An Improved Grinding and Polishing Machine...
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Nov., 1896-Accepted, 27th Mar., 1897
An Improved Grinding and Polishing Machine...
I, MERRILL ELBRIDGE CLARK, of No. 63 Windsor Street in the City of Worcester,
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States of America, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of my invention is to provide a machine in which stock may be finished
between a plurality of abrading wheels or surfaces, where finish to exact size is
required, said machine containing mechanism for varying the distance between the
finishing surfaces while the machine is in operation.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying six sheets of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a front view of the machine, including the feeding device.
Fig. 2 is a side view.
Fig. 3 is a front view, with the feeding device omitted.
Fig. 4 is a rear view.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal, sectional view, on the line 5-5, Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 is a plan view on the line 6-6, Fig. 1.
Fig. 7 is a modification showing a device for actuating the mechanism which regulates
the distance between the finishing or abrading wheels.
Fig. 8 is a second modification, in elevation, of a device for regulating the distance
between the finishing or abrading wheels.
Fig. 9 is a plan view of the last-named modification.
I show in the drawings, two abrading wheels, which, will serve to illustrate the
invention.
In the drawings, 1 is the bed of the machine. 2 is a disk adapted to be revolved
with the main drive pulley, 3.
4, 4 are drive-pulleys secured to the disk by means of spindles 5 5, to the
opposite ends of which and on the back side of the revolvable disk, are gear
wheels 6, 6, adapted to mesh with the gear upon the inner side of the face of the
stationary disk 7, which is bolted to the bed of the machine, and to the frame 8,
in which runs the hollow spindle, which carries the main pulley 3.
I show the pulley and hollow spindle cast in one piece to which the revolvable
disk is bolted.
Secured in sliding frames upon. the face of the revolvable disk 2, are two
spindles 9, 10. At their outer ends are two abrading wheels 11, 12, and at inter-
mediate points are secured upon the spindles 9, 10, the pulleys 13, 14, adapted by
means of the belt 15 to be actuated by the pulleys 4, 4, rotary motion on their axes
thus being communicated to the abrading wheels 11, 12, when the disk 2 revolves.
150 is a suitably located friction device, so that the belt 15 may always be kept
sufficiently tight whatever may be the positions of the pulleys 13, 14.
The U-shaped, sliding frames 16, 17, held within the ways 22, 23, terminate in the
rods 18, 19, which have bearings within the projections 20, 21, secured to the face of
the revolvable disk, the sliding frames are held in and returned to their initial positions
by the spiral springs 24, 25.
Projecting inwardly from the U-shaped frames 16, 17 and rigidly secured to them,
are the studs 26, 27 upon the opposite ends of which are the rolls 28, 29.
These rolls revolve with the revolvable disk and have a bearing upon the tube 30,
D

page_text: which is cone-shaped for part of its length towards the base, which extends into
flange-like projections, containing the rods 31, 32, 33, rigidly secured thereto, and
extending rearwardly and having bearings in suitably disposed parts 34, 35, of the
frame-work, which are cast with the part 75, which is bolted to the bed of the
machine.
The office of these rods is to hold the tube 30, in place, and at the same time to
provide means for moving it longitudinally. Within the outer end of the tube 30 is
the bushing 36, the bore of which may be the size to which it is desired to finish the
stock being treated; and the bore of the bushings may be varied with the size of
the stock..
It will be noted in the drawing Fig. 5, that the bore of the bushing equals in
diameter the distance between the abrading wheels, the finish size cf the stock being
treated. I have referred to the fact that the conical tube 30 is adapted to receive
longitudinal movement; this is effected by means of the treadle 87, and connecting-
rod 37, shown in Fig. 2, which is pivoted at 38, and secured to the rod 31, by the
bolt 39. When the treadle is depressed, as it may be by the foot of the operator,
the rod 31, and with it the conical tube 30, is moved to the right, the rolls 28, 29
are pushed away from the central line of action of the machine, and carry with them
the U-shaped, sliding frames in which the abrading wheels are mounted, and thus
increases the distance between the circumference of these wheels, and finish to a
larger diameter the stock being treated.
This adjustment is essential in treating stock which varies in size in cross-section,
and the means which I have sbown is efficient for this purpose.
It may, however, be desirable to secure an adjustment of the abrading wheels
more delicate than, that which I have described, and it may also be desirable to
quickly secure a wide separation of the abrading surfaces, when stock is being
treated which varies greatly and abruptly in cross-section.
Means for securing the more delicate adjustment is illustrated in the modification
shown in Fig. 7, in which the rod 31 is threaded at one end and engages with
the gear 10, threaded within its bore, and adapted to be revolved by the crank 41,
and worm 42. A very delicate adjustment is thus secured.
The more abrupt, and considerable adjustment is effected by the modification
illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, in which is shown the plate 43, designed to take the
place of the conical tube 30, and to be secured upon the rods 31, 32, 33.
This has, upon its outer face a circular projection 144, and an elliptical
projection 145, extending still further, as shown in plan, in Fig. 9.
As the rolls 28, 29, revolve, they normally move in a plane removed from the
plate 43, and hence are not affected by it; but when the treadle is depressed,
the plate 43 is moved forward within the plane of movement of the rolls, which
find a path upon the sides of the ellipse, until they reach the apices, when they
find a path upon the circle 144 and thus an abrupt and considerable separation of
the abrading wheels is instantaneously effected and continues until the upward
movement of the treadle withdraws the plate 43 from the plane of travel of the
rolls 28, 29 which are thus returned to their normal position by the action of the
springs 24, 25, upon the sliding frames. When the modification shown in Fig. 8
is used, the rolls 28, 29, should have straight face as indicated in dotted lines in
connection with roll 29.
It remains to describe the feed mechanism at the front and rear of the machine.
This is actuated by the pulley 44, mounted on the shaft 45, at the rear of the machine.
The mitre gear 46, on the shaft 45, meshes with the mitre gear 47, on the telescope
shaft 48.
The telescope shaft 48, has a universal joint at 49, and runs in the box 50, which is
movably mounted upon the rod 105, secured in the frame 106, which is bolted to the
bed of the machine.
The box is supported by the spiral spring 53, which rests on the rod 54. The rod 54
is threaded at its lower end and engages with the small gear wheel 55, actuated by
the crank 56, thus providing means for the vertical adjustment of the box 50, the

page_text: joint 49 permitting the telescope shaft 48 to adapt itsen to the varying positions of
the box 50.
At the extremity of the shaft 48 is the grooved feed-roll 57. By means of the
gear 58, motion is communicated to the gear 59, mounted on shaft 60, which runs in
the box 61, mounted in the slotted standards, 51, 52, which are pivotally mounted
upon shaft 48, and the box 61 is vertically adjustable, within certain limits, by means
of the threaded rod 62, and crank 63." At the extremity of the shaft 60 is the
grooved feed-roll 157.
The threaded rod 62 engages with the projections 64, 65, the former connected with
box 61, and the latter with box 50.
The standards 51, 52, are yieldingly connected with the frame of the machine by
the spring 66, so that when curved stock is being treated, the rolls will adjust
themselves to. varying curvatures.
At the extremity of the telescope shaft 48, opposite the feed-rolls, is the sprocket-
wheel 67, connected by the sprocket-chain 68, with the sprocket-wheel 69, mounted on
the shaft 70.
The shaft 70- runs in suitable boxes secured to the bed of the machine, and carries
the sprocket-wheel. 71, which is connected by the sprocket-chain 72, with the
sprocket-wheel 73, mounted on the shaft. 74.
The shaft 74 runs in suitable boxes mounted in the frame 175, which is secured to
the hinged arm 76, which, in turn is bolted to the bed of the machine.
This arrangement makes it possible to readily remove the feed-rolls from the front
of the machine, when, for example, curved stock is being treated, and to return them.
as readily to their position.
The hinged arm 76 is provided at its upper end with the perforation 77, which acts
as a guide for stock being treated. The bushing, 36, is removable, and the conical
tube 30 is sufficiently large to allow curved stock to pass through the machine.
I have only shown one pair of abrading wheels in the drawings, but if it were
desired, two pairs of wheels, of different degrees of coarseness, could be used
simultaneously. I have in the specification, shown abrading wheels, which sufficiently
illustrate the working of my improvement.
Having described the details of construction of the machine, I will describe the
manner in which it operates. Power is independently applied to the driving-pulley 3,
which drives the revolvable disk, and to the pulley 44, which operates the feed-rolls at
the front and rear of the machine. The distance between the surfaces of the abrading
wheels is made equal to the diameter to which it is desired to finish the stock, and a
bushing of suitable size is inserted in the conical tube; as the stock is passing
through the machine the distance between the abrading wheels can be varied by the
treadle and connecting mechanism already described.
Where it is not necessary to
finish stock to exact size, I can use the finishing belts. Where exact size is required,
the abrading wheels are preferable.
The feed-rolls at the front of the machine may be dispensed with, if necessary, when
curved stock is used, as the rolls at the rear of the machine are adapted to adjust
themselves to stock of varying curvatures.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a finishing machine, the combination of a revolvable disk, mechanism secured
to said disk, for finishing stock, and mechanism adapted to be operated while the
machine is running, whereby the distance between the finishing surfaces may be
varied, substantially as described.
2. In a finishing machine, the combination of a revolvable disk, a plurality of
abrading surfaces secured to said disk, and mechanism adapted to be operated while
the machine is running, whereby the distance between the abrading surfaces may be
varied, substantially as described.
3. In a finishing machine, the combination of a revolvable disk, a plurality of

page_text: abrading surfaces secured to said disk, means for rotating said abrading surfaces and
mechanism adapted to be operated while the machine is running whereby the distance
between the abrading surfaces may be varied, substantially as described.
4. In a finishing machine, the combination of a revolvable disk, a plurality of
abrading surfaces, radially movable frames secured to said disk, a roll secured to each
of sid frames, a suitably shaped body mounted within the frame of the machine and
adapted to move horizontally between said rolls and mechanism for moving said body
whereby the distance between the abrading surfaces may be varied, substantially as
described.
5. In a finishing machine, the combination of a revolvable disk, a plurality of
abrading surfaces, radially movable frames, secured to said disk, a roll secured to each
of said frames, a tube with tapering sides suitably mounted within the frame of the
machine, between said rolls, and adapted to move horizontally, and mechanism for
moving said tube, whereby the distance between. the abrading surfaces may be varied,
substantially as described.
Dated this 2nd day of November 1896.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.