Compact Regulating Wheel Assembly for Centerless Grinding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing regulating wheel groups in centerless grinding machines lack precision infeed and require significant installation space, particularly height, due to their design.
Innovation Solution
A compact regulating wheel group with a wedge gear mechanism featuring a cam disk supported on a counter bearing, allowing sensitive and precise position control through a rotary drive, and utilizing a roller bearing for low friction and improved accuracy and service life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conventional regulating wheel group with pendulum and handwheel is used, then the structure is simple, but the infeed precision is poor and the machine height is large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical handwheel and pendulum system with a rotary drive system that uses a cam disk and wedge gear mechanism. This substitution enables precise infeed control through rotational movement while reducing the overall structure complexity and machine height requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters by using a rotary drive with cam disk mechanism instead of linear handwheel operation. This parameter change allows for precise positioning control through angular displacement, achieving both high infeed precision and compact structure.
2Area of stationary object
If a pendulum-based regulating wheel group is used, then the installation is simple, but the machine requires considerable installation space and height
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a vertical pendulum-based mechanism to a horizontal rotary drive system. This dimensional change allows the regulating wheel group to be compact and space-efficient while maintaining operational simplicity through standard rotary drive components.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotary drive system with cam disk serves multiple functions: it provides precise infeed control, enables compact positioning, and reduces machine height. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate pendulum mechanisms, reducing installation space while maintaining ease of operation.
3Measurement precision
If a wedge gear with cam disk and roller bearing is used, then the position control precision is high and the structure is compact, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cam disk as an intermediary element between the rotary drive and the wedge gear. This cam disk translates rotational movement into precise linear displacement, enabling high position control precision while the roller bearing acts as an intermediary to reduce friction and enhance accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the wedge gear mechanism to convert rotational parameter changes into linear position adjustments. The cam disk profile is designed to provide precise control over the wedge gear engagement, achieving high position control precision through parameter transformation rather than increasing mechanical complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise and accurate infeed of the regulating wheel with a compact structure, enhancing the precision and longevity of the machine while reducing the need for extensive installation space.
Implementation Method 1
the gear is designed as a wedge gear and that the wedge gear has a cam disk which is supported on a counter bearing
Implementation Method 2
the counter bearing is designed as a roller rotatable about a fourth axis
Implementation Method 3
the use of a roller results in only very little friction when adjusting the wedge gear
Data Source
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AI summary
Regulating wheel group (1) has a regulating spindle bearing housing (32) in which a regulating wheel (12) is rotatably located around a first axis (11). A device serves to pivot the regulating wheel housing around a second machine-fast axis (36) running parallel to the first axis and set at at distance from it. Between the machine-fast part and the point of the regulating spindle housing set at a distance form the first and second axes, is a wedge gearing (40-46).