US2356226A - Seat facing machine - Google Patents

Description

1944- E. H. DELAHAN ErAI. ,3 I I SEAT FACING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Feb. 15, 1941;

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iAug- 1944- E. H. DELAHAN ErAL 2,356,226

SEAT FACING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 15, v1941 4 SheetsSheet 2 I I l I l l I l I II III E. H. DELAHAN ErAL SEAT FACING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 15, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 SEAT FACING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 15, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4' Qmmk mwwq B b" NW R In E9 ||||||1| mm Nn m w #Fm km. 73 .y IIIIIIII .I 7 p6 Q mm \W\ mm, NW w .Q\ mm Q Q Q H Patented Aug. 22, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEAT FACING MACHINE Edward H. Delahan and Albin G. Frojd, Rockford, Ill., assignors to Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois 7 Claims This invention relates to the manufacture of bearing cups for universal joints of the type wherein a bearing cup is secured against radial escape under centrifugal force, in a cylindrical socket of a yoke member, by an annular securing element engaging against a seat formed as one side of an annular channel in the exterior of the cylindrical wall of the cup. The general object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for facing the securing element seat.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an apparatus adapted to face a securing element seat to a very close tolerance in the spacin between the seat and inner surface of the end wall of the bearing cup. Under present requirements of motor vehicle manufactures, this tolerance must be maintained at or under .0005 inch. This requirement has caused very serious difliculties in the manufacture of universal joint bearing cups, and the present invention greatly improves upon prior methods of maintaining this tolerance, being adapted particularly to use in connection with a method wherein the facing operation is performed after the interior bearing surfaces of the cup have been hardened, thereby eliminating the distorting effect of the hardening step. In accordance with the method to which the invention is appurtenant, the outer portion of the wall of the cup is kept in an unhardened state, and the machine of the present invention accomplishes the facing operation by shaving instead of by grinding.

These and other objects and features of this invention will become apparent from the following specification when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a seat facing machine embodyin the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 4 is'a detailed sectional view of the chuck assembly;

Fig. 5 is an end View of the chuck, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a diagram of the cam movement of the machine.

The bearing cup operated upon by the machine of the present invention is indicated generally by the reference character 8, being shown in side elevation in Fig. 3 and in axial section in Fig. 4. The bearing cup 8 embodies a cylindrical wall IE! and an end wall II. In the cylindrical wall In is an annular channel I2 in which a snap ring,

for securing the bearing cup in a supporting yoke is adapted to seat. The snap ring'bears against the side of the channel l2 which is indicated at l3 in Fig. 3, and it is this side that is to be accurately faced.

In a machine constructed in accordance with our invention, there is provided a chucking unit, shown in Fig. 4, which comprises generally a shaft l5, journalled in bearings 16 and I! on a base IS, the forward half of the shaft being in the form of a sleeve IS.

The forward end of the sleeve 19, projecting beyond the bearing I1, is threaded at 20 to support a chuck 2| which is threaded thereon. The chuck 2| is formed with three jaws 22, the forward extremities 23 of which are shaped to fit the interior of a bearing cup. 'Interiorly, the jaws 22 are formed with conical surfaces 24 adapted to coact with the conical nose 25 of a chuck operating rod 26 which is telescoped in the sleeve IS.

The forward end of the chuck operating rod 26 is provided with a bore 21 in which is received an ejector plunger 28 having a head 29 adapted to engage the end wall H of' a bearing cup, and constantly urged in projecting direction by a spring 30 interposed between the end of the plunger and the end of the bore '21.

Means is provided for intermittently spreading the jaws 22 into clamping engagement with a bearing cup 8 while the cup is being pressed against the end of the chuck with sufficient force to repel the plunger'28 to its retracted position shown in Fig. 4, and for subsequently allowing the jaws 22 to contract, whereupon the plunger 28 will eject the bearing cup from the ends of the chuck as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. This means comprises a pair of bell crank levers 3! each pivoted at 32 between the jaws 33 of a bracket 34 adjustably threaded in a cupped element 35 threaded on the sleeve 19. Each lever 3| includes an arm 36 projecting into an opening 3'! through the shaft 15 and engaging the end of the chuck operating rod 26 and an arm 38 extending axially and provided with a roller 39. The rollers 39 are arranged to cooperate with an axially shiftable camming sleeve 40 having a frusto-conical cam surface 4 I, adapted, when advanced toward the levers 3|, to move the arms 38 inwardly, whereupon the arms 36 will move the chuck operating rod 26 forwardly and spread the jaws of the chuck. The cam member 40 is provided with a collar 42 slidably mounted on the shaft and coacting with the forked end 43 of a shift lever 44 pivoted at 45 on the base l8.

On the end of the shaft I5 is mounted a drive pulley 46 through which the shaft I5 is driven from a suitable source of power.

Suitably journalled in bearings 41 and 48 which may form part of the base I8, is a cam shaft 49, one end of which carries a gear 59 through which rotation may be imparted to the shaft 49. On the cam shaft 49 is a cam 5I having a cam groove 52 cooperating with a pin 53 on the end of the lever 44 to intermittently rock the lever 44 first in on direction and then in the opposite direction.

Bearing cups are presented to the chuck from a hopper 55 by an oscillating loader 54, segmental i in shape, having an arcuate periphery 56 adapted to support the column of bearing cups in the hopper 55 while the loader is oscillating. At the forward extremity of the supporting surface 56, the loader 54 is formed with a semi-circular seat 51 into which a bearing cup drops when the loader has reached its fully retracted position. The loader oscillates about a pivotal connection 58 between its lower end and a bracket 62 on the base I8. Movement is imparted to the loader by a lever 59 having a pin 60 engaging in a slot 6| in the lower end of the loader. The arm 59 is mounted on a shaft 63 journalled in the bracket 62. On the other end of the shaft 63 is fixed an arm 64 projecting downwardly and having at its lower end a roller 65 which is engaged by a, cam 66 on the cam shaft 49.

The hopper 55 is mounted on an arm 61 projecting upwardly from the bracket 62, in a position to register with the seat 51 of the loader 54 when the latter is in its retracted position. This retracted position is determined and may be adjusted by a set screw 68 threaded through the arm 61. A spring I06 yieldingly urges the loader toward its retracted position.

The loader 54 may be provided with a resilient finger 69 for yieldingly urging a. bearing cup against the seat 51 and securely holding it in the seat during the loading operation. The finger 69 is adapted to be moved away from the seat 51 (so as to permit a bearing cup to drop into the seat 5! from'th'e hopper) by a, pin I0 slidably mounted in a bore in the loader 54. This is accomplished by the engagement of the pin 10 against the arm 61 as the loader 54 approaches its receiving position.'

The loader 54 is adapted to carry a cup to a position in axial alignment with the chuck. The cup will then be positioned with its mouth closely adjacent the end of the chuck, since the plane of the forward side of the loader 54 is disposed quite close to the end of the chuck.' While the loader is maintained in this position, the cup is moved onto the chuck by a pusher 1I (Fig. 1).

The pusher II has a shaft I2 slidably mounted in a'bearing bracket 13 carried by the base I8 and provided with rack teeth I4 intermeshing with a pinion by means of which the pusher is reciprocated back and forth in timed relationship to the movement of the loader 54. The pinion 15 is mounted on a shaft 16 journalled in the bracket 13. On one end of the shaft 16 is mounted a second pinion 11 (Fig; 3) which meshes with a gear sector 78 on the upper end of a lever 19. The'lever I9 is fulcrumed at 60 on the base I8 and has at its lower end a pin 8| which cooperates with a cam 82' on the cam shaft 49, the cam 82 acting to retract the pusher against the resistance of a spring I05 acting against the lever 19 so as to yieldingly urge the pusher toward the chuck 1.

The cutting tool- I4 is mounted in a tool holder 83 which is slidably mounted in a slideway 84 in a carriage 85 for adjustment parallel to the chuck axis. Bolts 86, extending through slots 81 in the carriage 85, secure the tool holder 83 firmly against the carriage 85. The tool holder is adapted to be adjusted in the way 84 by means of an adjusting screw 88 extended through a bracket 89 on the carriage 85 and threaded into the tool holder 83. The bolts 86 may be loosened to permit such adjustment.

The carriage 85 is mounted on a sub-carriage 90, and is adapted to be adjusted, in a direction transverse to the chuck axis, by an adjusting screw 9| extending through a bracket 92 on the sub-carriage and threaded into the carriage 85.

The tool holder carriage is adapted to be reciprocated in timed relationship to the movement of the parts previously described, by a gear segment 93 meshing with a rack 94 on the bottom of the sub-carriage 90 and pivoted for oscillating movement on a shaft 95 journalled in a bracket 96 on the base I8. The sub-carriage 90 is slidably mounted on ways 91 formed in the top of the bracket 96. Oscillating movement is imparted to the gear segment 93 by a cam 98 on the shaft 49, acting against a roller 99 on one end of a push rod I00 which is slidably mounted in bearings IOI and I02 in the base I8 and bracket 96 respectively, and at its other end engages a set screw I03 in an arm I04 mounted on the shaft 95.

The timing of the various parts of the machine is shown in Fig. 6. In the operation of the machine, beginning with the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, (such position being indicated at A in Fig. 6) the cam 66 will move the lever arm 64 to the left as viewed in Fig. 2, oscillating the loader 54 to its dotted line position shown at b, thereby bringing the bearing cup which it carries to a position in alignment with the chuck. The corresponding position on the cam diagram is indicated at B, the operation performed between the points A and B being designated as the Load operation.

The next operation, which is'designated Pushin, is effected by cam movement between the points B and C. In this operation the cam 82 permits the lever I9 to oscillate counterclockwise under the pull of the spring I05, advancing the pusher II and moving the bearing cup supported by the now stationary loader 54, onto the chuck.

The next operation, designated Clamp is effected by cam movement between the points C and D. In this operation, the cam 5| acts upon the lever 44 to shift the camming sleeve 40 to the right as viewed in Fig. 1, advancing the chuck operating rod 26 to spread the chuck jaws into clamping engagement with the bearing cup being held thereagainst by the pusher II.

The next operation, which is designated Release pusher, is effected by cam movement between the points D and E. In this operation the cam 82 acts upon the lever 19 to oscillate it in a clockwise direction against the pull of the spring I05, withdrawing the pusher- 1|. During this operation, the loader 54 continues to remain stationary, as a result of the riding of the roller 65 on the high dwell portion of the cam66.

The next operation, designated Return loader, is eifected by cam movement between the positions E and F. In this operation, the roller 65 rides down from the high portion of the cam 66, and the loader 54 and lever 64 are returned to their full line position shown in Fig. 2, by the spring I06.

The next operation, designated "Feed .approach is effected by cam movement between the points F and G. In this operation, the push rod I is moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 2, by the fast rising portion )1 'of the cam 98, advancing the tool M to a point where it is ready to commence the facing operation.

The next operation, designated Feed, is effected by cam movement between the points G and H. In this operation, the roller BQtr'avels on the slowly rising cam face [98 of the cam 98, slowly advancing the tool 14 against thcseat l3.

During all of the operations efiected'be'tween the points D and the cam 51 maintains the chuck jaws in clamping engagement with the bearing cap. At the same time, the bearing cap is being rotated and as the tool I4 advances against the shoulder l3, the latter will be shaved to the desired dimension.

The next operation, designated Release feed, is effected by cam movement between the points H and I. In this operation, the roller 99 drops off the high region ms of the cam 98 permitting the tool carriage to return to its starting position under the pull of a spring use indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. During this operation, the bearing remains clamped on the chuck.

The final operation designated Unclamp? oc curs between the points I and A of cam movement. In this operation, the cam 5| retracts the chuck operating rod '25 and the chuck jaws by their inherent resiliency spring inwardly to release the bearing cups. The ejector plunger 28 then snaps the bearing off the end of the chuck, permitting it to drop through a suitable discharge chute into a receptacle.

Our improved method makes it possible to face the seat 13 by a shaving operation. since the exterior of the cup remains unhardened while the interior surface, which cooperates with bearing rollers, is properly hardened for that purpose. the cups may be finished rapidly and at the same time, extreme accuracy may be maintained. To attempt to grind the seat would be much slower. and would be particularly dimcult in View of the narrowness of the groove.

The invention provides for rapidly adjusting the tool without stopping the operation of the machine.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 379,048, filed Februray 15, 1941.

We claim:

1. A machine for performing a finishing operation on the exterior of a cup having a previously finished inner end wall surface, comprising a chuck having a plurality of resilient, radially expandable jaw elements the outer terminals of which are adapted to locate against said previously finished inner end wall surface. an operating rod within said jaw elements of the chuck arranged to have camming engagement with said jaw elements to spread the same into clamping engagement with the interior of the cup, a spring-pressed ejector plunger carried in an axial opening in said operating rod, adapted to engage said inner surface and yieldingly urge the cup away from the chuck, means for pushing the cup onto the end of the chuck against the resistance of said ejector plunger while the chuck jaws are in normal contracted position, and for yieldingly holding the cup in locating engagement with the end of the chuck, means By utilizing the shaving operation,

ation on the exterior of a universal joint bearing cup having a previously finished inner end wall surface, comprising a chuck adapted to locate against said end surface and having jaws receivable in the cup, a hopper for supporting a column of the cups, a loader adapted to receive a cup from the hopper and transfer it laterally to a position coaxial with the chuck, an axially movable pusher adapted to subsequently advance against the outside closed end wall of said cup while held by said loader, to push the cup from said loader onto the chuck and to subsequently hold the cup in locating engagement with the end of the chuck, means for spreading the chuck jaws into engagement with the interior of the cup while thus held by said pusher, means for subsequently retracting said pusher, means for subsequently returning said loader to a position to receive another cup from the hopper. means for rotating the chuck while the bearing is clamped thereon, means for advancing a tool into engagement with the exterior surface of the chuck while thus being rotated, said chuck spreading means being adapted, when the-operation of said tool on the cup is completed, to permit the chuck jaws to contract so as to release the cup. and yieldable ejector means within the chuck acting against said end wall thereof to eject the cup when released by the chuck.

3. Chucking mechanism for a cup-shaped work piece adapted to have a turning operation performed thereon. comprising a hollow turning spindle, means in which said spindle is j ournalled for rotation, a chuck on the end. of said spindle comprising a plurality of jaws, means for spreading said jaws comprising a push-rod axially slidable in said hollow spindle and having at its end a cammed portion adapted to engage the jaws, and spread them into engagement with the interior of the cup-shaped work piece, said pushrod having a bore, an ejector rod slidable in said bore, adapted to engage the end wall of-the work piece for ejecting the work piece when released by said chuck jaws, and a coil spring between the end of said ejector rod and the inner end of said bore, adapted to be compressed when the work piece is forced onto the chuck.

4. In a machine of the class described, a turning spindle, a chuck on said spindle, adapted to receive and automatically clamp a work piece, feeding mechanism for periodically positioning work pieces in axial alignment with said chuck, and means for pushing each work piece axially from said positioning mechanism onto said chuck, said means comprising a push-rod for engaging the outside closed end of successive cups, a bearing in which said rod is mounted for axial movement, rack teeth in said rod, a gear meshing with said rack teeth, a second gear connected to said first mentioned gear to rotate therewith, a gear sector meshing with said second gear, and means for intermittently oscillating said gear sector.

5. In a machine of the class'described, a hollow turning spindle, means on which said spindle is journalled for rotation, a chuck on the end of said spindle having a plurality of jaws adapted to be spread into engagement with the interior of an annular closed end cup work piece, means for spreading said jaws comprising a rod axially movable with said spindle, a magazine, transfer mechanism for moving a cup work piece from said magazine to a position with the open end thereof aligned with said spindle, a push-rod for engaging the outside closed end surface of said work piece and pushing the same from said transfer mechanism onto the chuck, means in which said push-rod is mounted for axial movement in alignment with the axis of said spindle, and means for reciprocating said chuck spreading rod and said push-rod and for actuating said transfer mechanism in timed relationship to each other, said last means comprising a cam shaft parallel to the axis of said spindle and push-rod, a series of cams on said shaft, and means for transferring movement from said cams to said chuck spreading rod, said first rod and said trans fer mechanism.

6. In a machine of the class described, a turning spindle, a chuck carried thereby, a magazine for holding work pieces to be turned, disposed on a vertical axis located at one side of the axis of said spindle, an oscillatory transfer member beneath said magazine, adapted to transfer a work piece from the lower end of said magazine to a positioned aligned with said spindle, a cam shaft, a cam thereon, mechanism for transferring movement from said cam to said transfer member, a second cam on said cam shaft, a push link receiving movement from said second cam and extending laterally beneath the axis of said spindle, a tool carriage reciprocable above said push link, a tool carried by said carriage and adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with a work piece mounted on said chuck, a rack on said carriage, and a gear segment meshing with said rack and receiving movement from said push link, said transfer member and tool carriage being arranged to move alternately toward the spindle axis.

'7. In a machine of the class described, means defining a power rotated spindle and chuck assembly including resilient radially expandable gripping fingers effective to receive a cup-shaped work piece thereabout with the inner closed end surface of said cup in contact with the outer terminals of said fingers for accurately locating said cup axially on said chuck, said assembly further including axially reciprocable cam means effective to expand said fingers into gripping engagement with the interior of said cup, a coll compression spring actuated ejector plunger embracingly carried Within said gripping fingers and engageable by said closed end surface of said cup for loading said spring in response to the introduction of said cup about said fingers, said ejector plunger being effective uponothe release of said gripping fingers to eject said cup from about said fingers; means defining an upwardly extending magazine for holding a plurality of cups in series relation and a discharge opening in radially spaced relation to the axis of said chuck fingers, said magazine being effective to discharge one cup at a time with the open end of said cup facing in a direction parallel with the axis of said chuck fingers; means defining a transfer assembly effective to receive successive cups from said discharge opening and transport the same to a position in axial alignment with but spaced from said chuck fingers, said means comprising an oscillatable member having a seat thereon for the reception of one of said cups, spring means cooperating with said seat and cup effective to retain said cup on said seat during the transfer operation, said oscillatable transfer member being further provided with'an arcuate surface effective to pass across said discharge opening during said transfer and functioning as a closure therefor, means responsive to the movement of said seat into receiving position with reference to said magazine effective to move said spring holding meansinto cup disengaging position and responsive to transfer movement effective to move said spring into cup engaging position; means defining a power operated pusher plunger assembly, effective to engage the outside closed end surface of said cup and push the same along said seat as a guide and into embraced relation about said chuck fingers with the terminals thereof in contact with the inner closed end surface of said cup; means defining a tool carriage assembly including a cutting tool adapted to be moved into and out of cutting engagement with the outer wall of said cup in accurate axial relation to said chuck finger terminals and said cup inner end wall; and means effective to operate said transfer means, said plunger means and said tool carriage in sequence including cams and follower assemblies associated therewith.

EDWARD H. DELAHAN. ALBIN G. FROJD.

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