Spindle And Bearings Patents (Class 82/147)
  • Patent number: 11473623
    Abstract: A bearing assembly includes at least two bearings each having an inner ring and outer ring, the inner rings being mounted on a shaft, and a balancing piston being disposed between the two bearings. The balancing piston includes a first part and a second part, the first and second parts each contacting the outer rings of the two bearings in an axial direction. The balancing piston further includes an inlet for directing a pressure fluid between the first and second parts to provide pressure to the first and second parts such that the balancing piston adjusts or exerts axial force on at least one of the two bearings. The balancing piston includes an outlet for directing the pressure fluid to lubricate at least one of the two bearings. Also, the outer diameter of the balancing piston is greater than the outer diameter of the outer rings of the two bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Xia Benkui, Hans Wallin
  • Publication number: 20150101467
    Abstract: A rotating machining device includes a segmented support housing arranged to be mounted on a work piece and a segmented headstock mounted on the support housing and rotatable relative to the support housing about an axis. The rotating machining device also includes at least one bearing assembly disposed between the headstock and the support housing. The at least one bearing assembly includes a first race having a first set of bearing elements arranged to dynamically contact a first portion of the headstock and reciprocate within the bearing assembly in a first direction. The at least one bearing assembly also includes a second race having a second set of bearing elements arranged to dynamically contact a second portion of the headstock and recirculate within the bearing assembly in a second direction opposite the first direction so as to promote distribution of a load applied to the bearing assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Joel WALTON, Vinh HOANG
  • Publication number: 20150033918
    Abstract: Spindle units are provided for machining devices, in particular for a lathing spindle unit, center drive assembly or milling spindle unit. The spindle unit comprises: a spindle shaft rotatably supported in a housing, a chucking device disposed at the spindle shaft for clamping a workpiece or a tool, a motor drive connected to the spindle shaft for driving the spindle shaft around a drive axis, a clamping device for clamping the spindle shaft at a freely selectable angular position around the drive axis, wherein the clamping device is disposed between the spindle shaft and a stationary part of the spindle unit, and an actuating device for actuating and/or releasing the clamping device. The clamping device can be axially actuated in the direction of the drive axis such that an axial or substantial axial clamping force acts in the direction of the drive axis with the clamping device being actuated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: SCHUSTER MASCHINENBAU GMBH
    Inventors: Erich Lindner, Peter Löffler, Christian Steidle
  • Patent number: 8534170
    Abstract: A machining device has a stationary member and a rotating member. A plurality of bearings on one of the members engages a surface of the other. At least one of the bearings is radially fixed, while the remainder of the bearings are radially adjustable. In another aspect of the invention, the bearings are rotatable on a first cylindrical portion of a mounting shaft that has a second cylindrical portion attachable to the machine. A radial undercut is provided around a flange between the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Arnemann
  • Patent number: 8324288
    Abstract: Extruded polymer foams are prepared using brominated fatty acids, an ester, amide or ester-amide of a brominated fatty acid, a glyceride of one or more brominated fatty acids, or a polymerized brominated fatty acid as an FR additive. The brominated FR additives unexpectedly are stable at the extrusion temperatures, and provide excellent flame retardancy to the foams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: William J. Kruper, Jr., David R. Arrowsmith, Duane R. Romer, Bruce M. Bell, William G. Stobby, Inken Beulich, Zenon Lysenko, John Gordon-Duffy, Chau V. Vo
  • Patent number: 8276489
    Abstract: A spindle apparatus includes a rotatable first spindle (5, 32) to which a tool can be attached. The first spindle is supported in a base with high precision using an air hydrostatic bearing. The spindle apparatus further includes a second spindle (6, 33) capable of rotation about an axis substantially aligned with the axis of the first spindle, first connection means for electrically connecting a base side and the second spindle, and second connection means for electrically connecting the first spindle and the second spindle. Electrical connection between the base side and the first spindle is carried out via the first and second connection means. The first connection means is, for example, a brush (15, 36). The second connection means has a degree of mechanical freedom and is, for example, a flexible electrical wire (17, 39) or a helical spring (51).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Sodick Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiro Araie, Shuichi Kawada, Taro Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8171830
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a machine tool for machining a workpiece includes: a main spindle that holds the workpiece to rotate the workpiece around a axis; a tool that is configured to machine the workpiece by working together with the main spindle; a headstock that rotatably supports the main spindle and includes a leading-edge portion and a base-end portion; and a bed that supports the headstock by a sliding bearing at the leading-edge portion and rolling bearings at two points of the base-end portion so that the headstock is movable along an axial line of the main spindle, wherein the two points of the base-end portion are spaced apart from each other in a direction orthogonal to the axial line of the main spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Star Micronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoru Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20120060657
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device to hold a motor-driven work spindle (1) in a housing of a processing machine with an outside ring (7) and an inside ring (6), arranged within the outside ring (7), so that it can be displaced and tilted axially, to hold the work spindle (1), wherein the inside ring (6) is pretensioned with respect to the outside ring (7), in an elastically resilient manner in the axial direction, by at least one pretension element (8), and wherein the inside ring (6) is held in an operating position within the outside ring (7) by a holding device with a prespecified holding force. The holding device is designed as a magnet arrangement (9) with at least one magnet (35, 36; 43), arranged in the inside ring (6) and/or the outside ring (7), for the creation of a magnetic holding force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: JAKOB ANTRIEBSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Ludwig JAKOB, Arno WOERN
  • Patent number: 8132991
    Abstract: The invention relates to a protection device for a motor spindle (1) arranged in a housing (2), particularly of a machine tool, having an inner ring (6) fixedly joined to the motor spindle (1) and an outer ring joined to the housing (2). The inner ring (6) is arranged in the outer ring (7) in a way permitting axial motion and a tilting motion, and is placed under elastically resilient preload against the outer ring (7) by means of preloading members (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Jakob Antriebstechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Ludwig Jakob
  • Publication number: 20110179918
    Abstract: In order to improve a lathe comprising a machine frame, a workpiece spindle unit arranged on the machine frame and having a workpiece spindle housing and a workpiece spindle rotatingly drivable about a workpiece spindle axis in the workpiece spindle housing, a supporting unit which is arranged on the machine frame and in which a workpiece receptacle rotatable about the workpiece spindle axis can be supported on the machine frame radially to the workpiece spindle axis, in such a manner that rotary machining operations other than longitudinal turning are possible in a simple manner it is suggested that the supporting unit have a bearing member receptacle, in which a guide bushing for longitudinal turning can be supported in the area of its workpiece receptacle in a longitudinal turning version of the lathe and the workpiece spindle unit can be supported in the area of its workpiece receptacle radially to the workpiece spindle axis in a short turning version of the lathe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: Traub Drehmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ulrich Baumann
  • Patent number: 7946204
    Abstract: An automatic screw machine (20) has a body (22), and a head (21) that is rotatably mounted on the body and that is adapted to be selectively rotated relative to the body between any of a plurality of index positions. The body and head have closely-spaced and facing bearing surfaces (25, 28 and 26, 29), have spindles (23) journalled on the head for rotation relative thereto, and have a source of pressurized lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Brinkman Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandro G. Belpanno, James Hugick
  • Patent number: 7930956
    Abstract: An improved Davenport® multi-spindle automatic screw machine has a tool arm (14) mounted on a shaft (41) for rotational movement relative to a revolving head cap (13). A needle bearing (42, 42) is operatively arranged between the shaft and the revolving head cap. The bearing is radially loaded as said bearing is installed and that the individual needles of same remain elastically deformed by the radial load immediately after said bearing has been installed. The shaft has a hardened surface (52) that is engaged by the needles. The diameter of the shaft hardened surface portion is greater than the diameters of the adjacent shaft portions. Annular recesses (51, 53) extend into the shaft at either end of the hardened portion. These recesses have frusto-conical surfaces (55) that act as ramps to guide insertion of the press-fittable needle bearing into the space between the shaft and the head cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Brinkman Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandro G. Belpanno, Robert C. Kruse
  • Publication number: 20100199817
    Abstract: A method for machining a surface on a workpiece having a member extending perpendicularly to the surface includes determining a position of a tool, determining a position of the workpiece, positioning at least one of the workpiece and the tool to a predefined position, rotating the workpiece, and rotating the tool to a predefined rotational speed. The predefined rotational speed synchronizes the rotation of the tool with the rotation of the workpiece in order to avoid unwanted contact between the tool and the member. The method includes the steps of translating at least one of the tool and the workpiece in a direction parallel to an axis defined by the workpiece, removing material from a first portion of the workpiece, translating at least one of the tool and the workpiece in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the workpiece, and removing material from a second portion of the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Travis M. Thompson, Stephen D. Doubler, Jeffrey R. Lee
  • Patent number: 7555974
    Abstract: A spindle liner including an axial sleeve having an axial length and an inner bore for receiving a stock piece is provided. The spindle liner further includes fins extending radially outward from the axial sleeve for supporting the axial sleeve within a spindle. Each fin extends along the axial length of the spindle liner. The spindle liner may be extruded from a high density material such as high density polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride or nylon and molybdenum disulfide. The spindle liner may further include an retaining flange attached to a distal end of the spindle liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Haas Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Nunes, Curt Gelderman, William Tandrow, Nicholas M. Rocksvold
  • Publication number: 20090018001
    Abstract: The invention relates to a protection device for a motor spindle (1) arranged in a housing (2), particularly of a machine tool, having an inner ring (6) fixedly joined to the motor spindle (1) and an outer ring joined to the housing (2). The inner ring (6) is arranged in the outer ring (7) in a way permitting axial motion and a tilting motion, and is placed under elastically resilient preload against the outer ring (7) by means of preloading members (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventor: Ludwig JAKOB
  • Publication number: 20080187266
    Abstract: There is provided a roll machining apparatus which can accurately support a roll by means of hydrostatic bearings while absorbing thermal expansion of the roll in the length direction e.g. due to a change in room temperature, thus enhancing the machining precision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventor: TAKANOBU AKIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20080022818
    Abstract: A dynamic spindle adjustment permitting an adjustment movement for the compensation of a wobble of the body held by the work spindle is provided on the spindle bearing of a machine tool. The regulation is designed at least dynamically enough for the regulation to permit a reliable tracking of the rotating work spindle. As a result of this, one or more spindles can be moved relative to a stationary machine in such a manner that the path of a body held on the work spindle represents an ideal rotation about the desired body axis, that is, the axis of symmetry. The compensation motion can be achieved by energizing appropriate actuators of the bearing devices with sinusoidal and cosinusoidal adjustment signals, which are superimposed to produce a circular motion of the affected bearing device. This circular motion compensates for orbital motions of the misaligned body (7) held on the work spindle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Heinz Hackh, Paul Helmut Nebeling
  • Patent number: 7165302
    Abstract: A spindle device of a machine tool such as a milling machine and a machining center and a method of replacing a spindle, the spindle device wherein the housing of a spindle head (5) is divided into a front housing (23) and a rear housing (25), a spindle (7) is installed in the front housing (23) through front bearings (9), and a built-in motor rotor (43), a bearing case (33) through rear bearings (11), and a draw bar (51) for clamping a tool are installed on and in the spindle (7) to form a front housing unit (93); the method comprising the step of replacing the spindle (7) and the bearings by replacing the front housing unit (93), whereby, when the spindle device comes out of order, the spindle and bearings can be easily replaced in a short time and the stop time of the machine tool can be minimized at a site where the machine tool is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Makino Milling Machine Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kikkawa, Akihiro Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 7080433
    Abstract: A workpiece seat for the machining of bar-shaped workpieces by milling and turning. The workpiece seat has an elongated housing, a spindle rotatably supported in the housing, and an electric direct drive for the spindle. The drive rotor is fixed on the spindle and the drive stator is fixed in the housing. Clamping means are provided at the working end in the spindle for fixing a bar-shaped workpiece in the spindle. A connection unit is provided at the rear part of the housing for power supply. A fixing means is provided for fixing the spindle in the housing. To achieve high machining accuracy of thick bars and high clamping forces at reduced longitudinal dimensions, as well as relatively simple design, the fixing means is formed as a compact part and is arranged at the working end of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Deckel Maho Pfronten GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Geissler, Karl Lechleiter
  • Patent number: 7039992
    Abstract: A lathe 1 comprises a bed 5, a headstock 10 having a housing 13 and a support base 14, a main spindle 11, a first tool rest 44, and a second tool rest 50. The support base 14 is formed so as to have a concave portion 14a on the upper portion thereof and so that the upper portion protrudes toward the second tool rest 50. The tool rest body 51 of the second tool rest 50 is configured so as to be movable into and out of a space formed downward from the upper portion of the support base 14. The housing 13 has a holding hole 13a for rotatably holding the main spindle 11, and installation portions 13b. The installation portions 13b are supported on the support base 14 in a state wherein a predetermined clearance is provided between the housing 13 and the concave portion 14a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Tokuma, Yoshinori Sakashita
  • Patent number: 7021183
    Abstract: In order to provide a drive housing for machine tool drives which offers the possibility, with simple production technology, of not being subject to any restrictions whatsoever with respect to the recess to be provided, it is suggested that this have a plurality of segments which are stacked in a stacking direction, are cut out from flat material and extend in stacking planes transversely to the stacking direction and each of which has continuous material web systems of a constant thickness which extend in such a manner that segments following one another in stacking direction abut on one another with their material web systems, thereby forming overlapping surfaces, and are connected to one another areally and with a material fit in the area of their overlapping surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Index-Werke GmbH & Co. KG Hahn & Tessky
    Inventor: Guenther Heinrich Trautmann
  • Patent number: 6978706
    Abstract: A spindle liner for a turning machine has an elongated polymeric member sized to fit within the inner diameter of a spindle and further has a bore through the polymeric member sized and shaped to receive a given size bar stock. The spindle liner may be installed within a spindle and bolted to a spindle flange by an adapter fixed to the spindle liner so that the spindle liner rotates with the spindle. The spindle liner attenuates noise and vibration of the rotating bar stock and eliminates whipping of the free end of the bar stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: J. F. Berns Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph F. Berns, Jr., Joseph P. Berns, Gary Wildt
  • Patent number: 6848348
    Abstract: A wood lathe includes a bed, a headstock mounted on the bed and having a headstock housing, a motor mounted in the headstock housing and having a driving shaft with opposite first and second output ends, a spindle journalled to the headstock housing, a first transmission interconnecting the first output end and the spindle, a cooling fan disposed in the headstock housing for cooling the motor and including a driven shaft that is journalled to the headstock housing, and a second transmission interconnecting the second output end and the driven shaft. The cooling fan delivers airflow toward an annular outer area of the motor in a transverse direction relative to a rotation axis of the driving shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Inventor: Juei-Seng Liao
  • Patent number: 6817273
    Abstract: An improved spindle assembly (23) is adapted to be mounted in an opening (22) provided on a rotatable head (20) of a multi-spindle machine tool. The improved spindle assembly includes a tubular main spindle part (26) that is adapted to be inserted into the head opening and having a first abutment surface (42), a bearing retainer (27) adapted to be threaded into engagement with the head and having a second abutment surface (55) arranged to face toward the first abutment surface, at least one bearing (28) positioned radially between the head and spindle main part, and being arranged axially between the first and second abutment surfaces, and a retaining nut (29) adapted to be threaded into engagement with the spindle main part so as to form therewith an assembled spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Davenport Machine, Inc.
    Inventors: James Hugick, Patrick L. Muscarella
  • Patent number: 6772660
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is means for directly coupling a main motor shaft to a working machine with a coupling head as an intermediate component. The machine unit assembled according to the present invention does not require rechecking of dimensional deviations after completion of assembly. The present invention is applicable to both upright type and lateral type machine units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chui-Hsi Tsai, Shing-Jye Hwang, Yi-Tang Chen
  • Patent number: 6666581
    Abstract: A multi-spindle automatic bar machine having a housing, a plurality of spindles, each with a collet at one end, and mounted with a rotating head which is carried by the housing, the rotating head being adapted to index the spindles through a plurality of tooling stations. An improved machine bearing carried by the rotating head comprising a cylinder having a circular inner bearing surface carrying a spindle having a spindle bearing surface. Each cylinder bearing surface is formed with a pair of opposed spiral grooves each separated by a spiral flat. A lubricant supply supplying a filter lubricant to each of the spiral grooves. Each spiral groove is adopted to provide a passageway for the filtered lubricant through and over the entire machine bearing lubricating the each flat and the entire spindle bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Inventor: David M. Boyer
  • Patent number: 6612208
    Abstract: Spindle nut holder for a spindle gear which drives a lever and functions under extreme conditions such as in a vacuum, under radiation exposure, and at a temperature close to absolute zero. The spindle nut holder includes a spindle nut and strip-shaped links each having an elongated, narrow cross section. One end of each link is connected to the spindle nut and the other end is connected to a frame. A pair of links are arranged on opposite sides of the spindle nut holder and each is oriented perpendicular to the spindle axis and the cross-section provides longer sides and shorter sides, the longer sides being parallel to the spindle axis. The cross-section of another link provides longer sides and shorter sides and is arranged relative to the pair of links such that the longer sides of this link are perpendicular to the longer sides of the pair of links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Forschungszentrum Rossendorf e.V.
    Inventor: Juergen Stephan
  • Patent number: 6560846
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for effecting an interference fit of a first part and a second part, wherein a thrust force is applied to the second part in a direction toward the first part to thereby accelerate the second part for applying a kinetic energy to the second part to cause abutting contact of the second part with the first part for achieving the interference fit of the first and second parts, and wherein the initiation of acceleration of the second part by the thrust force is inhibited until the thrust force has been increased to a predetermined threshold, and is permitted when the thrust force has been increased to the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigemi Shioya, Wataru Fuwa
  • Patent number: 6553876
    Abstract: Interface between the spindle nose (1) and the fixture flange (11) of interchangeable tool, gauge or workpiece holder (7) of a machine tool with a shortened centring taper (8) on the underside of the flange of the holder (7), said taper being formed as an axially and radially rigid but in circumference elastically expansible tubular stub (15), which due to its elastic properties adapts itself to the diameter of the centring taper (6) on the spindle nose (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Reishauer AG
    Inventors: Peter Hochuli, Giorgio Scacchi
  • Publication number: 20030066398
    Abstract: A spindle nut retainer is provided for preventing a nut threaded upon a spindle from unthreading and detaching from the spindle. The spindle nut retainer includes an integral base section and peripheral section maintaining a cup-shaped configuration. The base section includes an aperture through which the spindle may pass and the peripheral section includes a plurality of fingers which form windows therebetween used to form a locking connection between the spindle nut retainer and the nut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Inventor: James C. Tuthill
  • Patent number: 6450073
    Abstract: A multi-spindle automatic bar machine having a housing, a plurality of spindles, each with a collet at one end, and mounted with a rotating head which is carried by said housing, said rotating head being adapted to index the spindles through a plurality of tooling stations. An improved machine bearing carried by the rotating head comprising a cylinder having a circular inner bearing surface carrying a spindle having a spindle bearing surface. Each cylinder bearing surface is formed with a pair of opposed spiral grooves each separated by a spiral flat. Each spiral groove is adopted to provide a passageway for lubricant through and over the entire machine bearing lubricating the each flat and the entire spindle bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Inventors: David M. Boyer, Ralph S. Hazen, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6389939
    Abstract: A multiple spindle bar machine is disclosed including a cylindrical spindle carrier assembly supporting a spaced apart array of spindle bearings. Workpiece holding spindles are rotatably journaled in the spindle bearings. A hollow spindle drive shaft extends through a central opening in the spindle carrier and includes a drive gear pinned to an end of the shaft. The drive gear intermeshes with spindle gears to drive the spindles at a uniform rotational speed. The spindle carrier assembly is rotatably supported by at least one set of tapered roller bearings bearing against an outer peripheral surface of a spindle carrier. The set of roller bearings are disposed in a notched annulus in an inner peripheral surface a headstock upright. Each roller bearing forms an acute included angle between the spindle carrier outer peripheral surface and a surface of the tapered bearing facing the spindle carrier. The set of tapered roller bearing is mechanically preloaded before machining operations commence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: DeVlieg Bullard II, Inc.
    Inventors: Kirt M. Babuder, Thomas M. Bender, Douglas A. Joseph, L. Joseph Stupica
  • Patent number: 6367359
    Abstract: A tool head or “head assembly” having on-board logic (1) for being mounted on a rotatable spindle of a machining center, as a boring machine, (2) for being rotated about a primary axis of spindle rotation (PRA), and (3) supports a tool as a boring bar at a controllable radial offset distance (ROD) from the PRA. The PRA aligns with the axis of a workpiece bore being formed The head advances along the PRA and rotates in a boring operation. As the head advances, the ROD of the tool is controlled by a micro-controller and secondary logic on-board the head cooperating with primary logic in a remote controller to provide a complex multi-diameter workpiece bore configuration. Rotating head elements protectively surround the secondary logic and control elements that regulate the ROD and may compensate for vibration, wear, and backlash. The head is usable with spindles of diverse machine tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Inventor: Ronald P. Ropos
  • Publication number: 20020014141
    Abstract: A spindle (10) is arranged in a machine tool, said spindle (10) having an axis (46), a receptacle arranged in the axis (46) and provided for receiving a shaft of a tool holder (14), and a clamping mechanism for axial fixation of the shaft in the receptacle, the clamping mechanism comprising an axially movable clamping arbor (18) with a circumference, at least one segment (60) arranged at said circumference and having at least a first and a second radial operation position, whereby said at least one segment (60) fixes said shaft positively in said receptacle, when being in the first radial operation position, first guiding means acting between the clamping arbor (18) and the at least one segment (60) such that upon axial movement of the clamping arbor (18) the at least one segment (60) is radially transferred between said first and second radial operation positions, and second guiding means arranged for holding said at least one segment (60) in the defined way when being in said second radial operation positio
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventors: Dirk Prust, Rudolf Haninger
  • Publication number: 20020002884
    Abstract: A turning mechanism for providing a turning motion, and a hinged electronic device. The turning mechanism comprises a power element which is arranged to generate the turning force for the turning motion, and a damping element which is arranged to control the speed of the turning motion. The damping element comprises a substantially cylindrical casing inside of which a spindle is mounted using a clearance fit. The power element is connected with respect to the spindle to allow the spindle to rotate inside the casing along with the turning motion. The clearance fit between the casing and the spindle is provided with an elastic medium which controls the motion of the spindle with respect to the casing and dampens the stopping of the turning motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Inventor: Marko Eromaki
  • Publication number: 20020000140
    Abstract: Interface between the spindle nose (1) and the fixture flange (11) of interchangeable tool, gauge or workpiece holder (7) of a machine tool with a shortened centring taper (8) on the underside of the flange of the holder (7), said taper being formed as an axially and radially rigid but in circumference elastically expansible tubular stub (15), which due to its elastic properties adapts itself to the diameter of the centring taper (6) on the spindle nose (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventors: Peter Hochuli, Giorgio Scacchi
  • Patent number: 6332386
    Abstract: A transmission mechanism for spindle head of five-axis machine tool comprises three axes which are driven simultaneously. The transmission mechanism comprises a spindle transmission unit, a B-axis transmission unit and a C-axis transmission unit, and each transmission unit has a motor such that the rotary speed of the spindle is controlled by the two-speed change gear at top side thereof. The cutting unit below the spindle is driven by the spindle for processing. The transmission mechanism has knife replacing unit and blower to blow off dust when replacing knife. The B-axis transmission unit provides 115 degree swing through a gear set and a worm wheel. The C-axis transmission unit provides the dividing head with 360 degree rotation. Therefore, the B-axis transmission unit and the C-axis transmission unit provide the spindle with omni-directional rotation to process irregular curved surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventor: Konrad Joseph Popp
  • Patent number: 6302006
    Abstract: A controlled spindle drive is utilized for producing an axially acting clamping force for the purpose of clamping/releasing tools or workpieces on the work spindle of machine tools. A two-part spindle shaft is enclosed coaxially by a ring which can be displaced axially between two end positions. In one end position, the ring connects the two spindle-shaft parts to form a spindle shaft, which acts as a whole, for a normal operation as a machine spindle. In the other end position, the spindle-shaft part with the tool or workpiece mounting, is connected in a fixed manner to the non-rotating spindle housing. The non-secured spindle-shaft part then acts exclusively on the task-specific clamping/release mechanism. The controlled spindle drive, which acts on the non-secured spindle-shaft part, can actuate the clamping mechanism exclusively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Inventor: Reinhard Schröder
  • Publication number: 20010027706
    Abstract: A processing machine wherein oil micro-fog is supplied to an upper bearing and a lower bearing of a rotary shaft of a head through a supply pipe from an oil micro-fog supply device. The upper bearing is isolated from the atmosphere by a bearing cover and the lower bearing is isolated from the atmosphere by an isolator. The oil micro-fog supply to the upper bearing and the lower bearing is collected by a collecting pipe, a collecting passage of the head and a collector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Applicant: Heian Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6272956
    Abstract: A modular device for holding a workpiece or a bar of a material to be machined in a gripping chuck of a rotating spindle of a machine tool. A gripping chuck is actuated by a thrust tube coaxial with the spindle. To tighten the chuck, various forces are exerted including: a spring applying a first axial force on a thrust tube and applying a first air pressure force introduced through a duct into at least one tightening-pressure chamber. The tightening-pressure chamber is defined between at least a first wall fastened axially to the thrust tube and at least a second wall fastened axially to a regulating tube. Loosening of the chuck is obtained by a second air pressure introduced through another duct into at least one loosening-pressure chamber made between and on the other faces of the first walls fastened axially to the thrust tube and the other faces of the second walls fastened axially to a regulating tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Tornos-Bechler SA
    Inventor: Patrick Schuettel
  • Patent number: 6182544
    Abstract: A lathe is provided with a stepless cutter feeding mechanism for cutting a workpiece at a constant linear cutting speed. The lathe includes a cutter seat that carries a cutter for cutting the workpiece and a motor for driving a main shaft that carries the workpiece. The stepless cutter feeding mechanism comprises a speed sensing device connected to the cutter for sensing linear cutting speed of the cutter. A governor device is connected to the speed sensing device and electrically connected to the motor for changing rotational speed of the motor in response to a linear cutter feeding speed of the cutter such that the cutter cuts the workpiece at a constant linear cutting speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Inventor: Shih-Ho Chen
  • Patent number: 6085622
    Abstract: In order to improve a machine tool comprising a machine frame with an underframe and a machine column seated on this and having a support ring, a support mounted on the support ring for rotation about an essentially vertical axis, several workpiece receiving chucks for workpieces to be machined arranged on the support, an operating area extending around the vertical axis, and a plurality of stations arranged on the machine frame in the region of the operating area, the workpiece receiving chucks being positionable in these stations during a machining cycle, such that the machine frame has as great a rigidity as possible with as expedient a construction as possible it is suggested that the machine column have a reinforcement casing fixing the support ring in relation to the underframe, this casing extending outside the operating area and surrounding it at least partially, that the reinforcement casing comprise casing supporting structure elements which are located in a casing surface extending around the verti
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Index-Werke GmbH & Co. KG Hahn & Tessky
    Inventors: Helmut Friedrich Link, Guenther Heinrich Trautmann
  • Patent number: 6038948
    Abstract: A workpiece spindle device for a machine tool having a drivable workpiece spindle in a spindle housing and including a hydraulic oil supply device with a non-rotating housing portion connected to the spindle housing. An oil control device is connected to the non-rotating housing and communicated to the oil supply device without an oil line therebetween. An oil flow path is provided between the oil control device and a cylinder chamber of a workpiece clamping cylinder of the spindle with the oil path being free of any valve and thus substantially unrestricted to oil flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Index-Werke GmbH & Co. KG Hahn & Tessky
    Inventors: Helmut Friedrich Link, Gunther-Heinrich Trautmann
  • Patent number: 5941146
    Abstract: A work spindle for a machine tool. The work spindle has a spindle guard tube, a clamping arrangement, a clamping force generator, which is arranged on the spindle guard tube and operates the clamping arrangement, and which has at least one first cylinder chamber enclosed by a first cylinder housing and a first piston, in such a way that a large band width of different clamping forces may be generated simply. The clamping force generator has a second cylinder chamber enclosed by a second cylinder housing and a second piston. Additionally, for operation of the clamping arrangement, both cylinder chambers are always subjected to a pressurized medium. Furthermore, to generate different clamping forces, the clamping force generator is switchable over from a first working mode, in which at least the first piston operates the clamping arrangement, into a second working mode, in which at least the second piston operates the clamping arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Index Werke GmbH & Co. KG Hahn & Tessky
    Inventor: Helmut Friedrich Link
  • Patent number: 5927169
    Abstract: A draw tube adaptor for insertion into the draw tube of a lathe. The draw tube adaptor includes a sleeve, and carried within the sleeve are a series of bushings spaced apart from one another. The bushings have bores sized to accommodate the diameter of the stock to be worked, and are maintained in a spaced apart relationship by cylindrical spacers carried within the sleeve. These spacers space the bushings at desired locations throughout the length of the sleeve. A cap arrangement is provided on the sleeve to retain the cylindrical spacers and bushings within the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Inventor: Ronald L. Hinson
  • Patent number: 5697270
    Abstract: A compact multiple-spindle machine tool has a spindle support which is rotatably mounted on a machine frame. Several work piece spindles are carried by the spindle support and may be positioned in various rotational positions when the spindle support is rotated about a rotational axis. A work piece is clamped to a spindle and can be machined by a tool in a work area. The machine frame has a bottom part which stands on a base. A stand extends upwards from the base to carry the spindle support. The work piece spindles are arranged in spindle positions around the stand. The working area for machining the work pieces which are held by the work piece spindles are also arranged around the stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Index-Werke GmbH & Co. KG Hahn & Tessky
    Inventor: Helmut Link
  • Patent number: 5527400
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for machining a workpiece from a hardened unmachined part includes the use of non-rotating centers in a turning machine, on which the workpiece is mounted. The shape of the dead centers permits less force to be used in support of the workpiece for reducing friction between the rotating workpiece and non-rotating centers, while exerting a maximum amount of radial holding force to reduce runout in the machining operation. Lubrication can be supplied through the dead centers to further reduce friction and/or an anti-friction coating may be applied to the contacting surface of the centers for this purpose. Machining of the hardened part may be controlled by CNC equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Roland C. Smith, James S. Fisher
  • Patent number: 5493939
    Abstract: A universal cylinder mount for mounting a at least one of a plurality of cylinders between a headstock and a tailstock of an engraver. Each of the cylinders have a mounting aperture at each end adapted to receive a universal cylinder mount associated with each of the headstock and tailstock. The universal cylinder mount is adapted to accommodate a plurality of mounting apertures formed with different sizes and having various sloped walls for facilitating alignment and frictional gripping engagement of the cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Ohio Electronic Engravers, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth F. Bornhorst, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5325749
    Abstract: A machine tool having a quick release draw tube includes a headstock with a spindle. A draw tube is slidably supported within the spindle and includes inner and outer surfaces. The draw tube includes a series of circumferentially spaced holes on the outer surface thereof. A draw tube locking or unlocking device cooperates with the spindle and includes a ball detent that is selectively received in one of the recesses provided on the draw tube for locking the same within the spindle. The machine tool also includes an adapter plate for mounting over the extended nose of the spindle for substituting a collet by a jaw chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Hardinge Brothers, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Peris, Gregory Ayzenshtok, Terrence M. Sheehan
  • Patent number: RE34623
    Abstract: A high speed spindle has a motor and tool adjustment mechanism which aligns spaced bearing means to rigidly support the spindle shaft at high speed operation and to prevent excessive lateral loading of a bearing unit of the tool adjustment mechanism. The unitary motor and tool adjustment mechanism are joined together as a single unitary assembly which is mountable on a machine tool base without requiring alignment and preassembly of the motor and tool adjustment mechanism at field locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Colonial Tool Operations Div. of Textron Canada Ltd.
    Inventor: Godfrey T. Briggs