Method and apparatus for making grooved wheels

Claim 1

In a method of forming sheaves, pulleys and similar articles having a peripheral V-groove defined by a pair of substantially straight flanges: the steps comprising forming a sheet metal disc-shaped blank, rotating said blank, initially slitting said blank at its peripheral edge to form a peripheral groove and two angularly extending flanges by movement of a slitting tool radially of the rotating blank, progressively pressing said flanges laterally, expanding said groove while progressively slitting the blank by continuing the radial movement of the slitting tool, and forming straight flanges by the continuing movement of the slitting tool.

Claim 3

The method of making grooved wheels which comprises; rotating a metal blank having an annular peripheral portion; providing tool means having a relatively sharp edge portion; engaging said edge portion with said peripheral portion; and splitting said peripheral portion annularly therearound into a grooved wheel rim; the movement of said tool means relative to said peripheral portion comprising an initial rapid-feed approach movement, followed by a slow-feed touch engagement of said edge portion with said peripheral portion, and a subsequent rapid-feed movement and pressure penetration of said edge portion into said peripheral portion for splitting the same.

Claim 4

The method of making grooved wheels which comprises; rotating a metal blank having an annular peripheral portion; providing tool means having a relatively sharp edge portion; engaging said edge portion with said peripheral portion; and splitting said peripheral portion annularly therearound into a grooved wheel rim; the movement of said tool means relative to said peripheral portion comprising an initial rapid-feed approach movement, followed by a slow-feed touch engagement of said edge portion with said peripheral portion, and a subsequent rapid-feed movement and pressure penetration of said edge portion into said peripheral portion for splitting the same.

Claim 7

The method of making grooved wheels which comprises; rotating a metal blank having an annular peripheral portion; splitting said peripheral portion annularly therearound by pressing thereinto a first roller having a relatively sharp annular edge portion so as to form on the blank an annular split portion having divergent flanges which include free annular edges, and an intervening annular groove between said flanges and whose bottom portion corresponds substantially in cross-sectional shape with said edge portion; applying to said split portion a second roller having a convergent annular ridge portion terminating in a blunt peripheral edge and also having lateral annular shoulders on opposite sides of said ridge portion; shaping said split portion into a rim by advancing said ridge portion thereinto in spreading engagement with said flanges; deflecting the free annular edges of said flanges in axially opposite directions to shape said free annular edges into annular beads extending in opposite axial directions from their associated flanges by pressing said annular shoulders agaInst said free edges; and widening said bottom portion of the groove by pressing said blunt peripheral edge thereinto.

Claim 8

The method of making grooved wheels which comprises; rotating a metal blank having an annular peripheral portion; splitting said peripheral portion annularly therearound by pressing thereinto a first roller having a relatively sharp annular edge portion so as to form on the blank an annular split portion having divergent flanges which include free annular edges, and an intervening annular groove between said flanges and whose bottom portion corresponds substantially in cross-sectional shape with said edge portion; applying to said split portion a second roller having a convergent annular ridge portion terminating in a blunt peripheral edge and also having lateral annular shoulders on opposite sides of said ridge portion; shaping said split portion into a rim by advancing said ridge portion thereinto in spreading engagement with said flanges; deflecting the free annular edges of said flanges in axially opposite directions to shape said free annular edges into annular beads extending in opposite axial directions from their associated flanges by pressing said annular shoulders agaInst said free edges; and widening said bottom portion of the groove by pressing said blunt peripheral edge thereinto.

Claim 9

The method of making grooved wheels which comprises; rotating a metal blank having an annular peripheral portion; providing tool means comprising splitting and forming rollers of which said splitting roller has a relatively sharp tapered annular edge portion, and said forming roller has a relatively blunt tapered annular edge portion; engaging said sharp edge portion of said splitting roller with said peripheral portion by movement of the splitting roller comprising an initial rapid-approach feeding movement followed by a slow-feed touch engagement with said peripheral portion; rotating and accelerating said splitting roller by said slow-feed touch engagement; splitting said peripheral portion therearound into an annularly grooved portion by penetrating said sharp edge portion thereinto with a rapid-rate penetrating feed movement following said touch engagement and acceleration of said splitting roller; and thereafter shaping said split portion by advancing said forming roller into the groove of said split portion and engaging said blunt edge portion with the bottom portion of said groove for widening the latter and reshaping said bottom portion to a concavely curved form.

Claim 10

The method of making grooved wheels which comprises; rotating a metal blank having an annular peripheral portion; providing tool means comprising splitting and forming rollers of which said splitting roller has a relatively sharp tapered annular edge portion, and said forming roller has a relatively blunt tapered annular edge portion; engaging said sharp edge portion of said splitting roller with said peripheral portion by movement of the splitting roller comprising an initial rapid-approach feeding movement followed by a slow-feed touch engagement with said peripheral portion; rotating and accelerating said splitting roller by said slow-feed touch engagement; splitting said peripheral portion therearound into an annularly grooved portion by penetrating said sharp edge portion thereinto with a rapid-rate penetrating feed movement following said touch engagement and acceleration of said splitting roller; and thereafter shaping said split portion by advancing said forming roller into the groove of said split portion and engaging said blunt edge portion with the bottom portion of said groove for widening the latter and reshaping said bottom portion to a concavely curved form.

Claim 12

The method of making groove wheels which comprises the steps of providing tool means comprising a splitting roller and a forming roller, of which said splitting roller has a relatively sharp ridge-shaped annular edge portion and said forming roller has a relatively blunt ridge-shaped annular edge portion; providing a metal blank having a plate portion terminating in an annular peripheral portion; mounting the blank on a rotatably driven workholder and rotating the blank on a central axis perpendicular to the plane of said plate portion; moving said splitting roller edgewise thereof toward said peripheral portion through an approach distance at a relatively rapid approach feed rate; discontinuing the rapid approach feed movement upon arrival of said sharp edge portion at a point adjacent to but spaced from said peripheral portion; then further moving said splitting roller edgewise thereof toward said peripheral portion at a relatively slow touch feed rate; engaging said sharp edge portion with said peripheral portion by such slow touch feed movement; marking said peripheral portion therearound by the slow touch feed engagement of said sharp edge portion therewith and meanwhile rotating and accelerating said splitting roller by such marking engagement thereof with the blank; imparting a penetrating feed movement to said splitting roller at a feed rate faster than said touch feed rate; penetrating said sharp edge portion into said peripheral portion at said faster feed rate and splitting said peripheral portion therearound into an annularly grooved portion; and thereafter engaging the blunt edge portion of said forming roller in said grooved portion and shaping the latter to pulley-rim form.

Claim 13

The method of making groove wheels which comprises the steps of providing tool means comprising a splitting roller and a forming roller, of which said splitting roller has a relatively sharp ridge-shaped annular edge portion and said forming roller has a relatively blunt ridge-shaped annular edge portion; providing a metal blank having a plate portion terminating in an annular peripheral portion; mounting the blank on a rotatably driven workholder and rotating the blank on a central axis perpendicular to the plane of said plate portion; moving said splitting roller edgewise thereof toward said peripheral portion through an approach distance at a relatively rapid approach feed rate; discontinuing the rapid approach feed movement upon arrival of said sharp edge portion at a point adjacent to but spaced from said peripheral portion; then further moving said splitting roller edgewise thereof toward said peripheral portion at a relatively slow touch feed rate; engaging said sharp edge portion with said peripheral portion by such slow touch feed movement; marking said peripheral portion therearound by the slow touch feed engagement of said sharp edge portion therewith and meanwhile rotating and accelerating said splitting roller by such marking engagement thereof with the blank; imparting a penetrating feed movement to said splitting roller at a feed rate faster than said touch feed rate; penetrating said sharp edge portion into said peripheral portion at said faster feed rate and splitting said peripheral portion therearound into an annularly grooved portion; and thereafter engaging the blunt edge portion of said forming roller in said grooved portion and shaping the latter to pulley-rim form.

Claim 14

The method of making grooved wheels which comprises rotating a blank having a flat annular edge portion; splitting said edge portion into divergent annular flanges and spreading said flanges to an included angle of a given value; and shaping the split portion to desired grooved-rim form including closing said flanges to a final included angle of smaller value than said given value.

Claim 15

The method of making grooved wheels which comprises rotating a blank having a flat annular edge portion; splitting said edge portion into divergent annular flanges and spreading said flanges to an included angle of a given value; and shaping the split portion to desired grooved-rim form including closing said flanges to a final included angle of smaller value than said given value.

Claim 16

The method of making grooved wheels which comprises rotating a blank having a flat annular edge portion; splitting said edge portion into divergent annular flanges; opening said flanges to an included angle of a given value; shaping the Split portion to desired final grooved-rim form including closing said flanges to an included angle of smaller value than said given value; and forming peripheral beads on said flanges during such final shaping of said split portion.

Claim 17

The method of making grooved wheels which comprises rotating a blank having a flat annular edge portion; splitting said edge portion into divergent annular flanges; opening said flanges to an included angle of a given value; shaping the Split portion to desired final grooved-rim form including closing said flanges to an included angle of smaller value than said given value; and forming peripheral beads on said flanges during such final shaping of said split portion.

Claim 18

The method of making grooved wheels which comprises providing a rotatable workholder comprising co-operable holder members having annular bevel walls for defining a work groove; rotating a circular workpiece having a flat annular edge portion in said workholder with said edge portion projecting into said work groove; splitting said edge portion into divergent annular flanges by pressing a relatively sharp-edged roller into said edge portion; spreading said flanges to a given included-angle first position adjacent to but spaced from said bevel walls; and thereafter shaping the split portion to desired grooved-rim form by engaging a relatively blunt-edged second roller therewith including closing said flanges to a final position at an included angle smaller than the included angle of said first position.

Claim 19

The method of making grooved wheels which comprises providing a rotatable workholder comprising co-operable holder members having annular bevel walls for defining a work groove; rotating a circular workpiece having a flat annular edge portion in said workholder with said edge portion projecting into said work groove; splitting said edge portion into divergent annular flanges by pressing a relatively sharp-edged roller into said edge portion; spreading said flanges to a given included-angle first position adjacent to but spaced from said bevel walls; and thereafter shaping the split portion to desired grooved-rim form by engaging a relatively blunt-edged second roller therewith including closing said flanges to a final position at an included angle smaller than the included angle of said first position.

Claim 21

The method of making grooved wheels which comprises the steps of providing tool means comprising a splitting roller and a forming roller, of which said splitting roller has a relatively sharp ridge-shaped annular edge portion and said forming roller has a relatively blunt ridge-shaped annular edge portion; providing a metal blank having a plate portion terminating in an annular peripheral portion; mounting the blank on a rotatably driven workholder and rotating the blank on a central axis perpendicular to the plane of said plate portion; moving said splitting roller edgewise thereof toward said peripheral portion through an approach distance at a relatively rapid approach feed rate; discontinuing the rapid approach feed movement upon arrival of said sharp edge portion at a point adjacent to but spaced from said peripheral portion; then further moving said splitting roller edgewise thereof toward said peripheral portion at a relatively slow touch feed rate; engaging said sharp edge portion with said peripheral portion by such slow touch feed movement; marking said peripheral portion therearound by the slow touch feed engagement of said sharp edge portion therewith and meanwhile rotating and accelerating said splitting roller by such marking engagement thereof with the blank; imparting a penetrating feed movement to said splitting roller at a feed rate faster than said touch feed rate; penetrating said sharp edge portion into said peripheral portion at said faster feed rate and splitting said peripheral portion therearound into an annularly grooved portion having divergent annular flanges; spreading said flanges to a given included-angle first position; thereafter engaging the blunt edge portion of said forming roller in said grooved portion and reshaping the bottom of the latter to a concave transverse curvature; and closing said flanges to a final position at an included angle smaller than the included angle of said first position.

Claim 22

The method of making grooved wheels which comprises the steps of providing tool means comprising a splitting roller and a forming roller, of which said splitting roller has a relatively sharp ridge-shaped annular edge portion and said forming roller has a relatively blunt ridge-shaped annular edge portion; providing a metal blank having a plate portion terminating in an annular peripheral portion; mounting the blank on a rotatably driven workholder and rotating the blank on a central axis perpendicular to the plane of said plate portion; moving said splitting roller edgewise thereof toward said peripheral portion through an approach distance at a relatively rapid approach feed rate; discontinuing the rapid approach feed movement upon arrival of said sharp edge portion at a point adjacent to but spaced from said peripheral portion; then further moving said splitting roller edgewise thereof toward said peripheral portion at a relatively slow touch feed rate; engaging said sharp edge portion with said peripheral portion by such slow touch feed movement; marking said peripheral portion therearound by the slow touch feed engagement of said sharp edge portion therewith and meanwhile rotating and accelerating said splitting roller by such marking engagement thereof with the blank; imparting a penetrating feed movement to said splitting roller at a feed rate faster than said touch feed rate; penetrating said sharp edge portion into said peripheral portion at said faster feed rate and splitting said peripheral portion therearound into an annularly grooved portion having divergent annular flanges; spreading said flanges to a given included-angle first position; thereafter engaging the blunt edge portion of said forming roller in said grooved portion and reshaping the bottom of the latter to a concave transverse curvature; and closing said flanges to a final position at an included angle smaller than the included angle of said first position.

Claim 23

The method of making grooved wheels which comprises the steps of providing tool means comprising a splitting roller and a forming roller, of which said splitting roller has a relatively sharp ridge-shaped annular edge portion and said forming roller has a relatively blunt ridge-shaped annular edge portion and bead-forming annular grooves on opposite sides of said blunt ridge-shaped portion; providing a metal blank having a plate portion terminating in an annular peripheral portion; mounting the blank on a rotatably driven workholder and rotating the blank on a central axis perpendicular to the plane of said plate portion; moving said splitting roller edgewise thereof toward said peripheral portion through an approach distAnce at a relatively rapid approach feed rate; discontinuing the rapid approach feed movement upon arrival of said sharp edge portion at a point adjacent to but spaced from said peripheral portion; then further moving said splitting roller edgewise thereof toward said peripheral portion at a relatively slow touch feed rate; engaging said sharp edge portion with said peripheral portion by such slow touch feed movement; marking said peripheral portion therearound by the slow touch feed engagement of said sharp edge portion therewith and meanwhile rotating and accelerating said splitting roller by such marking engagement thereof with the blank; imparting a penetrating feed movement to said splitting roller at a feed rate faster than said touch feed rate; penetrating said sharp edge portion into said peripheral portion at said faster feed rate and splitting said peripheral portion therearound into an annularly grooved portion having divergent annular flanges; spreading said flanges to a given included-angle first position; thereafter engaging the blunt edge portion of said forming roller in said grooved portion and reshaping the bottom of the latter to a concave transverse curvature; closing said flanges to a final position at an included angle smaller than the included angle of said first position; and thereby permitting engagement of said bead-forming grooves with the peripheral edges of said flanges for forming beads thereon upon continued inward movement of the forming roller.

Claim 24

The method of making grooved wheels which comprises the steps of providing tool means comprising a splitting roller and a forming roller, of which said splitting roller has a relatively sharp ridge-shaped annular edge portion and said forming roller has a relatively blunt ridge-shaped annular edge portion and bead-forming annular grooves on opposite sides of said blunt ridge-shaped portion; providing a metal blank having a plate portion terminating in an annular peripheral portion; mounting the blank on a rotatably driven workholder and rotating the blank on a central axis perpendicular to the plane of said plate portion; moving said splitting roller edgewise thereof toward said peripheral portion through an approach distAnce at a relatively rapid approach feed rate; discontinuing the rapid approach feed movement upon arrival of said sharp edge portion at a point adjacent to but spaced from said peripheral portion; then further moving said splitting roller edgewise thereof toward said peripheral portion at a relatively slow touch feed rate; engaging said sharp edge portion with said peripheral portion by such slow touch feed movement; marking said peripheral portion therearound by the slow touch feed engagement of said sharp edge portion therewith and meanwhile rotating and accelerating said splitting roller by such marking engagement thereof with the blank; imparting a penetrating feed movement to said splitting roller at a feed rate faster than said touch feed rate; penetrating said sharp edge portion into said peripheral portion at said faster feed rate and splitting said peripheral portion therearound into an annularly grooved portion having divergent annular flanges; spreading said flanges to a given included-angle first position; thereafter engaging the blunt edge portion of said forming roller in said grooved portion and reshaping the bottom of the latter to a concave transverse curvature; closing said flanges to a final position at an included angle smaller than the included angle of said first position; and thereby permitting engagement of said bead-forming grooves with the peripheral edges of said flanges for forming beads thereon upon continued inward movement of the forming roller.

Claim 25

The method of making a grooved wheel having a final grooved-rim form with annular flanges having a given included angle which comprises the steps of providing a rotatable workholder means having clamping means and divergent walls defining an annular work groove around said clamping means with an included angle greater than said final included angle; providing tool means comprising a splitting roller and a forming roller, of which said splitting roller has a relatively sharp ridge-shaped annular edge portion and said forming roller has a relatively blunt ridge-shaped annular edge portion; providing a metal blank having a plate portion terminating in an annular peripheral portion; mounting said blank in said workholder means with said peripheral portion projecting in said work groove; engaging said peripheral portion by said sharp annular edge portion; splitting said peripheral portion into two annular flanges and spreading the flanges by penetrating said sharp annular edge portion into said peripheral portion; discontinuing the penetrating and spreading when said flanges are adjacent to but still spaced from said divergent walls; and thereafter engaging said blunt ridge-shaped annular edge portion of said forming roller with the split portion and shaping the latter to said final desired grooved-rim form including reshaping the bottom portion of the rim groove to a concave transverse curvature, all while said flanges remain spaced from said divergent walls.

Claim 26

The method of making a grooved wheel having a final grooved-rim form with annular flanges having a given included angle which comprises the steps of providing a rotatable workholder means having clamping means and divergent walls defining an annular work groove around said clamping means with an included angle greater than said final included angle; providing tool means comprising a splitting roller and a forming roller, of which said splitting roller has a relatively sharp ridge-shaped annular edge portion and said forming roller has a relatively blunt ridge-shaped annular edge portion; providing a metal blank having a plate portion terminating in an annular peripheral portion; mounting said blank in said workholder means with said peripheral portion projecting in said work groove; engaging said peripheral portion by said sharp annular edge portion; splitting said peripheral portion into two annular flanges and spreading the flanges by penetrating said sharp annular edge portion into said peripheral portion; discontinuing the penetrating and spreading when said flanges are adjacent to but still spaced from said divergent walls; and thereafter engaging said blunt ridge-shaped annular edge portion of said forming roller with the split portion and shaping the latter to said final desired grooved-rim form including reshaping the bottom portion of the rim groove to a concave transverse curvature, all while said flanges remain spaced from said divergent walls.

Claim 32

The method of making grooved wheels which comprises the steps of providing tool means comprising a splitting roller and a forming roller of which said splitting roller has a relatively sharp ridge-shaped annular edge portion and said forming roller has a relatively blunt ridge-shaped annular edge portion and bead-forming annular grooves on opposite sides of said blunt ridge-shaped portion; providing a metal blank having a plate portion terminating in an annular peripheral portion; mounting the blank on a rotatably driven workholder and rotating the blank on a central axis perpendicular to the plane of said plate portion; moving said splitting roller edgewise thereof toward said peripheral portion; engaging said sharp-edged portion with said peripheral portion; penetrating said sharp-edged portion into said peripheral portion and spreading said peripheral portion therein into an annular groove portion having diverging annular flanges; spreading said flanges to a given included angle first position; thereafter engaging the blunt edge portion of said forming roller into said groove portion and reshaping the bottom of the latter to a concave transverse curvature; closing said flanges to a final position at an included angle smaller than the included angle of said first position and thereby permitting engagement of said bead-forming grooves with the peripheral edges of said flanges for forming beads thereon upon continued inward movement of the forming roller.

Claim 33

The method of making grooved wheels which comprises the steps of providing tool means comprising a splitting roller and a forming roller of which said splitting roller has a relatively sharp ridge-shaped annular edge portion and said forming roller has a relatively blunt ridge-shaped annular edge portion and bead-forming annular grooves on opposite sides of said blunt ridge-shaped portion; providing a metal blank having a plate portion terminating in an annular peripheral portion; mounting the blank on a rotatably driven workholder and rotating the blank on a central axis perpendicular to the plane of said plate portion; moving said splitting roller edgewise thereof toward said peripheral portion; engaging said sharp-edged portion with said peripheral portion; penetrating said sharp-edged portion into said peripheral portion and spreading said peripheral portion therein into an annular groove portion having diverging annular flanges; spreading said flanges to a given included angle first position; thereafter engaging the blunt edge portion of said forming roller into said groove portion and reshaping the bottom of the latter to a concave transverse curvature; closing said flanges to a final position at an included angle smaller than the included angle of said first position and thereby permitting engagement of said bead-forming grooves with the peripheral edges of said flanges for forming beads thereon upon continued inward movement of the forming roller.

Claim 36

The method of making a grooved wheel having a final grooved-rim form with annular flanges having a given included angle which comprises tHe steps of providing a workholder means having divergent walls defining an annular work groove with an included angle greater than said final included angle; providing tool means comprising a splitting roller having a relatively sharp ridge-shaped annular edge portion; providing a metal blank having an annular peripheral portion; mounting said blank in said workholder means with said peripheral portion projecting in said work groove; engaging said peripheral portion by said sharp annular edge portion; splitting said peripheral portion into two annular flanges and spreading the flanges by penetrating said sharp annular edge portion into said peripheral portion; and discontinuing the penetrating and spreading when said flanges are adjacent to but still spaced from said divergent walls.

Claim 37

The method of making a grooved wheel having a final grooved-rim form with annular flanges having a given included angle which comprises tHe steps of providing a workholder means having divergent walls defining an annular work groove with an included angle greater than said final included angle; providing tool means comprising a splitting roller having a relatively sharp ridge-shaped annular edge portion; providing a metal blank having an annular peripheral portion; mounting said blank in said workholder means with said peripheral portion projecting in said work groove; engaging said peripheral portion by said sharp annular edge portion; splitting said peripheral portion into two annular flanges and spreading the flanges by penetrating said sharp annular edge portion into said peripheral portion; and discontinuing the penetrating and spreading when said flanges are adjacent to but still spaced from said divergent walls.