US2268028A - Honing machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 30, 1941. w. M. FAIRBAIRN HONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9. 1939 2 Sheets-Shedl l uw j @mm:

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HONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 CCEJF@ Wa//er 'S70/)607797 TTO @Sys Patented Dec. 30, 1941 HONING MACHINE Walter M. Fairbairn, Rockford, Ill., assignor to Barnes Drill Co., Rockford, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application August 9, 1939, Serial No. 289,193

13 Claims.

The invention relates to machines for dressing cylindrical surfaces by a honing or lapping operation and more particularly to honing or lapping machines of the horizontal type.

One object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above general character which is of simple compact construction, which can be manufactured at relatively low cost, and which lends itself readily to quantity production.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved reciprocatory head for horizontal honing or lapping machines which embodies in one unitary structure, all of the driving and control instrumentalities required for operating the machine including means for reciprocating the head, means for rotating the tool spindle continuously, means for indexing the tool spindle, and means for expanding and contracting the tool.

A further object is to provide improved drive mechanism for reciprocating the tool head or carriage of a horizontal honing machine or the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a horizontal honing and lapping machine embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally of the reciprocatory head showing details of the spindle driving and head reciprocating mechanisms.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the machine taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic and electrical circuits showing the arrangement and relationship of the various operating and control devices of the machine.

By way of illustration, the invention has been shown and will be described hereinafter as em- .bodied in a single spindle honing and lapping to illustrate the invention comprises generally an elongated frame or base consisting of a main section 5 and an outboard section 6 bolted or otherwise rigidly secured together in end-to-end relation. The latter section constitutes a work support and is desirably equipped with suitable fixtures 1 for holding a work piece W, such as an elongated hollow tube or cylinder.

'Ihe honing and lapping operations are performed with an expansible and contractible cylindrical abrasive tool or hone T which may be of any suitable or well known construction. As these operations require a relative reciprocation of the tool and the work piece to traverse the tool from one end of the work piece to the other, and a simultaneous relative rotation of the tool and work piece, the tool T, in this instance, is carried at one end of an elongated tubular driver 8 which constitutes an extension of a rotary spindle 9 journaled on a reciprocatory head or carriage Ill. s herein shown, the head is supported for reciprocation by rollers I l (Figs. 2 and 3) journaled on the head and operating on a guideway formed by spaced parallel channel members l2 (Fig. 3) mounted in inwardly facing relation on the side walls of the main base section 5.

The construction of the head is an important factor in the attainment of the objects of the present invention. Preferably, it is constructed in the form of a' self-contained unit,that is, it has incorporated in one unitary structure, all

of the power actuated instrumentalities for effecting the necessary relative movements of the tool and work. These include the driving and control means for reciprocating the head I0, driviing means for rotating the tool spindle 9 either continuously or intermittently, and power actuated means for expanding and contracting the tool T. Since the driving means are all incorporated in the unitary head structure, a single prime mover may be utilized to furnish power.

simplied since no provision is required for driving or control mechanisms thus facilitating manufacture of this portion of the machine.

Refen'lng more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3. the head I9 preferably comprises a housing built up of light weight metal castings assembled to form a hollow casing I5 for the driving and control mechanisms. Laterally projecting stud shafts I6 anchored in opposite side walls of the housing constitute axles for the rollers II which support the head on the guideway. The tool spindle 9 is supported at the forward end of the housing by front and rear bearings I 1 and I8, preferably of the anti-friction type. As herein shown the front bearing I1 is mounted in a suitable bore I9 in the end wall of the housing, while the rear bearing I8 is carried on a web or cross member extending transversely across the housing. A' cap 2|" apertured for the reception of the spindle, is bolted to the housing to close the outer end of the bore I9 and to form with the web 20 a closed chamber which may be filled with oil or other lubricant for lubricating the spindle bearings.

Preferably a single prime mover, herein shown as an electric motor M, is employed for driving the spindle, reciprocating the head, and expanding and contracting the tool. Current is supplied to the motor through a set of brushes B carried on a bracket 2Il depending from the head, the brushes engaging elongated contact strips C connected with a suitable source of current.

To provide a high degree of flexibility in adjusting the machine for operating on various types of work, the drive for the spindle and the head is preferably taken through a hydraulic variable speed transmission designated generally by the reference character 22. This transmission may be of any suitable construction, but is preferably of the unit type such as the transmission manufactured by Vickers Inc. of Detroit, Michigan.

A hydraulic speed transmission unit oi.' the above character ordinarily includes a reversible rotary pressure fluid motor 23 (Fig. 4) and a variable delivery pump 24 for supplying pressure fluid to the motor. In the unitary type device the pump and motor are enclosed in a generally rectangular casing 29 (Fig. 2) .which forms a sump or reservoir R in which surplus fluid for the pressure fluid system is stored. 'I'he conventional transmission unit has a constant speed input shaft 21 projecting at one end and a variable speed output or drive shaft 28 projecting at the other end. These shafts are the motor and pump shafts, respectively. A reversing valve V (Fig. 4) may be interposed between the pump and the motor to control the rotation of the latter. In the particular unit shown by way of illustration, the valve V is of the well known pressure uid operated type and is arranged to be operated under control of a pilot valve V-I also of well known construction.

In the exemplary machine the transmission unit 22 is mounted within the housing I5 with the input shaft 21 projecting rearwardly therefrom. The motor M is mounted on a bracket 29 projecting rearwardly from the housing and is connected directly with the input shaft 21 by a suitable coupling device 39. The drive shaft 28 is drivingly connected with the mechanisms for rotating the tool spindle 9 continuously and for reciprocating the head respectively. These mechanisms in the present instance comprise suitable gear trains.

The mechanism for continuously rotating the tool spindle as shown in Fig. 2 includes a gear 33 keyed to the inner end of the spindle 9 and arranged to mesh with a pinion 34 fast on an intermediate shaft 35 rotatably supported in the housing I5 above and substantially parallel to the spindle. A gear 36 onthe intermediate shaft meshes with a pinion 31 faston a shaft 38 which has a gear 39 meshing with the pinion 3| on the drive shaft 28.

As it is desirable at times to interrupt the driving connection between the drive shaft and the spindle, the gear 39 isloosely mounted on the shaft 38 and arranged to be drivingly connected thereto by a suitable clutch. The clutch as herein shown, comprises a sleeve member 40 splined to the shaft 38 and provided on one face wtih suitable clutch teeth 4I adapted to engage cooperating clutch teeth 42 formed on the hub of the gear 39. When the machine is to be used for honing, the clutch is engaged by shifting the member to its right hand position (as viewed in Fig. 2) and the spindle is thus driven continuously. For lapping, however, the clutch member is shifted to 'the left-hand or disengaged position, thereby interrupting the driving connection for the spindle so that the spindle may be driven by the indexing mechanism to be described hereinafter. A hand lever 43 (Fig. 1) accessible from the outside of the housing is provided for shifting the clutch member 40 to engage or disengage the clutch.

'I'he means for reciprocating the head, in its preferred form, comprises a driving pinion 46 rotatably supported on the head and positioned to mesh with a stationary rack 41 mounted on the base section 5 below the guideway for the head.

,In order to eiectually eliminate backlash between the pinion and the rack, the latter is split longitudinally into two sections arranged side by side as shown in Fig. 3. 'Ihese sections are secured together as by bolts 48 threaded into upstanding lugs 49 formed on transverse webs 50 welded or otherwise secured within the base section. The bolts 48 project through elongated slots 5I in the respective rack sections so that the sections may be shifted longitudinally one relative to the other to insure a tight engagement of the pinion and rack teeth. Compensation for wear of the coacting partsl can thus be readily effected and backlash in the reciprocating mechanism thus completely eliminated.

As herein shown, the pinion 46 is keyed to a shaft 52 journaled in the lower part of the housing I5 and extending transversely across the same. The shaft 52, in this instance, is driven through the medium of a worm wheel 53 meshing with a worm 54 fast on a shaft 55 which in turn is driven by a gear 56 meshing with the pinion 3| on the drive shaft. 'Ihe hydraulic motor 23 is thus enabled to move the head along the guideway.

The direction of movement of the head on the guideway depends of course upon the direction of rotation of the hydraulic motor 23. As above explained, the direction of rotation of the motor is controlled by the reversing valve V which in turn is operated under control of the pilot valve V-I. In order to effect reversal of the movements of the head at the proper points in its reciprocatory stroke, that is. as the honing tool approaches the opposite ends of the Work piece,

means is provided for operating the pilot` valve.'

as an incident to the movement of the head. 'I'his means, as herein shown, comprises a valve actuating member 51 (Figs. 3 and 4) in the form of a lever secured at one end to the movable member of the valve. The other end of the member is arranged to' engage suitable limit stops 58 and 59 supported on the machine base. The limit stops, as herein shown, are slidably supported on a rod 60 extending longitudinally of the base section so that they may be adjusted to dene the desired limit positions of the head at each end of its reciprocatory stroke. This adjustment is made, of course, when the machine is initially set up for the particular work piece to be honed` and the stops are then locked in set position in any suitable manner.

Since the spindle 9 is driven by the motor 23 through the medium of a positively acting transmission mechanism, the direction of rotation of the spindle is reversed each time the head reverses at the opposite ends of its .reclprocatory stroke. This is advantageous in equalizing the wear of the abrasive stones of the tool and it also reduces the tendency of the stones to load with the material abraded from the work piece.

When the machine is to be used for performing a lapping operation, that is, an operation in which the tool is 'rotated intermittently or indexed, the driving connection between the spindle and the transmission unit 22 above described, is interrupted by disengaging the clutch elements 4I-42. The spindle is then drivingly connected with the indexing mechanism through the medium of a shiftable clutch member 6I keyed directly to the spindle.

The indexing mechanism, as herein shown, (Figs. 2 and 3) comprises a pawl and ratchet device including a disk-'shaped driving member 1,62 and a sleeve-like driven member 63, both loosely mounted on the spindle 9 between the front and rear bearings I1 and I8. A pawl 64 pivoted on the face of the driving member 62 is adapted to engage ratchet teeth 65 cut in the periphery of the. driven member 63 and thus provide a oneway driving connection between the members whereby the driven member maybe rotated in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 3) by appropriate movements of the driving member. The movements of the driving member are imparted to the spindle through the clutch member 6I, these members having suitable clutch teeth in their adjacent faces adapted to be engaged upon. movement of the clutch member to the position shown in Fig. 2. Upon movement of the clutch member to the right the clutch teeth are disengaged, thereby disconnecting the spindle from the index mechanism so that it may be connected with the transmission unit by engagement of the clutch 4I-42 as above described. A hand lever 66 accessible from the outside of the housing is provided for shifting the clutch member 6 I Suitable means is provided for imparting intermittent rotative movements to the driving member 62. This means as herein shown is of the pressure uid operated type and includes a cylinder 61 (Fig. 3) mounted on the casing I5 with its axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spindle. The cylinder is tted with a working piston 68 having a piston rod 69 projecting into the housing I5 in alinement with the drivi`ng member 62 of the pawl and ratchet device. The piston rod is operatively connected with the driving member by means of rack teeth 10 cut therein adapted to mesh with suitable` in one direction and then in the other. Such movements of the member in one direction are transmitted to the driven member 63 by the pawl 64 as above explained. Y

In order to coordinate the indexing movements of the spindle with the reciprocatlon of the head, pressure fluid may be supplied to the cylinder 61 from the hydraulic circuit of the fluid motor 23. For this purpose the opposite ends of the cylinder 61 are connected by ducts 'I3 and 14 with pressure fluid ducts 15 and 16 extending from the valve V to the two ports of the motor. The latter ducts are utilized alternately as supply and drain lines for the motor as determined by the setting of the reversing valve V. Thus, when the valve V is set in the position shown in Fig. 4, pressure fluid is supplied to the motor 23 by way of the duct 16 and some of this pressure fluid is by-passed to the inner end of the cylinder 61 through the duct 14. The piston 68 is accordingly shifted to the left to turn the driving element 62 in a clockwise direction. In this move- Iii Iii)

ment of the member, the pawl 64 rides over the ratchet teeth 65 so that no movement is imparted to the spindle.

Upon operation of the valve V to its alternate position, pressure uid is supplied to the motor 23 by way of the duct 15 and a portion of the uid is by-passed through the duct 13 to the outer endof the cylinder 61. The piston 68 is thereby shifted to the right to turn the driving element 62 in a counterclockwise direction. The pawl 64 now engage-s the ratchet teeth 65 of the driven member 63 which accordingly turns with the driving member. The movement of the driven member is imparted to the tool spindle through the clutch 6I. tive step imparted to the tool spindle is determined by the length of the stroke of the piston. This may be varied as required by means of an adjusting screw 11 threaded into the side of the casing with its inner end positioned for engagement by the inner end of the piston'rod to limit the forward movement of the same.

In the operation of the machine for either honing or lapping, it is the usual practice to insert the tool in the work piece in a contracted condition and thereafter the abrasive elements of the tool are expanded into engagement with the surface of the work. The expansion and contraction of such tools are commonly effected in well known manner by suitable cam means actuated through the medium of a tool-adjusting rod 8| which extends from the tool back through the driver and spindle and into the head.

In the exemplary machine, pressure fluid actuated means is provided for shifting the tool adjusting rod to expand and contract the tool. To this end, the rod is operatively connected with a piston 82 Working in a cylinder 83 mounted in the housing I5 in axial alinementwith the tool spindle. A Vcoiled compression spring 84 encircling the rod normally acts to hold the piston in the inner end of the cylinder and thus shift the adjusting rod to tool contracting position.

For expanding the tool, pressure fluid is introduced into the inner end of the cylinder under control of a valve V2. The piston 82 is thereby shifted outwardly or -to the left as viewed in Fig. 4, thereby moving the rod 8l t-o tool expanding position.

While the valve V-2 may be operated in any suitable manner, it is preferred to employ a solenoid for this purpose so'that the expansion and The length of the rotai contraction of the tool may be controlled from a convenient remote point. The valve, as herein shown, is equipped with an operating solenoid S of the usual and well known construction connected in a circuit which may conveniently constitute a branch of the circuit for the electric motor M. The circuit for thesolenoid is adapted to `be opened and closed by a suitable switch SW. In the exemplary machine, the switch is arranged to be operated by a push button 85 (Fig. 3) mounted on the side of the housing I5 although any other suitable switch operating means may be employed.

In order to avoid any possibility of driving motoi` when the direction of rotation of the tool and the direction of movement of the head is reversed, means is desirably provided for momentarily relieving the pressure of the tool against the Work at each end of the stroke. In the exemplary machine this is accomplished by momentarily opening the circuit of the solenoid S which allows the valve V-2 to return to normal position, thereby disconnecting the tool expanding cylinder from the pressure line extending from the pump P-I. For this purpose two normally closed switches SW-l and SW-2 are provided, these switches being connected in series with the switch SW in the energizing circuit of the solenoid S.

As shown in Fig. 3 the switches SW-I and SW--2 are mounted on the base 5 for lactuation by a switch engaging member in the form of an arm 88 projecting laterally from the head I0. The switches are normally closed and thus complete the circuit for the solenoid when the switch SW is closed as above described. In operation the switches are positioned for engagement by the arm 88 as the head approaches the respective opposite ends of its stroke, such engagement serving to interrupt the circuit of the solenoid and thus momentarily relieving pressure of the tool on the work. Preferably both switches are adjustably secured to the base so that their position may be readily changed when the machine is set up for different types of work.

Pressure uid for expanding the honing tool is supplied in the present instance by a separate pump P-l driven by the common prime mover of the machine, that is, by the motor M. In this instance the pump is drivingly connected to the input shaft 21 of the transmission unit throughthe medium of a gear 86 fast on the shaft so that a constant supply of pressure iiuid is available for expanding the tool whenever the motor M is running. If the motor is stopped for any reason, the pressure on the piston 82 is automatically relieved so that'it can be returned to the inner end of its cylinder by the spring 84 thus enabling the tool to contract.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides a horizontal honing and lapping machine of novel and improved construction. The tool head of the machine is entirely self-contained, that is, it has included in one unitary structure all of the driving and control instrumentalities required for the operation of the machine. These include the power operated means for reciprocating the head, for rotating the tool spindle continuously, for indexing the tool spindle, and for expanding and contracting the tool. Due to the novel form of the head, the parts entering into the construction of the machine can be largely standardized for quantity )stalling thel production, thus enabling the machine to be manufactured at relatively low cost.

I claim as my invention:

1. A horizontal honing machine Paving, in combination, an elongated base, means at one end of the base for supporting a work piece, a horizontal guideway at the other end of the base, a self-contained head supported on the guideway said head having a rotatable spindle adapted to carry an expansible and contractible honing tool for operating on the work piece, separate power actuated means carried by the head for rotating the spindle," for reciprocating the head and for expanding and contracting the tool, and a single motor carried by the head operative to drive all of said power actuated means.

2. A horizontal honing machine having, in combination, an elongated base, means at one end of the base for supporting av work piece, a horizontal guideway at the other end of the base, a self-contained head supported on the guideway for movement toward and from the work piece, said head having afrotatable spindle adapted to carry a honing tool for operating on the work piece, separate means carried by the head for rotating the spindle and for reciprocating the head, and a common prime mover carried by the head for driving the spindle rotating means and .the head reciprocating means.

3. A horizontal honing machine having, combination, an elongated base, means at one end of the base for supporting a work piece, a horizontal guideway at the other end ci the base, a self-contained head supported on the guideway for movement toward and from the work piece, said head having a rotatable spindle adapted to carry a honing tool for operating on the work piece, and a single source of power carried by the head for rotating the spindle and for reciprocating the head to traverse the tool repeatedly from one end of thework piece to the other.

4. In a horizontal honing machine, in ccmbination, a reciprocatory head, a spindle journaled on said head, an elongated tool driver secured at one end to said spindle and carrying at its other end an expansible and contractible honing tool, pressure fluid operated means on the head for expanding and contracting the tool, a pump carried by the head for supplying pressure fluid to said tool expanding and contracting means, pressure uid operated driving means on the head for rotating the spindle and for reciprocating the head, a second pump carried by the head for supplying pressure fluid to said driving means, and a single motor mounted on said head for driving both of said pumps.

5. In a honing machine, in combination, a reciprocatory head, a spindle ,iournaled on said head, an elongated tool driver secured at one end to said spindle and carrying at its other end an expansible and icontractible honing tool, power actuated means for expandingl the tool into engagement with the work, a reversible motor for reciprocating the head and for rotating the spindle, control means for said reversing motor operative to reverse the direction of rotation of the spindle and to reverse the direction of movement of the head at each end of its reciprocatory stroke, and control means for said power actuated means operative automatically to momentarily relieve the pressure` of the tool on the work upon each reversal of said motor.

6. In a honing machine, in combination, a reciprocatory head, a spindle journaled on said for movement toward and from the work piece,A

' head, an elongated tool driver 'secured at one end to said spindle and carrying at its other end an expansible and contractible honing tool, power actuated means for expanding the tool into engagement with the work, power driven means for reciprocating the head. and for rotating the spindle, control apparatus for said power driven means operative t`o reverse the direction of rotation of the spindle and to reverse the direction of movement of the head at each end of its reciprocatory stroke, and other control means operative automatically to momentarily relieve the pressure of the tool on the work at each end of said stroke.

'1. In a honing machine, in combination,a reciprocatory head, a spindle joumaled on said head, an elongated tool driver secured at one end to said spindle and carrying at its other end an expansible and contractible honing tool, pressure fluid actuated means for expanding the tool into engagement with the work, a valve controlling the supply of pressure uid to said tool expanding means, .power driven means for reciprocating the head and for rotating the spindle, control apparatus for said power driven means operative to reverse the direction of rotation of the spindle and to reverse the direction of movement of the head at each end of its reciprocatory stroke, and control means for said valve actuated by the `head in its reciprocation for operating said valve to momentarily relieve the pressure of the tool on the work at each end of the stroke.

8. In a honing machine, in combination, a reciprocatory head, a spindle journaled on said head, an elongated tool driver secured at one end to said spindle and carrying at its other' end an expansible and contractible honing tool, power driven means for reciprocating the head and for rotating the spindle, control apparatus for'said power driven means operative to reverse the direction of rotation of the spindle and to reverse'theldirection Vof movement of the head `at e'achfkendof its reciprocatorystroke, pressure nuid actuated means for expanding the tool into Vengagement with the work, a valve controlling the supply of pressure fluid to said tool expanding means, a solenoid associated with said valve and operative when energized to set the valve for expanding the tool, an energizing circuit for said solenoid including a pair of normally closed switches, and means carried by said head engageable with said switches alternately as the head approaches the respective ends of its vstroke for momentarily interrupting the circuit of the solenoid to relieve the pressure exerted by the tool on the work.

`9. A horizontal honing machine having, in combination with,an elongated base, a self- 10. A horizontal honing machine having, in combination with an elongated base, a self-contained head supported for reciprocation on said base, said head comprising a housing, a spindle journaled at one end ofthe housing and projecting therefrom, a hydraulic variable speed transmission unit enclosed in said housing, said unit having power input ,and output shafts, an electric motor coupled to the input shaft operative to drive the unit, a driving member rotataby Ymounted on the spindle, hydraulically operated means carried byfthe head and supplied with pressure duid from said unit for periodically imparting a limited rotative step to said driving,

member, and clutch mechanism enclosed in said housing for connecting the spindle with the output shaft of said unit or with said member selectivell. A horizontal honingl machine having, in combination with an elongated base, a self-contained' head supported for reciprocation on said base, said head comprising a housing, a tool sup- 1 porting spindle journaled at one end on the housing and projecting therefrom,.a shaft extending transversely of said housing, driving means on said shaft cooperating with means on the base for moving the head relative to the base, a reversiblepressure fluid motor enclosed in said housing, a gear train drivingly connecting said motor with said spindle for rotating the spindle, .a second gear train drivingly connecting said motor with said transverse shaft for reciprocating the head, a pressure uid pump carried by the head for supplying pressure fluid to said hydraulic motor, and valve means controlling the supply of pressure fluid delivered to the hydraulic end on the housing and projecting therefrom, av

contained head supported for reciprocation on' said base, said head comprising' a housing, a spindle journaled at one end of the housing` and projecting therefrom, a hydraulic variable speed transmission unit enclosed in said housing, said unit having power input and output shafts, an electric motor coupled tothe input shaft operative to drive the unit, a gear train drivingly connecting the output shaft of the unit with said spindle for rotating the spindle, ashaft disposed transversely of said housing, a pinion on said shaft engageable with a stationary rack on the base, and a gear'train connectingthe output shaft of said unit with the pinion shaft for rototing the lsaine to reciprocate the head.

motor.

, 12. A horizontal honing machine having, in combination with an elongated base. a self-contained head supported for reciprocation on ,said' base, a tool supporting spindle journaled at one rotary hydraulic motor enclosed in said housing, a reciprocatory hydraulic motor also enclosed in said housing, clutch mechanism operable to drivingly connect the spindlewith either motor selectively, a pressure uid pump enclosed in ysaid housing for supplying pressure fluid to both of said motors, and an electric motor'carried by said head for driving said pump. l

13. In a honing mac e. in combination, a reciprocatory head, a to l supporting spindle journaled on said head, an elongated tool driver secured at one end tothe spindle and carrying at its other end an expansible and contractible honing tool, poweractuated means` carried by v the head for expanding the tool into engagement with work to be operated on, a. reversible motor,y

mounted on the head for reciprocating the same to traverse the tool over the work, control means operativeto reverse the motor at each endofthe reciprocatory stroke of the'head, a second motor' carried by said head operating'simultaneously with said first motor, and 'selectively operable means for drivingly connecting the spindle with either motor, said nrst motoroperating when connected to the spindle to rotate the same alternately in opposite directions in alternate strokes of the head and said second motor operating when connected to the spindle to rotate the same in one direction only. I WALTER M. FAIRBAIRN.

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