Device and method for measuring shape deviations of a cylindrical workpiece and correcting steadying element and correcting follower for use therewith

A correcting steadying rest for holding and stabilizing a workpiece in a workpiece processing machine, the correcting steadying rest comprising:

• a.) a plurality of correcting steadying rest bodies, each having a horizontal base portion and a vertical mount portion, such that each correcting steadying rest body is positioned perpendicularly to coaxial main central longitudinal axes of the workpiece and machine for imparting a predetermined shape to the workpiece, along a length thereof, with the vertical mount portion of each correcting steadying rest body having a hole extending therethrough for accommodating a correcting steadying rest axle;
• b.) a plurality of correcting steadying rest axles, corresponding in number to the number of correcting steadying rest bodies, such that each correcting steadying rest body has a corresponding correcting steadying rest axle extending longitudinally horizontally through the hole in each vertical mount portion of each correcting steadying rest body, such that the correcting steadying rest axle is perpendicular to the correcting steadying rest body and is coaxial with the main central longitudinal axes of the workpiece and machine for imparting a predetermined shape to the workpiece;
• c.) a plurality of yokes, corresponding in number to the number of correcting steadying rest bodies, such that a yoke is pivotally attached to a corresponding vertical portion of a correcting steadying rest body, about its corresponding correcting steadying rest axle, which passes through a hole in a central portion of each yoke, and further such that each correcting steadying rest axle and yoke is further capable of vertical sliding movement in the hole through the vertical mount portion of the correcting steadying rest body, within an angle measured between a line passing through the centers of rotation of the workpiece and the yoke and a horizontal line, with each yoke further having a pair of curved arms, with each curved arm having a proximal end and a distal end, such that the proximal end of each curved arm extends outward in an opposite direction from the central portion of each yoke, and the distal end of each curved arm is free, with the distal end of each curved arm further having a hole therethrough;
• d.) a plurality of main shoe axles, corresponding in number to twice the number of correcting steadying rest bodies, such that a main shoe axle passes through the hole through the distal end of each curved arm;
• and
• e.) a plurality of main shoes, for holding and steadying the workpiece, corresponding in number to the number of main shoe axles, each main shoe having a central portion and a pair of arm portions with an arm portion extending outward from opposite sides of the central portion, the main shoe being formed as a block having an inverted V-shape, with each arm portion of the main shoe forming an arm of the V-shape and the central portion of the main shoe being at a juncture of the arms, and with there further being a hole extending through the central portion of each main shoe, such that a main shoe is pivotally attached to its corresponding main shoe axle at the hole through the central portion of the main shoe, and such that a surface of the main shoe on an inner part of its V-shape contacts the workpiece;
• f.) a plurality of secondary support members, corresponding in number to the number of correcting steadying rest bodies, for supporting the workpiece and for pressing the workpiece against the main shoes, wherein each secondary support member includes:
• g.) a secondary support element arm, having opposite first, proximal and second, distal ends, the secondary support element arm being axially slidable with respect to a base of the machine for imparting a predetermined shape to the workpiece, and the secondary support element arm having a vertically oriented hole therethrough proximate to the distal end thereof;
• h.) a secondary support element axle, horizontally oriented and passing through the hole at the distal end of the secondary support element arm;
• and
• i.) a secondary support element shoe, each secondary support element shoe having a central portion and a pair of arm portions with an arm portion extending outward from opposite sides of the central portion, the secondary support element shoe being formed as a block having a V-shape, with each arm portion of the secondary support element shoe forming an arm of the V-shape and the central portion of the secondary support element shoe being at a juncture of the arms, and with there further being a hole extending through the central portion of each secondary support element shoe, such that a secondary support element shoe is pivotally attached to its corresponding secondary support element axle at the hole through the central portion of the secondary support element shoe, and such that a surface of the secondary support element shoe on an inner part of its V-shape contacts the workpiece.

A correcting follower rest, for holding and steadying a workpiece in a workpiece processing machine, the correcting follower rest comprising:

• a.) a correcting follower rest mount, having a base portion capable of being fixedly attached to the machine for imparting a predetermined shape to the workpiece, and having an upper portion with a vertically oriented hole therethrough;
• b.) a correcting follower axle, horizontally oriented and passing through the hole in the upper portion of the correcting follower rest mount;
• c.) a correcting follower rest lever arm, having a pair of opposite ends, with a first, proximal end being rotatingly attached to the correcting follower mount by the correcting follower axle, and a second, distal end being free, the correcting follower rest lever arm having at least one substantially vertically oriented portion and at least one substantially horizontally oriented portion between the ends;
• d.) a correcting follower rest weight attached to the second, distal end of the correcting follower rest lever arm, for pressing the correcting follower rest against a surface of the workpiece;
• e.) a yoke, attached to a substantially horizontally oriented portion of the correcting follower rest lever arm proximate to the distal end of the correcting follower rest lever arm, such that the yoke at least partially encircles the workpiece mounted on the machine, and further such that the yoke is capable of rotational movement with respect to the correcting follower rest lever arm and around the workpiece;
• f.) a shaping tool for shaping the workpiece to the predetermined shape, the shaping tool being movably attached to the yoke
• g.) at least one level of a plurality of secondary correcting follower rest support elements, each having a central portion and a pair of arm portions, with each arm portion having first, proximal and second, distal ends, with the proximal end of an arm portion of each of a pair of arm portions extending outwardly from opposite sides of each central portion, such that the arm portions are oriented substantially parallel to an outer surface of the workpiece, and with each distal end of each arm portion being free, and such that each of the first level of secondary correcting follower rest support elements is pivotally attached to the yoke by an axle extending through the central portion of each one of that level of secondary correcting follower rest support element, and any subsequent levels of secondary correcting follower rest support elements are attached to the previous level of secondary correcting follower rest support elements, such that there is a secondary correcting follower rest support element of a subsequent level pivotally attached by an axle, which extends through the central portion of that secondary correcting follower rest support element, to the distal end of each arm portion of each secondary correcting follower rest support element of the previous level, and
• h.) a plurality of secondary correcting follower rest shoes attached to the final level of secondary correcting follower rest support elements, such that there is a secondary correcting follower rest shoe pivotally attached to each distal end of each arm portion.

A method for measuring the deviations from cylindricity of a workpiece having a main central longitudinal axis and at least certain cylindrical properties, and for determining the exact shape of the workpiece, the method comprising:

• a.) providing a measuring device having a first measuring sensor to measure deviation from roundness of a cross sectional profile of the workpiece, at a plurality of locations along the main central longitudinal axis of the workpiece, by measuring the distance of points on the perimeter of a cross sectional profile of the workpiece at particular locations along the main central longitudinal axis of the workpiece, from corresponding points on the perimeter of an average, least-squares circle fitted to the actual profile of the workpiece at that location along the main central longitudinal axis of the workpiece;
• b.) providing a second measuring sensor on the device to measure radial displacement of the centers of fitted least squares average circle cross-sectional profiles of the workpiece at a plurality of locations along the main central longitudinal axis of the workpiece, by measuring changes in a diameter of the workpiece, at a plurality of locations along the main central longitudinal axis of the workpiece;
• c.) providing a third measuring sensor on the device to measure deviation from roundness of cross sectional profiles of the workpiece at locations along the main central longitudinal axis of the workpiece, with respect to a circular reference cross sectional profile;
• and to measure deviation from straightness of the main central longitudinal axis of the workpiece itself, with respect to a straight reference axis;
• and
• d.) utilizing measurements taken by the first, second, and third sensors to determine an overall exact shape of the workpiece.

A device for measuring deviations in shape of a workpiece having at least certain cylindrical properties, the deviations being measured with respect to at least one reference standard, and measurements capable of being made while the workpiece is positioned in a machine for imparting a predetermined shape to the workpiece starting from a workpiece blank, without necessitating removal of the workpiece from the machine in order to take the measurements, the device comprising:

• a.) a vertical mount, having a top and a base, such that the vertical mount is capable of slidable movement substantially coaxial with a main central longitudinal axis of the workpiece that is substantially perpendicular to the vertical mount;
• b.) a horizontal lever arm, having a pair of first and second opposite ends, and pivotally attached to the vertical mount at a point that is proximal to the top of the vertical mount and is along the lever arm between its opposite ends;
• c.) a main body of the device, having a pair of arms formed in an inverted V-shape, with each arm of the pair having a pair of oppositely disposed ends, with the arms being disposed in angularly vertically downward directions, such that first ends of each of the two arms are angularly joined together to form the V-shape and the second end of each arm is free, the main body of the device further having at least one horizontal surface, and the main body of the device being attached to the first end of the horizontal lever arm;
• d.) a pair of first-step sliding levers, each first-step sliding lever having an upper portion and a lower portion, and first and second opposite ends, such that a first-step sliding lever is slideably attached at the upper portion thereof to the free end of each arm of the main body of the device;
• e.) a pair of first-step axles and corresponding first-step rocking levers, such that there is a first-step axle and a corresponding first-step rocking lever associated with each first-step sliding lever, each first-step rocking lever having a first and second opposite ends, with a first-step rocking lever being pivotally attached to the lower portion of each first-step sliding lever by a corresponding one of the first-step axles;
• f.) a plurality of second-step sliding levers, each second-step sliding lever having an upper portion and a lower portion, and first and second opposite ends, such that a second-step sliding lever is slideably attached at the upper portion thereof to each of the first and second opposite ends of each of the first-step rocking levers;
• g.) a plurality of second-step axles and corresponding second-step rocking levers, such that there is a pair of second-step axles and corresponding second-step rocking levers associated with each second-step sliding lever, with a second-step rocking lever having first and second opposite ends, and with a second-step rocking lever being pivotally attached to the lower portion of each second-step sliding lever by a corresponding one of the second-step axles, such that the second-step rocking levers are capable of contacting the surface of the workpiece;
• h.) a first, main measuring sensor vertically attached at a juncture of the two arms of the main body, and having a first measuring tip at a lower end of the sensor that is capable of contacting a surface of the workpiece being measured;
• i.) a counterweight attached to the second end of the horizontal lever arm;
• j.) a horizontal fixed arm, having a pair of opposite first and second ends, the horizontal fixed arm being attached at a first end to the top of the vertical mount;
• and
• k.) a second measuring sensor, attached to the second end of the horizontal fixed arm, with the second measuring sensor being positioned vertically and perpendicular to the horizontal fixed arm, the second measuring sensor having a second measuring tip at a lower end thereof that is capable of contacting the horizontal surface of the main body of the device.