Multi-Gear Grinding Worm Alignment for Precise Offset Dressing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multi-groove dressing tools for grinding worms face challenges in achieving precise geometry across all gears due to manufacturing deviations and changing pitch angles, limiting their application to larger module areas and resulting in geometry errors that affect tool and workpiece quality.

Innovation Solution

A dressing method using a dressing roller with adjacent profiles of different diameters, where the second diameter profile is reduced in width, allowing for offset guidance through adjacent worm threads, maintaining a constant radial distance and adjusting the pivoting angle to minimize deviations and enable dressing of larger module areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a multi-groove dressing roller is used to dress multiple worm threads simultaneously, then dressing time is reduced and productivity increases, but geometry errors occur due to manufacturing deviations and changing pitch angles that affect precision

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedressing timeVSAvoidgeometry precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The dressing roller is divided into multiple grooves (first groove, second groove, third groove) that can be selectively engaged with different worm threads. This segmentation allows parallel dressing of multiple threads while maintaining the ability to address individual geometry errors through selective groove usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each groove in the dressing roller is positioned at a specific radial distance from the worm axis, creating local quality variations. The first groove is at a first radial distance, the second groove at a second radial distance, and the third groove at a third radial distance. This allows compensation for pitch angle changes by selecting grooves at appropriate radial distances for different worm thread positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 3:

The invention changes the radial distance parameter of different grooves relative to the worm axis. By positioning grooves at different radial distances (first radial distance, second radial distance, third radial distance), the system adapts to changing pitch angles as the worm diameter varies, maintaining geometry precision while using multiple grooves for parallel dressing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If the pitch angle changes as the diameter of the grinding worm becomes smaller, then the geometry generated on the grinding worm changes due to fixed geometry of the dressing tool, but using a single-groove dressing tool maintains precision at the cost of increased dressing time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegeometry consistencyVSAvoiddressing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the radial distance parameter of different grooves to compensate for pitch angle variations. The first groove operates at a first radial distance, the second groove at a second radial distance, and the third groove at a third radial distance, allowing the system to adapt to changing geometry requirements as worm diameter decreases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The multi-groove dressing roller serves multiple functions: it can dress multiple worm threads simultaneously (parallel operation) and adapt to different radial positions to compensate for pitch angle changes. This multi-functionality allows the single tool to maintain precision across varying worm diameters while preserving the productivity benefits of parallel dressing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multi-groove dressing tools are used for larger module areas, then the field of application is expanded, but geometry errors increase due to the fixed geometry and manufacturing deviations of the dressing roller

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefield of applicationVSAvoidgeometry accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Different grooves are positioned at different radial distances from the worm axis, creating local quality variations that can be selected based on the specific worm thread being dressed. This allows adaptation to different module areas while maintaining geometry accuracy by choosing the appropriate groove for the radial position required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes parameter changes in radial distance (first radial distance, second radial distance, third radial distance) to adapt to different module areas. By selecting grooves at appropriate radial distances, the system expands its field of application to larger module areas while compensating for geometry errors that would otherwise accumulate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3251794B1Method of aligning a multi-gear grinding worm by means of an alignment roller
Publication Date: 2021.07.07 KAPP WERKZEUGMASCH
  • EP3251794B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3251794B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for dressing a multi-start grinding worm (1) by means of a dressing roller (2), the grinding worm (1) having at least two worm threads (a, b, c, ...) running parallel to one another and spiraling around a worm axis (A), and wherein the dressing roller (2) has at least two adjacent dressing profiles (3, 4, 5) which are arranged along a dressing roller axis (B), wherein when dressing the grinding worm (1) the dressing profiles (3, 4 , 5) of the dressing roller (2) are guided simultaneously through adjacent worm threads (a, b, c, ...) of the grinding worm (1). In order to improve the precision during dressing, the method according to the invention provides the following steps: a) Carrying out a first partial dressing process, in which the dressing profiles (3, 4, 5) of the dressing roller (2) are simultaneously fed through first adjacent worm gears (a, b , c, ...) of the grinding worm (1); b) Carrying out at least one second dressing sub-process, in which the dressing profiles (3, 4, 5) of the dressing roller (2) are guided simultaneously through second adjacent worm threads (b, c, ...) of the grinding worm (1), the second adjacent worm threads (b, c, ...) are offset in comparison with step a) in the direction of the grinding worm axis (A) by at least one worm thread of the grinding worm (1).