Turning – Process of turning
Patent
1997-02-06
2000-11-14
Tsai, Henry W. H.
Turning
Process of turning
82165, 82168, 82162, 82151, 464 95, B23B 100
Patent
active
061454192
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a drive transmitting device for use in transmitting torque to an article to be rotated. The invention is of particular use in transmitting rotational drive to a workpiece in a lathe or grinding machine or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When machining articles to a desired shape it is often necessary to rotate the article (usually termed the workpiece) so that symmetrical machining can be achieved of a given cross section. This applies to both lathe type devices where cutting tools are used and to grinding machines where a rotating grinding wheel runs against a rotating load or workpiece.
Rotation of the workpiece to be machined can be achieved by securing the workpiece into a rotating chuck. However if the workpiece is not centralised correctly within the clamping jaws of the chuck, it will not rotate in a `true` fashion and machining will be inaccurate.
Alternative methods of transmitting rotation involve the use of a tailstock and a headstock to support the article, the headstock transmitting the rotation, directly or indirectly to the workpiece.
The interengagement between the workpiece and the headstock or driver may be subject to misalignment and offset, which will introduce errors in the machining.
It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved drive transmitting device which will not transmit misalignment or offset to the workpiece.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention a method of decoupling a driven member from a driving member used to rotate the driven member comprises the step of connecting the driving member to the driven member via a connecting means which is torsionally rigid in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the driven member, but is readily deformable in other planes to accommodate misalignment.
According to another aspect of the invention a drive decoupling means as aforesaid comprises a driving member and a driven member which is attachable to a load so as to rotate the latter and a connecting means for transferring torque therebetween which comprises a laminated device attached to the driving member via at least one off axis connection and to the driven member by at least one other off axis connection, the connections being circularly spaced one from the other.
By forming the laminations from flexible thin sheet steel, the connecting means is torsionally rigid in a plane perpendicular to the drive axis so as to ensure rotation is transmitted reliably to the driven member, but the flexibility of the laminations accommodates any eccentricity developed through misalignment of the driving member and driven member.
In this way the driven member and therefore the workpiece is decoupled from the driving member.
Where the load is a workpiece and is to be mounted between a headstock and tailstock, the components of the drive decoupling means may be centrally apertured to accommodate the headstock, which can thereby extend axially therethrough.
The driven member may be provided with radially adjustable means for securing it to the load.
Preferably the securing means is arranged symmetrically and allows centering of the member relative to the load.
Alternatively the securing means may comprise radially fixed and radially adjustable positioning and holding members.
In a further arrangement the securing means may comprise one or more radial members which are securable so as to grip the load, where the load is a workpiece, but are spring loaded in a direction away from the workpiece so as to cause separation from the workpiece to facilitate its demounting after a machining operation.
The radial member(s) may be externally adjustable.
In a preferred embodiment at least two radial members are provided, in which at least one radial member is adjustable and at least one other radial member is fixed.
The adjustment may be provided by pneumatic, electrical or hydraulic means so that release and removal of a workpiece can be performed automatically.
In another arran
REFERENCES:
patent: 2593877 (1952-04-01), Hagenlocher
patent: 2846856 (1958-08-01), Hagenlocher
patent: 2846857 (1958-08-01), Hagenlocher
patent: 4203303 (1980-05-01), Miller
Pollack Morris I.
Tsai Henry W. H.
Unova UK Ltd.
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