Swivel Device Direct Drive Motor Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cylindrical grinding machines experience reduced rigidity and inclination due to grinding resistance, as the swivel head is positioned far from the machine bed, leading to compromised grinding accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A swivel device with a support base and a swivel head that includes an annular space portion for a direct drive motor, allowing the swivel head to be turned about a vertically extending swivel shaft, thus reducing the height and enhancing rigidity against machining reaction forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the swivel head is positioned far from the machine bed to accommodate the worm and worm-wheel mechanism, then the swivel drive unit can be arranged, but the wheel head rigidity decreases and it becomes liable to incline under grinding resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the worm and worm-wheel mechanical transmission system with a direct drive motor system. The direct drive motor is positioned close to the swivel head, eliminating the need for a long vertical arrangement of mechanical transmission components. This substitution reduces the vertical distance between the swivel head and the machine bed, thereby enhancing swivel head rigidity and reducing inclination under grinding resistance while maintaining the swivel functionality.
2Strength
If the wheel head is lowered to improve rigidity, then resistance to inclination increases, but the positioning and fixing unit becomes difficult to arrange
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the positioning and fixing functions into the direct drive motor system itself. The direct drive motor incorporates both the driving mechanism and the positioning/fixing capability through its control system and mechanical coupling. This integration eliminates the need for a separate, complex positioning and fixing unit that would be difficult to arrange when the swivel head is lowered, while maintaining precise positioning and secure fixing capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If a worm and worm-wheel mechanism is used for turning the wheel head, then the swivel drive unit can be positioned, but the vertical spacing increases causing the wheel spindle to be far from the bed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the extended vertical mechanical transmission system (worm and worm-wheel) with a compact direct drive motor positioned close to the swivel head. This substitution dramatically reduces the vertical distance between the machine bed and the wheel spindle, allowing the wheel spindle to be positioned closer to the bed while maintaining full swivel drive capability through the direct drive system.
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
The swivel device effectively suppresses inclination of the swivel head during grinding operations, enhancing the grinding accuracy of workpieces by positioning the direct drive motor at the axial mid-portion and using a brake unit to clamp the swivel head, maintaining stability against rotational moments.
Implementation Method 1
a direct drive motor built in the annular space portion for driving the swivel head to turn about the swivel shaft
Implementation Method 2
using a brake unit to clamp the swivel head, maintaining stability against rotational moments
Data Source
AI summary
In a swivel device, a swivel head provided with a plurality of tool spindles thereon is mounted on a support base to be turnable about a swivel shaft being upright on the support base. An annular space portion is formed between the support base and the swivel head in coaxial relation with the swivel shaft. The tool spindles each mounting a grinding wheel are arranged on the swivel head to extends in a horizontal plane which crosses the annular space portion at about a mid position in the vertical direction of the annular space portion. A direct drive motor is built in the annular space portion so that a driving center of the direct drive motor is at almost the same height as the horizontal plane including the axes of the grinding wheels. Thus, the swivel device can lower the positions of the rotational axes of the grinding wheels and is rigid against inclination caused by grinding resistance acting on the grinding wheels.