Improvements in Machines for Grinding Metal Balls and other Articles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Sept., 1890-Accepted, 4th Oct., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by CHARLES EDWIN GOULD, of Leominster, Worcester,
Manufacturer, GEORGE WASHINGTON WEEKS, of Clinton, Worcester, Manufacturer,
WILLIAM SUMMER REED, FRANK HENRY COOK, and CHARLES EDWIN DRESSER,
of Leominster, Worcester, and GEORGE DIXTER BURTON, of 194, Washington
Street, Boston, Suffolk, Manufacturers, all in the State of Massachusetts, United
States of America.]
Improvements in Machines for Grinding Metal Balls and other
Articles.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents
45 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
This invention relates to machines for grinding metal balls and other articles.
In shaping metal balls and other articles by rolled forging wherein grooved dies
having cutting bosses are employed, a teat or projection is left on the sail balls. A
metallic ball is employed in the present instance to illustrate the operation of this
invention which relates especially to mechanism for grinding away the said projections ;
and it consists in certain novel features hereinafter set forth the object being to
produce a simpler cheaper and more effective device of this character than is now in
ordinary use.
The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood by all
conversant with such matters from the following explanation.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is an end elevation of the improved machine.
Figure 2 a front elevation of the same.
Figure 3 a top plan view partly in section.
Figure 4 a central vertical transverse section of the machine.
Figure 5 an enlarged perspective of one of the form holders.
Figure 6 a like view of a holder sleeve detached, and
Figures 7 and 8 represent respectively an edge and side elevation of the cam gear.
Like letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different
figures of the drawings.
A represents the frame or body of the machine which consists primarily of two
vertical end pieces & supported on a base.
A horizontal shaft is journalled centrally in the end pieces and is fitted to slide
longitudinally in its journals. A driving pulley 9 is mounted on the outer end of said
shaft and a grinding wheel B is secured centrally thereto.
A journal of the shaft is secured to a block h (see Figure 4) and a set screw i,
passing through a slot j holds said block on the frame. This journal block is adjustable
vertically by means of a thumb-screw k passing through the bottom of the frame and
the wear on the grinding wheel may thus be compensated for.
A horizontal frame Chaving curved or bowed side pieces d is adjustable laterally on
the tops of the end pieces 6 of the body A. Set screws m in said body hold the
horizontal frame in position.
Set screws p passing through slots q in the frame C prevent vertical movement
thereof on the body A.
A horizontal stub-shaft t, is journalled in one end of the frame Cin the same vertical
plane as the shaft f said shaft t bearing a driving pulley and a gear u. The inner
face of the gear is provided with a circular cam-track y which engages the adjacent
end of the shaft f, and forces said shaft longitudinally outward at each semi-revolution
PARS

page_text: A horizontal lever 15 (Figure 2) is pivoted to the body A and a vertical lovor 16 is
pivoted by its lower ends to said horizontal lever, its upper end engaging the end of
the shaft opposite the gear . A coiled spring 17 connects the lover 16 and
machine body said spring acting contractively to return the shaft after being moved
by the gear cam.
Two parallel shafts 18 are journalled on top of the frame and bear gears 19 on
their outer ends which respectively mesh with the gear w. Each shaft has a sleeve or
collet 20 keyed thereto near its inner end and the inner end of the journal for each
of said shalts is provided with an annular bearing plate 21. A series of balls 22 is
interposed between each of the collets 20 and the adjacent hearing plate 21 whereby
an anti-friction thrust hearing is formed for each of the shifts 18 so that the friction
caused by the outward pressure of said shafts is very much reduced, moreover, these
anti-friction thrust bearings assist in holding the shafts in allignment.
The inner ends of the shafts 18 (sen Figure 5) are reduced and furcated or slotted
longitudinally as shown at 23. Their extreme ends are also grooved or hollowed to
receive a portion of the surface of the balls D said ends forming one section of the
ball holders.
A sleeve or cap 24 (see Figure 6) is adapted to receive the reduced end 23 of the
shaft, said sleeve being slotteil and grooved in like manner to engage the sides of a
ball D. The enp is held in position by a set-screw 25 as shown in Figure 6 and is
employed when larger balls are boing ground than can readily be held by the shaft
end.
Similar horizontally arranged shafts 26 are journalled at the rear of the frame C
and in allignment with the respective shaft 18. Said shafts 26 have reduced inner
ends grooved in like manner with the shatts 18 and form the opposite sections of the
ball holders. The ends of the shafts 26 may be slotted if desired and are adapted to
receive the sleeves 24.
A shoulder 27 (see Figure 3) is formed on the outer end of the shafts 26 and
rotates in a box 28.
A hinge block 29 is turned into the outer ends of said boxes and a ball bearing 30
is interposed between said blocks and the shaft ends.
A trendle-lever 31, is hinged to the blocks 29, and pivoted to the horizontal
lever 15, said lover being adapted to force the shafts 26, inward when depressed.
In the use of my improvement, the balls D to be ground are adjusted between the
adjacent ends of companion shafts 18, and 26, with their teats 35, in the vertical plane
of the grinding wheel B, as shown in Figure 3, the surface of said balls engaging the
working face of said wheel.
The treadle 31 is depressed forcing the shafts 26, inward and securely clamping the
balls. Power being applied to the pulleys ag, the ball shafts 18, and grinder shaft f
are rotated in opposite directions.
The friction resultant from the end thrust or longitudinal movement of the ball
shafts is practically overcome by the ball bearings described and permits their free
rotation.
The shaft being reciprocated longitudinally by the gear-cam y the spring actuated
lever 16, equalizes the wear of all portions of the periphery of the wheel B, and the
vertical take-up on said shaft actuated by the thumb-scrow k, enables the greater
portion of said wheel to be used before it becomes necessary to replace it.
Slotted caps, or sleeves 24 of any diameter may be employed on the ball-holder
shafts, adapting the machine for uso with balls varying greatly in size.
The shafts 26 are freely rotated by the tension on the balls from the rotating
shafts 18.
It will be understood that my improved device is equally well adapted for grinding
the tonts or projections from metallic forms other than the balls described. The slotted
caps and holder shaft ends enable any desirod shape to be clamped therein and the
grinder shaft, being adjustable vertically can be sot at any suitable distance from
the holder.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. The combination of a rotary grinding-wheel, a shaft supporting said grinding-
wheel, a support for the article to be ground, a cam for shifting the grinding-wheel
shaft endwise during the grinding operation, and a spring actuated lever for holding
the shaft in contact with said cam.
Second. In a machine for grinding metal balls and other articles, a body; a rotary
grinding wheel; a form holder comprising two shafts in alignment; treadle mechanism
for moving one sbaft longitudinally and mechanism substantially as described, for
conjointly rotating the opposite holder shaft and longitudinally reciprocating the
grinder shaft substantially as described.
Third. In a machine for grinding metal balls and other articles a rotary shaft
provided with a grinding wheel; mechanism for vertically adjusting said shaft; a
gear provided with a cam in engagement with one end of said shaft for adjusting it
lengthwise and a spring actuated lever in engagement with the opposite end thereof
whereby said shaft may be reciprocated longitudinally as the gear is rotated.
Fourth. In a machine for grinding metal balls and other articles a body; a rotary
grinder journalled therein on a vertically adjustable shaft a form holder comprising
two shafts in alignment and parallel with the grinder shaft and a treadlo mechanism
for moving one of said shafts longitudinally to clamp the form between their adjucent
ends substantially as set forth.
Fifth. In a machine for grinding metal balls and other articles a body; a vertically
adjustable rotary grinder; a holder comprising two shafts in alignment and parallel
with the grinder shaft their adjacent ends being grooved to receive the form;
mechanism substantially as described for conjointly rotating one of said shafts and
longitudinally reciprocating the grinder shaft; and mechanism for moving the
opposite holder shaft longitudinally to clamp the form substantially as set forth.
Sixth. In a machine for grinding metal balls and other articles a body; stub-shaft
bearing a pulley and a gear provided with a cam face, a rotary grinder having a
longitudinally movable shaft bearing a pulley, a spring actuated lever engaging an end
of said shaft, a holder comprising two rotary shafts in alignment having adjacent ends
socketed, one of said shafts being driven by said gear a treadle mechanism for moving
the opposite holder shaft longitudinally, and ball bearings for said holder shafts com-
pensating the end thrust thereon substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.
Seventh. In a machine for grinding metal balls and other articles the holder
shaft 18 having the concaved and slotted reduced end 23 substantially as described.
Eighth. In a machine for grinding metal balls and other articlos the combination
of a holder shaft 18 having a reduced end 23, and a sleeve 24 on said reduced end and
provided with a concave and slotted end, substantially as described.
n...
11
- 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.