US3562474A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Arrangement for maintaining parallelism between relatively movable members of an electrical discharge machining apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1967-10-18
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Granted: 1971-02-09
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Expires: 1987-10-18
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure relates to a gear connection which insures movement, in precise parallelism throughout a range of movement, of one generally planar member of substantial planar size with respect to a second parallel planar member of comparable size. In one specific embodiment, the gear connection is used in electrical discharge machining (hereinafter referred to as EDM) of a hard plate for a die set. The die plate is used as the electrode of the EDM unit and is moved with respect to the hard plate in accordance with the degree of electrical discharge erosion. The electrode is a score rule projecting edgewise from the die plate, and capped by an electrode tip releasably engaged on, and relatively wider than, the score rule edge. Movement of the die plate is guided on posts and the posts are interconnected by gearing on the die plate to maintain parallelism. In another embodiment, one of the planar members is driven with respect to the other through the gearing connection so that throughout movement the planar members are maintained in parallelism and are thus capable of exerting a uniform pressure throughout the area between their opposed surfaces.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert F Sellmann
- 👤 William A Sellmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 03:44
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23H; B23H1/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
In combination: a first member; a second member spaced from and parallel to said first member; member; means including an EDM unit and operative to move said first member toward and away from said second member; said first member connected to said EDM unit and comprising a die set member including score rule projecting from said first member and terminating in an edge, said score rule arranged in a predetermined pattern and functioning as the arcing electrode of said EDM unit to score said second member with a pattern corresponding to said score rule pattern; electrode tips connected to said score rule edge and providing the working edge of said score rule; gear rack means extending parallel to the direction of movement of said first member with respect to said second member; gear means; one of said gear means and gear rack means connected to said first member for movement therewith and the other fixed relative to said second member; and said gear means including a first set of gear means engaging said gear rack means, first shaft means supporting said first set of gear means for rotation, second shaft means extending between said first shaft means, and a second set of gear means supported on said first and second shaft means and meshed so that said first and second shaft means, said second set of gear means, and said first set of gear means rotate jointly as relative movement between said first and second members occurs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
247 words
In combination: a first member; a second member spaced from and parallel to said first member; member; means including an EDM unit and operative to move said first member toward and away from said second member; said first member connected to said EDM unit and comprising a die set member including score rule projecting from said first member and terminating in an edge, said score rule arranged in a predetermined pattern and functioning as the arcing electrode of said EDM unit to score said second member with a pattern corresponding to said score rule pattern; electrode tips connected to said score rule edge and providing the working edge of said score rule; gear rack means extending parallel to the direction of movement of said first member with respect to said second member; gear means; one of said gear means and gear rack means connected to said first member for movement therewith and the other fixed relative to said second member; and said gear means including a first set of gear means engaging said gear rack means, first shaft means supporting said first set of gear means for rotation, second shaft means extending between said first shaft means, and a second set of gear means supported on said first and second shaft means and meshed so that said first and second shaft means, said second set of gear means, and said first set of gear means rotate jointly as relative movement between said first and second members occurs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said first and second members each have a substantial extension in a direction transverse to the direction of relative movement between said first and second members; and said gear rack means are connected to post means positioned at relatively spaced points over said extension of said first and second members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said gear rack means are supported on post means arranged in aligned pairs and said shafts extend between said gear rack means of at least one pair of post means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
252 words
In combination: a die set member including score rule arranged in a predetermined pattern and projecting from said die set member and terminating in an edge; electrode tips releasably engaged on said score rule edge and terminating in an edge which is relatively wider than said score rule edge; a second member spaced from and parallel to said die set member; selectively operable drive means for moving said die set member toward and away from said second member and including an EDM unit; said die set member connected to said EDM unit and said score rule functioning as the arcing electrode of said EDM unit with arcing occuring between said score rule and said second member to score said second member with a pattern corresponding to said score rule pattern; gear rack means extending parallel to the direction of movement of said die set member with respect to said second member; one of said gear means and gear rack means connected to said dIe set member for movement therewith and the other fixed relative to said second member; and said gear means including pinion means engaging said gear rack means, first shaft means supporting said pinion means for rotation, second shaft means extending between said first shaft means, and a plurality of connecting gear means supported on said first and second shaft means and meshed so that said shaft means, connecting gear means, and pinion means are jointly rotatable in response to relative movement between said gear rack means and pinion means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
252 words
In combination: a die set member including score rule arranged in a predetermined pattern and projecting from said die set member and terminating in an edge; electrode tips releasably engaged on said score rule edge and terminating in an edge which is relatively wider than said score rule edge; a second member spaced from and parallel to said die set member; selectively operable drive means for moving said die set member toward and away from said second member and including an EDM unit; said die set member connected to said EDM unit and said score rule functioning as the arcing electrode of said EDM unit with arcing occuring between said score rule and said second member to score said second member with a pattern corresponding to said score rule pattern; gear rack means extending parallel to the direction of movement of said die set member with respect to said second member; one of said gear means and gear rack means connected to said dIe set member for movement therewith and the other fixed relative to said second member; and said gear means including pinion means engaging said gear rack means, first shaft means supporting said pinion means for rotation, second shaft means extending between said first shaft means, and a plurality of connecting gear means supported on said first and second shaft means and meshed so that said shaft means, connecting gear means, and pinion means are jointly rotatable in response to relative movement between said gear rack means and pinion means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 4 including a frame supporting said second member: means defining a reservoir in said frame; said second member positioned in said reservoir; and means for maintaining a positive flow of liquid dielectric medium in a given direction over the surface of said second member which faces said score rule.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-08 | 1974-08-10 | 1975-02-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-08 | 1978-08-10 | 1979-02-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-08 | 1982-08-10 | 1983-02-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |