Method and apparatus for simultaneously grinding a workpiece with first and second grinding wheels

A dual wheel grinding machine comprising workpiece supporting means for supporting a workpiece for rotation about a first axis of rotation,

• a first grinding wheel supported for rotation about a second axis of rotation which is disposed at an acute angle relative to said first axis of rotation,
• a second grinding wheel supported for rotation about a third axis of rotation which is disposed at an acute angle relative to said first axis of rotation,
• said first grinding wheel being operable to engage with said workpiece at a location which is substantially diametrically opposed to the location at which said second grinding wheel engages with said workpiece,
• each of said first and second grinding wheels imparting a tangential grinding force and a radial grinding force relative to said first axis of rotation to the workpiece, and
• control means for controlling the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first and second grinding wheels to control the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first grinding wheel to be substantially opposed to the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by second grinding wheel to prevent distortion of the workpiece in a radial direction relative to said first axis of rotation.

A dual wheel grinding machine comprising workpiece supporting means for supporting a workpiece for rotation about a first axis of rotation,

• a first grinding wheel supported for rotation about a second axis of rotation which is disposed at an acute angle relative to said first axis of rotation,
• said first and second axes of rotation being non-intersecting,
• a second grinding wheel supported for rotation about a third axis of rotation which is disposed at an acute angle;
• relative to said first axis of rotation,
• said second and third axes of rotation being non-intersecting,
• said second axis of rotation being disposed at an angle less than or equal to 90.degree. with respect to said third axis of rotation,
• said first grinding wheel being operable to engage with said workpiece at a location which is substantially diametrically opposed to the location at which said second grinding wheel engages with said workpiece,
• each of said first and second grinding wheels imparting a tangential grinding force and a radial grinding force relative to said first axis of rotation to the workpiece, and
• control means for controlling the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first and second grinding wheels to control the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first grinding wheel to be substantially opposed to the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said second grinding wheel to prevent distortion of the workpiece in a radial direction relative to said first axis of rotation.

A method of grinding an internal combustion engine valves using first and second grinding wheels which simultaneously grind the valve comprising the steps of:

• supporting an internal combustion engine valve having a head portion and an elongate stem portion having a central longitudinal axis;
• rotating the internal combustion valve about first axis of rotation which is substantially coextensive with the central longitudinal axis of the stem portion;
• rotating a first grinding wheel about a second axis of rotation;
• rotating a second grinding wheel about a third axis of rotation;
• simultaneously engaging said first and second grinding wheels with said internal combustion engine valve wherein said first grinding wheel engages with said internal combustion engine valve at a location which is substantially diametrically opposed to the location at which said second grinding wheel engages with the internal combustion engine valve;
• imparting a tangential and radial grinding force to the internal combustion engine valve by engagement of said first grinding wheel with the internal combustion engine valve;
• imparting a tangential and radial grinding force to the internal combustion engine valve by engagement of said second grinding wheel with the internal combustion engine valve;
• and
• controlling the radial grinding force imparted to the internal combustion engine valve by said first and second grinding wheels to control the radial grinding force imparted to the internal combustion engine valve by said first grinding wheel to be substantially opposed to the radial grinding force imparted to the internal combustion engine valve by said second grinding wheel to prevent distortion of the valve stem in a radial direction relative to the central longitudinal axis of the valve stem.

A dual wheel grinding machine comprising workpiece supporting means for supporting a workpiece for rotation about a first axis of rotation,

• a first grinding wheel supported for rotation about a second axis of rotation which is substantially parallel to said first axis of rotation,
• a second grinding wheel supported for rotation about a third axis of rotation which is substantially parallel to said first axis of rotation,
• said first grinding wheel being operable to engage with said workpiece at a location which is substantially diametrically opposed to the location at which said second grinding wheel engages with said workpiece,
• each of said first and second grinding wheels imparting a tangential grinding force and a radial grinding force relative to said first axis of rotation to the workpiece,
• control means for controlling the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first and second grinding wheels to control the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first grinding wheel to be substantially opposed to the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said second grinding wheel to prevent distortion of the workpiece in a radial direction relative to said first axis of rotation,
• a first force sensor associated with the first grinding wheel for sensing the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first grinding wheel and
• a second force sensor associated with the second grinding wheel for sensing the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said second grinding wheel and wherein
• said control means is responsive to said first and second force sensors to control the radial grinding force imparted to said workpiece by said first and second grinding wheels so that the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first grinding wheel is substantially opposed to the radial grinding force imparted to said workpiece by said second grinding wheel.

A dual wheel grinding machine comprising workpiece supporting means for supporting a workpiece for rotation about a first axis of rotation,

• a first grinding wheel supported for rotation about a second axis of rotation which is substantially parallel to said first axis of rotation,
• a second grinding wheel supported for rotation about a third axis of rotation which is substantially parallel to said first axis of rotation,
• said first grinding wheel being operable to engage with said workpiece at a location which is substantially diametrically opposed to the location at which said second grinding wheel engages with said workpiece,
• each of said first and second grinding wheels imparting a tangential grinding force and a radial grinding forcerelative to said first axis of rotation to the workpiece,
• control means for controlling the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first and second grinding wheels to control the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first grinding wheel to be substantially opposed to the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said second grinding wheel to prevent distortion of the workpiece in a radial direction relative to said first axis of rotation,
• wherein said control means for controlling the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first and second grinding wheels to be substantially opposed includes:
• first means for controlling the width of the cutting surface of said first grinding wheel, the sharpness of said first grinding wheel and the depth of cut of said first grinding wheel to predetermine the radial grinding force exerted on the workpiece by said first grinding wheel,
• second means for controlling the width of the cutting surface of said second grinding wheel, the sharpness of said second grinding wheel and the depth of cut of said second grinding wheel to preset the radial grinding force exerted on the workpiece by said second grinding wheel so that the radial grinding force exerted by said first grinding wheel is substantially opposed to the radial force imparted to said workpiece by said second grinding wheel,
• wherein said first and second grinding wheels are movable in an axial direction relative to the workpiece and said first axis of rotation to progressively grind the workpiece and wherein said first means further controls the speed of relative axial movement between said first grinding wheel and said workpiece and said second means controls the speed of relative axial movement between said second grinding wheel and said workpiece, said first and second means controlling said axial movement of said first and second grinding wheels relative to said workpiece to control the radial grinding force exerted on said workpiece by said first grinding wheel to be substantially opposed to the radial grinding force imparted to said workpiece by said second grinding wheel,
• wherein each of said first and second grinding wheels include a grinding surface thereon for engagement with the workpiece,
• said first grinding wheel is a roughing grinding wheel and said second grinding wheel is a finishing grinding wheel, said first grinding wheel sequentially moving in a direction substantially parallel to said first axis of a rotation to rough grind the workpiece while said second grinding wheel sequentially moves in a direction substantially parallel to said first axis of rotation to finish grind the workpiece and wherein said first grinding wheel precedes said second grinding wheel to rough grind the workpiece prior to finish grinding the workpiece.

A dual wheel grinding machine comprising workpiece supporting means for supporting a workpiece for rotation about a first axis of rotation,

• a first grinding wheel supported for rotation about a second axis of rotation which is substantially parallel to said first axis of rotation,
• a second grinding wheel supported for rotation about a third axis of rotation which is substantially parallel to said first axis of rotation,
• said first grinding wheel being operable to engage with said workpiece at a location which is substantially diametrically opposed to the location at which said second grinding wheel engages with said workpiece,
• each of said first and second grinding wheels imparting a tangential grinding force and a radial grinding force relative to said first axis of rotation to the workpiece, and
• control means for controlling the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first and second grinding wheels to control the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first grinding wheel to be substantially opposed to the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said second grinding wheel to prevent distortion of the workpiece in a radial direction relative to said first axis of rotation,
• wherein each of said first and second grinding wheels include a grinding surface thereon for engagement with the workpiece,
• said first grinding wheel is a roughing grinding wheel and said second grinding wheel is a finishing grinding wheel, said first grinding wheel sequentially moving in a direction substantially parallel to said first axis of a rotation to rough grind the workpiece while said second grinding wheel sequentially moves in a direction substantially parallel to said first axis of rotation to finish grind the workpiece and wherein said first grinding wheel precedes said second grinding wheel to rough grind the workpiece prior to finish grinding the workpiece.

A dual wheel grinding machine comprising workpiece supporting means for supporting a workpiece for rotation about a first axis of rotation,

• a first grinding wheel supported for rotation about a second axis of rotation which is substantially parallel to said first axis of rotation,
• a second grinding wheel supported for rotation about a third axis of rotation which is substantially parallel to said first axis of rotation,
• said first grinding wheel being operable to engage with said workpiece at a location which is substantially diametrically opposed to the location at which said second grinding wheel engages with said workpiece,
• each of said first and second grinding wheels imparting a tangential grinding force and a radial grinding force relative to said first axis of rotation to the workpiece, and
• control means for controlling the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first and second grinding wheels to control the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first grinding wheel to be substantially opposed to the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said second grinding wheel to prevent distortion of the workpiece in a radial direction relative to said first axis of rotation,
• said control means for controlling the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first and second grinding wheels includes:
• mounting means for mounting said first grinding wheel for rotation about said second axis of rotation,
• mounting means for mounting said second grinding wheel for rotation about said third axis of rotation and
• means for imparting a radial force to said mounting means for said first grinding wheel and to said mounting means for said second grinding wheel and wherein the radial grinding force imparted to said first grinding wheel is substantially opposed to the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said second grinding wheel,
• wherein each of said first and second grinding wheels include a grinding surface thereon for engagement with the workpiece,
• said first grinding wheel is a roughing grinding wheel and said second grinding wheel is a finishing grinding wheel, said first grinding wheel sequentially moving in a direction substantially parallel to said first axis of a rotation to rough grind the workpiece while said second grinding wheel sequentially moves in a direction substantially parallel to said first axis of rotation to finish grind the workpiece and wherein said first grinding wheel precedes said second grinding wheel to rough grind the workpiece prior to finish grinding the workpiece.

A dual wheel grinding machine comprising workpiece supporting means for supporting a workpiece for rotation about a first axis of rotation,

• a first grinding wheel supported for rotation about a second axis of rotation which is substantially parallel to said first axis of rotation,
• a second grinding wheel supported for rotation about a third axis of rotation which is substantially parallel to said first axis of rotation,
• said first grinding wheel being operable to engage with said workpiece at a location which is substantially diametrically opposed to the location at which said second grinding wheel engages with said workpiece,
• each of said first and second grinding wheels imparting a tangential grinding force and a radial grinding force relative to said first axis of rotation to the workpiece,
• control means for controlling the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first and second grinding wheels to control the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first grinding wheel to be substantially opposed to the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said second grinding wheel to prevent distortion of the workpiece in a radial direction relative to said first axis of rotation,
• wherein said tangential grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first grinding wheel is equal and opposed to said tangential grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said second grinding wheel.

A dual wheel grinding machine comprising workpiece supporting means for supporting a workpiece for rotation about a first axis of rotation,

• a first grinding wheel supported for rotation about a second axis of rotation which is disposed at an acute angle relative to said first axis of rotation,
• a second grinding wheel supported for rotation about a third axis of rotation which is disposed at an acute angle relative to said first axis of rotation,
• said first grinding wheel being operable to engage with said workpiece at a location which is substantially diametrically opposed to the location at which said second grinding wheel engages with said workpiece,
• each of said first and second grinding wheels imparting a tangential grinding force and a radial grinding force relative to said first axis of rotation to the workpiece,
• control means for controlling the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first and second grinding wheels to control the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first grinding wheel to be substantially opposed to the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by second grinding wheel to prevent distortion of the workpiece in a radial direction relative to said first axis of rotation,
• a first force sensor associated with the first grinding wheel for sensing the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first grinding wheel and
• a second force sensor associated with the second grinding wheel for sensing the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said second grinding wheel and wherein
• said control means is responsive to said first and second force sensors to control the radial grinding force imparted to said workpiece by said first and second grinding wheels so that the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first grinding wheel is substantially opposed to the radial grinding force imparted to said workpiece by said second grinding wheel.

A dual wheel grinding machine comprising workpiece supporting means for supporting a workpiece for rotation about a first axis of rotation,

• a first grinding wheel supported for rotation about a second axis of rotation which is disposed at an acute angle relative to said first axis of rotation,
• a second grinding wheel supported for rotation about a third axis of rotation which is disposed at an acute angle relative to said first axis of rotation,
• said first grinding wheel being operable to engage with said workpiece at a location which is substantially diametrically opposed to the location at which said second grinding wheel engages with said workpiece,
• each of said first and second grinding wheels imparting a tangential grinding force and a radial grinding force relative to said first axis of rotation to the workpiece, and
• control means for controlling the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first and second grinding wheels to control the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first grinding wheel to be substantially opposed to the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by second grinding wheel to prevent distortion of the workpiece in a radial direction relative to said first axis of rotation,
• wherein said control means for controlling the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first and second grinding wheels to be substantially opposed includes:
• first means for controlling the width of the cutting surface of said first grinding wheel, the sharpness of said first grinding wheel and the depth of cut of said first grinding wheel to predetermine the radial grinding force exerted on the workpiece by said first grinding wheel,
• second means for controlling the width of the cutting surface of said second grinding wheel, the sharpness of said second grinding wheel and the depth of cut of said second grinding wheel to preset the radial grinding force exerted on the workpiece by said second grinding wheel so that the radial grinding force exerted by said first grinding wheel is substantially equal and opposed to the radial force imparted to said workpiece by said second grinding wheel,
• wherein each of said first and second grinding wheels include a grinding surface thereon for engagement with the workpiece,
• said first grinding wheel is a roughing grinding wheel and said second grinding wheel is a finishing grinding wheel, said first grinding wheel sequentially moving in a direction substantially parallel to said first axis of a rotation to rough grind the workpiece while said second grinding wheel sequentially moves in a direction substantially parallel to said first axis of rotation to finish grind the workpiece and wherein said first grinding wheel precedes said second grinding wheel to rough grind the workpiece prior to finish grinding the workpiece.

A dual wheel grinding machine comprising workpiece supporting means for supporting a workpiece for rotation about a first axis of rotation,

• a first grinding wheel supported for rotation about a second axis of rotation which is disposed at an acute angle relative to said first axis of rotation,
• said first and second axes of rotation being non-intersecting,
• a second grinding wheel supported for rotation about a third axis of rotation which is disposed at an acute angle relative to said first axis of rotation,
• said second and third axes of rotation being non-intersecting,
• said second axis of rotation being disposed at an angle less than or equal to 90.degree. with respect to said third axis of rotation,
• said first grinding wheel being operable to engage with said workpiece at a location which is substantially diametrically opposed to the location at which said second grinding wheel engages with said workpiece,
• each of said first and second grinding wheels imparting a tangential grinding force and a radial grinding force relative to said first axis of rotation to the workpiece,
• control means for controlling the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first and second grinding wheels to control the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first grinding wheel to be substantially opposed to the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said second grinding wheel to prevent distortion of the workpiece in a radial direction relative to said first axis of rotation,
• a first force sensor associated with the first grinding wheel for sensing the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first grinding wheel and
• a second force sensor associated with the second grinding wheel for sensing the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said second grinding wheel and wherein
• said control means is responsive to said first and second force sensors to control the radial grinding force imparted to said workpiece by said first and second grinding wheels so that the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first grinding wheel is substantially equal and opposed to the radial grinding force imparted to said workpiece by said second grinding wheel.

A dual wheel grinding machine comprising workpiece supporting means for supporting a workpiece for rotation about a first axis of rotation,

• a first grinding wheel supported for rotation about a second axis of rotation which is disposed at an acute angle relative to said first axis of rotation,
• said first and second axes of rotation being non-intersecting,
• a second grinding wheel supported for rotation about a third axis of rotation which is disposed at an acute angle relative to said first axis of rotation,
• said second and third axes of rotation being non-intersecting,
• said second axis of rotation being disposed at an angle less than or equal to 90.degree. with respect to said third axis of rotation,
• said first grinding wheel being operable to engage with said workpiece at a location which is substantially diametrically opposed to the location at which said second grinding wheel engages with said workpiece,
• wherein each of said first and second grinding wheels imparting a tangential grinding force and a radial grinding force relative to said first axis of rotation to the workpiece, and
• control means for controlling the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first and second grinding wheels to control the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first grinding wheel to be substantially opposed to the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said second grinding wheel to prevent distortion of the workpiece in a radial direction relative to said first axis of rotation,
• each of said first and second grinding wheels include a grinding surface thereon for engagement with the workpiece,
• said first grinding wheel is a roughing grinding wheel and said second grinding wheel is a finishing grinding wheel, said first grinding wheel sequentially moving in a direction substantially parallel to said first axis of a rotation to rough grind the workpiece while said second grinding wheel sequentially moves in a direction substantially parallel to said first axis of rotation to finish grind the workpiece and wherein said first grinding wheel precedes said second grinding wheel to rough grind the workpiece prior to finish grinding the workpiece.

A dual wheel grinding machine comprising workpiece supporting means for supporting a workpiece for rotation about a first fixed axis of rotation,

• a first grinding wheel supported for rotation about a second axis of rotation which is substantially parallel to said first axis of rotation,
• a second grinding wheel supported for rotation about a third axis of rotation which is substantially parallel to said first axis of rotation,
• said first grinding wheel being operable to engage with said workpiece at a location which is substantially diametrically opposed to the location at which said second grinding wheel engages with said workpiece,
• each of said first and second grinding wheels imparting a tangential grinding force and a radial grinding force relative to said first axis of rotation to the workpiece;
• control means for controlling the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first and second grinding wheels to control the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said first grinding wheel to be substantially opposed to the radial grinding force imparted to the workpiece by said second grinding wheel to prevent distortion of the workpiece in a radial direction relative to said first axis of rotation,
• said control means being adaptive to balance the forces imparted to the workpiece by the first and second grinding wheels.