Metal deforming – By use of tool acting during relative rotation between tool... – During rotation of work
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-01
2001-10-16
Crane, Daniel C. (Department: 3725)
Metal deforming
By use of tool acting during relative rotation between tool...
During rotation of work
Reexamination Certificate
active
06301945
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a slide assembly for supporting an elongated toothed forming rack for movement that roll forms splines in a round workpiece, and the invention also relates to a machine including a pair of the rack slide assemblies.
BACKGROUND ART
The U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,970,768, 5,983,690 and 5,987,953 of James Thomas Killop and Robert E. Roseliep disclose a machine for roll forming power transmission formations, i.e., splines, in a round workpiece. With such machines, a pair of slide assemblies conventionally mount a pair of toothed forming racks of elongated shapes for movement in opposite directions as each other from an end-to-end relationship to an overlapping relationship to engage a round workpiece therebetween and provide roll forming of the splines. With such spline rolling, the spacing of the forming racks is critical to provide accurate formation of the shape of the splines. This has conventionally been done by the use of tapered wedges that require a setup operation of the associated machine. Since the size of the workpiece can vary from one heat treat batch to the next, it is also necessary at times to provide a different setup operation during a single run of the same part upon movement from one batch to the next.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide an improved slide assembly for supporting an elongated toothed forming rack for movement that roll forms splines in a round workpiece rotatably mounted about a central axis.
In carrying out the above object, the slide assembly of the invention includes a rack support surface for supporting the rack in a spaced relationship with respect to the central axis. An adjuster of the slide assembly adjusts the spacing between the support surface of the slide assembly and the central axis to control the extent of roll forming splines in the workpiece.
The slide assembly includes a main slide that is supported for movement with respect to the central axis about which the workpiece rotates. The slide assembly also includes a secondary slide mounted by the main slide and defining the rack support surface that supports the rack. The adjuster of the slide assembly extends between the main slide and the secondary slide to adjust the positioning therebetween in order to adjust the spacing between the rack supported by the secondary slide and the central axis.
The slide assembly includes a leading end having a connection between the main and secondary slides, and the slide assembly also has a trailing end where the adjuster extends between the main and secondary slides and provides adjustment of the positioning of the secondary slide on the main slide. The connection is a pivotal connection between the main and secondary slides at the leading end of the slide assembly, and the adjuster pivots the secondary slide with respect to the main slide about the pivotal connection at the leading end of the slide assembly.
In the preferred construction of the slide assembly, the adjuster includes a fixed thrust plate fixedly mounted on one of the slides and a movable thrust plate mounted on the other slide for movement with respect thereto. A thrust plate connector of the adjuster extends between the fixed and movable thrust plates and is pivotal with respect to the thrust plates upon movement of the moveable thrust plate with respect to the other slide to pivot the secondary slide with respect to the main slide about the pivotal axis at the leading end of the slide assembly. An actuator of the adjuster moves the movable thrust plate with respect to the other slide to thereby move the rack with respect to the central axis about which the workpiece rotates. The thrust connector of the adjuster preferably has a dog-bone construction including opposite ends respectively supported in a retained manner by the fixed and movable thrust plates. As disclosed in the preferred construction, the adjuster includes another thrust connector that extends between the fixed and movable thrust plates in a spaced relationship to the first mentioned thrust plate, and a guideway located between the thrust connectors provides guided movement of the movable thrust plate with respect to the fixed thrust plate under the operation of the actuator.
The actuator of the adjuster is preferably a servomotor that provides convenient automatic adjustment under a suitable operator control. However, it is also possible for the actuator to include a manual actuating member for use with a more economical machine which does not require the automatic adjustment by the servomotor.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine for rolling splines in a round workpiece.
In carrying out the above object, the machine of the invention includes a pair of spaced base portions that define a workspace. Headstock and tailstock supports of the machine rotatably support the workpiece within the workspace for rotation about a central axis. A pair of slide assemblies of the machine are respectively mounted by the pair of base portions for movement generally parallel to each other in opposite directions from an initial end-to-end position to an overlapping position such that a pair of elongated spline forming racks mounted by the slide assemblies roll form splines in the workpiece. Each slide assembly includes an adjuster for adjusting the spaced relationship thereof from the central axis so as to adjust the spacing between the pair of racks in order to control the extent of roll forming of the splines in the workpiece.
Each slide assembly includes a main slide that is supported for movement with respect to the central axis about which the workpiece rotates, and each slide also includes a secondary slide mounted by the main slide and defining a rack support surface that supports the rack. The adjuster of each slide assembly extends between the main and secondary slides thereof to adjust the positioning therebetween in order to adjust the spacing between the rack supported by the secondary slide and the central axis.
Each slide assembly of the machine includes a leading end having a connection between the main and secondary slides, and each slide assembly has a trailing end where the adjuster extends between the main and secondary slides and provides adjustment of the positioning of the secondary slide on the main slide. The connection of each slide assembly of the machine is a pivotal connection between the main and secondary slides at the trailing end of the slide assembly, and the adjuster pivots the secondary slide with respect to the main slide about the pivotal connection at the leading end of the slide assembly.
In the preferred construction of the machine, each slide assembly includes a fixed thrust plate fixedly mounted on one of the slides thereof and a movable thrust plate mounted on the other slide thereof for movement with respect thereto. A thrust plate connector of each slide assembly extends between the fixed and movable thrust plates and is pivotable with respect to the thrust plates upon movement of the movable thrust plate with respect to the other slide to pivot the secondary slide with respect to the main slide about the pivotal connection at the leading end of the slide assembly. An actuator of each slide assembly of the machine moves its movable thrust plate with respect to the other slide to thereby move the rack with respect to the central axis about which the workpiece rotates. The thrust plate connector of each slide assembly of the machine is preferably of a dog-bone construction that extends between the fixed and movable thrust plates and is retained thereby as well as being pivotable with respect thereto upon movement of the movable thrust plate to provide the adjustment.
The machine can be provided with the adjuster of each slide assembly embodied by a servomotor or by a manual actuating member.
The objects, features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connect
Brooks & Kushman P.C.
Crane Daniel C.
Utica Enterprises Inc.
LandOfFree
Rack slide assembly and machine for rolling splines in a... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Rack slide assembly and machine for rolling splines in a..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Rack slide assembly and machine for rolling splines in a... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2602581