US2322346A - Honing machine - Google Patents

Description

y Jun`ev22, 1943. H, J. CALDWELL Houma MACHINE Filed April s, 1941 sheets-sheet 1 H. J. CALDWELL HONING MACHINE Filed April 3, 1941 June 22, 1943.`

2` sheets-sheet 2 J M K m@ T my Patented June .22, 1943 y orifice HONING MACHINE Harry J. Caldwell, Rockford, Ill., assignor to Barnes Drill Co., Rockford, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application'April 3,

16 Claims.

' The invention relates to honing machines having rotatable and reciprocable abrasive tools of the expansible type and more particularly to improved power actuated means for expanding the tools of such machines.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a novel power actuated tool expanding means which avoids the use of ilexible, telescoping or sliding power connections to the reciprocatory head carrying the tool or tools to be expanded.

Another object is to provide an improved hone expanding mechanism in which the power actuator is stationarily supported on the machine base and the expanding action thereof is transmitted to the reciprocatory honing tool in a novel and advantageous manner.

A further object is to provide a novel hone expanding mechanism which is readily adjustable to adapt the machine for honing either true cylindrical or tapered work. v

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 honing Ifiachine embodying the features of the invention, the hydraulic apparatus being shown diagrammatically.

Fig 2 is a side view of a modified form of the hone expanding mechanism.

, Fig. 3 is a side elevational view showing the cooperating stationary and reciprocating parts of the hone expanding mechanism. in greater detail.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View of the machine taken in a vertical plane.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary'views of the actuating mechanism showing the relative movements of the actuator bar in different sections of its path of movement.

For purposes of illustration the invention has been'shown as installed in a conventional single spindle horizontal honing machine although it is to be understood that it may be used with other types of honing machines, lapping machines, etc. The particular hone expanding mechanism illustrated is arranged for pressure fluid operation but this is merelyexemplary and any suitable power means may be employed. It will also be understood that various changes, modicatic'ns and adaptations may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring now to Figure l of the drawings, the

1941, serial' No'. essere machine selected to illustratethe invention ccmprises an elongated horizontal base including a main section I0 and an outboard section II arranged in end to end relation. The main base section is provided with suitable guide bars I2 -(Fig. 4) forming a horizontal guideway for a reciprocatory head I3 having an upstanding housing I4 in which a hollow tool spindle I5 is journaled. The spindle is rotatably driven in well known manner by a motor M through speed reduction gearing enclosed in a gear case I6 carried by the head. Y Fixed to the outer or projecting end of the spindle l5 is an elongated tubular driver II which carries a conventional expansible and contractible abrasive tool or hone T.

The outboard base section I I constitutes a work support and is provided with the usual brackets IB for holding a workpiece W in position to be operated on by the tool T. A cradle I9 isarranged to support the tool when withdrawn from the Work and to guide it into and out of the work. y As is wellknovvn, the honing tool is traversed axially of the Work by reciprocating the head IIS `on its guideway. In the exemplary machine reciprocation of the head is effected by flexible traction members or cables 2l (Fig. l) anchored to the head and wound in opposite directions on a cable drum 22 mounted at one end of the main base section. One of the cables leads directly to the head while the other cable is carried over a yieldably supported sheave 23 located at the other end of the main base section. The cable drum is rotatably driven by a reversible hydraulic motor enclosedin a housing 24 along with a suitable pump for supplying pressure fluid thereto. A motor MJ drives the pump.

During its rotation and reciprocation the hon.- ing tool is expanded to feed the abrasive elements against the surface of the work and thereby enable the elements to dress the-surface. For this purpose, the conventional honing tool is provided with cam means of well known construction arranged to be actuated by an expanding element 'such as an endwise shiftable tool adjusting rod 25 (Fig. 3) extending from the tool axially through the driver I1 and spindle I5 into the housing I4. Through the medium of springs or the like incorporated in the tool, the abrasive elements are normally held in their inner or contracted position and the adjusting rod is yieldably urged rearwardly or into the housing. Thus, the abrasive elements ofthe tool may be forced radially outwardly against the surface of the work by shifting the adjusting rod forwardly or to the right as viewed in Fig. 3.

In order to force the abrasive elements of the tool against the work with the relatively high and uniform pressure required in modern production honing, it is usually preferred to utilize a power driven actuator for shifting the adjusting rod to hone expanding position. It has been the practice heretofore to mount the actuator on the reciprocatory head in a position to act directly on the adjusting rod. Since the actuator reciprocates with the head, flexible or sliding power connections are required to supply power to the actuator. In accordance with the present invention, however, the actuator indicated generally at 3E), is mounted on the machine base and arranged to act on the adjusting rod indirectly through novel motion transmitting means preferably in the form of a mechanical linkage 3l. The use of the exible or sliding power connections with the head is thus avoided.

The actuator in its preferred form comprises an elongated member or actuator bar 32 having an accurately machined straight upper edge constituting a control surface 33 extending longitudinally of the machine base, and adapted to coact with a traveler carried by the head I3. In the form shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 the bar is disposed with the control surface 33 in a horizontal plane parallel to the plane of the guideway, that is, parallel to the reciprocatory path of the head and arranged for movement in a direction transversely of said path without disturbing the parallel relationship. To obtain such movement the bar 32 is supported in this instance for movement in an arcuate path in a vertical plane by a series of parallel motion links 34 each connected at one end with the bar by a pivot pin 35 and at the other end to the machine base Il] by a pivot pin 36. Thus, when the bar is moved so as to rock the links 34 about their pivots 36, the control surface 33 is maintained in a plane parallel to the reciprocatory path of rthe head while the relative spacing of the edge from that path is increased or decreased depending upon the direction of movement of the bar.

It will be observed that the links 34 are normally inclined forwardly as shown in Figs, l and 3. Accordingly, endwise movement of the bar to the left as viewed in Fig` 3 will operate to raise the straight edge 33 while movement of the bar in the opposite direction will lower the straight edge without, however, disturbing its parallel relationship to the plane of the guideway.

The relative movements of the actuator bar control surface are utilized to expand and contract the honing tool T, such movements being transmitted to the tool adjusting rod 25 by a traveler and the linkage 3| of which the traveler forms a part. The linkage as herein shown comprises a horizontal rock shaft (Figs. 3 and 4) journaled in a bearing 4| rigid with the housing i4. A nger 42 in the form of a crank arm fast on the inner end of the shaft is arranged to bear against a cap 43 secured to the inner end of the tool adjusting rod 25. This cap is slidably supported in suitable bearings in the housing for endwise movement with the rod and serves to support and guide the same within the housing.

Fixed on the outer end of the shaft 40 is a generally horizontal crank arm 44 having its outer end bifurcated to receive one end of an adjustable link 45 which is secured thereto by a pin 46. The other end of the adjustable link is pivotally connected by a pin 41 with the free end of a traveler carrying lever 48 which, in turn, is pivoted as at 49 on a bracket 50 projecting laterally from the housing I4. The traveler carried by this lever comprises a roller 5I journaled on the outer end of the lever and arranged to engage the control surface 33 of the actuator bar as the head reciprocates on the guideway. The roller type of traveler reduces friction and materially increases the useful life of the coacting parts.

With the above arrangement, the control surface 33 by its movements in a vertical plane is effective to expand and contract the honing tool. Such movements are obtained by endwise shifting of the actuator bar to the left or right as viewed in Fig. 3. While any suitable power actuated means may be utilized for shifting the bar in this manner, pressure fluid actuated means has been found to be particularly satisfactory and has been shown by way of illustration in the exemplary embodiment of the invention. In its preferred form, the pressure fluid operated means comprises a double acting piston (Fig. l) working in a cylinder 56 mounted in a horizontal position on the machine base substantially in line with the actuator bar. The piston is connected with the bar by a piston rod 51 and a link 58, the latter having one end attached to the bar by a pivot pin 59 and the other end pivotally attached by a pin to a connecting member 6I adjustably secured to the piston rod 5'! as by a nut 62 threaded onto the projecting end of the rod.

Pressure uid isy supplied to the cylinder 56 by a suitable pump P (Fig. l) herein shown as arranged to be driven by the motor M. A conventional 4-way reversing valve V controls the delivery of pressure fluid to the cylinder. Thus, when the valve is set to the position shown in Fig. l, pressure fluid is directed into the right end of the cylinder thereby shifting the piston and actuator bar to the left with the result that the straight edge 33 of the actuator bar is moved upwardly to expand the honing tool. With the valve set in its alternate position, pressure fluid is introduced into the left end of the cylinder to shift the piston to the right and thus lower the actuator bar so that the honing tool can contract in the usual manner. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the valve V is arranged for operation by a solenoid SOL energized and deenergized under control of a switch S which may be actuated in any preferred manner.

To adapt the machine for operating efficiently on various types of work, it 'is necessary at times to vary the extent to which the tool is expanded in a full stroke of the piston 55. It is also desirable at times to adjust the leverage ratio between the actuating means and the tool expanding means so that the tool may be expanded with the pressure most suitable for a particular class of work. This is readily accomplished in the present instance by reason of the adjustable character of the link 45 and the adjustable connection of the bar shifting link 58 with the piston rod 5l. By suitably adjusting the effective length of the first mentioned link and correspondingly adjusting the latter link with respect to the piston rod, any desired section of the arcuate course followed by the actuator bar in the rocking of the links 34 can be selected for expanding the honing tool.

The operation of the actuating mechanism under different adjustments will be readily seen by reference to Figs, 5.and 6 of the drawings. Thus, when a relatively small degree of expansion is desired, the links may be adjusted so that the actuator bar initially occupies the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5. Upon movement of the actuator bar to the left through a full stroke of the piston the straight edge 33 is raised through a distance indicatedat A as the parallel motion links 34 rock to the position shown in dotted lines. However, when the links 45 and 58 are adjusted so that the actuator 'bar initially occupies the positionv shown in full lines in Fig. 6, movement of the bar through a stroke of the full length of the piston stroke serves to rock the parallel motion links from the position shown in full lines in this gure to the position shown in dotted lines thereby raising the straight edge through a substantially greater distance as indicated at A. It will be understood, of course, that adjustments may be made to utilize any selected range of movement of the parallel motion links from a substantially horizontal position to a vertical position. In addition to pro-- viding a variable degree of expansion, this adjustment may be utilized to vary the ratio with which the pressure developed on the piston 55 is reflected in the expansion of the honing tool.

The modied form of actuating mechanism shown in Fig. 2 is similar in general to that above described except for the adjustable mounting of the actuator bar 32 to enable the machine to hone tapered as well as cylindrical work. For this purpose the parallel motion links are pivoted at their lower ends on an elongated carrier 60 which in turn is pivoted as at BI on the machine Ilo-ase. Alocking bolt 62 operating in an arcuate slot 63 provides for locking the carrier in any selected position. In the particular mechanism illustrated, the actuator cylinder 56 is also mounted on the carrier so as to maintain a xed position with respect to the actuator bar in the various adjusted positions.

For honing cylindrical surfaces the carrier 60 is set so that the straight edge 33 of the actuator bar is parallel to the plane of the guideway and the operation under these conditions is exactly the same as that previously described. When a tapered surface is to be honed, the carrier is tilted to incline the straight edge with reference to the axis of the surface at an angle corresponding to the taper angle of the same. Accordingly, as the tool is traversed between the largeend small ends ofthe work, the actuating lever 48 is rocked between the position shown in solid and dotted lines in Fig. 2 thereby gradually expanding and contracting the tool as the roller 5l rides on the straight edge ofthe bar whereby the abrasive elements are maintained in operative engagement with the surface and under substantially uniform pressure throughout the length of the work. Forward shifting of the bar of course tends to expand the honing tool in the manner hereinbefore explained but the angle of inclination of the bar remains the same and the effective diameter honing tool is 'therefore adjusted to conform to the changes in the size of the tapered work surface.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides a hone expanding mechanism of novel and advantageous construction which is applicable to a wide variety of honing machines. The improved mechanism avoids the use of exible or sliding power connections heretofore required in machines employing power actuated honing tools. It thus eliminates a source of considerable trouble and expense heretofore attending the operations of such machines. Moreover, the mechanism may be readily adjusted to meet a wide variety of operating conditions including the honing of either cylindrical or tapered work.

I claim as my invention:

1. A honing machine having, in combination, a base, a head supported for reciprocation on a guideway carried by said base, a spindle journaled in said head adapted to carry an expansible honing tool, a tool expanding element carried by said head, an actuator bar having a control surface disposed in a plane parallel to the plane of the guideway, power actuated means stationarily supported on the machine base and operative to shift said bar to vary the relative spacing of said parallel planes without disturbing their parallel relationship, and means carried by the head including a follower roller coacting with said control surface of the bar for transmitting the power from said actuator to the tool expanding element While the head is reciprocating on said guideway.

2. A honing machine having, in combination, a base, a guideway on said base for a reciprocatory head, a spindle journaled on said head adapted to carry an rexpansible honing tool, a tool expanding rod, an elongated bar having a control surface parallel to the plane of the guideway, parallel motion links supporting said bar on the machine base whereby the bar may be shifted to vary the position of said control surface with respect to the plane of the guideway without disturbing the parallel relationship between the surface and said plane, power actuated means for shifting said bar, and a mechanical linkage carried by the head including a follower coacting withthe control surface of the bar for transmitting the movements of the bar to said tool adjusting rod while the head is reciprocating on said guideway.

3. A pressure fluid operated hone expanding mechanism for honing machines of the type having a rotatable and reciprocable honing tool, sa-id mechanism comprising, in combination, an actuator bar extending generally parallel to the reciprocatory path of the tool, stationarily supported pressure fluid actuated means for shifting the bar in a direction transversely of said path while maintaining its parallel relationship therewith, and means for transmitting the movements of said bar to the tool to expand the same comprising a member reciprocable with the tool and movable in a direction transversely of its reciprocatory path, said member having a follower engageable with said bar during such reciprocation.

4. A pressure fluid operated hone expanding mechanism for honing machines of the type having a rotatable and reciprocable honing tool, said mechanism comprising, in combination, anl actuator bar extending generally parallel to the reciprocatory path of the tool, stationarih7 supported pressure fluid actuated means for shifting the bar in a direction transversely of said path while maintaining its parallel relationship therewith, and means for transmitting the movements of said bar to the tool to expand the same comprising a mechanical linkage reciprocable with the tool, said linkage including a follower coacting with the bar while the tool is reciprocated.

5. A honing machine having, in combination,

a base, a guideway on said base for a reciprocatory head, a spindle journaled on said head adapted to carry an expansible honing tool, a tool expanding rod, an elongated bar having a control surface disposed parallel to the plane of the guideway, means supporting said bar on the machine base for movementl whereby the spacing of said surface portion may be varied with respect to the plane of the guidevvay while the parallel relationship is maintained therebetween, power actuated means for moving said bar, and means carried by the head coacting with said control surface for transmitting the movements of the bar to said tool expanding rod.

6. A honing machine having, in combination, a base, a guideway on said base, a head reciprocable on said guideway, a spindle journaled in said head adapted to carry an expansible and contractible honing tool, a tool expanding rod extending through said spindle, means for shifting the tool expanding rod to expand the tool including a member supported on the base for limited bodily movement in a direction transversely of the reciprocatory path of the head, a stationary power actuator for moving said member, and means reciprocable with the head coacting with said member to transfer the movements of the member to the tool expanding rod.

7. The combination. in a honing machine having a frame supporting a reciprocatory expansible honing tool, of means supported on the frame providing a control surface parallel to the reciprocatory path of the tool, means providing an operative connection between said control surface and the tool including a traveler reciprocable with the tool and adapted to coact with said control surface in said reciprocation, and power actuated means stationarily mounted on the frame for shifting said control surface in a direction toward or from said path while maintaining said parallel relationship between the control surface and the path, said control surface acting through said traveler to control the expansion of the tool in accordance with the position of the surface.

8. The combination with a reciprocatory honing too-l, of means for expanding the tool including a cylinder, a piston having a xed range of movement in said cylinder, means for supplying pressure fluid to the cylinder to move the piston through said fixed range, and a linkage interposed between said piston and the honing tool operative to effect expansion of the tool throughout the movement of the piston through said iixed range, said linkage being adjustable to vary the degree of tool expansion produced by movement of the piston through said xed range.

9. A hone expanding mechanism for honing machines of the type having a rotatable and reciprocable honing tool, said mechanism comprising, in combination, an actuator bar having a control surface extending generally parallel to the reciprocatory path of the tool, means supporting said bar for'bodily movement in an arcucate course in which the parallel relationship between the control surface and said path is maintained at all times, stationarily supported power actuated means for moving said bar, a mechanical linkage reciprocable with the tool including a part coacting with said control surface operative to transmit the movements of the bar to the tool for Vexpanding the tool, said linkage and said power actuated means being adjustable to condition the bar for expanding the tool in moving through any selected portion of its course.

10. A honing machiney having, in combination, a base, a head supported for reciprocation on said base, a spindle journaled in said head adapted to carry an expansible honing tool, a tool expanding member carried by said head, an

actuator bar having a control surface extending substantially the length of the guideway and generally parallel thereto, a mechanical linkage carried by the head including a traveler coacting with said control surface for operatively connecting the bar with the tool expanding member, a plurality of parallel motion links supporting said bar on the machine base for bodily movement in an arcuate path whereby the control surface of the bar acts through said linkage to expand the tool, and means for adjusting said linkage to render the bar effective for expanding the tool in moving through any selected section of its arcuate path.

11. A hone expanding mechanism for honing machines of the type having a rotatable and reciprocable honing tool, said mechanism comprising, in combination, an actuator bar extending generally parallel to the reciprocatory path of the tool, means supporting said bar for bodily movement in an arcuate course in which the parallel relationship between the bar and said path is maintained at all times, stationarily supported power actuated means for moving said bar, means for transmitting the movements of the bar to the tool to expand the same including, a pair of rocking members reciprocable with the tool, one of said members `being operatively connected with the tool and the other having a part coacting with said bar, and a link connecting said members, said link being adjustable to vary the initial position of said part with respect to said bar.

12. A honing machine having, in combination, a base, a head supported for reciprocation on said base, a spindle journaled in said head adapted to carry an expansible honing tool, a tool expanding member carried by said head, an actuator bar having a control surface extending substantially the length of the guideway, power actuated means for shifting said bar so as to move the control surface in a direction transversely of the reciprocatory path of the head, means carried by the head including a traveler coacting with the control surface of the bar for transmitting the movements of the `bar to said tool expanding member, and means for varying the angular position of the control surface 'of the bar with respect to the reciprocatory path of the head to condition the machine for honing either cylindrical or tapered bores.

13. A honing machine having, in combination, a base, a head supportedl for reciprocation on said base, a spindle journaled in said head adapted to carry an expansible honing tool, a tool expanding element carried by said head, an actuator bar having a control surface extending substantially the length of the guideway, power actuated means for shifting said bar to move the control surface in a direction transversely of the reciprocatory path of the head, means carried by the head including a traveler coacting With the control surface for transmitting the movements of the bar to said tool expanding member, and adjusting means for setting said bar with the control surface inclined to the reciprocatory path of the head at an angle corresponding to the taper angle of the bore to be honed.

14. A honing machine having, in combination, a base, a head supported for reciprocation on said base, means on the head for supporting an expansibile and contractible honing tool, a shiftable tool expanding element carried by the head, means for shifting said element to expand the tool including a carrier mounted on the base, an actuator bar supported on said carrier for movement in a direction transversely of the reciprocatory path of the head, power actuated means on said carri-er for moving said bar, and a mechanical linkage carried by the head including a part coacting with said actuator bar for transmitting the movements of the bar to the tool expanding member, said carrier being shiftable to adjust the angular relationship of the bar With respect to the reciprocatory path of the head and thereby progressively vary the degree of expansion of the tool during the reciprocation of the head.

15. A honing machine having, in combination, a base, a head supported for reciprocation on said base, means on the head for supporting an expansible and contractible honing tool, a shiftable tool expanding element carried by the head, means for shifting said element to expand the tool including a carrier mounted on the base, an actuator bar supported on said carrier for movement in a direction transversely of the reciprocatory path of the head, a member on said head adapted to engage said actuator bar and to follow the movements of the bar While the head is reciprocating, means operatively connecting said member With the tool expanding element, and means for adjusting said carried to Vary the degree of movement imparted to said element in different portions of the reciprocatory path of the head.

16. A machine for honing tapered bores having, in combination, a base, a head supported for reciprocation on said base, means on the head for supporting an expansible and contractible abrasive tool, means for variably expanding the tool to maintain the same in operative engagement with the Walls of the bore as the tool is traversed axially thereof by Areciprocation of the head, said expanding means comprising a shiftable tool expanding element carried by the head, means defining a control surface portion inclined with respect to the axis of the bore at an angle corresponding to the taper angle of the bore, power actuated means for shifting said control surface in a direction transversely of the axis of the bore While maintaining the same angular position relative thereto, and means carried by the head coacting with said control surface for transmitting the movements of the surface to said tool actuating elements.

HARRY J. CALDWELL.

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