Plural Cutters Patents (Class 409/217)
  • Patent number: 9757821
    Abstract: A method is provided for in-situ resurfacing of a main rotor shaft of a wind turbine, wherein in an operational state, the main rotor shaft is coupled at a first end to a rotor hub and at the opposite second end to a gearbox or directly to a generator within a nacelle. The method includes uncoupling the rotor shaft from the gearbox or generator so as to expose an end face of the second end of the rotor shaft. A fixture is attached to the exposed end face concentric with the rotational axis of the rotor shaft. A lathe system in then attached to the fixture. The rotor shaft surface adjacent to the exposed end is machined with the lathe system such that the resurfaced portion of the rotor shaft surface is brought to a round state concentric with the rotational axis of the rotor shaft. The method is conducted within the nacelle with the first end of the rotor shaft remaining coupled to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Clarence Thomas, Richard Arland Ohl, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8914957
    Abstract: A capsule type reconfigurable multifunctional machining apparatus is disclosed. A capsule type reconfigurable multifunctional machining apparatus includes a rotating frame in which a plurality of processing modules may be installed to face an object to be machined disposed in a capsule type body and whose machining position and pose are controlled by rotation, a top frame for rotatably supporting the rotating frame, a bottom frame that is combined with the top frame under the top frame to support the top frame and in which vibration proof members are installed in positions where the bottom frame contacts the top frame, and a stage unit fixedly inserted into the internal center of the top frame to settle the object to be machined so that the height of the settled object to be machined may be controlled and in which an X-Y stage or a rotary stage may be selectively mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials
    Inventors: Jong-Kweon Park, Sung Cheul Lee, Byung-Sub Kim, Seung Kook Ro, Sung Kwon Jang
  • Publication number: 20130272813
    Abstract: A milling apparatus is provided for cutting desired contours into a workpiece. The apparatus comprises a head that moves relative to a workpiece in a direction of cut. Spindles are supported on the head for rotation about parallel spaced-apart spindle z axes and comprise respective rotary cutters adapted for use in machining operations. A rotary head positioner is configured to be operatively connected between the head and a milling machine and to rotate the head about a head axis. A stagger controller is connected to the rotary head positioner and is configured to provide a desired swath of a cut to be formed in a workpiece by rotating the head to set a corresponding spindle stagger angle value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Steve L. Bichsel
  • Patent number: 7371037
    Abstract: A rotary cutting tool extending along a longitudinal axis and including a first cutting portion including a plurality of first helical teeth having a helix direction and being designed to work in a first direction of rotation of the tool. The tool also includes a second cutting portion with a plurality of second helical teeth having, as helix direction, the same helix direction as the first cutting portion and being designed to work in a second direction of rotation of the tool, opposed to the first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Vincent Dessoly
  • Patent number: 7150589
    Abstract: A deburring tool includes a proximal cutter and a distal cutter which form a V-shaped groove within which a workpiece is positioned to remove burrs from both sides of the workpiece simultaneously. The cutting edges of the proximal and distal cutters do not include any under cuts and therefore can be formed using a powdered metal process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Greenlee Textron Inc.
    Inventor: William F. Nordlin
  • Patent number: 7131473
    Abstract: A coping bit capable of being easily modified to cut profiles having tenons of varying lengths is provided. The coping bit includes an axially extending primary drive shaft and a first cutting member fixed on the primary drive shaft. An axially extending secondary drive shaft having an upper and a lower portion is removably mounted on the primary drive shaft for rotation therewith, and a second cutting member is mounted on the secondary drive shaft in spaced relation to the first cutting member when the secondary drive shaft is mounted to the primary drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Freud America, Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Brewer
  • Patent number: 6688352
    Abstract: The invention relates to a work center for wood working including: a support base (1) for the pieces to be worked; a structure (6), mobile along said base in the direction of a first numerically controlled axis (X); a support (12) of a tool group (13) mounted on said structure and mobile, under numeric control, along a second axis orthogonal the first two, wherein a second tool group (15) is provided, mounted on said support (12), said second tool group (15) being mobile between a first position in which it fits completely within said support (12) and a second position in which said second tool group protrudes from the said support (12). According to a second preferred embodiment, the machine includes, mounted onto the same structure (6), a second carriage mobile along said second axis and supporting a second tool group mobile along said third axis (Z) orthogonal to the first two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Uniteam S.p.A.
    Inventors: Sante Marchioro, Valentino Borriero
  • Patent number: 6412156
    Abstract: In a multiple spindle processing unit which can change processing locations of a work in accordance with a modification made to the work, the present invention is intended to facilitate changes of design corresponding to the modification made to the work and reduce the number of parts to be replaced. In a frame member which is guided and supported so as to be moved towards and away from a work, insertion holes are formed at a plurality of locations corresponding to processing locations of the work. In each of a plurality of tool main spindle assemblies, a main spindle having a front end portion where a chuck for mounting a tool is provided is coaxially journaled in a housing in the shape of a circular cylinder or a polygonal cylinder and is rotationally driven by a built-in motor. Each of the tool main spindle assemblies is mounted to the frame member with the housing inserted through the insertion hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Toyoda Koki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshio Yunokawa, Satoru Uemura, Toshihiro Asakura
  • Patent number: 6387025
    Abstract: A machining device equipped with a spindle position interchanger comprises a longitudinal table provided on a bed and movable in a horizontal direction; a transverse table provided on the longitudinal table and movable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal table; a column erected on the transverse table and turnable in a horizontal plane; a first spindle head vertically movable along the column; a second spindle head provided at a position different from (at a position at 1800° to, or opposite to) the position of the first spindle head and vertically movable along the column independently of the first spindle head; a first main spindle and a second main spindle attached to the first spindle head and the second spindle head, respectively; a tool change arm for changing a tool in the second main spindle; and a tool magazine mounted on an upper portion of the column for housing many tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Watanabe, Katsumi Kawagoe, Mitsuyuki Konishi, Isamu Takehana
  • Patent number: 6338705
    Abstract: A machining head (36) is drivable along a vertical axis and two horizontal axes with respect to a workpiece held on a workpiece-holding device, and has, at progressively lower levels along said vertical axis, one or two high-speed spindles (44), one or two low-speed spindles (46) and one or two feed-out spindles (48), all arranged at right angles to said vertical axis and driven by one or more motors (42) mounted on the head. The machining head can bring the high-speed spindles to cooperate with a tool-changing magazine (52). The workpiece-holding device (54; 154) is adapted to carry two sets of workpieces on respective supports (56, 58; 170), and to shift said supports in succession between a working position near the head and a tool-changing position remote from the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Vigel S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giorgio Cavallo, Marco Martinis
  • Patent number: 6145178
    Abstract: A machine tool comprises a base with an upstanding column, a vertical spindle axis tool driving unit symmetrically located and vertically movable on the front of the column, a frontwards oriented horizontal spindle axis tool driving unit symmetrically located and vertically movable extending through the column, and a pair of guiding rails to extend vertically thereon and horizontally spaced apart from each other for guiding the upward and downward movement of the tool driving units. Symmetrically disposed counterbalance weights for both tool driving units are located within the column. Independent leadscrew driving means provide vertical upward and downward movement of the tool driving units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Green Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Steve C. Green
  • Patent number: 6050760
    Abstract: A CNC milling machine comprises a main transmission shaft driven by a motor, an upright shaft provided with a transmission wheel set that is actuated by the main transmission shaft, an engagement device having a main shaft which is provided with a connection member which is in turn provided with an engagement wheel set engaged with the main transmission shaft, and a horizontal shaft provided with a gear set mounted thereon such that the gear set is engageable with the main shaft of the engagement device. The upright shaft is actuated to turn via the transmission wheel set so as to enable an upright milling cutter of the upright shaft to carry out the longitudinal cutting of a workpiece. The horizontal shaft is actuated to turn via the engagement wheel set so as to enable a horizontal milling cutter of the horizontal shaft to carry out the horizontal cutting of the workpiece without having to transfer the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Rambo Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Teng A-Tung
  • Patent number: 5980172
    Abstract: A double cutting spindle unit comprising a main spindle unit and a sub-spindle unit mounted on the main spindle unit and vertically slidable relative to the main spindle unit. The chucking member is normally biased toward its fastening direction by a fastening spring formed by a plurality of spiral belleville springs arranged around the chuck actuating shaft. A two-stage hydraulic cylinder comprising two coaxially arranged cylinders is mounted on a supporting frame arranged on the top cover, and the actuating rod of the hydraulic cylinder is arranged with its free end being opposite to the end of the chuck actuating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Shoda Iron Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Shoda
  • Patent number: 5943750
    Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a machine tool assembly is easily reconfigurable to perform single or multiple machining processes on a workpiece so that this machine has exactly the functionality required to perform a given set of machining tasks. The invention allows rapid changes in the machine structure and rapid conversion of the machine by relocating its basic building blocks. The assembly secures a raw workpiece to a table and includes support units that carry at least one single-axis spindle unit. The spindle units are easily attached to one of the support units and are easily movable thereon to perform machining processes from various positions and orientations relative the workpiece. A cutting tool, or other machining tool, is secured to each spindle, which is computer controlled to rotate the tool and stroke it linearly along its axis of rotation. The support units are reconfigurable and can be easily relocated to different positions and orientations about the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Yoram Koren, Sridhar Kota
  • Patent number: 5647704
    Abstract: Parallelism between of two opposite surfaces of a workpiece is assured by referencing off of three features on the edge(s) of the workpiece, the three edge features establishing a single, unique plane within the workpiece for referencing the machining operations performed on the two opposite surfaces of the workpiece. The workpiece is held by corresponding two sets of three fixture points, above the surface of two corresponding fixtures, or of one compound fixture, while machining the two opposite surfaces. In this manner, problems associated with referencing off of the first machined surface, to machine the second surface, are completely avoided. This is particularly useful when machining the opposite faces of an automatic transmission valve body. The one set of fixture points is identical to the other set of fixture points, to ensure accurate positioning of the workpiece from fixture-to-fixture (or from set of fixture points to set of fixture points, in a compound fixture).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Inventor: Manuel C. Turchan
  • Patent number: 5628594
    Abstract: A horizontal insert designed for horizontal insertion in a universal turret milling machine, particularly Bridgeport-type milling machine, to facilitate performance of horizontal milling, drilling, boring and tapping operations, as well as standard vertical machining operations, in one setup. The horizontal insert is characterized by a generally cylindrical quill housing designed for insertion between the bottom column element and top ram element of a Bridgeport-type milling machine or secured to a plate so mounted. In the first embodiment the bottom surface of the quill housing is bolted to the top surface of the column and the upper surface of the quill housing is bolted to the bottom surface of the turret.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Inventor: James R. Fetty
  • Patent number: 5582068
    Abstract: A motion transforming mechanism comprises a plate assembly constituted by rotation plates having a common rotation axis, a toothed rail having a parallel rail portion and a mid-longitudinal plane perpendicularly intersected by the common rotation axis and held in mesh with the rotation plates, a housing for housing the plate assembly and the toothed rail, and a rotation shaft supported by the housing and formed with cranked shaft portions respectively received in the rotation plates. The motion transforming mechanism further comprises distance regulating means for regulating the distance between the common rotation axis and the toothed rail. The toothed rail is formed with a toothed portion having a pitch plane perpendicularly intersected by the mid-longitudinal plane and a base portion integrally formed with the toothed portion and having a parallel rail portion in parallel with the mid-longitudinal plane and the pitch plane of the toothed rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Teijin Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyozumi Fukui
  • Patent number: 5344261
    Abstract: The lens generator which produces a curved surface in a lens blank while simultaneously producing a complementary curved surface in a lap or tool used to fine and polish the lens. By producing a tool having the exact shape as the lens, it is possible to manufacture the lens precisely to the requirements of a customer's prescription. By simultaneously cutting the lens and the lap, the production time is decreased as compared to generators that first produce a lens and subsequently produce a lap. A mechanical arrangement is used resulting in a simple and inexpensive machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Inventor: Richard M. Cliber
  • Patent number: 4945958
    Abstract: An automatic processing head replacement device for a NC type wood working machine in which a rack is provided on one of beams, a carriage is mounted on rails another beam, a slide block is mounted on rails on the other beam, the carriage and slide block are connected together, a pinion on the carriage is driven by a motor and meshes the carriage, the plurality of head holders are arranged in side by side relationship for movement in unison with the carriage and slide block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Inventor: Isao Shoda
  • Patent number: 4728229
    Abstract: A mechanism for individually positioning a drilling head in a multiple head drilling assembly. The assembly includes a plurality of spindle blocks arranged in side-by-side relation, and a spindle that is adapted to carry a drill head is mounted for rotation and axial movement in each block. Each spindle block is mounted for individual lateral movement in a direction normal to the axis of the spindle on guide rods, and is driven laterally by a rotatable lead screw that extends parallel to the guide rods. A recirculating ball nut is associated with each spindle block and is engaged with the lead screw. A clamping mechanism acts to selectively clamp each nut to the respective spindle block and by clamping the nut to the block, the spindle block will be moved along the guide rods on rotation of the lead screw, and by disengaging the nut from the respective spindle block, rotation of the lead screw will cause free rotation of the nut without movement of the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: Super Tool and Mfg. Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence C. Memmel, Donald E. Thiede
  • Patent number: 4709455
    Abstract: A milling and drilling head for a machine tool has an input shaft housed in a stationary case also incorporating a control means drivingly connected to a ring gear which is fast with a moving case portion accommodating at least one tool holding spindle driven off the master spindle of the machine tool and being set at an angle to the X-axis thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: D'Andrea S.p.A.
    Inventors: Ermanno D'Andrea, Nicola D'Andrea
  • Patent number: 4674923
    Abstract: A tool for use in a groove mill to simultaneously form spaced grooves in the interior surface of a bore with the tool including a shank and a pair of heads mounted thereon in spaced relation and in a detachable, non-rotative manner. Each head includes a plurality of insert pockets and inserts secured therein by screw threaded retainers and notches in one head aligned with the screw headed retainers for the inserts in the opposite head to enable indexing of the inserts without disassembly of the heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignee: Ratemaker Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis J. Ogilvie, Nathan J. Harshman
  • Patent number: 4597144
    Abstract: A machine tool for processing workpieces of various shapes comprises three processing units each mounted on a carriage to move in three axes of coordinates and each being rotatable about a horizontal axis. Each processing unit carries a tool holder having tools and being turnable in two opposite directions. A workpiece is clamped in a workpiece holder so that it is immovable during operation and can be treated at least at three sides thereof simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Diedesheim GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Eberhard Frank, Norbert Petrizza
  • Patent number: 4594928
    Abstract: An apparatus for rapidly changing a plurality of knives secured within a knife cylinder of a paper cutting or perforating machine includes a pressure generator for pressurizing a plurality of pressure cylinders which actuate a force transmission mechanism for bracing the knives securely within the knive cylinder. A pressure conduit system includes a device for admitting a pressure medium into the system and a device for bleeding the system. A biasing mechanism is provided to maintain pressure within the conduit system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1986
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Goebel GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Thomas, Josef Herd
  • Patent number: 4593731
    Abstract: A device for rotating spindles in a wood working router includes a turret head rotatably mounted on a column extending from a machine face having radially orientated spindle heads and rotatable spindles, cutting tools respectively mounted on the working end of each of the spindles, a turret head positioning device for moving a selected one of the cutting tools to a processing position, an electric motor mounted within the column and having a drive pulley to rotate the spindles and a transmission having a drive belt driven by the motor engageable and disengageable with the spindle in the processing position to rotate the spindle and thereby the cutting tool to perform a cutting operation on a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Assignee: Shinko Machinery Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Takeshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 4557303
    Abstract: A spindle shaper machine tool successively performs a plurality of operations on a work piece without removal and replacement of cutter heads on the spindle. The cutter heads are superimposed on the spindle, a fluid pressure jack quickly shifts the spindle to align a selected head with a work piece and the work piece is either manually or automatically advanced across the rotating selected tool. In the automatic shaper tool, a collar bearing stop for each cutter head is also provided on the spindle to abut the work piece or a template controlling the cutting of the work piece. The jack can be manually actuated by the operator or automatically actuated at the completion of a cutting cycle. Various combinations of cutter heads and bearing stop sets are mountable on the spindle to perform selected operations such as rough and finishing cuts, heavy-duty and light cuts, cutting and sanding, adding or modifying cuts and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1985
    Assignee: Powermatic - Houdaille, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary L. Gardner, Chester K. Greathouse
  • Patent number: 4537538
    Abstract: An apparatus for machining turbine blades of a radial entry type to form in each blade a groove of a Christmas tree shape for mounting the blade on a turbine rotor including a main spindle, a rotary disk supported on the main spindle, and a plurality of cutters supported on the rotary disk through a cutter holder in positions forming an arc on the surface of the disk. The cutters are located such that those of a configuration suitable for use in giving coarse finishes, those of a configurator suitable for giving middling finishes and those of a configuration suitable for giving final fine finishes are arranged successively in positions forming an arc on the disk. A blade to be machined is supported in a position in which a groove thereof crosses paths of movement of the cutters as the disk is rotated. Thus, the blade can be machined to give fine finishes to the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1985
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sachio Mitamura, Hirotsugu Kuroume
  • Patent number: 4536111
    Abstract: A machine tool having a numerically controlled adjustable arbor for facilitating different straddle milling operations on random workpieces without the need for manual adjustment of the cutter width comprises a frame which carries a power station thereon. The power station has a rotary driven spindle which is journaled within a quill which is movable out from and into the power station under numerical control. A bifurcated arbor, configured of a pair of coaxial shafts which are in sleeved engagement with each other so as to be axially movable to and from each other while rotating co-jointly with each other, is coupled at one end to the power station spindle and is journaled at its distal end in a fixed arbor support. Each shaft of the bifurcated arbor carries a straddle milling cutter thereon in spaced apart relationship with the cutter on the other arbor member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1985
    Assignee: Kearney & Trecker Corporation
    Inventor: Ervin J. Kielma
  • Patent number: 4535527
    Abstract: A machine tool for mounting on a lateral or console unit of a transfer machine comprises a spindle unit, drive elements, a number of processing spindles, and a tool exchanging device having a tool support for the receipt of used and new tools, which is movable from a charging position into an exchange position in front of the processing spindles. To improve the removal and charging possibilities for the tools, the tool support is moved from its charging position at the rear of the machine tool over the spindle unit and associated drive elements into the exchange position in front of said processing spindles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1985
    Assignee: Alfing Kessler Sondermaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Fischer, Paul Schubert
  • Patent number: 4328847
    Abstract: A pair of routers are serially mounted on a pivotable support on a cutting table such that the routers may be adjusted in unison relative to the table. In addition the routers are adjustable relative to each other in a seesaw manner about a central cutting axis so as to maintain the axis. The apparatus and process of the present invention is particularly useful for making the male and female cuts of a dovetail joint in a single operation without requiring any adjustment of the routers relative to each other after the initial positioning. Depending on the cutting tool employed, dovetails, splines, rabbet cuts, mortise and tenon joints and countless other cuts may be made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1982
    Inventor: William K. King, Sr.