# US 5,700,186 A · Motorized spindle with indexing fixture

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- Number: US 5,700,186 A
- Document ID: US5700186A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/566,967
- Filed: 1995-12-04
- Granted: 1997-12-23
- Earliest claimed: 1995-12-04
- Assignees: Western Atlas, Inc.
- Inventors: Timothy W. Hykes; Joel Metzler
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5700186A

## CPC

- B24B 5/42: for grinding crankshafts or crankpins
- B24B 41/06: Work supports, e.g. adjustable steadies (B24B37/27 takes precedence)
- B24B: MACHINES, DEVICES, OR PROCESSES FOR GRINDING OR POLISHING (grinding of gear teeth B23F, of screw-threads B23G1/36; by electro-erosion B23H; abrasive or related blasting B24C; tools for grinding, buffing or sharpening B24D; polishing compositions C09G1/00; abrasives C09K3/14; electrolytic etching or polishing C25F3/00; grinding arrangements for use on assembled railway tracks E01B31/17); DRESSING OR CONDITIONING OF ABRADING SURFACES; FEEDING OF GRINDING, POLISHING, OR LAPPING AGENTS

## Abstract

A spindle, comprised of a spindle body and an indexing fixture, is configured to retain, and rotatingly drive, a crankshaft relative to a grinding tool, so that each pin on the crankshaft is ground with a high degree of precision. A locking mechanism, such as a pair of jaws with complementarily shaped teeth, is interposed between the spindle body and the indexing fixture. Pressure is applied to one side of the locking mechanism so that the jaws are normally engaged and the spindle body and the indexing fixture rotate as a unit. Motive power for such fixture is supplied by a single servomotor secured to a primary drive shaft, which is joined to a secondary drive shaft, through an offset coupling, to define a motorized spindle. The indexing fixture is bolted, or otherwise secured, to the free end of the secondary drive shaft. A bearing block in the indexing fixture receives and retains, the main shaft of the crankshaft; clamping arms with clamp shoes press the shaft downwardly into the bearing block. To place a pin on the crankshaft in position to be ground, pressure is supplied intermediate the jaws of the locking mechanism to force same apart. The secondary drive shaft then rotates the uncoupled indexing fixture relative to the spindle body to place an unground pin in a position to be ground by a grinding tool operatively associated with the motorized spindle. Keys and keyways are formed between the spindle body and the indexing fixture. A threaded bolt, and the cooperating nut, allow limited movement between such components to adjust the throw for pins located at different elevations along the crankshaft to be ground. A zero angle reference point is established by milling a reference pad on a crank pin web situated between the main bearing shaft and the first pin on the crankshaft.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A motorized spindle for rotatively driving and indexing a workpiece with spaced bearing shafts at opposite ends, relative to a grinding tool, said motorized spindle comprising:
a) a spindle body including:
1) a primary drive shaft extending longitudinally along a first axis through the center line of said body,
2) a secondary drive shaft extending longitudinally through said body along a second axis, said secondary drive shaft being located parallel to, and offset from, said primary drive shaft,
3) a motor secured to said primary drive shaft to rotatatively drive said shaft,
4) coupling means for connecting said primary drive shaft to said secondary drive for delivering torque from said motor,
b) an indexing fixture including:
1) means for securing said indexing fixture to said secondary drive shaft,
2) clamping means adapted to receive the workpiece, and retain same in operative position relative to said grinding tool,
c) locking means interposed between said spindle body and indexing fixture, and
d) means for biasing said locking means into an engaged position so that said spindle body and said indexing fixture are driven in a unitary manner, by said motor through said primary and secondary drive shafts and said coupling means.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A motorized spindle as defined in claim 1 wherein said primary drive shaft is located along the center line of said spindle body, and said secondary drive shaft is located parallel to, and offset from, said primary drive shaft.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A motorized spindle as defined in claim 2 wherein said off-set locking includes a plurality of spaced parallel discs with pairs of links disposed between adjacent discs.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A motorized spindle as defined in claim 3 wherein said locking means comprises a pair of opposing jaws, said jaws halves containing teeth of complementary shape.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A motorized spindle as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for biasing said coupling means is a first pressure source, of lesser magnitude that acts upon one side of said coupling means to force said jaws together.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A motorized spindle as defined in claim 5 further including a second pressure source that introduces pressure between said jaws to force same apart and disengage said indexing fixture from said spindle body.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A motorized spindle as defined in claim 1 wherein said clamping means includes a bearing block with an upwardly opening arcuate cut-out to receive a bearing shaft on the workpiece, and clamping fingers to press downwardly upon the shaft to retain same within said bearing block.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A motorized spindle as defined in claim 7 wherein clamp shoes are secured to each of said clamping fingers to contact the shaft and press same downwardly into said bearing block.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A motorized spindle as defined in claim 1 wherein cooperating keys and keyways are defined between said indexing fixture and said spindle body, and a threaded bolt and cooperating nut adjust said indexing fixture relative to said spindle body to provide an adjustable throw for grinding surfaces at different elevations along said crankshaft.