Apparatus and method for precision machining of metal rings
OwnerRobert Koellinginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is disclosed an apparatus for machining large diameter, thin-walled steel rings to precise tolerances. A ring of metal stock is placed within the jaws of a group of screw-type clamps located on a flat lathe faceplate. The clamps are evenly spaced around the ring of metal stock and each contains one or more pairs of opposing screws. The clamp screws are slowly advanced until the screws gently touch the inner surface and outer surface of the metal stock ring. The opposing screws are then gradually tightened until the ring of metal stock is locked in place. The equal and opposite forces exerted by the opposing screws hold the metal stock rigidly in place without inducing mechanical stresses in the ring that would otherwise warp the ring while it was mounted on the lathe faceplate.
Claims17
An apparatus for holding a ring of metal stock during lathing, comprising:
- a mounting fixture for mounting said metal stock during rotation;
- and
- a plurality of clamping devices slidably connected to said mounting fixture, each of said plurality of clamping devices independently positionable along a radius of said mounting fixture, each of said plurality of clamping devices exerting a first force on an inside surface of said metal stock and a second force opposing said first force on an outside surface of said metal stock, wherein said first and said second forces exerted by each of said plurality of clamping devices are independently adjustable, to thereby hold said metal stock rigidly in place in its original curved shape without inducing stress in said metal stock or deforming the curvature of said metal stock as it is secured rigidly in place.
An apparatus for holding a circular ring of metal stock during lathing comprising:
- a faceplate rotatable about a central axis for mounting said metal stock during lathing, said faceplate having a plurality of slots therethrough;
- and
- a plurality of clamps slidably mounted in said plurality of slots, each of said clamps independently positionable along a radius of said faceplate, each of said clamps having a first screw for tightening said clamp against an inside surface of said metal stock and a second screw opposing said first screw for tightening said clamp against an outside surface of said metal stock, wherein said first screw and said second screw are independently adjustable, to thereby hold said metal stock rigidly in place in its original curved shape without inducing stress in said metal stock or deforming the curvature of said metal stock as it is secured rigidly in place.
A method of mounting a circular ring of metal stock for lathing, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning said circular ring of metal stock in a first position on a plurality of independently positionable clamps disposed on a rotatable mounting plate such that a center of said circular ring of metal stock is positioned approximately at said axis of rotation of said mounting plate;
- tightening an inside screw of a selected one of said plurality of clamps against an inside surface of said circular ring of metal stock such that said inside screw minimally contacts said inside surface, wherein said circular ring remains in said first position;
- tightening an outside screw of said selected clamp against an outside surface of said circular ring of metal stock such that said outside screw minimally contacts said outside surface, wherein said circular ring remains in said first position;
- and
- further tightening said inside screw and said outside screw of said selected clamp.
A method of mounting a circular ring of metal stock for lathing, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning said circular ring of metal stock on a plurality of clamps disposed on a rotatable mounting plate such that a center of said circular ring of metal stock is positioned approximately at said axis of rotation of said mounting plate;
- tightening an inside screw of a selected one of said plurality of clamps against an inside surface of said circular ring of metal stock such that said inside screw minimally contacts said inside surface;
- tightening an outside screw of said selected clamp against an outside surface of said circular ring of metal stock such that said outside screw minimally contacts said outside surface;
- further tightening said inside screw and said outside screw of said selected clamp;
- tightening inside screws of all remaining clamps against said inside surface of said circular ring of metal stock such that each of said inside screws minimally contacts said inside surface;
- tightening outside screws of all remaining clamps against said outside surface of said circular ring of metal stock such that each of said outside screws minimally contacts said outside surface;
- further tightening said inside screws and said outside screws of said remaining clamps until said metal stock is held rigidly in place;
- rotating said mounting plate;
- lathing said outside surface of said circular ring of metal stock;
- tightening a stiffening ring against said lathed outside surface of said circular ring of metal stock to thereby support said circular ring of metal stock;
- and
- lathing said inside surface of said circular ring of metal stock.
A method of mounting rounded ring of metal stock on a lathe, said lathe comprising a rotatable mounting plate and a plurality of clamps disposed thereon, the method comprising the steps of:
- placing said rounded ring of metal stock on said plurality of clamps in a first position;
- tightening an inside screw of a first clamp against an inside surface of said rounded ring of metal stock such that said inside screw minimally contacts said inside surface;
- tightening an outside screw of said first clamp against an outside surface of said rounded ring of metal stock such that said outside screw minimally contacts said outside surface;
- and
- further tightening said inside screw and said outside screw of said first clamp such that said rounded ring remains in said first position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.