Adaptive control system

Claim 2

For an apparatus for machining a workpiece having a varying cross-sectional area by a machining process including cutting means for removing a portion of said workpiece with the volume of said portion varying with variations in said cross-sectional area and rate means for establishing the rate of the machining process, a control system comprising: sensing means for sensing said cross-sectional area at a portion of said workpiece to be machined in advance of machining thereof and for providing an output signal representative of said cross-sectional area and hence representative of the volume of said portion to be removed; and control means responsive to said sensing means output signal and operatively associated with said rate means for adjusting the rate of said machining process in accordance with said sensed variations in said cross-sectional area so that said rate of said machine process is decreased with a sensed increase in the cross-sectional area and hence the volume of said portion to be removed and is increased with a sensed decrease in the crosssectional area and hence the volume of said portion tO be removed.

Claim 3

A control system according to claim 1 wherein said adjustment of the rate of said machining process is initiated prior to said machining of said portion of said workpiece.

Claim 4

A control system according to claim 2 wherein said control means is adapted to substantially complete the adjustment of the rate of said machining process prior to said machining of said portion of said workpiece.

Claim 5

A control system according to claim 1 wherein said control means is adapted to substantially complete the adjustment of the rate of said machining process subsequent to said machining of said portion of said workpiece.

Claim 6

A control system according to claim 4 wherein said control means is adapted to substantially complete the adjustment of the rate of said machining process subsequent to said machining of said portion of said workpiece.

Claim 7

A control system according to claim 1 wherein said control means further includes storing means receiving said sensing means output signal for storing said output signal for a predetermined period and for providing said stored sensing means output signal to said control means at the end of said predetermined period.

Claim 8

A control system according to claim 6 wherein said control means establishes said predetermined period in accordance with the rate of said machining process.

Claim 9

A control system according to claim 6 wherein said sensing means is spaced a predetermined distance from the portion of said workpiece being machined and wherein said predetermined period is established in accordance with said predetermined distance.

Claim 10

A control system according to claim 7 wherein said sensing means is spaced a predetermined distance from the portion of said workpiece being machined and wherein said predetermined period is established in accordance with said predetermined distance.

Claim 11

A control system according to claim 1 wherein said control means is adapted to adjust the rate of removal of said portion to be removed.

Claim 12

A control system according to claim 1 wherein said cutting means is a tool for machining said workpiece, said tool and said workpiece are relatively movable, and said control means adjusts the rate of said relative movement of said tool and said workpiece in accordance with said sensed variation in said cross-sectional area.

Claim 13

A control system according to claim 1 wherein said sensing means senses said varying cross-sectional area of said portion of said workpiece without contacting said portion of said workpiece.

Claim 14

A control system according to claim 1 wherein said cutting means is a tool for machining said workpiece and said apparatus includes a feed mechanism for providing relative motion between said tool and said workpiece so that the workpiece is progressively machined, and wherein said feed mechanism includes means for recording said sensing means output signal and for providing said sensing means output signal to said control means for adjusting said machining operation in accordance with said recorded sensing means output signal.

Claim 15

For an apparatus including a tool for machining a workpiece having a varying cross-sectional area by a machine process and adjustable means for adjusting the machining process including a feed mechanism having a movable slide for providing relative motion between said tool and said workpiece so that the workpiece is progressively machined, a control system comprising: sensing means for sensing said cross-sectional area at a portion of said workpiece to be machined in advance of machining thereof and for providing an output signal representative of said cross-sectional area; recording means including a recording medium disposed on one of said slide and the remainder of said apparatus and a recording member disposed on the other of said slide and said remainder of said apparatus for recording said sensing means output signal and for providing a recorded sensing means output signal; and control means responsive to said recOrded sensing means output signal and operatively associated with said adjustable means for adjusting said machining process in accordance with said sensed variations in said cross-sectional area.

Claim 16

For an apparatus including a tool for machining a workpiece having a varying cross-sectional area by a machine process and adjustable means for adjusting the machining process including a feed mechanism having a movable slide for providing relative motion between said tool and said workpiece so that the workpiece is progressively machined, a control system comprising: sensing means for sensing said cross-sectional area at a portion of said workpiece to be machined in advance of machining thereof and for providing an output signal representative of said cross-sectional area; recording means including a recording medium disposed on one of said slide and the remainder of said apparatus and a recording member disposed on the other of said slide and said remainder of said apparatus for recording said sensing means output signal and for providing a recorded sensing means output signal; and control means responsive to said recOrded sensing means output signal and operatively associated with said adjustable means for adjusting said machining process in accordance with said sensed variations in said cross-sectional area.

Claim 17

For an apparatus having a tool for machining a workpiece and rate means for adjusting the rate of machining of said workpiece including a feed mechanism for providing relative motion between the tool and the workpiece so that the workpiece is progressively machined, said workpiece having a varying cross-sectional area so that the amount of workpiece material being removed during said progressive machining varies with variations in said cross-sectional area, a control system comprising: sensing means for sensing said varying cross-sectional area at a portion of said workpiece to be machined in advance of machining thereof and for providing an output signal representative of said varying cross-sectional area and hence representative of the amount of said workpiece material being removed; recording means associated with said feed mechanism for recording said sensing means output signal and for retrieving said recorded signal after a predetermined relative movement of said tool and said workpiece to provide a recording means output signal representative of said cross-sectional area; and control means responsive to said recording means output signal and operatively associated with said rate means for adjusting said machining of said workpiece in accordance with said sensed variations in said cross-sectional area so that said rate of machining of said workpiece is decreased in accordance with a sensed increase in the cross-sectional area and hence the amount of workpiece material to be removed from said portion and is increased with a sensed decrease in the cross-sectional area and hence the amount of workpiece material to be removed from said portion.

Claim 18

For an apparatus having a tool for machining a workpiece and rate means for adjusting the rate of machining of said workpiece including a feed mechanism for providing relative motion between the tool and the workpiece so that the workpiece is progressively machined, said workpiece having a varying cross-sectional area so that the amount of workpiece material being removed during said progressive machining varies with variations in said cross-sectional area, a control system comprising: sensing means for sensing said varying cross-sectional area at a portion of said workpiece to be machined in advance of machining thereof and for providing an output signal representative of said varying cross-sectional area and hence representative of the amount of said workpiece material being removed; recording means associated with said feed mechanism for recording said sensing means output signal and for retrieving said recorded signal after a predetermined relative movement of said tool and said workpiece to provide a recording means output signal representative of said cross-sectional area; and control means responsive to said recording means output signal and operatively associated with said rate means for adjusting said machining of said workpiece in accordance with said sensed variations in said cross-sectional area so that said rate of machining of said workpiece is decreased in accordance with a sensed increase in the cross-sectional area and hence the amount of workpiece material to be removed from said portion and is increased with a sensed decrease in the cross-sectional area and hence the amount of workpiece material to be removed from said portion.

Claim 19

A control system according to claim 15 wherein said control means is adapted to initiate said adjustment of said machining of said workpiece prior to said machining of said portion of said workpiece.

Claim 20

A control system according to claim 16 wherein said control means is adapted to substantially complete said adjustment of said machining of said workpiece prior to said machining of said portion of said workpiece.

Claim 21

A control system according to claim 15 wherein said control means is adapted to initiate said adjustment of said machining of said workpiece subsequent to said machining of said portion of said workpiece.

Claim 22

A control system according to claim 18 wherein said control means is adapted to substantially complete said adjustment of said machining of said workpiece subsequent to said machining of said portion of said workpiece.

Claim 23

A control system according to claim 15 wherein said sensing means is spaced a predetermined distance from the portion of said workpiece being machined and wherein said control means is adapted to establish said predetermined relative movement of said tool and said workpiece in accordance with said predetermined distance.

Claim 24

A control system according to claim 15 wherein said control means is adapted to adjust the rate of progress of said machining of said workpiece.

Claim 25

A control system according to claim 15 wherein said sensing means senses said varying cross-sectional area of said portion of said workpiece without contacting said portion of said workpiece.

Claim 26

For an apparatus having a tool for machining a workpiece and adjustable means for adjusting the machining of said workpiece including a feed mechanism having a movable slide for providing relative motion between the tool and the workpiece so that the workpiece is progressively machined, said workpiece having a varying cross-sectional area so that the amount of workpiece material being removed during said progressive machining varies, a control system comprising: sensing means for sensing said varying cross-sectional area at a portion of said workpiece to be machined in advance of machining thereof and for providing an output signal representative of said varying cross-sectional area; recording means including a recording medium disposed on one of said slide and the remainder of said apparatus and a recording member disposed on the other of said slide and said remainder of said apparatus for recording said sensing means output signal and for retrieving said recorded signal after a predetermined relative movement of said tool and said workpiece to provide a recording means output signal representative of said cross-sectional area; and control means responsive to said recording means output signal and operatively associated with said adjustable means for adjusting said machining of said workpiece in accordance with said sensed variations in said cross-sectional area whereby said machining of said workpiece is varied in accordance with variations in the amount of workpiece material being removed.

Claim 27

For an apparatus having a tool for machining a workpiece and adjustable means for adjusting the machining of said workpiece including a feed mechanism having a movable slide for providing relative motion between the tool and the workpiece so that the workpiece is progressively machined, said workpiece having a varying cross-sectional area so that the amount of workpiece material being removed during said progressive machining varies, a control system comprising: sensing means for sensing said varying cross-sectional area at a portion of said workpiece to be machined in advance of machining thereof and for providing an output signal representative of said varying cross-sectional area; recording means including a recording medium disposed on one of said slide and the remainder of said apparatus and a recording member disposed on the other of said slide and said remainder of said apparatus for recording said sensing means output signal and for retrieving said recorded signal after a predetermined relative movement of said tool and said workpiece to provide a recording means output signal representative of said cross-sectional area; and control means responsive to said recording means output signal and operatively associated with said adjustable means for adjusting said machining of said workpiece in accordance with said sensed variations in said cross-sectional area whereby said machining of said workpiece is varied in accordance with variations in the amount of workpiece material being removed.

Claim 28

A control system according to claim 15 wherein said sensing means provides a fluid flow in the vicinity of said portion of said workpiece and wherein said cross-sectional area influences said fluid flow to provide a measurement of said cross-sectional area.

Claim 29

A control system according to claim 24 wherein said sensing means includes an orifice which directs said fluid flow at said portion of said workpiece.

Claim 30

For an apparatus having a tool for machining a workpiece and adjustable means for adjusting the machining of said workpiece including a feed mechanism for providing relative motion between the tool and the workpiece so that the workpiece is progressively machined, said workpiece having a varying cross-sectional area so that the amount of workpiece material being removed during said progressive machining varies, a control system comprising: sensing means including an orifice for providing a fluid flow directed at said portion of said workpiece so that said cross-sectional area influences said fluid flow to provide a measurement of said cross-sectional area at a portion of said workpiece to be machined in advance of machining thereof, said orifice being associated with a venturi flow passage characterized by having a reduced cross-section portion, said sensing means further including means responsive to said pressure at said reduced cross-sectional portion for providing an output signal representative of said varying cross-sectional area; recording means associated with said feed mechanism for recording said sensing means output signal and for retrieving said recorded signal after a predetermined relative movement of said tool and said workpiece to provide a recording means output signal representative of said cross-sectional area; and control means responsive to said recording means output signal and operatively associated with said adjustable means for adjusting said machining of said workpiece in accordance with said sensed variations in said cross-sectional area whereby said machining of said workpiece is varied in accordance with variations in the amount of workpiece material being removed.

Claim 31

For an apparatus having a tool for machining a workpiece and adjustable means for adjusting the machining of said workpiece including a feed mechanism for providing relative motion between the tool and the workpiece so that the workpiece is progressively machined, said workpiece having a varying cross-sectional area so that the amount of workpiece material being removed during said progressive machining varies, a control system comprising: sensing means including an orifice for providing a fluid flow directed at said portion of said workpiece so that said cross-sectional area influences said fluid flow to provide a measurement of said cross-sectional area at a portion of said workpiece to be machined in advance of machining thereof, said orifice being associated with a venturi flow passage characterized by having a reduced cross-section portion, said sensing means further including means responsive to said pressure at said reduced cross-sectional portion for providing an output signal representative of said varying cross-sectional area; recording means associated with said feed mechanism for recording said sensing means output signal and for retrieving said recorded signal after a predetermined relative movement of said tool and said workpiece to provide a recording means output signal representative of said cross-sectional area; and control means responsive to said recording means output signal and operatively associated with said adjustable means for adjusting said machining of said workpiece in accordance with said sensed variations in said cross-sectional area whereby said machining of said workpiece is varied in accordance with variations in the amount of workpiece material being removed.

Claim 32

A control system according to claim 26 further including a sensing passage connected with said reduced cross-section portion and wherein said means responsive to said pressure at said reduced cross-section portion includes meter means connected to said sensing passage for providing an indication of the flow rate therethrough into said reduced cross-section portion.

Claim 33

A control system according to claim 26 wherein said sensing means includes a plurality of said orifices spaced each from the other to measure a cross-section of said workpiece portion and with each having a venturi flow passage characterized by having a reduced cross-section portion and said sensing means further includes means responsive to the pressures at all of said reduced cross-section portions.

Claim 34

A control system according to claim 28 further including sensing passage means connected with each of said reduced cross-section portions and wherein said means rEsponsive to the pressure at all of said reduced cross-section portions includes meter means connected to said sensing passage means for providing an indication of the flow rate therethrough into said reduced cross-section portions.

Claim 35

A control system according to claim 1 wherein said cutting means is a tool, and said apparatus includes means for providing relative rotation between said tool and said workpiece to machine said portion to be removed and means for providing progressive machining of said workpiece by said tool, and wherein the speed of said relative rotation is increased with a sensed increase in the volume of said portion to be removed to decrease the portion removed on each relative rotation between said tool and said workpiece during said progressive machining thereby decreasing the rate of removal of said portion with said relative rotation and is decreased with a sensed decrease in the portion to be removed to increase the portion removed on each relative rotation between said tool and said workpiece during said progressive machining thereby increasing the rate of removal of said portion with said relative rotation.

Claim 36

A control system according to claim 15 wherein said apparatus includes means for providing relative rotation between said tool and said workpiece to machine said portion to be removed and wherein the speed of said relative rotation is increased with a sensed increase in the amount of workpiece material to be removed from said portion to decrease the amount removed on each relative rotation between said tool and said workpiece during said progressive machining thereby decreasing the rate of removal of said material with said relative rotation and is decreased with a sensed decrease in the amount of workpiece material to be removed from said portion to increase the portion removed on each relative rotation between said tool and said workpiece during said progressive machining thereby increasing the rate of removal of said material with said relative rotation.

Claim 37

For an apparatus for machining a workpiece having a varying cross-sectional area by a machining process including cutting means, means for providing relative rotation between said cutting means and said workpiece for removing a portion of said workpiece with the volume of said portion varying with variations in said cross-sectional area, and means for providing progressive machining of said workpiece by said cutting means, a control system comprising: sensing means for sensing said cross-sectional area at a portion of said workpiece to be machined in advance of machining thereof and for providing an output signal representative of said cross-sectional area and hence representative of the volume of said portion to be removed; and control means responsive to said sensing means output signal for adjusting the speed of said relative rotation in accordance with said sensed variations in said cross-sectional area so that the speed of said relative rotation is increased with a sensed increase in the cross-sectional area and hence the volume of workpiece material to be removed from said portion to decrease the volume removed on each relative rotation between said cutting means and said workpiece during said progressive machining and is decreased with a sensed decrease in the cross-sectional area and hence the amount of workpiece material being removed to increase the portion removed on each relative rotation between said tool and said workpiece during said progressive machining.

Claim 38

For an apparatus for machining a workpiece having a varying cross-sectional area by a machining process including cutting means, means for providing relative rotation between said cutting means and said workpiece for removing a portion of said workpiece with the volume of said portion varying with variations in said cross-sectional area, and means for providing progressive machining of said workpiece by said cutting means, a control system comprising: sensing means for sensing said cross-sectional area at a portion of said workpiece to be machined in advance of machining thereof and for providing an output signal representative of said cross-sectional area and hence representative of the volume of said portion to be removed; and control means responsive to said sensing means output signal for adjusting the speed of said relative rotation in accordance with said sensed variations in said cross-sectional area so that the speed of said relative rotation is increased with a sensed increase in the cross-sectional area and hence the volume of workpiece material to be removed from said portion to decrease the volume removed on each relative rotation between said cutting means and said workpiece during said progressive machining and is decreased with a sensed decrease in the cross-sectional area and hence the amount of workpiece material being removed to increase the portion removed on each relative rotation between said tool and said workpiece during said progressive machining.

Claim 39

A control system according to claim 32 wherein said adjustment of the speed of said relative rotation is initiated prior to said machining of said portion of said workpiece.

Claim 40

A control system according to claim 33 wherein said control means is adapted to substantially complete the adjustment of the speed of said relative rotation prior to said machining of said portion of said workpiece.

Claim 41

A control system according to claim 32 wherein said control means is adapted to substantialLy complete the adjustment of the speed of said relative rotation subsequent to said machining of said portion of said workpiece.

Claim 42

A control system according to claim 32 wherein said control means further includes storing means receiving said sensing means output signal for storing said output signal for a predetermined period and for providing said stored sensing means output signal to said control means at the end of said predetermined period.

Claim 43

A control system according to claim 36 wherein said sensing means is spaced a predetermined distance from the portion of said workpiece being machined and wherein said predetermined period is established in accordance with said predetermined distance.