diagonal generating method, with a desired modification of the surface geometry of the workpiece being specified and a modification of the surface geometry of the tool suitable for producing this desired modification being determined in combination with a diagonal ratio of the diagonal generating method suitable for producing the desired modification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Wuerfel
  • Publication number: 20190314911
    Abstract: The present invention shows an apparatus for a chamfer machining of a toothed workpiece comprising a workpiece spindle having a workpiece holder rotatably supported about an axis of rotation for holding the workpiece, a tool spindle having a tool holder rotatably supported about an axis of rotation for holding a finger mill, wherein the tool spindle is travelable relative to the workpiece holder via at least one linear axis of the apparatus, and a control having a machining function that rotates the workpiece held in the workpiece holder by controlling the workpiece spindle for the chamfer machining of a toothed workpiece while a finger mill held in the tool holder engages at the edge to be machined. It is characterized in that the machining function varies the rotational speed of the workpiece during the chamfer machining.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Johannes WEIXLER, Robert WÜRFEL, Alexander HUNT, Johannes van HAUTH
  • Patent number: 10343256
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of dressing a tool which can be used for the gear manufacturing machining of a workpiece on a dressing machine, wherein the dressing takes place with line contact between the dresser and the tool; wherein a specific modification of the surface geometry of the tool is produced in that the position of the dresser with respect to the tool during dressing is varied in dependence on the tool width position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Wuerfel
  • Patent number: 10322461
    Abstract: A tool which can be used for gear manufacturing machining of a workpiece may be dressed on a dressing machine, and the dressing may take place with line contact between the dresser and the tool. A specific modification of the surface geometry of the tool is produced by the suitable selection of the position of the dresser with respect to the tool during dressing. The specific modification of the surface geometry of the workpiece is specifiable with regard to various parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Liebherr-Verzahntechnik Gmbh
    Inventor: Robert Wuerfel
  • Patent number: 10293423
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for the gear manufacturing machining of a workpiece by a diagonal-generating method, in which the workpiece is subjected to gear tooth machining by the rolling off of a tool, wherein an axial feed of the tool takes place during the machining with a diagonal ratio given by the ratio between the axial feed of the tool and the axial feed of the workpiece. According to the present disclosure, the tool has a conical basic shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Wuerfel
  • Patent number: 10286469
    Abstract: A method for production of a workpiece having a corrected gear tooth geometry and/or a modified surface structure by a diagonal generating method with a modified tool, wherein a modification in the generating pattern has a constant value in a first direction of the tool and is given by a function FFt1 in a second direction of the tool, which extends perpendicular to the first direction, and/or wherein the modification is produced in that the position of the dresser to the tool is varied during dressing in dependence on the angle of rotation of the tool and/or on the tool width position, wherein the modification of the tool produces a corresponding modification on the surface of the workpiece, and wherein the modification of the workpiece produced by the modification is superposed by a profile modification and/or a modification caused by a change of the machine kinematics during the machining process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Wuerfel
  • Publication number: 20190111505
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to generating a modified gear flank geometry on an active surface of the workpiece by generation grinding or honing. In at least one example, the modified gear flank geometry of the workpiece may be generated on the active surface of the workpiece by variation of an engagement depth of a tool into the workpiece in dependence on an angle of rotation of the tool. Additionally, the workpiece may comprise a cylindrical spur gear, a helical gear, a spherical gear, or a conical gear. Further, in one or more examples, the modified gear flank geometry of the workpiece includes at least one of a profile waviness or a defined periodic flank waviness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Hansjoerg Geiser, Robert Wuerfel
  • Publication number: 20190076944
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for gear skiving a workpiece, wherein: in a first step, the geometry of a tool, in particular of a skiving wheel, is measured for the machining of the workpiece in a state clamped in an apparatus for gear skiving machining; and in a subsequent further step, machining kinematics are determined for the gear skiving in dependence on the measured geometry of the tool characterized in that the absolute location of a cutting edge of the tool in the apparatus is determined in the first step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventor: Robert WÜRFEL
  • Patent number: 10173278
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for the manufacture of a workpiece having a corrected gear geometry and/or a modified surface structure, in particular by a hard finishing process, in particular generation grinding or honing. Provision is made in this respect that it is achieved by a direct generation of a wobble movement and/or of an eccentricity of the tool that a modification, in particular a profile modification or profile waviness, and/or a defined periodic flank waviness is generated on the active surface of the workpiece machined therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Hansjoerg Geiser, Robert Wuerfel
  • Patent number: 10018459
    Abstract: A method for the location determination of the involutes of a pre-gear cut workpiece within a gear-cutting machine using a gear-cut tool comprising the method steps: generating first and second relative movements between the workpiece and the tool; detecting respective, resulting first and second contact between a first tooth flank of the tool and a first tooth flank of the workpiece; and detecting a respective first and second set of coordinates for representing the relative movement of the workpiece and the tool; and determining the angles of rotation, the feeds, the axial distance and the crossed-axes angle of the tool and the workpiece based on the first and second set of coordinates and subsequent calculation of the location of the involutes on the basis of the angles of rotation, the feeds, the axial distance and the crossed-axes angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Lienherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Wuerfel
  • Publication number: 20180161896
    Abstract: The present invention shows a process for gear manufacturing machining a workpiece by a tool on a gear manufacturing machine, wherein the workpiece is machined by a generating machining process in which the tool for gear manufacturing machining rolls off on the workpiece at a predefined center distance and axial cross angle, wherein the gear manufacturing machining preferably takes place on two flanks, with a desired tooth trace shape and/or tooth thickness of the gearing being generated by the generating machining process. The process is characterized in that an additional condition is predefinable and in that the center distance and the axial cross angle are determined in dependence on the desired tooth trace shape and/or tooth thickness of the gearing and on the additional condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventor: Robert WUERFEL