Gear cutting machine and method
AssigneeMaag Gear-Wheel & Machine Company Limited
InventorErhard Ruesch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gear cutting machine and method for fabricating workpieces, especially steering segments, for transmissions having a variable transmission ratio, wherein there takes place between the workpiece and a gear cutter or hob a part-rolling or generating movement composed of a generating rotation about the workpiece axis and a generating displacement transverse to the workpiece axis as well as a to-and-fro cutting movement along the workpiece axis. An additional movement, controlled by a template and directed transverse to the workpiece axis, alters the course of the generating curve of the workpiece. This additional movement controlled by the template constitutes a change of the work position of the gear cutter and which change is directed transverse to the generating displacement.
Claims7
A method of operating a gear cutting machine having a table for carrying a workpiece and gear cutter mounting means and means for producing a relative generating motion between a gear cutter on said mounting means and said workpiece that includes generating a normal generating motion and an additional motion in order to generate on said workpiece at least one tooth having a variable tooth thickness for use as steering segments and including the steps of mounting said workpiece table upon a carrier which is rotatably mounted for rotational displacement of the workpiece about a workpiece axis, said carrier being mounted on a slide means for linear displacement of the table and workpiece, mounting said gear cutter on said mounting means so as to enable a to-and-for cutting movement by said gear cutter along the workpiece axis and further mounting said gear cutter to be swingable to a rest position about a swinging axis, the improvement comprising the steps of:
- providing said rotating workpiece table with template means;
- generating said additional motion by engaging said template means with a follower assembly means which follower assembly means also contacts said gear cutter;
- said additional motion being directed transverse to the workpiece axis and perpendicular to the normal generating motion;
- and
- swinging said gear cutter in response to the transmitted motion of said rotating workpiece table about said swinging axis in a direction towards said rest position.
In a gear cutting machine having a table for carrying a workpiece and gear cutter mounting means, means producing a relative generating motion between a gear cutter on said mounting means and said workpiece that includes normal generating motion and an additional motion in order to generate on said workpiece at least one tooth having a variable tooth thickness for use as steering segments and including a rotatable carrier upon which the workpiece table is mounted for rotational displacement of the workpiece about a workpiece axis, said carrier being mounted on slide means for linear displacement of the table and workpiece, said gear cutter mounting means including means for enabling a to-and-fro cutting movement by said gear cutter along the workpiece axis and means for enabling said gear cutter to be swingable to a rest position about a swinging axis, the improvement comprising:
- template means mounted on said carrier follower assembly means engaging said template means and contacting said gear cutter for generating said additional motion directed transverse to said workpiece axis and perpendicular to said normal generating motion in response to the rotation of said workpiece table;
- and
- said additional motion comprises a change of the work position of said gear cutter directed to said rest position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.