Abstract: An improved hub assembly is utilized to rotatably mount a grinding wheel. The hub assembly includes a hub which engages a first major side surface of the grinding wheel. A circular clamp member is mounted on the hub by a plurality of fasteners. An annular flange ring circumscribes the clamp member and engages a second major side surface of the grinding wheel. The clamp member has radially extending arms which engage the flange ring and press it against the grinding wheel. A cover is mounted on the flange ring and extends over the fasteners. When the grinding wheel is to be removed from the hub assembly, the fasteners are loosened by inserting a suitable tool though openings in the cover. Loosening the fasteners enables the annular flange ring to be rotated relative to the clamp member until the radially extending arms on the clamp member are aligned with radially extending recesses formed inside the flange ring.

Abstract: An improved method and grinding machine are used to grind lobes on a camshaft. The grinding machine includes a longitudinally extending rocker bar which is pivotally mounted on a work table or carriage. A headstock and tailstock are connected with the rocker bar to rotatably support the camshaft as the cam lobes are ground by a grinding wheel. A control assembly includes a motor which is operated to pivot the rocker bar from a retracted or loading position through an index position to an operating position in a range of operating positions. Immediately before the rocker bar reaches the range of operating positions, the speed of the motor is reduced to effect a corresponding reduction in the speed of movement of the rocker bar. In addition, the motor actuates a biasing assembly to urge the rocker bar toward the camshaft with a relatively large force during a rough grinding operation and a reduced force during a finish grinding operation.

Abstract: A steadyrest for supporting a workpiece to be ground comprising three contact shoes which are simultaneously movable toward and away from a workpiece centerline so that workpieces of varying diameter can be supported and maintained on a fixed centerline of rotation. The top contact shoe is mounted for pivotal movement to a position clear of the work area to facilitate loading and unloading of the workpiece. A hydraulic operator is provided for pivoting the upper contact shoe between the operative position, engaging a workpiece, and the load-unload position. A second hydraulic operator is provided which through appropriate mechanical wedges moves upper contact shoe and the two lower non-pivoting contact shoes simultaneously toward or away from a workpiece.

Abstract: A workpiece end locator which provides a linear analog voltage indicative of the workpiece location relative to a reference plane. The output of the end locator can be utilized for positioning the workpiece at a desired location or for providing position information to the machine control system which will automatically compensate for the workpiece position. The disclosed end locator utilizes a rotatable shaft having a probe arm extending from one end thereof. A probe tip on the probe arm contacts the workpiece whose position is being detected. A rotary transducer is connected to the other end of the rotatable shaft for providing a linear analog signal representative of the angular shaft position. A pair of stops are provided between which the rotatable shaft can rotate. A pair of air actuators are provided, one of which biases the rotatable shaft toward one stop and the other biases the rotatable shaft toward the other stop.

Abstract: A workpiece positioning apparatus 12 (FIG. 1) for positively locating a workpiece 14 with respect to a drive spindle 20 in a grinding machine is disclosed. The apparatus 12 is secured to the drive spindle 20 and provides a means for holding the workpiece 14 in a predetermined angular position with respect to the drive spindle during the grinding operation. The apparatus 12 includes an index surface 74 (FIG. 4) against which a key 42 on the workpiece is pressed by a rotatable drive element or sleeve 80. To facilitate installation of the workpiece 14 in the grinding machine 10 (FIG. 1 ) the drive element 80 (FIG. 4) is rotated to provide a space between it and the index surface 74. When the workpiece 14 has been installed in the machine 10, the drive element 80 is rotated in the opposite direction (FIG. 5 ) to move the key 42 on the workpiece into engagement with the index surface 74 on the workpiece positioning apparatus 12.