US3569682A
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Multiple path numerical control system
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1968-02-02
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Granted: 1971-03-09
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Expires: 1988-02-02
Abstract
Abstract A control system is described for commanding motion of a machine movable member along two paths having a common axis in response to the generation of first and second feedrate signals indicative of the desired rate of travel of the machine along the two paths. First and second function generators convert the first and second feedrate signals into first and second command signals, each of which includes a component signal which commands motion of the machine movable member along the common axis. A gated reversible counter is connected to each of the function generators, the magnitude and direction of its count being indicative of the rates of generation of each of the common axis component command signals. A logic network is connected to the output of the gated reversible counter and to the inputs of the function generators and functions to stop the transmission of either of the feedrate signals in response to an output from the gated reversible counter indicative of a predetermined count therein.
Inventors
- 👤 James P Tipton
- 👤 Donald L Logerwell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 00:43
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/18; G05B19/19; G05B19/195; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/34; G05B2219/34122; G05B2219/50; G05B2219/50204
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A control system for commanding movement of elements moving along geometrically dissimilar paths defined by different axes of movement and where one axis of movement is common to all of said paths, said control system comprising: means for providing command signals for commanding movement along each axis of each of said paths; means for comparing the command signals commanding movement along said common axis for all of said paths; and control means responsive to the result of the comparison for conforming said command signals commanding movement along said common axis to command signals commanding one common movement along said common axis for each of said paths.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A control system for commanding movement of elements moving along geometrically dissimilar paths defined by different axes of movement and where one axis of movement is common to all of said paths, said control system comprising: means for providing command signals for commanding movement along each axis of each of said paths; means for comparing the command signals commanding movement along said common axis for all of said paths; and control means responsive to the result of the comparison for conforming said command signals commanding movement along said common axis to command signals commanding one common movement along said common axis for each of said paths.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for providing command signals for commanding movement includes a function generator for each path, each funCtion generator producing signals establishing a rate of movement command for each axis of movement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A control system as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for comparing the command signals comprises monitoring means connected to said function generators to detect the difference in the signals representing rates of movement commanded along said common axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A control system as recited in claim 3 wherein said monitoring means produces an output whenever the difference in the signals representing rates of commanded common movement exceeds a predetermined minimum, said control means being responsive to said output.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
A control system as recited in claim 4 wherein the output of said monitoring means indicates which common axis commanded movement is the slowest, and said control means inhibits the function generators for the other paths to conform the command signals commanding movement along the common axis to this slowest rate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
A control system as recited in claim 5 wherein said function generators are supplied with feedrate signals indicative of rate of movement along each path, and the output of each function generator is a pulse train for each axis of motion, the pulse rate of each train representing the rate command for motion with respect to the associated axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
99 words
A control system as recited in claim 6 wherein said monitoring means is a gated reversible counter for each pair of paths being controlled: said counter counting up in response to pulses for the common axis of motion from one function generator of a pair and counting down in response to pulses for the common axis of motion from the other function generator of that pair; and said control means inhibiting said one function generator when said count is up beyond a predetermined limit and inhibiting said other function generator when said count is down below a predetermined limit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
96 words
A control system as recited in claim 7 wherein said means for providing command signals commanding movement further includes a command counter for each axis of movement for each path except the common axis of movement and one common command counter for all paths for said common axis of movement, each command counter being responsive to the pulse train from the associated function generator for the corresponding axis of movement, and said command counter for said common movement being responsive to the pulse train for said common movement from a selected one of said function generators.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
103 words
A control system as recited in claim 8 wherein one of said function generators is selected as the master function generator and supplied with a feedrate signal indicative of the desired rate of movement along a master path, the other of said function generators being supplied with feedrate signals of a faster rate than said desired rate, and the command counter for said common movement is connected to said master function generator, such that counts of said gated reversible counter will serve to inhibit the other function generators and permit the command counter for said common movement to operate at said desired rate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A control system as recited in claim 9 wherein said control system controls a machine tool, said elements being the tool elements, said paths being the contours formed by said tools on a workpiece, and said tools being restrained by said machine to one common movement with respect to a given axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
A control system as recited in claim 6 wherein said control means is a transmission gate connecting said feedrate signals to said function generators, said transmission gate preventing said feedrate signals from being applied to appropriate ones of said function generators in response to the output of said monitoring means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
75 words
A control system as recited in claim 11 wherein said transmission gate comprises: a NOR gate, a first inverter and a second inverter for each path of movement being controlled; said NOR gate having two inputs, one connected to said first inverter to receive the feedrate signal and the other connected to receive the output of said monitoring means; and said second inverter connecting the output of said NOR gate to the appropriate function generator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
123 words
A control system as recited in claim 7 wherein said gated reversible counter comprises: a reversible counter; a first logic circuit connecting the common movement commands from a pair of function generators to the input of said reversible counter; a second logic circuit connecting the output of said reversible counter to said control means; said first logic circuit comprising a conduction logic path for each of said common movement commands, each logic path including a NOR gate and first and second inverters; and said NOR gate having two inputs, one input connected to receive the common movement pulses from one function generator of said pair, and the other input connected to said first inverter to receive inverted pulses from the other function generator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
76 words
A control system as recited in claim 13 wherein said second logic circuit includes first and second NOR gates connected to receive the output count of said reversible counter: said first NOR gate being responsive to counts less than a preselected number; said second NOR gate being responsive to counts greater than a preselected number; and said first and second NOR gates being connected to said control means to supply the necessary input control signals thereto.
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) | 1974-03-08 | 1974-09-07 | 1975-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-08 | 1978-09-07 | 1979-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-08 | 1982-09-07 | 1983-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |