US3691805A

US3691805A - Ball sizing machine with gravity return

Info

Publication number: US3691805A
Application number: US53857A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clifford L Gresham; Lorin A Robinson
Original assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co
Current assignee: Caterpillar Inc
Priority date: 1970-07-10
Filing date: 1970-07-10
Publication date: 1972-09-19
Anticipated expiration: 1989-09-19
Also published as: GB1288175A; BE768193A; AU2891671A

Abstract

A ball sizing machine including a mounting for a tubular workpiece, a ram for projecting a ball from a starting position through the tubular workpiece, a ramp for receiving the ball after it is projected through the workpiece and permitting gravity return of the ball towards its starting position with a mechanism for receiving the ball from the ramp and relocating it at its starting position. A preferred embodiment including switches for controlling the machine during a complete operating cycle once the ball is located at its starting position.

Description

United States Patent Gresham et al.

[54] BALL SIZING MACHINE WITH GRAVITY RETURN [72] Inventors: Cliljgrd I Qrq ham, liflngka Lorin A. Robinson, Plainfield, both of m.

[73] Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co., Peoria, 111.

[22] Filed: July 10, 1970 [2]] Appl. No.: 53,857

[52] US. Cl ..72/75, 72/446 [51] Int. Cl. ..B2lb B2lj 13/00 [58] Field of Search ..72/75, 446, 293; 113/120 R, 113/116 UT; 29/905, 90

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,587,269 6/1971 Seccombe ..72/370 3,196,653 7/1965 Gazan ..72/75 1,095,265 5/1914 Brinkman ..72/75 604,021 5/1898 Clarke ..72/75 [ls] 3,691,805 51 Sept. 19,1972

3,267,551 8/ 1966 Judge ..29/90 1,537,207 5/1925 Wikstrom......................72/75 2,943,667 7/1960 Ewing et al. ..72/26 3,456,466 7/1969 Henry ..72/26 Primary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-Michael J. Keenan Attorney-Fryer, Tjensvold, Feix, Phillips & Lempio [57] ABSTRACT A ball sizing machine including a mounting for a tubular workpiece, a ram for projecting a ball from a starting position through the tubular workpiece, a ramp for receiving the ball after it is projected through the workpiece and permitting gravity return of the ball towards its starting position with a mechanism for receiving the ball from the ramp and relocating it at its starting position. A preferred embodiment including switches for controlling the machine during a complete operating cycle once the ball is located at its starting position.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEP 19 m2 SHEEI 1 OF 2 INVENTORS CLIFFORD L. GRESHAM LORIN A. ROBINSON BALL SIZING MACHINE WITH GRAVITY RETURN The present invention relates to ball sizing machines of the type wherein a ball is projected or driven through a slightly undersized bore in a workpiece as a step in finishing the surface of the workpiece bore.

The use of a precision ground or formed ball for sizing tubular workpieces is known in the prior art. However, the present invention relates to a relatively simple machine suitable for such ball sizing operations. The machine is readily adaptable to receive workpieces of varying sizes. To further facilitate the sizing of relatively large numbers of tubular workpieces, the machine is particularly contemplated as including switches for automatically controlling each sizing operation once the ball is located at its starting position.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a ball sizing machine providing one or more of the capabilities discussed above.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a machine with ramp means for permitting return of the ball by gravity toward its starting position and additional means for relocating the ball at its starting position to commence a new sizing operation.

It is a further object to provide switches for controlling the machine during an operating cycle when the ball is in its starting position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description having reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the present ball sizing machine;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the ball sizing machine of FIG. 1 and shows the complete circuit for the ball during each sizing operation; and

FIG. 3 is a view taken along section lines III-III of FIG. 2.

Having particular reference to FIG. I, a ball sizing machine constructed according to the present invention includes a suitable base assembly or frame 10. A tubular workpiece shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 at 12 and having a bore 13 is held in place on the machine by means including an adjustable V-block assembly indicated at I4 for supporting a central portion of the workpiece and a tailstock fixture I6 secured to the frame by a bracket I7.

A head assembly 18 is movably mounted on the frame I at one end of the workpiece by means of a gear and rack combination indicated at l9 which is operable by a wheel 20 to permit adaptation of the machine to workpieces of different lengths.

Means for supporting a ball 21 at a starting position in alignment with the one end of the workpiece bore is provided on the head assembly by a dished out plate 22. The one end of the workpiece adjacent the head assembly is partially broken away to more clearly show construction of the machine.

For projecting or driving the ball from its starting position through the workpiece, a hydraulic jack 23 is secured to the frame I0 by means of a bracket 24. Its ram or rod 26 is adjacent the starting position for the ball and in axial alignment with the workpiece bore. As seen in FIG. 3, the head assembly is formed with an opening 27 permitting the ram to engage the ball 21 and project it through the workpiece.

A ramp 28 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) is arranged on the frame 10 by means of mounts 29 with a relatively higher end 31 of the ramp being secured to the tailstock 16 for receiving the ball as it is driven out of the workpiece bore. The ramp turns and inclines downwardly to permit return of the ball by gravity toward its starting position. The ball is shown in several positions indicated at 21 in its path along the ramp.

A return mechanism 32 for receiving the ball from the ramp and relocating it at its starting position to commence a new sizing operation may be best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The mechanism includes a gate 33 pivoted at 34 to the head assembly 18. An extension 36 also on the head assembly slidably engages the lower end 37 of the ramp to receive the ball and guide in onto the gate 33 in its lowered position as shown in FIG. 3. The slidable engagement between the extension 36 and ramp end 37 permits continued communication for the ball between the ramp and the return mechanism as the head assembly position is adjusted on the frame by the wheel 20 and gear and rack combination 19.

Referring particularly to FIG. 3, a hydraulic jack 38 is also arranged on the return mechanism 32 to extend and raise the gate 33 once the ball returns to the gate from the ramp to permit the ball to roll into its starting position on the plate 22. Hydraulic circuitry (not otherwise shown) for the jack 38 includes a manual start switch 39 for actuating the jack and raising the gate. Preferably, the circuitry includes release means (not shown) which permits the jack to retract and return the gate to its lowered position shown in FIG. 3 after the gate is raised and the ball rolls onto the plate 22.

In operation, a ball is located at its starting position on the plate 22 for example by the return mechanism 32. The ram 26 is then extended to drive the ball through a workpiece supported on the V-block l4 and tailstock 16. As the ball exits through the other end of the workpiece and the tailstock. it is received by the ramp and returned to the gate 33 of the return mechanism 32 ready to commence a new sizing operation once the sized workpiece is replaced by another workpiece.

To permit automatic operation of the ram or jack 23 during each sizing operation, its hydraulic circuitry (not otherwise shown) includes first switch means for actuating the jack to extend its ram 26 and drive the ball through the workpiece. Second switch means reverse the jack after the ball passes through the workpiece and onto the ramp. Third switch means deactuate the jack when its ram is returned to an appropriate position adjacent the head assembly for commencing a new sizing operation. Components of these various switch means are described below in preferred locations on the machine.

The first switch means includes an actuating plunger 41 slidably centered in the plate 22. The plunger is depressed by the ball being located in its starting position on the plate 22, for example by the return mechanism 32, and trips a solenoid switch 42 which is associated with the hydraulic circuitry for actuatingthe cylinder 23 and causing extension of its ram 26.

The second switch means includes a lever 43 pivotally arranged on the tailstock. As the ball passes out of the workpiece, it pivots the lever 43 which trips a solenoid switch 44 effective to reverse the cylinder 23 and retract its rams 26.

The third switch means includes a limit switch 46 mounted on the head assembly 18 with a trip lever 47 arranged for engagement with the flanged head of the ram 26. According ythe limit switch, which is eflective to deactuate the cylinder, is tripped by engagement of the ram head with the lever 47 with the ram in an appropriate position adjacent the head assembly to commence a new operation regardless of the adjusted position of the head assembly on the frame.

The present invention, an embodiment of which is described above, provides a simple ball sin'ng machine which is readily adaptable for automation as described above. A particular feature is the ramp permitting gravity return of the ball with the workpiece in a generally horizontal position on the frame.

To illustrate numerous modifications which are possible for the above embodiment, it is obvious that the return mechanism could be substantially simplified by slightly tilting the workpiece upwardly toward the return means arranged on the frame for receiving the gravity returned ball and relocating it at the starting position prior to commencing new sizing operation,

first switch means for actuating the ram means in one direction to project the ball through the workpiece when the ball is in its starting position,

second switch means for reversing the ram means when the ball is projected through and out of the workpiece by the ram means, and

third switch means for deactuating the ram means when it is returned to its original position for commencing a new sizing operation,

the second switch means being responsive to the ball being projected through and out of the workpiece by the ram means, the third switch means including a limit switch for sensing return of the ram means to its original position.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the first switch tailstock so that the ramp could provide a downwardly 20 means includes means responsive to situation of the inclined path for the ball all the way to its starting pcsition on the plate 22. With such an arrangement, the return mechanism need provide only a guide for assuring relocation of the ball at its starting position on the plate 22.

Other features of the above embodiment could similarly be modified, therefore, the scope of the invention is defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is: l. A ball sizing machine comprising a frame, 7 means mounted on the frame for securing a tubular workpiece in generally horizontal alignment,

support means for supporting a sizing ball of selected diameter in a starting position at one end of the workpiece,

ram means arranged on the frame for projecting the sizing ball through the workpiece,

ramp means carried by the frame for receiving the sizing ball toward its starting position, and

ball in its starn'ng position.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the last said means is a switch arranged at the starting position for the ball.

4. The invention of claim 2 wherein the ram means is fil zg r tion of claim 1 wherein the support means, the return means and the limit switch of the third switch means are portions of a head assembly which is movably mounted on the frame for adaptation to workpieces of varying lengths.

6. The ball sizing machine of claim 5 wherein the support means includes a tailstock support arranged on the frame for receiving the other end of the workpiece, and an additional support member so that the workpiece may be arranged in a generally horizontal position, the second switch means including a switch lever mounted on the tailstock support for alignment with the tubular workpiece.

I i t i i

Claims

1. A ball sizing machine comprising a frame, means mounted on the frame for securing a tubular workpiece in generally horizontal alignment, support means for supporting a sizing ball of selected diameter in a starting position at one end of the workpiece, ram means arranged on the frame for projecting the sizing ball through the workpiece, ramp means carried by the frame for receiving the sizing ball toward its starting position, and return means arranged on the frame for receiving the gravity returned ball and relocating it at the starting position prior to commencing new sizing operation, first switch means for actuating the ram means in one direction to project the ball through the workpiece when the ball is in its starting position, second switch means for reversing the ram means when the ball is projected through and out of the workpiece by the ram means, and third switch means for deactuating the ram means when it is returned to its original position for commencing a new sizing operation, the second switch means being responsive to the ball being projected through and out of the workpiece by the ram means, the third switch means including a limit switch for sensing return of the ram means to its original position.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the first switch means includes means responsive to situation of the ball in its starting position.

4. The invention of claim 2 wherein the ram means is a hydraulic jack.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein the support means, the return means and the limit switch of the third switch means are portions of a head assembly which is movably mounted on the frame for adaptation to workpieces of varying lengths.