US3560826A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Grinding wheel control system and apparatus
Assignee: Gray Tech Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1967-12-04
•
Granted: 1971-02-02
•
Expires: 1987-12-04
Abstract
Abstract A control system and apparatus for ultrasonic detection of wear of a grinding wheel and control of the peripheral speed thereof by maintaining it at a constant optimum value for increasing grinding wheel life. The control apparatus involves a minimum number of parts of relatively simple construction and highly reliable operation, a novel arrangement of ultrasonic sensors and speed-reducing means for a step motor operable to automatically adjust a potentiometer which controls the speed of the drive motor of the grinding machine to automatically compensate for variations in the diameter of the grinding wheel so as to maintain substantially constant peripheral speed of the grinding wheel to increase its efficiency and life.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert F Lonaberger
- 👤 Charles W Stickler Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:17
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23Q; B23Q15/00; B23Q15/007; B23Q15/08; B23Q15/10; B24; B24B; B24B47/00; B24B47/10; B24B47/18; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S388/00; Y10S388/90; Y10S388/902; Y10S388/923; Y10S388/93
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
In combination, a rotatably mounted wheel whose diameter is progressively decreased as the result of a working operation, drive means for rotating said wheel, an ultrasonic transmitter and receiver units mounted on opposite sides of said wheel for projecting an ultrasonic beam transversely of its periphery and which beam is normally blocked by a peripheral portion of the wheel and becomes unblocked as a consequence of a predetermined reduction of the diameter of the wheel, speed control means responsive to said ultrasonic beam and including a reversible motor, speed-reducing means driven by said motor, pivotal means driven by said speed reducing means for slowly moving said ultrasonic transmitter and receiver units substantially radially of said wheel, a cam driven by said speed-reducing means, a pair of limit switches operated by said cam for limiting rotational movement of said motor in opposite directions, a potentiometer which is mounted on and slowly driven by said sPeed-reducing means to progressively increase the speed of said driving means in response to reductions in diameter of said wheel and to give a visual indication of the speed of said wheel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
In combination, a rotatably mounted wheel whose diameter is progressively decreased as the result of a working operation, drive means for rotating said wheel, an ultrasonic transmitter and receiver units mounted on opposite sides of said wheel for projecting an ultrasonic beam transversely of its periphery and which beam is normally blocked by a peripheral portion of the wheel and becomes unblocked as a consequence of a predetermined reduction of the diameter of the wheel, speed control means responsive to said ultrasonic beam and including a reversible motor, speed-reducing means driven by said motor, pivotal means driven by said speed reducing means for slowly moving said ultrasonic transmitter and receiver units substantially radially of said wheel, a cam driven by said speed-reducing means, a pair of limit switches operated by said cam for limiting rotational movement of said motor in opposite directions, a potentiometer which is mounted on and slowly driven by said sPeed-reducing means to progressively increase the speed of said driving means in response to reductions in diameter of said wheel and to give a visual indication of the speed of said wheel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The combination recited in claim 1 together with electrical-switching means for automatically driving said pivotal means to its initial position after predetermined wear of the wheel for reducing the speed of said driving means to its minimum value before restarting the control of the speed of another full diameter wheel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said wheel is a grinding wheel having a guard surrounding a portion of said grinding wheel, confronting arcuate slots formed on opposite sides of said guard and wheel, said pivotal means slowly pivoting said ultrasonic transmitter and receiver units along said respective slots, said limit switch means limiting movement of said pivotal means in opposite directions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination recited in claim 1 together with electrical-switching means for automatically reducing the speed of said driving means when a new full diameter wheel is to be controlled.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said ultrasonic beam is at a frequency of about 38,000 cycles per second.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said ultrasonic beam is at a frequency in the range of between 37,500 to 38,500 cycles per second.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said wheel is a grinding wheel having a guard surrounding a portion of said grinding wheel, confronting arcuate slots formed on opposite sides of said guard and wheel, said pivotal means slowly pivoting said ultrasonic transmitter and receiver units along said respective slots.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-01 | 1974-08-03 | 1975-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-01 | 1978-08-03 | 1979-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-01 | 1982-08-03 | 1983-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |