Radius adjustment apparatus for use with a grinding machine

A radius adjustment apparatus for combination with a grinding machine of a type having a spindle rotationally operated by electrical connection to a spindle motor and configured to hold a workpiece adjacent a grinding wheel said radius adjustment apparatus, comprising:

• a yoke assembly including a yoke body defining an inner channel and a yoke adjuster rod operatively positioned in said inner channel for threadably moving said yoke body linearly along said yoke adjuster rod when said yoke adjuster rod is actuated;
• a yoke adjuster knob coupled to an outer end of said yoke adjuster rod, said yoke adjuster rod being actuated to rotate when said yoke adjuster knob is actuated in a forward direction or a rearward direction, respectively;
• a pair of yoke arms each having a proximal end coupled to said yoke body and a distal end opposite said proximal end;
• a bearing rail having opposed first and second ends coupled to said distal ends of said pair of yoke arms, respectively, said bearing rail extending perpendicular to the yoke adjuster rod between said distal ends of said pair of yoke arms, respectively;
• wherein said bearing rail has a mid-point between said opposed first and second ends that is coupled to a base frame member with a fastener;
• wherein said bearing rail is constructed of a semi-flexible material that is configured to flex about an imaginary vertical axis defined by said fastener when said yoke adjuster rod is actuated;
• wherein said bearing rail is movable between a linear configuration when no load is placed on the bearing rail and a flexed or arced configuration when said yoke adjuster body is moved rearwardly;
• and
• a carriage slidably coupled to said bearing rail and slidable thereon between said second ends of said pair of yoke arms when actuated, said carriage including a carriage plate that is coupled to the spindle of the grinding machine such that the grinding machine is moved in cooperation with movement of said carriage when said bearing rail is at said flexed or arced configuration.

A method for adjusting a radius of a workpiece held adjacent a grinding wheel of a grinding machine of a type having a spindle configured to hold a workpiece, said method comprising:

• providing a bearing rail having opposed first and second ends coupled to distal ends of a pair of yoke arms, respectively, said bearing rail being constructed of a semi-flexible material extending between said distal ends of said pair of yoke arms, respectively;
• coupling said distal ends of each yoke arm to said opposed first and second ends of said bearing rail, said pair of yoke arms each including a linear configuration having a proximal end, respectively, said bearing rail having a mid-point between said opposed first and second ends that is coupled to a base frame member with a pin;
• coupling a yoke assembly to the proximal ends of said pair of yoke arms, said yoke assembly including a yoke body defining an inner channel and a yoke adjuster rod operatively positioned in said inner channel for selectively moving said yoke body linearly along said yoke adjuster rod when said yoke adjuster rod is actuated wherein the yoke adjuster rod extends perpendicular to the bearing rail;
• bending said bearing rail about said pin when said yoke body is moved away from said bearing rail when said yoke adjuster rod is actuated such that said bearing rail is moved to a flexed configuration;
• and
• slidably coupling a carriage to said bearing rail such that said carriage is slidable laterally between said second ends of said pair of yoke arms when said bearing rail is in the flexed configuration.