US2715800A

US2715800A - Lapping machines

Info

Publication number: US2715800A
Application number: US260428A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert S Indge
Original assignee: Norton Co
Current assignee: Saint Gobain Abrasives Inc
Priority date: 1951-12-07
Filing date: 1951-12-07
Publication date: 1955-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 1972-08-23

Description

Aug. 23, 1955 H. s. INDGE 2,715,800

LAPPING MACHINES Original Filed July 25, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet. l

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Zhwemtoz, HERBERT 5. INDGE Aug. 23, 1955 H. s. INDGE LAPPING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed July 23, 1948 gnaw/tom HERBERT 5. INDGE i, 5 Mums "IIIIII Aug. 23, 1955 H. s. INDGE 2,715,800

LAPPING MACHINES Original Filed July 23, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I uao l 3mm HERBERT 5. [Moss Aug. 23, 1955 H. s. INDGE LAPPING MACHINES Original Filed July 23, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 3m HERBERT 5. INDGE n M en g- 23, 1955 H. s. lNDGE 2,715,800

LAPPING MACHINES Original Filed July 23, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 f v' -rm Figll HERBERT S, INDGE Muwm United States Patent LAPPING MACHINES Herbert S. Indge, Westhoro, Mass, assignor to Norton Company, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Continuation of application Serial No. 40,299, July 23, 1948. This application December 7, 1951, Serial No. 260,428

4 Claims. (Cl. 51118) The invention relates to lapping machines and more particularly to a lapping machine for lapping tapered work pieces such as taper rollers and the like. This application is a continuation of application Serial No. 40,299 filed July 23, 1948, now abandoned.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple and thoroughly practical lapping machine for lapping tapered work pieces. Another object is to provide a machine for simultaneously lapping a taper and an end face on taper rollers. Another object is to provide a taper roll lapping machine in which the upper lapping element is positively rotated, the lower lapping element is free to rotate and the cage is positively rotated at a very slow speed.

A further object is to provide a lapping machine in which the work pieces to be lapped are automatically fed into the work cage and make a single circular pass through the machine after which they are automatically discharged therefrom. Another object of the invention is to provide a suitable truing apparatus for truing a frustoconical face on cf the lapping elements. Another object is suitable adjustment for the truing apparatus to facilitate adjusting the angle of the face produced on the lapping element. Another object is to provide a truing apparatus and a driving mechanism for positively rotating the lower lapping element while truing a frusto-conical face thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide end lapping elements whereby the end faces of the work being lapped are lapped simultaneously with the lapping of the tapered surface thereon. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims:

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of various possible embodiments of the mechanical feature of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved lapping machine, partly in section showing the driving mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a hydraulic diagram of the mechanism for moving the upper lapping element;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the lapping machine, partly broken away and shown in section to clarify the construction;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan View, on an enlarged scale, of the lapping elements and work cage, showing the relationship of the parts;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, through the lower portion of the machine, showing the lower lapping wheel truing apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, through the apparatus for lapping the ends of the work pieces;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, taken approximately on the line 77 of Fig. 6;

2,715,306 Fatented Aug. 23, 1955 Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing a modified form of the end lapping apparatus in which the lapping element is hydraulically actuated;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1, through the column showing the three-point support and adjustment therefor;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken approximately on the line Iii-10 of Fig. 9, through one of the adjusting screws for the column; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, showing the relationship of the lapping elements and the work cage supporting and driving mechanism.

A lapping machine has been illustrated in the drawings comprising a base 10 which serves as a support for a lower lapping wheel 11. The base 10 also serves as a support for a vertically extending column 12 having a horizontally extending arm 13 which supports a vertically arranged spindle 14. An upper lapping wheel 15 is supported by a mounting plate 16 which is fixedly supported on the lower end of the spindle 14.

A suitable driving mechanism is provided for rotating the upper lapping wheel 15 at a suitable lapping speed such as, for example, approximately 15 0 R. P. M. This mechanism may comprise a driving pulley 20 which may be driven from any suitable source of power such as an electric motor (not shown). The pulley 20 is mounted on the left hand end of a shaft 19, the inner end of which is connected through a clutch 21 with a drive shaft 22. The drive shaft 22 carries a worm 23 which meshes with a worm gear 24 mounted on the lower end of a vertically arranged shaft 25. The shaft 25 is connected by a universal joint 26 with a telescopic drive shaft 27. The upper end of the telescopic shaft 27 is connected by a universal joint 25 with a vertical shaft 29. The shaft 29 is supported in bearings (not shown) carried by an adjustabl'y mounted bracket 39. The shaft 29 is provided at its upper end with a multiple V-groove pulley 31 which is connected by multiple V- belts 32 with a multiple V-groove pulley 33 mounted on the upper end of the spindle 14. An adjusting screw 34 is provided to facilitate adjustment of the bracket relative to the arm 13 to facilitate tensioning the V- belts 32.

The base 10 also supports a frame 35 which serves as a support for a vertically arranged sleeve 36. The sleeve 36 is journalled in

anti-friction bearings

37 and 38. A mounting plate 39 is mounted on the upper end of the sleeve 36 and serves as a support for the lower lapping wheel 11. The lower lapping wheel 11 is free to rotate and is not positively driven.

A driving mechanism is provided for positively driving the work pieces through the machine comprising an electric motor (Fig. 5). The motor 45 is provided with a pulley 46 which is connected by a belt 47 with a pulley 48 on a speed reduction unit 49. The speed reduction unit 49 is provided with a pulley 50 which is connected by a V-belt 51 with a pulley 52 mounted on the end of a horizontally extending shaft 53. The shaft 53 is provided with a worm 54 which meshes with a worm gear 55 mounted on the lower end of a vertical shaft 56. A head 56a is keyed on the upper end of the shaft 56. The upper plane surface of the head 56a supports a work cage 58 so that its underside just clears the face of the lower lap 11. The cage 58 preferably is rotated in a direction opposite to the upper lapping wheel 15 (Fig. 4). A stud 57 projecting upwardly from the shaft 56 engages a central hole in the cage 58 to center the same. The head 56a is provided with one or more offset driving studs 56b which engage holes in the work cage 58 to drive the latter when the shaft 56 is rotated. The work cage 58 is provided with a plu- 3 rality ofradially arranged work receiving tapered aperturesor notches 59 formed in its periphery which are of a suitable size and shape to receive the tapered work pieces to be lapped. The notches or work receiving apertures "59 are each provided with a substantially radial surface 59:: (Fig. 7), and anbpposed substantially radial side face and a bottom face 590 which are spaced to clear the workpiece being lapped. The surfaces 590 and 59b of the notches 59 are preferably slightly non-r radial so that the axes of the work pieces 120 are positioned radially relative to the cage 58. A stationary guide ring 60 is fixedly mounted relative to the base 10 and surrounds the work' cage 58. The ring is provided with a frusto-conical'internal guide face 61 which engages the ends 'of the work pieces so as to maintain the work pieces in proper relation with the work cage during a lapping operation; 'The guide ring 60 is supported by a circular frame 62 which is fastened to the upper surface of the frame 35.

- lapped. The upper lapping wheel 15 is provided with a plane operative lapping face. The upper lapping wheel spindle 14 is preferably offset from the axis'of rotation.

of the lower lapping wheel 11 by an amount equal to a little less than the difierence between the diameter of the work cage 58 and the upper lapping wheel 15. This distance of ofiset in the present instance is about 4% and is determined by arranging the path'of the work to'travel across the entire operative face of the upper lapping wheel 15 from the outer to the inner periphery and then to the outer periphery during its travel'from the point of entry to the time of discharge.

The spindle 14 is rotatably journalled in a vertically adjustable sleeve 63 in bearings not shown. The sleeve 63.is supported in a casing 64 which is formed integrally with the arm 13 and the column 12. The sleeve construction above described has not been illustrated in detail since this 'is a common well-known arrangement such as, for example, that'shown in my prior U. S. Patent No. 2,103,984 dated December 28, 1937, to which reference may be had for details of disclosure not contained herein.

.A stop mechanism is provided for limiting the downward movement of the sleeve 63 precisely to position the upper lapping wheel 15 relative to the work cage 58 andthe lower lapping wheel 11. This mechanism may comprise an adjustable stop screw 65 which is carried by a bracket 66. The bracket 66 is fastened to the outerperipheral surface of the sleeve 63. 64 is provided with a projecting boss 67 which serves as a support for an adjustably mounted stop abutment 68. (Fig. 1). It will be readily apparent from the foregoing disclosure that by manipulation of the adjustable stop screw 65, the lower or operative position of the npp'er lapping wheel 15 may be precisely adjusted to produce lapped work pieces of the desired and predetermined size. I

A counter-balance mechanism is provided for counterbalancing the weight of the upper lapping wheel 15 together with-its supporting and driving parts to facilitate movement thereof. This mechanism may comprise rack teeth 69'formed on the periphery of the sleeve 63. The rack teeth 69 mesh with a gear mechanism 70 which is in turn operatively connected to be actuated by a counterbalance weight 71. This mechanism has not been described in detail since it is not considered 'an essential part of the present invention. This counter-balance mechanismfis substantially identical with that shown in my prior U. S. Patent No. 2,103,984, above referred to, to which reference may be had for details of disclosure not contained herein.

A suitable fluid pressure operatedmechanism is pro- The casing vided for moving the upper lapping element to and from an operative position. A pair of diametrically

opposed cylinders

72 and 73 are fixedly mounted on diametrically opposite sides of the casing 64. The

cylinders

72 and 73 contain slidably mounted

pistons

74 and 75 respectively which are connected by

piston rods

76 and 77 with a flanged plate 78 which is fastened adjacent to the lower end of the sleeve 63 (Fig. 2). provided for supplying the necessary fluid for actuating the upper lapping element. Fluid isdrawn through a pipe 81 by means of a motor driven fluid pump 82 which forces fluid under pressure to a control valve 84. The control valve 84 is preferably a piston-type valve comprising a valve stem 85 having valve pistons 86, 87 f and 88 formed integrally therewith. As shown in Fig.

2, fluid under pressure passing through the pipe 83 enters a valve chamber 89 located between the valve pistons 86 and 87 and passes out through a pipe 90 and through pipes 91 and 92 to cylinder chambers 93 and 94 formed in the lower ends of the

cylinders

72 and 73 respectively. Fluid'under pressure admitted to the cylinder chambers 93 and 94' causes an upward move ment of the

pistons

74 and 75 so as to move the upper lapping wheel 15 to an inoperative position. During the upward movement of the

pistons

74 and 75, fluid within the cylinder chambers 95 and 96 may exhaust pipe 99 into avalve chamber 100 located between the

valve pistons

87 and 88 and passes out through an .ex haust pipe 101 into the reservoir 80. When it is desired to cause a downward movement of the upper lapping wheel 15 to move it into an operative lapping position,- the valve stem 85 is moved downwardly so that fluid under pressure passing through the pipe. 83 enters the valve chamber 100 and passes through the pipes 99, 98 and 97 into the cylinder chambers 95 .and 96 simul taneously to move the

pistons

74 and 75 downwardly to transmit a corresponding downward movement to the upper lapping wheel 15. The downward movement of the lapping wheel 15 continues until the stop screw 65 engages the abutment 68 which precisely positions the upper lapping wheel 15 in a'predetermined operative position.

It is desirable to providesuitable adjustments so .that the desired operating pressure may be maintained in the fluid pressure system above described. This is preferably accomplished by providing an adjustable pressure relief valve 105 which is connected by a pipe 106.

with the pipe 83. Excess fluid under pressure within the pipe 83 servesto open the valve 105 and pass through the pipe 107 into the reservoir 80.- In order-to provide.

A'suitable mechanism is provided for actuating the valve stem 85. This mechanism may comprise a rock arm which is supported by a rock shaft 116. A manually operable lever 117 is fastened to the rock shaft 116. The manually operable lever 117 extends toward the front of the machine within easy reach of the operator.

This improved lapping machine is arranged so that work piec'essuch as taper rollers 120 may be fed automatically into the machine and automatically discharged therefrom after making a single pass between the lapping

wheels

11 and 15, A plurality of taper rollers 120 are loaded into a work loading chute 121 which is preferably arranged so that the work pieces feed by gravity into the work receiving apertures 59 formed in the periphery of the work cage 58. At the point of entry of the taper rollers 120 into a notch 59 of the work cage 58, a spring A fluid reservoir 80 is clip 122 holds the taper roller 120 against any tendency to lift. As the cage or work holder 58 rotates very slowing at approximately 1 R. P. M., the taper rollers 120 have ample time to be fed by gravity into an operative position. After the taper roller 120 slides into a notch or aperture 59, continued rotation of the cage causes the outer ends of the taper rollers 120 to slide along a cam face 123 formed on the inner periphery of the guide ring 66 which is shaped so as to gradually complete the movement of the taper rollers 120 into the notches 59. This feeding movement of the taper rollers 120 into the notches 59 serves to force the rollers 120 gradually in between the throat formed between the lapping

wheels

11 and 15. A plate 124 is fastened to the guide ring 60 to hold the rollers 120 in position until they move into engagement with the operative face of the upper lapping wheel 15.

The lower lapping wheel 11 is preferably a very hard, dense, vitrified bonded abrasive wheel to facilitate maintaining the lapping face for an indefinite period in order to avoid frequent retruing operations. The diameter of the lower lapping wheel 11 is preferably equal to the rolling circle of the rollers to be lapped, so that the apex of elements of the rollers coincides with the axis of rotation of the lower lapping wheel 11.

A frusto-conical face is formed adjacent to the outer periphery of the lower lapping wheel 11 which is beveled at twice the angle of taper of the taper rollers 12!! so that when the rollers are in operative positions relative to the cage 58, the upper elements of the rollers 120 will be positioned in a horizontal plane so that they may be lapped by the lower plane face of the upper lapping wheel 15. The upper lapping wheel 15 is positively rotated at a speed of approximately 150 R. P. M. and the work holder or cage 53 is rotated at a very slow speed of approximately 1 R. P. M. The lower lap is free to rotate and is not positively driven. Due to the arrangement of wheels 11. 1 3.5 the cage 5d, the work to rotate the w holder notches 59' high s eed. Th". on the rolle.s 120 serves to impart a rotary motion to the lower lapping wheel 11. The speed attained by the lower lapping wheel 11 is not material. Due to the fact that the lower lapping wheel is rotated by rotation of the rollers 12:),

it will rotate at approximately the average speed of the rollers in motion. As will be hereinafter described, the rollers 120 are rotated at a relatively high speed as they enter the lapping machine. The speed of rotation of the rollers is reduced to approximately one-half the maximum speed when the cage has rotated through 90". As illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, work entering the machine from the loading chute 121 enters a notch 59 in a direction substantially radial to the upper lapping wheel 15. When the roller 120 is in a radial position with respect to the upper lapping wheel, it will be rotated at a speed approximating the surface speed of the operative face of the upper lapping wheel 15. Due to the fact that the rollers are tapered, the rollers 120 will be rotated at approximately a mean speed between the end portions thereof.

The axes of the work receiving apertures 59 are formed radial in the cage 58 and are radial with respect to the axis of the upper lapping wheel 15 at the loading position, that is, on the line A--B (Fig. 4). As the cage 58 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 4) through 90 to shift the work apertures into position aligned with the line XY, the axis of the work receiving aperture 59 shifts gradually from a radial position to a maximum nonradial position with respect to the axis of' the upper lapping wheel 15, as shown diagrammatically by the line AC (Fig. 4). As the rollers 120 enter a notch or aperture 59 in the cage 58, the rollers move in an axial direction along a radial line of both the upper lapping wheel 15 and the cage 58. During the first 90 rotary motion of the cage 58, the axes of the rollers 120 being lapped shift first from a radial position to a maximum non-radial position with respect to the axis of the upper lapping wheel 15 the non-radial angle being indicated by the lines A--C and XY. Due to the gradual shifting of the axes of the rollers 120 relative to the lapping face of the upper lapping wheel 15, a break-up motion is imparted which produces the desired lapping action on the frusto-conical face of the rollers 120. As the cage apertures 59 move the rollers toward the position b, the speed of rotation thereof due to the breakup motion is somewhat decreased until the roller reaches the position 12017 so that the axis thereof coincides with the radial line XY.

As the cage 58 continues its rotary motion, the axes of the cage apertures 59 gradually shift from a nonradial to a radial position with respect to the axis of the upper lapping wheel 15 as the apertures move toward the line A D. During this motion, the break-up action between the rollers 120 being lapped and the upper lapping wheel 15 is gradually reduced and the speed of rotation of the rollers gradually changes as the rollers approach the 18c position 120s so that their axes coincide with the line AD (Pig. 4).

Similarly as the cage 58 continues its counterclockwise motion, the axes of the rollers 120 gradually shift from a radial to a maximum non-radial position relative to the upper lapping wheel 15 as the rollers move from line AD to AE. During this third 90 rotary motion of the cage, the rotation of the rollers 120 is gradually decreased and the break-up action increased until the rollers reach the position 120d in alignment with the line X-Z. Continued rotation of the cage 58 carry the work apertures 59 together with the rollers 120 supported therein from position 1260 into position 120a. During this motion of the cage the axis of the apertures 59 and the rollers 120 being lapped gradually shifts from a maximum non-radial to a substantially radial position with respect to the axis of the upper lapping wheel 15. During this movement. of the cage, the speed of rotation of the rollers 12' is gradually increased the break-up is gradually decreased until the rollers reach the discharge position 120a. Due to the slow rotation of the cage 58 and the relatively fast rotation of the rollers 120, the rollers will be automatically discharged from the apertures 59 in the cage 58 into a discharge chute 125. The rollers 120, being lapped, are gradually shifted from radial to non-radial positions relative to radii of the upper lapping wheel 15 a plurality of times during a single pass through the machine, thereby producing an ever changing break-up action to lap the rollers to the required and predetermined extent. The speed of rotation of the rollers 120 being lapped is varied due to the break-up action and is gradually decreased during the first 90 travel and gradually increased during the second 180 travel due to eccentric relationship of the upper lapping wheel 15 relative to the lower lapping wheel 11 and cage 58.

The guide ring 69 is cut-away to receive the work loading chute 121 and the discharge chute 125, the cut-away portion of the ring 60 being sufficient so that the bottom surface of the chutes are aligned with the frusto-conical face of the lower lapping wheel 11.

In lapping tapered work pieces such as taper rollers used in the manufacture of taper roller bearings, it'is desirable to not only precisely lap the taper of the roller but also to uniformly lap and finish the outer end face of the roller. As illustrated in the drawings, a lapping device is provided for simultaneously lapping the ends of the rollers 128 as they pass through the machine. A bracket 130 is fixedly mounted on the frame 62. The bracket 130 serves as a support for a slidably mounted lapping element 131. The lapping element 131 is preferably surrounded by a layer of plastic material 132 which serves to form a sliding surface on the top and bottom and side faces of the lapping element 131. The bracket position (Fig. 8).

.130 is provided with a rectangularly shaped aperture 133 within which the lapping element 131 slides in a substantially radial direction with respect to the lower lapping wheel 11. As illustrated in Fig. 7, the lapping ele ment 131 is of sufiicient width so that a plurality of rollers are in simultaneous lapping engagement therea with. A plurality of compression springs 134 are provided yieldably to maintain the lapping element 131 in lapping engagement with the end faces of the rollers '120. Due 'to the fact that the rollers 120 are rotated at a relatively fast speed as above described, a lapping action will be imparted by the stationary lapping element 131 so that as the rollers 120 pass across the face of therlapping element 131 they will be lapped to a predetermined finish.

, In order to facilitate loading the work cage 53 when the machine is started, it is desirable to provide means ,for withdrawing the lapping element 131 to an inoperative position. This may be accomplished by means of a rod'141rwhich.is.screw threaded or otherwise fastened to the lapping element .131 (Figs. 4 and 7). A manually operable nut 142 on the other end of the rod 141 serves a movement of the sleeve 150 relative to thesleeve 149. to

to facilitate withdrawing the lapping element 131 toward the right to an inoperative position.

If desired a second end lapping attachment a may be provided, which as shown in Fig. 4, is located at a operable nut 1420 (Fig. 4) are provided to facilitate withdrawing the lapping element 131a to an inoperative I position.

A modification of the end lapping attachment has been illustrated in Fig. 8. A hydraulically operated means is provided for maintaining the lapping element 131 in lapping engagement with the end faces of the rollers 120. This mechanism may comprise a cylinder 135 formed integrally. with the bracket 130.. A piston 136 is slidably mounted within the cylinder 135. A piston rod 137 which is fixedly mounted with respect to the piston 136 engages the right hand end face of the lapping element 131. A compression spring 138 normally serves to maintain the piston 136 in a right handend When it is desired to move thellapping element 131 into lappinglengagement with the rollers 120, fluid .under pressure is admitted from a suitable source through a pipe 139 into the cylinder 4 illustrated in Fig. 9, the column is supported at three points by

cap screws

145, 146 and 147. The

screws

145, 146 and 147 pass through an adjustable mounting V to be hereinafter described and are screw threaded into the base 10 of the machine. As illustrated in Fig. 10 the clamping-screw 147 passes through a cylindrical aperture 148 formed in a sleeve 149 which is threaded on its outer periphery. A sleeve 150 surrounds the sleeve 149 and is provided with an internal threaded portion 151'which meshes with the threadson the sleeve 149. The sleeve 150 is provided with an integrally formed flange 152' having a plane surface 153 which engages a portion of the base 10. A sleeve 154 surrounds the screw 147 and is provided at its lower end with clutch teeth 155 whichmate with correspondingly shaped clutch teeth 156 formed on the upper end of the sleeve 149.

,The sleeve 154 is providedwith an integrally flanged head 157 which is provided with a plurality of radially extending holes 158 which may be engaged by a spanner wrench. If it is desired to raise the column at the screw 147, the screw 147 may be loosened and by means of a spanner wrench the sleeve 154 rotated which in'turn transmits a rotary motion to the threaded sleeve149. Rotation of the threadedsleeve 149 causes a vertical raise or lower the column 12'as desired. After the de sired adjustment has been made, the clamping screw 147 may then be tightened to clamp the column in position. The adjustments associatedwith clamping

screws

145 and 146 are identical with that just described in connection with screw 147. It will be readily apparent from' the foregoing disclosure that by manipulation of one or more of these adjustments, the column 12 may be adjusted to position the spindle 14 and the upper lapping wheel 15in the desired position with the plane operative a surface either parallel to or at a slight angle relative to.

the operative surface of the lower lappingwheel.

ft is desirable to provide a suitable truing apparatus for truing the plane operative face of the upper lapping wheel 15. A truing apparatus 160 (Fig. 3) is provided. This truing apparatus is substantially identical with that shown in my prior U. '5. Patent No. 2,082,736 dated June 1, 1937 to which reference may be had for details of disclosure not contained herein. 'The details of this truing mechanism have not been illustrated or described since this feature is not considered to beat part'of'the present invention. 7

It is desirable to provide a truing apparatus for truing a frusto-conical face on the lower lapping wheel 11 at a desired angle, namely, to twice the angle of taper of the rollers to belapped. Inasmuch as the lower lapping wheel is normally free to rotate and not positively driven, it is desirable to provide a suitable driving mechanism l for driving the lower lapping wheel 11 during a truing operation. This mechanism may comprise a bevel ring gear which is fastened to the underside of the plate 39 which supports the lower lapping wheel 11. A suitable driving mechanism is provided comprising a casing 166 which is bolted to the frame 62." This casing 166 supports a rotatable shaft 167 having a bevel gear 168 mounted on its left hand'end (Fig.5). The shaft 167 is rotatably journalled in a slidably mounted sleeve 169 which is'in turn supported in the casing 166. -A driving motor170 is pivotally supported by a shaft 171 (Figs.

3 and 5). The motor 170 is provided with a sprocket 172 which is connected by a link chain 173 with a sprocket 174 which is supported by a rotatable sleeve 175. The sleeve 175 is rotatably journalled in the casing 166. The right hand end of the shaft 167 is slidably keyed within a central aperture formed in the sleeve 175. It will be readily apparent from the foregoing disclosure'that in the position of the parts as 'shown in Fig.5; rotation of the motor 170 will be imparted through the driving mechanism shown to rotate the bevel gear 168 which in turn transmits a rotary motion through the bevel ring gear 165 to the lower lapping wheel 11.

It is desirable to provide a suitable means for disengaging the gear 168 from the bevel ring gear 165 This mechanism may comprise a yoked member 176 which i is supported on arock shaft 177. The yoked member 176 is provided with diametrically. opposed studs (not shown) which engage a groove 178 formed in'a' flanged portion 179 of the sleeve 169. A manually operable lever 180 is fixedly mounted on a rock shaft 181. The rock shaft 181 supports a rock arm. 182 which is connected by a pivot stud with a link 183. The other end of the link 183 is connected by a pivot stud to the yoked member 176. When it is desired todisconnect the driving gear 168, the control lever 180 may be rocked in a clockwise direction to rock the yoked member 176 ina clockwise direction to slide the sleeve 169, the shaft 167, and the bevel gear 168 toward the right (Fig. 5). it will thus be seen that by manipulation of the control lever 180, the driving gear 168 may be readily meshed or disengaged from the bevel ring gear 165 to facilitate rotation of the lapping wheel 11 during a truing operation.

A truing apparatus 185 for the frusto-conical surface of the lower wheel is fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the casing 166'. This mechanism comprises a horizontally movable slide 186 which slides on a suitable slide-way 187 formed on'the truing fixture 185. An adjusting screw 188 is provided to facilitate a transverse adjustment of the slide 186. The slide 186 serves as a support for a pivotally mounted member 189 which is pivotally supported about the axis of a clamping stud 190. -A rack bar 191 is fixedly mounted on the memher 189. A worm 192 is rotatably supported by the slide 186. A manually operable knob 193 is provided for rotating the Worm 192 to swing the member 189 so as to adjust the path of movement of the truing tool as will 'be hereinafter described. The member 189 is provided with a slideway 194 which serves as a support for a transversely movable slide 195. A manually operable feed screw 196 having an actuating handle 197 is provided to facilitate a transverse adjustment of the slide 195. The slide 195 serves as a support for a rotatable truing tool'spindle 198 which is journalled in

suitable bearings

199 and 200. The slide 195 supports a vertica'lly mounted electric motor 201 having a motor pulley 202 which is connected by means of a belt 203 with a pulley 204. which is mounted on the upper end of the truing tool spindle 198. The spindle 198 supports a rotatable abrasive wheel such as a diamond wheel 205 having a plane operative face for truing the desired frusto-conical surface on the lower lapping wheel 11. The operation of this truing apparatus will be readily apparent from the foregoing disclosure. The member 189 is adjusted angularly relative to the slide 186 to position the slide-way 194 so that the path of movement of the slide 195 Will determine the frusto-conical face to be trued on file lower lapping Wheel 11. After this angular adjustment has been made, it is merely necessary to actuate the handle 197 to traverse the slide 195 thereby traversing the diamond wheel 205 across the frusto-conical face of the lower lapping wheel 11.

The truing apparatus slide 186 is clamped in position by binder screws 206 (Fig. 3). When the truing apparatus is not in use, the binder screws 206 may be released and the slide 186 removed from the truing apparatus base 185 until it is again desired to true the face of the lower lapping wheel 11. When the truing apparatus slide 186 is moved to an operative position it is moved toward the left on the slide-way 187 until the member 189 engages the adjusting screw 188 which determines the position of the truing apparatus, during a truing operation. It will be readily apparent'that by angularly adjusting the member 189, a frusto-conical face of any desired angle may be trued upon the upper face of the lower lapping wheel 11.

The operation of the improved lapping machine will be readily apparent from the foregoing disclosure. Assuming the lapping

wheels

11 and 15 to have been previously trued to the desired extent, and the lapping wheel 15 is in a raised or inoperative position, the end lapping blocks or

elements

131 and 131a are withdrawn to inoperative positions by means of the manually operable nuts 142 and 142a. A plurality of taper rollers 120 to be lapped are placed in the work loading chute 121 and the motor is started to rotate the work cage 58 so as to fill all of the notches 59 with taper rollers. The control lever 117 is then moved downwardly (Fig. 1) to shift the valve 84 and thereby admit fluid under pressure to cause the upper lapping wheel 15 to move downwardly into engagement with the taper rollers 120. The micrometer stop screw 65 is then adjusted to contact with stop abutment 68. The upper lapping wheel 15 is then raised and the micrometer adjusting screw 65 is adjusted downwardly a slight amount such as .002. The nuts 142 and 1422 are then adjusted to release the compression of the springs so as to allow the

end lapping elements

131 and 131a to move into yieldable engagement with the end faces of the rollers 120. The lever 117 is then again shifted to cause the upper lapping wheel 15 to move downwardly into operative engagement with the rollers 120 to be lapped with the desired pressure applied after which the clutch 21 is engaged to start rotation of the upper lapping wheel 15 and the motor 45 started to rotate the cage 58 thus starting the lapping operation. The initial work pieces in the cage at the time the lapping operation is started must be passed through the machine again since they will not all be lapped to the desired and predetermined extent. The lapping operation continues as long as the operator maintains the work loading chute filled with rollers 120 to be lapped.

If it becomes necessary to true the upper lapping wheel 15, the truing mechanism (Fig. 3) may be set in motion to true the operative face of the upper lapping wheel in a manner similar to that described in connection with my prior U. S. Patent No. 2,082,736 previously referred to. If the lower lapping wheel becomes worn and a retruing is necessary, the slide 186 together with the associated parts may be slid into position on the slideway 187 into engagement with the adjustable stop screw 188 after which it is clamped in position by means of binder screws 206. The lever 180 is then rocked into the position illustrated in Fig. 5 so as to engage the bevel gear 168 with the bevel ring gear after which the motor is started to rotate the lowerlapping wheel 11. Assuming the member 189 to have been previously set at the desired angle for truing the frustoconical face of the lapping wheel 11, the motor 201 is then started to rotate the truing wheel 205 which may be traversed across the operative face of the grinding wheel by manual manipulation of the hand wheel 197.

After the laps have been retrued, a lapping operation may be resumed. in the manner above described.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention apparatus in which the various objects hereinabove set forth together with many thoroughly practical advantages are successfully achieved. As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sence.

I claim:

1. In a lapping machine having a base, a vertical column thereon, an upper lapping wheel rotatably supported on said column having a plane operative face, driving means on said base to rotate said wheel at a lapping speed, a freely rotatable lower lapping wheel having a frusto-conical radial lapping face opposed to the operative face of the upper lapping wheel, a rotatable support therefor on said base, a rotatable work cage between said wheels, a drive shaft rotatably supported on said base to support and rotate said cage about an axis concentric with the axis of the lower lapping wheel, a plurality of radial work receiving apertures in said cage, said cage being substantially the same diameter and concentric with the lower lapping wheel, a stationary guide ring on said base surrounding substantially the entire periphery of said cage having an internal cylindrical surface to maintain the work pieces in a concentric path relative to the lower lapping wheel, a work loading aperture in said ring, an adjacent work discharge aperture in said ring, said cage and lower lapping wheel having their axes substantially offset relative to the axis of the upper lapping wheel, and driving means on said base to rotate said cage at a relatively slow speed so that the radial axes of the cage apertures cause the axes of the work pieces being lapped to move in a continuously changing path relative to radii of the upper lapping wheel to provide a-predetermined break-up and lapping action upon the work pieces being lapped.

2..In a lapping machine as claimed in" claim 1, in

.7 combination with the parts and features therein specified, in which the radially-arranged work receiving apertures in said cage are arranged to'move in'an eccentric path across the operative face of the upper lapping wheel, said cage apertures being radial relative to the upper lapping wheel at the work loading position, gradually i .the workpieces being lapped. I

- 3." In a lapping machine as claimed inclaim 1, incombination'with the parts and features therein specified, in which the radially-arranged work receiving apertures in said cage are arranged to move in an eccentric path across the entire operative face of the upper lapping Wheel, said cage-apertures being radial relative to the upper lapping wheel at the work loading station, gradually shifting to non-radial positions and thereafter returning to radial positions a plurality of times during each rotation of the work cage so as to provide a continuously changing work speed and break-up between the upper lapping wheel and the work pieces being lapped.

4. I In a lapping machine having a base, a vertical column thereon, an upper lapping wheel rotatably supported on said column, a plane operative face thereon, driving means of the upper lapping wheel, a rotatable support therefor 12 r r on said base, a rotatable work cage between said wheels, a drive shaft rotatablysupported on said basefto. support and rotate said cage concentric ;.with the axis of the lower lapping wheel, a plurality of radialwork receiving 7 apertures formed'in the periphery. of said cage,'said cage being substantially the same diameter and concentric'with the lower lapping wheel, a stationary concentric guide ring on said base surrounding substantially the entire periphery of said cage to maintain the work pieces in a concentric path relative to the lower lapping wheel, a

work loading chute passing through said ring, a work discharge chute passing through said ring, and driving means on said base to rotate said cage slowly, said cage and lower lapping wheel having theiraxes substantially off-set relative tothe axisof the upper lapping wheel so that' References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,605,178

Doane Nov. 2, 1926 1,609,269 Player Nov. 30, 1926 1,893,100 Norton Jan. 3, 1933 1,97 6,035 Purvin Oct. 9, 1934 2,082,736 Indge June 1, 1937 2,103,984 Indge Dec. 28, 1937" 2,241,351 Indge et al.. May 6, 1941 2,341,825 Spicacci Feb. 15,v 1944 Hutchinson Sept. 20, 1949