Patent GB-946181-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to machines for running together pairs of gears
IPC: B23F23/08
Filed: 1962-06-04
Abstract: 946,181. Lapping gears. GLEASON WORKS. June 4, 1962 [June 26, 1961], No. 21559/62. Heading B3D. [Also in Division G1] A machine for running pairs of gears G, P together for testing, lapping, honing or burnishing, having means for moving them into mesh without backlash and separating them by a preselected distance, comprises a support 26, Fig. 1, a guide 22 movable on the support, a housing 15 for a gear spindle 16 movable on the guide in a direction parallel to its own movement, first and second reversible linear motion motors. for effecting these movements, each motor being arranged for reaction against the support 26, the second motor also having limited motion relative to the support, and means, operable when the second motor reaches its stroke limit in one direction, for reversing the first motor to cause it to effect terminal motion of the housing in the one direction together with the guide and the second motor. The bevel pinion P is mounted for driving by a reversible motor, not shown, the housing 15 being movable along the guide rods 22 to bring it to a loading position P<SP>1</SP>, then to a meshing position without backlash; and finally to the running position having a selected amount of backlash adjustment along the guides enables pinions of different diameters to be accommodated. The first hydraulic motor comprising a piston 28, Fig. 2, and cylinder 29 secured respectively to the ends of the guide rods 22, and the support 26 effects the terminal inward movement of the housing 15 to bring the gears into engagement without back-lash under a relatively light force, the second motor, comprising a piston 34 and cylinder 35, of a larger effective area, having quickly advanced the housing 15 from its loading position to the limit of its inward stroke, before the gears come into metal-to-metal engagement, thus the first motor enables the " no-backlash " position to vary yieldingly according to the departure from standard of the running gears. The cylinder 35 is allowed limited motion relative to the support 10 but may be hydraulically " centred " by a member 72 and secured to a reaction member 36 by a clamping ring 68. Adjustment of the housing 15 relative to the second motor assembly may be effected by a shaft 42 and screw 37. The stem of the piston 34 carries a ring 61 which prevents rotation of the piston and provides an abutment for an annular backlash piston 47 having a limited stroke which determines the extent of the withdrawal of the pinion P from its fully meshed position, this being adjustable by a sleeve 44 and a lockable screw 54 to vary the clearance at 57. When used for the repetitive testing of similar pairs of gears a pair of master gears are chucked on spindles 12 and 16 and the centring member 71 is operated and both the clamp chamber 69 and backlash chamber are opened to exhaust. Valve 82 is then opened to apply pressure to cause the piston 34 to move to the left until a port 86 is closed to arrest motion but further movement may be effected by the use of a jogging valve 88 until the ring 61 abuts the piston 47, the shaft 42 then being rotated to advance the housing 15 until the gears are meshed without baok-lash. A dial-gauge 93 mounted on the member 36 is used to indicate the shifting of the cylinder 35 away from the fully meshed position, the stem of the gauge abutting a surface on the cylinder perpendicular to the guides 22. When fully meshed the gauge is set to zero, the appropriate valves are operated to withdraw the housing 15, and the gears are removed. When replaced by running gears pressure is applied to chamber 85 moving the pinion P towards its meshing position, but near the end of its stroke the piston 34 uncovers a port 91 which puts pressure on to chamber 32 of the first motor thus moving the guide rods, the second motor, and the housing 15 slowly to the left until motion is arrested on reaching the fully meshed position when the clamp 69 is applied, the gauge 93 indicating any variation between the master and the gears under test. Pressure is now applied to the left of the backlash piston 47, moving it to the right to the extent of the pre-set clearance 57, and establishing the running positions of the gears with the required back-lash, unaffected by such dimensional differences as may exist between them and the master gears.