US 5,586,848 AGranted

Machine tool chip removal system

AssigneeThe Gleason Works

InventorPaul W. Suwijn

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Abstract

Apparatus capable of performing wet and dry machining processes such as a hobbing machine for producing spur and helical gears, shafts, splines, and the like, by wet and dry hobbing methods. The apparatus comprises means to remove metal chips resulting from the wet and dry machining processes from the apparatus via respective independent wet and dry chip outlets. The chip removal means comprises a transfer means located in the machine base with the transfer means being reversible in direction in order to convey metal chips, emanating from the machining process, to the respective wet or dry chip outlet. The chip removal means enables metal chips from wet machining processes to be conveyed to and discharged from an outlet in one side surface and metal chips from dry machining processes to be conveyed to and discharged from an outlet in another side surface.

Claims26

Dependent claims

An apparatus for performing wet or dry machining processes, said apparatus comprising a machine base having top and bottom surfaces and a plurality of side surfaces, said apparatus further comprising a tool support located on said base top surface and a workpiece support located on said base top surface, said apparatus including means to move said tool and workpiece supports relative to one another to engage a tool and workpiece in a manner to machine said workpiece, said apparatus comprising means to remove metal chips resulting from said wet or dry machining processes from said apparatus via respective independent wet and dry chip outlets, the chip removal means comprising:

a first passageway located in said machine base, said first passageway extending between an outlet in two of said plurality of side surfaces,
a second passageway located in said machine base, said second passageway extending from said top surface to said first passageway and communicating therewith, said second passageway providing a means of passage to said first passageway for metal chips resulting from said machining processes,
transfer means located in and extending the length of said first passageway, said transfer means being reversible in direction in order to convey metal chips from said machining processes and received via said second passageway to said outlet in either of said two side surfaces, thereby enabling metal chips from wet machining processes to be conveyed to and discharged from an outlet in one side surface and metal chips from dry machining processes to be conveyed to and discharged from an outlet in another side surface.

An apparatus for producing spur and helical gears and the like by wet or dry hobbing processes, said apparatus comprising a generally rectangular machine base having top and bottom surfaces, a pair of opposed side surfaces, and a pair of opposed end surfaces, said apparatus further comprising a tool support located on said base top surface and a workpiece support located on said base top surface, said apparatus including means to move said tool and workpiece supports relative to one another to engage a tool and workpiece in a manner to machine said workpiece, said apparatus comprising means to remove metal chips resulting from said wet or dry hobbing processes from said apparatus via respective independent wet and dry chip outlets, the chip removal means comprising:

a first passageway located in said machine base, said first passageway extending between an outlet in each of said end surfaces or said side surfaces,
a second passageway located in said machine base, said second passageway comprising an opening in said top surface communicating with said first passageway, said second passageway providing a means of passage to said first passageway for metal chips resulting from said hobbing processes,
transfer means located in and extending the length of said first passageway, said transfer means being reversible in direction in order to convey metal chips from said hobbing processes and received via said second passageway to said outlet in either surface of said end surfaces or said side surfaces, thereby enabling metal chips from wet hobbing processes to be conveyed to and discharged from an outlet in one end or side surface and metal chips from dry hobbing processes to be conveyed to and discharged from an outlet in the other opposed end or side surface.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.