Cam Patents (Class 451/62)
  • Patent number: 10322489
    Abstract: A cam grinding method includes: a common base circle portion setting step of obtaining an angular range of a common surface based on first cam lift data of a first cam and second cam lift data of a second cam; a first cam grinding step of grinding the first cam; a second cam grinding step of grinding the second cam; and a common base circle portion traverse grinding step of, after the second cam grinding step, moving a grinding wheel in a traverse direction to perform spark-out of an unground part remaining at the boundary between the first and second cams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Mizutani, Satoshi Abeta, Masaharu Inoue
  • Patent number: 10293453
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a grinding method for grinding of non-circular workpieces with an improved productivity and quality of the resulting workpiece. The method comprises a first and a second stage. The rotational speed profile of the workpiece in the first stage is controlled with the purpose of maintaining a pre-selected maximum surface temperature of the workpiece during said first stage, and grinding of the workpiece in said second stage is performed while controlling an aggressiveness number of said second stage so as to achieve an intended final surface quality. The present disclosure also relates to a method for determining the processing parameters of such a grinding method wherein the first and the second stage of the grinding method are iterated to thereby determine the processing parameters leading to a high productivity and desired quality of the workpiece after grinding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: SCANIA CV AB
    Inventors: Peter Krajnik, Radovan Drazumeric
  • Patent number: 8790155
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a grinding machine for grinding a workpiece, in particular cams, with a grinding wheel having a profile with a grinding region running substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the grinding wheel and at least one profile section which does not run parallel to the axis of rotation of the grinding wheel, a control unit for controlling the grinding process, wherein the control unit is configured in such a manner that, with reference to position information on positions of edges of the workpiece in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the workpiece, the edges of the workpiece are successively deburred or chamfered by the at least one profile section of the grinding wheel during or after the grinding of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Schaudt Mikrosa GmbH
    Inventor: Berthold Stroppel
  • Patent number: 8702475
    Abstract: Grinding machine for grinding workpieces, in particular cams, a grinding machine holder and a method for grinding cam sets using such a grinding machine. Grinding machine comprising a machine bed, at least one grinding spindle, two grinding wheel holders, on which in each case at least one grinding wheel is arranged and which are arranged in opposite directions to one another in their orientation and are oriented parallel to one another with their longitudinal axes, and two workholding devices which in each case have a work headstock and a steady rest and which are arranged in opposite directions to one another in their orientation and are oriented parallel to one another with their longitudinal axes, wherein each work headstock and the associated steady rest are designed for the arrangement therebetween of a separate work fixture having workpieces to be ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Schaudt Mikrosa GmbH
    Inventors: Berthold Stroppel, Daniel Mavro
  • Patent number: 8602840
    Abstract: The invention relates to a grinding machine for grinding workpieces, in particular for the simultaneous grinding of two workpieces which are arranged in a tightly adjacent manner. The grinding machine comprises at least two first grinding spindles and at least two second grinding spindles which in each case have a grinding disk receptacle and are mounted pivotably via a support on the spindle block of one of the first grinding spindles, with the result that they can be pivoted about the rotational axis of the respective first grinding spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Schaudt Mikrosa GmbH
    Inventor: Berthold Stroppel
  • Patent number: 8506357
    Abstract: In the cylindrical grinding of the main and rod bearings of crankshafts, the rod bearings are ground prior to the main bearings. The advantage of this is that the deformations that unavoidably occur, mainly during grinding of the rod bearings due to the removal of ground material are taken into account and compensated for again during grinding of the main bearings. The rod bearings are ground through CNC-control in the pin-chasing grinding method, and the crankshaft is held in a rotating axis in the process, said axis defined by two bearing points in the longitudinal extension of the crankshaft main bearing which are only machined. Deviations in said actual rotating axis from the determining geometric longitudinal axis of the crankshaft are taken into account in the pin-chasing grinding method by the computer of the grinding machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Erwin Junker Maschinenfabrik GmbH
    Inventor: Georg Himmelsbach
  • Patent number: 8499448
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a composite shaft comprising a shaft body (1), at least one first component (2, 9) connected to the shaft body (1) in a rotationally fixed manner, and at least one second component (3, 8) rotatable relative to the shaft body (1), in which method the at least one first component (2, 9) and the at least one second component (3, 8) are pushed onto the shaft body and assembled in the intended sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Presta TecCenter AG
    Inventors: Thomas Binder, Ignaz Klaus Teppan
  • Patent number: 8398455
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for grinding cams of a camshaft (7) in a clamp with two grinding spindles (10, 11), wherein the cams or cam pairs are each arranged in a mirror image relative to the workpiece rotation axis (16), wherein the camshaft (7) is tensioned and rotated about the longitudinal axis thereof. In the device for carrying out the method, the camshaft (7) can be inserted into the workpiece receiver (6) from the side lying opposite the at least one back stay (15) by means of the loading device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: EMAG Holding GmbH
    Inventor: Roland Schmitz
  • Patent number: 7458880
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for grinding of cam profiles on a camshaft (1), having an inner shaft (5) and an outer shaft (4) arranged coaxially one inside the other and mounted to rotate with respect to one another. The camshaft (1) additionally has first and second cams (2, 3) that can rotate with respect to one another over a limited circumferential angle about the camshaft axis (6), the first cams (2) of which are fixedly connected to the inner shaft (5) and the second cams (3) of which are fixedly connected to the outer shaft (4). It is essential to this invention that during and/or after the grinding operation a fluid is forced under pressure into the outer shaft (4), thereby preventing penetration of grinding dust into the interspace (8) between the first cams (2) and the outer shaft (4) or flushing out any grinding dust that has already penetrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Fritz, Rolf Kirschner, Roland Schacherer, Falk Schneider
  • Publication number: 20080207090
    Abstract: For grinding one of axially spaced journal sections of a workpiece each having a cylindrical surface and a pair of shoulder surfaces extending radially outward from the opposite end portions of the cylindrical surface, a rotating grinding wheel is advanced to grind the shoulder surfaces of one journal section and then to grind the cylindrical surface of the one journal section. At the end of the cylindrical surface grinding, the grinding wheel is retracted by a fixed distance at a slow feed rate and is further retracted at a rapid feed rate. A rest shoe provided on the side opposite to the grinding wheel with the workpiece therebetween is advanced to an advanced position where the rest shoe contacts with another journal section axially spaced from the one journal section to decrease the flection of the workpiece caused by grinding resistance and is retracted away from said another journal section when the fixed-distance retraction of the grinding wheel is completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Itoh, Toru Harada, Kenichi Sugiura
  • Patent number: 7413498
    Abstract: A film feeder (FF1) feeds a film (1), a first drive (20) rotates a work (W), a second drive (30) moves the work (W) relative to the film (1), a shoe set handler (40) handles the shoe set (2) to press the film (1) against the work (W), and a deterioration delayer (C) is configured to delay an abrasivity deterioration of the film (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Omata, Masahiko Iizumi, Kiyoshi Hasegawa, Takashi Ogino, Tomohiro Kondo, Kazuo Takeda, Takafumi Watanabe, Yoshiyuki Chida, Yasushi Matsushita
  • Patent number: 7297046
    Abstract: The depth of cut and the headstock velocity of a grinding machine are controlled during the last rotation of finish grinding to maintain a substantially constant load on the grinding wheel spindle drive motor. The depth of cut is kept constant and the component speed of rotation is altered in order to maintain the constant power requirement. If the component profile alters the spindle loading during a single revolution, the component speed is altered from one point to another during each revolution so as to maintain the constant load. Headstock acceleration, deceleration, and velocity are controlled to take into account any variation in contact length between the wheel and component during the rotation of the latter, so that although the metal removal rate may vary slightly around the circumference of the component the power demand on the spindle motor is maintained substantially constant during the whole of the grinding of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Inventor: Daniel Andrew Mavro-Michaelis
  • Publication number: 20070264913
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for grinding of cam profiles on a camshaft (1), having an inner shaft (5) and an outer shaft (4) arranged coaxially one inside the other and mounted to rotate with respect to one another. The camshaft (1) additionally has first and second cams (2, 3) that can rotate with respect to one another over a limited circumferential angle about the camshaft axis (6), the first cams (2) of which are fixedly connected to the inner shaft (5) and the second cams (3) of which are fixedly connected to the outer shaft (4). It is essential to this invention that during and/or after the grinding operation a fluid is forced under pressure into the outer shaft (4), thereby preventing penetration of grinding dust into the interspace (8) between the first cams (2) and the outer shaft (4) or flushing out any grinding dust that has already penetrated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Inventors: Oliver Fritz, Rolf Kirschner, Roland Schacherer, Falk Schneider
  • Publication number: 20070232192
    Abstract: A grinding method of a rotating workpiece W having a cylindrical part 20 and a pair of end faces 21 at both sides of the cylindrical part 20 uses a grinding wheel 10 whose grinding stone is narrower than a finishing width S1 between the end faces 21. In a first grinding step, the grinding wheel 10 is relatively moved to the cylindrical part 20 in a direction crossing the rotational axis of the workpiece W and is shuttled along the rotational axis of the workpiece W at least one time between the finishing width S1 of the end faces 21 until the grinding wheel 10 reaches the cylindrical part. And in a second grinding step, the grinding wheel 10 is moved from one of the end faces 21 to the opposite end face 21 on the cylindrical part 20, so as to finish the end faces 21 to a predetermined width S1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Soma, Hiroshi Morita
  • Patent number: 7172494
    Abstract: An apparatus for grinding a surface of a nonstraight elongated workpiece has a frame, drives on the frame for rotating the workpiece about a longitudinal workpiece axis, and a guide defining a pivot axis offset from the workpiece axis on the frame. A hanging arm has an inner end juxtaposable with the workpiece and an outer end pivoted at the pivot axis on the guide. A rotary grinding tool is provided on the arm inner end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: EMAG Maschinenfabrik GmbH
    Inventor: Heino Claussen-Markefka
  • Patent number: 7153194
    Abstract: In a method of grinding a component, a reduction in the finish grinding time is achieved by rotating the component through only a single revolution during a final grinding step and controlling the depth of cut and the component speed of rotation during that single revolution, so as to maintain a substantially constant specific metal removal rate during the final grinding step. The headstock velocity can vary between 2 and 20 rpm during a single revolution of the cam during the final grinding step. Using a grinding machine having 17.5 kw of available power for rotating the wheel, and cutting with a grinding wheel in the range 80–120 mm diameter typically the depth of cut lies in the range of 0.25 to 0.5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Cinetic Landis Grinding Limited
    Inventor: Daniel Andrew Mavro-Michaelis
  • Patent number: 7147547
    Abstract: A method and a device for grinding a machine part that has two shaft elements, a machine part axis and a large diameter central element having a side surface which is embodied in the form of a flat truncated cone. The machine part is clamped between centers and is movable in a direction of the machine part axis. The side surface is ground by a cylindrical outer contour of a first grinding wheel such that the cutting speed is constant across the entire axial dimension of the first grinding wheel which is mounted on a grinding spindle along with a second, narrower grinding. The second grinding wheel is positioned to grind the shaft element by swiveling the spindle using two pivots that are located perpendicular to each other and by displacing the grinding spindle perpendicular to the machine part axis with the machine part remaining in the same clamped position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Erwin Junker Maschinenfabrik GmbH
    Inventor: Erwin Junker
  • Patent number: 7037173
    Abstract: A grinding method comprises steps of simultaneously grinding plural grinding portions of a workpiece by plural grinding wheels T1, T2 moved individually each other, and terminating said grinding by a predetermined grinding wheel T1 prior to a termination of said grinding by the other grinding wheel T2. Whereby, a content of the grinding by each grinding wheel T1, T2 can be same. A grinding condition in each grinding by each grinding wheel T1, T2 can be changed in accordance with a measuring result of the grinding portion in the grinding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Koki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Nonoyama, Keita Goto, Manabu Kuribayashi
  • Patent number: 6926591
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method and an apparatus in which crankshafts and similar components can be machined at the relevant machining locations (big-end bearing locations, main bearing locations, side cheek side surfaces, end journal/end flange) on one machine and thus with a low level of expenditure in terms of investment items and nonetheless overall in highly time-efficient manner, by mechanical material removal in one and the same machine, wherein in all machining steps the workpiece is gripped on the central axis and is drivable in rotation and the concentric rotationally symmetrical surfaces are machined by workpiece-based methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Boehringer Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Anton Horsky, Paul Dieter Scharpf, Wolf-Dietrich Voss
  • Patent number: 6916230
    Abstract: A process and device for machining by abrasive belt, on a part 1 with an axis of rotation, of a non-cylindrical bearing surface 2, two portions of the same running abrasive belt 14, which are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the belt, using two independent support components 12, preferably activated by two jacks 8 mounted on a common carrier 4, along two contact zones spaced apart angularly around the axis of rotation of the part, are applied against the bearing surface 2. The application is particularly suited for cam surfaces of cam shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Societe des Procedes et Machines Speciales
    Inventors: Richard Bonachera, Raymond Millot
  • Patent number: 6902465
    Abstract: A grinding machine uses a conical grinding wheel (10) to create a non-circularly symmetric surface (defining, for example, a re-entrant cam) on a workpiece. The machine is operable to rotate such a workpiece about a first axis (5) and the machine has drive means for rotating the conical wheel about a second axis (14). A feeding mechanism brings the wheel into contact with the workpiece to define a line of grinding where the wheel contacts the workpiece (i.e. a cutting line). In use, a rocking movement is imparted to the wheel and spindle relative to the workpiece as the latter rotates so as to maintain the orientation of the cutting line relative to the first axis and of the second axis relative to the cutting line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Inventor: Richard Hagan
  • Publication number: 20040248502
    Abstract: An apparatus for grinding center bearings of crankshafts includes a clamping unit for clamping and driving a crankshaft; a grinding spindle, positionable perpendicular to the crankshaft; a plurality of grinding wheels on the grinding spindle, corresponding to the number of center bearings to be ground; a plurality of steadies, for supporting the crankshaft, opposite the grinding spindle; and an additional processing unit for performing preliminary grinding on the center bearing, by forming an elevated bearing seat for the steadies, opposite the bearing, such that the steadies are continuously guidable during grinding of the center bearings. In a method for grinding center bearings of a crankshaft using the apparatus, the center bearings are simultaneously ground using a multilayer grinding wheel set, and prior to a final grinding of the center bearings to their final dimensions, a bearing seat for a steady is ground on at least one center bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventor: Erwin Junker
  • Patent number: 6811465
    Abstract: In a method of grinding a component such as a cam, a reduction in the finish grinding time is achieved by rotating the component through only a single revolution during a final grinding step and controlling the depth of cut and the component speed of rotation during that single revolution, so as to maintain a substantially constant specific metal removal rate during the final grinding step. The headstock (12) velocity can vary between 2 and 20 rpm during a single revolution of the cam during the final grinding step, with the lower speed used for grinding the flanks and the higher speed used during the grinding of the nose and base of the cam. Using a grinding machine (10) having 17.5 kw of available power for rotating the wheel, and cutting a grinding wheel in the range 80-120 mm diameter, typically the depth of cut lies in the range of 0.25 to 0.5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: UNOVA U.K. Limited
    Inventor: Daniel Andrew Mavro-Michaelis
  • Patent number: 6808438
    Abstract: A method is disclosed in which the component is rotated through only one revolution during a finish grinding step, and the depth of cut and the headstock (12) velocity are controlled during the signal rotation, so as to maintain a substantially constant load on the grinding wheel spindle drive motor (28, 30). Preferably the depth of cut is kept constant and the component speed of rotation is altered in order to maintain the constant power requirement, without exceeding the maximum power capability of the spindle motor. The component speed is altered from one point to another during each revolution so as to maintain the constant load. In another method, the headstock (12) velocity is linked to the power capabilities of the grinding wheel spindle drive (28, 30), and a significant grinding force is maintained between the wheel and the component up to the end of the grinding process including during finish grinding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Inventor: Daniel Andrew Mavromichaelis
  • Patent number: 6767273
    Abstract: A method is described for grinding a crankpin of a crankshaft using computer controlled wheelfeed and headstock drives (44,30,24). During a final grinding step leading to finish size the cutting force is maintained on the wheelhead (38) to keep the wheel (34) and pin under a moderate constant load and the rotational speed of the headstock drive (24) is reduced. This serves to prevent bounce and chatter marks appearing in the surface of the pin. The rotational speed is typically in the range of 1 to 5 rpm. During the final step of grinding each pin, the wheelfeed is adjusted so as to remove a sufficient depth of material during a single rotation of the crankshaft, to bring the crankpin to finish size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: UNOVA UK Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Roger Coverdale, David Thomas Proctor, Christopher Shaun Thorpe
  • Publication number: 20040092213
    Abstract: A grinding machine uses a conical grinding wheel (10) to create a non-circularly symmetric surface (defining, for example, a re-entrant cam) on a workpiece. The machine is operable to rotate such a workpiece about a first axis (5) and the machine has drive means for rotating the conical wheel about a second axis (14). A feeding mechanism brings the wheel into contact with the workpiece to define a line of grinding where the wheel contacts the workpiece (i.e. a cutting line). In use, a rocking movement is imparted to the wheel and spindle relative to the workpiece as the latter rotates so as to maintain the orientation of the cutting line relative to the first axis and of the second axis relative to the cutting line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventor: Richard Hagan
  • Publication number: 20040029499
    Abstract: For the machining by abrasive belt, on a part 1 with an axis of rotation, of a non-cylindrical bearing surface 2, two portions of the same running abrasive belt 14, which are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the belt, using two independent support components 12, preferably activated by two jacks 8 mounted on a common carrier 4, along two contact zones spaced apart angularly around the axis of rotation of the part, are applied against the bearing surface 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Richard Bonachera, Raymond Millot
  • Patent number: 6589103
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the finishing treatment of shaft workpieces, in particular crankshafts and camshafts. The device comprises a carrier, at least one jaw for exerting contact pressure on the workpiece, and a linear guide for guiding the jaw. The linear guide is supported by a transverse guide to form a cross guiding system which follows the rotational motion of the workpiece by revolving around its axis of rotation. The transverse guide contains a main carriage guided on the carrier. The main carriage is radially aligned with respect to the axis of rotation of the workpiece. The main carriage has a fork-shaped head facing towards the side of the workpiece. A guide rail for the linear guide is chucked between the between the legs of the fork-like head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Ernst Thielenhaus GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Werner Max Müller, Andreas Thölke
  • Publication number: 20030064664
    Abstract: An adaptable finishing system includes a head station and finishing head assemblies which are configured for ease of exchange from one to another at the head station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Inventor: John William Fedor
  • Patent number: 6533644
    Abstract: An agent used for texturing a surface of a substrate for a magnetic disk includes an aqueous solution containing a glycol compound serving as surfactant in an amount of about 1-25 weight % and agglomerated polycrystalline diamond particles with average diameter of 0.01-2 &mgr;m in an amount of 0.001-3 weight % formed with very small polycrystalline diamond particles with average diameter of 1-20 nm. When the substrate surface is textured, the substrate is rotated, the agent is supplied to the target surface to be textured and a polishing tape is pressed and run against it. A substrate thus processed has a surface with very fine and uniform textured lines without any abnormal protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Nihon Microcoating Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Horie, Hiromitsu Okuyama, Mitsuo Otohata
  • Patent number: 6485353
    Abstract: A grinding machine has a wheelhead movable tinder computer control perpendicular to the axis of a composite workpiece, mounted between a headstock and a tailstock, and workrests slidable along front and rear rails. Between the workrests are sandwiched rigid cover-spacers to protect the rails and prevent lateral movement of the workrests. A spring-operated thrust bar may be supported against a fixed dressing wheelhead to clamp the stack of cover-spacers and workrests together, in order to accurately locate and space apart the workrests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: UNOVA U.K. Limited
    Inventors: Michael Laycock, Ian David Locker
  • Patent number: 6450916
    Abstract: A loading cam mechanism of a toroidal type continuously variable transmission is provided with a cam disc that rotates together with an input shaft. A cam surface is formed on the cam disc. The cam disc includes a disc portion having the cam surface formed thereon and a cylindrical portion protruding from the central portion of the cam surface. The cam disc further includes a lathe-turned portion formed by lathe turning, a milled surface formed by means of an end mill, and a ground surface formed by means of a grindstone. Formed on a corner portion between the cylindrical portion and the disc portion are a first corner curved surface worked by means of an arcuate portion on the distal end portion of the end mill and a second corner curved surface worked by means of an arcuate portion on the distal end portion of the grindstone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuko Kamamura
  • Patent number: 6419563
    Abstract: A machining apparatus simultaneously machining at least two portions of one workpiece is disclosed. The machining apparatus includes a worktable unit for rotatably driving workpiece, at least two tool heads each of which supports a tool and moves forward to or away from the workpiece, at least two gauging units measuring a diameter of each portion, and control unit controlling motion of each wheel head individually. The control unit controls motions of the wheel heads in according to signals provided from the gauging units, wherein controls all of tool heads to execute a finish grinding process, controls one tool head corresponding to one portion whose diameter became a required value to back off, and controls all of tool heads to execute a spark-out process after diameters of all of the portions became each required value. Therefore, it can prevent that accuracy of one portion machined by one tool head is deteriorated by effect of machining by another wheel head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Toyoda Koki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Ido, Kenji Matsuba, Yasunari Oda
  • Patent number: 6390907
    Abstract: A motorized spindle assembly for a grinding wheel is fabricated with an opening extending through the spindle casing, and stator and so as to extend in the direction of the spindle axis of rotation at least the length of the stator. The opening is of a size, depth, configuration and disposition so that when the spindle assembly is utilized to grind a workpiece and to do so is moved towards the workpiece, that portions of the workpiece are received within the opening thus permitting the spindle assembly and its grinding wheel to be moved as close as possible to the workpiece axis of rotation. The motorized spindle assembly is carried by a wheelhead for coaction with an additional spindle assembly carrying a grinding wheel with a larger radius. The larger radius grinding wheel is utilized to rough grind cam lobes and the smaller grinding wheel is utilized to finish grind the cam lobes and to grind concave cam contours for the cam lobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Inventors: Joel Kym Metzler, William Wood Pflager
  • Patent number: 6354920
    Abstract: A centerless microfinishing machine especially adapted for machining camshaft workpieces. The microfinishing machine causes the camshaft workpiece to rotate through the use of a centerless drive system including spaced rollers which frictionally engage the workpiece. A tooling head assembly strokes between engage and disengage positions and includes individual shoes which simultaneously engage the camshaft lobe and camshaft bearing journal surfaces. Through the use of separate compliant elements, these tools are caused to follow the contours of the surfaces being machined. The tooling head assembly allows these surfaces to be machined simultaneously; therefore, multiple machine functions can be accomplished in a single manufacturing step, which reduces the number of individual pieces of equipment which are required in accordance with typical machining approaches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Inventors: Norman Roy Judge, Lowell Walter Benickson, John Alfred Payne
  • Patent number: 6293855
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a polishing apparatus for polishing a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer. The polishing apparatus has a processing section including a polishing section (1) for polishing a semiconductor wafer (6) and a cleaning section (10) for cleaning a polished semiconductor wafer, a receiving section (40) for supplying a semiconductor wafer (6) to be polished to the processing section and receiving a polished semiconductor wafer (6), and a cleaning chamber (20) disposed between the processing section and the receiving section and defined by partitions (102, 103) with shutters (22, 24) which separate the processing section and the receiving section from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Yoshida, Masahiko Sekimoto
  • Patent number: 6217413
    Abstract: A coated abrasive article having a backing and an abrasive layer coated on the first major surface of the backing, wherein a cross-section of the abrasive layer normal to the thickness and at a center point of the thickness has a total cross-sectional area of abrasive agglomerates which is substantially the same as that at a point along the thickness which is 75% of a distance between the center point and the contact side; a coated abrasive article having a bond system with a Knoop hardness number of at least 70; a coated abrasive article comprising abrasive agglomerates in the shape of a truncated four-sided pyramid; a method of making the coated abrasive article; and a method of abrading a hard workpiece using a coated abrasive article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Todd J. Christianson
  • Patent number: 6200200
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are proposed for grinding cams having concave flanks on a camshaft, using a grinding wheel of relatively small diameter, which is used at least for finish-grinding. The axis of the grinding wheel runs at an angle to the camshaft longitudinal axis, and the grinding wheel is aligned at the same angle. In order to achieve a satisfactory running surface, the grinding wheel is tracked along an advance axis running perpendicular to the infeed axis, specifically as a function of the rotational position of the camshaft and of the positioning on the infeed axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Erwin Junker Maschinenfabrik GmbH
    Inventor: George Himmelsbach
  • Patent number: 6149503
    Abstract: A method of supporting a workpiece having journal and eccentric regions, in a grinding machine for grinding the eccentric regions thereof, is described which involves mounting the workpiece in a headstock of the grinding machine, providing a coupling between the workpiece and a rotary drive mechanism for rotating the workpiece about its main axis and fitting around at least one remote journal region of the workpiece a pair of members which form a journal bearing complementary to the said region, and fixing the lower of the two members to the machine, thereby providing support for the workpiece at the said remote position. The method is particularly relevant to the grinding of crankpins of a crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Unova UK Limited
    Inventor: Michael Laycock
  • Patent number: 6110010
    Abstract: An improved drive and support for a machine tool by which a part thereof can be supported and driven along a linear path for machining. The drive and support includes a linear slideway having a magnetic track along which a housing will move when a moving magnetic field is generated in an electromagnetic assembly mounted in the housing. The direction the housing moves depends upon the direction of movement of the generated magnetic field, and first hydrostatic bearing pads acting between the housing and the slideway, or between the electromagnetic assembly and the track or any combination thereof, to counteract the attractive force between the electromagnet and the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: UNOVA IP Corp.
    Inventors: William Pflager, Joel Metzler
  • Patent number: 6056532
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing head surfaces of dies cooperating with cylindrical press rolls for rotary presses. To avoid the high Hertzian stresses occurring dies for rotary presses during the interaction of the die head and the press roll, the present invention provides for designing instantaneous surface lines of the press roll extending through the instantaneous contact points between the head surface of the die head and the press roll under the action of the press roll on the die head as a set of continuously consecutive contact lines on the head surface of the die head by a tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Korsch Pressen GmbH
    Inventor: Jurgen Pagel
  • Patent number: 5975995
    Abstract: A pair of grinding wheel carriages, each carrying its own grinding wheel, are both carried by a grinding machine to one side of a work carriage and workpiece when carried thereby. The workpiece is, in this instance, a camshaft with multiple pairs of similar cams disposed along the axis of the workpiece. The operation control and disposition of the grinding wheels provides for use of either grinding wheel to grind cam pairs or both grinding wheels to simultaneously grind a pair of cam pairs. The method involves first grinding a first cam pair of spaced but in phase cams with one of the grinding wheels; thereafter utilizing both grinding wheels simultaneously to grind two pairs of spaced cam pairs and repeating this step depending upon the number of cam pairs, lastly the final pair of cam pairs is ground utilizing the other grinding wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Unova Ip Corp.
    Inventors: Timothy William Hykes, Andrew Thomas Klouser
  • Patent number: 5913716
    Abstract: A process for polishing a workpiece. The process comprises the steps of:(a) placing a structured abrasive article bearing precisely shaped abrasive composites on at least one major surface thereof in contact with a surface of a workpiece having a surface having a scratch pattern having an initial Ra value thereon such that said composite bearing surface is in contact with said workpiece surface;(b) moving at least one of said workpiece or said structured abrasive article relative to the other in a first abrading direction, while simultaneously moving at least one of said workpiece or said structured abrasive article relative to the other in a second abrading direction not parallel to said first abrading direction such that said second abrading direction crosses said first abrading direction while contact is maintained between said composite bearing surface and said workpiece surface, whereby said initial Ra value is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael V. Mucci, Richard M. Olson
  • Patent number: 5899797
    Abstract: A grinding machine includes a bed, structure for supporting a camshaft on the bed, a carriage displaceably mounted on the bed to permit movement relative to the camshaft in a radial direction of the camshaft, first and second grinding spindles respectively having a rough-grinding disc and a finish-grinding disc, a headstock having the first and second grinding spindles mounted therein and the first and second grinding spindles respectively having first and second spindle axes aligned to intersect each other at an angle. The second grinding spindle also has a third grinding which has a third diameter smaller than a first diameter of the rough-grinding disc, greater than a second diameter of the finish-grinding disc and equal to substantially twice a concavity radius and of a cam to be ground and a width narrower than a cam width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Inventor: Erwin Junker
  • Patent number: 5813900
    Abstract: A grinding machine includes a rotating grinding wheel and workpiece moving apparatus operable to move a workpiece towards and away from the wheel. The apparatus is arranged to move a workpiece support arcuately about an axis to move a workpiece towards or away from the wheel. A motor turns the workpiece to present different parts of the workpiece to the wheel, and an orientation detector signals the orientation of the workpiece so that the operations of the workpiece moving apparatus, and the motor can be coordinated to cause a desired profile to be ground on the workpiece. The machine also comprises correcting apparatus operable in response to the operation of the workpiece moving apparatus to cause the output of the orientation detector to be altered to compensate for angular alterations in the point of contact of the workpiece with the grinding wheel caused by the arcuate movement of the workpiece support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: T&N Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Colin Wyatt
  • Patent number: 5746643
    Abstract: The present invention achieves machining operation without grind-burning and grinding crack and improves the profile accuracy of a workpiece, by automatically generating X/C axis data that controls the headstock and the wheel spindle head while taking into account speed, acceleration, change in acceleration and contact arc length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Okuma Corporation
    Inventors: Fumitoshi Terasaki, Kenji Yoshimura, Tatsuhiro Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 5655953
    Abstract: A wave cam is rotatably and integrally mounted on a drive shaft of a compressor. Pistons are connected to cam surfaces of the wave cam via shoes. The shoes move relatively to the cam surface along a predetermined orbital path. The predetermined orbital path defined on the cam surfaces is ground by bringing a grinding surface of a grinding stone, attached to a rotary shaft, into contact with the cam surfaces. During grinding, the grinding surface is perpendicular in respect with the cam surface. The axis of the grinding stone coincides with the axis of the rotary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kazuo Murakami, Kazuo Awamura, Shinya Saito, Toshiro Fujii
  • Patent number: 5655952
    Abstract: An outer surface of a cam on a camshaft extending along a camshaft axis is honed by continuously rotating the camshaft about its axis while holding a grinding stone adjacent the cam with a surface of the stone directed radially inward at the cam surface. Movement of the grinding stone is restricted to displacement in two directions, one direction extending substantially radially of the camshaft axis and the other direction extending generally perpendicular to the one direction. The grinding stone is urged in the one direction extending radially of the axis against the stone to press the cam surface radially inward against the cam surface for contact of the stone surface along a line with the cam surface so that the stone moves in a radial direction as the camshaft rotates. The stone surface is continuously reciprocated in the other direction generally parallel to a plane perpendicular to the radial direction so as to continuously move the contact line between the cam and stone surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Ernst Thielenhaus KG
    Inventors: Ingo Schunn, Peter Weiss, Martin Wolters
  • Patent number: 5644949
    Abstract: A cam having a front surface and a rear surface to reciprocate a double-headed piston of a compressor twice for every rotation of a drive shaft. A positioner is provided on the front and rear surface of the cam to position the cam on a fixture used for grinding of cam surfaces. The cam surfaces are formed by grinding the front and rear surface of the cam into a convex shape with the cam positioned to the fixture by the positioner. The front cam surface and the rear cam surface have identical shapes and their phases are offset by a predetermined angle with respect to one another. The positioner is arranged at the same position on the front and rear surfaces of the cam with respect to the cam shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kazuo Murakami, Kazuo Awamura, Shinya Saito
  • Patent number: 5616070
    Abstract: A work drive orienting system for a machine tool, such as a multiple belt grinder, comprises a head stock and a tail stock for supporting the workpiece to be machined, a locator retained by a spider in the head stock chuck, and a proximity sensor located in the loader operatively associated with the machine tool. The workpiece has journals at opposite ends, and spaced eccentric portions, such as cam lobes; also, a locating pin projects axially from one end of the workpiece. The locating pin has a predetermined angular relationship to the spaced eccentric portions of the workpiece.The locating pin must pass alongside the locator, which has a cylindrical body with a projecting tab, before power is supplied to the head stock and/or tail stock to drive same. A proximity sensor, located in the loader, scans an approximately 70.degree. arc on the workpiece, for the presence of eccentric surfaces, such as cam lobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Western Atlas Incorporated
    Inventors: Dennis F. Rice, Ricky L. Mowen, Marshall W. Faith