US3860805A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for producing a fairing contour in numerical control systems
Assignee: Bendix Corp
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Filing: 1973-05-07
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Granted: 1975-01-14
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Expires: 1993-05-07
Abstract
Abstract A numerical control method and apparatus for directing a controlled element such as a cutting tool through a fairing contour between two normally intersecting linear displacement segments. The fairing contour is an approximation of a parabola, the actual tool path comprising a number of contiguous linear segments, the end point coordinates of which are calculated by a relatively simple arithmetic process. Both programmable and hardwired computer implementations are disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Marlene R Strukel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:10
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F17/00; G06F17/10; G06F17/17; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/18; G05B19/19; G05B19/39; G05B19/41; G05B19/4103; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/34; G05B2219/34098
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
A numerical control apparatus for generating a substantially parabolic fairing contour between first and second successive linear segments of motion of a controlled element comprising: a controlled element, means for controlling the motion of said element along each of at least two independent axes of displacement, a record containing coded representations of the displacements of said element, said record containing coordinates of the loci and slopes of said successive linear segments, said record further containing a representation between said linear segment representations initiating said fairing contour between the end point of said first segment and the initial point of said second segment, means for sequentially reading the coded representations of said record, means for receiving and storing the coordinates of at least said end point of said first linear segment and at least the coordinates of said initial point of said second linear segment, arithmetic means connected to respond to said fairing contour representation to determine the coordinates of at least one intermediate point on a parabolic curve passing through said end point and initial point of said first and second linear segments, respectively, said arithmetic means being connected in output relation to said means for controlling the motion of said element so as to cause said element to move linearly between the coordinates of said intermediate points.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
218 words
A numerical control apparatus for generating a substantially parabolic fairing contour between first and second successive linear segments of motion of a controlled element comprising: a controlled element, means for controlling the motion of said element along each of at least two independent axes of displacement, a record containing coded representations of the displacements of said element, said record containing coordinates of the loci and slopes of said successive linear segments, said record further containing a representation between said linear segment representations initiating said fairing contour between the end point of said first segment and the initial point of said second segment, means for sequentially reading the coded representations of said record, means for receiving and storing the coordinates of at least said end point of said first linear segment and at least the coordinates of said initial point of said second linear segment, arithmetic means connected to respond to said fairing contour representation to determine the coordinates of at least one intermediate point on a parabolic curve passing through said end point and initial point of said first and second linear segments, respectively, said arithmetic means being connected in output relation to said means for controlling the motion of said element so as to cause said element to move linearly between the coordinates of said intermediate points.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
Numerical control apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means for determining the number of said intermediate points to be determined.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
Numerical control apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said record includes a punched tape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
Numerical control apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said arithmetic means includes storage means connected to receive the coordinates of intermediate points.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
150 words
Numerical control apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said arithmetic means includes means for determining a series of linear displacement increments in X and Z area passing between intermediate point coordinates according to the expressions: Delta Xi ( 2 (M+ 1) Delta XI- Delta XE/M2) + ( i(2 Delta XE-4 Delta XI)/M2) Delta ZI ( 2(M+ 1) Delta ZI- Delta ZE/M2) + ( i(2 Delta ZE- 4 Delta ZI)/M2) where M is the number of such increments, i represents the increment number, XI is the X coordinate of the intersection of the extensions of said first and second linear segments when said first and second segments are respectively extended beyond said end point and said initial point, XE is the X coordinate of the initial point on the second linear segment, ZI is the Z coordinate of said intersection, and ZE is the Z coordinate of said initial point.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
Numerical control as defiNed in claim 1 wherein said means for receiving and storing and said arithmetic means comprise a programmable computer having a memory.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of controlling the displacement of a controlled element within a reference coordinate axis system so as to generate a substantially parabolic fairing contour between the end point of a first linear motion segment and the initial point of a second linear motion segment, said linear motion segments passing through an intersection point when extended past said end point and said initial point comprising the steps of: sequentially reading a displacement record containing the definitions of at least said end point of said first linear segment and said initial point of said second said linear segment; arithmetically determining the loci of a plurality of intermediate linear displacement segments between said end point and said initial point, the points between which said intermediate segments extend lying on a parabolic curve tangent to said first and second linear motion segments at said end point and said initial point; and causing said controlled element to follow said loci at a desired rate.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of controlling the displacement of a controlled element within a reference coordinate axis system so as to generate a substantially parabolic fairing contour between the end point of a first linear motion segment and the initial point of a second linear motion segment, said linear motion segments passing through an intersection point when extended past said end point and said initial point comprising the steps of: sequentially reading a displacement record containing the definitions of at least said end point of said first linear segment and said initial point of said second said linear segment; arithmetically determining the loci of a plurality of intermediate linear displacement segments between said end point and said initial point, the points between which said intermediate segments extend lying on a parabolic curve tangent to said first and second linear motion segments at said end point and said initial point; and causing said controlled element to follow said loci at a desired rate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method defined in claim 7 wherein the step of arithmetically determining is the mathematical equivalent of a construction process involving first the location of the midpoint of the chord between said end and initial points and second the location of the midpoint of a line between said chord midpoint and said intersection point of said linear segments.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method as defined in claim 7 wherein the step of arithmetically determining involves solving the expressions: Delta Xi ( 2(M+ 1) Delta XI- Delta XE/M2) + ( i(2 Delta XE-4 Delta XI)/M2) Delta ZI 2(M+ 1) Delta ZI- Delta ZE/M2) + (i(2 Delta ZE- 4 Delta ZI)/M2)
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as defined in claim 7 including the further steps of storing data defining said loci, and outputting said data to the controlled element in a controlled sequence.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
174 words
A method of generating a record for controlling the displacement of a controlled element within a reference coordinate axis system so as to generate a substantially parabolic fairing contour between the end point of a first linear motion segment and the initial point of a second linear motion segment, said linear motion segments passing through an intersection point when extended past said end point and said initial point comprising the steps of: sequentially reading a first record containing the definitions of at least said end point of said first linear segment and said initial point of said second linear segment; arithmetically determining the loci of a plurality of intermediate linear displacement segments between said end point and said initial point, the points between which said intermediate segments extend lying on a parabolic curve tangent to said first and second linear motion segments at said end point and said initial point; and placing the data from the first record along with the data defining said loci on a record medium to form a part program.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
174 words
A method of generating a record for controlling the displacement of a controlled element within a reference coordinate axis system so as to generate a substantially parabolic fairing contour between the end point of a first linear motion segment and the initial point of a second linear motion segment, said linear motion segments passing through an intersection point when extended past said end point and said initial point comprising the steps of: sequentially reading a first record containing the definitions of at least said end point of said first linear segment and said initial point of said second linear segment; arithmetically determining the loci of a plurality of intermediate linear displacement segments between said end point and said initial point, the points between which said intermediate segments extend lying on a parabolic curve tangent to said first and second linear motion segments at said end point and said initial point; and placing the data from the first record along with the data defining said loci on a record medium to form a part program.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3178563A
Cited
US3518513A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-13 | 1978-07-15 | 1979-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-13 | 1982-07-15 | 1983-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-13 | 1986-07-15 | 1987-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |