Process and apparatus for manufacturing connecting rods

An apparatus for manufacturing connecting rods from blank parts comprising:

• means for performing machining operations on a plurality of parts as the parts travel along a predetermined path, the predetermined path defined at least in part by a first path portion extending between a plurality of opposing work stations for partially machining the parts and a second path portion extending generally parallel to said first path portion for machining partially-machined parts;
• means for recirculating the partially-machined parts from the first path portion to the second path portion of the predetermined path;
• and
• means for moving the parts along the first path portion and the second path portion in synchronized, step-wise movement with the parts carried in a generally horizontal position along the first path portion and recirculated parts carried in a generally vertical position along the second path portion, said moving means simultaneously moving the generally horizontal and vertical parts between the opposing work stations along the predetermined path, wherein said moving means further includes each work station having carriage means for carrying said parts between adjacent work stations, and gripper means, carried by said carriage means, for selectively engaging said parts at an upstream work station location and for selectively disengaging said parts at a downstream work station location, said carriage means moveable between a first position disposed vertically adjacent said work stations, a second position disposed spaced vertically above said work stations, a third position disposed at a first horizontal end limit of movement and a fourth position disposed at a second horizontal end limit of movement, wherein said moving means further includes each work station having lift means for elevating parts with respect to said work stations during transport between work stations, wherein said lift means further includes each work station having an overhead frame spanning transversely across said predetermined path of travel, a cylindrical member rotatably supported by said overhead frame having an axis of rotation transverse to said predetermined path, radially outwardly extending arms connected to said cylindrical member for supporting said carriage means for movement between work stations, such that rotation of said cylindrical member moves said carriage means vertically with respect to said work stations, and drive means for rotating said cylindrical member about said rotational axis to selectively raise and lower said carriage means with respect to said work stations.

An apparatus for manufacturing connecting rods from blank parts comprising:

• means for performing machining operations on a plurality of parts as the parts travel along a predetermined path, the predetermined path defined at least in part by a first path portion extending between a plurality of opposing work stations for partially machining the parts and a second path portion extending generally parallel to said first path portion for machining partially-machined parts;
• means for recirculating the partially-machined parts from the first path portion to the second path portion of the predetermined path, wherein said moving means further includes each work station having carriage means for carrying said parts between adjacent work stations, and gripper means, carried by said carriage means, for selectively engaging said parts at an upstream work station location and for selectively disengaging said parts at a downstream work station location, said carriage means moveable between a first position disposed vertically adjacent said work stations, a second position disposed spaced vertically above said work stations, a third position disposed at a first horizontal end limit of movement and a fourth position disposed at a second horizontal end limit of movement;
• means for moving the parts along the first path portion and the second path portion in synchronized, step-wise movement with the parts carried in a generally horizontal position along the first path portion and recirculated parts carried in a generally vertical position along the second path portion, said moving means simultaneously moving the generally horizontal and vertical parts between the opposing work stations along the predetermined path, wherein said moving means further includes each work station having lift means for elevating parts with respect to said work stations during transport between work stations, each work station having drive means for reciprocating said carriage means selectively in upstream and downstream directions with respect to said predetermined path of said parts;
• and
• shuttle means for supporting said drive means operably engaging with said carriage means, said shuttle means supported for synchronized movement with said carriage means.

An apparatus for manufacturing connecting rods from blank parts comprising:

• means for performing machining operations on a plurality of parts as the parts travel along a predetermined path, the predetermined path defined at least in part by a first path portion extending between a plurality of opposing work stations for partially machining the parts and a second path portion extending generally parallel to said first path portion for machining partially-machined parts;
• means for recirculating the partially-machined parts from the first path portion to the second path portion of the predetermined path;
• first means for holding at least one part in a generally horizontal first position at each work station along said first path portion;
• second means for holding at least one recirculated part in a generally vertical second position at each work station along said second path portion;
• each of said first and second holding means including at least one nest at each work station for receiving a part and at least one corresponding clamping member moveable between a first position engaging a nested part to hold the part stationary with respect to said work station and a second position allowing removal of the part from said nest;
• means for reciprocating said clamping member at each work station between said first and second positions, said reciprocating means including a reciprocal piston disposed within a cylinder for movement between first and second end limits of travel, said piston connected to said clamping member;
• and
• means for rotating said clamp member about an axis of rotation as said reciprocating means moves said clamping member between said first and second positions, said rotating means including in combination a cam surface connected to said piston and a cam follower engaging said cam surface for driving said piston and connected clamping member in rotation as said piston moves between said first and second end limits of travel.

An apparatus for performing a sequence of machining operations on connecting rod blanks to convert the blanks from an original casting to a finished product comprising:

• means for performing machining operations on a plurality of parts as the parts travel along a predetermined path, the predetermined path defined at least in part by a first path portion extending between a plurality of opposing work stations for partially machining the parts and a second path portion extending generally parallel to said first path portion between the same plurality of opposing work stations for machining partially-machined parts;
• means for recirculating the partially-machined parts from an end of the first path portion to a beginning of the second path portion of the predetermined path;
• means for moving the parts along the first path portion and the second path portion in synchronized, step-wise movement with the parts carried in a generally horizontal position along the first path portion and recirculated parts carried in a generally vertical position along the second path portion, said moving means simultaneously moving the generally horizontal and vertical parts between the opposing work stations along the predetermined path;
• first means for holding at least one part in a generally horizontal first position at each work station along said first path portion;
• second means for holding at least one recirculated part in a generally vertical second position at each work station along said second path portion;
• means for drilling and for tapping bolt-receiving bores in the parts passing through the first path portion;
• and
• means for boring crank arm bores and pin bores in the parts passing through the second path portion.

A method for performing a sequence of machining operations on connecting rod blanks to convert the blanks from an original casting to a finished product comprising the steps of:

• performing machining operations on a plurality of parts as the parts travel along a predetermined path, the predetermined path defined at least in part by a first path portion extending between a plurality of opposing work stations for partially machining the parts and a second path portion extending generally parallel to said first path portion for machining partially-machined parts;
• recirculating the partially-machined parts from the first path portion to the second path portion of the predetermined path;
• carrying said parts between adjacent work stations with carriage means at each work station;
• selectively engaging said parts at an upstream work station location and selectively disengaging said parts at a downstream work station location with gripper means carried by said carriage means;
• reciprocating said carriage means selectively in upstream and downstream directions with respect to said predetermined path of said parts at each work station with drive means;
• supporting said drive means operably engaging with said carriage means, said shuttle means supported for synchronized movement with said carriage means, said drive means including a pinion gear reversibly driven by a motor and a rack connected to the carriage means;
• vertically guiding movement of said shuttle means with guide means;
• moving said shuttle means vertically with rotary drive means;
• and
• connecting said rotary drive means to said shuttle means with translation means for translating rotary motion of said rotary drive means into vertical movement of said shuttle means, wherein said translation means includes the combination of a cam surface and a cam follower connected between the rotary drive means and the shuttle means.

A method for performing a sequence of machining operations on connecting rod blanks to convert the blanks from an original casting to a finished product comprising the steps of:

• performing machining operations on a plurality of parts as the parts travel along a predetermined path, the predetermined path defined at least in part by a first path portion extending between a plurality of opposing work stations for partially machining the parts and a second path portion extending generally parallel to said first path portion for machining partially-machined parts;
• recirculating the partially-machined parts from the first path portion to the second path portion of the predetermined path;
• reciprocating a reciprocal piston disposed within a cylinder for movement between first and second end limits of travel, said piston connected to a clamping member for holding at least one of said parts;
• and
• following a cam surface connected to said piston with a cam follower engaging said cam surface for driving said piston and connected clamping member in rotation as said piston moves between said first and second end limits of travel.

An apparatus for manufacturing connecting rods from blank parts comprising:

• first fixture means located at a workstation for receiving at least one part in a first position and for holding said part during a first machining operation;
• second fixture means located at said workstation for simultaneously receiving at least one part in a second position and for holding said part during a second machining operation performed simultaneously with said first machining operation, said second position in a non-planar relationship with said first position;
• and
• at least one cylinder having a piston for reciprocating along a fixed path between first and second end limits of travel and for rotating a retainer supported by said piston about an axis in response to reciprocation of said piston between a part-releasing position corresponding to said first end limit of movement and a first angular orientation, and a part-retaining position corresponding to said second end limit of travel and a second angular orientation.

An apparatus for manufacturing connecting rods from blank parts comprising:

• first fixture means located at a workstation for receiving at least one part in a first position and for holding said part during a first machining operation;
• second fixture means located at said workstation for simultaneously receiving at least one part in a second position and for holding said part during a second machining operation performed simultaneously with said first machining operation, said second position in a non-planar relationship with said first position;
• wherein each of said first and second fixture means further includes nest means for receiving and for locating said part in a respective predetermined position, and reciprocal retainer means for releasibly holding said part in said nest means during said respective machining operation, said reciprocal retainer means having a retainer releasibly engageable with said part placed in said nest means, and actuator means connected to said retainer for moving said retainer between a first position, wherein said retainer is spaced from said nest means, and a second position, wherein said retainer is adjacent said nest means to hold said part within said nest means, said actuator means having an actuator moving said retainer along a path of travel between said first and second positions, and means for rotating said retainer about said path of travel as said retainer moves between said first and second positions allowing sufficient clearance for removing said part from said nest means, said actuator having a housing having an elongated aperture formed therein, and a piston reciprocally received within said aperture for movement between first and second end limits of movement.

An apparatus for manufacturing connecting rods from blank parts comprising:

• a first nest for receiving at least one part in a generally horizontal first position, said first nest including a stop, a biased member opposing said stop and a locator member operably engageable with said part when inserted within said first nest;
• a second nest for receiving at least one part in a generally vertical second position, said second nest including a stop, a biased member opposing said stop and a locator member operably engageable with said part when inserted within said second nest;
• a first retainer for releasably holding said part within said first nest when in a first position, said retainer moveable from said first position to a second position spaced from said first nest allowing removal of an inserted part, said inserted part held in said first nest during a first machining operation;
• a second retainer for releasably holding said part within said second nest when in a first position, said retainer moveable from said first position to a second position spaced from said second nest allowing removal of an inserted part, said inserted part held in said second nest during a second machining operation simultaneous with said first machining operation;
• at least one cylinder having a piston reciprocal between first and second end limits of travel for simultaneously driving said first and second retainer between said first and second positions and for rotating at least one of said first and second retainers in response to movement between said first and second positions allowing sufficient clearance for removal of said part from said nest.