GB540520A - Right and left hand helical guide for machine spindles - Google Patents

Abstract

540,520. Gear-cutting. FELLOWS GEAR SHAPER CO. Oct. 9, 1940, No. 15076. Convention date, Oct 2, 1939. [Class 83 (iii)] A machine, such as a gear generator of the reciprocating pinion cutter type, wherein a cutter or work spindle has a combined reciprocating and rotary movement, has spindle guiding means comprising a number of helical elements spaced around the spindle axis and co-operating relatively stationary means which may be selectively engaged with either of the helical elements. Two helical elements of opposite hand may be provided so that helical gears of either hand or herring-bone gears may be cut. The cutter saddle 11 carries the spindle 12 of the pinion cutter 13 while the work 15 is mounted on a spindle 14. Generating rotary movement is imparted to the cutter spindle by worm gearing 16. The spindle carries a sleeve 18 having two opposed helical guide grooves 29, 30 of opposite hand, coacting respectively with guide shoes 19, 20 formed with ribs 31 engageable with the grooves and adapted to slide radially in a sleeve 23 which is secured to the hub 24 of the generating gear 16. The shoes may be radially adjusted by their respective screws 34, 40 so that either of them engages the co-operating groove to turn the spindle in either direction on its cutting stroke. In addition to cutting gears right- or left-hand helical slots may be formed in clutch elements. The invention may be applied to machines wherein the parts 23, 24 have no rotary generating movement. The helical grooves may be of the same hand but different helix angles and may in some cases cross each other. More than two sets of grooves and shoes may be employed.