Smilled spline apparatus and smilling process for manufacturing the smilled spline apparatus
AssigneeFairfield Manufacturing Company, Inc.
InventorsDAN E. PHEBUS, WILLIAM H. HAYWARD
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
By combining shaping and milling actions, or smilling, the cutting tool can move through the entire usable portion of the spline and machine a tool relief into the face of the adjacent feature such as a shoulder before retracting, reversing direction, and repeating the cycle. The smilling apparatus and manufacturing method eliminates the need for an annular spline relief and the full length of spline engagement can be utilized for strength. The effective width of the spline connection apparatus manufactured by the smilling process conserves space and increases the load carrying capability of the spline connection.
Claims22
1-24. (canceled)
A process for manufacturing an external spline, comprising the steps of:
- determining the load to be carried by said external spline;
- selecting a pitch diameter of said external spline based on said determined load;
- selecting the number of teeth such that the circular pitch is sufficiently large and that said teeth of said external spline are sufficiently large and capable of handling said load;
- determining a length of said external spline based on said determined load and said selected pitch diameter of said external splines;
- selecting a tool inclination angle, β;
- selecting a part space included angle, α;
- determining a tool cone included angle, 2τ, based on an algorithm expressed in terms of β and α;
- sizing the tool based on the actual external spline dimensions required;
- chucking an appropriate workpiece in an endmill;
- milling, using said tool and an endmill, an appropriate tooth space in said workpiece.
A process for manufacturing an internal spline, comprising the steps of:
- determining the load to be carried by said internal spline;
- selecting a pitch diameter of a mating external spline;
- determining a length of said internal spline apparatus based on said determined load and said selected pitch diameter of said external spline apparatus;
- selecting the number of teeth, N, such that the circular pitch of said external spline is sufficiently large and that said teeth of said external spline are capable of handling said load;
- selecting an external part space included angle, 2α°;
- determining an internal part space included angle using the formula, 2α°−((360/N)°);
- selecting a tool inclination angle, β;
- determining a tool cone included angle, 2τ, based on an algorithm expressed in terms of tool inclination angle β and said internal part space included angle, 2α°−((360/N)°);
- sizing the tool establishing a cap radius at the form diameter at one end of said tool and extending said tool cone long enough out of said part to form a second end of said tool;
- chucking an appropriate workpiece in an endmill;
- milling, using said tool and an endmill, an appropriate internal space angle (tooth space) in said workpiece.
A process for manufacturing a spline in proximity to an adjacent structure, comprising the steps of:
- securing a workpiece, said workpiece includes an upper cylindrical portion and an adjacent structure, and said upper cylindrical portion includes an end portion and a length;
- orienting a rotary cutting tool at an inclination angle with respect to said upper cylindrical portion of said workpiece;
- rotating said rotary cutting tool;
- engaging said end portion of said upper cylindrical portion of said workpiece with said rotating rotary cutting tool;
- moving said rotating rotary cutting tool from said end portion of said upper cylindrical portion of said workpiece along said length of said upper portion removing material from said upper cylindrical portion of said workpiece and into said adjacent structure of said workpiece forming a rotary cutting tool relief;
- and,
- retracting said rotary cutting tool from said adjacent structure of said workpiece along said angle of inclination of said rotating rotary cutting tool.
A process for manufacturing a spline in proximity to an adjacent structure, comprising the steps of:
- securing a workpiece, said workpiece includes a counterbore therein and adjacent structure, said counterbore includes an end portion and a length;
- orienting a rotary cutting tool at an inclination angle with respect to said end portion of said counterbore of said workpiece;
- rotating said rotary cutting tool;
- engaging said end portion of said counterbore of said workpiece with said rotating rotary cutting tool;
- moving said rotating rotary cutting tool from said end portion of said counterbore of said workpiece along said length of said counterbore and into said adjacent structure of said workpiece forming a rotary cutting tool relief;
- and,
- retracting said rotary cutting tool from said adjacent structure of said workpiece along said angle of inclination of said rotating rotary cutting tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.