US3577686A - Mounting for a grinding wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

A removable flange for supporting one end of a grinding wheel. The flange is provided with wedge blocks which are held away from the spindle to allow radial positioning of the flange with respect to the spindle in accordance with the alignment of the wheel. The blocks are then released and radially lock the flange with respect to the spindle.

Description

PATENI'ED MAY 419m sum 2 BF 2 MOUNTING FOR A GRINDING WHEEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to the field of mountings for wheels on grinding machines. y

In prior art devices, the free side of the wheel was supported by a flange slidably'received on the spindle. The flange was a certain amount larger than the spindle receiving it to allow radial positioning of the flange with respect to the wheel without stressing the wheel. However, when extremely wide wheels were used, such as on centerless grinding machines, the clearance between the removable flange and the spindle allowed movement of the one end of the wheel which, in turn, created chatter in the workpiece.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To alleviate thisproblem, this invention provides a flange which is slidable onto the spindle and which is free to assume the radial position of the wheel; The flange is then axially clamped in place against the spindle. A number of wedges are then forced into engagement between the spindle and the flange to radially lock the flange in position.

To release the wedges from their engaged position, a pair of geared rings are provided which are interconnected by a number of pins. Upon rotation of the rings, the pins disengage the blocks from the spindle and flange.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a wheel-holding flange which -can be initially positioned radially in conformance with the wheel and locked in'that position.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readily "apparent by reference to the following specifications, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, and it-isto be understood that any modifications may be made in the exact structural details there shown and described, within' the scope of the appended claims, without departing from or exceeding the spirit of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plane view of a spindle shown in a machine.

FIG. 2 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation taken along line 2-2 of FIG. I.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective of the spring used in this invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective of the wedge block used in this inventron.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, there is shown in phantom a grinding machine 10. A spindle 11 carrying a grinding wheel 12 is rotatably mounted in the machine 10. The wheel 12 is carried over a main body portion 13 of the spindle l1 and against a flange 15. The flange 15 is an integral part of the spindle II and, therefore, provides a fixed support for the wheel 12. Between the wheel 12 and the flange 15 is inserted a blotter 14to prevent unequal stresses from being put on the wheel 12 by the flange 15.

At the end of the wheel 12 opposite the flange 15, there is a second flange 16 which supports that end of the wheel 12. The flange 16 is slidably received on a reduced diameter portion 21 of the spindle 11 to allow removal and replacement of the wheel 12.. A blotter 17 is placed between a face 18 of the flange 16 and the wheel 12 to prevent unequal stressed from being created in the wheel by any slight misalignment of the wheel 12 and the flange 16. j

The flange 16 is axially secured to the spindle 11 by six clamp screws 19. The flange has a reduced diameter portion 23 which is slidable into the wheel 12.

This problem has been especially significant To prevent this problem, the flange 16 needs to be radially locked with respect to the spindle 11 during rotation of the spindle 11. However, during mounting of a wheel, the flange 16 must be radially free to align itself with the wheel 12. If it is not, there are residual stresses put on the wheel. Also, there must be freedom to axially adjust the flange 16 by the screws 19 to allow for expansion or compression of the blotters.

The flange 16 of this invention is shown in detail in FIGS. 2- 5. The flange 16 has a body 24 with a plurality (six as shown inFlG. 2) of openings 25 circurr'ifercntially spaced around an inside diameter 20 thereof. Each of said openings 25 has a wedge face 26 therein. Each opening 25 also has a circumferentially extending lip 28. A leaf spring 29 and a wedge block 30 are carried in each of the openings 25. The wedge block 30 has two wedging faces 32 and 33. The spring 29 acts against a face 34 of the opening 25 and the block 30 to provide a resilient biasing means for forcing the block 30 between the wedge face 26 and the spindle 11. Due to the circumferential spacing of the openings, and each block exerting a I force between the spindle and the body, the flange is locked in position radially.

Two rings and 37 are carried on opposite sides of the body 24 and are connected to each other by a number of pins 38,

a force the wedges 30 against the spring 29 releasing the wedges 30 from engagement with the spindle ll which in turn allows easy removal of the flange 16. To rotate the rings 36 and 37, a geared shaft wrench 41 is inserted in one of the clamp screw holes 42. The gears 43 on the wrench 41 engage the gear teeth on the ring 36 and, upon rotation of the wrench 41, the

Since there is a sliding fit between the flange 16 and the rings 36 and 37 are also rotated.

A pair of lock screws 45 and 46 are mounted in the flange to lock the rings 36 and 37 in their rotated position.

The wedges 30 have two outwardly extending lips 48 and 49. When the rings 36, 37 are rotated such that the pins 38 engage the blocks 30, the blocks 30 and springs 29 are held in place by the interaction of the pins 38 on the lips 48, and the lips 28 on the spring 29 which in turn is held in by the lips 49.

When the wheel 12 is mounted on the spindle 11, the rings 36 and 37 will be in their rotated position and locked there by the lock screws 45 and 46. The flange 16 is then placed over the spindle 11 with the" reduced diameter 21 being inserted into the wheel. Next, the clamp screws 19 are tightened to axially position the flange 16. To this point, the flange 16 is radially free to position itself with respect to the spindle 11. The lock screws 45 and 46 are then released and the rings 36 and 37 rotate clockwise disengaging the pins 38 from the blocks 30. The blocks 30 are wedged into. position by the springs 29 which radially locks the flange 16 in position. If, at a later time, the clamp screws need to be tightened due to compression of the blotter, the flange 16 is free to axially move a few thousandths of an inch without being radially unlocked.

Iclaim:

l. A flange for securing a grinding wheel to a spindle comprising:

a. an annular body having an inside diameter which fits slidably over the spindle, a face which contacts one end of the wheel, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings which open into the inside diameter, each said opening having a wedge portion therein;

b. a plurality of wedge blocks, one of said blocks being carried in each of said openings; and

c. resilient means for biasing said wedge blocks against the wedge portion such that said blocks engage the spindle and the wedge portions of the body to prevent relative radial movement therebetween.

2. A flange as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a circumferentially extending lip in each of the openings to hold openings and interconnecting said rings; and

c. means for rotating said rings such that said pins engage said blocks and force them against said means for biasing.

6. A flange as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means for 5 rotating comprises:

a. a number of teeth along the periphery of one of said rings;

and

b. an opening in said body for receiving a toothed wrench.

7. A flange as claimed in claim 5 further comprising means for locking said rings in the rotated position.

Claims (7)

1. A flange for securing a grinding wheel to a spindle comprising: a. an annular bOdy having an inside diameter which fits slidably over the spindle, a face which contacts one end of the wheel, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings which open into the inside diameter, each said opening having a wedge portion therein; b. a plurality of wedge blocks, one of said blocks being carried in each of said openings; and c. resilient means for biasing said wedge blocks against the wedge portion such that said blocks engage the spindle and the wedge portions of the body to prevent relative radial movement therebetween.

2. A flange as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a circumferentially extending lip in each of the openings to hold said resilient means and said blocks in the openings when said flange is removed from the spindle.

3. A flange as claimed in claim 1 wherein said biasing means is a leaf spring.

4. A flange as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for releasing said blocks from their engagement position to allow removal of the flange from the spindle.

5. A flange as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means for releasing comprises: a. a pair of rings carried on each side of said body; b. a plurality of pins, each pin extending through one of said openings and interconnecting said rings; and c. means for rotating said rings such that said pins engage said blocks and force them against said means for biasing.

6. A flange as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means for rotating comprises: a. a number of teeth along the periphery of one of said rings; and b. an opening in said body for receiving a toothed wrench.

7. A flange as claimed in claim 5 further comprising means for locking said rings in the rotated position.

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