Method of chamfering and deburring gear teeth, device implementing such a method, and relative tool

Abstract: A method of chamfering and deburring the teeth (38) of a gear (2) having first teeth (38), each of the first teeth (38) having a first and a second side (40, 41) and respective end faces (42); the method providing for meshing the gear (2) with at least one tool (12, 13) having a ring gear (28; 48) meshing with the first teeth (38) at edges formed between the first and second sides (40, 41) and the end faces (42); exerting compression between the first teeth (38) of the gear (2) and the ring gear (28; 48); effecting a first permanent deformation of the edges to form first chamfer faces (45); and effecting at least a second permanent deformation between the first and second sides (40, 41) and the respective end faces (42); the first and the second permanent deformation being effected by means of enbloc tools (12, 13) having a first number of teeth (31; 49) and a second number of teeth (33; 50).

Description: The present invention relates to a method of chamfering and deburring gear teeth. Further, it relates to a tool and a device for performing said method. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of chamfering and deburring helical gears, to which the following description refers purely by way of example. A method according to the preamble of claim 1 is known, for example, from DE-U-83 07 877. Gears normally comprise teeth defined by respective sides and end faces, which, with the sides, form sharp edges along which burrs are left after chip-forming machining, and which must therefore be chamfered for the gear to work and mesh properly. One known deburring and chamfering method employs a tool featuring a ring gear comprising a number of teeth, which are brought into contact with and pressed against the sharp edges to deform them permanently and form bevels between the sides and end faces of the gear teeth. A major drawback of the above known method, however, lies in the formation of curls projecting from the gear teeth and partly inside the gaps between the teeth, and which are formed by the permanently deformed material of the tooth, and seriously impair operation of the gear, particularly in the case of high-precision gears. The problem is further compounded in the case of gears which are ground after heat treatment, in which case, the hardened curls may indent the grinding tool. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gear chamfering and deburring method designed to eliminate the above drawbacks. According to the present invention, there is provided a method, as claimed in Claim 1, designed to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks. The present invention also relates to a chamfering and deburring tool (see claim 4). The present invention also relates to a chamfering and deburring device (see claim 12). A number of non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a small-scale section, with parts removed for clarity, of a device in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows a section, with parts removed for clarity, of a tool of the Figure 1 device; Figure 3 shows a view in perspective, with parts removed for clarity, of the Figure 2 tool; Figures 3a and 3b show sections of the Figure 3 tool; Figures 4a and 4b show developed views of a gear engaged by the Figure 2 and 3 tool at two stages in the method according to the present invention; Figure 5 shows a view in perspective, with parts removed for clarity, of a variation of the Figure 1 device tool; Figure 5a shows a section of the Figure 5 tool; Figure 6 shows a developed view of a gear engaged by the Figure 5 tool; Figures 6a and 6b show sections of the Figure 6 tool. Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates as a whole a device for chamfering and deburring the teeth of a gear 2 shown by the dash lines in Figure 1. Device 1 comprises a hub 3 and an axis 4 of rotation and symmetry. Hub 3 is fitted to a known shaft (not shown) and comprises a ring 5 integral with hub 3 and extending radially; an L-section ring 6 fitted to ring 5 by screws 7 (only one shown in Figure 1); and two annular disks 8 and 9 fitted to ring 5 by screws 10 (only one shown in Figure 1). Rings 5 and 6 define an annular seat 11 housing two tools 12 and 13, which are in the form of annular disks facing and parallel to each other, are fitted to respective rings 5 and 6 by means of screws 14, and are located a given axial distance apart. Disk 8 is located on the opposite side of rings 5 and 6 to disk 9. Disks 8 and 9 are positioned facing and parallel to each other, and define a seat 15 housing two annular deburring disks 16 and 17 facing and parallel to each other and adjacent to respective tools 12 and 13. Disks 16 and 17 rest on respective rings 5 and 6, and are pushed towards each other by springs 18 located between disks 8, 9 and respective disks 16, 17. Disks 16 and 17 comprise screws 19 fitted to disks 16 and 17 and in turn comprising respective heads 20 projecting axially with respect to disks 16 and 17 and housed inside respective seats 21 formed in disks 8 and 9. Device 1 also comprises two disks 22 located between deburring disks 16, 17 and respective tools 12, 13. That is, whereas tools 12 and 13 are fitted rigidly to hub 3, deburring disks 16 and 17 are allowed to slide axially by a limited amount with respect to hub 3. Deburring disks 16 and 17 have respective outer peripheral edges 23 bent towards each other at the outer peripheries of respective tools 12 and 13, and having cutting edges for deburring the sides of gear 2. Gear 2 is connected to device 1 and mounted for rotation about a respective axis 24 parallel to axis 4. The following description with reference to Figures 2, 3, 4a and 4b refers for the sake of simplicity to tool 12, it being understood, however, that the same also applies to tool 13. With reference to Figure 2, tool 12 comprises an axis 25 coincident, in use, with axis 4 of device 1; an annular disk 26 having a central hole 27; and a ring gear 28 integral with disk 26. Annular disk 26 has a number of threaded holes 29 equally spaced about axis 25 and which are engaged, in use, by screws 14 (Figure 1). With reference to Figure 3, ring gear 28 comprises at least one portion 30 having teeth 31; and at least one portion 32 having teeth 33. Portions 30 and 32 are complementary to each other and may, for example, each occupy half of ring gear 28. With reference to Figures 3a and 4a, each tooth 31 comprises sides 34 and 35 forming an acute angle A ranging between 0° and 90°. With reference to Figures 3b and 4b, each tooth 33 comprises sides 36 and 37 forming an acute angle B considerably smaller than angle A and ranging between 0° and 15°. With reference to Figures 4a and 4b, gear 2 comprises a succession of helical teeth 38, each of which has a respective axis 39 inclined at an angle C with respect to a direction parallel to axis 24. Each tooth 38 comprises two sides 40 and 41 parallel to axis 39; and two end faces 42 parallel to each other and perpendicular to axis 24 of gear 2. With reference to Figure 1, in actual use, gear 2 is aligned with tools 12 and 13, with axis 24 parallel to axis 4 of device 1, so as to mesh with tools 12 and 13; a known device (not shown) applies pressure between gear 2 and device 1 in direction 44 to push tools 12 and 13 against gear 2; deburring disks 16 and 17 push respective edges 23 into contact with the sides of gear; and springs 18 press edges 23 against the sides of gear 2. With reference to Figure 4a, portion 30 of ring gear 28 of tool 12, viewed in section, engages gear 2 on one side of gear 2, with teeth 31 located successively between respective teeth 38 of gear 2. More specifically, side 35 of each tooth 31 is positioned contacting an edge between side 41 and respective end face 42 of one tooth 38, while side 34 of tooth 31 is positioned contacting an edge between side 40 and the respective end face of an adjacent tooth 38. Gradual forced insertion of teeth 31 between teeth 38 of gear 2 and the pressure exerted in direction 44 between gear 2 and device 1 produce considerable pressure between faces 34 and 35 of each tooth 31 and the edges of two successive, adjacent teeth 38, so as to permanently deform the edges as shown in the enlarged detail of Figure 4a. Permanent deformation of the edges is such as to flatten the edges and form respective chamfer faces 45 between respective sides 40 and 41 and respective end faces 42, and to also form a curl 46a on the side of tooth 38, and a curl 46b on face 42 (Figure 4a). That is, each tooth 31 forms, by permanent deformation, chamfer faces 45 on sides 40 and 41 of two adjacent teeth 38 of gear 2. Chamfer faces 45 are inclined, with respect to respective sides 40 and 41, at an angle D, which is a complement of 180° with the inclination E of faces 34 and 35 with respect to the axes 39 of teeth 38. Tests have shown gears 2 to operate best with an inclination E ranging between 5° and 45°. With reference to Figure 4b, portion 32 of ring gear 28 of tool 12, viewed in section, engages one side of gear 2, with teeth 33 located successively between respective teeth 38 of gear 2. More specifically, side 37 of each tooth 33 is positioned contacting curl 46a between side 41 and respective chamfer face 45, while side 36 of tooth 33 is positioned contacting curl 46a between side 40 and respective chamfer face 45 of an adjacent tooth 38. Like teeth 31, the pressure exerted in direction 44 produces considerable pressure between faces 36 and 37 and curls 46a, so as to deform curls 46a as shown in the enlarged detail of Figure 4b. Deformation of curls 46a is a permanent deformation by which curls 46a are flattened and "ironed out" so to speak on to sides 41, while curls 46b projecting from end faces 42 of tooth 38 are removed by cutting edges 23 of deburring disks 16, 17. In the variation shown in Figures 5, 5a and 6, tool 12 comprises a ring gear 48 in turn comprising teeth 49 and teeth 50 equally spaced and alternating with each other about ring gear 48. Each tooth 49 comprises a side 51 inclined at a given angle with respect to a direction parallel to axis 25, and a side 52 inclined with respect to axis 25 at a smaller angle than side 51; and sides 51 and 52 of each tooth 49 form an angle H comparable to angle B in the Figure 3 embodiment. Each tooth 50 comprises a side 53 inclined at a given angle with respect to axis 25, and a side 54 inclined with respect to axis 25 at a given angle considerably smaller than that of side 53; and sides 53 and 54 of each tooth 50 form an angle I comparable to angle A in the Figure 3 embodiment. Teeth 49 and 50 are so arranged that side 51 of each tooth 49 faces side 53 of the adjacent tooth 50 on one side, and side 52 faces side 54 of the adjacent tooth 50 on the opposite side, and so that flared gaps 55a of a given size between sides 51 and 53 of adjacent teeth 49 and 50 alternate about ring gear 48 with flared gaps 55b formed between sides 52 and 54 of respective teeth 49 and 50 and considerably smaller than gaps 55a. With reference to Figure 6, in actual use, ring gear 48 of tool 12, viewed in section, engages gear 2 on one side, with teeth 49 and 50 located successively between respective teeth 38 of gear 2. More specifically, sides 51, 52 and 53, 54 of respective teeth 49 and 50 are brought into contact with the edges between sides 40 and 41 and end faces 42 of gear 2. In particular, the edge between side 41 and end face 42 of each tooth 38 contacts side 53; and, as in the Figure 3 embodiment, side 53 of tooth 50 forms, by permanent deformation, chamfer face 45 between side 41 and face 42. The edge between side 40 and end face 42 contacts side 51; tooth 49, by means of a respective side 51, forms, by permanent deformation, chamfer face 45 between side 40 and respective end face 42; and the formation of chamfer face 45 produces a respective curl 46a, which is eliminated by further permanent deformation by the pressure exerted by faces 52 and 54 of respective teeth 49 and 50. In other words, each side 41 is brought into contact with a respective side 52 of a tooth 49, which provides for further permanent deformation by exerting pressure on curl 46a. Similarly, each side 40 is brought into contact with a respective side 54 of a respective tooth 50, which provides for further permanent deformation by exerting pressure on curl 46a. As in the Figure 3 embodiment, the outer curl 46b is removed by cutting edges 23 of disks 16, 17. The main characteristics of the present invention may be summed up as follows: (a) double permanent deformation to form the edge between the side and one face, and to flatten the inside curl on the-side of the gear tooth; (b) highly compact tools 12, 13, the ring gears 28, 48 of which are formed in one piece with respective disks 26, thus reducing production and storage cost of tools 12, 13; (c) highly straightforward timing of the chamfer-face-forming and curl-flattening teeth; (d) the axial distance between tools 12 and 13 of the same device may be varied extremely easily to work gears 2 of different axial widths, while at the same time maintaining the same angle C of inclination of the spiral of the teeth of gear 2; and (e) within certain limits, a device comprising two tools 12, 13 may be used to work gears 2 with slightly differing angles C of inclination of the teeth, by simply rotating one tool 12, 13 with respect to the other 13, 12 depending on the difference in the angle C of inclination of the teeth of gear 2.

Claims: A method of chamfering and deburring the teeth of a gear (2) comprising first teeth (38), each of said first teeth (38) comprising a first and a second side (40, 41) and respective end faces (42), and said method comprising the steps of meshing said gear (2) with at least one tool (12, 13), said tool (12, 13) comprising a ring gear (28; 48) meshing with said first teeth (38) at edges formed between said first and second sides (40, 41) and the end faces (42); exerting compression between said first teeth (38) and said ring gear (28; 48); and effecting a first permanent deformation of said first teeth (38) between, respectively, said first and second sides (40, 41) and said end faces (42); said method being characterized by comprising the further step of effecting a second permanent deformation of said first teeth (38) between, respectively, said first and second sides (40, 41) and said end faces (42); said first and said second permanent deformation being effected by means of enbloc tools (12, 13), each of them having a first number of teeth (31, 49) and a second number of teeth (33; 50) for respectively effecting said first permanent deformation and said second permanent deformation. A method as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that each tooth of said first number of teeth (31) simultaneously forms two chamfers (45) of two adjacent said first teeth (38) of said gear (2), and each tooth of said second number of teeth (33) provides for flattening a curl (46a) of two adjacent first teeth (38) of said gear (2). A method as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that each tooth of said first number of teeth (49) and each tooth of said second number of teeth (50) form, on the one hand, a first chamfer (45) and, on the other hand, provide for flattening the curl (46a) of two adjacent said first teeth (38). A tool for implementing the method claimed in Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said ring gear (28; 48), which is enbloc and formed in one piece with an annular disk (26), comprises a first number of teeth (31; 49) and a second number of teeth (33, 50) for respectively effecting said first and said second permanent deformation. A tool as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that said ring gear (28) comprises at least a first and at least a second portion (30, 32); said at least a first and at least a second portion (30, 32) being complementary to each other; said at least a first portion (30) comprising said first number of teeth (31); and said at least a second portion (32) comprising said second number of teeth (33). A tool as claimed in Claim 5, characterized in that in said first number of teeth (31) each tooth has respective sides (34, 35) forming a first angle (A); and in said second number of teeth (33) each tooth has respective sides (35, 36) forming a second angle (B); said second angle (B) being considerably smaller than said first angle (A). A tool as claimed in Claim 6, characterized in that said second angle (B) ranges between 0° and 15°. A tool as claimed in Claim 6, characterized in that said first angle (A) ranges between 0° and 90°. A tool as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that in said first number of teeth (31) each tooth meshes with two adjacent said first teeth (38) of said gear (2) to effect said first permanent deformation; in said second number of teeth (33) each tooth meshing with two adjacent said first teeth (38) to effect said second permanent deformation. A tool as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that said first number of teeth (49) alternate with said second number of teeth (50) about said ring gear (48). A tool as claimed in Claim 10, characterized in that in said first number of teeth (49) each tooth comprises respective sides (51, 52), and in said second number of teeth (50) each tooth comprises respective sides (53, 54); said sides (51, 53) being used to effect said first permanent deformation; and said sides (52, 54) being used to effect said second permanent deformation. A device for implementing the method as claimed in Claims 1 to 3, characterized by comprising at least one tool (12, 13) as claimed in Claims 4 to 11; said at least one tool (12, 13) rotating about an axis (4). A device as claimed in Claim 12, characterized by also comprising at least one deburring disk (16, 17) rotating about said axis (4).

Inventors: TOMEI UMBERTO, TOMEI, UMBERTO
Applicants: SAMPUTENSILI SPA, SAMPUTENSILI S.P.A.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B23P15
IPC codes: B21H5