UNIVERSAL GEAR TEETH CONTROL DEVICE BY SINGLE-FLAT GEAR ANALYSIS

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for inspecting pinion teeth by single-sided gearing, comprising: - a single tooth (26) adapted to mesh with driven teeth (22) of a pinion (12) to be inspected, - means for moving said single tooth (26) relative to the driven teeth (22), - at least one means for measuring a displacement (α) of the driven teeth (22) in response to a displacement (X) of the single tooth (26), - at least one means for comparing the displacement (α) of the driven teeth (22) with respect to the displacement (X) of the single tooth (26) when said single tooth (26) drives said pinion (12) to be inspected by traversing each of the flanks (34, 36) of each tooth (38, 40) of the driven teeth (22), between an edge (42, 44) and a root (46) of the driven dentition (22). Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 9.

Description

Title of the invention: UNIVERSAL GEAR TEETH CONTROL DEVICE BY SINGLE-FLAT GEAR ANALYSIS Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a device for controlling a pinion tooth by single-sided gearing. Technical background

[0002] There are several methods for controlling the quality of gear teeth, each with its advantages and limitations.

[0003] Firstly, control methods using three-dimensional measuring machines (CMM) are known: Such a three-dimensional measuring machine measures the dimensions of the teeth in three dimensions, which allows a complete evaluation of the quality of the gear.

[0004] This is referred to as analytical measurement, or individual or elementary measurement, which consists of measuring deviations in helix, profile, pitch, radial runout, and thickness of each tooth. The measurements are taken by positioning a contact probe in the theoretical position where the tooth flank should be relative to the reference axis, and measuring any deviation. This method is very precise, but it is slow and cannot be applied to the inspection of gears in a high-volume production setting.

[0005] Functional testing methods using a matching part that reproduces the meshing conditions are also known; these are also called gear-measuring methods. These methods use a specialized measuring bench or gear tester that receives a standard pinion. The meshing of the pinion to be tested allows for the detection of defects in the teeth of this pinion by examining the characteristics of the moving gear.

[0006] In particular, we distinguish:

[0007] - double-sided gear-measuring control methods, in which the calibration pinion meshes with a pinion to be checked without backlash.

[0008] For the record, the backlash in a gear corresponds to the space between the teeth of the gears, at a given center distance of these gears, which allows a smooth movement when they mesh.

[0009] This clearance is necessary to avoid excessive friction and mechanical stress during the operation of the gear. When two gears mesh, there must be a slight gap between their teeth to allow for Smooth movement, without blocking. This space is the backlash. This clearance is measured between two flanks of two teeth of a gear when one of the opposite flanks is in contact with a tooth.

[0010] The measurements of the double-sided meshing deviations are carried out with the driving and driven gears in contact and without any play, and consist of measuring the positioning deviation of the axes of the reference gear and the gear to be tested by tracing the mesh around the entire periphery of the gear to be tested. These measurements are precise but not exhaustive.

[0011] - single-sided gear-measuring control methods, in which the pinion A master gear meshes with a pinion to be tested, with some backlash. Measurements of single-sided meshing deviations are performed while maintaining contact between the tooth flanks, with some backlash, i.e., under real meshing conditions, at low load and low speed. One of the pinions, usually the master gear, is the driving pinion, the other is the driven pinion. The angular positions of the driven pinion relative to the master gear are measured and analyzed to define the combined elementary deviations (profile, helix, pitch) of the two pinions based on an angular transmission error measured between the driving and driven pinions. This method is accurate and reliable, but more time-consuming to implement.

[0012] To obtain good accuracy of measurements, it is desirable to favour the control method by single-sided gearing.

[0013] However, this method has the drawback of requiring a set of calibration gears adapted to the gears being tested, in terms of pressure angles, pitch, module, height, and helix angle. A first consequence is the need to maintain a stock of calibration gears adapted to the gears being measured. A second consequence is that it is often necessary to change calibration gears when testing gears with different tooth profiles and dimensions, with the associated downtime and preparation time for the measuring bench—time that is not directly used for the testing itself.

[0014] There is therefore a real need for a master gear set capable of replacing a plurality of master gears, without requiring assembly or disassembly of the measuring bench. Summary of the invention

[0015] The invention satisfies this need by proposing a device for controlling a pinion tooth by single-sided gearing comprising a calibration element replacing the calibration pinion, this calibration element being universal and adaptable to a large number of types of pinion teeth to be controlled.

[0016] To this end, the invention proposes a device for controlling pinion teeth by single-sided gearing, said device comprising:

[0017] - a standard organ equipped with a driving tooth, capable of meshing with a toothed driven by a pinion to be controlled on axis A,

[0018] - means for moving said driving teeth relative to the teeth conducted,

[0019] - at least one means of measuring a displacement of the teeth in response to a displacement of the leading teeth,

[0020] - at least one means of comparing the displacement of the teeth driven by in relation to the movement of the leading teeth,

[0021] characterized in that the driving teeth of the calibration member comprise a single tooth, capable of engaging with the teeth of the pinion to be controlled and in that the means of movement comprise at least first means of translation of said single tooth along a direction B, said single tooth driving said pinion to be controlled by traversing each of the flanks of each tooth of the driven teeth, between an edge of said tooth of the driven teeth and a bottom of the driven teeth.

[0022] According to various additional features of the invention, which may be taken together or separately and which constitute so many embodiments of the invention:

[0023] - the single tooth is configured to be able to selectively mesh with a teeth of each of the pinions of a plurality of different determined pinions,

[0024] - the control device comprises a first means for tilting the single tooth around an axis C parallel to axis A to adjust a pressure angle of said single tooth to a pressure angle of said pinion to be controlled,

[0025] - the device includes a second means for tilting the single tooth according to a angle determined around an axis D perpendicular to axis B and to axis A of the pinion to be checked in order to adapt the tooth to meshing with a helical pinion to be checked having teeth inclined at a determined angle with respect to axis A,

[0026] - the means for moving the single tooth further comprise second translation means capable of moving said single tooth in a plane passing through axis A to engage the driven teeth,

[0027] - the means for measuring the displacement of the driven teeth is a measuring means of a rotational stroke, called the driven stroke, carried out by the pinion to be controlled in response to a displacement stroke of the single tooth in translation along axis B so that said single tooth travels along each flank of a tooth of the driven gear set,

[0028] - the comparison means calculates a transmission error equal to the quotient of a theoretical rotational stroke, called the driven stroke, of the pinion to be checked by the measured rotational stroke of the pinion to be checked, said theoretical driven stroke being equal to a rotational stroke caused by the meshing of the pinion to be checked with a theoretical reference pinion, according to a reduction ratio between said pinions, when said theoretical standard pinion pivots through a rotational stroke called the driving stroke, having a developed length equal to the displacement stroke of the single tooth during its travel along one flank of a tooth,

[0029] - the control device comprises: • a frame of said device, • a first support bearing the pinion to be checked, rotating around axis A, and mounted on a first slide with axis E parallel to axis A relative to the frame, • a plate mounted on a second slide with an axis parallel to axis B relative to the frame, • a second support carrying the single tooth, mounted on a third slide with axis F perpendicular to axis A with respect to the plate,

[0030] said slides forming the means of movement of the single tooth relative to the driven teeth.

[0031] - the second support further comprises a first pivot with axis C parallel to the axis A, kinematically interposed between the single tooth and the second support, forming the first means of inclination,

[0032] - the second support further comprises a second pivot with axis D, perpendicular to axis B and axis A of the pinion, kinematically interposed between the single tooth and the second support, forming the second means of inclination,

[0033] The invention also relates to a gear teeth control system, comprising:

[0034] - a control device of the type described above,

[0035] - a plurality of pinions to be controlled from axis A, of modules, pressure angles and different heights along axis A,

[0036] characterized in that the tooth:

[0037] - is tiltable at an angle less than the smallest of the pressure angles of said multiple gears to check,

[0038] - is of a height greater than a greater gable height among the plurality of gears to check,

[0039] - is of lesser thickness than a smaller gap between pinion teeth among the plurality of sprockets.

[0040] The invention also relates to a method for checking a pinion using a control device of the type described above, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

[0041] i) select a pinion to be checked,

[0042] ii) move the single tooth so that it approaches one end of a flank of a tooth of the driven dentition, near its edge,

[0043] iii) move said single tooth along direction B in a first direction so that it travels along said flank of said tooth of the driven toothing, between its edge and a common ground of the driven toothing separating said tooth from a neighboring tooth,

[0044] iv) compare the displacement of the driven teeth with respect to the displacement of the single tooth,

[0045] v) extract the single tooth from the driven dentition,

[0046] vi) move the single tooth so that it engages one end of a flank of the tooth adjacent to the driven tooth, near its edge,

[0047] vii) move said single tooth along direction B in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, by traversing said flank of said tooth adjacent to the driven toothing, between its edge and the common ground of the driven toothing separating said tooth from the adjacent tooth,

[0048] viii) compare the displacement of the driven teeth with respect to the displacement of the single tooth,

[0049] ix) extract the single tooth from the led dentition,

[0050] x) rotate the pinion to place an opposite flank of the neighboring tooth opposite the single tooth,

[0051] xi) repeat steps i) to ix) for all remaining pairs of teeth and adjacent teeth of the led dentition. Brief description of the figures

[0052] The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will become more apparent in the course of the detailed explanatory description that follows, of at least one embodiment of the invention given by way of purely illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, among which:

[0053] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a gear tooth control device according to the prior art;

[0054] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a pinion gear control device according to the invention;

[0055] The [Fig.3] is a perspective view of sprockets of different heights and helix angles that can be controlled by the single tooth of the control device of the [Fig.2];

[0056] The [Fig.4] is a schematic view of gears of different modules that can be controlled by the single tooth of the control device of the [Fig.2];

[0057] The [Fig.5] is a schematic top view illustrating the beginning of a step of approaching a flank of a first tooth of a pinion to be controlled by the single tooth;

[0058] Fig. 6 is a schematic top view illustrating the end of the step of approaching the flank of the first tooth of the pinion to be controlled by the single tooth;

[0059] The [Fig.7] is a schematic top view illustrating the beginning of a step of controlling the flank of the first tooth of the pinion to be controlled by the single tooth;

[0060] The [Fig.8] is a schematic top view illustrating the course of the step of controlling the flank of the first tooth of the pinion to be controlled by the single tooth;

[0061] Fig. 9 is a schematic top view illustrating the end of the step of checking the flank of the first tooth of the pinion to be checked by the single tooth;

[0062] Fig. 10 is a schematic top view illustrating an escapement stage of the flank of the first tooth of the pinion to be controlled by the single tooth;

[0063] The [Fig. 11] is a schematic top view illustrating the beginning of a step of approaching a flank of a second tooth of the pinion to be controlled by the single tooth;

[0064] The [Fig. 12] is a schematic top view illustrating the end of the step of checking the flank of the second tooth of the pinion to be checked by the single tooth;

[0065] Fig. 13 is a schematic top view illustrating an escapement stage of the flank of the second tooth of the pinion to be controlled by the single tooth;

[0066] The [Fig. 14] is a schematic top view of a step in the removal of the flank of the second tooth of the pinion to be controlled by the single tooth;

[0067] The [Fig. 15] is a block diagram illustrating the steps of a method for checking a pinion using the control device of the [Fig.2]. Detailed description of the invention

[0068] Figure 1 shows a device 10 for checking the teeth of a pinion by single-sided gearing according to a prior art. As is known, the device 10 is a gearing measuring bench that allows checking a pinion 12 with axis A, using a calibration pinion 14.

[0069] The device 10 comprises a mandrel 16 with axis A carrying the pinion 12 to be tested and a mandrel 18 with axis A' carrying the gauge pinion 14, the pinions 12 and 14 being removable from their respective mandrels 16 and 18. The gauge pinion 14 has teeth 20 meshing with teeth 22 of the pinion 12 to be tested, these two teeth 20 and 22 meshing without backlash, as explained previously. A driving pinion, here the gauge pinion 14, drives a driven pinion, here the pinion 12 to be tested. In the remainder of this description, the teeth 20 of the gauge pinion 14 will therefore be referred to as the "driving" pinion and the teeth 22 of the pinion 12 to be tested will therefore be referred to as the "driven" pinion.

[0070] The device 10 includes means 24 for moving the driving teeth 20 relative to the driven teeth 22, which here comprise a motor 25 driving the calibration pinion 14 in rotation about its axis A' to drive In turn, the pinion 12 to be controlled in rotation around its axis A. The means of movement also include means (not shown) of movement of the axes A, a' so that the center distance of these axes A, a' is adjustable so that pinions 12, 14 of different diameters can be used.

[0071] The device 10 includes a means for measuring the displacement of the driving teeth 20, for example a first angular sensor (not shown) of the rotation of the calibration pinion 14 and a means for measuring a displacement of the driven teeth 22, for example a second angular sensor (not shown) of the rotation of the pinion to be controlled 12 in response to the displacement of the driving teeth 20.

[0072] The device 10 also incorporates at least one means for comparing the displacement of the driven teeth 22 with respect to the displacement of the driving teeth 20. In the present case, this means for comparison may consist of a calculation means for determining a ratio between the expected angle of rotation of the driven teeth 22 with respect to the measured angle of rotation of the driven teeth 22, when said driven teeth 22 are driven by the driving teeth 20 of the standard pinion 14, taking into account the reduction ratio determined by the meshing of the pinions 12, 14. The ratio determined by this calculation means makes it possible to determine a transmission error which is symptomatic of meshing defects, which are attributable solely to the teeth 22 of the pinion 12 to be checked, since the standard pinion 14 is assumed to be free of defects.

[0073] This design is generally satisfactory. However, it has the drawback of requiring a set of calibration gears 14 adapted to the gears 12 to be tested, in terms of pressure angles, pitch, module, height, and helix angle. A first consequence is that it is necessary to have a stock of calibration gears 14 adapted to the gears 12 to be measured. A second consequence is that it is often necessary to change calibration gears 14 when testing gears 12 with different tooth profiles and dimensions, with the resulting downtime and preparation time for the device 10. It is indeed necessary to adjust the center distance of the axes A, A' to ensure meshing, and frequently to change calibration gears 14 depending on the gear 12 being tested.Furthermore, it is necessary to configure the calculation method to allow adaptation of the calculation to the diameters of the standard sprockets 14 and the sprockets 12 to be checked.

[0074] The invention therefore seeks to remedy these drawbacks. To do so, the invention starts from a twofold observation.

[0075] On the one hand, it is possible to assimilate the rotational movement of the standard pinion 14 to a translational movement of an equivalent standard rack, of which a the teeth would have the same pitch as the teeth 20 of the standard pinion, and which would correspond approximately to a developed version of the teeth 20 of the standard pinion.

[0076] On the other hand, the meshing of this master rack would consist of identical teeth of the rack meshing with the teeth 22 of the pinion 12 to be tested. Consequently, this rack can advantageously be replaced by a single master tooth, movable in translation and meshing successively with all the teeth of the teeth 22 of the pinion 12 to be tested, with the advantage that a single tooth makes it possible to disregard pitch considerations and that an adapted displacement of a single tooth makes it possible to simulate racks of different pitches.

[0077] Also, in accordance with the invention, as illustrated in [Fig. 2] and [Fig. 14], the driving teeth 20 of the calibration member 14 comprises a single tooth 26, adapted to mesh with the teeth 22 of the pinion 12 to be controlled, and the movement means 24 comprise at least first means 28 for translating this single tooth 26 along a direction B such that the single tooth 26 drives said pinion 12 to be controlled by traversing each of the flanks 34, 36 of each tooth 38, 40 of the driven teeth, between an edge 42, 44 of said tooth 38, 40 of the driven teeth 22 and a bottom 46 of the driven teeth 22. The practical implementation of these first means 28 for translation will be described in more detail later in the remainder of this description.

[0078] The means 28 for translating the single tooth 26 along the direction B allow, as can be seen with reference to figures 5 to 13, by a linear displacement of the tooth 26 along the direction B, a displacement which can be assimilated to the rotation of an equivalent driving standard pinion or to the displacement of an equivalent rack, to cause, by reason of the meshing of the single tooth 26 with the teeth 22, the rotation of the pinion 12 to be controlled.

[0079] To enable the drive of the pinion 12 to be controlled by the single tooth 26, it is nevertheless necessary that the single tooth 26 be able to engage the teeth 22, that is to say, that it be able to approach it and position itself at its level. To this end, the means 24 for moving the single tooth 26 further include second translation means 30, 32 adapted to move said single tooth in a plane P passing through the axis A to engage the driven teeth 22. The practical implementation of these second translation means 30, 32 will be described in more detail later in the remainder of this description.

[0080] The means for measuring the displacement of the driven gear 22 is, for example, conventionally a means for measuring a rotational stroke a, called the driven stroke, carried out by the pinion 12 to be controlled in response to a stroke X of the single tooth 26 in translation along the axis B so that said single tooth 26 travels along each flank of a tooth of the driven gear 22, as illustrated in [Fig. 9]. This is, for example, an angular sensor (not shown).

[0081] Figures 5 to 15 illustrate steps in a method of checking a pinion 12 to be checked using a checking device 10.

[0082] As illustrated in [Fig. 15], in a first step i), a pinion to be inspected 12 is selected. Then, as illustrated in Figures 15 and 5-6, in a second step ii), the single tooth 26 is moved in plane P in the direction of the arrow in [Fig. 5] so that it contacts an end of a flank 34 of a tooth 38 of the driven gear set 22, near its edge 42, as shown in [Fig. 6]. In this position, as shown in [Fig. 6], the free end of the single tooth is arranged on a tangent T to the root circle of the pinion 12 to be inspected.

[0083] Then, as illustrated in Figures 15 and 7-9, during a step iii), the single tooth 26 is moved along the direction B in a first direction, as represented by the arrows in Figures 7 to 9, so that it travels along the flank 34 of the tooth 38 of the driven teeth 22, between its edge 42 and the common ground 46 of the driven teeth 22 separating the tooth 38 from the neighboring tooth 44.

[0084] The flank 34 of the tooth 38 was then entirely traversed by the single tooth 26. During this movement, a displacement X of the single tooth 26 along direction B caused a measured rotational travel a of the pinion 12 to be controlled. The displacement X of the tooth 26 is converted by a calculation means (not shown) into a rotational travel [3] called the driving travel of an equivalent theoretical standard pinion, the displacement X corresponding to the evolute of this driving rotational travel [3] of the equivalent theoretical standard pinion when the single tooth 26 traverses the flank 34 of the tooth 38.

[0085] Given the reduction ratio between this equivalent master pinion and the pinion 12 to be tested, the driving rotational stroke [3] of the master pinion should, if the pinion 12 were perfect, cause a so-called driven rotational stroke, of an angle y, of the pinion 12, which can be obtained very simply by calculation since the gear reduction ratio is known. In a step iv), the theoretical displacement stroke y of the tooth 38 is therefore compared with the actual measured rotational stroke a of the tooth 38 whose flank is traversed by the single tooth 26. A transmission error value ERR can be deduced by comparing the angles a and y, for example in the form of a quotient y / a.

[0086] At the end of this step, as shown in [Fig.10], the single tooth 26 escapes from the tooth 38.

[0087] Then, during a step v) (not shown), the single tooth is extracted from the driven dentition,

[0088] Then, in step vi) the single tooth 26 is moved again by successive movements in plane P (not shown) and then along direction B in a second direction opposite to the first direction, as shown in [Fig. 11], to that it approaches an end of a flank 36 of the tooth 40 near the led dentition 22, close to its edge 44.

[0089] In the same way as before, as illustrated in [Fig. 12], during a step vii) the single tooth 26 is then moved along the direction B in the second direction opposite to the first direction, traversing the flank 36 of the neighboring tooth 40 of the driven teeth 22 between its edge 44 and the common ground 46 of the driven teeth 22 separating the tooth 38 from its neighboring tooth 40.

[0090] In the same way as previously in step iv), during a step viii) which will not be described in more detail in the remainder of this description, the actual displacement of the tooth 40 of the driven teeth 22 is again compared with the theoretical displacement of the tooth 40 when its flank 36 is traversed by the single tooth 26 along the flank 36 of the tooth 40 in order to deduce a transmission error value ERR associated with the flank 36 of the tooth 40.

[0091] We can then, during a step ix) extract the single tooth 26 from the driven dentition 22, by continuing the movement of the single tooth 26 along the direction B, as shown in [Fig. 13], then in the plane P, as shown in [Fig. 14].

[0092] Then, in a step x) (not shown), the pinion 12 is pivoted so that an opposite flank 48 of the neighboring tooth 40 can subsequently be positioned opposite the single tooth. Steps ii) to ix) can then be repeated in a step xi) for all the remaining pairs of teeth and neighboring teeth of the driven teeth 22.

[0093] All the teeth of the toothing 22 are thus traversed with the single single tooth 26. Each flank of a tooth of the toothing 22 is associated with a transmission error ERR, which allows us to have an overview of the overall quality of the toothing 22, as well as individual defects.

[0094] An essential feature of the invention is that the single tooth 26 is configured to be able to mesh selectively with a tooth 22 of each of the pinions 12 of a plurality of different determined pinions.

[0095] For example, the single tooth 26 can be adapted to gears 12 to be controlled having different pressure angles. To this end, as illustrated in [Fig. 2], the device 10 includes a first means 50 for tilting the single tooth 26 about an axis C parallel to the axis A in order to adjust a pressure angle of said single tooth 26 to a pressure angle of said gear to be controlled. The practical implementation of this first tilting means 50 will be described in more detail later in this description.

[0096] The control device 10 further includes a second means for tilting the single tooth 26 at a predetermined angle about an axis D perpendicular to the axis B and the axis A of the pinion 12 to be controlled. This allows the tooth 26 to mesh with a helical pinion 12 to be checked having teeth inclined at an angle 0 determined with respect to axis A, as shown on the right of [Fig.3].

[0097] The practical implementation of this second means 52 of inclination will be described in more detail later in the continuation of this description.

[0098] The tooth 26 is also of a height H greater than sprockets of different heights hl and h2 as can be seen in [Fig.3].

[0099] In this configuration, considering a gear tooth control system, comprising a plurality of gears 12 to be controlled of axis A, of different modules, pressure angles and heights along axis A and a control device 10 of the type described previously, the entire plurality of gears 12 to be controlled can be controlled provided that the tooth 26 meets a certain number of criteria.

[0100] First, the tooth 26 is tiltable at an angle less than or equal to the smallest pressure angle of the plurality of gears 12 to be inspected. The tooth 26 must also have a height H greater than or equal to the largest gear height among the plurality of gears 12 to be inspected. Finally, the tooth 26 must have a thickness L less than the smallest interval between teeth 38, 40 of gear 12 among the plurality of gears, as shown in [Fig. 4], so that the free end of the single tooth 26 can be inserted to the bottom of the tooth profile. In [Fig. 4], a single tooth 26 is shown, suitable for measuring teeth 38, 40 and teeth 38', 40' with twice the module of teeth 38, 40.

[0101] In practice, to perform the movements and adjustments of the tooth 26, numerous configurations of the device 10 can be envisaged. By way of example, as illustrated in [Fig. 2], and without limiting the invention, the control device 10 firstly comprises a frame 54. In this example, a first support 56 carrying the pinion 12 to be controlled, rotating about the axis A, is mounted on a first slide 32 with axis E parallel to the axis A with respect to the frame 54. This slide is part of the second translation means 30, 32 capable of moving said single tooth 26 in the plane P passing through the axis A.

[0102] The device also includes a plate 56 mounted on a second slide 28 with an axis parallel to the axis B relative to the frame 54. This slide forms the first means 28 for translating the single tooth 26 along the direction B. A motorization, for example a cylinder interposed between the plate 56 and the frame 54, allows the movement of the plate 56.

[0103] On this plate 56 is mounted a second support 58 carrying the single tooth 26, mounted on a third slide 30 with axis F perpendicular to the axis A with respect to the plate 56. The third slide 30 forms the other part of the second means of translation 30, 32 able to move said single tooth 26 in the plane P passing through the axis A.

[0104] The set of slides 28, 30, 32 forms the means of movement 24 of the single tooth 26 relative to the driven teeth 22.

[0105] It will be noted that, without leaving the scope of the invention, the support 56 could be part of the frame 54 and be fixed relative to it, while the second slide 28 with an axis parallel to the axis B would not be interposed between the support 56 and the frame 54, but would be interposed between the single tooth 26 and the second support 58, without changing the movement possibilities of the single tooth 26.

[0106] The second support 58 advantageously comprises a first pivot 50 with axis C parallel to axis A, which is kinematically interposed between the single tooth 26 and the second support 58, which forms the first tilting means. Similarly, the second support 58 further comprises a second pivot 52 with axis D, perpendicular to axis B and to axis A of the pinion 22, which is kinematically interposed between the single tooth 22 and the second support 58, to form the second tilting means.

[0107] The device 10 therefore offers complete freedom of movement and adjustment of the single tooth 26, which makes it possible to control a large number of pinions 12 with a single tooth 26.

Claims

Demands

1. A device (10) for checking pinion teeth by single-sided gearing, said device comprising: - a gauge member (14) provided with driving teeth (20), capable of meshing with driven teeth (22) of a pinion (12) to be checked with axis (A), - means (24) for displacing said driving teeth (20) relative to the driven teeth (22), - at least one means for measuring a displacement (a) of the driven teeth (22) of the pinion (12) during its rotation in response to a displacement (X) of the driving teeth (20), - at least one means for comparing the displacement (a) of the driven teeth (22) with respect to the displacement (X) of the driving teeth (20), characterized in that the driving teeth (20) of the gauge member (14) comprise a single tooth (26),capable of meshing with the teeth (22) of the pinion (12) to be controlled, and in that the means of movement (24) comprise at least first means (28) for translating said single tooth (26) along a direction (B), said single tooth (26) driving said pinion (12) to be controlled by traversing each of the flanks (34, 36) of each tooth (38, 40) of the driven teeth (22), between an edge (42, 44) of said tooth (38, 40) of the driven teeth (22) and a root (46) of the driven teeth (22).

2. Control device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the single tooth (26) is configured to be able to selectively mesh with a tooth of each of the pinions (12) of a plurality of different pinions (12) determined.

3. Control device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a first means (50) for tilting the single tooth (26) about an axis (C) parallel to the axis (A) to adjust a pressure angle of said single tooth (26) to a pressure angle of said pinion (12) to be controlled.

4. A control device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a second means (52) for tilting the single tooth (26) at a predetermined angle about an axis (D) perpendicular to the axis (B) and to the axis (A) of the pinion (12) to be controlled in order to adapt the tooth (26) to meshing with a helical pinion (12) to be checked having teeth inclined at an angle (0) determined with respect to axis A.

5. Control device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means (24) for moving the single tooth further comprise second means for translation (30, 32) capable of moving said single tooth (26) in a plane (P) passing through the axis A to approach the driven teeth (22).

6. Control device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for measuring the displacement of the driven teeth (22) is a means for measuring a driven rotation stroke (a) made by the pinion (12) to be controlled in response to a displacement stroke (X) of the single tooth (26) in translation along the axis (B) so that said single tooth (26) travels through each flank (34, 36) of a tooth (38, 40) of the driven teeth (22).

7. Control device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the comparison means calculates a transmission error (ERR) equal to the quotient of a theoretical rotational stroke (y) said driven of the pinion (12) to be controlled by the measured rotational stroke (a) of the pinion (12) to be controlled, said theoretical rotational stroke driven (y) being equal to a rotational stroke caused by the meshing of the pinion to be controlled (12) with a theoretical standard pinion, according to a reduction ratio between said pinions, when said theoretical standard pinion pivots by a rotational stroke (|3) said driving having a development equal to the displacement stroke (X) of the single tooth (26) during its travel along a flank (34, 36) of a tooth (12).

8. Control device (10) according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises: - a frame (54) of said device, - a first support (56) carrying the pinion (12) to be controlled, rotating about the axis (A), and mounted on a first slide (32) with axis (E) parallel to the axis (A) with respect to the frame (54), - a plate (56) mounted on a second slide (28) with axis parallel to the axis B with respect to the frame, - a second support (58) carrying the single tooth (26), mounted on a third slide (30) with axis (F) perpendicular to the axis A with respect to the plate (56), said slides (28, 30, 32) forming the means (24) of displacement of the single tooth (26) relative to the driven teeth (22).

9. Control device (10) according to the preceding claim taken in combination with claim 4, characterized in that the second support (50) further comprises a first pivot of axis C parallel to the axis A, kinematically interposed between the single tooth (26) and the second support (50), forming the first tilting means.

10. Control device (10) according to any one of claims 8 or 9 taken in combination with claim 3, characterized in that the second support (50) further comprises a second pivot of axis D, perpendicular to axis B and to axis A of the pinion kinematically interposed between the single tooth (26) and the second support (50), forming the second tilting means.

11. Gear tooth control system, comprising: - a control device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, - a plurality of gears (12) to be controlled of axis (A), of different modules, pressure angles and heights along axis (A), characterized in that the tooth (26): - is tiltable at an angle less than the smallest of the pressure angles of said plurality of gears to be controlled, - is of height (H) greater than a largest gear height among the plurality of gears (12) to be controlled, - is of thickness (L) less than a smallest inter-tooth gap (38, 40) of gear (12) among the plurality of gears (12).

12. A method for inspecting a pinion (12) using a control device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: i) selecting a pinion (12) to be inspected, ii) moving the single tooth (26) so that it approaches an end of a flank (34) of a tooth (38) of the driven teeth (22), near its edge (42), iii) moving said single tooth (26) along direction B in a first direction so that it travels along said flank (34) of said tooth (38) of the driven teeth (22), between its edge (42) and a common bottom (46) of the driven teeth separating said tooth (38) from a neighboring tooth (40), (iv) compare the displacement (a) of the driven teeth (22) with respect to the displacement (X) of the single tooth, (v) extract the single tooth (26) from the led dentition (22), vi) move the single tooth (26) so that it approaches one end of a flank (36) of the neighboring tooth (40) of the driven toothing, near its edge (44), vii) move said single tooth (26) along direction (B) in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, by traversing said flank (36) of said neighboring tooth (40) of the driven tooth (22), between its edge (44) and the common ground (46) of the driven tooth (22) separating said tooth (38) from the neighboring tooth (40), viii) compare the displacement of the driven teeth (22) with respect to the displacement of the single tooth (26), ix) extract the single tooth (26) from the led dentition (22), x) rotate the pinion (12) to position an opposite flank (48) of the neighboring tooth (40) opposite the single tooth (26), xi) repeat steps i) to ix) for all remaining pairs of teeth (38) and neighbouring teeth (40) of the led dentition (22).

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