Centerer Patents (Class 82/170)
  • Patent number: 12091922
    Abstract: An artificial lift system utilizing a downhole impeller-style pump and a motor at the surface. The system includes a centralizer for use with the rod string or tubing. The centralizer centralizes a rotating rod at intermediate points within the tubing string. The centralizer includes a plurality of flexure springs and bearings. A rod string tensioner induces a tension load on the rod string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: James Daniel Montoya, Jose Alberto Gamboa, Matthew John Bower
  • Patent number: 11865625
    Abstract: A pocket hole jig includes a body with a base surface positionable against a workpiece, and a drill guide pivotally coupled to the body. The drill guide defines a guide axis such that a drill bit is insertable into the drill guide along the guide axis. The drill guide is pivotable relative to the body to adjust an inclination angle of the guide axis relative to the base surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: TECHTRONIC POWER TOOLS TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Thomas Evatt, Clinton C. Thackery
  • Patent number: 11858164
    Abstract: A log feeding apparatus for feeding a log to first and second cutting spindles is provided, in which a log is fed to a second receiving position when centering spindles have reached a second delivery position that is away from the second receiving position downstream in the direction of log transport by a distance equal to or greater than an assumed maximum diameter of the log. That is, a new log is transported to the second receiving position by placing sections when the log held between the centering spindles reaches a position that will avoid contact with the new log. As a result, the time can be reduced for transporting the log to the cutting spindles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Meinan Machinery Works, Inc
    Inventors: Keita Konishi, Naruhito Kanahara, Kiyoshi Morimoto
  • Patent number: 11577327
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system comprising a machine tool, a centerable holder, and a drill. The machine tool comprises a spindle and a tool holder. The centerable holder is pointed at the spindle of the machine tool. The centerable holder defining a pair of horizontal adjusters and a pair of vertical adjusters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Inventor: Huston G. Cockrill
  • Patent number: 11559871
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for integrally processing a housing of a Computing, Communication, and Consumer (3C) product. The device includes a loading frame and an upper frame, where a material receiving device is arranged in the loading frame, a width of the loading frame is greater than that of the housing, a grinding device is arranged below the upper frame, and the grinding device includes a grinding movement device; the grinding movement device is connected to a grinding installation block, an outer side of the grinding installation block is provided with grinding lifting balls, a grinding arc block is embedded in an inner side of an upper portion of the grinding installation block, and the upper frame is provided with a material pressing device. An outer side of the loading frame is provided with a feeding and discharging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Inventors: Shenggui Chen, Yongbo Huang, Wentao Zhang, Zhaoyang Lin, Zhenzhong Sun, Bingheng Lu
  • Patent number: 10695842
    Abstract: A horizontal lathe machine includes a work spindle unit disposed on a middle portion of a machine base and proximate to a front side of the machine base for holding a workpiece in an X-direction, and two tooling turret units located at two opposite sides of the spindle unit and driven to move in the X-direction by X-direction driving units. Each turret unit has a saddle movable on the machine base in the X-direction, and a turret driven by a turret driving member to rotate about a turret axis in a Y-direction that is perpendicular to the X-direction for facilitating a tool changing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Inventor: Hsuan-Lung Wu
  • Publication number: 20150122092
    Abstract: A center frame for supporting a workpiece includes a lower seat, and an upper seat pivotable relative to the lower seat between a clamping position, where the upper seat cooperates with the lower seat to define a clamping opening for receiving and clamping the workpiece, and a releasing position, where the upper seat is rotated away from the lower seat. A clamping unit includes first, second and third abutment support units, each of which has an abutment portion located in the clamping opening, and an operating portion opposite to the abutment portion. The operating portion of each of the first to third abutment support units is operated to move the abutment portion to abut against or away from the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: ALEX-TECH MACHINERY INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Peter T.H. Tsai
  • Publication number: 20140137712
    Abstract: A lathe center can include a boss formed in a cavity of a work end of a work piece, such as a shaft. The boss has a height as measured from an end wall of the cavity. A support recess can be formed in the boss, and by limiting a depth of the support recess to no more than the height of the boss, stress and strain around the cavity during startup and/or operation of the work piece and/or an assembly including the work piece can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Farineau, Manuel Julio Gomez Fernandez, David Robert Schumacher
  • Patent number: 8356535
    Abstract: A precision machining apparatus includes a bite machining an object being rotated, according to a correction value, a fixing jig closely attaching the object to the bite and rotatably fixing the object, an optical unit magnifying and verifying a machining position on the object being rotated, a height control part controlling a height of the bite according to the machining position on the object, and an interval control part connected to an end portion of the bite and controlling an interval between the bite and the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Sik Ryoo, Tae Jun Choi
  • Patent number: 8215213
    Abstract: A workpiece supporting assembly, having a body member with an internal workpiece channel and a plurality of body openings communicating with the internal workpiece channel, supports a workpiece within the workpiece channel so that end portions of the workpiece extend from the body openings. The body member has a plurality of arbors, each arbor having a longitudinal axis that is coincident with a datum axis of one of the extending workpiece portions. A turning machine grips one arbor at a time and rotates the body member about the selected longitudinal axis for machining the extended workpiece portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Flow Valve, LLC
    Inventors: Mark S. Nowell, Guy J. Lapointe
  • Patent number: 8215214
    Abstract: A workpiece centering apparatus 1 is provided on a lathe having a spindle 33, an independent chuck 34, and upper and lower tool rests 37, 41, and has sandwiching members 11, 12 mounted to the tool rests 37, 41, respectively, and capable of contacting the outer peripheral surface of a workpiece W, and a centering control section 15 for moving the tool rests 37, 41 and thereby moving the sandwiching members 11, 12 to their respective centering positions which are the positions of the sandwiching members 11, 12 when the center position of a portion to be machined of the workpiece W coincides with the axis of the spindle 33 in a state where the portion to be machined of the workpiece W is being sandwiched and held by the sandwiching members 11, 12, and then causing the independent chuck 34 to grip the workpiece W.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigetsugu Sakai, Masahiro Yamane, Toshio Ueda, Satoshi Nozaki
  • Patent number: 8161853
    Abstract: The invention relates to a centering bushing for centering a material bar which is supplied to a chuck of a lathe. An outer construction and an inner construction arranged therein are rotatably arranged about the longitudinal axis of a material bar. The inner construction is arranged to be rotatable with respect to the outer construction. The outer construction has means to fix the inner construction with respect to the chuck. The outer construction has a centrifugal force device which produces a force corresponding to the rotational speed. The inner construction has a centering device which leads to a centering of the material bar due to a force exerted on the centering device. A force transmission unit is arranged between the outer construction and the inner construction and ensures that the inner construction can rotate, with respect to the outer construction, and transfers the force produced by the centrifugal force device to the centering device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Moser Mechanik
    Inventor: Hansjürg Moser
  • Publication number: 20110048184
    Abstract: A rotary centering device for the transfer of a bar from the guiding channel of a feeder to a lathe, comprising a supporting element and provided with at least one circular seat in which a grip element for a bar is supported, the grip element being constituted by a bush which has a tubular portion and a plurality of sectors connected to the tubular portion, elastic elements being provided which act on the bush and are designed to, control its axial movement between a first stop position, in which the sectors define a circular opening whose diameter is the same as that of the bar, and a second position, in which the sectors are moved until they form an opening to allow the passage of the bar pusher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Maurizio Casalini, Claudio Magnani, Pierantonio Melandri, Massimo Ragazzini, Andrea Bassi
  • Publication number: 20100251863
    Abstract: A workpiece centering apparatus 1 is provided on a lathe having a spindle 33, an independent chuck 34, and upper and lower tool rests 37, 41, and has sandwiching members 11, 12 mounted to the tool rests 37, 41, respectively, and capable of contacting the outer peripheral surface of a workpiece W, and a centering control section 15 for moving the tool rests 37, 41 and thereby moving the sandwiching members 11, 12 to their respective centering positions which are the positions of the sandwiching members 11, 12 when the center position of a portion to be machined of the workpiece W coincides with the axis of the spindle 33 in a state where the portion to be machined of the workpiece W is being sandwiched and held by the sandwiching members 11, 12, and then causing the independent chuck 34 to grip the workpiece W.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: MORI SEIKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: SHIGETSUGU SAKAI, MASAHIRO YAMANE, TOSHIO UEDA, SATOSHI NOZAKI
  • Patent number: 7770499
    Abstract: A workpiece holding system for correctly locating disk-shaped workpieces in a work area of a machine tool, in particular for machining rotor disks of a gas turbine engine, includes a base plate (6) firmly attached to the machine tool (1) with vertically and radially adjustable clamping elements (7) for restraining the workpiece on an outer circumference in a correct position, as well as a plurality of differently dimensioned centering elements (12) and supporting elements (17), each adapted to a particular shape and size of the workpiece (2) to be machined and to the respective processing step, these centering (12) and supporting elements (17) being exchangeable and attachable to the base plate/machine tool by quick fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Matthias Biertz, Wolfgang Pieczeit, Patrik Scalla
  • Publication number: 20100139462
    Abstract: The invention relates to a centering bushing for centering a material bar which is supplied to a chuck of a lathe. An outer construction and an inner construction arranged therein are rotatably arranged about the longitudinal axis of a material bar. The inner construction is arranged to be rotatable with respect to the outer construction. The outer construction has means to fix the inner construction with respect to the chuck. The outer construction has a centrifugal force device which produces a force corresponding to the rotational speed. The inner construction has a centering device which leads to a centering of the material bar due to a force exerted on the centering device. A force transmission unit is arranged between the outer construction and the inner construction and ensures that the inner construction can rotate, with respect to the outer construction, and transfers the force produced by the centrifugal force device to the centering device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: Moser Mechanik
    Inventor: Hansjürg Moser
  • Patent number: 7726220
    Abstract: A chuck for a laser cutting/engraving rotary fixture comprises a chuck plate having a chuck plate axis of rotation and at least two mount brackets spaced symmetrically radially with respect to one another about the chuck plate axis of rotation. Each mount bracket comprises an inclined contact surface and each mount bracket is rotatably attached to the chuck plate about the mount bracket axis of rotation. The inclined contact surface can be selectively rotated between a first position with the inclined contact surface inclined toward the mount plate axis of rotation and a second position with the inclined contact surface inclined away from the mount plate axis of rotation. An effectively concave contact surface is defined with each of the inclined contact surfaces in the first position. An effectively convex contact surface is defined with each of the mount brackets in the second position for engaging an inner diameter of a work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Epilog Corporation
    Inventors: Roy Masters, John Ellis, Chad A Mitchiner
  • Patent number: 7607377
    Abstract: An alignment mechanism that employs two slant disks to adjust alignment between the axes of rotation of a lathe spindle and a wheel hub has a float plate positioned between the slant disks. Rotation of the float plate is limited with respect to a base, which affixes to the lathe spindle, and a cap, which affixes with respect to the wheel hub. Limiting rotation of the float plate prevents transfer of torque from one slant disk to the other when one slant disk is rotated with respect to the base and the cap by an alignment adjustment system to vary the angle and orientation of the misalignment between the two axes. Preventing such transfer of torque allows each of the slant disks to be independently adjusted by the alignment adjustment mechanism without applying a drag force to the slant disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Pro-Cut Licensing Company, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher L. Greenwald
  • Patent number: 7584687
    Abstract: A tool assembly for a thermoforming machine has a tool holder having an abutment face and a tool having an abutment part. The tool and holder have a groove and a rail fittable in the groove for fitting the tool to the holder into a working position with the abutment part abutting the abutment face. A part-conical seat centered on a tool axis is formed on the tool. A pin formed with a part-conical head face complementary to the seat and centered on a pin axis is carried on the holder. The seat and head are positioned on the tool and holder such that in the working position the axes are generally parallel but slightly offset from each other and the part-conical head face is axially engageable with the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Uhlmann Pac-Systeme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jurgen Matzenmuller, Jorg Knuppel, Detlev Gertitschke
  • Patent number: 7472633
    Abstract: A transmission apparatus includes a frame, a rotating disk fitted on the frame, platforms on the rotating disk, an inner rotating member fitted on the frame, a clutch, and an actuating mechanism for moving the clutch; the platforms have clamping jaws for clamping a work piece; the clutch is joined to the inner rotating member, and can be engaged with and disengaged from a transmission gear rotated with a power source; after one of the platforms is secured to the inner rotating member, the actuating mechanism will exert force to separate the clutch from the transmission gear, and the clamping jaws clamp the work piece, and next the clutch is engaged with the transmission gear; thus, the power source causes rotation of the transmission gear, the clutch, the inner rotating member, and said working platform so as to test whether the work piece is positioned in balanced position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Factory Automation Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yung-Hsiang Lu, Ping-Shuo Lin
  • Patent number: 7458299
    Abstract: A centering device for the guided transfer of bars from a feeder to a lathe, and interposed therebetween aligned with a bar guide with the mandrel of the lathe, comprising: a bush for fixing to a fixing seat and rigidly coupled to a bar opening aligned with the respective bar guide and with the mandrel of the lathe; a tubular body, rigidly coupled to the bush coaxial thereto and provided with a housing seat for a ring with oscillating elements which are pivoted to a respective fixed anchoring element with one end and are retained in mutual contact by elastic elements, delimiting a through opening whose diameter is about as long as the diameter of a bar. The ring and the anchoring element are axially movable within the seat, in contrast to springs toward the lathe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Iemca Giuliani Macchine Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Massimo Ragazzini, Renzo Romagnoli
  • Patent number: 7444757
    Abstract: Disclosed is an alignment tool. A body of the alignment tool fits into a turret block, while a head holds a machine-tool. During the alignment process, the head and body are allowed to move relative to one another in two dimensions perpendicular to an axis of rotation of a spindle. To align the alignment tool, a workpiece is inserted into the spindle. As the workpiece spins, a machine-tool cuts a taper in it. An “empty” alignment tool is brought to bear against the tapered workpiece. The axis of the head of the empty alignment tool, and thus the axis of any machine-tool held by the head, is aligned with the axis of the tapered workpiece and, thus, with the axis of the spindle. Once the machine-tool is aligned with the spindle, the head and body are tightly fastened together to preserve the alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: T.R. Machine, Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas Richard Olsen, Aaron Michael Sargent
  • Publication number: 20080157487
    Abstract: A method of dialing a workpiece having an axis into a chuck includes providing a chuck assembly having a plurality of independent hydraulically controlled jaws distributed about a central axis, each jaw having first and second hydraulic chambers. The method further includes the steps of inserting a portion of the workpiece into the chuck assembly, pumping hydraulic fluid uniformly into each of the first chambers until the jaws are substantially touching the perimeter of the workpiece, and adjusting one or more of the jaws to align the axis of the workpiece with the central axis of the chuck assembly by pumping hydraulic fluid into at least one of the chambers of at least one of the jaws. The method also includes the step of pumping hydraulic fluid uniformly into each of the first chambers until the jaws are clamped around the perimeter of the workpiece at a predetermined pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Jay Reynolds, Ryan Wach
  • Patent number: 7188420
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a bevel gear member, comprises the steps of providing a bevel gear blank having a gearhead, forming gear teeth on the gearhead of the bevel gear blank by simultaneously cutting gear tooth top land, gear tooth side profile and a bottom land to form an unfinished bevel gear member using a face hobbing process, and machining at least one selected surface of the unfinished bevel gear member using the top lands of said gear teeth as a datum for centering the unfinished bevel gear member, thus forming a finished product. The method is applicable for manufacturing the bevel gear member both with shaft axially extending from the gearhead and without the shaft. The bevel gear members manufactured with this method exhibit reduced runout and require simpler, less expensive tooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Torque—Traction Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Steven Fisher, Trevor O'Bryan McKinney
  • Patent number: 6655244
    Abstract: A centering apparatus for centering a disk about a center member such as a shaft or hub includes a plurality of pairs of actuator units. The actuator units of each of the pairs faces each other through the disk. Each of the actuator units has a member which moves linearly and can come into contact with the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Mitsuru Shiraishi, Koichi Oikawa, Hitoshi Komoriya, Yutaka Nakamura, Takao Hirahara
  • Patent number: 6637306
    Abstract: A lathe assembly having a guide with a passageway for movement of a piece of bar stock, with a leading end and a trailing end, in a substantially straight path between a feeding position and a working position. A sensor assembly is capable of detecting the position of the trailing end of a piece of bar stock within the guide passageway to thereby allow a user to determine if a piece of bar stock in the guide passageway has a length sufficient to perform the desired operation thereon. Also, a method of using the lathe assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Inventor: Toshiharu Tom Miyano
  • Patent number: 6637307
    Abstract: In order to machine a workpiece on a machine-tool successively between centers and with the workpiece clamped in a chuck, the workpiece is held during at least one machining operation—and if necessary between different kinds of machining—through the axial pressure of a center pin clamped in a chuck of the machine-tool. To this end the chuck comprises an axial center pin hydraulically movable in axial direction, which can be extended for enough towards the workpiece to be gripped by the jaws of the chuck, and which is journalled in at least one expanded sleeve bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Forkardt Schweiz AG
    Inventor: Erwin Bohler
  • Patent number: 6519861
    Abstract: A workpiece (22) having a periphery is centered using a centering apparatus (20) having a workpiece spindle (24, 28) operable to rotate the workpiece (22) about a rotational axis (26), and a centering head (29). The centering head (29) includes a mount (30) movable in a movement direction lying in a plane (40) perpendicular to the rotational axis (26), and generally along a radial line (38) extending outwardly from the rotational axis (26). A swivel head (32) is pivotably supported on the mount (30) and is pivotable about a pivot axis (46) parallel to the rotational axis (26). The swivel head (32) has a pair of bearings (66) spaced apart along a direction lying generally perpendicular to the movement direction, with the bearing axis of each bearing (46) parallel to the rotational axis (26). A distance measuring device (34) is operable to measure the distance between the periphery of the workpiece (22) and a measurement location on the mount (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Guenter Brueck, Joerg Hollmann, Kevin Wagner
  • Publication number: 20020157509
    Abstract: A self-aligning arbor nut system is disclosed. The self-aligning arbor nut system, according to the present invention, includes a body formed with a duct substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the body. A substantially circular ring known as a swivel also is provided. The ring is engageable with either end of the duct. An o-ring is included. The o-ring is engageable with a groove in the wall of the ring, and with a slot formed on the inner surface of the duct at both ends of the duct to reverse engagement of the nut with an arbor. The swivel is engageable with at least one end of the body, and in fact is engageable with both ends of the body. When mounted on an arbor, the swivel aligns and helps prevent a bent or distorted arbor. A circumferential depression may be formed around the outside surface of the body. One or more bores is formed in the circumferential depression for manipulation with a key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Applicant: Kenneth Turos to Sun Standard, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth Turos
  • Patent number: 6439087
    Abstract: Plastic surface pipe rotary drive apparatus, comprising in combination a drive rotor rotatable about a central axis; a set of jaws spaced about a central axis, and operatively connected to a rotor to rotate about parallel jaw axes in response to rotation of the drive rotor, the jaws having work engaging surfaces extending eccentrically relative to their respective jaw axes; and each of the surfaces extending generally circularly about a locus offset from a jaw axis associated with the surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Rothenberger USA, Inc.
    Inventor: John L. Haas
  • Patent number: 6401348
    Abstract: A rotational acquisition tool has a rotatable mounting body including a first side and a second side opposite the first side. A sleeve has a first end fixedly mounted in the body and a second end extending from the first side. A dynamic cylinder is mounted on the sleeve and includes a radial face slidably abutting the second end of the sleeve. A resilient member is retained in the sleeve and is engaged with the dynamic cylinder for exerting a tensile force on the dynamic cylinder sufficient to maintain relative positioning of the radial face on the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Inventors: Matthew Francis Cavanaugh, Bobby Joe Luce
  • Patent number: 6397712
    Abstract: A lathe chuck has a rotatable chuck body formed with jaw guides and with respective secantally extending rack guides crossing the jaw guides. Jaws are radially displaceable in the jaw guides between radial inner and outer end positions and have axially backwardly directed jaw teeth. Racks are secantally displaceable in the rack guides, and respective bolts in the racks each have teeth meshable with the respective jaw teeth and are each displaceable between a forward meshing position and a rear out-of-mesh position. A slide assembly in the body has respective cam surfaces engageable with the bolts and is displaceable angularly between a holding position retaining the bolts in the meshing position and a freeing position allowing the bolts to move into the out-of-mesh positions. Pins displaceable on the bolts have outer ends engageable with the respective jaws in both the meshing and out-of-mesh positions of the bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Rohm GmbH
    Inventor: Günter Horst Röhm
  • Patent number: 6123000
    Abstract: A centering spindle for use with a workpiece which is to be induction hardened includes a generally cylindrical outer housing into which a shaft is positioned and mounted in spaced relation to the housing by a bearing arrangement. The bearing arrangement allows the shaft to rotate relative to the housing. The end of the shaft extending out of the housing is connected to an isolation spacer which is fabricated out of an electrical insulator material. The isolation spacer in turn is attached to a removable tip which is constructed and arranged for interfacing with the workpiece to be induction hardened. The design of the centering spindle is such that the tip may be removed and replaced when it becomes worn without the need to replace any of the other parts or components of the centering spindle. Further, any electromagnetic field induced in the workpiece and transmitted to the tip will not be transmitted to the shaft nor to the bearing arrangement due to the isolation spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Contour Hardeing, Inc.
    Inventors: Max E. Stewart, Scott J. Huizenga, Michael D. Berry
  • Patent number: 6092447
    Abstract: A shave tool holder having a body, a platform base and a vertically extending superstructure. An elongate shank portion extends from the body and mounts the body to a holder block. The holder block is reciprocally actuated in a horizontal direction in combination with being pivotally actuated in a vertical direction. A cutter insert is releasably secured upon the platform base. A roller is mounted to a support portion which is in turn secured to the vertically extending superstructure. The roller and support portion are capable of being vertically actuated up and down along the superstructure by a bolt. The enlarged head portion includes a plurality of radially outwardly extending markings corresponding with a circumferential array of the enlarged head portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Screw Machine Tool Company, Inc.
    Inventor: David R. Schlitters
  • Patent number: 6053083
    Abstract: A work station between an active spindle adaptor and a passive spindle adaptor having a common rotational axis, receives a workpiece ring supplied from a loader shuttle. The ring has circular outer edges in parallel spaced planes perpendicular to the cylindrical axis of the ring. Chamfered centering crescents on oppositely facing ring positioners engage opposite edges of the ring and simultaneously clamp and center the ring on the spindle axis. The active spindle then moves the clamped ring to position abutting the passive spindle adaptor and clamps the ring between the spindles. The crescents retract, the active spindle rotates the ring and the ring is machined outside and inside simultaneously. External turning tools are fixed to one toolholder slide, and an additional external tool is movably mounted to the slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Inventor: George N. Mosey
  • Patent number: 5957017
    Abstract: A dead center work support for a machine tool comprises a plurality, preferably at least three concentrically rounded raised radial projections defining the bearing surface of the dead center. The radial projections may be disposed either on the external or internal surfaces, which can be cylindrical, conical, or spherical. Between bearing surfaces a cut out section can be provided so that a cutting tool can run into the void to perform facing and turning of a center supported workpiece. Preferred embodiments comprise provisions for supplying lubricating oil through the tool to achieve continuous lubrication of the interface between the work and the center. The bearing surfaces may comprise hard, high-temperature resistant material, such as tungsten carbide, or ceramic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Inventor: Randall Andronica
  • Patent number: 5919083
    Abstract: There is disclosed a self-centering template useful for centering cylindrical bodies on their axes in rotating machines such as a concentric grinder. The centering templates of the invention are generically cup-shaped plates, having an end disc with a dependent, preferably integral, cylindrical wall. The disc has a central aperture which is intersected by a radial slot extending from the periphery of the disc. The inside surface of the annular wall is tapered from a maximum thickness adjacent the disc. In use, templates are placed over the opposite ends of a cropped silicon ingot and the resultant assembly is mounted in the concentric grinding machine, with the central aperture of the template disc guiding the head stock and tail stock chuck into centric engagement with the ends of the ingot. After the ingot is clamped in the machine, the templates are removed by passing the radial slots of the templates past the machine shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Rexor Corporation
    Inventor: John C. Lim
  • Patent number: 5860341
    Abstract: A self-centering steady of the closed type includes a housing (H), an actuator (14), a center gripping arm (11) and a pair of side gripping arms (12, 13) intended to grip a workpiece (P) under the action of the actuator (14). The actuator is provided with cam surfaces (31, 32) for engaging the side gripping arms (12, 13) in order to cause the workpiece engagement and/or disengagement movements. Each side gripping arm (12, 13) is connected to the actuator (14) and is slidably received in a rotating element (26) provided in the steady housing (H). The center gripping arm (11) is slidably received in a slide guide (G) provided in the steady housing (H). The rotating elements (26) together with the side gripping arms (12, 13) and with the center gripping arm (11) form a closed structure which prevents dust and scraps from entering the steady housing (H), both with the gripping arms (11, 12, 13) in the retracted and in the extended positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Morari Giuseppe e Marilena S.n.c.
    Inventor: Bruno Visigalli
  • Patent number: 5771762
    Abstract: A face-driver assembly and method for accurate coupling of a face driver with the spindle of a rotary-drive machining device. The assembly includes a face driver, a hub on the spindle defining a prealignment bore, a pair of self-centering coacting tooth sets on the hub and face driver, an engagement post extending into the hub and forming a prealignment shaft closely complementary to the prealignment bore, and a releasable coupling to hold and draw the engagement post rearwardly and thereby join the tooth sets in a manner facilitating final accurate centering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Inventor: Kevin J. Bissett
  • Patent number: 5711198
    Abstract: A support structure for laterally supporting a workpiece in a vertical lathe so as to hold the axis of the workpiece aligned with the vertical support axis of the lathe. The support structure includes a rod which is vertically supported on the lathe. The rod supports a movable locator rest assembly. The locator rest assembly includes a horizontally extending rod which terminates in a part rest which can be positioned so as to engage and support the workpiece in a precisely vertical manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Rhonda M. Rice, Charles S. Harless, Sharon A. Brent, Deborah C. Sproles, Richard G. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 5711835
    Abstract: A drum-shaped workpiece (37) is machined according to a method whereby the workpiece (37) is fastened to a rotatable holder (1) of a machine tool (3) by means of an adhesive (45), for example a mixture including rosin and beeswax, such that a centerline (51) of the workpiece (37) coincides substantially with an axis of rotation (19) of the holder (1). This adhesive (45) is exclusively provided between the holder (1) and support surfaces (47, 49) of the workpiece (37) directed substantially parallel to the centerline (51), the workpiece (37) being brought into connection with the holder (1) exclusively via the adhesive (45). It is achieved thereby that mechanical stresses in the workpiece (37) caused by the fastening of the workpiece (37) to the holder (1) are as small as possible. A dimensional accuracy which the workpiece (37) has after being machined by the machine tool (3) and before being removed from the holder (1) thus remains intact when the workpiece (37) is removed from the holder (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Marinus J. J. Dona, Hendrik Pranger, Louis A. Mensch, Gilbert M. Verbeek
  • Patent number: 5622092
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for simultaneously and more efficiently setting the stroke position of a crankshaft on a crankshaft lathe and a method of using the system in combination with the lathe for regrinding, building-up by welding or other machining of journals of the crankshaft. The system includes slide blocks and slides in operable combination with rack and pinion gears means for simultaneously positioning the crankshaft from a zero loading position to an offset position transverse to the longitudinal axis of the lathe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Sylvia Gleason
    Inventor: William R. Gleason
  • Patent number: 5517886
    Abstract: A centering device includes a plurality of work rests disposed along the longitudinal direction of a bed of a lathe. Each of the work rests is movable between a first position for supporting a work and a second position spaced from the work. A control device is associated with the work rests for controlling movement of each of the work rests between the first position and the second position in response to the movement of a carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Dainichi Kinzoku Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Teruo Hoshino
  • Patent number: 5518052
    Abstract: A log charging apparatus for a veneer production line. A log to be peeled is supported in a non rotative manner at a scanning station. The log is scanned and the scan data is input to a computing device to determine an optimum cylinder of the log and to determine the longitudinal axis of the optimum cylinder. Grip points relative to the axis of the optimum cylinder are determined for each end of the log. The log is transferred to the peeling lathe by a transfer mechanism that grips the log at the established grip points and aligns the longitudinal axis of the optimum cylinder with the rotational axis of the opposed spindles of the lathe. The transfer mechanism includes a movable carriage mounted on pivotable main support arms. The main support arms are pivotally movable to and from the scanning station and to and from the peeling lathe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Premier Gear & Machine Works
    Inventors: Larry E. Westberg, James F. Uhl
  • Patent number: 5408906
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for simultaneously and more efficiently setting the stroke position of a crankshaft on a crankshaft lathe and a method of using the system in combination with the lathe for regrinding, building-up by welding or other machining of journals of the crankshaft. The system includes slide blocks and slides in operable combination with rack and pinion gears for simultaneously positioning the crankshaft from a zero loading position to an offset position transverse to the longitudinal axis of the lathe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Inventor: William R. Gleason
  • Patent number: 5373760
    Abstract: A live center adapter assembly is made up of an elongated housing, a center adapter inserted into the end of the housing with a recess in the adapter having a rearwardly tapered inner wall for insertion of a center therein. Axially spaced needle bearings support the adapter and center for rotation within the housing, and a bore through one end of the housing permits insertion either of a punch for displacing the center from the adapter or a crank for the purpose of manually rotating the adapter and center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Inventors: Harlan J. Schmidt, Leon E. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5267380
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for centering a rotary body such as a motor vehicle tire the rotary body is put into a centered position by means of a plurality of centering means which engage the circular periphery of the rotary body at distributed positions around the periphery thereof and which are acted upon by a centering force. The centering force acting on the centering means is set to be proportional to the diameter of the rotary body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: Hofmann Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Heinz Ronge, Werner Lehr
  • Patent number: 5228371
    Abstract: A bar feeding and handling machine. A frame bar is mounted in parallelism with the axis of a machine chuck. The chuck is adapted to support a workpiece. Link members are pivotally attached to the frame bar adjacent to opposite ends thereof. A pneumatic cylinder is pivotally attached to the link members to move between an advanced position aligned with the machine chuck and a retracted position. A pusher head mounted on a cylinder rod of the cylinder can engage the workpiece when in advanced position. The cylinder rod and the head are advanced to advance the workpiece. Another workpiece can be loaded into the chuck when the cylinder is in retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Inventor: Joseph F. Berns
  • Patent number: 5213348
    Abstract: A workpart chuck centering mechanism moves towards the axis of rotation of the chuck as the chuck rotates in an eccentric non-centered position. The centering mechanism includes two independent shoes. Each shoe is driven by a servo-motor and encoder. The two shoes function in a cooperative manner to center the workpart. A sensing device monitors any eccentric movement of the workpart and controls the positioning of the shoes. The two shoes and the sensing device are mounted on a base which can pivot about the chuck axis. The directions of movement of the respective shoes are displaced 90.degree. relative to one another and intersect at the chuck axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Bryant Grinder Corporation
    Inventors: Richard E. Crossman, Victor Dzewaltowski, Walter Dodd
  • Patent number: 5178037
    Abstract: A centering and fixing apparatus for a movable element includes a swing arm that is pivoted on a fixed base member for movement in a vertical plane. A fixing arrangement is mounted on the swing arm. The movable element includes a centering arrangement adapted to engage the fixing arrangement. The centering arrangement includes a pair of centering rollers spaced apart a predetermined distance in a direction perpendicular to the swinging plane of the swing arm. The fixing arrangement includes a single roller with a diameter larger than the distance between the centering rollers. The single roller is supported on the swing arm via a spherical bearing arrangement, and is positioned to simultaneously contact the centering rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Assignee: HSST Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Mihirogi