Method and apparatus for finishing gears

Claim 1

GEAR FINISHING APPARATUS COMPRISING A ROTARY SUPPORT FOR A GEAR MEMBER, A ROTARY SUPPORT FOR A GEAR-LIKE HONING MEMBER IN POSITION TO PROVIDE FOR MESHING OF SAID MEMBERS, MEANS FOR DRIVING ONE OF SAID MEMBERS IN ROTATION AT PITCH LINE VELOCITY OF SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET A MINUTE, A MOVABLE STRUCTURE ON WHICH ONE OF SAID SUPPORTS IS MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT GENERALLY TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE OTHER MEMBER, MEANS FOR APPLYING A FORCE TO SAID MOVABLE STRUCTURE URGING IT IN A DIRECTION TO CAUSE APPROACH BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS, AND MEANS FOR RESTRICTING THE RATE OF MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVABLE STRUCTURE SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR CONTINUOUS SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM PRESSURE BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS DURING THE SLOW MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVABLE STRUCTURE OCCASIONED BY REMOVAL OF STOCK FROM SAID GEAR MEMBER BUT TO APPLY A SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER FORCE OPPOSING RELATIVELY RAPID MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVABLE STRUCTURE IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID OTHER MEMBER.