Cam control grinding machine

Claim 2

A grinding apparatus for grinding a surface on a workpiece comprising: a. a cam member having a surface with a changing radius of curvature corresponding to the surface to be ground on the workpiece; b. a cam follower engaging the surface of said cam member at a point lying in a predetermined plane extending normal to the surface at said point; c. means for moving the surface of the cam member through said point; d. means engaging said cam member for continuously holding the surface thereof, at said point, normal to said plane as said surface is moved through said point; e. means for fixing the workpiece relative to said cam member for movement therewith as the surface of the cam member moves through said point; f. grinding means for engaging along the surface of the workpiece to be ground as the workpiece is moved with said cam member; g. means for supporting the grinding means for movement toward and away from the surface of the workpiece to be ground in a plane fixed relative to said predetermined plane.

Claim 3

A grinding apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: a. means for moving the surface of the cam member through said point at a constant speed.

Claim 4

a first support fixed to one end of the spindle for supporting said cam member,

Claim 5

a first support fixed to one end of the spindle for supporting said cam member,

Claim 6

a bearing housing supporting the peripheral portion of said bearing plate, and

Claim 7

a bearing housing supporting the peripheral portion of said bearing plate, and

Claim 8

a liquid lubricant supporting the other side of said plate against the facing surface of said housing.

Claim 9

a liquid lubricant supporting the other side of said plate against the facing surface of said housing.

Claim 10

a first support fixed to one end of the spindle for supporting the cam member,

Claim 11

a first support fixed to one end of the spindle for supporting the cam member,

Claim 12

a second support fixed to the other end of the spindle for supporting the workpiece,

Claim 13

a second support fixed to the other end of the spindle for supporting the workpiece,

Claim 14

fluid means for supporting said plate within the housing for rotation and lateral movement and against axial movement.

Claim 15

fluid means for supporting said plate within the housing for rotation and lateral movement and against axial movement.

Claim 16

a second support fixed to the other end of the spindle for supporting said workpiece, and

Claim 17

a second support fixed to the other end of the spindle for supporting said workpiece, and

Claim 18

A grinding apparatus for grinding a surface on a workpiece comprising: a. a cam member having a surface with a changing radius of curvature corresponding to the surface to be ground on the workpiece; b. a cam follower engaging the surface of said cam member at a point lying in a predetermined plane extending normal to the surface at said point, said cam follower comprising a wheel having its axis of rotation lying in said predetermined plane; c. means for moving the surface of the cam member through said point and including a drive for rotating said cam follower wheel at a constant speed; d. means for continuously holding said cam surface, at said point, normal to said plane as said surface is moved through said point; e. means for fixing the workpiece relative to said cam member for movement therewith as the surface of the cam member moves through said point; f. grinding means for engaging along the surface of the workpiece to be ground as the workpiece is moved with said cam member; and g. means for supporting the grinding means for movement toward and away from the surface of the workpiece to be ground in a plane fixed relative to said predetermined plane.

Claim 19

A grinding apparatus for grinding a surface on a workpiece comprising: a. a cam member having a surface with a changing radius of curvature corresponding to the surface to be ground on the workpiece; b. a cam follower engaging the surface of said cam member at a point lying in a predetermined plane extending normal to the surface at said point, said cam follower comprising a wheel having its axis of rotation lying in said predetermined plane; c. means for moving the surface of the cam member through said point and including a drive for rotating said cam follower wheel at a constant speed; d. means for continuously holding said cam surface, at said point, normal to said plane as said surface is moved through said point; e. means for fixing the workpiece relative to said cam member for movement therewith as the surface of the cam member moves through said point; f. grinding means for engaging along the surface of the workpiece to be ground as the workpiece is moved with said cam member; and g. means for supporting the grinding means for movement toward and away from the surface of the workpiece to be ground in a plane fixed relative to said predetermined plane.

Claim 20

A grinding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: a. said means for holding the cam surface normal to said plane includes means for creating a resultant force urging the cam member against the cam follower during movement of the surface of the cam member through said point, said force lying in said predetermined plane And extending through said point of engagement of the surface of the cam member with the cam follower.

Claim 21

bearing means for mounting said spindle for rotation about its axis and movement in a direction perpendicular to its axis.

Claim 22

bearing means for mounting said spindle for rotation about its axis and movement in a direction perpendicular to its axis.

Claim 23

a bearing plate fixed to the spindle and extending perpendicular thereto,

Claim 24

a bearing plate fixed to the spindle and extending perpendicular thereto,

Claim 25

a bearing housing supporting the peripheral portion of the bearing plate, and

Claim 26

a bearing housing supporting the peripheral portion of the bearing plate, and

Claim 27

A grinding apparatus according to claim 4 wherein: a. the grinding means is supported for movement in said predetermined plane toward and away from the surface of the workpiece to be ground.

Claim 28

A grinding apparatus for grinding a surface on a workpiece comprising: a. an annular cam member having one of the internal and external surfaces thereof with a changing radius of curvature corresponding to the surface to be ground on the workpiece; b. a cam follower engaging the one surface of said cam member at a point lying in a predetermined plane extending normal to the surface at said point; c. means for moving the surface of the cam member through said point; d. guide follower means engaging against the other surface of the cam member for creating a resultant force urging the cam member against the cam follower during movement of the surface of the cam member through said point, said force lying in said predetermined plane and extending through said point of engagement of the surface of the cam member with the cam follower; e. means for fixing the workpiece relative to said cam member for movement therewith as the surface of the cam member moves through said point; f. grinding means for engaging along the surface of the workpiece to be ground as the workpiece is moved with said cam member; and g. means for supporting the grinding means for movement toward and away from the surface of the workpiece to be ground in said predetermined plane.

Claim 29

A grinding apparatus for grinding a surface on a workpiece comprising: a. an annular cam member having one of the internal and external surfaces thereof with a changing radius of curvature corresponding to the surface to be ground on the workpiece; b. a cam follower engaging the one surface of said cam member at a point lying in a predetermined plane extending normal to the surface at said point; c. means for moving the surface of the cam member through said point; d. guide follower means engaging against the other surface of the cam member for creating a resultant force urging the cam member against the cam follower during movement of the surface of the cam member through said point, said force lying in said predetermined plane and extending through said point of engagement of the surface of the cam member with the cam follower; e. means for fixing the workpiece relative to said cam member for movement therewith as the surface of the cam member moves through said point; f. grinding means for engaging along the surface of the workpiece to be ground as the workpiece is moved with said cam member; and g. means for supporting the grinding means for movement toward and away from the surface of the workpiece to be ground in said predetermined plane.

Claim 30

fluid means for supporting the plate within the housing for rotative and lateral movement and against axial movement; and f. a grinding wheel for engaging the surface of the workpiece to be ground, said grinding wheel being mounted for rotation about an axis lying in said predetermined plane and for movement in said predetermined plane toward and away from the surface to be ground.

Claim 31

fluid means for supporting the plate within the housing for rotative and lateral movement and against axial movement; and f. a grinding wheel for engaging the surface of the workpiece to be ground, said grinding wheel being mounted for rotation about an axis lying in said predetermined plane and for movement in said predetermined plane toward and away from the surface to be ground.

Claim 32

A grinding apparatus for grinding the surface of a workpiece comprising: a. an annular cam member having one of the internal and external surfaces shaped to the surface to be ground on the workpiece; b. a cam follower wheel engaging the one surface of the cam member at a single, fixed point and having its axis of rotation lying in a predetermined plane extending normal to the one surface at said point; c. drive means for rotating said cam follower wheel to move the one surface of said cam member through said point; d. means for urging said cam member against the cam follower wheel and for continuously holding the one surface of the cam member, at said point, normal to said predetermined plane as said one surface is moved through said point; e. means for fixing the workpiece relative to said cam member for movement therewith as the one surface of the cam member moves through said point; and f. grinding means for engaging along the surface of the workpiece to be ground as the workpiece is moved with said cam member, said grinding means being supported for movement in said predetermined plane toward and away from the surface to be ground.

Claim 33

A grinding apparatus for grinding the surface of a workpiece comprising: a. an annular cam member having one of the internal and external surfaces shaped to the surface to be ground on the workpiece; b. a cam follower wheel engaging the one surface of the cam member at a single, fixed point and having its axis of rotation lying in a predetermined plane extending normal to the one surface at said point; c. drive means for rotating said cam follower wheel to move the one surface of said cam member through said point; d. means for urging said cam member against the cam follower wheel and for continuously holding the one surface of the cam member, at said point, normal to said predetermined plane as said one surface is moved through said point; e. means for fixing the workpiece relative to said cam member for movement therewith as the one surface of the cam member moves through said point; and f. grinding means for engaging along the surface of the workpiece to be ground as the workpiece is moved with said cam member, said grinding means being supported for movement in said predetermined plane toward and away from the surface to be ground.

Claim 34

A grinding apparatus for grinding the surface of a workpiece comprising: a. an annular cam member having one of the internal and external surfaces shaped to the surface to be ground on the workpiece; b. a cam follower wheel engaging the one surface of the cam member at a single, fixed point and having its axis of rotation lying in a predetermined plane extending normal to the one surface at said point; c. drive means for rotating said cam follower wheel to move the one surface of said cam member through said point; d. cam guide follower means engaging against the other surface of the cam member for urging the cam member against the cam follower wheel and for creating a resultant force lying in said predetermined plane and extending through the point of engagement of the cam member with the cam follower wheel; e. means for fixing the workpiece relative to said cam member for movement therewith as the one surface of the cam member moves through said point; and f. grinding means for engaging along the surface of the workpiece to be ground as the workpiece is moved with said cam member, said grinding means being supported for movement in said predetermined plane toward and away from the surface to be ground.

Claim 35

A grinding apparatus for grinding the surface of a workpiece comprising: a. an annular cam member having one of the internal and external surfaces shaped to the surface to be ground on the workpiece; b. a cam follower wheel engaging the one surface of the cam member at a single, fixed point and having its axis of rotation lying in a predetermined plane extending normal to the one surface at said point; c. drive means for rotating said cam follower wheel to move the one surface of said cam member through said point; d. cam guide follower means engaging against the other surface of the cam member for urging the cam member against the cam follower wheel and for creating a resultant force lying in said predetermined plane and extending through the point of engagement of the cam member with the cam follower wheel; e. means for fixing the workpiece relative to said cam member for movement therewith as the one surface of the cam member moves through said point; and f. grinding means for engaging along the surface of the workpiece to be ground as the workpiece is moved with said cam member, said grinding means being supported for movement in said predetermined plane toward and away from the surface to be ground.

Claim 36

A grinding apparatus according to claim 8 wherein: a. said grinding means includes a grinding wheel mounted for rotation about an axis lying in said predetermined plane.

Claim 37

A grinding apparatus according to claim 9 wherein: a. said cam has its internal surface shaped to the surface to be ground on the workpiece.

Claim 38

A grinding apparatus according to claim 10 wherein: a. the other surface of said cam member includes two separate tracting sections disposed at different locations axially of said cam member; and b. said guide follower means includes two cam guide follower wheels engaging individually against the separate tracting sections.

Claim 39

A grinding apparatus according to claim 11 wherein: a. the guide follower wheels are rotatably mounted with their axes of rotation lying in a common plane extending perpendicular to said predetermined plane.

Claim 40

A grinding apparatus according to claim 12 wherein: a. the axes of rotation of said guide follower wheels are spaced equally on opposite sides of said predetermined plane.

Claim 41

A grinding apparatus according to claim 10 wherein: a. the other surface of said cam member includes a single tracting section; and b. said guide follower means includes a single cam guide follower wheel engaging against the tracting section.

Claim 42

A grinding apparatus according to claim 14 wherein: a. the guide wheel is rotatably mounted with its axis of rotation lying in said predetermined plane.

Claim 43

A grinding apparatus according to claim 15 wherein: a. the tracting section extends parallel to internal surface of said cam member.

Claim 44

A grinding apparatus according to claim 9 wherein: a. the means for fixing the workpiece relative to said cam member includes:

Claim 45

A grinding apparatus according to claim 17 wherein: a. said bearing means includes:

Claim 46

A grinding apparatus according to claim 18 wherein: a. said housing faces the opposite sides of said plate; and b. said fluid means includes:

Claim 47

A grinding apparatus for grinding an internal surface of a workpiece comprising: a. an annular cam member mounted for rotation about a predetermined axis and having an internal surface shaped to the internal surface to be ground on the workpiece and its external surface comprised of two separate tracting sections disposed at different locations along the axis of rotation of the cam member; b. a cam follower wheel engaging the internal surface of the cam member at a single fixed point and having its axis of rotation lying in a predetermined plane extending normal to the internal surface at said point; c. a pair of cam guide follower wheels engaging individually against the separate tracting sections of the cam member, said guide follower wheels being rotatably mounted with their axes of rotation lying in a common plane extending perpendicular to said plane and urging said cam member against said cam follower wheel; d. drive means for rotating said Cam follower wheel at a uniform speed to move the internal surface of the cam member through said point at a constant rate; e. means for fixing the workpiece relative to the cam member for movement therewith and including:

Claim 48

A grinding apparatus for grinding an internal surface of a workpiece comprising: a. an annular cam member mounted for rotation about a predetermined axis and having an internal surface shaped to the internal surface to be ground on the workpiece and its external surface comprised of two separate tracting sections disposed at different locations along the axis of rotation of the cam member; b. a cam follower wheel engaging the internal surface of the cam member at a single fixed point and having its axis of rotation lying in a predetermined plane extending normal to the internal surface at said point; c. a pair of cam guide follower wheels engaging individually against the separate tracting sections of the cam member, said guide follower wheels being rotatably mounted with their axes of rotation lying in a common plane extending perpendicular to said plane and urging said cam member against said cam follower wheel; d. drive means for rotating said Cam follower wheel at a uniform speed to move the internal surface of the cam member through said point at a constant rate; e. means for fixing the workpiece relative to the cam member for movement therewith and including: