Back to results
US 4,144,730 AGranted
Production workpiece straightening system
AssigneeIndustrial Metal Products Corporation
InventorEdward E. Judge, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A production system for correcting distortions in a workpiece within tolerance requirements including for each distortion a gauge for determining direction and magnitude automatically employed to control corrective deflection beyond yield point under a program which increases with gauged distortion. Two specific applications of the system are disclosed for straightening axle shafts relative to a central axis and for straightening distorted caliper and steering arms of an automotive steering knuckle.
Claims24
A system for straightening production quantities of a workpiece comprising;
- a straightening machine having a fixed frame,
- means for positioning said workpiece in precise orientation relative to said frame,
- automatic means for gauging the magnitude of any distortion in said workpiece which may require correction,
- automatic power operated means for deflecting said workpiece beyond yield point in a plane and direction required for correction of said distortion,
- said means for deflecting having a controllable stroke potentially sufficient to eliminate said distortion in said plane within production tolerance requirements in a single deflection of required magnitude followed by springback,
- and control means including,
- means for storing gauged data relative to the magnitude of distortion, and
- programmable means for controlling the stroke of said means for deflecting to produce programmed correction deflection of a magnitude varying with and responsive to the magnitude of gauged distortion.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.