US3589078A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surface generating apparatus
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
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Filing: 1968-07-26
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Granted: 1971-06-29
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Expires: 1988-07-26
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for producing relative movement between a work surface and a surface modifying mechanism in two independently controllable component directions. An energizing circuit generates a predetermined path of relative movement in response to objective data input. By independently varying the velocity magnitudes of the components of relative movement, the energizing circuit insures the generation of a smooth travel path that is desirable for high quality surfaces.
Inventors
- 👤 John L Bala
- 👤 Ronald Aspden
- 👤 Peter W Ford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 06:09
CPC Classifications
B; B24; B24B; B24B13/00; B24B13/06; G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/18; G05B19/19; G05B19/27; G05B19/31; G05B19/311; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/36; G05B2219/36366; G05B2219/36575; G05B2219/41; G05B2219/41326; G05B2219/43; G05B2219/43006; G05B2219/43139
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A surface generating apparatus comprising support means adapted to support a workpiece, a surface modifying means for modifying the contour of the work surface of a workpiece supported by said support means, drive means for producing relative transverse movement between the work surface and said surface modifying means, said drive means adapted to provide between the work surface and said surface modifying means two independently controllable component directions of relative movement, data source means for providing objective data representing a desired path of relative movement between the work surface and said surface modifying means, energizing circuit means connected to receive said objective data from said data source means and adapted to respond thereto by selectively energizing said drive means so as to produce the desired path of relative movement, said energizing circuit means being further adapted to independently vary the velocity magnitudes of said components of relative movement so as to generate curved portions of substantial length in the path of relative movement produced between said surface modifying means and the work surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A surface generating apparatus comprising support means adapted to support a workpiece, a surface modifying means for modifying the contour of the work surface of a workpiece supported by said support means, drive means for producing relative transverse movement between the work surface and said surface modifying means, said drive means adapted to provide between the work surface and said surface modifying means two independently controllable component directions of relative movement, data source means for providing objective data representing a desired path of relative movement between the work surface and said surface modifying means, energizing circuit means connected to receive said objective data from said data source means and adapted to respond thereto by selectively energizing said drive means so as to produce the desired path of relative movement, said energizing circuit means being further adapted to independently vary the velocity magnitudes of said components of relative movement so as to generate curved portions of substantial length in the path of relative movement produced between said surface modifying means and the work surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said energizing circuit means varies said velocity magnitudes by producing predetermined nonsynchronized periods of deceleration in said components of relative movement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said energizing circuit means varies said velocity magnitudes by producing predetermined nonsynchronized periods of acceleration in said components of relative movement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said energizing circuit means also varies said velocity magnitudes by producing predetermined nonsynchronized periods of deceleration in said components of relative movement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said data source means sequentially provides objective data representing a plurality of predetermined relative positions between the work surface and said surface modifying means, said relative positions being identified by coordinate objectives in each of said component directions, and said energizing circuit means responds to said objective data by producing said components of relative movement in senses suitable to establish said identified coordinate objectives.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said energizing circuit means is adapted to produce said components of relative movement in magnitudes that result in predetermined overshoots of said identified coordinate objectives.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 6 wherein responsive to reception from said data source means of objective data representing a coordinate objective requiring a sense reversal in one of said component directions of relative movement said energizing circuit means is adapted to produce a deceleration of the relative movement in said one component direction during said overshoot therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said energizing circuit means is further adapted to produce predetermined periods of acceleration in relative movement after sense reversals in said component directions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said energizing circuit means comprises position indicating means adapted to provide position data representing the existing relative position between the work surface and said surface modifying means, said position data identifying said existing relative position in terms of coordinate values in each of said component directions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said energizing circuit means is adapted to compare said objective data with said position data and to produce a substantially square wave output signal during periods wherein differences exist therein, and said energizing circuit means further comprises integratOr circuit means connected to receive said square wave output signal and to provide an integrated output thereof for energizing said drive means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said energizing circuit mans is adapted to energize said drive means at a substantially uniform level during said overshoots in response to the reception from said data source means of objective data representing coordinate objectives not requiring a sense reversal in said component directions of relative movement.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said drive means comprise electrical pulse driven motors and said energizing circuit means further comprises pulse generation means for generating motor drive pulses at a frequency proportional to the integrated output of said integrator circuit means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said drive means is adapted to provide movement of said surface modifying means in independently controllable orthogonally related directions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said objective data provided by said data source means is in digital form.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
69 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said drive means comprises a first drive means adapted to produce one of said component directions of relative movement and a second drive means adapted to produce the other component direction of relative movement and said energizing circuit means comprises first energizing means for energizing said first drive means and a second energizing means for energizing said second drive means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
104 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said first energizing means is adapted to decelerate said first drive means during said overshoots in said one component direction in response to reception from said data source means of data representing a coordinate objective requiring a sense reversal in said one component direction of relative movement, and said second energizing means is adapted to decelerate said second drive means during said overshoots in said other component direction in response to reception from said data source means of data representing a coordinate objective requiring a sense reversal in said other component direction of relative movement.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
62 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said first energizing means is adapted to produce a predetermined period of acceleration in relative movement in said one component direction after a sense reversal therein, and said second energizing means is adapted to produce a predetermined period of acceleration in relative movement in said other component direction after a sense reversal therein.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
55 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said energizing circuit means comprises position indicating means adapted to provide position data representing the existing relative position between the work surface and said surface modifying means, said position data identifying said existing relative position in terms of coordinate values in each of said component directions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
103 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said energizing circuit means is adapted to compare said objective data with said position data and to produce a first substantially square wave output signal during periods wherein differences exist therein with respect to said one component direction and a second substantially square wave output signal during periods wherein differences exist with respect to said other component direction, and said first and second energizing means comprise integrator circuit means connected to receive said first and second square wave output signals and to provide integrated outputs thereof for energizing said first and second drive means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
118 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said first energizing means is adapted to energize said first drive means at a substantially uniForm level during said overshoots in said one component direction in response to reception from said data source means of objective data representing a coordinate objective not requiring a sense reversal in said one component direction of relative movement, and said second energizing means is adapted to energize said second drive means at a substantially uniform level during said overshoots in said other component direction in response to reception from said data source means of objective data representing a coordinate objective not requiring a sense reversal in said other component direction of relative movement.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said first and second drive means comprise electrical pulse driven motors, and said first and second energizing means comprise pulse generation means for generating motor drive pulses at frequencies proportional to the integrated outputs of said integrator circuit means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said first and second drive means are adapted to provide movement of said surface modifying means in independently controllable orthogonally related directions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said objective data provided by said data source means is in digital form.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said surface modifying means comprises an optical lap.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
69 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said support means comprises a transport table; said surface modifying means comprises a frame mounted carriage means supporting said optical lap and adapted for movement in said independently controllable component directions, and adjustment means for fixing the position of said transport table with respect to said frame, and wherein said transport table is independently mobile and detachable from said frame.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 25 including limit control means adapted to automatically limit movement of said carriage means to a given distance in any radial direction about a predetermined position.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said limit control means comprises switch means operable to deenergize said drive means in response to movement of said carriage means said given distance from said predetermined position.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said carriage means is adapted for movement on said frame in orthogonally related component directions.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
77 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 28 wherein said frame comprises a first pair of parallel guide rails supported for movement on a second pair of parallel guide rails orthogonally related to said first pair of guide rails, and wherein said carriage means is supported for movement from at least two positions on one of said first pair of guide rails and from only one position on the other of said first pair of guide rails.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
73 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said data source means sequentially provides objective data representing a plurality of predetermined relative positions between the work surface and said surface modifying means, said relative positions being identified by coordinate objectives in each of said component directions, and said energizing circuit means responds to said objective data by producing said components of relative movement in senses suitable to establish said identified coordinate objectives.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 30 wherein said energizing circuit means is adapted to produce said components of relative movement in magnitudes that result in predetermined overshoots of said identified coordinate objectives.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
69 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 31 wherein said drive means comprises a first drive means adapted to produce one of said component directions of relative movement and a second drive means Adapted to produce the other component direction of relative movement and said energizing circuit means comprises first energizing means for energizing said first drive means and a second energizing means for energizing said second drive means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
104 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 32 wherein said first energizing means is adapted to decelerate said first drive means during said overshoots in said one component direction in response to reception from said data source means of data representing a coordinate objective requiring a sense reversal in said one component direction of relative movement, and said second energizing means is adapted to decelerate said second drive means during said overshoots in said other component direction in response to reception from said data source means of data representing a coordinate objective requiring a sense reversal in said other component direction of relative movement.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
62 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 33 wherein said first energizing means is adapted to produce a predetermined period of acceleration in relative movement in said one component direction after a sense reversal therein; and said second energizing means is adapted to produce a predetermined period of acceleration in relative movement in said other component direction after a sense reversal therein.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
55 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 33 wherein said energizing circuit means comprises position indicating means adapted to provide position data representing the existing relative position between the work surface and said surface modifying means, said position data identifying said existing relative position in terms of coordinate values in each of said component directions.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
103 words
A surface generating apparatus according to claim 35 wherein said energizing circuit means is adapted to compare said objective data with said position data and to produce a first substantially square wave output signal during periods wherein differences exist therein with respect to said one component direction and a second substantially square wave output signal during periods wherein differences exist with respect to said other component direction, and said first and second energizing means comprise integrator circuit means connected to receive said first and second square wave output signals and to provide integrated outputs thereof for energizing said first and second drive means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
123 words
Optical surface generating apparatus comprising a frame; lap carriage means mounted on said frame for controlling an optical lap; drive means for producing movement of said carriage means in two independently controllable component directions on said frame; a transport table detachable from and independently mobile with respect to said frame for supporting an optical blank in a plane parallel to said independently controllable component directions; adjustment means for positioning said transport table with respect to said frame, said adjustment means including first means for positioning said table in a direction parallel to said plane and second means for positioning said table in a direction perpendicular to said plane; and, means for releasably securing said transport table to said frame in said adjusted position.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
123 words
Optical surface generating apparatus comprising a frame; lap carriage means mounted on said frame for controlling an optical lap; drive means for producing movement of said carriage means in two independently controllable component directions on said frame; a transport table detachable from and independently mobile with respect to said frame for supporting an optical blank in a plane parallel to said independently controllable component directions; adjustment means for positioning said transport table with respect to said frame, said adjustment means including first means for positioning said table in a direction parallel to said plane and second means for positioning said table in a direction perpendicular to said plane; and, means for releasably securing said transport table to said frame in said adjusted position.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
34 words
An optical surface generating apparatus according to claim 37 including limit control means adapted to automatically limit movement of said carriage means to a given distance in any radial direction about a predetermined position.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
38 words
An optical surface generating apparatus according to claim 38 wherein said limit control means comprises switch means operable to deenergize said drive means in response to movement of said carriage means said given distance from said predetermined position.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optical surface generating apparatus according to claim 37 wherein said carriage means is adapted for movement on said frame in orthogonally related component directions.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
78 words
An optical surface generating apparatus accordiNg to claim 40 wherein said frame comprises a first pair of parallel guide rails supported for movement on a second pair of parallel guide rails orthogonally related to said first pair of guide rails, and wherein said carriage means is supported for movement from at least two positions on one of said first pair of guide rails and from only one position on the other of said first pair of guide rails.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
97 words
An optical surface generating apparatus comprising a frame, a lap carriage means mounted on said frame and adapted to control an optical lap, said carriage means adapted for movement in two independently controllable component directions on said frame, drive means for producing movement of said carriage means in the independently controllable component directions, a table means adapted to support an optical blank in a plane parallel to said independently controllable component directions, and limit control means adapted to automatically limit movement of said carriage means to a given distance in any radial direction about a predetermined position.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
97 words
An optical surface generating apparatus comprising a frame, a lap carriage means mounted on said frame and adapted to control an optical lap, said carriage means adapted for movement in two independently controllable component directions on said frame, drive means for producing movement of said carriage means in the independently controllable component directions, a table means adapted to support an optical blank in a plane parallel to said independently controllable component directions, and limit control means adapted to automatically limit movement of said carriage means to a given distance in any radial direction about a predetermined position.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
38 words
An optical surface generating apparatus according to claim 42 wherein said limit control means comprises switch means operable to deenergize said drive means in response to movement of said carriage means said given distance from said predetermined position.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
58 words
An optical surface generating apparatus according to claim 43 wherein said limit control means comprises a flexible connector having one end fixed and another end secured to said carriage means, said connector adapted to actuate said switch means in response to movement of said carriage means for said given distance in any radial direction from said predetermined position.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
90 words
Surface generating apparatus comprising a frame; surface modifying means for modifying the contour of the work surface of a work piece; carriage means mounted on said frame for controlling said surface modifying means; drive means for producing movement of said carriage means on said frame; support means for supporting said work piece in a plane parallel to the direction of movement of said carriage means; and, limit control means for automatically limiting the movement of said carriage means to a given distance in any radial direction about a predetermined position.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
90 words
Surface generating apparatus comprising a frame; surface modifying means for modifying the contour of the work surface of a work piece; carriage means mounted on said frame for controlling said surface modifying means; drive means for producing movement of said carriage means on said frame; support means for supporting said work piece in a plane parallel to the direction of movement of said carriage means; and, limit control means for automatically limiting the movement of said carriage means to a given distance in any radial direction about a predetermined position.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
35 words
Surface generating apparatus according to claim 45 wherein said limit control means comprises switch means for deenergizing said drive means in response to movement of said carriage means said given distance from said predetermined position.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
60 words
Surface generating apparatus according to claim 46 wherein said limit control means comprises a flexible connector having one end secured to said carriage means and another end releasably secured to said frame, said connector including means for actuating said switch means in response to movement of said carriage means said given distance in any radial direction from said predetermined position.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
33 words
Surface generating apparatus according to claim 47 and further including means for adjusting the length of said flexible connector for varying the distance of movement of said carriage means from said predetermined position.
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) | 1974-06-28 | 1974-12-28 | 1975-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-28 | 1978-12-28 | 1979-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-28 | 1982-12-28 | 1983-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |