US1991567A - Crank shaft twisting machine - Google Patents

Description

s. MYORGAN Y 1,991,567

CRANK SHAFT TWISTING MACHINE Feb. 19, 1935.

Filed oct. 4, 1930 e sneet-sheet 1 Fb19,l935. s MoRGAN Y CRANK SHAFT TWISTING MACHINE "Filed oct. 4,v 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. n 19, 1935. n s. MORGAN 1,991,567

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CRANK SHAFT TWISTING MACHINE FiledOct. 4, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 35%@ 5.5% a I P s. MORGAN 15991567 CRANK SHAFT TWISTING MACHINE Y Filed oct. 4, 195o e sheets-sheet e www. am

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Feb. 19, 1935.

Patented Feb. 19, 1935 OFFICE v 1,991,5e7" y CRANK SHAFT TWISTING' MACHINE Samuel Morgan, Flint, Mich., assgnorto Gleneral Motors Corporation', Detroit, Mich., a'corpovration of Delaware Application october 4, 19st, srilrNo. 486,403

8 Claims.

Crankshafts on which` there are provided a plurality of throws which are located in two or more Yplanes are commonly forged with all of the throws in a single plane and then subjected to a twisting operation in which certain of the throws are moved angularly about the axis of the crankshaft with respect to the others in order to allocate the throws to their proper angular positions.

In order to insure the production of uniform crankshafts, it is essential that the several throws be allocated very precisely to their proper angular positions during the twisting operation and that no unexpected distortion of the crankshafts shall occur during the twisting operation.

It is the object of this invention to pro-vide apparatus for twisting crankshafts in which the throws may be allocated very precisely to their proper angular positions and which is so constructed and arranged that no unexpected distortion of the crankshaft can take placeduring the twisting operation. A

For a better understanding of the nature and objects of thev present invention, reference is made to the following specification in which there is described the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a crankshaft twisting machine in which is embodied my linvention. Y

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the crankshaft twisting machine which is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan View of the crankshaft twisting machine which is shown in the preceding figures. l i

Figure 4 is a view taken in section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 through the housing for the twisting die carriage, but showing the carriage in sideV elevation with a crankshaft clamped between the twisting dies.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the twisting die carriage with the twisting dies separated to receive a crankshaft.

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 7 7 of Figure 4` Figure 8 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 4.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of a completed crankshaft of the type in whose manufacture the machine shown in the preceding figures is designed to be employed.

Figure 10,is an end elevation of the. crankshaft shown in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a view-in which `there is diagrammatically shown a portion of the operating mechanism which isl incorporated in the machine which is shownin Figuresl to 8.

The particular,V crankshaft twisting machine which is illustrated in the drawings is designed to be employed in the manufacture of five-bearing, eight-throw crankshafts of the well-known 2-4-2 type of which one is shown in Figures 9 and 10. In the process of manufacturing crankshafts of this type in which myY machine is adapted to be employed, the crankshafts are first forged with all of thethrows in a single plane and then twistedin the second and fourth main bearings so as to locate the third, fourth, fifth and sixth throws at 90 Vdegrees tothe first, second, seventh and eighth throws.

To perform thisrtwisting operation, I have designed a crankshaft twisting machine which includes a base which consists of a platform which is carried by supports 21 which are adapted to restcn and-be secured to a suitable founda- Obviously, itis possible to design a machine which will perform the twisting operation referred to above in which the intermediate portion of the crankshaft'is held rigidly fixed and the end portions moved angularly with respect thereto, but I'consider that a machine in which the end portions of the Vcrankshaft arefrigidly held and the intermediatey portions thereof moved angularly with respect thereto is more practicable and have designed my crankshaft twisting machine accordingly.

To clamp and rigidly hold the end portions of the crankshaft'during `the twisting operation, I have provided lower holding dies 23 and 24 which are rigidly secured to bases 25 and 26 which are fastened. to the `platform 20 and upper holding dies 27 and 28.- The dies 23 and 27 are, respectively, replicas' of the portions of the lower and upper forging dies in which the portion of the crankshaft outwardly of, but not including the fourth main bearing is formed; the dies 24 and 28 are, respectively, replicas of the portions of the lower and upper forging dies in which the portion of the crankshaft outwardly of, but not including, the second main bearing is formed; andthe dies 23 and 24 and 27 and 28 occupy the same relative positions in the machine thatvthe portions of the lower and upper forging dies'to which they correspond occupy in the forging apparatus-fi. e., the lower holding dies 23 and Cil 24 and the upper holding. dies 27 and 28 may be considered, respectively, as a lower forging die and an upper forging die from which the portions intermediate and including the cavities in which the second and fourth main bearings are formed have been removed.

The upper holding dies 27 and 28 are arranged to be moved vertically'withrespectto the -lower holding dies 23 and 24 from a position in which the end portions of the crankshaft are clamped and rigidly held therebetween to a position in which the crankshaft may be insertedV or 'removed from between them and vice versa. To this end, there is secured to the platform 20, adjacent each of the lower holding dies 23 and 24, an arm-like support 29 on whose upper end there is mounted a vertically disposed cylinder 30. Within each of the cylinders 30, there is located a piston 31 to which is connected a piston rod 32 which extends through then lower head of the cylinder and to whose lower end there is rigidly secured one of the upper holding dies.

The mechanism for clamping and moving the intermediatevportion of the crankshaft angularly with respect to the end portions thereof so as to allocate the several throws to their proper angular positionsincludes a wheel-like carriage 33 which is located between the pairs of holding dies and is adaptedv to rotate about the axis of a crankshaft whose endportions are clamped and held between theupper and lower holding dies. On the outer edges of the rim of the carriage, there are formed outwardly projecting circular flanges 34 which are journalled'or guided in bearings or ways 35 which are formed in a housing36 which is secured tothe platform 20 between the arm-like supports 29. In the particular embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings, the lower portion of the wheel-like carriage 33 `extends through an opening 37 in 'the platform 20, and the housing 36 is formed of four main partstwo' parti-circular, axiallyspaced parts 38 and 39 which are located above the platform and secured. together by bolts 40 and two complementary parti-circular, axially spaced vparts 41 and 42 which are located below the platform and secured together by bolts 43.

In the wheel-like carriage 33, there are provided opposed radially disposed alined guideways 44 in each of which there is locatedand guided for sliding movement toward. and away from the axisA of rotation ofthe carriage a slide 45 on which is mounted one ofthe twisting dies 46. The upper and lower twisting dies are, re spectively, replicas of the portions of the upper and lower forging dies in which the portion of the crankshaft intermediate, but not including, the second and fourth main bearings are formed and occupy the same relative positions in the machine, with respect to each other and, when the parts of the machine are in the positions in which they are shown in Figures 4 and 6, with respect to the holding. dies 23, 24, 27 `and 28, that the corresponding portions of the forging die occupy with respect to each other when the upper forging die is in engagement with the lower forging die-i. e., that the upper and lower twisting dies may be, respectively, considered as an upper forging die and a lower forging diefrom which the portions outwardly of, and including, the second and fourth main bearings have been removed.

To the rim of the wheel-like carriage 33 adjacent each gudeway 44,` there is pivoted a cylinder Y' 47 in whichthere is located a piston 48 to which is secured a piston rod 49 which extends through one head of the cylinder and into the adjacent guideway. To the outer end of each piston rod 49, there is pivotally connected one end of each of two links 50 and 51. The other end of each link 50 is pivotally connected to the portion of the rim of the carriage at the end of the adjacent guideway and the other end of each link 5l is pivotaliy .connected tol theouter end of the adjacent slide 45. To each guideway, adjacent its outer end, there is secured a step 52 which is adapted to prevent the adjacent toggle linkage 50-51 from passing dead center in one direction.

The upper holding dies 27 and 28 are adapted to be moved from a position in which they are spaced a sufficient distance from the lower holding dies 23 and 24 that a crankshaft can be inserted or removed from between the upper and lower holding dies to a position in which they rest on the lower holding dies 23 and 24 and vice versa, and the twisting dies are arranged to..be7moved from a position in which they are separated a sufficient distance that a crankshaft can be inserted or removed from between them to a posi#- tion in which they engage each other and vice versa by fluid pressure appliedl to the pistons vin the cylinders 30 and 47. Toy this end, there is provided a pipe 53 which opens into the upper end of each of the cylinders 30, a pipe 54 lwhich opens into the lower end of each ofthe cylinders l 30, a flexible pipe 55 which opens into the outer end of each of the cylinders 47 and a flexible pipe 56 which opens into the inner end of each of the cylinders 47. The pipes 53 and 55 are interconnected and connectedto a pipe 57 which opens into the interior of a valve housing 58 and the pipes 54 and 56 are interconnected and connected to a pipe 59 which opens into the interior of the valve housing 58. Athird pipefGO which com municates with a source of supply of fluidunderpressure also opens into the valvehousing 58. In the valve housing, there is provided af valve 61 which is adapted to be moved by a handle 62 from a .position in which communication is established between the pipe 'and the pipe 57 and between the pipe 59 and the atmosphere to a position in which communication is .established between the pipe 60 and the pipe 59 and. between the pipe 57 and the atmosphere and viceversa so that fluid pressure may be admitted to the pipe 57 or the pipe 59 and the fluid in the other of the pipes 57 and 59 may be at the same time discharged into the atmosphere. l f

To rotate the wheel-like carriage 33 so that the intermediate portion of the crankshaft may be moved angularly with respect to the end portions thereof, there is provided an electric motor 63 which is mounted on an arm 64 which is suitably secured to the part 39 of the housing 36. The shaft of the motor 63 is connected through reduction gearing 65 and a coupling 66 to a shaft 67 which is journalled in bearings 68 which are mounted on the housing 36 and carries a pinion 69 which meshes with teeth 70 which are formed on the rim of the carriage 33 between the flanges 34. The end cf the shaft of the motor 63 opposite that which is coupled to the shaft 67 projects from the casing of the motor and has associated with it electrically operated brake mechanism 71'.

The motor 63 may be operated from any suitable source of electric power and may be controlled by any suitable mechanism. For the latter purpose, there is provided in the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings one master manually operable switch 72 and two auxiliary automaticallyoperated T3 and 74. For operating themaster switch 72, there is provided a handle 75.` rOn theauxiliary switches 73 and 74 which are mounted 4aidacent.the housing36, thereare `provided levers 76 and 17, respectively, which are adapted to ,be moved in one direction by projections' '78 and 7.9 `respectively.,l

which are carried by the carriage 33 and in the other direction by springs (not shown).

Before a twisting operation is fbegun, 'the parts of the machine are broughtintov the positions in which they are shown 'in dot and .dash lines in Figure 2 'and in solid lines in Eigure 5. lWhen the parts are inthese positions, the machine is ready to receive a crankshaft, and a plane crankshaft, hot from the forging operation, is then inserted between the holding diesland "between vthe twisting dies to a .position in which the portions thereof outwardly of, but not including, the second and fourth main bearings `are seated in `the cavities in the lower holding dies, las shown in Figure '6, Then the valvefoperating handle 62 is moved .from the position Tin which it is `shown in :solid lines in Figure l1 to the position-:in which `it is shown in dot and dash'lines in the same figure so as to establish communication between the pipe l60 .and the pipe 57 and to establish communication between the pipe 59 and the atmosphere so'thatluid pressure is admitted fromithe pipe 60, to 'the pipe 57, whence it passes through the pipes 53 and 55 into the upper ends of the lcylinders 30 and the outer ends Yof the cylinders 447 and so that the fluid inthe lower ends of the cylinders 30 'and in the inner ends Vof the cylinders 47 vmay be -di'scharged tothe atmosphere. The admission of fluid `pressure-to theupper ends of the cylinders 30 causesthe pistons 31 tolmove downwardly and move the upper holding dies 27' and` 28 downwardly until they are seated on the lower holding dies 23 and 24, respectively, fand the portions of the crankshaft outwardly of, but not including, the second and fourth main bearings, are seated in the cavities in the upper holding ldies andare clamped and rigidly held between the upper and lower holding dies; admission of fluid pressure to the outer ends of the'cylinders 47causes the pistons 48 to move inwardly in the cylinders, Vthe toggle linkages 50-51 to be straightened and the twisting dies to vbe moved toward the axis of the carriage 33 until they come into contact with each other and the `portions of the crankshaft intermediate, but not including, the second and fourth main bearings are 4seated in the cavities in the twisting dies and are clampedand rigidiy hel-d between the twisting dies. In Figures 1, 4, 6 and 7 and in 'solid lines in vFigure 2 vthe parts of the machine are'shown in the positions which they occupy at the completion'of the last Vdescribed step of the operation. At this time, 4all portions of the crankshaft which is Vtobe twisted', Iexcept the second and fourth main bearings, are clamped and rigidly heldin the holding 4and twisting dies and are restrained against distortion in` any manner. i g

After the crankshaf-tis clamped and rigidly held between the dies, the operating handlev 75'of the manually controlled master switch 72 is tionsofthe crankshaft outwardly of but not including the second andfourth main bearings are held rigidly xed by the holding dies, thus twistinglthe crankshaft `in the-second and fourth main bear-ings, until the portion ofthe crankshaft intermediate, but not'including, the second and fourth main bearings is moved through the required angle (approximately 90 degrees) when the projection T78 will move the lever 76 to position to open the circuit to the motor 63 and close the circuit to and apply the brake 71 andthus stop the motor' .and rotation of the carriage. After this, the handle of the master switch may be moved to position to open the cicruit therethrough whichwill cause the circuit to the brake 71 to be vopened and the brake `to be released. z It will be apparent that since all portions of the crankshaft except'the second and fourth main bearings in whichthe crankshaft is twisted are clamped and rigidly held against distortion during the twisting operation the crankshaft cannot be deformed in any unexpected manner during the twisting operation. '11 i To remove the 'crankshaft which has been twisted, 'as Adescribed above, from the machine, the valve operating handle 62 ismoved from the dot and dash line position in which `it is shown in Figure .1l to the solid :lineposition in which it is shown in the Ysame figure `sofas to establish communication between the vpipe 60 .and the pipe 59 and to establish communication between the pipe .57 and the atmosphere so that fluid pressure is admitted to the lower ends of the cylinders 30 and the 4inner ends of the cylinders 47 and so that the fluid in the upper ends of the cylinders 30 and in the outer ends of the cylinders 47 may be discharged to the fatmosphere which causes the upper holding A'dies-to `move upwardly laway from the `crankshaft and the twisting dies to move outwardly away from the crankshaft. After this, the shaft may, of course, be removed endwise from between the pairs of holding and twisting dies. Whenr'emoved from the machine, the crankshaft 'will be .found to be of substantially the form shown in Figures'9 and 10 and is completed. except for finishing operations.

Tomove the parts of the machine back to position .for'the 'start of another twisting operation, the handle '75 Aof the master switch '72 is moved in the direction to close the master switch and the circuit through the "automatic switch 74 which causes the motor to start and :rotate the carriage 33 in the direction opposite that indicated by the arrow in Figure 4 until the carria'ge 3B has been moved through the required angle (approximately `90 degrees) when the projection '79'.will move the lever 77 to position to open the circuit to the'motor and close the circuit to and apply the brake 71 and thus stop the motor and rotation of the carriage. At this time the parts of the machine will bein the proper positions for the start o'fanother twisting operation-the-lever v76 having beenreturned to the position in which'it is shown in solid lines in Figures 2, 4 and 6 by the spring hereinbefore mentioned. AfterV this and v prior to the start of another twisting operation, the handle 76 of the master switch may be moved to a position to open the circuit therethrough to release the brake 71.

Although I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this has been done merely by Way of example and not by way of limitation and that the scope of my invention is to be determined only by the appended claims., I

Iclaim: n

v1. In a shaft twisting machine the combination of a' xed support, means for clamping a portion of a shaft in the support, a frame mounted for rotation about an axis substantially coincidentwith that of the shaft when in positionin the support, ,said frame being provided with* opposed radial guideways extending outwardly from its axis, shaft clamping members slidably mounted in said. guideways, means for actuating said members to clamp the shaft to the frame, and means for rotating the frame to twist the shaft.

2. Ina shaft twisting machine, the combination of a xed support, means for `clamping a portion of a shaft in the support, a wheel-like frame mounted for rotation about anaxis` substantially coincident with that of the shaft when in position in the support, clamping means carried by the frame adapted to grip another portion of said shaft, said clamping means comprising a pair of die members, one of said-members being movable, toggle Amechanism carried by the wheel-like member for actuating the movable die member to clamp or release the shaft, means carried by said wheel-like member for actuating said toggle mechanism to clamp the shaft in the wheel-like member, and means for supplying'en.- ergy to said last-named means.

3. In a shaft twisting.` machine, thecombination of a fixed support, means for clamping a portion of a shaft inthe support, ay wheel-like frame mounted for rotation about` an axis substantially coincident with that of the shaft when in position in the support, clamping means carried by the frame adapted to grip lanother portion of said shaft, said clamping meanscomprising a pair 0f movable die members, toggle mechanism carried by the wheel-like member for actuating each of said die members, and means engagng the outer periphery of the wheel-like member for rotating the frame to twist the shaft.

4. In a crankshaft twisting machine, a support, twisting mechanism rotatably mounted on the support, means to operate the twisting mechainsm, a brake associated with the support and the twisting mechanism, means to operate the brake, means to interrupt the application of power to the twisting mechanism, and a device for controlling both of the last twomentioned means to interrupt the application of power to the twisting mechanism and simultaneously to operate the brake when the twisting mechanism has been rotated through a predetermined angle.

5. 'I'he invention claimed in claim 4 in which the controlling device includes an electric rswitch which controls the brake and the application of power to the twisting mechanism.

6. In a crankshaft twisting machine, the combination of a frame, a large rotatable wheel-like carriage supported adjacent substantially its ventire periphery by the frame,`complementary dies in which there are formed complementary cavities adapted to receive and t substantially the whole of the crankshaft which is to be twisted,

said dies including complementary end die` portions mounted fon the frame for holding the crankshaft end portions fixed. relative to the frame and complementary intermediate dieportions mounted on the rotatable'carriage for rotation relative to the end die portions andfor twisting the intermediateportions of the crankshaft,

means formoving the complementary parts of the dies towardand away from each other, and means for rotating said carriage, the' last mentioned means including driven means extending along the periphery of the carriage and driving means in engagement therewith and being adapted to apply a force at a great mechanical advantage to the carriage. y f v A 7. A crankshaft twisting machine comprising a frame, two spaced dies carried by the frame, eachof said dies including complementary relatively-'movable parts which are'adapted to hold the end portions of `a crankshaft fixed to the frame, Vmeans for moving therelatively movable complementary die parts toward. and away from eachother, a large lwheel-likev carriage between said dies, bearing elements carried on theframe and supporting the carriage along substantially its entire periphery for rotation aboutan'axls substantiallycoinciden't with that of the crankshaft when in position in said dies, a vthird die carried 'by the carriage and comprising complementary relatively ymovable parts which are adapted to hold xedtothe carriage nearlyall of the Vintermediate portions of the crankshaft between the end portions held by the first two mentioned dies, means for moving the relatively movable parts lof said third die Vtoward and away from each other, and means for rotating'the carriage relative to the frame,'the last mentioned means including drivenl means extending along the'p'eriphery of the carriage and driving means in engagement therewith. l

8. A shaft twisting machine comprising'a frame, two spaced diescarried by the frame,y each of said dies including complementary relatively movable parts whichare adapted to hold the end portions of a shaft fixedto the frame, means for moving the relatively movable complementary die parts toward and aw'ayfromv each other, a large wheellike carriage kbetween said dies, means carried on the frame and supporting the carriage along substantially its entire periphery for rotation about an axis'substantially coincident with that of the shaft `when in position in said dies, saidY means including spaced bearing elements, a' third'die carried by the carriage and comprising complementary relatively' movable parts which are adapted to hold xed to the carriage nearly all of the intermediateportions'of the shaft between the end portions -held by the first two mentioned dies, means-forj moving ythe relatively movable parts of said third die toward and away from each other, and means for-'rotating the carriage relative'to the frame, the last mentioned means including drivenl means 'extending along the periphery of the carriage between said bearingelements and driving means in engagement with said driven means. l

- SAMUEL MORGAN

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