Electric feed for machine element

Claim 2

In a grinding machine supporting and driving a given workpiece rotatably about a first predetermined axis and supporting and driving a given grinding wheel assembly rotatably about a second predetermined axis; a feed mechanism providing relative feeding and retracting movement between the given workpiece and the given grinding wheel assembly including, a precision incremental feeding means, and an operation counter and control means; said precision feeding means including, a reversible electric pulse motor operative in sequential equal increments in one direction to produce a precision incremental feeding movement at at least one selected frequency and in the other direction to produce a precision incremental retracting movement, and means operative to energize said electric pulse motor for feeding movement at a distance from a zero reference determined by a selected number of counts; said operation counter and control means including, a source of electric pulses released at at least one selected feeding frequency for said feeding movement and a selected frequency for said retracting movement, and pulse counting means for said electric pulses; said pulse counting means including, means operative whenever said electric pulse motor is energized to establish a zero reference for said pulse counting means, retract starting means operative when the given workpiece is reduced to its final size by the precision feeding movement to reset the zero reference and to energize said electric pulse motor for retracting movement, and a preset position sensing means activated when said electric pulse motor is energized in its retracting direction and operative when it counts up to said selected number of counts to stop said electric pulse motor at the distance from the reset zero reference determined thereby.

Claim 3

In a grinding machine as described in claim 1, and, in addition, safety means operative, in the event of electric power failure during the precision incremental feeding movement, to actuate said retract starting means to reset the zero reference and to energize said electric pulse motor for retracting movement, and thereby to activate said preset position sensing means, whereby, when electric power is restored, said electric pulse motor is operative to produce retracting movement from the feeding location at which electric power failed, and said preset position sensing means is thereafter operative when it counts up to said selected number of counts to stop said electric pulse motor the distance from the rest zero reference determined thereby.

Claim 4

In a grinding machine as described in claim 1, and, in addition, an electrical digital readout operative to display a corresponding initial reading when said precision incremental feeding means is at the distance from the zero reference corresponding to said selected number of counts, operative responsive to electric pulses throughout the feeding movement of said precision feeding means to provide a visual indication of the stock remaining to be removed from the given workpiece being ground, and reset responsive to electric pulses to its initial reading while said precision feeding means is retracted said selected number of counts from the reset zero reference, and means to energize said operation counter and control means when a grinding machine incorporating said feed mechanism is started up; said operation counter and control means including, a source of electric pulses at a relatively much higher frequency, and pulse counting number insertion means automatically operative when said operation counter and control means is energized with said feed mechanism fully retracted to count up to and insert in said electrical digital readout its initial reading prior to the feeding movement of said precision feeding means.

Claim 5

In a grinding machine as described in claim 3, wherein said feed mechanism includes, a rapid feeding means operative for feeding movement from its retracted position a predetermined advanced position at which said means to energize said electric pulse motor for feeding movement is operative, and operative toward its retracted position after said electric pulse motor is energized for retracting movement, whereby said feed mechanism is fully retracted when said electric pulse motor is stopped the distance from said reset zero reference determined by said selected number of counts and said rapid feeding means is in its retracted position.

Claim 6

In a grinding machine wherein a grinding operation is performed upon a given workpiece rotating about a first predetermined axis by a given grinding wheel assembly rotating about a second predetermined axis during a predetermined feeding cycle productive of relative feeding movement between the given workpiece and the given grinding wheel assembly, a given steadyrest, and a given gage head assembly; a feed mechanism operative according to said predetermined feeding cycle including, reversible rapid feeding means selectively operative to produce rapid feeding movement from its retracted position and rapid retracting movement into its retracted position, a reversible precision feeding means, and an operation counter and control means; said precision feeding means including, a reversible electric pulse motor operative in succeeding equal increments in one direction to produce a precision incremental feeding movement sequentially at selected different frequencies and in the other direction to produce a precision incremental retracting movement, and a switch means operative when said rapid feeding means has completed a predetermined feeding movement to energize said electric pulse motor in its feeding direction at a distance from a zero reference determined by a selected number of counts; said operation counter and control means including, a source of electric pulses released at said selected frequencies for said feeding movement and a selected frequency for said retracting movement, and pulse counting means for said electric pulses; said pulse counting means including, first and second preset position sensing means activated when said electric pulse motor is energized in its feeding direction, the first operative when it counts down to a first preset position to trigger the displacement of the given steadyrest from a retracted position to an operative position in engagement with the given workpiece being ground, and the second operative when it counts down to a second preset position to trigger the displacement of the given gage head assembly from a retracted position to an operative position in engagement with the given workpiece being ground, means operative whenever said electric pulse motor is energized to establish a zero reference for said pulse counting means, retract actuating means operative after the feeding movement is completed to reset the zero reference and to energize said electric pulse motor in its retracting direction, and third preset position sensing means activated when said electric pulse motor is energized in its retracting direction and operative when it counts up to said selected number of counts to stop said electric pulse motor at the distance from the reset zero reference determined thereby.

Claim 7

In a grinding machine wherein a grinding operation is performed upon a given workpiece rotating about a first predetermined axis by a given grinding wheel assembly rotating about a second predetermined axis during a predetermined feeding cycle productive of relative feeding movement between the given workpiece and the given grinding wheel assembly, a given steadyrest, and a given gage head assembly; a feed mechanism operative according to said predetermined feeding cycle including, reversible rapid feeding means selectively operative to produce rapid feeding movement from its retracted position and rapid retracting movement into its retracted position, a reversible precision feeding means, and an operation counter and control means; said precision feeding means including, a reversible electric pulse motor operative in succeeding equal increments in one direction to produce a precision incremental feeding movement sequentially at selected different frequencies and in the other direction to produce a precision incremental retracting movement, and a switch means operative when said rapid feeding means has completed a predetermined feeding movement to energize said electric pulse motor in its feeding direction at a distance from a zero reference determined by a selected number of counts; said operation counter and control means including, a source of electric pulses released at said selected frequencies for said feeding movement and a selected frequency for said retracting movement, and pulse counting means for said electric pulses; said pulse counting means including, first and second preset position sensing means activated when said electric pulse motor is energized in its feeding direction, the first operative when it counts down to a first preset position to trigger the displacement of the given steadyrest from a retracted position to an operative position in engagement with the given workpiece being ground, and the second operative when it counts down to a second preset position to trigger the displacement of the given gage head assembly from a retracted position to an operative position in engagement with the given workpiece being ground, means operative whenever said electric pulse motor is energized to establish a zero reference for said pulse counting means, retract actuating means operative after the feeding movement is completed to reset the zero reference and to energize said electric pulse motor in its retracting direction, and third preset position sensing means activated when said electric pulse motor is energized in its retracting direction and operative when it counts up to said selected number of counts to stop said electric pulse motor at the distance from the reset zero reference determined thereby.

Claim 8

In a grinding machine supporting and driving a given workpiece rotatably about a first predetermined axis and supporting and driving a given grinding wheel assembly rotatably about a second predetermined axis; a feed mechanism providing relative feeding and retracting movement between the given workpiece and the given grinding wheel assembly including, a precision incremental feeding means, and an operation counter and control means; said precision feeding means including, a steadyrest, a gage head assembly, a reversible electric pulse motor operative in sequential equal increments in one direction to produce a precision incremental feeding movement at at least one selected frequency and in the other direction to produce a precision incremental retracting movement, and means operative to energize said electric pulse motor for feeding movement at a distance from a zero reference determined by a selected number of counts; said operation counter and control means including, a source of electric pulses released at at least one selected feeding frequency for said feeding movement and a selected frequency for said retracting movement, and pulse counting means for said electric pulses; said pulse counting means including, preset position sensing means activated when said electric pulse motor is energized for feeding movement and operative to trigger the displacement of said steadyrest from a retracted position to an operative position in engagement with the given workpiece being ground and to trigger the displacement of said gage head assembly from a retracted position to an operative position in engagement with the given workpiece being ground when said preset position sensing means counts down a predetermined number of counts therefor, means operative whenever said electric pulse motor is energized to establish a zero reference for said pulse counting means, retract starting means operative when the given workpiece is reduced to its final size by the precision feeding movement to reset the zero reference and to energize said electric pulse motor for retracting movement, and preset position sensing means activated when said electric pulse motor is energized for retracting movement and operative when it counts up to said selected number of counts to stop said electric pulse motor at the distance from the reset zero reference determined thereby.

Claim 9

In a grinding machine supporting and driving a given workpiece rotatably about a first predetermined axis and supporting and driving a given grinding wheel assembly rotatably about a second predetermined axis; a feed mechanism providing relative feeding and retracting movement between the given workpiece and the given grinding wheel assembly including, a precision incremental feeding means, and an operation counter and control means; said precision feeding means including, a steadyrest, a gage head assembly, a reversible electric pulse motor operative in sequential equal increments in one direction to produce a precision incremental feeding movement at at least one selected frequency and in the other direction to produce a precision incremental retracting movement, and means operative to energize said electric pulse motor for feeding movement at a distance from a zero reference determined by a selected number of counts; said operation counter and control means including, a source of electric pulses released at at least one selected feeding frequency for said feeding movement and a selected frequency for said retracting movement, and pulse counting means for said electric pulses; said pulse counting means including, preset position sensing means activated when said electric pulse motor is energized for feeding movement and operative to trigger the displacement of said steadyrest from a retracted position to an operative position in engagement with the given workpiece being ground and to trigger the displacement of said gage head assembly from a retracted position to an operative position in engagement with the given workpiece being ground when said preset position sensing means counts down a predetermined number of counts therefor, means operative whenever said electric pulse motor is energized to establish a zero reference for said pulse counting means, retract starting means operative when the given workpiece is reduced to its final size by the precision feeding movement to reset the zero reference and to energize said electric pulse motor for retracting movement, and preset position sensing means activated when said electric pulse motor is energized for retracting movement and operative when it counts up to said selected number of counts to stop said electric pulse motor at the distance from the reset zero reference determined thereby.

Claim 10

In a grinding machine as described in claim 6, and, in addition, safety means operative, in the event of electric power failure during the precision incremental feeding movement, to actuate said retract starting means to reset the zero reference and to energize said electric pulse motor for retracting movement, and thereby to activate said preset position sensing means, whereby, when electric power is restored, said electric pulse motor is operative to produce retracting movement from the feeding location at which electric power failed, and said preset position sensing means is thereafter operative when it counts up to said selected number of counts to stop said electric pulse motor the distance from the reset zero reference determined thereby.

Claim 11

In a grinding machine supporting and driving a given workpiece rotatably about a first predetermined axis and supporting and driving a given grinding wheel assembly rotatably about a second predetermined axis; a feed mechanism providing relative feeding and retracting movement between the given workpiece and the given grinding wheel assembly including, a precision incremental feeding means, and an operation counter and control means; said precision feeding means including, a steadyrest, a gage head assembly, a reversible electric pulse motor operative in sequential equal increments in one direction to produce a precision incremental feeding movement at at least one selected frequency and in the other direction to produce a precision incremental retracting movement, and means operative to energize said electric pulse motor for feeding movement at a distance from a zero reference determined by a selected number of counts; said operation counter and control means including, a source of electric pulses released at at least one selected feeding frequency for said feeding movement and a selected frequency for said retracting movement, and pulse counting means for said electric pulses; said pulse counting means including, first and second preset position sensing means activated when said electric pulse motor is energized for feeding movement, the first operative when it counts down to a first preset position to trigger the displacement of said steadyrest from a retracted position to an operative position in engagement with the given workpiece being ground, and the second operative when it counts down to a second preset position to trigger the displacement of said gage head assembly from a retracted position to an operative position in engagement with the given workpiece being ground, means operative whenever said electric pulse motor is energized to establish a zero reference for said pulse counting means, retract starting means operative when the given workpiece is reduced to its final size by the precision feeding movement to reset the zero reference and to energize said electric pulse motor for retracting movement, and preset position sensing means activated when said electric pulse motor is energized for retracting movement and operative when it counts up to said selected number of counts to stop said electric pulse motor at the distance from the reset zero reference determined thereby.

Claim 12

In a grinding machine supporting and driving a given workpiece rotatably about a first predetermined axis and supporting and driving a given grinding wheel assembly rotatably about a second predetermined axis; a feed mechanism providing relative feeding and retracting movement between the given workpiece and the given grinding wheel assembly including, a precision incremental feeding means, and an operation counter and control means; said precision feeding means including, a steadyrest, a gage head assembly, a reversible electric pulse motor operative in sequential equal increments in one direction to produce a precision incremental feeding movement at at least one selected frequency and in the other direction to produce a precision incremental retracting movement, and means operative to energize said electric pulse motor for feeding movement at a distance from a zero reference determined by a selected number of counts; said operation counter and control means including, a source of electric pulses released at at least one selected feeding frequency for said feeding movement and a selected frequency for said retracting movement, and pulse counting means for said electric pulses; said pulse counting means including, first and second preset position sensing means activated when said electric pulse motor is energized for feeding movement, the first operative when it counts down to a first preset position to trigger the displacement of said steadyrest from a retracted position to an operative position in engagement with the given workpiece being ground, and the second operative when it counts down to a second preset position to trigger the displacement of said gage head assembly from a retracted position to an operative position in engagement with the given workpiece being ground, means operative whenever said electric pulse motor is energized to establish a zero reference for said pulse counting means, retract starting means operative when the given workpiece is reduced to its final size by the precision feeding movement to reset the zero reference and to energize said electric pulse motor for retracting movement, and preset position sensing means activated when said electric pulse motor is energized for retracting movement and operative when it counts up to said selected number of counts to stop said electric pulse motor at the distance from the reset zero reference determined thereby.

Claim 13

In a grinding machine wherein a grinding operation is performed upon a given workpiece rotating about a first predetermined axis by a given grinding wheel assembly rotating about a second predetermined axis during a predetermined feeding cycle productive of relative feeding movement between the given workpiece and the given grinding wheel assembly, a given steadyrest, and a given gage head assembly; a feed mechanism operative according to said predetermined feeding cycle including, reversible rapid feeding means selectively operative to produce rapid feeding movement from its retracted position and rapid retracting movement into its retracted position, reversible precision feeding means, and an operation counter and control means; said precision feeding means including, a gage head assembly, a timer means, a reversible electric pulse motor operative in succeeding equal increments in one direction to produce a precision incremental feeding movement sequentially at selected different frequencies and in the other direction to produce a precision incremental retracting movement, and a switch means operative when said rapid feeding means has completed a predetermined feeding movement to energize said electric pulse motor for incremental feeding movement at a distance from a zero reference determined by a selected number of counts, and means operative during said precision feeding movement to maintain said gage head assembly in operative relation to the given workpiece being ground; said gage head assembly including, a first set of gage contacts on said gage head assembly operative when they function to energize said electric pulse motor to produce incremental feeding movement at a second predetermined relatively reduced frequency, a second set of gage contacts on said gage head assembly operative when they function to stop said electric pulse motor and to actuate said timer means operative after a predetermined short time interval, and a third set of gage contacts on said gage head assembly operative when the given workpiece reaches its prescribed final size during said predetermined shoRt time interval to actuate means to reset the zero reference and to energize said electric pulse motor in its retracting direction; said operation counter and control means including, a source of electric pulses released at said selected frequencies for said feeding movement and a selected frequency for said retracting movement, and pulse counting means for said electric pulses; said pulse counting means including, means operative whenever said electric pulse motor is energized to establish a zero reference for said pulse counting means, and preset position sensing means activated when said electric pulse motor is energized for retracting movement and operative when it counts up to said selected number of counts to stop said electric pulse motor at the distance from the reset zero reference determined thereby; said timer means being operative when said third set of gage contacts has not operated during said predetermined short time interval to reenergize said electric pulse motor at its second predetermined relatively reduced feed rate until said third set of gage contacts operate.

Claim 14

In a grinding machine wherein a grinding operation is performed upon a given workpiece rotating about a first predetermined axis by a given grinding wheel assembly rotating about a second predetermined axis during a predetermined feeding cycle productive of relative feeding movement between the given workpiece and the given grinding wheel assembly, a given steadyrest, and a given gage head assembly; a feed mechanism operative according to said predetermined feeding cycle including, reversible rapid feeding means selectively operative to produce rapid feeding movement from its retracted position and rapid retracting movement into its retracted position, reversible precision feeding means, and an operation counter and control means; said precision feeding means including, a gage head assembly, a timer means, a reversible electric pulse motor operative in succeeding equal increments in one direction to produce a precision incremental feeding movement sequentially at selected different frequencies and in the other direction to produce a precision incremental retracting movement, and a switch means operative when said rapid feeding means has completed a predetermined feeding movement to energize said electric pulse motor for incremental feeding movement at a distance from a zero reference determined by a selected number of counts, and means operative during said precision feeding movement to maintain said gage head assembly in operative relation to the given workpiece being ground; said gage head assembly including, a first set of gage contacts on said gage head assembly operative when they function to energize said electric pulse motor to produce incremental feeding movement at a second predetermined relatively reduced frequency, a second set of gage contacts on said gage head assembly operative when they function to stop said electric pulse motor and to actuate said timer means operative after a predetermined short time interval, and a third set of gage contacts on said gage head assembly operative when the given workpiece reaches its prescribed final size during said predetermined shoRt time interval to actuate means to reset the zero reference and to energize said electric pulse motor in its retracting direction; said operation counter and control means including, a source of electric pulses released at said selected frequencies for said feeding movement and a selected frequency for said retracting movement, and pulse counting means for said electric pulses; said pulse counting means including, means operative whenever said electric pulse motor is energized to establish a zero reference for said pulse counting means, and preset position sensing means activated when said electric pulse motor is energized for retracting movement and operative when it counts up to said selected number of counts to stop said electric pulse motor at the distance from the reset zero reference determined thereby; said timer means being operative when said third set of gage contacts has not operated during said predetermined short time interval to reenergize said electric pulse motor at its second predetermined relatively reduced feed rate until said third set of gage contacts operate.

Claim 15

In a grinding machine as described in claim 9, wherein, said operation counting and control means includes, safety means operative when said precision feeding means reaches a position at a distance beyond said zero reference corresponding to a predetermined small number of counts reached either if both said third and said fourth sets of gage contacts fail to function after said electric pulse motor has been energized at its second relatively reduced frequency or if said fourth sets of gage contacts fails to function after said electric pulse motor has been reenergized at its second relatively reduced frequency to stop said electric pulse motor, to maintain said retract actuating means inoperative, to energize said electric pulse motor for incremental retract movement, and to activate said preset position sensing means thereafter operative when it counts up to said selected number of counts to stop said electric pulse motor at the distance from the zero reference determined thereby.

Claim 16

In a grinding machine wherein a grinding operation is performed upon a given workpiece rotating about a first predetermined axis by a given grinding wheel assembly rotating about a second predetermined axis during a predetermined feeding cycle productive of relative feeding movement between the given workpiece and the given grinding wheel assembly, a given steadyrest, and a given gage head assembly; a feed mechanism operative according to said predetermined feeding cycle including, reversible rapid feeding means selectively operative to produce rapid feeding movement from its retracted position and rapid retracting movement into its retracted position, reversible precision feeding means, and an operation counter and control means; said precision feeding means including, a gage head assembly, a timer means, a reversible electric pulse motor operative in succeeding equal increments in one direction to produce a precision incremental feeding movement sequentially at selected different frequencies and in the other direction to produce a precision incremental retracting movement, and a switch means operative when said rapid feeding means has completed a predetermined feeding movement to energize said electric pulse motor for incremental feeding movement at a distance from a zero reference determined by a selected number of counts, and means operative during said precision feeding movement to maintain said gage head assembly in operative relation to the given workpiece being ground; said gage head assembly including, a first set of gage contacts on said gage head assembly operative when they function to stop said electric pulse motor and to actuate said timer means operative after a predetermined short time interval, a second set of gage contacts on said gage head assembly operative when they function tO energize said electric pulse motor for incremental feeding movement at a second predetermined relatively reduced frequency, a third set of gage contacts on said gage head assembly operative when they function to stop said electric pulse motor, and a fourth set of gage contacts on said gage head assembly operative when the given workpiece reaches its prescribed final size to actuate means to reset the zero reference and to energize said electric pulse motor for incremental retracting movement; said timer means being operative after said predetermined short time interval to energize said electric pulse motor at its second predetermined relatively reduced frequency, if said second gage contacts have not meanwhile functioned; said operation counter and control means including, a source of electric pulses released at said selected frequencies for said feeding movement and a selected frequency for said retracting movement, and pulse counting means for said electric pulses; said pulse counting means including, means operative whenever said electric pulse motor is energized to establish a zero reference for said pulse counting means, and preset position sensing means activated when said electric pulse motor is energized for incremental retracting movement and operative when it counts up to said selected number of counts to stop said electric pulse motor at the distance from the reset zero reference determined thereby.

Claim 17

In a grinding machine wherein a grinding operation is performed upon a given workpiece rotating about a first predetermined axis by a given grinding wheel assembly rotating about a second predetermined axis during a predetermined feeding cycle productive of relative feeding movement between the given workpiece and the given grinding wheel assembly, a given steadyrest, and a given gage head assembly; a feed mechanism operative according to said predetermined feeding cycle including, reversible rapid feeding means selectively operative to produce rapid feeding movement from its retracted position and rapid retracting movement into its retracted position, reversible precision feeding means, and an operation counter and control means; said precision feeding means including, a gage head assembly, a timer means, a reversible electric pulse motor operative in succeeding equal increments in one direction to produce a precision incremental feeding movement sequentially at selected different frequencies and in the other direction to produce a precision incremental retracting movement, and a switch means operative when said rapid feeding means has completed a predetermined feeding movement to energize said electric pulse motor for incremental feeding movement at a distance from a zero reference determined by a selected number of counts, and means operative during said precision feeding movement to maintain said gage head assembly in operative relation to the given workpiece being ground; said gage head assembly including, a first set of gage contacts on said gage head assembly operative when they function to stop said electric pulse motor and to actuate said timer means operative after a predetermined short time interval, a second set of gage contacts on said gage head assembly operative when they function tO energize said electric pulse motor for incremental feeding movement at a second predetermined relatively reduced frequency, a third set of gage contacts on said gage head assembly operative when they function to stop said electric pulse motor, and a fourth set of gage contacts on said gage head assembly operative when the given workpiece reaches its prescribed final size to actuate means to reset the zero reference and to energize said electric pulse motor for incremental retracting movement; said timer means being operative after said predetermined short time interval to energize said electric pulse motor at its second predetermined relatively reduced frequency, if said second gage contacts have not meanwhile functioned; said operation counter and control means including, a source of electric pulses released at said selected frequencies for said feeding movement and a selected frequency for said retracting movement, and pulse counting means for said electric pulses; said pulse counting means including, means operative whenever said electric pulse motor is energized to establish a zero reference for said pulse counting means, and preset position sensing means activated when said electric pulse motor is energized for incremental retracting movement and operative when it counts up to said selected number of counts to stop said electric pulse motor at the distance from the reset zero reference determined thereby.

Claim 18

In a grinding machine as described in claim 11, wherein, said operation counting and control means includes, second preset position sensing means activated when said electric pulse motor is energized for incremental feeding movement and operative a predetermined number of counts from said zero reference reached if said first and said second sets of gage contacts fail to function respectively to stop electric pulse motor and to energize said electric pulse motor to convert the incremental feeding movement of said electric pulse motor from its first frequency to its second relatively reduced frequency.

Claim 19

In a grinding machine as described in claim 1, and, in addition, position verification and safety means including, transducer means coupled to said electric pulse motor responsive to the number of incremental movements of said electric pulse motor to produce a corresponding number of pulses, pulse comparing means to receive and compare for coincidence the number of pulses applied to said electric pulse motor and the number of pulses produced by said transducer means, and safety stopping means to stop said feed mechanism in response to any departure from coincidence in excess of a predetermined small quantity between the number of pulses applied to said electric pulse motor and the number of pulses produced by said transducer means.

Claim 20

In a grinding machine as described in claim 6, and, in addition, position verification and safety means including, transducer means coupled to said electric pulse motor responsive to the number of incremental movements of said electric pulse motor to produce a corresponding number of pulses, pulse comparing means to receive and compare for coincidence an input indicating the number of pulses applied to said electric pulse motor and an input indicating the number of pulses produced by said transducer means, safety stopping means to stop said feed mechanism operative under dynamic conditions thereof in response to any departure from coincidence in excess of a predetermined relatively larger quantity between the indicated number of pulses applied to said electric pulse motor and the indicated number of pulses produced by said transducer means, and safety stopping means to stop said feed mechanism operative under static conditions thereof in response to any departure from coincidence in excess of a predetermined relatively smaller cumulative quantity between the indicated number of pulses applied to said electric pulse motor and the indicated number of pulses produced by said transducer means.

Claim 21

In a grinding machine as described in claim 9, and, in addition, position verification and safety means including, transducer means coupled to said electric pulse motor responsive to the number of incremental movements of said electric pulse motor to produce a corresponding number of pulses, pulse comparing means to receive and compare for coincidence signals indicating the number of pulses applied to said electric pulse motor and signals indicating the number of pulses produced by said transducer means, and safety stopping means to prevent recycling said feed mechanism in response to any departure from coincidence after any cycle in excess of a predetermined small quantity between the indicated number of pulses applied to said electric pulse motor and the indicated number of pulses produced by said transducer means.

Claim 22

In a grinding machine as described in claim 11, and, in addition, position verification and safety means including, transducer means coupled to said electric pulse motor responsive to the number of incremental movements of said electric pulse motor to produce a corresponding number of pulses, pulse comparing means to receive and compare for coincidence signals indicating the number of pulses applied to said electric pulse motor and signals indicating the number of pulses produced by said transducer means, and safety stopping means to prevent recycling said feed mechanism in response to any departure from coincidence after after any cycle in excess of a predetermined small quantity between the indicated number of pulses applied to said electric pulse motor and the indicated number of pulses produced by said transducer means.

Claim 23

In a grinding machine wherein the grinding operation is performed upon a given workpiece rotating about a first predetermined axis by a given grinding wheel assembly rotating about a second predetermined axis during a predetermined feeding cycle productive of relative feeding movement between the given grinding wheel assembly and the given workpiece; an incremental feeding means including first and second operatively interconnected rotary drive motors, the first such motor comprising an electric stepping motor operative sequentially at a plurality of selected frequencies within a predetermined range of frequencies as determined by the setting of operation counting control means therefor and itself productive of at least a portion of the driving torque required to provide relative feeding movement at any selected frequency within the predetermined range of frequencies, and the second such motor comprising a rotary hydraulic motor coupled to and operative in slaved relation to said electric stepping motor; said rotary hydraulic motor being maintained so by the continuous application of a predetermined hydraulic pressure thereto as to be productive of a supplemental driving torque sufficient in combination with the driving torque produced by said electric stepping motor to provide the total driving torque required for incremental feeding movement at any selected frequency within the predetermined range of frequencies, but insufficient alone to produce feeding movement.

Claim 24

In a grinding machine wherein the grinding operation is performed upon a given workpiece rotating about a first predetermined axis by a given grinding wheel assembly rotating about a second predetermined axis during a predetermined feeding cycle productive of relative feeding movement between the given grinding wheel assembly and the given workpiece; an incremental feeding means including first and second operatively interconnected rotary drive motors, the first such motor comprising an electric stepping motor operative sequentially at a plurality of selected frequencies within a predetermined range of frequencies as determined by the setting of operation counting control means therefor and itself productive of at least a portion of the driving torque required to provide relative feeding movement at any selected frequency within the predetermined range of frequencies, and the second such motor comprising a rotary hydraulic motor coupled to and operative in slaved relation to said electric stepping motor; said rotary hydraulic motor being maintained so by the continuous application of a predetermined hydraulic pressure thereto as to be productive of a supplemental driving torque sufficient in combination with the driving torque produced by said electric stepping motor to provide the total driving torque required for incremental feeding movement at any selected frequency within the predetermined range of frequencies, but insufficient alone to produce feeding movement.

Claim 25

In a grinding machine as described in claim 17, wherein, said rotary hydraulic motor is selectively operative, independent of said electric stepping motor, in response to the application thereto of a second relatively higher predetermined hydraulic pressure to produce relative movement between the given grinding wheel assembly and the given workpiece, with said electric stepping motor maintained inoperative and consequently unrestrained rotatably.

Claim 26

In a grinding machine as described in claim 17, wherein, said incremental feeding means includes a relatively nonrotatable driven element and a relatively rotatable driving element operatively engaged with said driven element, said first and said second rotAry drive motors are operatively interconnected by a common drive shaft, and said drive shaft is operatively connected to said driving element by a rotary coupling means.

Claim 27

In a grinding machine as described in claim 19, wherein, said rotary coupling means comprises a worm rigidly secured to and rotatable with said drive shaft and a worm wheel operatively engaged with said worm and so supported and constrained by said driving element that rotation of said worm wheel responsive to rotation of said worm produces corresponding rotation of said driving element.