US3857200A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digital readout method and apparatus
Assignee: A&A Engineering Co
•
Filing: 1973-03-15
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Granted: 1974-12-31
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Expires: 1993-03-15
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for grinding a plurality of workpieces, each to a preselected linear dimension, utilizing a digital readout means. Grinding of the workpieces is facilitated by providing on the readout display an indication of the linear dimension of the workpiece as it is being ground so that the grinding operation may be terminated when the readout indication agrees with the desired linear dimension of the workpiece. The grinding wheel may be repeatedly dressed and utilized for succeeding grinding operations while maintaining the readout arrangement for facilitated grinding of a large number of workpieces requiring one or more wheel dressing operations during the grinding operation. The method and apparatus may be utilized in connection with different types of grinding such as surface grinding, cylindrical grinding, etc.
Inventors
- 👤 R Hill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:15
CPC Classifications
B; B24; B24B; B24B49/00; B24B49/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
291 words
The method of grinding a plurality of workpieces each to a preselected linear dimension, comprising the steps of: disposing a reference portion of a first of said workpieces at a reference position whereby the surface of said first workpiece to be ground is spaced from said reference position a distance greater than said preselected linear dimension; disposing a dressing tool in a selected position relative to said reference position; providing a grinding wheel; engaging the grinding wheel with the dressing tool to dress the grinding wheel; providing a digital readout means presenting a display indicating the linear spacing of the grinding wheel from said reference position; causing the display to read zero upon completion of the dressing operation; moving the grinding wheel to grind a clean-up area on said surface; determining the linear dimension between said reference portion of the first workpiece and said clean-up area; providing a maintained indication of the sum of a. the dimension displayed on the readout means representing the movement of the grinding wheel from the dressing position to the completed clean-up position, and b. said determined linear dimension of the first workpiece; causing the maintained indication to read said sum; resetting the display to read said determined linear dimension; moving the grinding wheel further against the workpiece toward said reference portion until the display reads said preselected linear dimension; and replacing said first workpiece seriatim with each of the other workpieces and grinding each workpiece by seriatim disposing the reference portion thereof at said reference position with the grinding wheel spaced therefrom a distance greater than the original linear dimension of that workpiece and moving the grinding wheel toward the reference position to grind the workpiece until said display again reads said preselected linear dimension.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
291 words
The method of grinding a plurality of workpieces each to a preselected linear dimension, comprising the steps of: disposing a reference portion of a first of said workpieces at a reference position whereby the surface of said first workpiece to be ground is spaced from said reference position a distance greater than said preselected linear dimension; disposing a dressing tool in a selected position relative to said reference position; providing a grinding wheel; engaging the grinding wheel with the dressing tool to dress the grinding wheel; providing a digital readout means presenting a display indicating the linear spacing of the grinding wheel from said reference position; causing the display to read zero upon completion of the dressing operation; moving the grinding wheel to grind a clean-up area on said surface; determining the linear dimension between said reference portion of the first workpiece and said clean-up area; providing a maintained indication of the sum of a. the dimension displayed on the readout means representing the movement of the grinding wheel from the dressing position to the completed clean-up position, and b. said determined linear dimension of the first workpiece; causing the maintained indication to read said sum; resetting the display to read said determined linear dimension; moving the grinding wheel further against the workpiece toward said reference portion until the display reads said preselected linear dimension; and replacing said first workpiece seriatim with each of the other workpieces and grinding each workpiece by seriatim disposing the reference portion thereof at said reference position with the grinding wheel spaced therefrom a distance greater than the original linear dimension of that workpiece and moving the grinding wheel toward the reference position to grind the workpiece until said display again reads said preselected linear dimension.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
291 words
The method of grinding a plurality of workpieces each to a preselected linear dimension, comprising the steps of: disposing a reference portion of a first of said workpieces at a reference position whereby the surface of said first workpiece to be ground is spaced from said reference position a distance greater than said preselected linear dimension; disposing a dressing tool in a selected position relative to said reference position; providing a grinding wheel; engaging the grinding wheel with the dressing tool to dress the grinding wheel; providing a digital readout means presenting a display indicating the linear spacing of the grinding wheel from said reference position; causing the display to read zero upon completion of the dressing operation; moving the grinding wheel to grind a clean-up area on said surface; determining the linear dimension between said reference portion of the first workpiece and said clean-up area; providing a maintained indication of the sum of a. the dimension displayed on the readout means representing the movement of the grinding wheel from the dressing position to the completed clean-up position, and b. said determined linear dimension of the first workpiece; causing the maintained indication to read said sum; resetting the display to read said determined linear dimension; moving the grinding wheel further against the workpiece toward said reference portion until the display reads said preselected linear dimension; and replacing said first workpiece seriatim with each of the other workpieces and grinding each workpiece by seriatim disposing the reference portion thereof at said reference position with the grinding wheel spaced therefrom a distance greater than the original linear dimension of that workpiece and moving the grinding wheel toward the reference position to grind the workpiece until said display again reads said preselected linear dimension.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
291 words
The method of grinding a plurality of workpieces each to a preselected linear dimension, comprising the steps of: disposing a reference portion of a first of said workpieces at a reference position whereby the surface of said first workpiece to be ground is spaced from said reference position a distance greater than said preselected linear dimension; disposing a dressing tool in a selected position relative to said reference position; providing a grinding wheel; engaging the grinding wheel with the dressing tool to dress the grinding wheel; providing a digital readout means presenting a display indicating the linear spacing of the grinding wheel from said reference position; causing the display to read zero upon completion of the dressing operation; moving the grinding wheel to grind a clean-up area on said surface; determining the linear dimension between said reference portion of the first workpiece and said clean-up area; providing a maintained indication of the sum of a. the dimension displayed on the readout means representing the movement of the grinding wheel from the dressing position to the completed clean-up position, and b. said determined linear dimension of the first workpiece; causing the maintained indication to read said sum; resetting the display to read said determined linear dimension; moving the grinding wheel further against the workpiece toward said reference portion until the display reads said preselected linear dimension; and replacing said first workpiece seriatim with each of the other workpieces and grinding each workpiece by seriatim disposing the reference portion thereof at said reference position with the grinding wheel spaced therefrom a distance greater than the original linear dimension of that workpiece and moving the grinding wheel toward the reference position to grind the workpiece until said display again reads said preselected linear dimension.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of grinding a plurality of workpieces each to a preselected linear dimension of claim 1 wherein said reference position comprises a horizontal table surface and said grinding wheel is moved vertically to surface grind the workpiece.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of grinding a plurality of workpieces each to a preselected linear dimension of claim 1 wherein said reference position comprises a vertical back gauge surface and said grinding wheel is moved horizontally to side grind the workpiece.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of grinding a plurality of workpieces each to a preselected linear dimension of claim 1 wherein said reference position comprises an axis of revolution of the workpiece, said workpiece is rotated about said axis and said grinding wheel is concurrently moved radially toward said axis to cylindrically grind the workpiece, said preselected linear dimension comprises the desired ground diameter of the workpiece, and said sum comprises twice (a) and (b) to represent a diametric linear dimension.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
438 words
The method of grinding a plurality of workpieces each to a preselected linear dimension, comprising the steps of: disposing a reference portion of a first of said workpieces at a reference position whereby the surface of said first workpiece to be ground is spaced from said reference position a distance greater than said preselected linear dimension; disposing a dressing tool in a selected position relative to said reference position; providing a grinding wheel; engaging the grinding wheel with the dressing tool to dress the grinding wheel; providing a digital readout means presentinG a display indicating the linear spacing of the grinding wheel from said reference position; causing the display to read zero upon completion of the dressing operation; moving the grinding wheel to grind a clean-up area on said surface; determining the linear dimension between said reference portion of the first workpiece and said clean-up area; providing a maintained indication of the sum of (a) the dimension displayed on the readout means representing the movement of the grinding wheel from the dressing position to the completed clean-up position, and (b) said determined linear dimension of the first workpiece; causing the maintained indication to read said sum; resetting the display to read said determined linear dimension; moving the grinding wheel against the workpiece toward said reference portion until the display reads said preselected linear dimension; replacing said first workpiece seriatim with each of a plurality of other workpieces and grinding each such other workpieces by seriatim disposing the reference portion thereof at said reference position with the grinding wheel spaced therefrom a distance greater than the original linear dimension of that workpiece and moving the grinding wheel toward the reference position to grind the workpiece until said display again reads said preselected linear dimension; redressing the grinding wheel prior to grinding additional ones of said workpieces by redisposing the dressing tool in said selected position, returning the grinding wheel to the position wherein said display reading is identical to said maintained indication, holding the display reading while engaging the grinding wheel with the dressing tool to redress the grinding wheel, and returning the grinding wheel to grinding position while permitting the readout means to again change the display in accordance with the movement of the grinding wheel; and grinding each of said additional workpieces with the redressed grinding wheel by seriatim disposing the reference portion thereof at said reference position with the grinding wheel spaced therefrom a distance greater than the original linear dimension of that workpiece and moving the grinding wheel toward the reference position to grind the workpiece until said display again reads said preselected linear dimension.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
438 words
The method of grinding a plurality of workpieces each to a preselected linear dimension, comprising the steps of: disposing a reference portion of a first of said workpieces at a reference position whereby the surface of said first workpiece to be ground is spaced from said reference position a distance greater than said preselected linear dimension; disposing a dressing tool in a selected position relative to said reference position; providing a grinding wheel; engaging the grinding wheel with the dressing tool to dress the grinding wheel; providing a digital readout means presentinG a display indicating the linear spacing of the grinding wheel from said reference position; causing the display to read zero upon completion of the dressing operation; moving the grinding wheel to grind a clean-up area on said surface; determining the linear dimension between said reference portion of the first workpiece and said clean-up area; providing a maintained indication of the sum of (a) the dimension displayed on the readout means representing the movement of the grinding wheel from the dressing position to the completed clean-up position, and (b) said determined linear dimension of the first workpiece; causing the maintained indication to read said sum; resetting the display to read said determined linear dimension; moving the grinding wheel against the workpiece toward said reference portion until the display reads said preselected linear dimension; replacing said first workpiece seriatim with each of a plurality of other workpieces and grinding each such other workpieces by seriatim disposing the reference portion thereof at said reference position with the grinding wheel spaced therefrom a distance greater than the original linear dimension of that workpiece and moving the grinding wheel toward the reference position to grind the workpiece until said display again reads said preselected linear dimension; redressing the grinding wheel prior to grinding additional ones of said workpieces by redisposing the dressing tool in said selected position, returning the grinding wheel to the position wherein said display reading is identical to said maintained indication, holding the display reading while engaging the grinding wheel with the dressing tool to redress the grinding wheel, and returning the grinding wheel to grinding position while permitting the readout means to again change the display in accordance with the movement of the grinding wheel; and grinding each of said additional workpieces with the redressed grinding wheel by seriatim disposing the reference portion thereof at said reference position with the grinding wheel spaced therefrom a distance greater than the original linear dimension of that workpiece and moving the grinding wheel toward the reference position to grind the workpiece until said display again reads said preselected linear dimension.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of grinding a plurality of workpieces each to a preselected linear dimension of claim 5 wherein said reference position comprises a horizontal table surface and said grinding wheel is moved vertically to surface grind the workpiece.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of grinding a plurality of workpieces each to a preselected linear dimension of claim 5 wherein said reference position comprises a vertical back gauge surface and said grinding wheel is moved horizontally to side grind the workpiece.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of grinding a plurality of workpieces each to a preselected linear dimension of claim 5 wherein said reference position comprises an axis of revolution of the workpiece, said workpiece is rotated about said axis and said grinding wheel is concurrently moved radially toward said axis to cylindrically grind the workpiece, said preselected linear dimension comprises the desired ground diameter of the workpiece, and said sum comprises twice (a) and (b) to represent a diametric linear dimension.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
418 words
The method of grinding a plurality of workpieces each to a preselected linear dimension, comprising the steps of: disposing a reference portion of a first of said workpieces at a reference position whereby the surface of said first workpiece to be ground is spaced from said reference position a distance greater than said preselected linear dimension; disposing a dressing tool in a selected position relative to said reference position; providing a grinding wheel; engaging the grinding wheel with the dressing tool to dress the grinding wheel; providing a digital readout means presenting a display indicating the linear spacing of the grinding wheel from said reference position; cAusing the display to read zero upon completion of the dressing operation; moving the grinding wheel to grind a clean-up area on said surface; determining the linear dimension between said reference portion of the first workpiece and said clean-up area; providing a maintained indication of the sum of a. the dimension displayed on the readout means representing the movement of the grinding wheel from the dressing position to the completed clean-up position; and b. said determined linear dimension of the first workpiece; causing the maintained indication to read said sum; resetting the display to read said determined linear dimension; moving the grinding wheel further against the workpiece toward said reference portion until the display reads said preselected linear dimension; replacing said first workpiece seriatim with each of a plurality of other workpieces and grinding each such other workpieces by seriatim disposing the reference portion thereof at said reference position with the grinding wheel spaced therefrom a distance greater than the original linear dimension of that workpiece and moving the grinding wheel toward the reference position to grind the workpiece until said display again reads said preselected linear dimension; redressing the grinding wheel prior to grinding additional ones of said workpieces by redisposing the dressing tool adjacent said selected position, engaging the grinding wheel with the dressing tool to redress the grinding wheel, and upon completion of the redressing and prior to moving said grinding wheel from the final dressing position, adjusting the digital readout means display to indicate said sum; and grinding each of said additional workpieces with the redressed grinding wheel by seriatim disposing the reference portion thereof at said reference position with the grinding wheel spaced therefrom a distance greater than the original linear dimension of that workpiece and moving the grinding wheel toward the reference position to grind the workpiece until said display again reads said preselected linear dimension.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
418 words
The method of grinding a plurality of workpieces each to a preselected linear dimension, comprising the steps of: disposing a reference portion of a first of said workpieces at a reference position whereby the surface of said first workpiece to be ground is spaced from said reference position a distance greater than said preselected linear dimension; disposing a dressing tool in a selected position relative to said reference position; providing a grinding wheel; engaging the grinding wheel with the dressing tool to dress the grinding wheel; providing a digital readout means presenting a display indicating the linear spacing of the grinding wheel from said reference position; cAusing the display to read zero upon completion of the dressing operation; moving the grinding wheel to grind a clean-up area on said surface; determining the linear dimension between said reference portion of the first workpiece and said clean-up area; providing a maintained indication of the sum of a. the dimension displayed on the readout means representing the movement of the grinding wheel from the dressing position to the completed clean-up position; and b. said determined linear dimension of the first workpiece; causing the maintained indication to read said sum; resetting the display to read said determined linear dimension; moving the grinding wheel further against the workpiece toward said reference portion until the display reads said preselected linear dimension; replacing said first workpiece seriatim with each of a plurality of other workpieces and grinding each such other workpieces by seriatim disposing the reference portion thereof at said reference position with the grinding wheel spaced therefrom a distance greater than the original linear dimension of that workpiece and moving the grinding wheel toward the reference position to grind the workpiece until said display again reads said preselected linear dimension; redressing the grinding wheel prior to grinding additional ones of said workpieces by redisposing the dressing tool adjacent said selected position, engaging the grinding wheel with the dressing tool to redress the grinding wheel, and upon completion of the redressing and prior to moving said grinding wheel from the final dressing position, adjusting the digital readout means display to indicate said sum; and grinding each of said additional workpieces with the redressed grinding wheel by seriatim disposing the reference portion thereof at said reference position with the grinding wheel spaced therefrom a distance greater than the original linear dimension of that workpiece and moving the grinding wheel toward the reference position to grind the workpiece until said display again reads said preselected linear dimension.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of grinding a plurality of workpieces each to a preselected linear dimension of claim 9 wherein said reference position comprises a horizontal table surface and said grinding wheel is moved vertically to surface grind the workpiece.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of grinding a plurality of workpieces each to a preselected linear dimension of claim 9 wherein said reference position comprises a vertical back gauge surface and said grinding wheel is moved horizontally to side grind the workpiece.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of grinding a plurality of workpieces each to a preselected linear dimension of claim 9 wherein said reference position comprises an axis of revolution of the workpiece, said workpiece is rotated about said axis and said grinding wheel is concurrently moved radially toward said axis to cylindrically grind the workpiece, said preselected linear dimension comprises the desired ground diameter of the workpiece, and said sum comprises twice (a) and (b) to represent a diametric linear dimension.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The grinding apparatus of claim 13 wherein said reference display means provides a display of the maintained linear dimension indication closely adjacent said digital display of the readOut display means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The grinding apparatus of claim 13 wherein said reference display means provides a display of the maintained linear dimension indication closely adjacent to and aligned with said digital display of the readout display means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The grinding apparatus of claim 13 wherein said readout display means includes means for selectively holding the display indication notwithstanding translation of the grinding wheel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The grinding apparatus of claim 13 wherein said readout display means includes means for warning of closely approaching the preselected linear dimension.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The grinding apparatus of claim 13 wherein the dressing means comprises means for dressing the sides of the grinding wheel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
120 words
Apparatus for grinding a plurality of workpieces each to a preselected linear dimension, comprising: a grinding wheel; means for translating the grinding wheel; readout display means for providing a digital display of the spacing of a grinding wheel from a reference position; means for holding the workpieces in a preselected disposition relative to said reference position; means for dressing the grinding wheel at a fixed position about a fixed preselected relationship to said reference position; reference display means adjacent said display means for maintaining an indication of the linear dimension representing said fixed preselected relationship; and means for selectively locking said readout display means to maintain said digital display notwithstanding a movement of said wheel relative to said reference position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
120 words
Apparatus for grinding a plurality of workpieces each to a preselected linear dimension, comprising: a grinding wheel; means for translating the grinding wheel; readout display means for providing a digital display of the spacing of a grinding wheel from a reference position; means for holding the workpieces in a preselected disposition relative to said reference position; means for dressing the grinding wheel at a fixed position about a fixed preselected relationship to said reference position; reference display means adjacent said display means for maintaining an indication of the linear dimension representing said fixed preselected relationship; and means for selectively locking said readout display means to maintain said digital display notwithstanding a movement of said wheel relative to said reference position.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The grinding apparatus of claim 19 wherein said reference display means provides a display of the maintained linear dimension indication closely adjacent said digital display of the readout display means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The grinding apparatus of claim 19 wherein said reference display means provides a display of the maintained linear dimension indication closely adjacent to and aligned with said digital display of the readout display means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The grinding apparatus of claim 19 wherein said readout display means includes means for warning of closely approaching the preselected linear dimension.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The grinding apparatus of claim 19 further including means independent of said reference display means for presetting said readout display means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The grinding apparatus of claim 19 wherein the dressing means comprises means for dressing the sides of the grinding wheel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus for grinding a plurality of workpieces each to a preselected linear dimension, comprising: a grinding wheel; means for translating the grinding wheel; readout display means for providing a digital display of the spacing of a grinding wheel from a reference position; means for holding the workpieces in a preselected disposition relative to said reference position; fixed means for dressing the grinding wheel at a position having a preselected fixed relationship to said reference position; reference display means adjacent said display means for maintaining an indication of the linear dimension representing said fixed preselected relationship; and means independent of said reference display means for presetting said readout display means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus for grinding a plurality of workpieces each to a preselected linear dimension, comprising: a grinding wheel; means for translating the grinding wheel; readout display means for providing a digital display of the spacing of a grinding wheel from a reference position; means for holding the workpieces in a preselected disposition relative to said reference position; fixed means for dressing the grinding wheel at a position having a preselected fixed relationship to said reference position; reference display means adjacent said display means for maintaining an indication of the linear dimension representing said fixed preselected relationship; and means independent of said reference display means for presetting said readout display means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
The grinding apparatus of claim 25 wherein said reference display means provides a display of the maintained linear dimension indication closely adjacent said digital display of the readout means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
34 words
The grinding apparatus of claim 25 wherein said reference display means provides a display of the maintained linear dimension indication closely adjacent to and aligned with said digital display of the readout display means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
The grinding apparatus of claim 25 wherein said readout display means includes means for warning of closely approaching the preselected linear dimension.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
The grinding apparatus of claim 25 wherein the dressing means comprises means for dressing the sides of the grinding wheel.
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) | 1977-12-30 | 1978-07-01 | 1978-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-30 | 1982-07-01 | 1982-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-30 | 1986-07-01 | 1986-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |