US 2021/0101244 A1 · NARROW SHOE JOURNAL MICROFINISHING APPARATUS AND METHOD

Abstract

A microfinishing machine and method especially adapted for processing of internal combustion engine crankshafts and other workpieces. Microfinishing is achieved by tooling having abrasive inserts or which present abrasive coated film against the journal to be machined. The tooling has a width less than one-half the length of the journal being machined. The narrow width tooling allows a range of workpiece configurations to be processed with common tooling, and through control of one or more of machining parameters including clamping pressure acting on the tooling, oscillation of the tooling, and stroking schedule of the tooling, desired journal contour profiles can be produced.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A microfinishing process for processing journal bearing surfaces of a crankshaft, the crankshaft of a type having bearing journals including at least one main bearing journal and at least one pin bearing journal, one or more of the bearing journals bound on axial ends by crankshaft webs or other radial obstructions, each of the bearing journals defining an axial length, comprising the steps of;

providing tooling in the form of at least a pair of microfinishing shoes adapted to be clamped and unclamped from the bearing journal,
providing the tooling having an axial width of less than 50% of the bearing journal axial length and greater than 20% of the bearing journal axial length,
rotating the crankshaft relative to the tooling to provide a machining effect on the journal bearing surface, and
causing the tooling to stroke along the axial length of the bearing journal between the axial ends when rotating the crankshaft relative to the tooling providing the machining effect.

1 more element

A microfinishing apparatus for processing journal bearing surfaces of a crankshaft, the crankshaft of a type having bearing journals including at least one main bearing journal and at least one pin bearing journal, one or more of the bearing journals bound on axial ends by crankshaft webs or other radial projections, each of the bearing journals defining an axial length, comprising;

tooling in the form of at least a pair of microfinishing shoes adapted to be clamped and unclamped from the bearing journals, the tooling having an axial width of less than 50% of the bearing journal axial length and greater than 20% of the bearing journal axial length,
a drive for rotating the crankshaft relative to the tooling to provide a machining effect on the journal bearing surface,
clamping arms which position the tooling to engage the bearing journal surface and press the tooling against the bearing journal surface,
a shuttle for causing the tooling to oscillate along the axial length of the bearing journal, and
an arm stroking actuator for causing the tooling to stroke along the axial length of the bearing journal along the axial length of the journal when the drive is rotating the crankshaft relative to the tooling providing the machining effect.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Narrow shoe journal microfinishing apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Narrow shoe journal microfinishing apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26