Tool Head Play Compensation via Adjustable Helical Gearing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tool heads in machine tools experience undesirable play in the teeth of the slide and pull rod due to high forces from centrifugal and cutting forces, leading to wear and adjustment issues over time.
Innovation Solution
The tool head incorporates adjustable toothed plates with helical gearing, guided in a linear parallel toothing system, coupled with a wedge or eccentric gear mechanism, and spring-loaded ball pressure screws to compensate for play without complex measurement, ensuring precise adjustment and minimizing wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If helical gearing is used to transmit axial movement of the pull rod to radial movement of the slide, then precise adjustment is achieved, but wear and play occur under high centrifugal and cutting forces
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces adjustable toothed plates that can be dynamically repositioned along the pull rod to compensate for wear-induced play. The toothed plates are movable relative to the pull rod and can be adjusted in the axial direction to maintain proper meshing clearance with the slide's helical gearing, thereby dynamically compensating for wear without requiring replacement of the entire helical gearing system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-compensation for wear through the adjustable toothed plates. When play develops in the helical gearing due to wear, the toothed plates can be repositioned to take up the clearance, allowing the system to self-correct without external intervention or complex measurement procedures. This maintains reliable operation while preserving the precision of the helical transmission.
2Manufacturing precision
If the slide is adjusted frequently to compensate for wear, then machining precision is maintained, but adjustment time and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable toothed plates are pre-positioned on the pull rod at multiple axial locations. When wear-induced play occurs, the operator can quickly select and engage a pre-positioned toothed plate that compensates for the accumulated wear, eliminating the need for time-consuming measurements and calculations during adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses multiple replaceable toothed plates as sacrificial components that can be quickly exchanged or repositioned. Rather than requiring precise measurement and adjustment of critical components, simple toothed plates are used that can be rapidly repositioned or replaced to compensate for wear, minimizing adjustment time and operational downtime.
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
This solution effectively compensates for play in the toothing of the slide and pull rod, maintaining precise machining accuracy and reducing wear, allowing the tool head to operate with minimal adjustment play even under high forces.
Implementation Method 1
a spring means is provided which applies force to the at least one toothed plate in order to press the helical toothing of the at least one toothed plate into the helical toothing of the pull rod which is complementary thereto
Implementation Method 2
the adjusting device in the slide is coupled to a wedge gear, an eccentric gear or a helical gear
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5a
AI summary
The invention relates to a tool head (10) for use in machine tools, comprising a main body (12) which can be rotated around an axis of rotation (28). The tool head (10) has a slide (14). The slide (14) can be moved by means of a pull rod (30) axially oriented in the main body (12). The slide (14) can be fitted with at least one tool or one tool holder. At least one adjustable toothed plate (36, 38) is fixedly arranged on the slide (14). The toothed plate (36, 38) comprises a helical gearing (42, 44) functioning as a gear means for engaging with a helical gearing (44, 48) of the pull rod (30) which is complementary thereto. According to the invention, the slide (14) has an adjustment unit (66) for moving the at least one toothed plate (36, 38) and the helical gearing (42, 44) thereof into the complementary helical gearing (44, 48) of the pull rod (30).